There's this thing called National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) where you blog every day for a whole month. So since you've all been so patient, (or you've completely forgotten about my previous promise), I thought I would entertain you... ahem... INFORM you all of my job history during the month of November. Then once I run out of days I'll make stuff up.
So here we go NaBloPoMoNo!
When asked "what character from Scrubs are you most like?" I have ALWAYS considered myself to be an Elliot. Although I'm not a blonde bombshell, I AM flighty, clumsy, insecure, obsessed about having a baby, and very likeable. I also gain confidence in myself when others believe in me.
But this morning, I realised I'm much more of a J.D. Okay, so I'm not a guy and I don't ride a scooter, but I DO have full conversations in my head, I narrate my own life, (think Jamie Oliver while he's cooking) I analyse things way too much, get very involved in people's lives even when I shouldn't (though, not so much anymore) and am desperate for the approval of people around me. I'm a people pleaser.
Or maybe I'm a combination of both. J-delliot?
Okay, so it's not a HUGE epiphany (are there degrees??). I mean, it's not like the time when I realised I was in love with Hubs when we weren't even together, and knew without a doubt that we would spend the rest of our lives together. That was REALLY cool.
Which Scrubs character are YOU most like?
I just noticed that the font I use on my blog is called Trebuchet!
Come on! That's funny, right?
Just a quick post to mention that I played hockey for the college this "season" and had a blast! I was the oldest player on the team (by about 6 years) and probably the most unfit too. But the girls were heaps of fun and very encouraging to an old gal like me!
College sports are generally played in September and October, and you only play about 6 games if you play all the way through to the grand final. Which we did! Both the Newman Boys and Newman Girls played in the grand finals this year which was terribly exciting. Unfortunately, after VERY close games, we both lost. (Boys 1-0, Girls 2-1). It was a little disappointing, but the girls will be back next year to try and end Ormond's 11 year winning streak!
Here's a team photo after the game:
A Whine
I've always been a bit of a hypochondriac. And I've always been a little bit paranoid when it comes to my health. I mean, what if I just ignored a particular ailment, only to discover that it's really serious! Too late!? So I'll often listen to my body, and visit the doctor when I don't feel right.
On Friday morning, I woke up and didn't feel quite right. My joints were really achy and I had a rash on both of my legs. It wasn't a terribly alarming rash, it just looked like a heat rash to be honest. But getting out of our futon bed was really difficult and quite painful. My first thought was that I had been bitten by a spider or something, but I couldn't find a bite mark. So I sucked it in and got on with the day. I was due to go out dancing with my friend on Friday night and since it has taken us 3 months to find a night we were both free, I really didn't want to cancel.
So out I went and danced up a storm at the Turf Bar to some of the cheesiest music from the 80s and 90s. It was fabulous! Trying to walk from the tramstop home, however, was not so fabulous. EVERYTHING was hurting. In the mean time, I wasn't getting much sympathy from Hubs, as I wasn't actually FEELING that sick. I just felt funny and achy. He had commented a few times during the week that I was acting strangely, but I just thought I was being a woman. So on Saturday morning I trotted (rather awkwardly) off to the doctor's surgery.
I was called in by a Russian-sounding female doctor (which made me think of Nanny) who, after looking at the rash, feeling my glands, taking my temp and hearing about my aches and pains, gave her medical opinion: Rubella. German Measles. What the?.... I'd been vaccinated! Apparently, you can still get it, but it won't be so severe. I just had to try and keep my distance from people for the following 5 days. No easy task when I live and work with 250 people.
So when I got home and told Hubs, I FINALLY got the sympathy I deserved. He put me to bed (after we dyed my hair - another story) and brought me cups of tea. I did about the same on Sunday and by last night the aches and pains had started to ease.
All I can say is I KNEW I wasn't quite right. And it might explain the big bowl of crazy I dished up to Hubs over the few days before. (That's what I'll blame it on anyway!)
It was terribly remiss of me to forget to mention my lovely breakfast visit in Brisbane on Saturday morning with the ever delightful Kate and her gorgeous, clever, talented son Liam, who also happens to be my beautiful Godson! We had a lovely play with scrambled eggs and vegemite on toast, and as always, it was wonderful to see them.
(I had to add this in, otherwise Liam would never have forgiven me for forgetting him!!)
Our recent trip home to Brizzy has made me homesick for the first time since being in Melbourne. We just had the most amazing time! Well, I did at least. Hubsband wasn't feeling 100% but he made the most of it. Where do I start??
We arrived in Brisbane at 11pm and had to adjust to the 1 hour time difference. After a port/cuppa/glass of wine with Mum and Dad, we were off to bed. We had a lovely morning setting up at Nanny and Grandpa's and Grandpa's 90th birthday party kicked off around midday. It was raging! Well, as much as a 90th birthday party can be! We had a lovely afternoon and got to catch up with family and friends and got stuck in to some Amarula Cream which was just lovely. As you can imagine, there was plenty of food and mountains of desserts. We left around 6pm feeling full and primed for our next "event".
In preparation for our visit, I sent word via the internet that we would be at our old local from about 6:30pm for anyone keen to catch up. I had a few replies so we were expecting a fairly quiet night with a few friends and a few beers. What we got was something entirely different, unexpected, and so very much appreciated. About 20 of our friends rocked up to the pub and we were there drinking beer (and Cosmos!!) catching up and taking VERY silly photos til after midnight! I was truly touched that so many of our friends made such a great effort to not only come out, but to stay til the end! (some even stayed longer than we did!) Hubs and I had to call it quits after midnight. We were utterly exhausted, and we still had 1 more party to go to for the weekend!
Mum celebrated her birthday on Sunday and my bro's gf (let's call her Kturtle) and I decided that something special needed to be done. Since I'm in Melbourne, Kturtle ended up doing ALL the work, but I know that it was a labour of love. You see, the thing about my Mum is that she does SO much for everyone else and expects nothing in return. So it's nice to show her every now and then how much she is appreciated. I'm going to do a separate post about Mum's birthday brekky, as there is just too much to show and tell!
Hubs and I arrived back at our doorstep at 9pm Sunday, happily exhausted after a fabulous trip home. And here's what we have to show for it:
Nanny and Grandpa (check out the size of those cakes Mum made!!!)
The girls after beers, wines and cocktails!
The boys after beers, beers and beers!
Hubs is so pretty...
Sharing's caring! Especially when it comes to Cosmopolitans!
...I haven't put many photos up lately but that's because I haven't been able to transfer my photos from my camera to my computer (stupid virus) but rest assured I'll have some pics up SOON!!!!
I've been thinking a lot about music lately. And not just about my favourite songs (mostly from the 80s and 90s) but about the songs that I feel have had a huge impact on my life; songs that I will NEVER tire of; songs that bring back some amazing memories; and songs that I have learnt some lessons from.
So here they are:
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson (and an amazing cover by Miles from Nowhere). My late teens and early 20s clubbing revolved around this song. Even when I go out now and it comes on, I go nuts. It brings back amazing memories of nights out at the Jazz 'n Blues bar with the girls, dancing to MFN. It was a must-play at our wedding.
Stuff and nonsense - the cover by Missy Higgins (original by Split Enz). This song made me realise that no matter how much you want someone to give you their all, you might not be the one they can give it to. Heartbreaking, but a very important lesson to learn.
I like giants - Kimya Dawson. Loved this song the first time I heard it. It's a very honest and practical look at body image. Now whenever I hear it, I really listen to the words and it reassures me that "I am just a speck of dust inside a giant's eye."
Stuck in the middle with you - Stealers Wheel. Brings back all my memories of living in Scotland. Erin and I ring each other whenever either of us hears this song! And it's a favourite for cover bands which totally suits me.
The Nosebleed Section - Hilltop Hoods. I never used to like hip-hop, and although I'm not entirely converted (Hubs is still trying), I do love this song. Hubs told me I should listen to the words instead of dismissing it for a style of music I'd never enjoyed, and I realised their lyrics were quite clever. Plus this song samples Melanie whose music I grew up with, courtesy of my Mum! I love watching Hubs get all hip-hop when he sings along to this tune. *sigh*
Somewhere over the rainbow/what a wonderful world - Israel Kamakawiwo Ole'. Hubs and I danced to this at our wedding and every time I hear it now I'm reminded of the most amazing day of my life. Tear jerker for sure.
Call me Al - Paul Simon. One of my favourite songs. EVER. So much fun to dance to and a fab bass solo. No matter how blue I am, this song will always cheer me up.
Time After Time and True Colours - Cyndi Lauper. Two of the songs I grew up with thanks to my Mum's mixed tape. Cyndi sang them both at her concert Mum and I went to this year - such a great night. I didn't really understand the lyrics as a kid, (and perhaps sang a few wrong words) but I really appreciate her music. Plus I LOVE the 80s...
More than words - Extreme. Reminds me of my late teens and a good friend of mine in Sydney. Whenever this plays on the radio I am suddenly on stage, singing this song to a crowd of screaming fans. Hey! A girl can dream!
I am desperate to blog about our weekend back in Brisbane, but until I can upload the photos, there's just no point, as they explain our weekend so much better than I ever could with words.
So in the mean time, let me tell you about a new sport Hubs and I are playing. Ultimate Disc! (aka Ultimate, flying disc). It is SO much fun and very good for our fitness. My friend from high school and her partner are very into it and invited us along for a game a few weeks ago. Actually, it was 3 games and we ended up playing for 2 and a half hours. That's a LOT of running.
It's kind of a mixture between netball and gridiron. Kind of... We play in Albert Park (St Kilda) on a field about 100m by 30m and there are end zones where, if you catch the disc whilst in the zone you score a point. You start the game and each point with 1 team at each end of the field, lined up Braveheart style. At the start of each point, one team starts off in attack, and the other team "pulls" the disc (throws it as far as they can) and are on the defense. We play either Man-D (pick a player and mark them) or zone defense (which we're still getting the hang of). You can't run with the disc (like Netball) but you can take a few steps to slow down once you have it. You're often sprinting when you receive it, though in my case, it's more of a fast jog.
As I mentioned, there's a LOT of running and it's very fast-paced. The good thing is, after each point you get a bit of a breather. The game finishes either when 1 team has scored 15 points (half time is at 8 points) or after an hour and 20 minutes has passed. It's self-refereed which makes it a very honest game and Ultimate is all about the Spirit of the Game. So much so, that they have Spirit Captains whose job it is to keep the game running smoothly.
Last night Hubs and I both had a great game. Hubs took a massive leap in defence which prevented the opposition from scoring a goal and our Team Captain was so impressed that he ran on to the field to give Hubs a high 10! He told me on the sideline that people will play for 10 years without ever pulling off such great defence. I was so proud. We both went on to score goals in the game as well - Hubs scored 2 and I scored 1. We won 15-4.
At the end of the game we all huddle in a circle, ensuring we are standing between 2 opposition players, and the Captain of the losing team (different to Spirit Captain) thanks their opposition for a great game and perhaps shares how they felt the game went, and gives the team 3 big cheers. Then the Captain of the winning team does the same. It's a bit mushy but it's actually a pleasant way to end the game.
It's a nice way to start the week on a Monday night, though when we play the 8:30pm games, we don't get home til almost 11! Lucky I'm working so close to home these days.
I gotta say I'm a little excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hubs and I are taking another quick trip back to Brisbane this weekend for my Grandpa's 90th birthday. Even though we'll be completely exhausted when we get home on Sunday, especially now that there's a time difference, it's totally worth it. We arrive in the Vegas Friday night at 11pm, then it'll be all hands on deck on Saturday setting up for the lunch time party, then it's party time! Then we're heading out to catch up with a few friends Saturday night, then it's Mum's birthday on Sunday (Happy Birthday Mum!!!) which we will be celebrating over brekky, then it's a catch up with my Mum-in-law, then off to the airport for a 2:30pm flight.
Phew. I'm exhausted. BUT EXCITED!!!! I love coming home for wee visits. It's so nice to be around familiar faces and streets and weather. And my Nanny always gets particularly excited to see us, exclaiming "where is she" as soon as our car drives in. I always feel like a bit of a celebrity on these types of visits. Even though it's not ALL about us, everyone wants to see us and it makes me feel super-spesh.
I've just done a proof-read of this post, and realise that I've referred to both Brisbane and Melbourne as "home". I guess it's nice to know that Brisbane will always be my home town, but that I feel happy and comfortable enough to call Melbourne home for the time being.
It's going to be GREAT!!
Just so y'all know we've wound our clocks forward 1 hour down here so we're a bit out of sync now. Actually, I think it's Queensland that's out of sync really, (I LOVE daylight savings!!) but I'm sure they'll catch up some time!
The sun didn't set til 7:30pm yesterday! Though, when I got up at 7am today, it was "really" 6am which is not cool. Apparently the first couple of weeks are a bit tough, but we'll get used to it I'm sure.
But not only did I lose an hour yesterday due to daylight savings, I also lost another hour and 40 minutes watching the WORST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!! Hubs and I had a free night so we decided to watch "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". Now I'm going through the process of forgetting Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It should have had a warning on it saying "This is a crap video. Half way through I wanted to make a cup of tea." (Ref: Jimeoin) It was the biggest pile of poo I've ever watched. In fact, watching a pile of poo for an hour and 40 minutes would have been more bearable.
I thought it was going to be one of those gross comedies like Van Wilder or Knocked Up which I quite liked. But no. It was just hideously boring and cringe-worthy. I would have stopped watching after 15 minutes but Hubs thought we should give it a bit longer. After 45 minutes, it had gotten even worse, but now Hubs needed "closure". Closure shmlosure. I was uncomfortable and irritated and bewildered by the whole process. Luckily, my good friend Adele rang me with 10 minutes to go so I got out of watching the final blows.
I know what you're saying: why didn't I just get up and do something else? Well we were watching this drivel in bed on my laptop and I was enjoying snuggling up to Hubs so at least I got SOME enjoyment out of the process.
I rate this movie negative 87 stars; worst.... movie.... ever....
The Spirit
Since Hubs and I arrived in Melbourne, God has been working hard to make sure we settle in okay down here. Actually, he seems to have been working overtime to pre-arrange things and ensure that everything works out for us, just as HE planned, not us. If I had my way, the following would have happened:
Hubs and I would have found a place to rent in the Moonee Ponds area
Which means:
We'd be paying around $300 a week in rent
We'd be paying around $70 per week in food
We'd be paying around $50 per week in transport
Plus bills
I'd have 2 part-time jobs and half a day off to chill-out
We'd find a nice Uniting Church with some young adults hopefully near our place
And here's what REALLY happened:
Hubs and I were offered a place at Newman College
From day 3 (yes, it took 3 days) we have felt very welcomed and included and accepted in a tight-nit, open and inviting community
We pay very reasonable rates for accommodation, all meals and all bills
We live right next door to uni which means no regular transport costs for Hubs
I have accepted a full-time job at Newman College which means no regular transport costs for me
We live 1 suburb out of town - less than 2km from Central Station
We worship at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Newman College and we're really enjoying the services
We've met some amazing people and had interesting conversations over good food and great wine
Hubs and I get to spend heaps of quality time together, as we have no travel time to factor in to our days
Life is good.
I spent so much time and energy (and tears) on worrying and stressing about homes, jobs and money, and surprise surprise, God had it all under control the whole time. And he does this to me ALL the time.
When am I going to learn?
