Basketball coaches from high-school should not be allowed to drag up unflattering teenage photos and put them on Facebook. It should be illegal.
You think you've buried those photos, then things like this happen (on top of your dad dragging them out at your 30th).
* * *
It's a tricky thing when a cafe expands. Parade has moved across the road, to the old tug-boat. It's lost its claustrophobic feel and you no longer have to queue out the door.
But for some reason today there were only middle-aged rich women doing luncheons and couples in matching Country Road outfits there. Maybe not quite the hip demographic I'm used to?
You can't lose with an ocean view though.
* * *
Cassie treated me to a double-birthday beauty afternoon. We got eyebrow shapes and tints, eyelash tints, a full body massage and mani and pedicures. I feel pretty now! Oh, so pretty.
That's my first full body massage. I was trying to not picture what she could see when she was doing the upper-thigh thing (that involved much jiggling). Definitely my least favourite body part. Felt much better when she unclasps my bra and moved onto the back.
Then I got Barbie-coral-pink nails (I'd asked for something subtle...) but I'm embracing them. I'm doing a whole pastel-look for the week. It's funny how our body can sense even microscopic changes. It felt really weird typing when I had just got home with my new nail polish on. Now the end bits are starting to chip away, so it feels normal again.
Then there's the comedic duck-walk you have to do when the toenail polish is drying, with the folded up paper towel between your toes.
Totally indulgent and a scrummy present. Thanks, Cass! It's good to be a girl. I've never liked my toenails more.
* * *
I'm into Series 3 of Mad Men - rocketing through! That Don Draper is a card.
It's really well made. I'd say I like it more than The Wire, which is smart but kinda bracing to watch at times. This show has the comedy as well as the darker bits. But it does the dark so well. While a lot of American shows are about building up chemistry between characters until they hook up, this one is more about the disintegration of relationships. Much more interesting to watch!
It has little cut-away scenes with no dialogue that are just meant to build up characters. Most shows wouldn't bother doing that. And the climaxes can just be little glances, rather than tad-dah moments. Betty Draper is interesting. On one level she's totally unlikeable - a horrible mother (sends the kids to watch TV most of the time) but kinda brave in her own way.
She's just found out Don's big secret (which has been building since series 1), so I must get back to watching!
* * *
I wonder how many other people have a PIN number on their ATM card that has a link to their teenage self. Mine's definitely teen-me. And that's all I'm saying, so nobody can rob me.
* * *
It's a sad, sad day when the Glee cast beat a Beatles record on the charts. Teenagers are morons these days. IT'S ALL AUTO-TUNED! ALL OF IT! AND THE ORIGNALS ARE WAY, WAY BETTER! It makes me angry.
Also Chris Carter makes me angry for saying his travel expenses were only focussed on 'cause he's gay. I think (from what I saw at the time) anyone who spent exhobitant amounts on their spouse travelleing was publicly called out for it.
That only person who ever seems to make an issue out of him being gay is himself. He's grasping at straws, or the media is purposely pushing that line of his into the headlines (which I guess would be the most homophobic thing happening).
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
* * *
And here are the only clues Cassie's giving me about my 'birthday surprise' tomorrow:
You will need to bring jandals
Have something to eat beforehand but not too much as you may feel ill later.
Shaving your legs and armpits could be an adavantage to make you more comfortable but if you run out of time...no real biggy
No makeup
Bring yourself and be excited...its going to be fun :)
Hmmmm. I think I'm going to be a model for a body-painter? That would be the weirdest present ever.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
I love google-doctoring. I diagnosed someone at work with 'house-wive's knee' and figured out what kind of eczma I have on my hand and a cyst I had.
My latest google-doctoring has diagnosed me with Vasovagal Syncope. It's a fancy way of saying 'fainting'. I fainted for the first time ever on Friday. Having researched it (initially thinking it could have been a seizure, since I was shaking for 30 or so seconds) I realise I've almost fainted lots of times. Same signals.
This time I just ignored them for too long. It was an 'awkward' circumstance in which to faint.
Kinda funny though. Way more interesting than just fainting at the sight of blood (which doesn't bother me too much).
But thoroughly inappropriate to mention in a public forum.
It's a bit stink though - I liked being able to say I'd never fainted. Sounds way tougher.
* * *
Getting into BBQ season. Awesome! Cider time.
* * *
I have some buzz-bars in the freezer. Haven't had a frozer buzz-bar in ages. They're awesome.
* * *
I'm liking advertising at the moment. Watched this great multi-part doco from BBC on the history of PR and advertising (starting with Freud, moving into cigarette advertising and ending with recent election campaigns). Watch the Gruen Transfer most weeks. And have watched the first two seasons of Med Men.
Advertising is evil (which I realised as a Marketing major at uni) but fascinating.
My latest google-doctoring has diagnosed me with Vasovagal Syncope. It's a fancy way of saying 'fainting'. I fainted for the first time ever on Friday. Having researched it (initially thinking it could have been a seizure, since I was shaking for 30 or so seconds) I realise I've almost fainted lots of times. Same signals.
This time I just ignored them for too long. It was an 'awkward' circumstance in which to faint.
Kinda funny though. Way more interesting than just fainting at the sight of blood (which doesn't bother me too much).
But thoroughly inappropriate to mention in a public forum.
It's a bit stink though - I liked being able to say I'd never fainted. Sounds way tougher.
* * *
Getting into BBQ season. Awesome! Cider time.
* * *
I have some buzz-bars in the freezer. Haven't had a frozer buzz-bar in ages. They're awesome.
* * *
I'm liking advertising at the moment. Watched this great multi-part doco from BBC on the history of PR and advertising (starting with Freud, moving into cigarette advertising and ending with recent election campaigns). Watch the Gruen Transfer most weeks. And have watched the first two seasons of Med Men.
Advertising is evil (which I realised as a Marketing major at uni) but fascinating.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Strike Rules
With reports due this morning, today is the perfect day to have off! I got to sleep in and finish off the final touches (tallying all the days absent) from the comfort of remote-connection.
* * *
Rugby World Cup. Bleh.
* * *
Getting my hair cut today - going to try to not have a repeat of last time (which I have been in trauma about for five months, having been determined to get it 'longish' before going under the chop again). Trying a place I got a cheap voucher for on a 1-day sale site.
* * *
At work me and one other have started what will hopefully be a trend. We each bought a 10-coffee card from a one-day sale site (I got 10 coffees for $10 from Estadia). We used them to shout people in our department mass coffees. I randomly bought back 6 coffees on Monday (they even let me get soy at no extra cost!). And 10 of us went out for lunch at Babylon yesterday, with free coffee for everyone.
I'm not even a huge coffee fan - but I like things that are practically free!
* * *
Rugby World Cup. Bleh.
* * *
Getting my hair cut today - going to try to not have a repeat of last time (which I have been in trauma about for five months, having been determined to get it 'longish' before going under the chop again). Trying a place I got a cheap voucher for on a 1-day sale site.
* * *
At work me and one other have started what will hopefully be a trend. We each bought a 10-coffee card from a one-day sale site (I got 10 coffees for $10 from Estadia). We used them to shout people in our department mass coffees. I randomly bought back 6 coffees on Monday (they even let me get soy at no extra cost!). And 10 of us went out for lunch at Babylon yesterday, with free coffee for everyone.
I'm not even a huge coffee fan - but I like things that are practically free!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Craft afternoon was fun. I didn't craft anything. I ate some nice snacks though. And drank some nice wine. And had a lively debate about the difference between pink and red.
I took Charlotte (almost-2) to the supermarket to get extra supplies. On the way I splashed her when I jumped in a puddle. Then I let her carry the basket in the shop (she dragged it behind her and took up half an aisle somehow). And got lollies. LOLLIES!
Shopping as it ought to be.
* * *
Sam's birthday dinner was grand. He knows lots of good people (and Jon). I'm not sure why, but dropping icecream in Jon's wine and smashing up model-planes were important activities at the time.
Me, Michelle and Jon went to Molly's. They had a guy playing the piano and singing upstairs. We sang along with him, very loudly. I think we were his favourites. He told us to come back next week. (It was either our singing or the $20 tip Jon gave him.... I'm opting for our awesome back-up vocals.)
Sing us a song, you're the piano-man, sing us a song tonight
* * *
I'm a bit of a shopping-snob. I haven't been to Glassons in a long time. Holy cow, it's cheap! Maybe I should open up my mind a little.
I took Charlotte (almost-2) to the supermarket to get extra supplies. On the way I splashed her when I jumped in a puddle. Then I let her carry the basket in the shop (she dragged it behind her and took up half an aisle somehow). And got lollies. LOLLIES!
Shopping as it ought to be.
* * *
Sam's birthday dinner was grand. He knows lots of good people (and Jon). I'm not sure why, but dropping icecream in Jon's wine and smashing up model-planes were important activities at the time.
Me, Michelle and Jon went to Molly's. They had a guy playing the piano and singing upstairs. We sang along with him, very loudly. I think we were his favourites. He told us to come back next week. (It was either our singing or the $20 tip Jon gave him.... I'm opting for our awesome back-up vocals.)
Sing us a song, you're the piano-man, sing us a song tonight
* * *
I'm a bit of a shopping-snob. I haven't been to Glassons in a long time. Holy cow, it's cheap! Maybe I should open up my mind a little.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Stink buzz.
I hate it when people get told off in front of you. I hate it when those people are colleagues and they are being told off like they're little kids.
I witnessed this today - a first year teacher being told off by his TIC. I felt horrible for him. My HOD would never in a million years have talked to any of her department like that.
This person was someone I already didn't have a lot of time for. Though she's a great teacher, she has a few things to learn about sensitivity. And she has a piercing voice.
* * *
The first of my good friends from school has turned 30. June 25th. She's a captain in the army, almost a major. To be honest I haven't seen her for .... years. Maybe seven years or so. But she's one of those people you can just pick up with like nothing's happened. She's been busy serving and Timor and whatnot. It's understandable. They made her a cake in the army caf....though she didn't order them to do it. She didn't order the Code Red either [her joke, not mine].
Her dad was in the SAS.
* * *
I am tired now. I might go to bed. Early! Man, winter sucks.
* * *
This is the first year I've had a car during the winter time. I have noticed three things
1. The windows fog up lots. Vision can be impaired.
2. One morning there was ice on the window and I had to get warm water to get it off.
3. The heater takes a little while to kick in - usually not until I'm in the middle of the tunnel. By the time I get to my destination I don't want to get out of the car again. Too cold!
* * *
The beanie has come out. That means it's really really winter.
* * *
We have used the heater heaps. Power bill will be astronomical.
Sex and the City.
Every girl must have her crew of friends who remind her of the group in 'Sex and the City'. Those shots in the opening section, with the four of them walking along the street in their 'going out' clothes reminded me of my long-gone 20s. Back then we used to go out at least once a weekend, spend an hour (at least) getting ready, have a few pre-drinks at home....
Ahh, the memories!
I went to the film with Cass and Ange (my girl crew) and a lot of it rang true. So we don't wear couture and our city is Wellington, not New York, but there were all kinds of things that we would nudge each other about in recognition.
In a perfect touch, Ange bought us each a designer cupcake from some store in the Old Bank Arcade - each of which came in a little box with a ribbon on it (and was apparently chosen to reflect our personality in some way). They were gorgeous and totally something Carrie and the crew would love.
A couple of characters went through breakup trauma, which we've all had, one had an incident that I could liken to Cassie's food poisoning and they were all just looking for the same kinda thing we'd all like.
Anyhow.... I quite liked the experience. Probably wouldn't have liked it as much without my friends there though. I think at the bit where Charlotte gives Mr Big the evils and says 'Leave her alone!' and where she's planned what she'll say next time she sees him, we all thought that's what we'd do for each other. There were moments where that girl-loyalty was epitomised. It's nice how your friends rally for you in a crisis!
And of course, you have to cast yourself in each role. For us, Cassie was the obvious Samantha (though she'll dispute that). Ange has a bit of the Miranda spirit in her, but mostly suits the role because of the red-head thing (she was inspired by a lot of the clothes and colours Miranda got away with). That left me to be Charlotte - the dark haired, idealistic (slightly prudish) one. I like that! I think all three of us have a bit of the Carrie spirit in us. Ange has the flair for drama, I have the same laptop-hovering tendencies and Cassie is the hub.
I quite liked some of the things Big did for Carrie - though I'm still an Aidan fan at heart.
Certainly one to see with your girl friends - or wait til it comes out on DVD if you are a boy with too much shame to be seen out with the women :)
Ahh, the memories!
I went to the film with Cass and Ange (my girl crew) and a lot of it rang true. So we don't wear couture and our city is Wellington, not New York, but there were all kinds of things that we would nudge each other about in recognition.
In a perfect touch, Ange bought us each a designer cupcake from some store in the Old Bank Arcade - each of which came in a little box with a ribbon on it (and was apparently chosen to reflect our personality in some way). They were gorgeous and totally something Carrie and the crew would love.
A couple of characters went through breakup trauma, which we've all had, one had an incident that I could liken to Cassie's food poisoning and they were all just looking for the same kinda thing we'd all like.
Anyhow.... I quite liked the experience. Probably wouldn't have liked it as much without my friends there though. I think at the bit where Charlotte gives Mr Big the evils and says 'Leave her alone!' and where she's planned what she'll say next time she sees him, we all thought that's what we'd do for each other. There were moments where that girl-loyalty was epitomised. It's nice how your friends rally for you in a crisis!
And of course, you have to cast yourself in each role. For us, Cassie was the obvious Samantha (though she'll dispute that). Ange has a bit of the Miranda spirit in her, but mostly suits the role because of the red-head thing (she was inspired by a lot of the clothes and colours Miranda got away with). That left me to be Charlotte - the dark haired, idealistic (slightly prudish) one. I like that! I think all three of us have a bit of the Carrie spirit in us. Ange has the flair for drama, I have the same laptop-hovering tendencies and Cassie is the hub.
I quite liked some of the things Big did for Carrie - though I'm still an Aidan fan at heart.
Certainly one to see with your girl friends - or wait til it comes out on DVD if you are a boy with too much shame to be seen out with the women :)
School's out for Winter
Yay. I have been holding out for today for nine weeks (approximately).
I have sore lungs. When I breathe they hurt. It's not asthma. I think it's something to do with all the pollutants in the tunnel. I noticed it last night at basketball, and it's gotten worse this afternoon. So I need a couple of weeks of not having to walk through there. Should cure me. Hopefully.
I am tired.
I can't write big sentences.
Only little ones.
Like this.
Bye.
I have sore lungs. When I breathe they hurt. It's not asthma. I think it's something to do with all the pollutants in the tunnel. I noticed it last night at basketball, and it's gotten worse this afternoon. So I need a couple of weeks of not having to walk through there. Should cure me. Hopefully.
I am tired.
I can't write big sentences.
Only little ones.
Like this.
Bye.
Y'all come back now, y'hear?
The rotting fish has been removed from the front doorstep. Not by the person who left it there for a week, mind you. The stench remains, despite much disinfectant and washing powder being applied.
One of the other flatmates also relented and bought a light bulb for the toilet.
All is good. For now. My missing brown towel even mysteriously reappeared in the bathroom, soaking wet. I nabbed it and will never let it out of my sight again.
Random Question of the Day:
#823 Blondes, brunettes or redheads?
My answer:
Brunettes all the way! Dark hair = manlier. Blonde hair = pretty boy in a boy band. Redhead = Ange's brothers (both of them!).
One of the other flatmates also relented and bought a light bulb for the toilet.
All is good. For now. My missing brown towel even mysteriously reappeared in the bathroom, soaking wet. I nabbed it and will never let it out of my sight again.
Random Question of the Day:
#823 Blondes, brunettes or redheads?
My answer:
Brunettes all the way! Dark hair = manlier. Blonde hair = pretty boy in a boy band. Redhead = Ange's brothers (both of them!).
By jingoes, it's a watermelon!
This week was fairly untraumatic (partly due to me putting off reports until next week).
Monday - holiday (sleep in, do school work in bed)
Tuesday - so long ago I forget what happened, but there was no DWTS (I substituted with House and Boston Legal, though I got so annoyed with the unsettling camera-work of the latter that I ditched it and watched some Gilmore Girls instead)
Wednesday - sports exchange in the sunny Horowhenua (get to wear sneakers to work that day and be smug and city-like to all the local hicks)
Thursday - netball tournament at school where I got to go see all my little ones play in their chosen team uniform (pjamas - one girl even wore a dressing gown and played centre in it - that's the most proud of been of my form-class all year)
Friday - had a guest speaker in from the OFLC (love guest speakers - they give out free pens and I don't have to do anything all lesson) and reffed a basketball game that made me glad to be teaching where I am (there's something offputting about girls who are up by 30 points and still make faces at me and yell out when they think I've missed a foul call but you have to feel sorry for them because their school could only afford to build half a basketball court and put a hoop at either end and could only put numbers on the back of the players' shirts so I had to keep tapping girls on the shoulder and asking them to turn around when I called them for fouls)
FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER
Oh yeah, and here's the social event of the week - dinner out with the old posse. Cassie and Ed joined forces to organise a bunch of us out to dinner at Eastern Sunrise. The food was your average Asian fare but when you put anything on a lazy Susan it's F-U-N. I got some Givertz (gonna spell that phonetically) wine. It worked well. I think Ryan was filling up my glass every time I looked away - either that or three glasses of wine is all I need to get a little loud and tipsy these days.
Ryan, bless his little heart, sat there and chatted away merrily whilst eating his protein bar (and nothing else) and sipping on his one Diet Coke. That's the spirit! He's bulking up and trimming down for a body-building comp in late September. Mark your calenders, folks! We had a lengthy discussion about fruitcake.
Ed was there with his special ladyfriend. It's worrying that she seems nice and normal - not at all his type! Anthony managed to hold the floor with a banking conversation that lasted far longer than is right for a Friday night. Ken's hair just keeps getting longer and longer. Holly mistook him for a piece of 60s memorabilia when we popped into The Cavern Club. We popped out quickly enough after finding it far too crowded for our liking - and noticing all the old men leering.
It's one of those signs-you're-getting-older when all you want to find on a Friday night is a nice quiet bar where you can go and actually hear each other talk.... and you have to settle for Expressaholic because actually a nice piece of cake sounds much better than another drink..... Though, I do remember drinking my Mocha-Latte and preaching about it to anyone that would listen. It's the only place I've ever found that does a Mocha-Latte.
Am having a very relaxing Saturday morning, having only risen from bed to put some washing on and change to the next DVD in my Gilmore Girls series. I can hear the buzzer and whistles coming from the netball courts. Not a bad day to be outside doing sporty stuff, if that's what your'e into..... Me, I'm a sloth. I might creep downstairs and make some Vogels cereal with greek yoghurt. Mmmm.
* * *
Richard watches a lot of news shows. No wonder he's so gosh-darned smart about the world.
FELLOW STALKERS!
There have, this summer, been a rash of celebrity spottings in Wellington. It may be that I just run with a very hip crowd who happen to be in the know and funky and bound to be found where the action is...... or it could be fortunate coincidence.
Either way - here are my sightings.
I have seen Brett McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame at indoor netball twice now. Sam saw him too. His concurrence verified my suspician of celebrity in our midst. While we weren't playing against him, we seem to have a habit of coming on just after he plays. Last week he must've known some people in the opposition, so he stayed and watched our game. Brett has LOOKED AT MEEEEE! As I have told many people, this happens to be the game where one minute prior to having to take the court, I heard a rrrrrrrip in my pants. And I had torn a big hole in the seat of my shorts. I played on. Brett may have glimpsed my undergarments!
Many other people have had similar, less risque, encounters with Brett. Sam from work touched his arm when greeting him at the Southern Cross. Julie from work saw him (and, quite incidentally Sigourney Weaver) at Nikau Cafe one weekend.
Two sightings have been reported of Giovanni Ribissi in town. Both report a 'jaunty' walk that he seems to have as his signature.
So..... Any more reports of celebrities in our midst? Do comment.
Either way - here are my sightings.
I have seen Brett McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame at indoor netball twice now. Sam saw him too. His concurrence verified my suspician of celebrity in our midst. While we weren't playing against him, we seem to have a habit of coming on just after he plays. Last week he must've known some people in the opposition, so he stayed and watched our game. Brett has LOOKED AT MEEEEE! As I have told many people, this happens to be the game where one minute prior to having to take the court, I heard a rrrrrrrip in my pants. And I had torn a big hole in the seat of my shorts. I played on. Brett may have glimpsed my undergarments!
Many other people have had similar, less risque, encounters with Brett. Sam from work touched his arm when greeting him at the Southern Cross. Julie from work saw him (and, quite incidentally Sigourney Weaver) at Nikau Cafe one weekend.
Two sightings have been reported of Giovanni Ribissi in town. Both report a 'jaunty' walk that he seems to have as his signature.
So..... Any more reports of celebrities in our midst? Do comment.
Last Full Week of Holidays
1. I love the honey-flavoured Greek yogurts you can buy. I refuse to acknowledge that it is not actually healthy. It has the word 'yogurt' in it.... that means it must be low-fat and good for you!
2. I liked tonight's Frisbee game. After brief worries around 4.30pm when the third player of the day texted to pull out.... we ended up having a good sized team there (once I confirmed Janine was happy to play again, Justin got out of working late and Damon brought along a really good ring-in also - who should, by the way, come play again some time!). I felt very red and puffed for the most part, which means it was a good game. Good exercise, anyhow. Every single person on their team was super-fit and super-fast. I like trying to bags the slow person to defend... but there just was none! I think, although we lost, we were all fairly happy with how we're progressing. We have a lot more long-threats. The team we played was pretty nice to play - not all rules-anal.
3. Thinking of the inauguration coming up reminds me that I was at Bill Clinton's first one. We were on a family trip to America and Mum manged to time it so that we saw heaps of cool stuff. We were in Chicago for Christmas day, where we went to a Bulls game in their final season at Chicago Stadium (versus one of their main rivals at the time, the Knicks). We were in New York for New Year's Eve, to see the ball drop in Times Square. And we were in Washington right when the inauguration was happening. I was actually sick through most of NY and Washington, in bed with some fever/flu thing. So I stayed home that day - went to a deli with Dad and got a really good sandwich (one of those multi-layers of meat ones they make over there) and watched it on TV. I remember there were heaps of Pro-Life rallies on, because Clinton I think was known for being more Pro-Choice. My mum felt really brave cause she found out that the blue ribbon represented Pro-Choice and she wore a blue ribbon around, right through these rallies.
2. I liked tonight's Frisbee game. After brief worries around 4.30pm when the third player of the day texted to pull out.... we ended up having a good sized team there (once I confirmed Janine was happy to play again, Justin got out of working late and Damon brought along a really good ring-in also - who should, by the way, come play again some time!). I felt very red and puffed for the most part, which means it was a good game. Good exercise, anyhow. Every single person on their team was super-fit and super-fast. I like trying to bags the slow person to defend... but there just was none! I think, although we lost, we were all fairly happy with how we're progressing. We have a lot more long-threats. The team we played was pretty nice to play - not all rules-anal.
3. Thinking of the inauguration coming up reminds me that I was at Bill Clinton's first one. We were on a family trip to America and Mum manged to time it so that we saw heaps of cool stuff. We were in Chicago for Christmas day, where we went to a Bulls game in their final season at Chicago Stadium (versus one of their main rivals at the time, the Knicks). We were in New York for New Year's Eve, to see the ball drop in Times Square. And we were in Washington right when the inauguration was happening. I was actually sick through most of NY and Washington, in bed with some fever/flu thing. So I stayed home that day - went to a deli with Dad and got a really good sandwich (one of those multi-layers of meat ones they make over there) and watched it on TV. I remember there were heaps of Pro-Life rallies on, because Clinton I think was known for being more Pro-Choice. My mum felt really brave cause she found out that the blue ribbon represented Pro-Choice and she wore a blue ribbon around, right through these rallies.
If music be the love of food....
Saturday night was a faux BBQ. We womanfolk of the flat decided it was time to use our poor forgotten BBQ again.
We dragged it downstairs (through the flat), so that it was in a more alluring position, on the front steps. On the way we dropped kitty litter from the drip-tray all over the carpet and had moments of wishing Kyle was home. But we got it there.
What we really cooked (and I use the term 'we' liberally, as most of it was Reidun) was a roast with lots of veges. Most things had a turn in the BBQ, but did a fair amount of time in the stove and oven too. So, it could just as easily have been an oven-roast.... but the principle was that we were using the BBQ.
The crackling got burnt, but after a good scraping off we ate it. At first we just nibbled it, so that Reidun wouldn't feel it had been wasted - but then we became addicted to the grease and we polished it off before dinner had even been served. Crackling is a good ice-breaker for a dinner party.
We had roast pork with home made apple sauce and jus. We had broccoli with home made cheese sauce. We had a spinach, pear, blue-cheese and walnut salad (my only contribution). We had a medley of roast vegetables, including kumara, potato, pumpkin and carrots.
We had gin and tonic with lemon wedges. I used to think they were only for depressed old ladies - I am now converted to the joy of them (or I have, in fact, become a depressed old lady myself and in denial). We had red wine (the one with a pretty picture of a lady riding a bicycle on the label). We had more red wine (from the cask).
I commented that I felt like I was in the scene at the end of Jamie's Kitchen, where everyone is handing around the food, and there's loud laughter and funky music in the background. Pukka tukka! I like it when actual dinner parties feel like that.
There was apple crumble (using the apples from our back-yard) with chai-whipped-cream and gourmet vanilla ice-cream.
We three and our guest then watched Strictly Ballroom and Dirty Dancing. There was a theme. We commented knowingly on top-lines and heel-leads. I pointed out that the thrust of the plot for Dirty Dancing was everyone pulling together to get an abortion. I wonder if it was actually marketed as a family movie, or if it accidentally became a cult classic for every girl growing up in the 80s. There are certainly more steamy scenes and sexual innuendo than you notice as a kid...
Reidun used the left0ver cream to do real chai lattes for us (served in glasses with folded napkins, like the professionals do).
Today I woke up to Reidun knocking on my door telling me there was home-made banana bread and Grease downstairs. I was looking confused at the grease offering, until I realised it wasn't going to be spread on the banana-bread. Carly then gave us some of her home-made onion soup for lunch and there was mulled wine simmering away on the stove all afternoon (to use up the cask wine).
* * *
Incidentally, I played my first game of indoor ultimate for the season tonight. I was on the Zesty team. It was fun. It'll be good if we have slightly less subs there some nights, but it was a nice mix of people. We beat the other Creatures team by a decent margin.
I think our team might have had less brand-new people, or at least our ones caught on really quickly. We had the instincts right and even the brand-new people had decent hands for catching and a nose for the scoring zone. Not many of our passes went wildly astray - good sensible options. Mike held it all steady with some experience and advice.
I played fairly loose defence, since I was marking new players most of the time and didn't want to freak them out. On offence I think I did ok - didn't drop any catches, threw mostly good passes (except for a few overly ambitious ones in the zone). Caught a few points and passed at least one. It's certainly an advantage if you're taller than your marker, once you get down to the key-hole. That element is more like the sports I'm used to, where you can just kinda post up and hold space, waiting for the lob. And passing was a lot easier than in outdoors. Since we had so many subs, you were only usually on for two points, then off for a few. That meant you were always fairly fresh when you were on, so it was easy to fast-break and keep up with your player.
Looking back, I think our poor Cows Go Moo team had a real baptism by fire - our first game ever was on a day where there were gale-force wind warnings on the radio. If we'd started with indoors, we might all have been a lot happier from the get-go! And it suits our style of game quite well, with the quick passing up court, rather than set plays.
It was a bit odd going from playing with all my friends to playing on a team where I knew one person's name confidently. It's always a bit of a flash-back to high-school days, where I'd be the youngest on my basketball team and I could easily go to practices and say 'hi' and 'see ya' but nothing much in between. It's Shy Katie territory. I made a few in-context comments, like 'Good point' and 'Sorry about that - kinda led you into the wall with that pass' and 'Nah, I'll go on next point.' But nothing terribly chatty.
I've gone from being the captain to being something way down the line, quite happy to just follow and do what I'm told. I think the Creatures franchise is a place where they have more than enough chiefs, so I'm happy being an Indian.
*Note: The title of this blog is how a kid in my class actually read out that line from 'Twelth Night' when we were doing a read-through last term. Teaching has its humour.
We dragged it downstairs (through the flat), so that it was in a more alluring position, on the front steps. On the way we dropped kitty litter from the drip-tray all over the carpet and had moments of wishing Kyle was home. But we got it there.
What we really cooked (and I use the term 'we' liberally, as most of it was Reidun) was a roast with lots of veges. Most things had a turn in the BBQ, but did a fair amount of time in the stove and oven too. So, it could just as easily have been an oven-roast.... but the principle was that we were using the BBQ.
The crackling got burnt, but after a good scraping off we ate it. At first we just nibbled it, so that Reidun wouldn't feel it had been wasted - but then we became addicted to the grease and we polished it off before dinner had even been served. Crackling is a good ice-breaker for a dinner party.
We had roast pork with home made apple sauce and jus. We had broccoli with home made cheese sauce. We had a spinach, pear, blue-cheese and walnut salad (my only contribution). We had a medley of roast vegetables, including kumara, potato, pumpkin and carrots.
We had gin and tonic with lemon wedges. I used to think they were only for depressed old ladies - I am now converted to the joy of them (or I have, in fact, become a depressed old lady myself and in denial). We had red wine (the one with a pretty picture of a lady riding a bicycle on the label). We had more red wine (from the cask).
I commented that I felt like I was in the scene at the end of Jamie's Kitchen, where everyone is handing around the food, and there's loud laughter and funky music in the background. Pukka tukka! I like it when actual dinner parties feel like that.
There was apple crumble (using the apples from our back-yard) with chai-whipped-cream and gourmet vanilla ice-cream.
We three and our guest then watched Strictly Ballroom and Dirty Dancing. There was a theme. We commented knowingly on top-lines and heel-leads. I pointed out that the thrust of the plot for Dirty Dancing was everyone pulling together to get an abortion. I wonder if it was actually marketed as a family movie, or if it accidentally became a cult classic for every girl growing up in the 80s. There are certainly more steamy scenes and sexual innuendo than you notice as a kid...
Reidun used the left0ver cream to do real chai lattes for us (served in glasses with folded napkins, like the professionals do).
Today I woke up to Reidun knocking on my door telling me there was home-made banana bread and Grease downstairs. I was looking confused at the grease offering, until I realised it wasn't going to be spread on the banana-bread. Carly then gave us some of her home-made onion soup for lunch and there was mulled wine simmering away on the stove all afternoon (to use up the cask wine).
* * *
Incidentally, I played my first game of indoor ultimate for the season tonight. I was on the Zesty team. It was fun. It'll be good if we have slightly less subs there some nights, but it was a nice mix of people. We beat the other Creatures team by a decent margin.
I think our team might have had less brand-new people, or at least our ones caught on really quickly. We had the instincts right and even the brand-new people had decent hands for catching and a nose for the scoring zone. Not many of our passes went wildly astray - good sensible options. Mike held it all steady with some experience and advice.
I played fairly loose defence, since I was marking new players most of the time and didn't want to freak them out. On offence I think I did ok - didn't drop any catches, threw mostly good passes (except for a few overly ambitious ones in the zone). Caught a few points and passed at least one. It's certainly an advantage if you're taller than your marker, once you get down to the key-hole. That element is more like the sports I'm used to, where you can just kinda post up and hold space, waiting for the lob. And passing was a lot easier than in outdoors. Since we had so many subs, you were only usually on for two points, then off for a few. That meant you were always fairly fresh when you were on, so it was easy to fast-break and keep up with your player.
Looking back, I think our poor Cows Go Moo team had a real baptism by fire - our first game ever was on a day where there were gale-force wind warnings on the radio. If we'd started with indoors, we might all have been a lot happier from the get-go! And it suits our style of game quite well, with the quick passing up court, rather than set plays.
It was a bit odd going from playing with all my friends to playing on a team where I knew one person's name confidently. It's always a bit of a flash-back to high-school days, where I'd be the youngest on my basketball team and I could easily go to practices and say 'hi' and 'see ya' but nothing much in between. It's Shy Katie territory. I made a few in-context comments, like 'Good point' and 'Sorry about that - kinda led you into the wall with that pass' and 'Nah, I'll go on next point.' But nothing terribly chatty.
I've gone from being the captain to being something way down the line, quite happy to just follow and do what I'm told. I think the Creatures franchise is a place where they have more than enough chiefs, so I'm happy being an Indian.
*Note: The title of this blog is how a kid in my class actually read out that line from 'Twelth Night' when we were doing a read-through last term. Teaching has its humour.
On Buses.
I have been taking buses to and from town during the week to avoid the hassle of parking.
I had two nice bus drivers today. The first one was a lady. We were driving directly behind another trolley-bus from Manners St to Lambton Quay. Sitting in the back of the other trolley-bus was a women with two week kids, about 2 and 3 years old. They were very excited by the journey, and kept turning back to look at our bus. The driver of my bus would smile and wave at them, and they'd wave back. If they got a bit ahead of us, the kids would keep watching, wistfully.... until we caught up at the lights, where they'd wave to the driver again. You could tell she was quite enjoying this little interaction. Cute kids too - curly hair and big eyes and grins. I was thinking, 'How could a kid so angelic looking ever be any trouble??'
Then at the lights by the Old Bank Arcade our driver slowed down, then suddenly accelerated towards them for about a metre, just after the lights had gone red.... Some lady halfway across the crossing got a shock and shot my nice bus driver an evil glare. She looked like your typical middle-aged rich lady out to check out the latest stock at Kircaldies..... My driver just smiled and laughed. I think she got a kick out of giving the old biddy a scare. I enjoyed seeing that too.
Nice that she kept herself entertained :) Better than a grumpy driver.
* * *
Got a haircut today. Hairdressers are obsessed with cutting hair shorter and shorter and making fringes more pronounced. That is all I have to say about that.
* * *
I bought a couple of things from Riccochet. On sale, of course (their stuff is ridiculously expensive and I resent that you have to step outside the changing rooms to find a mirror). That means I am officially 'urban chic' now :) Or maybe I still have to buy something from Starfish....
I had two nice bus drivers today. The first one was a lady. We were driving directly behind another trolley-bus from Manners St to Lambton Quay. Sitting in the back of the other trolley-bus was a women with two week kids, about 2 and 3 years old. They were very excited by the journey, and kept turning back to look at our bus. The driver of my bus would smile and wave at them, and they'd wave back. If they got a bit ahead of us, the kids would keep watching, wistfully.... until we caught up at the lights, where they'd wave to the driver again. You could tell she was quite enjoying this little interaction. Cute kids too - curly hair and big eyes and grins. I was thinking, 'How could a kid so angelic looking ever be any trouble??'
Then at the lights by the Old Bank Arcade our driver slowed down, then suddenly accelerated towards them for about a metre, just after the lights had gone red.... Some lady halfway across the crossing got a shock and shot my nice bus driver an evil glare. She looked like your typical middle-aged rich lady out to check out the latest stock at Kircaldies..... My driver just smiled and laughed. I think she got a kick out of giving the old biddy a scare. I enjoyed seeing that too.
Nice that she kept herself entertained :) Better than a grumpy driver.
* * *
Got a haircut today. Hairdressers are obsessed with cutting hair shorter and shorter and making fringes more pronounced. That is all I have to say about that.
* * *
I bought a couple of things from Riccochet. On sale, of course (their stuff is ridiculously expensive and I resent that you have to step outside the changing rooms to find a mirror). That means I am officially 'urban chic' now :) Or maybe I still have to buy something from Starfish....
Time Capsule - 1972
I ripped open another box of stuff-from-Dad's. This one had lots of clothes and stuffed toys. And it did have my mum's wedding dress in it. Here is a photo of my mum and dad on their wedding day. They had it at the Waterloo Hotel, which is now a backpackers, opposite the Wellington Railway Station. They didn't have any religious elements and wrote their own vows, which was rarer for the 70s. That's me and my brother having a bath, on the right. I miss Polaroid cameras.
Mum's dress was by some designer who had a boutique up north somewhere (quite trendy at the time, apparently). Dad wore a Spanish leather jacket that Mum made him buy (his only trendy clothes purchase ever).
I fit it. Only just. My mum was skinnier than me, pre-babies. She was a bean-pole (and it was the 70s and I think she did the odd bit of speed, if not other drugs, which she sincerely warned me against in my teens), though I think we're basically similar proportions.
It has moth-holes and rust stains on it now, but it's still quite beautiful to me. If you took the chiffon sleeves and chest bits off and made it a bit longer , it'd be pretty much exactly perfect. It has these really delicate pleats in the chiffon, from the waistband to mid-thigh, then it has looser pleats and flares out a little more, with a satin under-dress. I perhaps shouldn't have had my black leggings on under it...
I think me and Mum were both 'dress people'. It's funny to think of a parent as 'fashionable', since that element of them seems to be sacrificed once they have children (more fat, less money, less glamorous occasions). But I think Mum was a pretty stylish lady back in the swinging 60s and 70s.
A couple of weeks after my birthday this year, my life will be split in half exactly (half with Mum alive, half without). That's an odd thought.
To Quiz
1. Me and all of my flatmates (and other invited guests) went to the local quiz last night.
2. We named ourselves 'Crazy Cat Lady and Friends' after Carly and her antics on the walk to the pub (her cat followed us and had to be carried home, Mamma's Boy). We did not win any spot prizes.
3. I was disappointed that the quiz master was not the one from last time - this one did not wear the Quiz Master Cape with panache and he had to spell out the 'tricky' words.
4. I had fish for dinner. I hardly ever order the fish.
5. The people at the table next to me were people I'd gone to school with, all three of them. I didn't say hello though. I've seen them down there before, and once you don't say hello the first time it gets more awkward to suddenly pretend you recognise them..... I will say hi next time, though! They beat us in a tie-breaker. They are smart. All people from my town must therefore be smart. One of them was one of my brother's best friends at school. He seems very conservative, but secretly I know he has his nipples pierced.
6. It was a nice surprise when Sam turned up.
7. Reidun pointed out a guy she thought I'd like - and I'd already seen him earlier and thought that he was dapper looking. She knows my taste.
8. Apparently Danyon Loader was there, though I couldn't see him.
9. Kyle had heard the same quiz being read at his work earlier in the week - so he knew the ponderous puzzle before the first clue was even given. That may have helped our points total. Lichtenstein.
10. We all went for coffee and cake afterwards. That is not an easy task at 11pm on a Thursday, evidently. The first four places we tried already had the chairs up and shooed us away. We finally went to Midnight Espresso. I had a strawberry and rhubarb cake, which was good. It had fluffy pink icing.
* * *
I am now going to read 'The Half Brother' by Lars Saabye Christensen. I have read another book of his, 'Herman' which I thoroughly liked. It's about a balding boy whose dad is a crane driver and who has a crush on a girl with bright red hair. He's sweet. I like books with innocence and tiny observations.
* * *
I started learning how to play my ukulele in earnest tonight. I'm not sure if I have it tuned quite right. My highlight thusfar is learning to play 'Soon Forget' by Eddie Vedder. I've always liked that song. It's quite hard to play on the guitar, being barred on a very high fret, but relatively easy on the uke.
* * *
I had promised to email some feedback to students last week. I had put it off until yesterday. Three of them have emailed back saying 'thanks'. Some kids have good manners. If I had favourites, it might be them.
2. We named ourselves 'Crazy Cat Lady and Friends' after Carly and her antics on the walk to the pub (her cat followed us and had to be carried home, Mamma's Boy). We did not win any spot prizes.
3. I was disappointed that the quiz master was not the one from last time - this one did not wear the Quiz Master Cape with panache and he had to spell out the 'tricky' words.
4. I had fish for dinner. I hardly ever order the fish.
5. The people at the table next to me were people I'd gone to school with, all three of them. I didn't say hello though. I've seen them down there before, and once you don't say hello the first time it gets more awkward to suddenly pretend you recognise them..... I will say hi next time, though! They beat us in a tie-breaker. They are smart. All people from my town must therefore be smart. One of them was one of my brother's best friends at school. He seems very conservative, but secretly I know he has his nipples pierced.
6. It was a nice surprise when Sam turned up.
7. Reidun pointed out a guy she thought I'd like - and I'd already seen him earlier and thought that he was dapper looking. She knows my taste.
8. Apparently Danyon Loader was there, though I couldn't see him.
9. Kyle had heard the same quiz being read at his work earlier in the week - so he knew the ponderous puzzle before the first clue was even given. That may have helped our points total. Lichtenstein.
10. We all went for coffee and cake afterwards. That is not an easy task at 11pm on a Thursday, evidently. The first four places we tried already had the chairs up and shooed us away. We finally went to Midnight Espresso. I had a strawberry and rhubarb cake, which was good. It had fluffy pink icing.
* * *
I am now going to read 'The Half Brother' by Lars Saabye Christensen. I have read another book of his, 'Herman' which I thoroughly liked. It's about a balding boy whose dad is a crane driver and who has a crush on a girl with bright red hair. He's sweet. I like books with innocence and tiny observations.
* * *
I started learning how to play my ukulele in earnest tonight. I'm not sure if I have it tuned quite right. My highlight thusfar is learning to play 'Soon Forget' by Eddie Vedder. I've always liked that song. It's quite hard to play on the guitar, being barred on a very high fret, but relatively easy on the uke.
* * *
I had promised to email some feedback to students last week. I had put it off until yesterday. Three of them have emailed back saying 'thanks'. Some kids have good manners. If I had favourites, it might be them.
Monday, August 23, 2010
The things I'll do for Chocolate
Last night I bought a block of Cadbury Gold - a new flavour that's dark chocolate with crunchy toffee pieces (it was ok, but not as magical as I had imagined).
Today after school I hopped in my car and found two pieces had somehow escaped the pack and were sitting on the passenger seat next to me.
It had been sunny that afternoon, and they were quite melted and mushy.
Not one to waste good chocolate, I scraped off the blob from the top and ate it.
As I looked in the rear-view-mirror, licking my fingers, and saw the smears of chocolate around my face and glanced over at the brown chocolately stain left on the other seat.....
I realised it was not my best moment.
* * *
Speaking of delicious things.... while I have been vaguely aware of the 'delicious' website I only just got myself an account this weekend.
It's awesome! I've heard the novelty wears off, but for now I am book-marking and tagging like crazy.
Today after school I hopped in my car and found two pieces had somehow escaped the pack and were sitting on the passenger seat next to me.
It had been sunny that afternoon, and they were quite melted and mushy.
Not one to waste good chocolate, I scraped off the blob from the top and ate it.
As I looked in the rear-view-mirror, licking my fingers, and saw the smears of chocolate around my face and glanced over at the brown chocolately stain left on the other seat.....
I realised it was not my best moment.
* * *
Speaking of delicious things.... while I have been vaguely aware of the 'delicious' website I only just got myself an account this weekend.
It's awesome! I've heard the novelty wears off, but for now I am book-marking and tagging like crazy.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Toy Story 3
I haven't really watched the previous Toy Story movies (enough of the quotes and images are ingrained in kid-pop-culture that I feel like I've seen them, though).
But Rich had cheap tickets and I tend to like the good quality kiddie-cartoony things.
It was decent. It left me less frustrated than Inception.
I think I have a rather immature emotional core, so I do like the simple moral messages in those kinda films. Loyalty and courage are pretty awesome values. If only life was so simple.
It made me think of my favourite childhood toy, Ellie. I was bloody loyal to Ellie. He went on many family trips with me and I pretend-stitched up the hole in his neck many times (for some reason I thought it necessary to douse him in talcum powder each time I pretend-operated on him - wasn't quite sure what else to use it for and I had a couple of containers of it from Nana).
But I don't know where Ellie is.
It causes me pangs of anxiety.
I know that he was at my Dad's house. I know that when he moved in with his wife, Ellie was put in a box labelled 'stuffed toys'. I know that he was on a shelf up in the loft of the new house for a while.
I also know that their dog likes to chew soft toys and had been fed many of my old stuffed animals (to my chagrin). I also know that many of my old toys had been regifted to younger nephews and neices. But surely Ellie was too old and beat-up to be donated.....
They have moved house again and Ellie was apparently boxed up with some other 'treasures' for me, which I only just got .... but he's not in any of the boxes.
I have to accept the fact that Ellie may have been eaten by a dog.
That makes me feel bad.
I think this incident may come up if I even need counselling and am asked, 'So how did your father's remarrying affect you?'
But Rich had cheap tickets and I tend to like the good quality kiddie-cartoony things.
It was decent. It left me less frustrated than Inception.
I think I have a rather immature emotional core, so I do like the simple moral messages in those kinda films. Loyalty and courage are pretty awesome values. If only life was so simple.
It made me think of my favourite childhood toy, Ellie. I was bloody loyal to Ellie. He went on many family trips with me and I pretend-stitched up the hole in his neck many times (for some reason I thought it necessary to douse him in talcum powder each time I pretend-operated on him - wasn't quite sure what else to use it for and I had a couple of containers of it from Nana).
But I don't know where Ellie is.
It causes me pangs of anxiety.
I know that he was at my Dad's house. I know that when he moved in with his wife, Ellie was put in a box labelled 'stuffed toys'. I know that he was on a shelf up in the loft of the new house for a while.
I also know that their dog likes to chew soft toys and had been fed many of my old stuffed animals (to my chagrin). I also know that many of my old toys had been regifted to younger nephews and neices. But surely Ellie was too old and beat-up to be donated.....
They have moved house again and Ellie was apparently boxed up with some other 'treasures' for me, which I only just got .... but he's not in any of the boxes.
I have to accept the fact that Ellie may have been eaten by a dog.
That makes me feel bad.
I think this incident may come up if I even need counselling and am asked, 'So how did your father's remarrying affect you?'
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