A Late Post for Friday

Normally, I post during the day; but I thought a late night one would be okay to do.  It's quiet, most of my neighbours have their lights off and my lovely little bird has put herself where I should be: in bed.  Otherwise, I'm still here dressed and tired from a full day out at the doctors; which meant traveling to my parent's place.

I bused it to Springwood and had to get some money out of the bank.  I was a little early for the first lot of doctors, so took in a book store.  Yes, I know that can be dangerous; and it was.  I bought two books: both non-fiction.  I don't know what it is with me these days with wanting to know people's lives.  But first one was about the life of Arthur Miller and the other was the letters of Robert Louis Stevenson; and I got them for the great price of $4.95 ea.

Once at my folks' house, I was on the net and uploading my usual photo for the day on 365project and looking after my farm on Farmville... what a cute little game that is.  I've now got a dog and lots of cats.  And as of tonight, I can teach my dog how to do tricks and give him dog biscuits; how cute!  Otherwise, my Aunty Helen came by while Mum was out and we chatted for a little while until one of my friends talked to me on Facebook... and I tried to get away but it took a little time.  

Before Aunty Helen came by, Mum got me to try on some of her old clothes and they all fitted!  They were all size 14; but a small make.  I was so amazed!  She was too... that I was putting on her clothes and they were fitting well.  We had a good laugh about it.

The next doctors was the chiropractor's and he said that my back wasn't as bad as first thought.  However, I went for my 10 minute walk anyway; finding myself at 'Rockaways Music' at Centro.  I bought myself two vinyls and found a Jeff Beck one for my brother for his birthday... so cool!  It's from 1968 and I hope he enjoys it; well I'm sure he will.

Anyway, it's getting late.  So far tonight, I've sorted out the newspapers, figured out what needs to come upstairs and put it into a green bag and put away all my art gear off the coffee table.  Then, I cleared the lounge off of garbage and filled up a plastic bag to throw out.  That's where I found a pink address book, some little things I meant to send overseas in an envelope and my 'Happy Little Pigs' Poetry book!  I'm hoping to get into the kitchen table and washing the floors tomorrow; as well as washing up and sorting through the clothes I don't want in my wardrobe.

Until my next post, take care.

September Is Something Different!

I've had the best month for a lot of things going right - and wrong; but I didn't let any of that bother me.  September has turned from being a month of being stuck in a book about the brain; to finishing the book... which was great!  And I found it the most inspiring book around.  It's 'The Brain That Changes Itself' by Norman Doidge, MD.  And what a man!  He's written about what doctors have suspected for over a century about the brain; but have been taught that the brain is hardwired, however, it's not... instead it's very plastic and can learn and relearn things through forming new pathways and turning them into highways through use.  Yep, our brain is very much a use, or lose it item of our body.

But that was near the end of this month.  At the beginning of the month, I found a big bag of books!  Honestly, it was so much fun!  There I was 15 minutes early for the bus and I saw this bag of books sitting outside somebody's house waiting for pick-up.  So, I dug in and looked!  And they were vampire romance and old-fashioned romance.  So, I picked up the bag and took them home.  What a find!  And in very reasonable condition too!

Then, on 3rd, September, Mum and I finally got the the Traffic Signaling Box finished!  We had to put a sun on the Top Hat section of it and that took four hours to get done. Once it was done, we looked upon it happily... and found it looked more complete.  And now, it really jumps out on dull days.  Mum said she'd love to do another one with me next year once I have another design approved.  Yay!

Father's Day came and I hadn't bought my Dad anything; and my older brother was out of town.  Dad felt a little left out.  So, seeing I couldn't get over to their place, I did a blog entry for him... and he loved it.  He thought it was straight from the heart and very well-thought out.  I said to him that it's there whenever he wants to see it; just look up the label of 'Father's Day' and it'll be there for him.

I tried to get back into The Big Tidy-Up again, but failed... my allergies began to kick in and I felt terrible.  So, I thought to do what I could and see how far I got... which wasn't far, I tell ya now.  Anyway, I thought to write a blog entry about how living in a spotless house wasn't my forte and it found it funny how it was so easy to write.  My allergies are still bothering now.

Before we knew it, it was Mum's Birthday.  So, I did a lovely blog entry for her... and she loved it.  Then the next night, we all took her out for dinner at the Vietnamese Restaurant in Chinatown in Fortitude Valley.  It was great!  There was the Moon Festival that was being celebrated where they were playing drums and dragons were running and dancing around the Chinatown Mall... but we didn't see the dragons; however we did see the costumes.  The sounds of the drums were amazing though.  They vibrated through the floor and walls of the restaurant during our dinner; but had stopped by the time the bill had come around, we had sung 'Happy Birthday' to three different tunes and ended up getting a slice of birthday cake from another table, just for getting it right. 

Otherwise, I didn't do anything too outrageous or different this month.  I planted some Bok Choy; which I'll need to buy some beer for... to keep the slugs from eating (yep, they love getting into the booze).  Otherwise, I've had a rather sedate month. Next month might be a little more exciting.  Until then, take care!

Almost Finished.

School holidays are almost finished here in Australia and that means a lot of people are hoping that the first day back is dryer than it has been in the last few weeks.  Honestly, it's been so wet and weird lately that the kids around that place haven't had a chance to stretch their legs outside and have fun!  Instead, they're watching the days go by and rain tumble from the grey clouds; washing their fun plans away with the dirt and grime they're so used to getting into.

This also means the parents are fed up with having them around their feet too.  They have to either go to work and come home to them saying that there was nothing to do.  So, when they get back to school, it'll feel like they've never really been on holidays.

For me, I've been stuck inside too.  Normally, I get myself outside and into the sun in Spring and read a few books before the rush'n'hurry of Christmas comes along.  It may sound like an early start to things for some, but really, I have to begin now to give my family a good Christmas.  I began looking around for Christmas pressies about a month ago and began asking them what they wanted about a week ago.  They don't find it all that strange now, but they used to.

I know what I'm getting my niece... she'll love it.  I just have find something cool for the rest of the family.  Dad's normally the hardest to buy for, though.  Just what do you get for somebody who's got everything?

But really, I'm looking forward to when all the kids go back to school.  While I was out shopping today, I don't think I've ever apologised so much to kids in all my life.  I bumped into so many who were out with their folks shopping.  They were either waiting for them or trying to help with the shopping (and just getting in the way) or they were taking off from their folks when they saw something in another shop they wanted to look at; leaving their parents struggling with the shopping trolley or bags of groceries walking in the opposite direction toward the carpark calling out: "Leaving now!  I'm not going to wait for you!" and grumbling under their breath, "God kill me now; or send them back to school."

Actually, on the way to do my shopping, I was on the bus and there was a kid who ran up to the bus as it was driving away and he grabbed at the second lot of doors.  They automatically opened while the bus was still in motion; which caused the bus driver to stop the bus, get off the tell the kid off.  One of the passengers said that the kid was heading towards being a delinquent; and/or prison.  She said that he was around 9 years old and he didn't go to school and just went around vandalising everything; thinking he could get away with it.  This included cars on sales lots.  The police can't do anything about him and his parents don't care.  It's such a shame when a child like this falls between the cracks; and yet nobody does anything about him.  Well, all we can do is wait until he's 16 and then he'll get a taste of what happens in Juvenile Detention Centres.  If that doesn't work, jail might.

I think a lot of the kids are looking forward to going back to school; despite having to get up early again and getting back into the books.  It's the sheer boredom that these school holidays have brought that have had kids on edge for the last two weeks.  It doesn't matter how many times they were taken to the movies or to indoor go-kart tracks, parents do run out of things to do for them.  So, bring on school!  

I never thought I'd say that... even now.

Sunday Lazy Sunday

As the day draws to a close, here in Logan City, and clouds skud over the sky.  I realise that my birthday is next Tuesday... yep, the 5th, October.  It's the same day at Sir Bob Geldof and Guy Pearce; and I'm excited.  I love my birthday; truly I do.  I always have found it very cool to have a certain day of the year where everyone gets one person pressies, takes them out somewhere fun and they feel special for that day when they were born.

But today, I found, was very lazy.  I didn't wish to read the paper.  Nothing really caught my eye that I wanted to read.  I didn't want to read the book I had put aside to read... even though it's a lovely and charming fiction story set in early last Century and involves spending a month in a gorgeous castle in Italy... wonderful!  I almost didn't want to play the piano, but I did just to figure out how to play a new tune I've been trying to get my head around.  And I got my head around it... even though it drove me nuts while I did.

Yesterday, the AFL Premiership Game in Melbourne came to a draw between Collingwood and St. Kilda!  68 all!  Now they have to play a game this week to break it... weird and not fair on the players.  This is a weekend when Bathurst and the NRL Grand Final is on... not a fair lot of events to choose from when you like two of them.  But it's how it's turned out.

Well, I best be going.  Night is drawing ever closer and I have yet to cover the Bok Choy so the possums don't make a meal out of the young sprouts of it.  Have a great night and take care.

New Things Needed!

Wow!  There's so much I need around the placed... and it's just stuff that need replacing.  Like, the whole unit complex needs new fences - but what's new?  Those fences have been falling down since I arrived.  I need new clothes, but I never have the money; but all I need to do is save up a little.

Most of all, I have been needing a new dvd player... and last night proved it most of all when the remote control died on me.  Even though I changed the batteries over and rolled them around, the stupid thing just gave up the ghost.  So, I had to crawl right up to the player and press the right buttons to get it working properly.  Bugger!  If it's not the speakers cutting out one me whenever they want, it's the damned remote control dying on me.

And if it's not that, the whole machine will keep my dvd's hostage and not play them, give them to me or anything.  And worst times for it to do that is when I get given a burnt dvd... a copied one... it'll stop and start, get all jittery and then freeze up.  It's then, the whole dvd's in immanent danger of being held captive inside my player!  The only way to get it out is for me to turn the whole machine off and turn it back on; and only then will it spit it out for about three seconds and then pull the tray back in!  Yep, I gotta be quick to get the disk out.  My cheap, no-name dvd player gets really mean when it figures out it's got a burnt disk inside it and the disk hasn't been finished properly.  It acts like a spoilt child having a tantrum; and I have to tread carefully around it.  More recently, I have just avoided putting the unfinished burnt dvds inside it to get around its tantrums.

And if it's not my dvd player, it's my VCR.  If I use a tape too many times, it won't rewind fast enough for me to tape something... even if I rewind the tape half an hour before I want to use it.  It's as if it's doing it slowly to make sure I miss the program on purpose!  Stupid bloody machine!  We create them, and the worse we treat the them, the better they run; yet when they do fall apart, it's when we need them the most... school holidays, when we're down with the flu or a cold and when it's pouring rain and there's nothing on the television and it's a Saturday night!  Aaargh!  Typical bloody machines!

We most certainly do create them for them to drive us completely nuts!

One Week Down - One To Go!

I've had a weird kinda week.  I've been a day ahead of myself the whole time and I don't know why; and I skipped a day on 365 project!  How that happened, I'm not sure.  Weird, eh?

Well, it's the end of the first week of school holidays and it's been raining on and off all week.  We've had weather where it's hot one day and cold the next; pouring rain in the morning and stinking hot and sunny by lunch time... so it makes me wonder what the hell's going to be happening next week?  Are we in for more of the same?  And what are the kids going to be doing?  Will they be able to entertain themselves for another week if it all begins to rain continuously again like last week?  If not, well, it's going to be pretty horrendous. 

For me, this week has had me doing my laundry in little bits and pieces because of the weirdness of the weather, practicing a piece of music I'm ready to put through the shredder because my right hand can play it, but my left hand can't and I've just come to the end of a book I've been reading for a bout a month; all because it's a non-fiction.  They take me longer to read because of the information takes longer to sink in and for me to remember it all.  As I've come to the end of that book, I've begun another called 'Enchanted April'.  Fortunately, it's a fiction book and I'm gliding on through it quite easily.  Phew!  Fiction novels again!  Yay!  But it's always good to get my nose into non-fictions once in a while - to educate instead of entertain the brain.  

Also this week, I've had three parcels show up in as many days!  It's the beginning of the Holiday Gift Giving event that begins here in September and finishes around Christmas!  What and enjoyable time of year this is.  This is around the time we also do our Halloween Swap and other fun stuff too.  For example, I did a random postcard send-out last year when I was at Brunswick Heads; and I'll be doing another one this year.  It'll be fun!  

Then, I've got Christmas Presents to purchase between now and December.  So, it's time to get myself back out into the shopping centres again and working on who may want what.  I've been knitting myself a blanket for next year; so knitting anyone anything is out of the question for now.  So, I'll be purchasing things for people now... mainly little things that they'll want and need.  And yes, Dad's always the toughest one to buy for.

Well, so far this week, I've had my time to myself.  It's been a slow - yet relaxing - week of reading, writing, editing, cooking and practicing the piano.  I've enjoyed it.  However, my 37th, birthday is coming up (yep, I'm almost 40... but I'm not worried about it).  I gotta get my hair trimmed before my birthday and I'm thinking of doing out my wardrobe and buying some new clothes for Summer over the next few months; so I have something to wear to the coast.  Now, that'll be good!  I'll even get myself a new coastal/beach bag and trade in my old purple one.  I don't use that anymore; unless somebody in my family wants it.

Well, I best be going.  It's almost lunch time.  And Little Miss Stevie is now eating pear!  Isn't that great?  I'm so pleased with her!  I wonder if she'll do it again for me today.  Until my next post, take care.

3D Overload

When I was young, 3D was a very expensive process to do with films.  When my parents were young, it was also very a expensive - if not an absolute luxury - have in a film.  In the last two years, 3D films have been made even more popular through new glasses, new techniques and new technology.  However, not everyone likes them; and they have their reasons.

I'm a very big movie fan and have enjoyed going to the movies for a majority of my life.  However when I go to the movies now, it's often advertised for the 3D movie-goers and not for the people who enjoy the 2D movie experience.  Being an Epileptic, it's something I have avoided since it became something big on the screens.

Like I said, 3D has been around for a long time; longer than me.  But the technology has just gotten better.  This means it also means it screws with our brains more, makes us tired faster and does stuff to us that we don't yet realise.  And when I attended this year's Epilepsy Symposium here in Brisbane, we had quite a few people with this condition tell the Neurologists that the 3D films were terrible for them; that they were having seizures a few days later when they were perfectly stablised beforehand.

So, really, what is this new technology doing to our brains?  I know that it's not good for us; as I've refused to see a 3D film and have always asked to see if any film I want to see is in 2D as well.  And well, of course it is; but why put something in 3D if the film-makers know it may not be good for us?  To make money... and it's crap that that's what makes the world go round.  

Now there's 3D televisions and the Hi-Fi stores are encouraging us to get these televisions to be in our homes.  So, let's say, you invite your friends over and one of them brings over somebody who's Epileptic?  What then?  Do you expect them to sit in the other room while you all enjoy the 3D film you've rented just for the rest of you?  How selfish can these Hi-Fi places be!  Yeah, it's great for the people who have a passion for the films; but when you have this condition, some people see it as a minor problem when really, it's your own health you're looking out for.

Now, everything is advertised for 3D viewing.  The movies are not shown for 2D - only 3D - and that really gets on my nerves.  The reason being is that I have phone the cinemas and ask what seems like a stupid question:  'Is this film in 2D as it wasn't advertised that it is/was?'  And normally the answer is yes.  But really, do we have to ask?  We should have the answers given to us in the advertising... it's just two little letters to add onto the end of the advertising jingle:  'In 2D and 3D... showing now!' 

Mum's Birthday Dinner

Last night, we went out to Fortitude Valley here in Brisbane to a Vietnamese Restaurant on Wickham Street; Chinatown.  My brother and his girlfriend and Aunty Narelle and Uncle Iain also came to dinner.  It was a great place to eat.  We ordered the banquet; and us vegetarians had our own meals (which we found very filling too).  I had a go at some of the banquet meals and found them delicious!  Then, Mum had some Deep Fried Ice-cream... a great end to a lovely night.

At the next table, there was also another birthday party.  The lady there was celebrating her 60th; and they brought a huge cake.  Well, the whole restaurant broke into song of Happy Birthday; and then to make the night complete, our table sang Happy Birthday to the tune of 'God Save The Queen', 'Advance Australia Fair' and 'Waltzing Matilda'... that got us all a sliver of the lady's cake.  And what a cake!  It was delectable; and tasted like it had been soaked in something that tasted like aniseed; how lovely!  And there were nuts coating the outside with chocolate drizzled over the top... the whole cake was white.  Yummo!  We loved it and thanked her very much for the taste.  

After we paid the bill and left, we decided a walk through Chinatown would be nice.  It has had a big facelift over the last six months; and so has been closed off for a while until now.  We walked through and found the old bricks that made up the paving have been replaced with proper large grey pavers.  The whole place has new lanterns, lights and statues for it all.  There used to be a few little temples around; which were falling apart, but now they've been taken out to have these lovely statues of fish and fountains of water put in their places instead.

When we got to the top of the mall, we found a massive metal bell that used to be at the bottom of the mall encased in either perspex or glass.  Around the base of the bell are white river rocks; and at the base of the whole perspex case and base, there's three plaques of 'Lest We Forget' in three languages.  It's very beautiful and touching to see in such a place. 

While we were at the top of the Chinatown Mall, I spotted a shop I hadn't been to in about a year and half and said it was a very cool place. We walked around this little shop that had all kinds of things from rude and funny cards to new-age teas, incense sticks, cones (incense in a cone shape that is more intense and burns slower) and bags, strange hats and funny dice game called 'Pot' (the rules are hilarious; but I can't tell you complete).  And then, they had energy pops made from natural energy plants and small badges with insults and cartoon characters on them. I bought four for $10 because they were very retro and I loved them; and they were completely me.  

By this time, it was around 10pm and Gabe and Kat had to take off to the next train; and the rain had died down.  So, we said our goodbyes to them and they left to go to the station.  Mum, Dad and Aunty Narelle and Uncle Iain and I walked down Chinatown Mall and Mum and I took some more photos of the fish statue.  And this is when I spotted something I had never seen before.  During dinner, we had hear - and felt - drums being played outside.  They were loud and brilliantly played!  I loved the sound of them; but Dad kept asking what they were.  As we walked past a restaurant, I spotted the dragon heads and the drums all piled up outside the place; and guys who used them having their dinner all still in costume!  It was so cool to get photo of the dragon heads and drums.  I love the colours and how beautifully made they are.

Well, Mum saw my photos and thought they were wonderful.  But it was time to head off home.  We noticed it was a quiet night out there last night; compared to most Saturday nights.  I think it was because of the smoke haze or the rain that kept most people inside.  Either way, we had a great night out on the town.  It was very colourful and enjoyable in every way.  Until next time, take care!

Happy Birthday Mum!

Today is my Mum's birthday; and she's a great person to have a Mum.  She's a brilliant and intelligent woman who is always there for my brother and me when we need her; or anyone.  And today is her day. 

Mum is a one in a million.  She has helped me through so many things and has made me laugh, cry and been the best person I know in my life.  I've learnt so much from her; from cooking, sewing and how to care for myself to knowing when how to talk to somebody and what to buy somebody when they're feeling down.

She has bought me so many things that I've lost count - honestly I have - and when we get together, we end up laughing so much we cry, then forgetting what we were talking about. 

We go to the movies together and have seen some of the greatest stuff around lately.  Afterwards, even though I've had a headache sometimes, we've had something to eat and walked around Garden City.  It's been wonderful to spend time with you on those days.

I've taken you to the preview movies I've won on Triple M and even took you too Mooloolaba when I won a 3-day trip up there... because there wasn't anyone else I'd take.  We had so much fun doing our thing, having a good laugh and enjoying ourselves in the lovely warm sun and going to markets.  And the drive home was a great adventure too; with me taking us the long way around.

During our lives, you've been always there - as I've said - and haven't judged us on our actions.  You're our rock, our support system and our one and only Mum who will always be there for when we need you.  For me, you're my carer (as I've got Epilepsy) and so you've seen me through a lot of crap that a lot of my people have walked away from me for.  I've lost friends because of my disability and kept only a few because they're mature enough to know it'll be okay most of the time.  But you've always been there to help me because you're my Mum and you love me.  

In recent years, my condition has been controlled; making my life a lot easier and so there's been fewer bad days for me and a lot less stress on your mind for you.

So, Happy Birthday Mum!  Enjoy your day and I hope you received all your pressies you've wished for.

Pay Day!

Today it was a lovely hot day with the sun out shining brightly and a gorgeous Spring wind blowing.  It has been absolutely perfect to be outside for the day; and outside I went as it was pay day and I had shopping to do.

First things was first, I posted off two parcels for Bookcrossing.  One went sea mail and the other went air mail; then I took off to the bus stop; but I didn't get very far.  Just before I got to Park Road, I saw an envelope on the footpath and found it was addressed to a street in Rochedale.  It was crossed and ready to be delivered, but it was clearly in the wrong suburb; so I walked back to the post office and handed it over the counter.   They took it off my hands and said: 'Oh dear, another one.' It seems there must have been more letters that have been found.  I didn't ask for details as they were looking worried.

Anyway, I went back on my way and caught the bus to Triple C where I went to Life Line and found two lovely bags and a darling wallet.  One bag was crocheted and brightly coloured; a rainbow bag.  It has a long strap and is just gorgeous!  I love it, and can't wait to use it.  The other bag is a cotton one which also has a long strap - the strap is wider and the colour is a mottled blue with a dragon on the front flap of it; very colourful.  The wallet is a lovely little thing and just perfect for anything I need it for.  So, they are the three things I purchased at Life Line; it all came up to around $12.00 or so, a lot cheaper than my usual price.

I shopped at Woolworths where I kept on hearing somebody wolf-whistling (this is something I normally ignore as it's insulting to women) and when I heard it behind me I turned to give the guy a mouthful to find it was a 4 year-old kid!  His mother told him off and ordered him to stop doing that... boy!  He must have picked it up off his Dad.  All I could do was pick up my basket again and walk away.

My walk to Logan Central Plaza was nice with the lovely breeze keeping me cool and sun warming my face.  There were crows cawing as they sat on the edge of the buildings and annoying me as I walked.  It was just a lovely walk there; not exhausting like it usually is.

Once there, I paid off some of my layby at Woodys' and talked to Carol about 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' and she said she'll go and see it before the kids do.  Then, she wants to see 'Salt' too and said that Steven told her that I had been to a preview night and said it was brilliant.  I said it was; except people were dumb when it came to the time and kids.  Such as the couple who arrived with the new-born and had to leave soon after and people who walked in dribs and drabs 10 minutes in to the movie.  She was disgusted that happened; but happy that it was such a great film.

Anyway, I went to the pet shop and accidentally ticked off the parrot there.  All I did was pet her wing and she screeched her head off.  I tried to calm her down but she got louder; poor little darling.  So, I bought my budgie seed and stuck around until she settled and I whistled to her a bit until she was okay, then went on my way.

I bought nearly all I needed at Coles and had to get another $20 out for cab fare.  Oh well, I was just covering all my bases; best to have more than you need than just enough.  I told the cab driver that I had done a TSB and he said he had noticed it was painted and thought it was lovely with the sun on the top.  I'm so happy people like my design.  I'll have to do more of them and really get a reputation for them.

Well, I've been home for a few hours now and have been chilling out on the net.  It's a nice afternoon to do not much else but read or play piano; but I think I'll leave that until tomorrow after my shift at the Gallery.  Until next time, take care.