Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Autumn Marches On - Finally!

It's been hot.
It's been steamy.
It's been hot and steamy...

Yes, we've had a longer than usual Summer here in Australia and I bet, you guys overseas have had a longer than usual Winter too!  We've just been hanging out for the cooler months; and its wonderful long nights and shorter days.

But this month has been as busy as it's been hot and stormy.  Within this month, I've raised a lot of money, been to a market and weathered a thunderstorm there and shaved all my hair off for charity, as well as finally worked where to get the best fruit and veggies nice and fresh... even if I have to drive for 10 minutes to get them.

Yes, this month has been busy, frantic, hot and sticky and stressful.  However, I have learned a lot about myself, family, people and what life is like without my hair... and that I could shave my head again if I needed to.

I do miss my hair... seriously I do.  And I really didn't know how much I played with it until my hands went looking for it, and it wasn't there.  I still feel the phantom pony tail and all my friends tell me that I look great with short hair - but I hate it.  I'm looking forward to having it long again; really I do, because I've lived most of my life with shoulder-length or waist-length hair.  I really do feel very naked without my hair.

However I raised over $800 for the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland; and I damned proud of that.  I should be able to raise that much money every year, but it just doesn't happen.  I did ask online why that was so; why it took me shaving my head for people to dig deep, when I've been colouring my hair for years.  My question went unanswered... nobody wanted to tell me.  I'm hoping they understand that my hair went off to Pantene to have them make it into a wig for somebody to wear while undergoing treatment. 

This month has been been a very weird month in weather.  We have had some rainfall, but we've also had some really dry days too... and then we've had some big thunderstorms.  So, it causes me to wonder how cold our Winter is going to be; and how long?  Is it going to be longer, just like our Summer?  There's so many questions and not enough answers, and so, so many conspiracies.  I don't know where to start or look.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Well, today it's the first cool day we've had this month; and I'm grateful.  Actually, I'm currently wearing a beanie on my head as I'm getting cold... how weird is that?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Interesting Facts

Interesting facts I've found out this week:

Fact #1:

Penny Marshall - famous for being Laverne on Laverne and Shirley - is one of the biggest collectors of sports memorabilia in California.  She's got all types of stuff in rooms filling her home in Beverley Hills from Football/Gridiron to Baseball to Hockey to jerseys to ... well, just about anything you can think of and it's all signed by famous people.  There's some things signed by people who didn't like signing things.  And she even had a collection of things from the movie 'A League of Their Own' - which she directed that she's added to this wonderful collection. 

Fact #2:

I've had flecks of tar on my car's paintwork.  It's been there since February.  Earlier this month, I took my car to Mum and Dad's house and Dad rubbed Metho onto the spots with a chucks until the tar came off then we washed the car immediately.  The tar was gone!  I still have a few bits in places but they're too hard to get to, and I can't see them unless I'm right up close.

Fact #3:

No matter how much housework you get done, there's always more to do the next day.  Why, I washed the car, did 3 loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom and one toilet (I have two toilets in my house) and put out my rubbish bin and still there was way too much housework left to get done in the day.  Instead of stressing about it, I remembered that there's always tomorrow to get more done.

So, there you have it... three facts I found out this week. What facts have you learned over the last week that you'd like to share?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Big Weekend! Lots of Rain!

I had a really big weekend... well, okay, not today so much, but yesterday was really full.  It was one of those days where it started and didn't really end until I finally went to bed and turned out the light and my brain also switched off the lights too... yeah, one of those days.

I was up nice and early, ate breakfast and just chilled out for the morning.  I didn't want to be stressing out about the day - as it was a market day at Murarrie, and we were in for a big storm.  So with the car packed the day before, and locked up, I wasn't stressing about how late I was leaving it.

But I did need a raincoat in case I was caught unawares unpacking or packing up.  So, I dropped by Mum and Dad's an scored myself a Bunnings poncho... very cool, and huge on me.  And because it was in its own little case, I just tossed it into the stores box and kept on driving; making it to the Murarrie Progress Hall an hour ahead of schedule.  But there was method in my madness... I needed paperclips and the newsagents around the corner was open.  I went and bought them and within minutes of me doing that, it closed.

Well, I was set up an hour and half before I usually was, and so I sat down and did some knitting... yeah, I knew it was probably going to be a slow market day  and brought along something to do.

However, it wasn't.

Despite the storm which brought a huge amount of rain, wind, thunder and lightning to Brisbane and the surrounding areas, there were plenty of people who braved the rain afterwards to see what we had on offer. 

Unfortunately, the problem was that the outside stalls fell through and nobody was outside - not even food vendors - and that meant nobody could buy food that day.  We had nothing to eat for lunch or dinner.  

Well, 6pm came and I had taken around $30 and packed up in the dark and rain (but not so bad I needed the poncho).  I found out I won the best dressed stall and before I knew it, I was off to Mum and Dad's place, where I was just in time for dinner!  Gabe, Kat and Riley were there, so was Jay and Grand-dog and Riley's puppy, Caspian, who is only a year old.  We had a great time after dinner playing Banana-Peel (a game based on scrabble) while I waited for the rain to back off so I could take off home.  

I got home around 9:30pm and I left the car alone to be unpacked today - which I did before Geoff and his little daughter, Zoe arrived for morning tea.  Well, we gave her pancakes and bananas for lunch before Zoe needed a nap on the way home.  It was a cool morning and - before I knew it - it was raining again.  I had unpacked the car, had visitors, built a very cool terrarium and washed up about half the gear in the kitchen then watched at bit of television while I knitted a dishcloth.  

Well, that was my weekend... it's been raining, so that's why I haven't been outside in the garden much.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Bucket Lists

When you get older, you tend to look at life differently; a lot differently.  And when you get older, you start making a Bucket List - this is a list of things you want to accomplish before you kick that bucket called Life.

Getting my head shaved for the Leukaemia Foundation wasn't on my Bucket List - but it should have been, because it was empowering.  As much as I have hated myself over the last 48 hours for doing what I did to my hair, I have to remind myself that I did this for two charities.  One is raising funds for the Leukaemia Foundation; while the other is Pantene Beautiful Lengths Promotion where they'll make a wig out of my hair.  
A lot of people on Saturday got long ponytails cut off and their heads shaved and the hairdressers threw away those ponytails without another thought.  I was grateful that I did my research and found a place for mine.  

However, I had thought about my bucket list and realised there have been things on it that I have accomplished over the last few years.  One of those things on my bucket list was to drive a car again -which I've done!  

I've also got on that bucket list a lot of things I'm not sure I'll get around to doing.  There's some great things I'd love to do - like seeing Mt Everest, sky dive and other great things that are thrilling - but due to my medical condition I'm just not permitted to do them.  I guess we can all dream, right?

So, what's on your Bucket List - well, not your whole bucket list, just the top ten things?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

I Did It!

Yesterday was such a full-on day that I just couldn't write anything last night.  I was so exhausted from the whole event; then I had to go to my volunteer work at the Logan Art Gallery afterwards.

But it was wonderful.  I had my family there.  Gabe, Kat, Riley, Mum and Dad, Aunty Helen and Kate and her nephew, Owen as well.  It was great!  I was very nervous about the whole thing and talked to the organiser about what was happening with my hair - as I was donating it to have it made into a wig.  She totally understood and made sure I was put with the right person to have this done.

This year, I raised over $700 for the Leukaemia Foundation and I'm sending off my hair to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths Promotion tomorrow.  I've yet to bank my funds, but that'll be after I collect the rest of it off everyone - which will be during the week.  

Well, here's a few photos of the day! 

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Well there you go!  Some photos of my day out getting my long red hair shaved off.  It all goes to two great causes and I'm proud I've done it.  However I do have change of season sinus, which makes me sound as though I have a cold - I really hate that.  But I can't do much about it.  Also, I slept with a beanie on my head last night, making me feel like I was one of the 7 Dwarves from  Snow White!  Hahaa.. funny stuff.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Two Days...

The nerves kicked in at around the same time the Kookaburras woke us up this morning: 5:45am.  Soon after, it began to rain.  I didn't sleep very well after that and just dozed through the light shower of rain, listening to the birds screech and carry on afterwards, as though they were in a massive bird bath.

After my other two alarms went off, I got up, dressed and knew today was going to be cooler than the other days this week - this was going to be a change; a good one.  This also meant the weather was going to be different for us over the coming weeks.  After this Saturday, I'll have to be careful with my health because I won't have my long hair to keep my back and neck warm.

Isn't it amazing how much we rely on our hair to do that?

Well, for a good part of the day, I kept my mind active by hanging out here on the net.  But even that has its limits.  I looked in on the Lucky Dip I've been working on for the next mini-markets and found I've finished up on it, I just need the sign done up.  That won't take long.

Anyway, I ended up sitting out in the back yard writing in my journal about my nerves, how much I'm going to miss my hair and just day-dreaming, and making a to-do list for tomorrow of last minute things to get done.  I have to go to the doctors tomorrow too as well as collect the last of the money and bank it... then everyone online will know how much I've raised.  

My nerves are getting to me.  I've been eating a lot... yeah they do that to me when I'm not keeping myself busy.  Fortunately, I eat good healthy food and drink a lot of milk.  So, when I'm nervous, you'll see me eating or looking at the contents of a fridge or pantry for no reason... just that I'm nervous (not bored), and usually it's at my house I'll do it. 
And today, I did eat a lot and then hated myself for it.  Tonight, I ended up working on a few new things for the markets and 'got bored'... so I washed up absolutely everything in the kitchen and wiped down the counters.  I'm hoping to get into more cleaning before Saturday morning.  I could knock over more things around the house and make sure the place looks better.

Hmmm, should really put away the laundry, clean the bathroom and toilets... yeah, that's turn off a lot of nervous energy in a few hours tomorrow morning.

I'll see how I go tomorrow and work on making sure I have everything right before I get into the weekend.  Well, I hope you enjoyed the inner workings of a nervous person... yep, me... until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Four Days Away!

It's only 4 days before I say goodbye to my long, long red hair!  Yep, I'm getting a #4 done to my head and my long ponytail will be donated to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths Campaign.

I'm looking forward to it and at the same time, I'm not... I'll have no hair for a while, but then, it'll start growing again.  

And my hair grows like a weed... it's fast!

So far, I've raised over $600 and that's fantastic!  I'm getting closer to my goal of $1,000 each and every day; and this is great!  I'm finding sponsors are either giving money to me online through my sponsoring page or they're giving money to me personally.  And this is great! 
I've also got a donation box at my local doctor's where I go.  They've been great!  I have to pick up the box on either Thursday or Friday before the day I get shaved to add to the moneys I already have.  

I have been raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation for around 7 years now, and it's so rewarding to have done this!  I'm looking forward to doing it for many more years into the future.  So, what do you do to raise money for charities - if you do - and which ones do you do this for each year?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Seven Days Away!

It's just a week away from the day I get my head shaved.

One week... 

Seven Days...

That's not very long!

Am I worried?  Am I excited?  Am I nervous?  Am I scared?  Yes to all of those above questions, and more.  I'm terrified this will go terribly wrong.  But in all honesty I'm keeping positive that I'll be able to get this done right.

I've begun to have a few emotional times about shaving my hair off.  But that's expected; especially seeing I haven't had my hair this short since I was 12 years old... that's well over 20 years of having long hair.

This will be a huge change... massive... and I'm hoping Pantene does make it into a beautiful wig for somebody out there who will love to be a redhead while they're going through treatment.

Are you doing the World's Greatest Shave this year?  If not, why not?  And if so, how far are you willing to go?  Shaving?  Colouring?  How much have you raised so far?  As for me, I've raised over $500 so far... there's still a long way to go until I reach my goal of $1,000.  You never know, I might yet reach that goal.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Lavendar Lemonade

I love making home made drinks and food - as you all know - and I've just come across a recipe on the net for Lavendar Lemonade.

Now, I haven't tried it out yet, but it ought to be very good for anxiety and headaches - as the recipe says - and so I thought to put the link up here for you all to have a look at.

Lavendar Lemonade

Let me know what you think of it if/when you have a go at it... and I'll let you know my results when I have a go at it too.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Little Green Machine

Next month, it's been a year since I got Little Green Machine... the day before ANZAC Day actually. How brilliant is that?

And how fast did that year go?  

I'm amazed at how much I have done with my car.  From the day I received as a birthday gift from my Dad - who spotted it at a car yard at Stone's Corner - to now, I've found a lot of joy in this little car of mine.

It's been to a few good markets, taken me shopping, had one flat tyre, taken me to Brunswick Heads and back once and to Brighton and back a few times.  And all my friends love the colour, how it runs and I do love the stereo system... very, very much... which has caused my folks to nickname me 'the noisy one' instead of 'hey, our daughter's here'.

I've been catching up with so many things that I've missed out on doing over the past 20 years that I am still working on that bucket list of driving places.  I know that sounds strange, but when you've had health issues and you have to stop driving for a while, you tend to miss out on a lot of things.

I used to go ice skating at Acacia Ridge a lot when I used to drive the Celica, it was a joy for me to do that about once a month.  I used to go to the movies once a fortnight (on Tuesdays because they were cheaper) at the Hyperdome, and I would catch the most recent films.  Then, there were my trips to Stone's Corner to buy clothes that were one-offs, great styles and cheap.  

Once I gave up driving, I couldn't do any of that without adding in hours of being on a bus and bus fair... and man, that cost a lot of money!  Now?  The money I'd put into bus fair goes into the petrol tank and I don't have to wait for a bus, I just jump in the car and drive to my destination and home again when I'm ready to come home.

I didn't truly know how much I missed having a car until I had to get a cork for the terrarium in the living room and I used the GPS to get myself to Bardon - over near Mt Coot-tha.  Once I was there, I ended up having a very nice lunch at the restaurant, taking my time coming home; making it a full day out - I mean why not?  I didn't have to catch the bus.  I wasn't rushing to get to Garden City to beat the last bus at 8:15pm.  There really wasn't any hurry to be anywhere... this was when I really didn't worry.

The longer I've had my car, the more freedom I've felt.  And there's been days where I didn't want to go anywhere... not because it's not sunny, or there was a book sale, or I had a box filled to the brim with donations... I just didn't feel like going anywhere and stayed home and did some housework, read a book or cleaned out the car.  I know it was there, but there is no real need to jump in it all the time just because it's there.

I have total respect for other drivers... unless they don't have any for me.  And within this year, I've decided to buy myself a dash cam for the car, so if I am in an accident, it's all caught on it for insurance purposes.  

Today, though, I was over at my folks' place to get some work done on the paintwork.  You see, I had gone to Brighton to visit my niece, Riley, when, on the way home, I was behind a truck which had something flying and flaking off the back of it.  At the time I didn't know what it was and went around it, but when I arrived home, there were minute black flecks of crap all over my windscreen, all over the bonnet and on the supports and side mirrors... yuk!  So, today, Dad and I got some turps and rubbed it all off the car, then washed it.  We chatted about polishing the car, and he gave me some MacQuarie's Polish for the car and an applicator.  When I got home today, I waited an hour or so for the car to cool off and then rubbed the polish into it... now it looks wonderful!

Well, I'm expecting my rego renewal in the mail soon, and it'll be without a sticker... so, it'll be good to actually be able to afford my own rego on my car - for the first time in my life.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Logan Car Show

Today I was off to the Logan Car Show.  It was amazing!  At first, I thought not to go, all because I didn't know anyone there; but then, I wanted to see the cars.  It was only $5.00 entry and Triple M was sponsoring the show (strangely enough, I hadn't heard it on the airwaves of it being advertised... weird that). 

Anyway, I dressed myself up and got going to the place and - wow! - it was filled to the brim with cars of all sorts. From vintage Taxis to an old hearse or two, this show had it all.  I saw rides, craft stalls and food stalls, there was a stage which rocked a couple of bands to keep the crowds entertained... and there was even a pizza-oven there too!  

But I loved the cars.

So many cars!

I even found a 1958 Plymouth Fury - a red one - which looked just like 'Christine'.  Actually the first words out of my mouth, when I came across it was: 'Oh my god!  Christine!' the people sitting next to it laughed telling me that the owner might not call it that, but yeah, it was a '58 and a duplicate - and that he owned a blue one at home!

Just before I left, I went by to drool over the Fury again, and found the owner there.  He and I had a good chat about the car and he let me sit in her!  Man, it was creepy and beautiful at the same it!  I never thought I'd be able to be anywhere near such a gorgeously creepy car as this, but I was.  And it's much bigger than you'd think.  I got plenty of photos of this car, and had photos of me in it and standing next to it too!  What a car, and what a day!  I was so happy to have see a car such as this!

Well, after leaving the Logan Car Show, I was off to my folks' house to see them.  Mum said it would be great to see me too.  So, I showed up and they were happy I had a good time there.  I showed her the photos on my phone and they were both amazed at the cars and how close I got to the Plymouth Fury.
Then Gabe and Kat showed up and I showed Gabe, he was happy I had gotten to meet a 'Christine' in my lifetime, and gotten photos of it too - as well as sit in the driver's side of it.  

Too soon, we were all on our ways home.  It was then, they all noticed how sunburnt I was.  I hadn't felt it or noticed it, but Gabe noticed it first, then Kat... I hadn't known about it really until I got home and put the Banana-Boat After Sun Gel on.  I'm so glad I have that in the fridge.  It really worked a treat.  At around 6pm, I took a nice long shower and worked on the sunburn with an in-shower moisturiser and then rubbed in a rich moisturiser to help it along.  Before going to bed tonight, I'll be rubbing in Nivea Night Cream to give it more moisture as I sleep. 

Tomorrow is Craft Day.  Two ladies won't be there... pity, so much has happened.  Oh well, it'll give me so much more to do I guess.  Might take along my hand-sewing instead of painting tomorrow... it'll be a difference in my work.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.