Merry freaking whatever and a happy new year!

I was re-reading some old posts and I can’t believe how crap I’ve been in updating! I’m not going to promise to update more, because I know it won’t happen and I’m not going to list a new bunch of New Year’s resolutions because I know that’s not going to happen either.

This year’s setting itself up to be an interesting one. I’m going to turn 23 this year and for some reason this birthday is affecting me more than any of the others. When I turned 20 I was thankful to get rid of the ‘teen’ stigma attached to it. It was also the age that I moved out of home and decided to lead a grown up existence. I think that was the last age I remember not being broke.
21 had no affect on me age wise – it was a chance for a birthday party and the first time I started associating life goals with ages. It was also one of the hardest ages so far. That was the year I broke up with my first serious bf and the year my life goals moved out too. For the first time I was living on my own.
22 was ok, because I could ditch the ‘I’m 21 lets go crash a frat party’ perception. 21 year olds in America are bratty. Because our legal age is 18 – by the time we’ve reached 21 we’ve generally grown out of it. Seems like everyone over the age of 25 has forgotten that and when you say you’re 21 they look at you like they’re expecting you to drink your weight in vodka and strip. 22 was the age that I’d naively pencilled in to get engaged – yeah right.
Now 23’s on the way and I feel like I knew more about myself and what I wanted from life when I was 21. I thought you were supposed to become more grounded and mature the older you got! At this stage I’ll be drinking my weight in vodka and stripping by the time I reach 30! (ps – you’re all invited to THAT birthday party!)
This was also supposed to be the year of the wedding. Instead – I’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid at my 19 year old sisters wedding scheduled for this year…ouch!

I’m also set to live on my own again for 3 months of this year. TNB’s off for 3 months so that’s going to be a bit of a test that I’m looking forward to having over and done with.

I’m trying to take some time off in 2 weeks to sort the apartment out – it feels like it’s got no soul. Does that make sense? Going home feels like returning to a rather large motel room. I’d like to turn it into something we both look forward to coming home to – but getting the time off is proving to be a bit of a fight. I’ll let you know.

This is the year that I’d like to pay off my debts and sadly say goodbye to an old friend. Gypsy – you’ve been great, it’s not me it’s you. Unfortunately, replacing her will mean a brand new debt! w00t!

That’s all from me – I’m heading over to my parents place for birthday dinner tonight.

Welcome to 2008, I hope it’s as uncertain for you as it is for me. Afterall, if you don’t have plans and you don’t have goals you can’t be let down and you can only be surprised! Everyone loves surprises!

More akciting news!

TNB got his P's today!

Another k-ray-zee driver on the road!

If you get a sec to give him props, he'll be quite chuffed :)

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!

I got an apartment!!!

Stepping aside for a moment...

http://blogs.smh.com.au/lifestyle/asksam/archives/2007/10/is_a_womens_place_is_still_in.html

This blog in the SMH got me thinking…as a modern new age kinda gal, how do I feel about feminism and where do I fit in?

They’re completely different questions, so first. I believe I am a feminist. I believe that woman can do anything and more often than not, can do it better. That being said, I think what our foremothers fought so hard for was not the duty to be everything, but the choice to do what we want.

That being said, I chose to be the one who does most of the cooking and cleaning…and I chose to scream like a girl whenever a moth gets inside. I do 90% of the grocery shopping, cook 90% of the meals, do 70% of the cleaning, do 70% of the washing and wave my hands dismissively at whatever’s broken, too high up, too heavy or too icky 100% of the time.

TNB is a great cook, and lived on his own long enough to know how to do everything for himself. So when he does cook, clean, wash and shop…I love the night off. But I enjoy these little domesticities. As long as he appreciates my efforts and doesn’t grow to expect it…we’ll be fine. Lads, this is the key. If she cooks for you, say “wow, this looks really good. Thanks!” It doesn’t take much! TNB cooking for me once a week or so makes the rest of my week! If you vacuum once in a while, I forget that I did it the rest of the time. I don’t know why…but that’s how we work. If I’ve washed a load of towels, hung them out then brought them back inside and I come home to find them folded and in the cupboard, I’ll be just as grateful as I would be had you washed and dried them yourself.

On the flip side though, I work full time and have lived on my own for over a year now, paying my own bills and opening my own jars. I certainly don't want to be a stay at home anything. So is that a contradiction? Is the essence of feminism the ability to be a contradiction?

So there’s my feminine take on things. I know people read this but don’t comment but if you get a sec…let me know how things work with you. Feel free to post anonymously if that helps!

What is wrong with some people?

I don’t know if there’s something in the water or if I’m just noticing what was there all along – but there are a lot of people I thought I really liked who are turning out to be douche bags.

Is it just me?

I See A Nail And I Want It Painted Black

Well peeps, I’m back from my 10 days in paradise – and want to leave again!

Does anyone know if Getaway is recruiting? If they’re looking for a (after a week of not giving a damn about what I ate or how little I exercised) slightly wobbly, short, average-looking presenter; let me know!

We left on the Saturday, and not a day too soon as Gabby had her baby on Friday! A little girl – Kiara. Very nice I thought. She came home on Sunday so I got to nurse a brand new baby! I wish someone would develop a hire scheme – I’d like to rent a baby. I love kids, would love to have a few later on (MUCH later on) but I wish I could play with them for a few days then give it back! Patent pending on this one guys.

I’m kicking myself I didn’t take photos! I’m the world’s worst tourist! (Don’t tell Getaway that bit).

In the middle of the week we escaped for 3 days into the bush to stay at a luxury chalet. Très bien! We decided to take advantage of everything there and decided to give archery a go. I discovered that I have no depth perception and my dreams of becoming Robin Hood were quickly shattered when I managed to loose about 8 arrows over the top of the target and into the bush beyond. After our disastrous hour of me loosing things and TNB showing off, we decided to go for a bushwalk. Part to enjoy the scenery and part to retrieve their property that I had shot into the distance. We ambled through the scrub, picking up arrows and teasing the wildlife and I realised I had a beetle on my foot. Not fazed – I jumped onto a fallen log and tried to kick it off. The bugger held on tight so I daintily pinched it and tried to pull it off. The head stayed there and the body stretched and sprung back when I let it go. It was a leech and it was gross.

I screamed and waved my leg in the air trying to give the leech motion sickness I guess. My scream sent TNB crashing through the trees arrows in one hand and bow in the other. Mah Hero!

Laughing, he held my leg still and pinched it off. Apparently it was ‘full’ and let go quite easily. Once he told me that, I started getting teary at the gross-ness of it all. Then my foot started to bleed. And bleed, and bleed and bleed. Then came the tears. I must have looked a sight. Standing on a log in the middle of nowhere – my bloody foot still in the air and crying. He hoicked me over his shoulder and (still laughing) carried me back to our cabin. He must have looked a sight, arrows and bow in one hand, damsel in distress flung over his shoulder. I was half expecting the world to go slow motion and perhaps a dramatic theme song.

After all the yuck was washed away – the actual bite was smaller than most freckles. But that’s not the point. I don’t get many leeches in my INNER WEST APARTMENT! It was yuck!

We decided to play tennis once I’d calmed down and stopped swearing at nature. Tennis was nice and leech free.

I’m such a girl – I embarrass myself.

The rest of the week was uneventful and leech free – just the way I like it!

Coming back to work’s been a downer – but I figure it’s just a filler until Catriona Rowntree answers the note I left on her window in lipstick and gives me a job on Getaway!

Music in my head: Paint it Black – Rolling Stones

Rental Woes

OMG!

As everyone knows, I’ve been having trouble with my rental place – and to a more-er (like lesser; but more-er) extent, my real estate agent. Last weekend my shower broke and it took threats before she would call a plumber.

Last night, I had no hot water. Ditto this morning.

I want to move!

I hate that place so much! I really only moved into it because I really wanted to live with the ex and taking this place meant that I could. I think that place played a part in our demise. Maybe I’m just blaming an apartment.

Regardless – I hate that apartment and having no water above the lovely temperature of freezing isn’t helping