Black Fingernails Red Crayons

2007-05-02T16:54:00.000+10:00

I felt like doing another Word Association thingy today. Here goes.

1. Order :: Control
2. Mortician :: Father
3. Determine :: Cause
4. Ignore :: Hurt
5. Guy :: Pierce
6. Train :: Wreck
7. Garlic :: Bread
8. Wacky :: Groucho
9. Parent :: Loss
10. Burning :: Rage

Friends Kid And Cat

2007-05-02T16:51:00.000+10:00

OK... I found this cute.

Distractions: Word association.

2007-03-01T15:40:00.000+11:00

I say ... and you think ... ?

Soldier :: Tin
Lipton :: James
Reason :: Die
Terms :: Endearment
Positive :: Charge
Example :: Debate
Legacy :: Will
Solo :: Alone
Instrument :: Trumpet
Later :: Ron

WARNING! Blastocyte and Zygote Pictures...

2007-03-01T15:26:00.000+11:00

I'm posting this information under Crayons as some of the Cordial readers may find them upsetting. As happy as we are when others get pregnant it's not always the easiest of things to cope with the gushing.

This is a blastocyte: It's at day 5 development ans was what was put inside me in the hope that it would take.

This is the 7 week 1 day ultrasound that shows how well it's taken. Heart beat 140 bpm.

Wedding photos

2007-02-14T15:26:00.000+11:00

We picked up the cd of photos last night. I'm going to do a permanent blog of them at another site but for those that are interested. The Bridal Party.

Blogging and the Internet

2007-01-30T21:34:00.000+11:00

Blogging and the Internet

1. How often do you update your blog/site and why? My actual blog I update when I feel I need to vent or want to get a message out to a large group without bulk mailing. My LJ I update when I feel it is important or urgent. This Blog I update when I meme or feel like being creative. My hidden blog? When I'm being naughty.

2. How often do you comment on other people’s sites and why? Only when I feel the need to respond or want to say "Thanks" for something.

3. How often do you change the layout of your site and why? Not often, I'm not computer literate enough to get too fancy so i tend to leave it alone.

4. Do you ever feel guilty that you don’t reciprocate comments or you really don’t care? I try to reciprocate but tend to do taht in a new post rather than directly to a comment. I do follow responses to my comments on other blogs and keep them as curretn as possible. I find it easier this way.

5. How many sites on average do you visit daily and of those, how many do you comment on? I lurk on about twenty sites, comment on three or four, and flick read other sites; either as bookmarked by others or linked, but mainly if they relate to IVF as it gives me strength. If someone comments here I go visit, but don't necessarily respond. In that way I'm rude. ;p

Word Association.

2007-01-25T10:28:00.000+11:00

This was posted over at LunaNina 3 days, 18 hours, 27 minutes ago

I say ... and you think ... ?

Audition :: open
Urgent :: delivery
Lunch :: time
Adult :: magazine
Mug :: coffee
Awful :: waste of time
Comics :: books
Damage :: goods
Kicks :: INXS
Experience :: Life

Thursday is Book day....

2007-01-25T10:21:00.000+11:00

1, 2, 3....

The Page 123 Meme

Grab the book closest to you.
Open to page 123, look down to the 5th sentence.
Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.
Include the title and the author's name.

So here goes:

Photographs often display the white spots known as noise. These white spots are most prevalent in dark areas of the image (see Figure 9-5) and often occur when you scan an image on a scanner or use long exposures with a digital camera.

Photoshop Elements provides the Dust & Scratches filter to automatically correct some of these defects.

Verbatim from the nearest book on the desk: Photoshop Elements 4.0 by David Plotkin.

A Very Late And A Very Early Scavenger Hunt.

2007-01-25T10:05:00.000+11:00

This photo is for the "wild" theme. Carefully commofalged in this picture is an echidna in the wild, well in the Australian Bush outside of Daylesford. Moments before the Echidna had been waddling across the road in front of us. Breaks screech, jump out, echidna takes off, I follow with camera to get him burrowing out of site. So I promise you he's in there. I just don't know where.

And this is my "Silver" entry, it's that lining they keep telling you about.

Thursday is the new Tuesday

2007-01-25T09:58:00.000+11:00

Between working and IVF these memes are getting tricky to keep up with; but seeing as I am enjoying the distraction from reality I don't want to stop yet... hmmm... can you be addicted to memes?

Anyway; my Twosome dealer Miss Dee has posted a new list of questions on short term memory.

Movies you watched:  Clue with Tim Curry and The Taming Of The Shrew with Rufus Sewel.

TV shows you saw: Men in Trees and My Family.

Items you purchased:  Rice and Tofu.

Beverages you drank:  Coffee and Folate enriched Brekky Juice.

Internet sites you surfed (before coming here):
 I actually checked my mail; I have three accounts; before doing this.
 The other sites were My Yahoo and For Better Or For Worse. Both Comics Pages.

Tuesday twosome: At this moment...

2007-01-16T20:45:00.000+11:00

At This Very Moment

List two things…

On your desk: Ice water (It's like 39C here atm), remnants from making invites for our wedding.
On your bed: Washing to be folded, one grey cat enjoying the coolness of the ceiling fan.
You are craving: A cool change, a proper rain.
That are annoying you: The heat, not knowing how tommorow will go at the scan.
That best describes your “style”: Hippy, alternative.

Saturday Scavenger Hunt: Technology.

2007-01-13T21:56:00.000+11:00

What if it was cats who invented technology, would they have TV shows starring rubber squeaky toys? -- Douglas Coupland

Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will piss on your computer.

OK, so not really technology... but I like the quotes and the picture is cute. I'm a bit of a Luddite so I think that cats are the pinnacle of technology anyway; an opinion I feel they share.

Music Memoirs on Friday

2007-01-12T18:47:00.000+11:00

Top 5 On Friday - Week 106

Here's a topic that will make you look in your mp3 players and winamps an on your CD and LP covers

Top 5 songs under 3 minutes long

Let's see: not a definitive list but some favourites under 3 minutes...

Big Yellow Taxi: Joni Mitchell 2:14

I Wanna Be Sedated: The Ramones 2:29

Don't Let Start: They Might Be Giants 2:36

Paranoid: Black Sabbath 2:46

Movin' Right Along: The Muppets 2:56

Booking through Thursday... part 2.

2007-01-11T22:09:00.000+11:00

What are you reading right now? (Well, obviously, you're reading THIS right now, perhaps I should have been more clear. What book(s) are you in the process of reading? (grin))

The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde.

Science of the Discworld 2 by Terry Pratchett and others.

Lust Quest by Ray Gordon.

I tend to have at least two books on the go at any time, so this is the pile beside bed with book marks in list.

Wordless Wednesday: cats and boxes.

2007-01-10T21:40:00.000+11:00

"He'll never find me in here."

"Found you. My turn to hide."

This is the box that we got our new bread maker in, one of the presents we were given for our wedding. Little Miss loves hiding in boxes. Bosco loves tormenting Little Miss. This gave them hours of fun until my paranoia about cats and styrofoam took over and I hid the box.

We're very sorry, Mister Schroedinger, but the cat refuses to go in the box.

Tuesday Twosome: That's Entertainment.

2007-01-09T14:43:00.000+11:00

1. Two celebs that you feel are the most overexposed:

Paris Hilton (What does she do again?) and Britney Spears - buy some clothes girl.

2. Two news items you wish the press would stop talking about:
Paris Hilton touring Australia, Shane Warne leaving cricket.

3. Two songs that you are tired of hearing on the radio:
Um... I don't listen to much commercial radio, mainly talkback.
Um, I guess anything by Nickelback and Shannon Noll.

4. Two TV shows that should NOT be renewed for another season:
Today Tonight and A Current Affair.

5. Two movies (that are currently showing) that you would recommend:
Night At The Museum in IMAX.
Breakfast At Tiffany's on at Moonlight Cinema on January 20th.

Unconscious Mutterings.

2007-01-07T23:45:00.000+11:00

This brilliant idea was one I stumbled over at:

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Incomplete ::Thought
Bobby :: Pin
Chopstick :: Piano
Trauma :: Head
Hesitate :: Lost
Leap :: Imagination
Magnify :: Lens
Yards :: Back
Alexander :: Downer
Fracture :: Hairline

Ok, that was fun. I wonder what it reveals about me?

Scavenger Hunt: Memory.

2007-01-06T21:45:00.000+11:00

The memory of meeting my grand nephew Josh for the first time is one of my favourites. He turns five this year and start school in Benalla.

The Music Memoirs: a Friday Meme

2007-01-05T22:49:00.000+11:00

Top 5 On Friday - Week 1 (Their up to 105.)

This week's topic may read a bit tricky so if you have a question, shoot me a question over on yon tagboard. M'kay?

Top 5 songs that weren't written by the artist that recorded them. (But not cover songs)

I'll give you an example

The Monkees - A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (written by Neil Diamond)

Ok: Let's see how this goes; a challenging start to this meme idea.

The Monkees - I'm A Believer (written by Neil Diamond for the Monkees then later covered by him.)

Richard Harris - Macarthur Park (written by Jimmy Webb.)

Elvis Presley - In The Ghetto (written for him by Mac Davis, and probably one of the only "Elvis songs" that I prefer to other interpretations. eg. Carl Perkins' Blue Suede Shoes is superior to the Elvis cover.)

Pretty much anything written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach could be on this list as performed by Dionne Warwick; let's go with "Walk On By."

I think in Babes at Arms in the 1930's Mitzi Green first sang - My Funny Valentine (written by Rodgers and Hart.) Which just opens up the can of worms associated with Col Porter, Irving Berlin etc.

Booking Through Thursday

2007-01-04T22:33:00.000+11:00

I found this over here and thougt it looked fun. So when I have time I might play.

Booking Through Thursday

So, now that 2006 is over . . . what were your favorite books of the year?

NEW

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
Thud by Terry Pratchett.
Where's My Cow? by Terry Pratchett.
Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde.

RE-READS

Mother Tongue and Made In America by Bill Bryson.
Stepford Wives by Ira Levin.
Hitch Hikers Original Radio Scripts by Douglas Adams.
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

UNPUBLISHED

Script: One For The Team by Paul Duncanson
Manuscript of a short story: Most Wanted by Damian Perry

STRUGGLING MY WAY THROUGH BUT LOVING

Holy Blood Holy Grail
Science of the Discworld 2 by Terry Pratchett.
A Short History of Everything by Bill Bryson.

Wordless Wednesday.

2007-01-03T22:14:00.000+11:00

Art is the most intense mode of invidualism that the world has known.

- Oscar Wilde, In Art

Tuesday Twosome: Who Are The Two People...

2007-01-02T21:55:00.000+11:00

Who are the two people…

1. That annoy you the most? Why?

Not many people in my life actually annoy me. The people who write blogs of hate on the net annoy me, I don't understand the need for these things. It's pretty much a "If you can't say anything nice" attitude. Politicians who don't use their positions for greater good but to advance a commercial or religious view point also annoy me. (Tony Abbott and his opposition to IVF and Stem Cell spring to mind as an example.)

2. That inspire you the most? Why?

My Father; he taught me that nothing is so great that not giving it a try will make smaller; um that reads confusingly but I know what I mean.

The Boi. He gives me the courage to step out of my comfort zone. He makes me secure in his love but lets me spread my wings and fly.

3. That you would love to trade places with? Why?

For one week only I'd like to try being the me from another reality. The one who finished everything she started. I'd like to try her on now, at my age and see how she is different.

I'd also like to swap places with someone who did something I always wanted too and see how that would be; like an actress, singer or an author. I don't know who, or from what era. Maybe someone who is all three, but not Madonna.

4. That you talk to the most? Why?

My husband and my cats; proximity and time I guess.

5. That you think are great role models? Why?

Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins; because they stand up for what they believe in and appear to live their beliefs.
A bff I have who is vegan, an enviromentalist and a humanitarian in all the good meanings of those words; she's also an amazing person.

I guess I think great role models inspire you to be greater than the some of your parts. That they improve the world in a small way that has a ripple effect.

Scavenger Hunt: NEW

2006-12-29T13:03:00.000+11:00

Being as close to the fires as we were on our honeymoon was a new experience for the Boi and myself.

It's not very original but I've been busy working and yesterday was my 32nd birthday; a time traditionally spent wishing my mother had crossed her legs for a fortnight so that my birthday wasn't largely ignored by those around me too busy with Christmas and New Years, or on holidays. *SOB* Rant over.

Happy New Year Scavengers.

Huge hugs and may they be safe and happy.

Friday is the new Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.

2006-12-29T12:37:00.000+11:00

Wordless Wednesday:

Rain.

Tuesday Twosome:

1. Top two Favorite Movies.
Tough one, there are too many to choose from.
Two I could watch ad nauseum?
 Practical Magic, Sweet Home Alabama.
Tomorrow the answer may change.

2. Top two Favorite Actors.
Johny Depp, Alan Rickman.

3. Top two Favorite Actresses.
Susan Sarandon, Janeane Garofalo.

4. Top two Favorite TV Shows.
Currently loving Weeds, also Men In Trees.
They both appeal to my love of quirky things.
Once again a very difficult category to narrow down.

5. Top two Favorite TV Musicians.
Paul Hester used to host a music show on the Australia's
ABC, he would be first on the list.
Second? Harder to say.  James Reyne on Dig TV
(ABC Digital 2).

Scavenger Hunt: Lines.

2006-12-23T13:55:00.000+11:00

Sorry; I couldn't come up with any lines this week. I do have this picture of the dirty marks left from when the Boi removed the stickers from his van after he stopped working as a courier. It sorta fits.

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas.

2006-12-20T11:24:00.000+11:00

This was taken on our Honeymoon at the Browns Brothers Wineries at Milawa. I thought it would make a perfect Wordless. Merry Christmas everyone.

Tuesday Twosome: Holiday Celebrations

2006-12-20T11:08:00.000+11:00

Holiday Celebrations…

1. Do you celebrate a religious meaning to this season and if so, what (Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.)? If not, why?

My family celebrate Christmas, friends celebrate Hannukah, mostly I celebrate Summer Solstice.

2. What does this holiday season mean to

you and why?

It means my birthday being ignored. Until I met the Boi I never had birthday celebrations. He makes a point of doing something special on the day (it falls between Christmas and New Years.) so that takes the edge of. I don't cope

well with this time of year so it also means depreession and lots of crying. (I think it relates to the Birthday being ignored in the past but I am not completely sure.)

3. Which do you enjoy the most: giving pre

sents or receiving presents and why?

Giving: As the old quote says: It is not better to give then to receive, just less embarassing. I also like coming up with different things that suit t

he person receiving, but also reflect the Boi and me. I don't like receiving as I never know how to react and tend to do so badly.

4. Name two holiday movies that best describes the season for you:

Crackers and Home For The Holidays.

5. Name two holiday songs that best describes the season for you:

I like Christmas songs with a difference: Monty Python's Christmas in Heaven would be a good indication of TV at christmas. Weird Al's Christmas at Ground Zero is also a favourite.

What songs describe the season best? I think the Foxtrot says it well. ;)

Merry Christmas Tuesday Twosome-rs.

Scavenger Hunt: Annoying.

2006-12-17T00:49:00.000+11:00

Overall I find wearing bra's very very annoying... it doesn't surprise me in the least that they were invented by a male. ;p Conversations with my female friends reinforce my choice of a bra as something annoying; bits digging in, finding correct sizes, sexy versus comfort, the "double cleavage" look, riding up, falling out, pinching, etc. etc. etc.

The bra in the picture is the one I wore while playing the role of Janet in RHPS Audience Participation for almost a decade. I fell out of it at least once a performance, which my"Rocky" found annoying. So I guess it's a double whammy.

Wordless Wednesday: Breakfst Table on Honeymoon

2006-12-13T15:19:00.000+11:00

The critical period of matrimony is breakfast-time
A P Herbert

2006-12-13T15:06:00.000+11:00

This and that…

1. Name you are most frequently called? Nickname you are most frequently called?

Cate or Cath. Nickname? Kitty Cat by my Mum (which I hate so thought I'd take ownership of in the name of a blog), Felice and Lestat.

2. Age people think you are? Age you wish you were?

I got hit on the other day by a guy who thought I was 18, but mostly I get told I look 24. I feel 24. I don't wish I was any age, more the weight I was when I was a certain age.

3. Have you ever had someone mess with/pranked you while you were sleeping? Have you ever messed/pranked with people when they are sleeping?

Nope.

4. Have you ever actually listened to a Telemarketers phone call? Have you ever prank-called someone?

Yes to a telemarketers call. Yes, I've prank called someone. We had a group call the one number leaving messages for someone who didn't live there, say Bob, over a period of a week. Then the final person called saying they were Bob and asking for messages.

5. What is the longest you have gone without food? What is the largest amount of food you have ever eaten at one sitting?

Longest without food? 3 days. Largest amount eaten in one sitting? Not sure. I'm a recovering bulimic and have a love hate relationship with food. Probably a large pizza, a family size cheese cake, 2L of coke, garlic bread and then lots of snack food. All before the Coeliac diagnosis, all hidden eating. I still hide some of my eating butI'm getting better about not binge eating and making sure I do eat. (I get sick now if I eat too much or don't eat.)

Saturday Scavenger Hunt: Red

2006-12-09T15:08:00.000+11:00

This was taken during the week we've been away on our Honeymoon. We went up to the beautiful area between Mount Hotham and Mount Buffallo, staying at Wandiligong or Morse's Creek. It was stunning, but sadly the area is under threat from Bushfires. The image I tried to capture of the sun was when it was bright red from the polution of the fires. This photo doesn't do it justice.

My heart goes out to the people affected by fires at this time.

Wordless Wednes.... Friday ;p

2006-12-01T00:32:00.000+11:00

"No sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked than they loved than they sighed, no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy."

Waxing Moons And Bikini Lines

2006-12-01T00:26:00.000+11:00

OK; TMI about to follow.

I got my first full wax today. Actually, my first waxing experience pretty much ever.

OUCH!

The Wedding will be three days before full moon; which is a mixed blessing. It means I am more emotionally stable but that my own cycle will be during the week we are away.

In the morning I am purchasing Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence.

I have a cake and catch up with girlfriends tomorrow too.

Then final purchases: Ribon for car and outfit for grandnephew and ring bearer and we are set.

*gulp*

I'm very scared but I don't know why. Forever doesn't frighten me because "Forever ends tommorow."

I'll apologise now for not doing TMI, Wordless and Scavenger this week coming but I hope people will understand.

Huge hugs to all.

Tuesday Twosome: Randomness

2006-11-30T00:30:00.000+11:00

Randomness…

1. Have you ever said “I Love you” and not meant it? Has someone told you “I Love you” and not meant it?

No, I've never said I love you and not meant it in that moment. Yes, someone has done that to me.

2. Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you believe in karma?

Yes, I believe in love at first sight and karma. I also believe in the rules of 3's. What you send out comes back to you three times as hard; things happen in threes; there are others but I cannot remember them of the top of my head.

3. What person do you trust the most? What person do you trust the least?

I trust people more if they do not look like they conform to another persons drum beat; which is hard to explain. If you wear your pants half way down your arse than I have issues trusting you. If you wear a suit than I will be wary. If you judge me before you know me than I will be distrustful of you. Which leads in to another rule of 3; give everyone you meet 3 chances; the first two times might be bad days and you might lose the chance to meet a great person if you go by initial impressions.

4. What type(s) of music do you like? What type(s) of music do you dislike?

I have very eclectic tastes in music; I like everything except house, hip hop and techno. This general rule has exceptions; I don't like techno but I like Spanky. I love the Clannad but cannot come at Enya solo.

5. Who is your celebrity crush? Who do you think is your celebrity look-a-like?

Clelebrity crush? Janene Garofalo, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Kevin Smith, Deborah Conway, Stevie Nicks, Alan Rickman... the list continues. At the moment I'm really liking Kav Temperley from Eskimo Joe.

Look alike? Gillian Andersen circa 1995 if my hair is red and layered. According to the My Heritage site I look like Rebecca Romjim, Eminem, Tiger Woods and somone called Chester Bennington: so i know it's wrong.

Saturday Scavenger Hunt: Time

2006-11-25T18:03:00.000+11:00

I like this photo as a representation of time as it could be dawn or dusk, at any point in history. I like this photo as a representation of time as it is timeless; and so am I as the wedding draws closer. :0)

In the beginning the universe was created.
This has made a lot of people angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
--Douglas Adams

I was going to take a picture of my lunch so I could use a favourite Douglas Adams quote on time.

Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.
Douglas Adams
English humorist & science fiction novelist (1952 - 2001)

Wordless Wednesday: Aerial Shot of Farm in Yarra Valley

2006-11-22T17:48:00.000+11:00

“When his life was ruined, his family killed, his farm destroyed, Job knelt down on the ground and yelled up to the heavens, 'Why god? Why me?' and the thundering voice of God answered, 'There's just something about you that pisses me off” Stephen King

Thanksgiving.

2006-11-22T11:03:00.000+11:00

Thanksgiving…

1. What two things are you most thankful for?

My partner and my parents.

2. What are two things you like about Thanksgiving?

That we don't celebrate it in Australia (sign we haven't given in totally to the US influence on our culture) and the Foxtrot cartoons that commemorate it.

3. What two foods do you like the most for Thanksgiving dinner?

Omen, who once cooked me a Thanksgiving dinner made the best pumpkin pie. I also love cranberry sauce thanks to that night.

4. What two things do you do with the leftovers?

Leftovers? Hmmmm; sheppards pie is a Christmas leftover family tradition. Bubble and squeek also gets made alot after Christmas.

5. What are two activities you do after eating Thanksgiving Dinner?

You're too young to know what we did after the Thanksgiving dinner made for me ;)

If I was in the US I'd probably watch the football, have I got this right, Superbowl on Thanksgiving? I'd also be recovering from protests over shooting wild turkeys.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the US readers.

My Hair Cut; By Kit, aged 31.

2006-11-21T15:36:00.000+11:00

I have very long hair, which I got trimmed and coloured today in preparation for the wedding. This *Risque* photo was taken about six years ago but it gives some idea of the length. Before the cut today it was below my waist, now it sits halfway down my back. The Boi's first words when he saw the new colour and cut was; "You look great".

The comment was doubly fantastic as I had just walked the 25 minutes home from the station and was bright red (39C today people... that's about 100F pre decimalisation) and severely out of breath, got to love infections.

So my next big wedding thing, also hair related, is a major waxing. Pits, brows and bikini. I've had the first two done before but never the third. I've been told it is only painful if the hair is too long. TMI? ;p

On Saturday it's the Hens night with make up trial before it in the afternoon; I'll be handing out HTV's in the morning so any Eastern Region Victorians come say "Hi" if you recognise me; I'll be handing out for the Democrats and People Power. The last state election I handed out for Democrats and Greens; but the Greens seem to have enough help this time around.

Wedding Count Down....

2006-11-18T17:05:00.000+11:00

Two weeks = 14 days = 336 hours = 20160 minutes = 1209600 seconds until I get married... not that I'm counting or anything.
I always think of the Beatles Yellow Submarine when I see numbers calculated like that... very "When I'm 64."

Marriage is an Athenic weaving together of families, of two souls with their individual fates and destinies, of time and eternity--everyday life married to the timeless mysteries of the soul.- Thomas Moore

I have spread my dreams beneath your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
- W.B. Yeats

When you meet someone who can cook and do housework--don't hesitate a minute--marry him.
- Unknown

One should believe in marriage as in the immortality of the soul.
- Honore de Balzac

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the wedding cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up.
- Ogden Nash

Two souls with but a single thought,
Two heart that beat as one.
- Franz Joseph von Munch-Bellinghausen

We come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
- Sam Keen

Now join hands, and with your hands your hearts.
- William Shakespeare

Whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same.
- Emily Bronte

Scavenger Hunt: Plush

2006-11-17T17:20:00.000+11:00

I think of all my plush toys my favourite is Bosco.
From this hunt I learnt that entering Plush into Google leads you to some cute sites.

Wordless Wednesday: Pop's Bakery Belgrave. c. 1920.

2006-11-14T18:13:00.000+11:00

I also remember the delicious smell of the big loaves of bread baking in the family bakery's wood-burning oven. I have loved the smell and taste of fresh bread ever since. Georg Solti

Thank you mum.

2006-11-12T19:02:00.000+11:00

I want to send a huge hug of thanks to my Mum. OK, she drives me nuts but she also acts as my foundation. While organising my wedding she's been a voice of fiscal reasoning but also willing to open her wallet for the important things. She has asked us to wait until we are married to have children many times (and asked us to delay IVF till it's done); but she was also the person who helped me see a lighter side to the whole process. Yes, lots of useless advice and clichéd supportive statements aggravate me, but she's also been down to earth and funny when I needed her too. So THANK YOU MUM.
Say Thanks to your mum here.

Saturday Scavenger: Growth.

2006-11-10T23:15:00.000+11:00

Growth: An interpretation before bed.

The Boi has an obscene growth on his face. I like guys clean shaven. Nothing against those with beards; but if I want to kiss and not end up with the worse case of pash rash since Sharon from Kath and Kim I need my Romeo's clean shaven.

I guess I'm like Beatrice in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, 2:1.

Lord, I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face!

Wordless Wednesday: Ducks and quote.

2006-11-08T18:03:00.000+11:00

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
Douglas Adams

Cute baby Clothing.

2006-11-06T17:38:00.000+11:00

I'm giving some serious thought to buying this for the next baby in the family; unfortunately the niece who is expecting has not got a similar sense of humour to me. I'll keep looking for "Shits, spits and vomits."

Saturday Scavenger: Windows.

2006-11-03T20:55:00.000+11:00

Two this week; the first was one I took of a gorgeous stain glass window in the main street of Warburton. The second was my attempt at a photo showing the "window to the soul." I prefer the first one; the second was my original idea. I thought I'd post both.

A Warburton Window.

A Cliched Interpretation.

Wordless Wednesday: a little early; a little quote.

2006-10-31T14:49:00.000+11:00

“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon”
a.a.milne

Saturday Scavenger Hunt: Safe

2006-10-27T21:12:00.000+10:00

Explanation? Well the Vegemite is the iconic Australian food; sadly Vegemite has gluten; that makes it unsafe for me as a coeliac. The b-group vitamins that are missing from Vegemite don't exist.

The Mightymite is gluten free; therefore it is SAFE.

Wordless Wednesday: back to the fuscia

2006-10-25T17:17:00.000+10:00

I can never resist a bad pun;
Just a random picture of fuscias taken at a local historical house.

Creativity In Counselling Using Crayons.

2006-10-25T13:31:00.000+10:00

Creative expression of self becomes important when you are trying to sort out your emotions. I'm tired at the moment so my explanation may be a little vague;

With creativity you can let out things that your subconscious might otherwise repress; like van Gogh and the Irises. Amongst this glorious painting of purple flowers we get one solitary white Iris, it's difference draws the eye. From an existentialist perspective we ask what meaning the solitary iris has to the painter; is it him? Is it just a case of running out of purple? Was it to break up the purple and give the eye a different point of focus? Is it the unconscious trying to be seen?

There's a book, The Van Gogh Blues which looks at this in much better detail.

Eric Maisel states; "Creators have trouble maintaining meaning," explains Maisel. "Creating is one of the ways they endeavor to maintain meaning. In the act of creation, they lay a veneer of meaning over meaninglessness and sometimes produce work that helps others maintain meaning. This is why creating is such a crucial activity in the life of a creator: It is one of the ways, and often the most important way, that she manages to make life feel meaningful. Not creating is depressing because she is not making meaning when she is not creating."

Using the Crayons format allows this depressive to get the creative side out in a less meaningful way. With two cats any painting I do means that I risk paw prints through the art work. As much as I feel they have more talent then I do it can ruin something I am happy with. Paintings of the uterus as a graveyard in which nothing can grow are not as poignant when they come complete with paw prints.

Prose allows thoughts to form in a way that those closest can see the meaning. It might come out in a shambolic fashion that means it needs a serious edit, but in that moment it allows the heart to bleed. You can hide the truth in prose; if a person reads my poetry and doesn't know me it can be seen as an exploration of pop culture, or another sad Goth trying to express their non existent inner self through the art of angst. To those that understand it can be a cry for help; or it can be a sign that things are on the improve.

Eventually I'll catalogue most of the poetry here. That might take years, but in doing that I hope to better understand my meaning and how it has changed. I also hope to edit and improve stuff written over a twenty seven year period. I've come a distance since writing about magicians as a 4 year old; but the hope that things will get better is still behind the pen. Who knows; one day I might be referred to as a female Ginsberg. Huge hope, but maybe that is what the meaning creative people search for is; hope.

Scavenger Hunt Photo: Two Cats Dreaming

2006-10-22T15:33:00.000+10:00

Only 10 more sleeps...

2006-10-22T00:02:00.000+10:00

Thanks to Obasso over at HNT for the picture.

I love that an artist whose messages were very cleverly disguised to make a "Christian message more acceptable to the majority" used a wonderful symbol of the upcoming harvest festival to show how we can all be more open to others beliefs.

At least thats my take. And just in case:

Dear Great Pumpkin,
For Halloween may I please have a baby and this cute grow suit for the baby to wear. I am happy to wait 9 months on the delivery of both.
Yours in hope,
Kitty.

Reality Check

2006-10-21T00:50:00.000+10:00

One of the Mythbusters uses "I reject your reality and substitute my own."

I think people should be grateful that this does not happen more often.

Could the person substituting their reality for mine stop. I want the happy back.

Mania crashing as depression overcomes.

2006-10-21T00:29:00.000+10:00

I do not know if this is my current place; I do not like these thoughts inside me; they are better out. Lets call this fiction; then I don't need to own the disease that eats at my sanity... then I don't need to own these thoughts.

I shouldn't be left alone at times like this.

Like what?

Like when the voices in my head start to scream louder and louder; like when I am going down, deeper into the darkness and finding that I

cannot

breathe.

I cannot swim through this

tar, slowly clogging in the reality of who I am.

I am not a child of the light,
nor do I think I ever will be.

I am clothed in the darkness.

I shouldn't be left alone at times like these
... when the mania turns to despair.

When the over whelming urge to fuck is replaced
by an even more deeper need to cease.
All coins have two sides,
this is mine.

The mania lifts me higher then anything and I feel the sun on my face as you smile at me.
but I have been left alone;
the sun is replaced by the cold empty barren moon.

Listen to music;
escape the feelings;
escape

Icehouse used to cheer me up;
look Icehouse Icehouse.

Lets play.
Play.
Play.
Play.

Play song about insane asylum.
Asylum from the wants and needs of others.
Others who aren't here.
Here where I am alone.
Alone in my head as I drown in my thoughts

thoughts overcrowding me

me abandoned to the voices

voices screaming louder to do things I don't want to.

To you.

You who have saved me before

Before when I have been like this

This place where I am alone

Alone... I shouldn't be alone at times like this...

Maybe I should do homework.... avoidance continues....

2006-10-18T23:14:00.000+10:00

Your Mood Ring is Red

Excited
Energized
Adventurous
Ready to go

Mood Ring Generator

OK, so this doesn't fit how I'm feeling; let's try the next one.

You Are 20% Abnormal

You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul.

You are at medium risk for having a borderline personality. It is somewhat likely that you are a chaotic mess.

You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection.

You are at low risk for having a social phobia. It is unlikely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement.

You are at low risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is unlikely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

How Abnormal Are You?

20%! Shit! Not trying hard enough obviously....

Your Lucky Underwear is Blue

You are caring and extroverted. You've made relationships your number one focus, and your lucky blue underwear can bring some balance to them.
You thrive in one-on-one situations. You are a good listener and a natural born therapist.

Sometimes you let the concerns of others become too important in your life, leading to stress and worry.
If you want more balance, put on your blue underpants. They'll help you take care of yourself first.

What Color Is Your Lucky Underwear?

Nope... wrong... it's black, impractical and fits badly....

Your Scholastic Strength Is Developing Ideas

You can take a spark of inspiration and turn it into a full fledged concept.
You are talented at brainstorming, visualizing, organizing, and independent thinking.

You should major in:

Natural sciences
Computer science
Creative writing
Math
Architecture
Journalism

What Should You Major In?

And I thought I'd be a Counsellor and run my own business in design on the side; designing cards, soaps and things, hmmm, developing things not ideas and helping others to develop their own ideas, guess this is close.

Wordless Wednesday for October 18th 2006

2006-10-18T17:54:00.000+10:00

The sky at Moo last Friday.

Sweets For My Sweet

2006-10-18T11:49:00.000+10:00

I love this cake.
I really really love this cake.
Lets hope they do Gluten Free.

Allergies and gas.

2006-10-16T18:04:00.000+10:00

Ah, revenge..... just once I would like to not have to scan an ingredients list for allergens....
....and on the topic of gas; Kismet.

Calvin and Hobbes 1

2006-10-16T17:45:00.000+10:00

Ever had one of those days whenyou just needed a laugh? Calvin and Hobbes does it for me.
This also sums up my feelings on telephones perfectly.

Torch The Moon; The Whitlams.

2006-10-15T14:15:00.000+10:00

Torch the moon,
Burn the schools.
She wrote in red
On her bedroom wall

Nothing's pure
The paint runs to the floor

She laughs too easily and
Cries too hard (Cries too hard)
Shouldn't drink alone
The colours run.
How can she forgive?
When we know well what we do.

Feather scratches
On her wrist
Dry run with a bread knife
For a final twist
It wouldn't be for show
If it should come to this

She laughs too easily and
Cries too hard (Cries too hard)
Shouldn't drink alone
The colours run
How can she forgive?
When we know well what we do.

She was born to feel it all
(Born) to see it all
And when I feel so lightly
It's still burning brightly
And she won't look away
(ooh, ooh, oh)

She laughs too easily and
Cries too hard (ooh, ooh, oh)

She laughs too easily and
Cries too hard

Torch the moon
Burn the schools.
Why's it a man?
Making all the rules?

Frida Khalo poster on her door

She laughs too easily and
Cries too hard (Cries too hard)
Shouldn't drink alone
The colours run
How can she forgive?
When we know well what we do.

And when I feel so lightly
It's still burning brightly
And she won't look away
(She won't look away)
She won't look away
(Aaah, oooh, aaah)
(She won't look away)
She won't look away
(She won't look away)
She won't look away

This song is resonating in me today; growing stronger like a heart beat. I think it might just be how others see me. The description of how she sees others is definitely accurate to how I see people.

I do laugh to easily and cry to hard, and the other lyrics with the exception of the Frida Kahlo one is pretty spot on.

Tim Freedman has read my diaries I am sure. He has captured the feeling of being me in so many of his songs, and given lyrics to snapshots of my life. I guess that is what a good lyricist does.

Saturday Photo Hunt; 1; Lost

2006-10-14T13:49:00.000+10:00

A personal aspect for lost; my maternal Grandparents. They were both "lost" before I was born. I have been searching for them since my birth. Since I began genealogy and family history searches I am slowly finding them.

Space Magenta in 100 years.

2006-10-14T13:27:00.000+10:00

This is something you can do at Bone Idol. I've never tried anything like this before, including playing with paint on the computer.

I'm a huge Rocky Horror fan ans have Audience Participation Janet-ed on many times. On stage and as an audience member. I'm not 100% happy but it's not bad for a first go.

Mum.

2006-10-14T00:39:00.000+10:00

It occurs to me that I have many pictures of Dad up but non of Mum yet.

This was taken at Lockington, near Rochester in Victoria, she'd be about twelve, so that would make it 60 years ago; circa 1946.

Mum and I have a fairly typical Mother/Daughter relationship; dysfunctional yet over all good.

I think I can safely say that I am closer to her then any of the others. We've learnt to be forthright in most things. She's still scared of being 100% honest with me due to being conditioned by others that honesty leads to that truth being thrown back at you and manipulated.

The hurts we have are generally from her replaying her own Mother issues out with me or link directly into her not being fully honest.

Having said that though; I learnt how to play her to get what I need without upsetting her too much, a skill the others need to learn. It's not manipulation so much as refusing to allow her internal thought script to be a negative one. She seems to not have had very many positive reports from her own mother and was distant from her emotionally; this recurs in a deep sense of rejection whenever someone knocks back something she has done for her.

I love my mother deeply and hate to see her hurt in this way. My current approach is to get her to see faults as character, and not as a reason to pull out an entire jumper and restart knitting. My father is trying a similar tack. Together we get about a quarter step forward before something we think is trivial results in a major step back.

If only she'd start treating us as individuals it would make things better; she insists on everyone being treated "the same" which doesn't work for anyone, especially at Christmas and Birthdays.

Dad.

2006-10-13T21:04:00.000+10:00

This was taken at the "Meet the Candidates" for the Australian Democrats Jagajaga branch. I was the candidate. I'm talking to my Dad. If you read any of my stuff you'll see what a huge influence on my life he is.

He taught me to not sit back but to stand up for what I believe in.

He isn't thrilled at my choice of political party, the campaigning against duck shooting or the way I choose to dress, but he has never made me feel less then loved for being me.

He maintains that the two most beautiful "little girls" in the world are my sister and myself; I'm 31 and my sister is in her 40's. He says he "falls in love" with my mother "again every morning," sings bad C&W music off key and thinks outside the box for cooking.

In December he'll walk me down the aisle. I can't wait. I know I'll have the two handsomest men with me; one to walk me down and give me away, the other to say I do and walk with me through life.

A Rather Wordy Wordless Wednesday

2006-10-13T09:48:00.000+10:00

The Wordless Wednesday for this week is still in my original blog.

You can find that here.

As new things are done they will be here.