Negative Positives

Society has made it so that women have to search for compliments from everyone; and be grateful when they get them.  It's horrible when this happens and it's not as though it's a new thing either, it just hasn't been approached publicly.

On Facebook, I saw a BuzzFeed report about how an 18 year old performed an experiment with young men her age.  When the men complimented her on her looks, she agreed with them and she waited to see what they did.  The responses she received were dreadful, simply because the men didn't expect her to be confident enough to own her own beauty, her own awesomeness and not have to search out somebody else's opinion to tell her she was beautiful.

Her responses showed that men are uncomfortable with women being comfortable within their skin enough to know themselves.

Why is it that men of today seem to think we women are still wanting their opinion of them?  And when we do have our own lives, our own opinions, thoughts and feelings, we are ordered by men that it's wrong? It's disgusting that in this day and age of computers, internet, the so-called free-thinking world and equal opportunities, that women are still being held back in a lot of ways.  

What happens when a woman accepts a compliment - Buzzfeed

So, what do you think about this issue?  I'd like to know.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Lazy, Rainy Sunday

I've been home a week, and last night I slept a full night without any breaks... it felt great to be able to be comfortable and just sleep.

But yesterday,I got a lot of work done. 

The Christmas Tree and the decorations was put away.  I pulled out the 3-stack set of drawers I'm going to use for my art area and I got some laundry done, dried and pulled in too.  And the lawn was fixed up around the edges as well.  Also, the donation box for this week is almost full.  

I'm so proud of my work from yesterday.  

Today, though, I woke up to my alarm at 7am (yeah, I was awake before my 6am one), and just snoozed until 7:30am before getting up and readying myself to go out and get the paper and some milk.  

There's still some chores to do today... not too major ones, but ones that I need to do before Wednesday.  I have to get the shopping list done up today, put out the rubbish, clean up the living room and go through a few piles of paper and throw away and file what I need.  Then, I can relax and see what I'll be doing for the rest of the week.  I am looking forward to getting myself sorted out for my new workbench... and I have looked at my finances and found I do have the funds for it (yay!).  This is going to be a fun thing to get done with Dad.  I can't wait to have it installed in my home; it'll look great!

Anyway, what are you plans for the coming week; and year?  For me, you've seen my plans for the week.  As for the year?  Well, I'll not plan too far ahead, enjoy my life in the moment and hope and plan my home to make it as nice as possible.  Yeah, that means to keep on cleaning it out more in my spare time.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Bright'n'Early!

I was up nice, bright and early at 7am this morning to get in and do some chores around the place before the heat of the day set in.  

First thing to do was some laundry - okay it wasn't much, but I thought to get it all dry before the showers this afternoon.  But as it was all going in the washing machine, I thought to get out into the garden and water the lawn and plants, as the cicadas started to sing through the air.  I love it when that happens as then you know it's going to be a stinking hot day... they tell us through their pitch.

Once the garden had nice drink, I heard the machine stop, and the washing had to be hung out.  Then, I got breakfast under way, with the radio going and the cordless phone off its charger and within reach.  I had a few things to get done today - and one of those things was to pull down and put away the Christmas Tree and decorations.  I have to do this before 12th because it's tradition for me to get the tree down before 2 weeks into January... otherwise I'm completely out of whack for the rest of the year.

As I got down the plastic boxes and added the new decorations to them, I pulled out the 3-set of drawers from wardrobe in the home office to remind me to get it cleaned out, cleaned up and ready for the next few weeks - ready for the work station at my back door.  I have already started pulling apart my work station in readiness for its tranformation; and I'm already saving money to buy the lumber for it too.  I can't wait to get it pulled together with Dad helping me at their house (where he has all the equipment).  I've wanted this work station for almost a year now, and now it's going to happen, I'm so excited!  And I have people who want the bookcase too - my next door neighbours, they'll be putting their blu-ray collection into it!  They're excited they don't have to go looking for another bookcase; that it's coming to them for nothing.

Well, I got all that done before 9am.  I made myself a drink and headed upstairs for my time on the computer and found Chuck Wendig had put out our first Flash Fiction for year.  Unfortunately I have to mull it over for a few hours because when I got the computer fixed up, Word for Windows wasn't installed onto it.  So, I have to wait for the neighbour's girlfriend to return home to find the disk to put it on (as I can't find my copy of it - I think Mum and Dad have it and forgot to give it back to me).  Well, that's all I got done today. There's going to be more done tomorrow around the place.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Let's Get Organised - 2015!

Okay!  It's been a year, and I've been cleaning out my place on a regular basis.  Last year I joined up with Peter Walsh's Facebook Page and it's done me good to clean out parts of my house, sending what I don't need or want off to get donated.

Otherwise, if it can't be fixed up or used by another, it's tossed in the bin.

This year, I have a box for donation stuff.  It's labeled as such, and I have been putting donation stuff in it.  I'm doing well too!  I'm very proud of myself!  So far, I've put in some metal filing things a neighbour gave me - and I thought I'd use them but didn't - and they have gone in there.  There's been some glasses cases, sprays I don't use and other little things I don't need.  There will be more to fill the box before the weekend it out; as I need to empty out my set of drawers in my wardrobe and clean them up for the new art area I'm creating this year with my Dad.

Then, there's my living room.  It's still a mess and I'm hoping to get through it and it will look better than it has done over the last year... I hate to say this about it, but it has never looked tidy - ever.  So, I hope I can clean it up completely this year.  My office the same way too I'm afraid.  It just doesn't seem to get tidy enough... oh well... I guess this is why Peter Walsh has so many fans. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Early Morning Chores

I woke to my alarm at 6am and snoozed to my 7am alarm.  Soon after I was up and about stripping the bed and putting on the laundry while I was outside mowing the lawn and clipping the edges. 

This was my second time out in the garden to work on the lawn this week; as we had had some pretty heavy rain and it had grown again.  But I didn't want it growing so much my mower couldn't get through it.  This time around, it was easier to mow and I got out my hedge clippers and clipped the thick grass which had grown around the edges of my lawn.

Before long, the large Queen-sized blanket was washed, but it didn't fit in my washing machine.  So, I asked my next door neighbours if I could put it into their machine to spin it... and they said yes.  Soon enough, all the sheets and blanket was out on the line; and the sun dried them off nice and quick.

Just now, though, it began to look like rain.  So, I thought to go and check the laundry.  As I stepped outside, the first few drops began to fall!  As quickly as I could, I pulled everything in; and it really began to come down!  How fortunate was that?  Now, it's just settling in and I've got all my laundry dry - including the blanket.

I've also started out cleaning out the house again.  Yes, this month I'm getting into Clean-Out mode in the house.  So far, I've cleaned out the corner next to the pantry and it's staying the way it is permanently.  Then, I found a good sturdy cardboard box and wrote 'Donation Box' on the sides of it, where all the donated things are going into it. When it's full, I'll cart it off to the charity store, empty it and then bring it home to do it again.  I got this idea off the Peter Walsh Facebook Page... what a great man he is.
I also have clean up the set of drawers in the spare room wardrobe in preparation for the new Crafty Pegs/Art Area Work Bench.  It'll be one of the things that are added on to the bench while it's being built.  I can't wait to get it worked on and produced after Dad gets home soon.  But if I get the drawers looked after beforehand, it'll work out better and easier than if I never did it before. 

This weekend, I'm hoping to get my house looking normal again; you know, put away the Christmas decorations and make the house look like it normally does all year around.  While I'm doing that, I'll get in and clean out some of the places around the house and donate and throw out what isn't needed.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Back Home... And So Is My Computer

It's only been a few days, and I feel as though I've never been to the coast.  I was really busy with my computer, shopping, cleaning up the yard, organising the house and now I'm cleaning out parts of the place to make it look better and run better.

Now, that's something new.

Last year, I worked the whole month to get my house organised.  However this time around, I'm going to work on parts of the house to get it organised; seeing I did this before already.  On Facebook, Peter Walsh has us grabbing a Donation Box and putting anything for donation into it.  Once it's full, take it away and donate it... easy-peasy!  Now, for me, that's not too bad.  I'm looking forward to doing that very thing.  I've got a box somewhere around here to do just that, and I'll do that tomorrow.

But also tomorrow, I'm looking at getting some boxes to pack up my craft stuff to organise myself for the next few months.  You see, Dad and I are going to work on the new work bench for my craft area when he arrives back home from Brunswick Heads.  I'm not touching my Crafty Pegs account and going to put some money away personally for this, and while he's away, I'm also hoping to fix up a set of drawers to use in the craft area too.  This ought to work out great!
And once the bench is all fixed up and I have the boxes up on the shelves and sorted out, I can use them still to put stock into.  Not too bad if you ask me.

Anyway, I still have Christmas decorations to put away this week.  I've already done the Jades outside, now it's time to put my house back to normal.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Back Home In Wet Ol' Brisbane

I arrived home yesterday morning at around 11am; however, I didn't post anything because my computer is still out of action - so I'm on my neighbour's computer right now to post this while it's absolutely pouring outside.

Anyway, it was fortunate I did come home yesterday in the horrible heat and sun.  Besides being a little sunburnt, I'm glad I did drive home then because I got so much done yesterday than I would have today.
The first thing I did was get outside and mow my lawn... it was so long, my mower could barely cut it.  I had to clear out the cutters every few minutes it was so heavily long.  And then, I checked on my green house and found it was going well.  The plants in it were still alive and the water inside the soda bottle was still mostly there.  This is something I'll have to look into more and see if I can make it better.

After that, I washed the double bed sheet cover I bought at Whatever in Brunswick Heads and hung it out to dry.  It took only an hour or so to dry because it was so hot and humid and the sun was turned around to the afternoon.  And once I pulled it in, I put it on my bed (as I was planning to do), and found it was for a Queen-sized bed and it looks amazing!  I have photos, but don't have my cable to my camera with me (I'll upload them onto 365Project and link them back to here).  
Then, seeing I had a few things done at home, I looked in the fridge and pantry and found that they were looking quite bare.  So, out to the shops I drove to get some food in the house.  I spent around $100 and came home to fill the house with enough food for the next week.

Once all that was done, I did the unpacking and putting away of things and bags I took to the coast.  By this time it was around 4pm and I wanted to just sit down and veg out in front of the television; so I did.  I ended up having just salad for dinner and making myself a nice pot of green tea and watching a few dvds of 'That 70's Show'... season 4.  

Today, I'm getting my computer back and it's poured rain for a good part of the day.  I got the laundry done (well two loads of it) and hung it up on the large clothes horse in the house, paid two bills, received a Christmas card that sings and have a few other things planned for the day - seeing it's raining.  Well, until my next post - which will be from my computer at my place - take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Hot Saturday Markets

This morning, I woke to my 7am alarm and made myself get out of bed and get ready to go to the markets at Memorial Park here in Brunswick Heads.

This market is usually on the first Saturday of the month, each month and I'm normally not here for it.  But this time, I am able to stay for it because I've got a car to go home whenever I want to.

Well, I was off from the van before my folks even got out of bed to score myself a few bargain things I've wanted to look at.  People were still setting up when I arrived and so I found the place wasn't really humming yet.

The first thing I bought was a new cutting board.  The guy who makes these has a strong European accent, but he makes the best cutting boards in all shapes and sizes from all kinds of woods; and they are well worth the money.  I found a discounted rack he had them all sitting in and laid my hands on one I totally wanted the moment I picked it up... it was gorgeous, just the right size and had no knots in it.  And I asked how much it was - he said half price: $25!  How cool is that?  I forked over my money and was happy with my purchase.
There were so many book stalls there, I didn't know which one to look at first.  But the Book Bus wasn't there unfortunately.  I wish it was, I would be able to talk about it on My Reading List... as it's such an amazing stall that it's meant to be experienced to be believed.   However, this time around, it wasn't anywhere to be found.  So, I found two books I liked.  One was some collective works by Dorothy Parker and the other was a biography of Iggy Pop; both very great books to own.  I also bought a book on how to grow bromiliades; it's from the 1970's and I'm hoping it will keep mine from either dying on me or multiplying too much.  
Well, I ran into a writer friend of mine - Dawn Alice - from the Logan Writers and we had a chat after I got a reading done from a friend of hers.  It's great to run into friends like this here; when you least expect to... anyway, I went in search of coffee.  It was around 9am, and I really needed to sit down and have a rest and a cup of coffee and something to eat.  So, I found this place called 'Coffee Oasis' where the man made the most delicious Chai I've ever had.  It was the kind of Chai my brother, Gabe, would have had in India when he traveled around there.  I sat at a table and chatted with some people while we listened to the stylings of a young man across the way from us on his guitar.  He was selling his EP for $10... it has only 5 songs on it, but this is the kinda place people start out at.  I bought the EP and played it back at the van.  He's great!
Well, I went on my way in the search for a hat... something nice and bright.  I looked around the hat stall, but they were to far too expensive.  I didn't want to spend $30 on a hat... it's just not worth it.  So, I found another stall where I found a very colourful, rainbow one for $16.  Perfect!  I love it as it's got 2 brims on it and it keeps its shape.  

Anyway, Mum called and I waited around for her to arrive.  When she did, we walked to the Soap Lady where Mum bought a huge amount of soap; and I found some soap for my feet (my feet are really rough, honestly, they are!  I wear a lot of sandals and don't care for my feet as well as I should).  And then we looked at some jewellery, leather goods, plants, bead thingys that are substitutes for water, and then at a jumble stall... and then?  We were off back to the van.  Mum didn't want to look at anything else.  I had found what I was looking for - and even picked up a nice basket made from recycled materials in Burma (or somewhere near there) by a man who uses old packing tape.  He doesn't speak English, lives in the middle of the jungle and just makes baskets all the time... when this lady who sells the baskets takes them off his hands, and she returns with his money, she gives it to him in cash as he doesn't have a bank account or a phone or is anywhere near a town to do anything modern.  So, people have been buying these baskets like hot cakes.  I bought a small one for when I go to my writer's groups or volunteer work and I want to take stuff with me; and I don't want to lug a bag with me.  
Well, I better get packing soon... time is going to get on and I'm going to end up leaving things behind otherwise.  But I've had a great week here in Brunswick Heads.  

I've been to Mullumbimby and bought some Lemon Butter (which amazingly my Dad loves... this from a man who doesn't normally like it) and it's the nicest Lemon Butter around!  On the same day, I bought a towel set in its original packaging by Supertex, a lovely mug and a bowl from Re Sould; a cool little retro store here in Brunswick Heads (yes, you can find it on Facebook... go and have a gander).

Then, we went out to trivia night - Mum and I - and we had a great time.  I drove up to the Bowls Club and we had a wonderful time, our team coming in 6th... and Mum and I shared a bowl of wedges.  Then, we were home by 9pm.  It was a good night.

NYE was great... well, until the storm hit at around 10:30pm or so.  And man!  What a storm!  It lasted around 6 hours and didn't quit until 4am.  Not many of us got much sleep that night, so we all felt very hung over - more so than normal - the next day.  When we found we didn't have another storm on New Year's Day - we all got a very early night... how well did we all sleep!

The weather has been pretty much very steamy and hot, with bouts of rain and a storm... really weird weather.  I am looking forward to being at home because I'm getting cabin fever.  Otherwise, I'm not liking the attitude I'll be returning to of my townhouse complex.  I just hope it all gets better than it has been in the last year.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here.

Happy New Year!

It's another new year, and we've all survived it... well, most of us.  Some people we have loved in Hollywood have left us high and dry - comedian Robin Williams is a man I grew up with on 'Mork & Mindy' and I don't think his presence will ever be really replaced and we'll always miss him in one way or another...

Each year, I seem to lose a few friends of mine or within my family.  This started happening a few years ago, and it's something I have hated more and more.  One of the parents who camp next to us at Brunswick Heads passed away in the last quarter of 2014 and now we're all down here again, it just doesn't seem the same without him here.

I've gotten a car over the last year, and well, it's been wonderful to have my independence back again after 20 years of missing it completely.  After losing the use of a car, you really never get over not being able to drive - you just don't.  You have a very trapped feeling all the time; and it's not a very nice feeling to be on holidays by the sea, but not able to drive anywhere unless somebody else is going.  Even then, you have to leave when they want to.  You still have the kept feeling of only being the passenger - the child - in the situation, when you want to stick around more in a place.
It's been great here at Brunswick Heads, seeing I have my Little Green Machine to take me places.  The only tiny problem is that there's no promises of my visitors parking spot being there when I return from wherever I've taken off to.
I did get my butt out to Mullumbimby where I sweated it out in the sweatbowl of a town.  For once I wasn't following my folks around the town and looking in on stores at my own pace; and it felt wonderful to do just that... I haven't been able to do that for years.

While Mum and Dad were out visiting friends at Cabberetta Beach, one day, I went and did the shopping.  They didn't realise how hard it had been for me to not have a car until this past year... and when they arrived back to the van and found all the products they wanted, it was wonderful to have all their shopping done without stressing out about it.  And Little Green Machine got a run too.  

On New Year's Eve, we had an Italian Night.  However, I made a Ratatouille... yeah, I know, it's a French dish, but nobody complained about that, not when they were scooping it into their mouths.  I was asked how I did it; and I told them about how long the preparation took and that it was a layering process, with garlic, freshly chopped parsley and patience... and they said it was well worth the wait.  Dad had insisted, though to get my dish cooking after his pizzas were done, but it cut the cooking time by about half and hour and we were rushing it... so so it wasn't fully cooked, but everyone loved it anyway.  It was hot, delicious and very yummy.

However, as the dessert came out, we felt a few sparse drops of rain, which turned into a shower... then as we looked around at the river, we spotted some lightning flickering over at Ocean Shores and out to sea, and down at Byron.  I had commented earlier that afternoon that we were in for a storm - at which everyone snorted and said it would be just a shower.
Well, the thunder and lightning really lit up the skies and the rain poured from the darkness above!  Everyone ran off to check on their own places and came back with muddy feet and umbrellas dripping with rain.  

The New Year came and went... we all hugged and kissed and sat down under a fly and chatted.  Then, I wanted to go back to our van and just read... so I did.  I dropped in on our neighbours and found the booze in one of the desserts was catching up with me... oops!  Then, once the rain settled down, I headed off home and found I was too full, had eaten way too much, but wasn't ready to go to bed yet - not that Mother Nature was going to allow us any sleep this night.

Well, the storms lasted all night from around 10:30pm until 4am... and well, I was right about them.  They had shown up and I told everyone about them... but nobody believed me.

Okay, next time, I'll just keep my mouth shut and nod the next time there's a storm around and I know it.  Besides, who's going to believe me?  Well, besides me?

Hoping your NYE parties went well.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

All Seasons

This morning, I awoke to sun and the promise of a warm day.  Within two hours, it was pouring rain and miserable, and Dad had gone out fishing.  I prepared myself to go out shopping at Ocean Shores for some art gear at the cheapie store.  While I was over there, I picked up some stuff for us all - why not?  We needed some food and milk.

Then, I was back here, dropped the stuff off and I had to wing it and get my car into a nice little parking spot... if I could find one.  Anyway, I've been here for hours just kicking back and enjoying the day.

While I was here, I sat outside on one of the seats and found I had a wet bum!  Well, while you're laughing at me, I'll explain:  I had pulled one of the seats off the pile out on the fly, from under the cover, and the spongy cushion was dry to touch, but wet in the middle.  Yeah, I put a towel on it, and it got wet right through... so did my denim skirt and my underwear.  Oh, joy!  I had to get changed the put my nice clean skirt out on the clothes rack in the sun to dry.
While it dried, I wrote some poetry, did some drawings in my Writer's & Artist's Journal and just enjoyed the hours to myself doing what I loved... which is pretty much nothing at all but watching the day go by.
I've been enjoying my Christmas presents of a new phone and an artist's journal of Frida Kahlo's - the latter I ordered off Amazon and I had bought for myself for Christmas.  It's been a great time for me this year... this time around.  I've totally enjoyed myself because I have a car this time and I can just get in it and go anywhere I like.

It's getting on a bit and Mum and Dad have been away at their friend's house for some time now.  But I think I'll get some takeaway tonight.  It'll be nice not having to cook... but then, I might not.  I bought mushrooms, potatoes and pumpkin...hmmmm, I see the use of the bbq's at the camp kitchen coming back into my night for my dinner.  Yep, it ought to taste good too if I can find some garlic! Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.