The year is at its end - THANKYOUGODDESS!!!! I cannot tell you how much crap has been thrown at me and mine this year. Family dramas, engagements, cancelled engagements, injuries, surgery, suicides, death, births, house dramas... it just goes on and on. So here's a more balanced review of 2008:
What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Proposed to my sweetheart
Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions?
- do today what I can, rather than putting it off for tomorrow (getting better at this!)
- get back into yoga (sadly no but I have had a shoulder op so that's not surprising)
- enjoy the day and forget about tomorrow; live in the moment! (getting better at this too!)
- save 10% of my wages by the end of the year (bwahahahahahahaha - not even close but working on it)
- live within my means most of the time (improving)
- not buy any clothes (most of the year but not by choice)
- similarly, knit and craft from stash only (improving on this too)
Overall - not a bad year
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Heh - that's amusing as a student midwife. Close personally? Yes, a couple of friends did. No relatives as yet.
Did anyone close to you die?
Yes - one just the other day which still has me reeling
What countries/states did you visit?
New South Wales only - that's kind of sad!
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
My arm back in one piece with full range of movement; a husband
What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
17th May - the day I proposed!
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving the year and not giving up
What was your biggest failure?
Being less fit than when I started the year
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Shoulder issues, bronchitis of doom and that's about it
What was the best thing you bought?
My new car - her name is Saffron and she is yellow and an automatic. Best thing I bought by far!
Whose behavior merited celebration?
My own in completing this year with a strong GPA
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone involved in Darfur
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, bills and new glasses
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Homebirth conference
What song/album will always remind you of 2008?
Faker: This Heart Attack
Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. happier or sadder? happier
2. thinner or fatter? fatter
3. richer or poorer? richer in lots of ways and not just in money (though just barely)
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Smiled and laughed
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cried
How did/will you spend Christmas?
Caroling at the rowing club, then bbq lunch at home, and later a turkey roll and some veges in the crockpot
How did/will you spend New Year's?
Mexican party at A&A's house
Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Osk
Did you fall in love in 2008?
Ever more!
How many one night stands in this last year?
Hmmmm - I could say "2" or "200" and you'd never know, would you ;)
What was your favorite TV show?
Life on Mars
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yep
What did you want and get?
A fiance; a solution to my shoulder issues; a pathway to healing
What did you want and not get?
To go to Ithica
What were your favorite films of this year?
Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace, St Trinians
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28 and I had a joint party with a friend who is a day younger and 10 years older
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Red and orange make the world go around; tshirts and jeans are a staple
What kept you sane?
Osk, talking a lot, blogging, LJ, OS, Kate, Alice, alcohol and a sense of humour
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daniel Vettori
What political issue stirred you the most?
Abortion legalisation in Victoria
Who did you miss?
Monica
Who was the best new person you met?
Kate!
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I will survive whatever the world throws at me, and I don't have to be gracious about it and the sun will still come up tomorrow
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
3 recipes to contemplate
Chicken Biryani
"This is a delicious Pakistani/Indian rice dish which is often reserved for very special occasions such as weddings, parties, or holidays such as Ramadan. It has a lengthy preparation, but the work is definitely worth it. For biryani, always use long grain rice. Basmati rice with its thin, fine grains is the ideal variety to use. Ghee is butter that has been slowly melted so that the milk solids and golden liquid have been separated and can be used in place of vegetable oil to yield a more authentic taste."
Spaghetti and Meatballs
By Smitten Kitchen, one of my new fave blogs. "I could argue that the entire point of this site is for me to find a single reliable recipe for each of my favorite comfort foods, and in most cases, I’ve eventually run into some luck: matzo ball soup, macaroni and cheese, caesar salad and crumb cake. Heck, I’ve even added some of yours, like chicken and dumplings, fried chicken and sweet cherry pie. I think we should all be able to make these things at home, whenever we want."
Crockpot Oatmeal
Must dig out my timer so I can use my crockpot, and also find/buy/borrow a smaller crockpot. I love my crockpot!
"This is a delicious Pakistani/Indian rice dish which is often reserved for very special occasions such as weddings, parties, or holidays such as Ramadan. It has a lengthy preparation, but the work is definitely worth it. For biryani, always use long grain rice. Basmati rice with its thin, fine grains is the ideal variety to use. Ghee is butter that has been slowly melted so that the milk solids and golden liquid have been separated and can be used in place of vegetable oil to yield a more authentic taste."
Spaghetti and Meatballs
By Smitten Kitchen, one of my new fave blogs. "I could argue that the entire point of this site is for me to find a single reliable recipe for each of my favorite comfort foods, and in most cases, I’ve eventually run into some luck: matzo ball soup, macaroni and cheese, caesar salad and crumb cake. Heck, I’ve even added some of yours, like chicken and dumplings, fried chicken and sweet cherry pie. I think we should all be able to make these things at home, whenever we want."
Crockpot Oatmeal
Must dig out my timer so I can use my crockpot, and also find/buy/borrow a smaller crockpot. I love my crockpot!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Torrenting, copyright, internets - or "How I use my huge download for Good not Evil"
So the other night, I was watching a tv show. It matters not what I was watching. And a very cool song came on the background of a poignant spot in it... and so with just a few snippets of the lyrics, the interwebs gave me a song. Useful like that.
As an aside - ManFriend and I used to be long distance, once upon a time. We would quote lyrics to each other while chatting online during the long long days at work we had to suffer, and see if the other person knew what the song was. It's a plot device being used in books I'm reading at the moment (thanks for Craftastrophies for a fabulous stack of chic lit to keep me occuppied atm!) as well.
As an aside - ManFriend and I used to be long distance, once upon a time. We would quote lyrics to each other while chatting online during the long long days at work we had to suffer, and see if the other person knew what the song was. It's a plot device being used in books I'm reading at the moment (thanks for Craftastrophies for a fabulous stack of chic lit to keep me occuppied atm!) as well.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas is on its way!
A meme - nothing much exciting going on here this week. We had our engagement party on the weekend, and it was a FUN time! Photos to come.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper - I love using recycled or repurposed paper though. I can't remember the last time I bought paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial, bordering on "none". Ours is about 30cm high and is silver. We have a 1.5m tall green artificial one but have nowhere to put it and no urge to. We're not big on Christmas. I like the holiday and the thought but it gets so swamped by the retail reality of it that it loses a lot of its gloss. I'm much more of the Pagan leaning than a Christian one as well, so midsummer is my preferred celebration.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Friday. We got it off the shelf and put it on the table.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Um - usually pretty quickly after Christmas. I prefer to have it down before New Years. By "down" I mean back on its shelf.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I've never had it to be honest.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A baking set with a rolling pin and a plastic rolling sheet. Loved it to pieces.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
My nephews - we give money into an account instead.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
My Dad - two polo shirts and a bag of jersey caramels, year after year. He loves it too as they're his favourite sweet, and he then gets two new shirts for the year. Or so he says.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No - see #2
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail if I send any at all.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Scented soaps which gave me such a bad migraine I had to be hospitalised.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Love Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
All year round.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not directly - I have given some to charity though.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cranberry sauce and turkey; cherry pie and custard
16. What decorations are on your tree?
Little bud lights as it's a tiny tree
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Deck the hall - a good pagan song ;)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
Not this year but usually
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
No
20. Angel on top of tree or star?
Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People angsting about everything - money, presents, food, entertaining... it's exhausting to watch.
23 What theme or color are you using when you decorate?
Red and silver usually
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Seafood
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Jewellry if anything - silver, white gold, platinum with a clear colourless stone.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper - I love using recycled or repurposed paper though. I can't remember the last time I bought paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial, bordering on "none". Ours is about 30cm high and is silver. We have a 1.5m tall green artificial one but have nowhere to put it and no urge to. We're not big on Christmas. I like the holiday and the thought but it gets so swamped by the retail reality of it that it loses a lot of its gloss. I'm much more of the Pagan leaning than a Christian one as well, so midsummer is my preferred celebration.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Friday. We got it off the shelf and put it on the table.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Um - usually pretty quickly after Christmas. I prefer to have it down before New Years. By "down" I mean back on its shelf.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I've never had it to be honest.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A baking set with a rolling pin and a plastic rolling sheet. Loved it to pieces.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
My nephews - we give money into an account instead.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
My Dad - two polo shirts and a bag of jersey caramels, year after year. He loves it too as they're his favourite sweet, and he then gets two new shirts for the year. Or so he says.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No - see #2
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail if I send any at all.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Scented soaps which gave me such a bad migraine I had to be hospitalised.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Love Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
All year round.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not directly - I have given some to charity though.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cranberry sauce and turkey; cherry pie and custard
16. What decorations are on your tree?
Little bud lights as it's a tiny tree
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Deck the hall - a good pagan song ;)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
Not this year but usually
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
No
20. Angel on top of tree or star?
Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People angsting about everything - money, presents, food, entertaining... it's exhausting to watch.
23 What theme or color are you using when you decorate?
Red and silver usually
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Seafood
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Jewellry if anything - silver, white gold, platinum with a clear colourless stone.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
On the mend!
Woo! I am able to type slowly and carefully, because I get to have my arm out of my sling for a few hours at home only. Still in the sling most of the time, and to sleep, and to go out in public.
Five quick things:
Five quick things:
- I've received 5 fantastic CDs from all over the country and one from the UK as well. I'll update to add all 5 here but for now I want to thank Dani Barley and Sooz for theirs.
- Mine have been posted so they'll get to other people sometime soon I guess. Mine went to: Sooz, Jan, Dani, Trixie, and Alma
- I'm enjoying some time off. I am actually enjoying sitting down and just doing not very much. At the moment that not very much includes watching a collection of really bad fantasy and sci-fi.
- I have orange nail polish. This makes me insanely happy.
- 2008 has blown goats for so many people around me. With still a week or so to go, I hope we've seen it all now.
Monday, December 15, 2008
On the other hand
sorry for the brevity but am typing one handed.
surgery was done. shoulder is sore and distressingly floppy.
hospitals suck.
drugs suck.
um.
6 wks of this? crap.
my view
yours
surgery was done. shoulder is sore and distressingly floppy.
hospitals suck.
drugs suck.
um.
6 wks of this? crap.
my view
yours
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Raising money for a great cause
My fiance is riding in the Juvenile Diabetes Ride for a Cure next year so I'm posting this on his behalf:
"I'm riding in the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes in January. I need to raise another $900 to do so, and although I have my workplace supporting me I can use any donations that anyone would like to give. It's easy to donate, just go to the website and use the secure form to donate. Thanks a lot in advance for your support!
He is also riding in the Tour Downunder - I'm ver proud of him! He looks hot in his little bike riding shorts and it's going to be amazing knowing he's part of such a huge peliton.
"I'm riding in the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes in January. I need to raise another $900 to do so, and although I have my workplace supporting me I can use any donations that anyone would like to give. It's easy to donate, just go to the website and use the secure form to donate. Thanks a lot in advance for your support!
He is also riding in the Tour Downunder - I'm ver proud of him! He looks hot in his little bike riding shorts and it's going to be amazing knowing he's part of such a huge peliton.
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