I admit it, I confess. I am a hoarder.
These holidays I have squandered my precious planning time trying to clean up a little and get organised for the big move in September. I have lived in this house my entire life, and to say I have a lot of stuff would definitely be an understatement. The worst part is that none of it is neatly catalogued or stored in any kind of organised manner. Due to (real or imagined) time constraints in my lifestyle, I've developed a nasty habit of piling things somewhere quick to hand, where I will (never) get around to sorting them later. I also add new things to my 'collection' without ever throwing away what they're intended to replace. Children's books, school work, old notes from friends, potentially useful tidbits, and ancient clothes that still fit (so why would you part with them?)...
Something tells me the sewing/guest room may not become a fully workable space for some time after I move out.
Saturday 4 July 2009
Thursday 7 May 2009
Graduate
It's the end of an era. Today marked the formal completion of my degree, and the end of one chapter in my life [insert over-dramatisation here]. Strangely, the feelings I had were largely ones of great relief to be finished with the place, rather than sadness at losing these fun times and friendships (and of course this over-arching tiredness that permeates my every day at the moment). As the commitments of a full-time year wear on, perhaps I will wistfully remember the lazy structure of Fridays off, 10 o'clock starts, and when the hardest thing I had to do was write an essay. Things were so simple then, locked away in the 'Faulty Towers' reality of academia. If only the life of a perpetual student could generate an income!
The ceremony itself was one of expensive photos, old-worldly garments and much doffing (but enjoyable enough). As I held my certificate in my hands, the thought occurred to me that I was holding the culmination of every long-winded essay I'd ever written, every hour spent researching in the library, every late night finishing an assignment, every mid-semester break spent cramming readings and tasks, every afternoon of chilling in the Student Union, every lecture and tute attended. Everyone was fussing about it, and congratulating me. But I felt like it was just the natural progression. It was formally labelled an 'award', but surely it's more like an earning. This is the wages of my four years of work... one piece of paper and employability.
The ceremony itself was one of expensive photos, old-worldly garments and much doffing (but enjoyable enough). As I held my certificate in my hands, the thought occurred to me that I was holding the culmination of every long-winded essay I'd ever written, every hour spent researching in the library, every late night finishing an assignment, every mid-semester break spent cramming readings and tasks, every afternoon of chilling in the Student Union, every lecture and tute attended. Everyone was fussing about it, and congratulating me. But I felt like it was just the natural progression. It was formally labelled an 'award', but surely it's more like an earning. This is the wages of my four years of work... one piece of paper and employability.
Saturday 11 April 2009
Tips for filling a beanbag
OPTION 1:
Equipment needed: piece of wire, kitchen knife, bag of beans (or old beanbag), beanbag.
Procedure:
* Start with the beanbag in any old place, perhaps where you left it last.
* Open the zipper of the beanbag using the piece of wire.
* Slash a hole in the bag of beans/old beanbag with the kitchen knife (or use any preexisting hole).
* Aim the hole at the zipper opening.
* Squeeze until you give up in frustration.
Beans spilled: Countless.
OPTION 2:
Equipment needed: scissors, pen, bag of beans, beanbag, bathtub, plug, knee, elbow.
Procedure:
* Put the plug in the empty bathtub and then place the beanbag inside.
* Open the zipper using the pen.
* Cut open a small corner of the bag of beans using the scissors.
* Put one foot on the edge of the bathtub and use your knee to keep the bag of beans in position with the cut-off corner inside the zipper opening.
* Use your elbow to squeeze the bag of beans like a bagpipe until the bag is empty.
Beans spilled: Zero.
Equipment needed: piece of wire, kitchen knife, bag of beans (or old beanbag), beanbag.
Procedure:
* Start with the beanbag in any old place, perhaps where you left it last.
* Open the zipper of the beanbag using the piece of wire.
* Slash a hole in the bag of beans/old beanbag with the kitchen knife (or use any preexisting hole).
* Aim the hole at the zipper opening.
* Squeeze until you give up in frustration.
Beans spilled: Countless.
OPTION 2:
Equipment needed: scissors, pen, bag of beans, beanbag, bathtub, plug, knee, elbow.
Procedure:
* Put the plug in the empty bathtub and then place the beanbag inside.
* Open the zipper using the pen.
* Cut open a small corner of the bag of beans using the scissors.
* Put one foot on the edge of the bathtub and use your knee to keep the bag of beans in position with the cut-off corner inside the zipper opening.
* Use your elbow to squeeze the bag of beans like a bagpipe until the bag is empty.
Beans spilled: Zero.
Monday 23 February 2009
How Times Have Changed
I read this online today, and it's so sadly true.
Scenario:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his gun rack.
1957 - The vice principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car, and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - The school goes into lockdown, the FBI is called, and Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario:
Jeffrey won't be still in class and disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey is sent to the office and is given a good paddling by the principal. He returns to class, sits still, and does not disrupt the class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie and is tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his dad gives him a spanking with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom falls for the psychologist.
Scenario:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in state prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
Scenario:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his gun rack.
1957 - The vice principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car, and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - The school goes into lockdown, the FBI is called, and Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario:
Jeffrey won't be still in class and disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey is sent to the office and is given a good paddling by the principal. He returns to class, sits still, and does not disrupt the class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie and is tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his dad gives him a spanking with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom falls for the psychologist.
Scenario:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in state prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
Wednesday 21 January 2009
You've Got Mail
I have a friend (you know who you are!) who is very excited about most things postal. Now I am the one who will be watching the letter box with great expectation for the next few weeks. I'm waiting on some important mail, not the least of which is a sandwich press that I won!
Interestingly enough, I made a blog post with the same name almost exactly a year ago...
Interestingly enough, I made a blog post with the same name almost exactly a year ago...
Wednesday 14 January 2009
Slice, slice, baby
The title pays homage to the many delicious slices, not to mention a tonne of savouries, that my dear mother whipped up for the engagement party last Saturday. Although, many a guest, while sampling the delicacies, posed that tired old question, "So, has your mother taught you to cook this good?" With any luck, the thus far recessive allele might emerge sometime in the next thirty years...
The brief event was a blur, but a great one. And such lovely, generous gifts! But best of all was catching up with so many people from all the circles of our lives.
The brief event was a blur, but a great one. And such lovely, generous gifts! But best of all was catching up with so many people from all the circles of our lives.
Monday 5 January 2009
A new year, a new look
At the dawn (or at least early morning) of 2009, I return to my very neglected blog with much news to share. It is a year of many new beginnings and many exciting developments, some of which are well-known by now and others which I may reveal later. To reflect all this newness, I thought a fresh new colour would suit (although blue is perhaps not that far removed from blue afterall...).
Let me bring you up to speed. The last you heard of me, I was whinging about yet another self-inflicted work load. I was on the verge of report writing, final exams and end of year routine. In short, it was even worse than I thought it would be due to many unforseen interuptions (not all of which were unpleasant!). But I made it through, surviving my 'first year out' and completing all study for good (or at least until a future lapse of judgement).
Much more importantly, I've finally traded in my boyfriend for a fiancé after the most romantic proposal of all time on November 22. Stoz and I will be getting married on the 19th of September! Yay :) Keep up to date with the new countdown on the sidebar.
So, 2009 sees me teaching Indonesian, Music, Maths and Humanities, and planning a wedding on the side. This will certainly be a very interesting year!
Let me bring you up to speed. The last you heard of me, I was whinging about yet another self-inflicted work load. I was on the verge of report writing, final exams and end of year routine. In short, it was even worse than I thought it would be due to many unforseen interuptions (not all of which were unpleasant!). But I made it through, surviving my 'first year out' and completing all study for good (or at least until a future lapse of judgement).
Much more importantly, I've finally traded in my boyfriend for a fiancé after the most romantic proposal of all time on November 22. Stoz and I will be getting married on the 19th of September! Yay :) Keep up to date with the new countdown on the sidebar.
So, 2009 sees me teaching Indonesian, Music, Maths and Humanities, and planning a wedding on the side. This will certainly be a very interesting year!
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