Let's Just Blame Telstra

This week, on Monday, I was sitting eating breakfast, organising myself and what calls I had to make to all different people before I jumped on the net to do some serious work online when I heard a truck pull up nearby.  I'm always curious about who's around and who's not, so I took a peek and found a Telstra van outside my neighbour's house.  It didn't stay long, so I didn't worry about it.

However I did worry when I picked up my phone and found a massive amount of static on the line.  So, I went in search of the Telstra van to find out what he was going that might be disturbing my line.  He was about halfway down the complex looking at the lines.  I explained what was happening and he said for me to talk to my service provider, but I said that the lines were Telstra lines; he didn't seem to realise what he was doing to the lines were causing the problems.  By the time I had gotten home, my phone line was dead.  I went to find the guy again, but he was gone.  So, I had to sms my folks and they called Optus who diverted my landline calls to my mobile for me until the line is fixed by them on Thursday.  

What I don't understand is that my bills come through Optus and yet the phone lines I use are owned by Telstra.  It's weird.  

So, it's really quiet at my place seeing I can't call anyone and the internet isn't in use.  Instead I've been sitting around and reading, listening to music and catching up with cleaning out other things around my upstairs bedrooms.  This is a good thing, but I'd like the use of my computer's internet back; as I am paying good money for it.  And it wasn't my fault this happened.  

Now, tomorrow, I have shopping to do, and that will have to split into two days instead of one.  I'll be going out on Thursday as well to pick up a few things I couldn't get on Wednesday.  Then, on Friday, I have to go out to Garden City to pick up something else and I'll be away for the night and half of Saturday... what a tiring week!  All because of some idiot's moves from Telstra.  I hate it that this week has had to be changed around all due to this.

Have you ever had to change your plans as suddenly as this; and have it not be your fault?  It's not the the going out that bothers me, it's the matter of having to wait for so long to have things to have things to be fixed that's the problem.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Brilliant Career Cut Short

Today, I read on Bookcrossing that Diva, actor and songwriter, Whitney Houston, passed away in a hotel room in Los Angeles.  What a loss to the entertainment industry this is; as well as the world of music.  

Whitney started out her life in a gospel church group with her Mother Cissy Houston, related to superstars such as Dee Dee Warwick (cousin) and Dionne Warwick (sister), it's a little wonder that Whitney would take to the music industry as easily as she did.  Her mother nurtured her talent and passion for gospel singing from a young age.  As a teenager, Whitney was already singing on the scene in New York, and records with her first young performances in the '70s and early '80s album credits with such eclectic acts as Michael Zager, Chaka Khan, Herbie Mann, the Neville Brothers, Bill Laswell's Material, and others are much sought-after collectors items.

In 1983, Clive Davis saw Whitney singing in a club in New York and signed her on the spot.  Two were spent in making her debut record; and in 1985, her self-titled album came out yielding a string of great hits such as 'The Greatest Love of All' (which became her veritable anthem), 'Saving All My Love For You', and 'How Will I Know'.  Not only did the album establish her as an important new recording artist, but it went on to sell over 12 million copies in the U.S., plus many millions more abroad. This LP set the record as the biggest selling debut album by a solo artist.  

With her second album, Whitney made history as the first female artist to make it onto the Billboard album charts #1. The new album soared past 9x-platinum on the strength of four #1 chart-toppers.  

In 1992, after establishing her place on the big screen with Kevin Costner in 'The Bodyguard', Whitney Houston, three of her hits made it onto 'The Bodyguard' soundtrack which sold over 42 million copies worldwide.  Filmwork continued for Whitney as other roles showed up for her and she starred in 'Waiting to Exhale' (1995), 'The Preacher's Wife' (1996).

By 2000, Whitney Houston received her sixth Grammy Award and was named the Best Female R&B Vocal; a month later, she was named Female Artist Of the Decade at the "Soul Train" Music Awards annual ceremonies virtually 15 years to the day since her debut single, "You Give Good Love" entered the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart on March 9, 1985.

The Guinness Book Of World Records lists Whitney as music's "most awarded female artist of all time," with an amazing tally of 411 awards (as of 2006) a tally that is certainly topped by her two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, and 23 American Music Awards, as well as MTV VMAs in the U.S. and Europe, NAACP Image Awards, BET Awards, "Soul Train" Music Awards, and so on. She received the Nickelodeon "Kids Choice" award (she was inducted into the "Kids Choice" Hall Of Fame in 1996), the Dove (Gospel Music Association) Award, and Blockbuster Entertainment Award. Whitney was inducted into the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Walk Of Fame in 1996; and received "Soul Train"'s prestigious Quincy Jones Career Achievement Award in 1998.

Being Brutally Honest

Have you ever looked around your house and thought that it was time to really get in and do a good, brutally honest toss-out?  Well, as a lot of you who have been following me for a while now know I have been cleaning out my house for a while.  And now, I'm up to a stage where I'm about to attack the wardrobes.  Yep, I've begun going through my clothes and tossing out what I don't need, doesn't fit me and letting it go to the charity bins.

Yesterday was the day it all began.  I opened the wardrobe where my skirts, shirts and jeans lived and I pulled it all out, dumped them onto the bed and checked the sizes.  Anything that wasn't a size 12 went into the charity garbage bag; and there was a lot that didn't fit me.  There were some jeans that looked like it did, but then, when I tried them on, they didn't (I had to make sure they weren't a large fit).  

Yes, that's a Sherryn Footy you can see in the centre.  I'm an AFL fan. :)

While I was putting my clothes away, I also sorted through my vintage t-shirts and thought it would do them a world of good to put them through the wash today.  And on the way through sorting them, I found a t-shirt I thought I had binned years ago.  It was my Pride Fair Day T-shirt from 2000.  Why I hadn't tossed it out is beyond me, and I didn't think twice about throwing it out, it just went straight into the charity bag unwashed and unfolded.  This is a win for me to throw out something from my past as I no longer have any connection to it - and fortunately - don't feel guilt in throwing it out.  

After around forty-five minutes, I had replaced the draw-lining, put all the jeans and shorts back.  The Winter t-shirts were in the wardrobe along with the skirts.  My Summer shirts were in the duchess and most of the laundry was put away.  I had a rubbish bag full of clothes to give away, the bath towels to fold and put away and I was done.  I was very pleased with myself; as this wasn't the only thing I had gotten done yesterday.

I had also vacuumed the bathroom floor and scrubbed the shower cubicle within an inch of its life.  That was a good part of an hour before I attacked my wardrobe.

However, today, I'm hoping to sort through all my hanging space in the other two-door wardrobe.  I have far too many dressing gowns; with about eight of them in there, I only need three really.  So, I'm going to look at them and keep the ones I want and give away the others after washing them.  Then, it'll be time to go through all my other clothes and jackets.  Now, that's going to be painful!  I do love my jackets; they all serve a purpose.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember I'm always here. 

Busy Days

Right now, I've got a sore arm.  Yep, I started a new painting and was overzealous and failed to pick up my arm support; injuring the muscles in my arm.  It hurt more yesterday than it does today, so I'll be away from the easel today as I was yesterday too.  It's a matter of resting up my arm until the muscle heals a little.  Otherwise, I have to find other things to do in the meantime.

So, I have decided to do some more cleaning out.  Yes, just like last year, I'm doing this again.  however, this time, I'm working on my storage spaces and clothes.  I have a lot of clothes that either don't fit me or I don't wear anymore; either way, they are going to a charity and I'm going to find other clothes that suit me and work on a new wardrobe (but that's for another time for me to write about, of course).

As for the storage space?  Well, I began on the spare room wardrobe and successfully filled a medium-sized rubbish bag within 45 minutes.  I was just really brutal and threw out magazines from 2006 that I didn't need and want.  I read everything, made sure I had the right things in the right piles and put back what I wanted and tossed exactly what I didn't.  And after the last few years of being honest with myself, I have found it easier and easier to be able to throw out what I don't want. 

On Wednesday afternoon, I found a medium-sized craft box that I could paint up for my coffee table, a wall hanging that has a lovely saying on it for a space next to front door and a couple of other things that I think would work downstairs... most of the other things I found ended up in the bin.  Now, I have the rest of the office to finish up and I know what needs to be done.  I need to make sure I keep nothing that isn't useful and find a use for things that are.  I have found somethings that don't belong to me; things that are other people's and I'd like to return them to their rightful owners.  However, I came upon some written work of a friend who has passed away and I don't know what to do with it.  So, I've just left a note with another fellow writer who would know who to pass it onto - or what to do with it (not that I don't want it; it's not mine to have or publish).

Anyway, today - this morning - I did get a lot done.  There's four loads of laundry out on the line, all the washing up has been one (except for one pan with dirty water in it from a day ago), the pets are happily fed, I vacuumed the bathroom (to ready it for a good clean-up) and I've checked my mail box out the front for junk mail and all my e-mail... otherwise, I've still got a lot to get done this weekend.  

The sun has just come out from behind the clouds for the first time today and it's almost midday; what a relief!  I thought it was going to be overcast all day!  After all the rain we've had, I love to see the sun here in Brisbane.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Changes

Since the beginning of the year, I've noticed a lot of things going on, a lot of changes happening and plenty of unusual occurrences.  It's the Year of the Dragon and it's also the year the Mayan Calendar finishes; thus meaning many things - spiritual and otherwise - are going to either come to an end, begin or reborn themselves in some way or another.  

I've met a wonderful man and we both like each other immensely.  However, as we've gotten to know each other, we have admitted that we don't wish to have a relationship this year as it doesn't feel right; and we don't want to hurt each other.  I know this sounds really strange and unlike me, but we both have this feeling we should both wait until next year.  And so, we are.  I suggested to him that we should get to know each other as friends this year and work on being as close as we can as human beings instead of being lovers; and he loved that idea.  This means we'll find out a lot more about ourselves as well as each other in twelve months than most people.  How cool is that?

Another thing I've been noticing is that I've been finding things around my house that I've 'put in a safe place for future reference'.  I'll tear the house apart looking for one thing and find another that I have looked for before and it'll just show up, with me needing it right now.  It's amazing.  A few years back, I was in a pagan shop and I bought a hard leather pouch for no real reason.  And - seeing I didn't know why I had it - I put it away and left it in with my other magic gear until last month when I pulled it out and looked at it; knowing it was this year I had to use it.  I also found a Smoky Quartz that I bought about five years ago and put away for the same reason... just to keep it safe... and once I found it, I knew exactly why I put it away.  It was because it wasn't time to use it yet.  Now, I'm finding things all over my house that I've stored in boxes and drawers where I'm suddenly in great need of them; like my Tibetan Singing Bell which has been sitting on the window sill of my computer room - behind the tower of my computer - for the last eight years.  I picked it up on Monday, went outside and made it sing for no real reason.  The whole neighbourhood went quiet for a full ten minutes!  I was amazed.  However, the moment I put it back on the kitchen table, everyone outside my back door started up fighting again like they were before.

Another change I've been noticing lately is of where I live here in Logan City; of a name change.  Now, this is something that has been bounced around for a while now.  Every few years, the politicians get this weird idea of changing Logan City's name to something else, can't think of anything and then drop the subject.  This year, they're on this soapbox more than ever.  They really want this change and I'm really wondering if it's the right thing to do.  I mean, Inala nearly had a name change because it was a crap suburb of Brisbane, and once they figured out why it didn't have a good reputation, it turned out okay.  However, Logan City is much bigger than Inala and it's got this horrible reputation where nobody will even mention the City's name on the news (oh, yes, don't you love it when the anchorpeople say:  '...and there was a fatal stabbing, (mumbles) south of Brisbane...' and you wait until the report comes up with Slacks Creek, Woodridge or Kingston when all they have to say at the beginning was Logan City.  What?  Are they terrified that we're going to come knocking on their doors or something?).  So, why change the name of Logan City when it's the reputation of this placed that needs changing, not the name.  And people wouldn't be calling it Bogan Logan - or any other such name - if some famous Bogan hadn't said it first; pointing out the elephant in the room.  Weird but true.

So, what changes have you noticed - spiritual or otherwise - have you noticed going on around you in this world this year so far?  Or haven't you noticed anything at all?  For me, they have been pretty big and obvious.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Busy, Relaxed Weekend

This weekend was an unusual one.  I had a lot to do, and yet it ended with me coming home late from Brisbane City in the afternoon on Sunday.  

On Saturday, I had Mum and Dad over for afternoon tea, however, I had to begin cleaning my house up on Friday night to get it nice and tidy for that occasion.  Fortunately, 'The Sound of Music' was on the television and there were some classic music on there to work to.  I got in and washed up, cleaned up the lounge room, put away the knitting, took the laundry upstairs and cleaned down the kitchen table and then washed all the floors before closing up the house and going upstairs to hang out on the net for a while and going to bed.

On Saturday, I vacuumed the downstairs, put out the rubbish, swept the floors, cleaned up the corners of the kitchen, dusted and bought Dad a Birthday pressie and a card.  Now, normally, I just get him a card, but this time I though a little pressie would be good.  I got all this fixed up in two hours as I was online until around midday or so and Mum and Dad were here by around 4pm.  I had made up a platter of food and some plunger coffee and ice tea (which I had organised the night before) and we sat down and ate and chatted.  Dad loved the coffee and nibbles, read last Sunday's paper and asked if I could play a bit of the piano for him.  I did but I have been out of practice lately; and so made a few mistakes.  Mum took some photos of me playing; which made me a more nervous and I made more mistakes (isn't that always the way?).  Then, we were out in my yard and looking around.  Dad tightened up my clothes line with two shifting spanners I had bought so it wouldn't move and Mum sat in the shade under my kitchen window and perused my yard that had grown since mid-January.  They had a lovely time looking around the place and weren't impressed with the condition of the fences; but then nobody is.  Before long, they had to go home and it was almost time for me to cook dinner.

On Sunday, I was off to New Farm Park to attend a Sunday Meditation which is held once a month with a group I'm beginning to go to.  Even though it was Dad's birthday, I really didn't want to miss this; and this was the reason why i had Mum and Dad over on Saturday for afternoon tea, to spend time with them for Dad's birthday.  They dropped me off at the ferry terminal (and Dad had never driven all the way down there, so I had to give him directions; and he was impressed that there was a round-a-bout there to get out).  And I did the silly thing and walked straight past Will and to the tree we were at last time.  So, I got out my mobile and called him and asked where he was and we ended up spotting each other across the park... really funny.

One by one, we all showed up and we were going to go to the big gazebo but decided to use one of the trees instead.  This time, we nabbed ourselves a picnic table; and there was so much food we could barely fit it all on there!  Packets of chips were ripped open, home-made cakes were brought along, dips, crackers and other great food was put out for everyone to eat.  We chatted and talked and brought out our crystals and meditated in small groups, talked about different things such as dreams and unusual occurrences and other things we don't dare talk to our families about.  This is a place - people - who have experienced things that others dismiss as an over-active imagination whereas these people don't.  I had one lady - Deb - look at my dream journals and she helped me greatly into what they mainly covered.  The one thing she was amazed at was that they were so detailed; that I remembered so much so easily and quickly; and she said that was a good thing.

Then, we got in and did our group meditation.  Deb led the Tree and Earth meditation.  It was a great one, going for around twenty minutes which just flew by!  Then, we all sat around and talked about what each of us got out of it.  I enjoyed the feeling of togetherness it brought with a group of twenty strangers and friends.  This was my first time at a large group meditation and it won't be my last.  next time, I'll have to take along some of my crystals; in particular my Rose Quartz.  

Geoff and Vivienne had to leave and were off soon after the meditation, but I stuck around for another hour or so chatting with people, watching people practice yoga moves and helping Will show people how to get the moves right.  I walked over to three of the guys who were trying out The Hero pose - and not getting it right - with Will and he said that I'd be able to do it and asked me to show them.  I took off my sandals and showed them all; with them all cringing as got onto the ground and easily did The Hero pose on the ground.  Then, I made the guys cringe more as I transformed that pose into The Child pose... with all of them saying they couldn't get their backsides down properly.  I said it's all to do with practice and getting their stretches down pat,and they agreed.  I really gotta get back into my yoga more; it's something that I'm not that flexible with right now, but it's good to know it.  

Before long, it was 4:30pm and I had a City Cat to catch.  I said my goodbyes, received three hugs (a big one from Will) and ran off to the ferry terminal and caught it to the Riverside Centre then walked up to Lower Edward Street to catch the 555 to Springwood.  It was about 100 metres to Mum and Dad's house where I could kick off my shoes and relax a little.  After such a long day, my feet were killing me as I hadn't had any arch support in my shoes; but it was a nice relaxing day.  Such a pity I got sunburnt... I did use sunscreen, but them's the breaks I guess.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Been Given The Slip

Today, I was off to Garden City to do three things:  pick up a new battery for my camera to keep the date-stamp working, an index book and to buy a half-slip.  Sounds simple-enough doesn't it?  Well, I found the first two things easily; and paid for them cheaply enough - both being under $10.  However, I had a hell of a time finding a half-slip around Garden City.  Finding one of these things was like trying to find a Hen's Tooth; that's how rare they're becoming to find and buy now.

My first stop was Best & Less - where I thought I'd find one, but I didn't.  The young lady who helped me lamented with me, saying she understood my dilemma and said that there were people asking for the ones I was after up to ten time a day.  She'd order them in but they never arrived.  However, she did say to try out Big W, Bras & Things or - if I was really desperate - David Jones.  

I went in search of my illusive half-slip to Big W next and couldn't find one.  So, I found myself standing outside Bras & Things.  This shop spooks me to no end.  It's a store full of knickers, bras and naughty nighties... something I have always found daunting to look at in such a large number, but I took a deep breath and went inside.  After looking around the place quickly, I asked if they stocked my item and they said they didn't and to try out David Jones... actually, they were positive that D.J's had it and that store was the only place that would.

So, I walked into the large department store, found the women's section and walked around their underwear section looking for my half-slip that seemed to have gotten away from me.  Truthfully, I was beginning to forget what these stupid things looked like... until I came upon a beige one and looked behind it and found the black one I was searching for.  Ah-ha!  I found a medium-sized and checked the price:  $39.99???  Oh, my God!  Well, there went my budget for the day... my coffee at Gloria Jeans too.  Oh well, a coffee made at home is just as lovely and a hell of a lot cheaper too.  I walked to the counter and paid for my one half-slip and told the lady dressed in the uniform black that I had searched the whole of Garden City and David Jones was the only place that stocked half-slips.  She was shocked, telling me that the ones that were hanging over there where I had gotten mine had been there for three months and haven't moved!  Wow!  I told her that Best & Less had been trying to get them in for the last three months and they haven't been able to get any; now this surprised her. 

Well, I arrived home with my half-slip in a little David Jones bag (maybe my first and only purchase of underwear from that department store in around twenty years I've made... since I went off to New Zealand) and looked at that lovely slip.  I had spent almost two hours looking for this?  Now I know where to get the stupid things, I won't be going anywhere else for them.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember I'm always here.

....and It's Only Thursday!

I'm really tired this week... but I think it's because of what I've been up to lately.  On Sunday, I was up until 1:30am talking to Will on the phone.  He had asked me to hang out with him on Monday afternoon and we had a bit of a problem when I didn't know where the lizard on Boundary Street was; and it turns out that I thought it was a pub (makes sense seeing how many bars and pubs there are on that street!).  Well, we hung out, perused bookstores and grabbed a bite to eat back at his place; then lost track of time until around 7:30pm when I bussed it back home; missing the last bus from Garden City (oops!) and having to get Mum to come and pick me up.

On Tuesday, I was supposed to have been at a workshop but was too stuffed to go anywhere.  So, I tried to call the Gallery but kept getting the answering machine; so I gave up and just didn't go and vegged out around my place doing the laundry and cleaning up.  That was another early night for me and I crashed.

Wednesday was shopping day.  This was also the day where phone banking screwed up on me.  I put across over $200 for my day of shopping.  But it only put across $185 instead; so I came up very short by the time I came to the Chemist.  I had to spend an unnecessary amount of time at Suncorp to get my finances sorted out.  The teller was great, she said that phone banking had been screwing up lately; and apologised.  Otherwise, my shopping was good.  I got nearly everything I needed that day - well, except two things.  I need a small index book and a black half-slip.  I'll get those tomorrow morning.

Before I took off yesterday morning, I did two loads of laundry.  It was going to be a nice hot day; and I thought it would be a good idea to get it all done.  And I was thankful I did.  By the time I returned home, it was all dry and ready to bring in.  Now, all I need to do is find the time to put it all away.  

Today, I posted off a Valentines Swap to Canada, picked up my mail and did all my bits around the place before settling in on the computer today.  I'm tired, but it's been a good week.  It's Dad's birthday this weekend and I'm hoping to go to a gathering in New Farm Park then take off for dinner that night with family... we'll see what happens.   Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Favourite Photos Time - January!

It's a new year and so another year of photos is here!  I'm out and about more around Brisbane and you'll be seeing a lot of different kinds of photos from me this year.  And this month is just the beginning! Enjoy!

New Farm Park 1st, January, 2012

My back courtyard after a much-needed clean up

 

At around this time, we found out that Picnik was closing down, so anyone not paid up were offered to have a go at the Premium Effects for free until April 19th when it's going forever.  Google is taking this great photographic site away from us.

The Lizard, Boundary Street, West End, Brisbane.

 Hope you enjoyed this month's photos.  I had a ball getting out there and taking them; as I will next month!

Dear 16-year-old Me

In today's 'Sunday Mail', I read a piece about famous people being asked to write to themselves when they were 16-years old; what they would advise them to do - or not.  I think this came from a video that was posted on Facebook about Melanoma not so long ago called 'Dear 16-year-old Me' where people who have survived Melanoma wrote a verbal letter to themselves about the dangers of the skin cancer and what they'd change about themselves.  Now, I'd like to do the same for myself; as I had big problems when I was 16 and wish I could go back and talk to me as a teen.  So, here goes:

Dear 16-year-old me,

School may seem like crap right now and your hair looks like a horrible mop of a mess, you're not popular, there's no boyfriend and you're not allowed to go to parties.  But don't worry, life does get better.  Hang in there.  Your folks have sent you to a church group because you're their youngest and a girl (believe me, they think they're doing right by you; it's just how they think).

By the time you leave school - which will be at the end of year 11 because you'll flunk out - you'll feel rotten about yourself, but know where you're going.  Do the TAFE course, but try not to lose it with the tutor (she's an idiot anyway); just walk out on her without throwing the textbook at her head.  

Love your car - the Toyota Celica - and make sure you drive it as much as you can before you have to give up driving; because it'll be a long time before you'll get out there again.  Little Vroom won't be your only car, but it'll be the one you'll remember the best.  

Epilepsy will be something you'll have problems with.  Again, patience will be something you'll learn with doctors.  And this condition will totally change your life in many ways.  You'll get into reading, painting and music is such a big way that your life will change.

Oh, don't keep going out with that dude you dated around 1999... he'll ruin your life completely.  You'll know the one.  He'll begin screaming at you for no reason.  Once he starts that, just dump him; he's not worth it - honestly.

Keep writing.  No matter what keep on writing... it hard as hell to get published, but just enjoy the fact you love telling a story and entertaining people.  And... um... your bookcase?  You know the one in your bedroom?  Yeah, multiply that by four bigger ones and you're lookin' at your collection in 2012 (and the collection keeps growing!). 

Speaking of collecting books, computers will become a big part of your life in the future.  Get used to them.  They are going to work well with you and you're going to own one in your house!  How cool is that?  But keep your eye on the ball about being published; it will happen, just not when you expect it to.  Otherwise, don't worry about school, it's a drop in the ocean.  And yes, you'll get back at one of the high school bullies later on in life - and it'll feel great!

PS:  Do go to your 20 Year Reunion... it'll be worth it! 
PPS:  And even though you avoid the sun like the plague, you'll still get a rotten sun cancer.  It'll be painful as hell and you'll be left with a scar... however, please, please, please, when you go and hang out with one of the kids at Bruns next year (you'll be 17), put some sunscreen on!  Even if you think you'll be okay; you'll get sunburnt to a crisp... and that's when the damage will happen to your leg.

So, what would you say to your 16-year-old self if you had the chance?  Lots? A little?  Nothing?  Or would a letter not be needed at all as your life turned out exactly as you planned?  I thought it would be interesting if we could talk to our 16-year-old selves.  However, the problem would be, would they believe anything we'd say?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.