Lord, make
us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, Grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

by St. Francis of Assisi

Merry Christmas... Disney Style :)

HEY!!

now that i feel that fluck is socially acceptable...

FLUCK!!!

i lost my job yesterday. thanks. i dont feel too good.

fluck this is good.

Fluck

An Asian woman goes in to her local NAB Branch and begins exchanging her money.

After the transaction is complete she asks the teller 'Why it change, yesterday I get two hunat dollar for my money, today I only get hunat eighty?'

The teller looked over his glasses and says very slowly....'fluctuations'.

The Asian woman narrows her eyes and says, 'fluck you Aussies too'.

dream it list it do it

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a Self-Knowing Traveling Self-Improver 0% of the 2087 people who have taken this quiz are like you. Great. Im a freak too. 0%? Up the anti people... click above and tell me what this silly website is telling you!

1:11

I keep checking the time when it happens to be 1;11. whether thats AM or PM doesnt matter.

now that im attempting to be less ethereal (thanks for that david).

i cant sleep.

insomnia.

and because im being less ethereal, i'll just blame it on the heat. thats it. its too hot. i cant sleep.

bad reporter

i thought id let you guys know that i actually went to HOMEBAKE on saturday and i LOVED IT>

why?

cos Crowded House played and they ROcked.

i love neil finn.

He's just well... so talented!

I realise that i am terrible at reporting what actually happens in my life at times and looking at some of my recent posts... i go off on this random etheral (whatever the heck that means) tangent on deep stuff, when really. i just gotta bring it right back down to earth.

i'll try that.

thoughts

2 more weeks til work closes.

this is the first time in years that im actually quite looking forward to the break.

i still am enjoying my job.

what i have learnt though is... you are what you think.

one must capture negative thoughts and toss them in the bin before you get on what i call a 'negative death spiral'.

its kind of comical when you think of a 'death spiral'. a little melodromatic methinks.

anyhoo.

seniors christmas concerts on tomorrow and thursday.

over 40,000 seniors will descend to the entertainment centre over the next 2 days.

HOT! haha. not.

zimmer frames, hip replacements, hunched backs galore.

our ageing population is certainly growing.

cant wait!

Thomas Merton.

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I
think that I am actually following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
Thomas Merton-

feeling minivanmegadeep this afternoon.

perhaps its the overcast weather. makes me wonder.

'if' by rudyard kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

loving handmade!

Great article in the NyTimes on a chick that has made a living on all things handmade. hmm.... me want to go mega crafty! :)

happy birthday to me

i got mini cupcakes at work today.
gee the public servants are generous! its the nicest workplace ive been at yet. i think its cos everyone is really relaxed and they have time to enjoy the finer things in life. CAKE!

Also had a wonderful dinner at waqu tonite with the fams. GREAT JAPONAIS food! I love Sake!! :)

francophile

Im a francophile. Who would like to become a francophone.

Last time i checked, it had nothing to do with Apple ;)
(boom *tish)

moving house

its crazy but its true

woolly mammoth furball

I heart cupcakes :)

novelty.

i know it may seem reeeally obvious to those that know me, however. i just love novelty.

im a curious soul.

i also wonder whether curiosity did in fact kill the cat.

i dont want to be killed by curiosity... or by a cat for that matter.

speaking of novelty and subsequently randomness on my behalf...

im planning on embarking on a new journey of parkour.

(this activity will sit nicely with my attempts at learning breakdancing during my days of undergraduate studies at usyd!)

sick at home

some crazy sore throat spreading its ugly croakiness on level 10 at work.

backlash rsvp

Dear Ms Minivan (changed to my online persona for security reasons!)

Sadly for a number of reasons I must decline this invitation.

Firstly I do not personally wish to cross dress. Not that it isn't a valid lifestyle choice, it just ain't me.

Secondly I think Jocks too often perpetuate misogyny, violence, ignorance and other things I abhor in American and Australian culture. I would feel even less comfortable adopting this persona then that of a cross dresser.

Thirdly I am not in the same state as the event.

And finally I have a prior engagement on that day.

Regards,

David


(Thanks David! I wouldnt have expected anything less! :D I would have to say that your response albeit serious, is absolutely hilarious and made my day! Thus justifying giving you an entire blog post. I hope thats ok too.)

petanque

anyone interested?

"Frocks & Jocks go bowling"

"dress in a frock or come as a jock" Barefoot Lawn Bowls :)

Saturday 29th November from 3pm
Come along!!

leave me a comment if you would like more details, so i can send you out the official invite!
xo

never gonna give you up.

Im not ashamed of Rick Astley!!!!!

Dont Dis My Ability

This is a campaign that Im currently involved with at work.
Its a really fantastic initiative from the NSW Govt :)

Get involved!! And look out for the 'Made you Look' broadsheet that is currently out (free) with Tracey Barrell OAM on the cover :)

http://www.internationaldayofpeoplewithadisability.com.au/

Vote Pedro #1 for Prez

What a week!!

crafty blogger

i stumbled across this really cute melbourne blogger on crafts :)
awesome!!
im so inspired :)

health check

physical health check results.

bmi 24.23 (healthy range)

blood pressure: 122/83 (normal readings systolic 100-130 and diastolic 60-90)

resting heart rate: 52 (average person is 70-75)

diabetes test: 3.5 (normal blood glucose levels between 4-6mmol/L after a meal 4-7.7mmol/L)

cholesterol test: 4.5 (good, but better if it was 4)

Im happiest with my resting heart rate. It means im relaxed :) (olympic athlete's resting heart rates sit at about 40)

now. will just have a to do a health check on my spiritual wellbeing...

favourite song of the moment i have been learning. yay!

Anyone Else But You
Ellen Page & Michael Cera
from “Juno”

Intro:  G  Cmaj7   G  Cmaj7

G
You're a part time lover and a full time friend
Cmaj7
The monkey on you're back is the latest trend
G                             Cmaj7
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else
But you

Here is the church and here is the steeple
We sure are cute for two ugly people
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else
But you

We both have shiny happy fits of rage
You want more fans, I want more stage
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else
But you

You are always trying to keep it real
I'm in love with how you feel
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else
But you

I kiss you on the brain in the shadow of a train
I kiss you all starry eyed, my body's swinging from side to side
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else
But you

The pebbles forgive me, the trees forgive me
So why can't, you forgive me?
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else
But you

Du du du du du du dudu
Du du du du du du dudu
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else…
But you

random thoughts. random times

the mind.

oh how my mind goes in all sorts of directions.

i have been rebuked.

i got into trouble at work today for not having finished something off sooner.

woops.

im usually pretty good.

is this self sabotage? its probably because ive resented the fact that the thing i didnt do was going to directly benefit the very person who is causing the grief in the first place.

ugh.

old person. rude. unfunny. and racist. my favourite.

i really gotta move on.

finding sanctuary

quite a long extract. but worth the read. some gems here...

"..Virtue is the recognition of the sacred in daily life. As we open the door of virtue in our personal and working lives, we will open the way into a sanctuary of peace for ourselves and for others. We are enabled to lead a unified life with the same values at home and at work, a life that is transparent and has nothing to hide...

Yes indeed, virtue is a narrow door, but the space beyond that door is infinite the infinite space of real sanctuary. The sanctuary that you purchase as a holiday or as a therapy comes to an end; the myth of endless consumption is just that: a myth. As we enter sanctuary through virtue rather than by buying our way in, we can choose to leave consumption outside the door. By entering through this door, we can concentrate on creating new and sacred places in the large space that lies beyond consumption. Virtue is the true door into the sanctuary of infinite space."

financial crisis hits britain!

i wonder if she pays her taxes?

chicken sandwiches.

this has to be one of the worst jokes of all time. thanks to my sister Shaz for this one!

Don't Eat Chicken Sandwiches no matter What.......................

A little boy and a little girl attended the same school and became friends..

Every day they would sit together to eat their lunch. They discovered that they both
Brought chicken sandwiches every day! This went on all through the fourth and fifth
Grades, until one day he noticed that her sandwich wasn't a chicken sandwich.

He said, 'Hey, how come you're not eating chicken, don't you like it anymore?'

She said 'I love it but I have to stop eating it.'


'Why?' he asked.

She pointed to her lap and said 'Cause I'm starting to grow little feathers down there!'

'Let me see' he said.

'Okay' and she pulled up her skirt.

He looked and said, 'That's right. You are! Better not eat any more chicken.'

He kept eating his chicken sandwiches until one day he brought peanut butter.
He said to the little gir l, 'I have to stop eating chicken sandwiches, I'm starting to get feathers
Down there too!'
She asked if she could look, so he pulled down his pants for her!


She said

'Oh, my God, it's too late for you! You've already got the NECK and GIBBLETS!!!

daylight saving & brainwaves

love it.


... also....

currently been thinking of ways to get things for fREE.

its AMAZING what you can come up with when youre doing things on a tighter budget! Im trying very dilligently to do the following...

not upgrade my phone
making lunch everyday
not buying unncessary 'coffees'
drinking/eating reserves of tea i already have (in place of coffee runs)

not having to pay to 'exercise' ( i quit the gym about a year ago)
... going to balmoral to swim instead...

so... now...
new thought...

i'll work for a few hours a week at northsydney pool (cos i have an austswim qualification) and hopefully get free access to the facilities there!! (its normally about $5.50 a pop!!! -- which costs more than actually CROSSING the sydney harbour bridge, let alone swim up and down just under it!)

so... i made the call... and like most swim schools--- they love and need and crave the likes of me... so if anyone ever thinks they want to make a bit of extra cash that doesnt involve alcohol and splitting tips and doing something active... i recommend teaching swimming! :)
note: you do not have to be a tops swimmer to teach it... just an ability to get by swimming 150m in a couple of strokes without drowning ... :P

i (heart) balmoral

i have been spending some good lovely time with my friend sarah of late.
she is canadian.

i like her lots.

she is just this really calm, cool, down to earth beautiful person.

we enjoy chilling out, art markets, tea drinking, walking, swimming together at balmoral and being in each others company so much. she reminds me of jo!! :P

i like canadians.

new look. same blog.

hope you like my new look blog.

its cleaner. fresher and simply good for a change :)

observations on my way to work

its funny how you view life depending on what mental state/ stage you are in.

i got up early today (hurrah) and decided to get to work early for the public service (yes, i got to work before 9--- 8:30am in fact!)

I noticed the following and i thought it was all very peculiar:

the skin of quarter chunks of watermelon on the bush path on the way to the train station this morning

as i was on the train, i noticed 'couples' on the train and one in particular was a guy with a youngish trendy chick. i noticed he wore white loafers. (if you have ever encountered the book-- never date a guy with alligator shoes-- you'll know what i mean i.e. white shoes= players= danger!)

i was listening to my new downloaded music... not new music, but new to my collection to get me happy that a) its friday and b) how i love daylight saving and the sunshine across the bridge on the way to work... Feist "Mushaboom" is a new favourite... as "The Shins" 2001 debut album has some really tops tunes on it.

i also decided to bring in my newly purchase JUMBO yellow Cup and saucer set from T2 to work today. Its to help me enjoy my tea bliss, even while im at work! (accompanied by 'Gorgeous Geisha' Green Tea :) JOY!)

I am also thankful for good friends and their exciting new phase of their lives. Margie & Jase just bought a beautiful house in Summer Hill. Wow. My friends are all grown up--- they have lots of bedrooms and beautiful furniture! Im coveting her current ability to be able to set up her own various tea sets in the buffet and other wedding gift paraphenalia (i have no idea how to spell that-- i must look it up!)

other cool stuff is that im heading out to the cat & fiddle tonite to hear some friends play in their band ' the new frontier' or something or rather... i havent heard them live before... but i enjoy live music. lots. (not so much cover bands in pubs--- although i wont scoff at covers, they can be done very very well, like that triple J collection ive heard from various artist's interpretation... was it an australian band that did a cover of kylie's 'cant get you out of my head')

anyhoo.. i am rambling.

oh. im happy too ... because i got up early, i made this .... may i say.. AWESOME smoothie.

so all is good with the world.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

balance and activities.

feeling good. but not adjusting to this daylight savings!

what crazy weather we've been having in sydney eh?

... i have now failed yet again in not talking about something as lame as the weather... and bringing out the 'grannie' within.

... I will embrace!

.... so now that im feeling way better, enjoying work (hurrah!)

... i have filled my mind with thoughts of wanting to do the following this summer...

(somehow i will have to cut back as i do not think it will be physically possible to sustain this level of activity!)

- french lessons
- sculpture class
- life drawing
- stitch n bitch (knitting class)
- swimming/ exercising regularly
- church stuff/ groups/ volunteering
- join the bball group on mondays
- visit more craft markets
- start a craft market
- bake goodies for christmas
- organise life/ brain for living os next year


all the while spending some quality time with family, friends and juggling that in between a full time job and ... eating and sleeping in between!

where can i fit all of this? will have to experiment...

i love that life is an experiment. interesting book i have encountered of late...
www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/ has anyone seen this? he's got some interesting insights, although i will have to say, i think some of it sounds like a whole lotta BS.

life in the public service lane

need i say more?

the public service lives up to all its full reputation.

good conditions. decent pay. 5:30pm is considered 'late' to be in the office.

i have never been paid to enjoy my work life balance so much before.

hurrah!

have you EVER had a raunchy communion??!!

http://www.calendarioromano.org/03.html

this is a real calendar i saw in Venice!!

meeting people

birthdays galore this weekend.

ive been to 2x 30ths
and my sister in laws 21st :)

Im feeling older and somewhat more aware of my habits of telling people i hardly know, embarassing stories about bridesmaid shenanigans... dressing up to a party in a chicken suit (jo, you maybe one of the few that remembers that one)... and wonder why sometimes im just a little bit 'out there' to complete strangers... and forget that the impression im leaving is somewhat just a bit 'tragic'.

anyhoo... no wonder they dont come back after their 'hmm, excuse me... im just needing to go to the bathroom/grab a drink/ chat to someone i havent seen in a while.... ' blah blah blah!! ha!

the art of conversation. thinking i might try refine this one.

NOOOO CRACKBOOK!

i dont believe it

Free-IQTest.net - IQ Test

reunion

im going crazy trying to track down so many randoms for our 10 year reunion.

using FB aka facecrack/ crackbook is driving me bonkers!!!!

i hope people come.

if only i could speak spanish....

i would marry this fellow....

cant sleep

so im going to bore you on my blog instead.

what does one do to cure insomnia? this is not a regular occurence, but i think its probably cos i did a MAJOR sleep in today after some late nites... and i probably didnt really need to catch up with as much sleep as i did. hence now its 1am on Monday morning... i have this olympic parade thing and i have to be down by Circ. Quay at approx 8am... yawn...

meditation. i think i'll head back to pray-as-you-go. org. its a good site. with lots of good mp3 daily meditation things.

yes. i think i'll go do that.

paris on the mind... but olympic parade comes to town!

just thought id mention that i'll be in the olympian's return home parade in sydney on monday 15th september!

i will be an official marshall walking nearby the gymnasts in the parade down george street :)

such is the life now that im back working for 'public' events! woohoo!! i might even get to touch a footballer... they're right behind the gymnasts (if any of them come!)... i hope they're good looking... hehehhe

strawberry-taliban.engrish.

love it.

francais on the mind

i really want to become fluent in another language other than english--
i have dabbled in canto... picked at mandarin...

but what id really love is to be fluent in french.

yes siree. how do i make this happen?

any dear blog readers speak french and would like to partake in a french conversation over a croissant?

:P

1st day at work

its like being the new kid.

but i like working for the government!

people are generally pretty chilled. and they need me!

oh, its nice to feel needed.

seniors are a rockin!!!!

home

im actually really excited to be home.

i didnt want to leave london. but one must get one's mind on the now and looking fwd...

i have 8 exciting months of interesting seniors events to organise... and well... this will get me going until i move away....

its cold here!! but as sydney always shows off its sunny blue skies, im not complaining!

not home yet

hiyas.
thought id just update zee old blog...

im still in london and have enjoyed many a day strolling through hyde park, battling the summer holidayers in the coolest toyshop hamleys on oxford street, gone to topshop and gone bananas, eaten my way through parts and well... its been fun!

i am obsessed with playing e-Monopoly on simon's computer. its like playing in london in real life! these places really exist... like... Kings X station, Marylebone, Park Lane (personal favourite)... etc etc etc!

this has been a bit of a testing ground to see if id like to live here.

i know its always different when youre travelling.

but yes. i think i could definately do it.

:)

gone dutch. now english.

its been an eventful few weeks!!

i have made it alive in London and have sneaked into exclusive clubs in soredich or whatchamecallit... gone 'orange dutch' for my sister michelle's wedding in holland... got eaten alive by mosquitoes in beautiful venice... hugged the porcelin bowl in berlin from catching a 'german flu'... CZECHed out Prague... and even ate my way through croissants in Paris!

so....

whats this all mean?

im falling in love with London. the last time i was here was 8 years ago... during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.... and yeah yeah yeah... it was the 'best olympics ever' and i missed it... and well well well... i''m missing my homeland china's beijing games as well!

the irony for a sport loving, event manager is that... well, when all is said and done.... the olympics, in all its full blown ridiculous advertising political spinning and 'patriotic' enhancing advancements... it reminds me of work.

pure and simple.

im so cynical. but hey. at least i dont have hives.

reading love songs.... hahah

... so im on the hunt for a reading for my sister and future brother in laws wedding....

im finding all sorts of random things... i quite like this one... * although i wont be reading this one!!

A Wounded Deer Leaps Highestby Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

A wounded deer leaps highest,I've heard the hunter tell;'Tis but the ecstasy of death,And then the brake is still.The smitten rock that gushes,The trampled steel that springs:A cheek is always redderJust where the hectic stings!Mirth is mail of anguish,In which its cautious armLest anybody spy the bloodAnd, "you're hurt" exclaim

new favourite place

Utrecht, Holland

... has my favourite museum.... http://www.centraalmuseum.nl

and my favourite bunny rabbit of all time! a Miffy Museum!

german flus, czeching out prague and mosquitoes in venice

back in holland now...
so free internet is happy days!

had spent the last 10 days in 3 very cool places, unfortunately... i was struck down with a pretty awful virus in germany... and was sick for about 4 days... i dont think ive felt that awful in a really long time... lets just say i couldnt keep any food down and rather than enjoying the old berlin wall--- i was enjoying the porcelin bowl.

will definately have to head back to berlin to scour all the historical monuments... there was so much to see... and disappointingly... didnt get to see much of it, albeit a 1 1/2 hr bus ride which was... for me a pretty painful one unfortunately being sick doesnt help and being bedridden on holidays .... well... it just plain sucks.

anyhoo... back to nicer activities... was totally spoilt for choice in the beautiful museum that is venice... plus it was about 30 degrees and i wasnt sick....

prague was just a lovely old town...

i have a huge thing for architecture, textures... old things... old bookstores... all that stuff.

happy days.

(now back in the netherlands... which enjoys rain and overcast weather)... i love that people ride bicycles here everywhere... ive been meaning to buy a bike for about ... goodness knows how long...

dutch ovens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_oven_%28disambiguation%29

i think im falling in love with holland... its the land of clogs... orange... tulips... and dutch ovens

“Yesterday is ashes; tomorrow wood. Only today does the fire burn brightly.”
- Old Eskimo saying

ultra excitement

ok, its only just starting to set in...
i am so excited about what the next couple of weeks will entail!

holland:
miffy museum (i know shes a funny looking children's story rabbit, but i LOVE miffy!)

van gogh

complex train timetabling and ticketing! hoorah! (*so strange!- and inefficiency seems to be a trait)

heading to berlin, prague and venice! oh baby oh baby!!!


other highlights have been... flying on a brand new plane from sydney to hong kong... there was this awesome inflight entertainment selection... i even got to watch a couple of old faves including '10 things i hate about you', amelie and other random flicks :)
i watched the 'definately maybe' film, which wasnt as romantic comedy fluff as one thought-- it includes a divorce and everything! (just like in real -life... yeah uh-huh)
i like the little girl in it... shes the same one in 'little miss sunshine'a tops favourite movie....
i watched another film called chaos theory, another ryan reynolds random... which wasnt that great...
and a new film with dennis quaid and matthew foxy fox... i forget the name. it was kinda like a version of the show '24'without all the keifer sutherland squinty/trying to be sexy looks.

oh. and i will admit... i do like aeroplane food. always have. always will. i am not ashamed!!!!
ive only really had 1 or 2 bad experiences, and to be honest, out of all the air travel ive done in my relatively short life span... is a pretty good record! :)

adventures in the land of clog

day #1.

seen about 10 windmills.
rotterdam is grey. flat and quite quaint!

lovely to see my sister and her fiancee pick us up from amsterdam airport. YAY.

just spent 2 days transitting in my home town ýo'home'' style Hong Kong.
boy i missed it! havent been back for 2 years.

i love the congee, noodles, cheap fast meals and awesome cheap shopping!!!!

met up with my friend Kate from Xrds at the airport which was awesome... it was bizarre. i hadnt seen her for 2 1/2 years and we caught up in the airport lounge in about 20 minutes... she's off to save the world and head to Geneva to talk with the UN i am sure :)

anyhoo... not that one cares, but i did spot a famous aussie at the HK duty free though. none other than Jen Hawkins... its kinda hard not to spot a chick amongst all the other short dark haired asians.

she was clearly flying somewhere in her bright orange dress, designer heels and designer handbags in tow....

(i guess ms universe cant rock around the airport in my get-up! trackies and sneakers....)
:P

hahahahahah

too funny.

makes me remember a bad joke about 'Jake Wall' from our Lake falls creek 06 trip with sally and simon.

(jake wall is Jen hawkins pretty-boy-friend)'

ok. also admitting.

I LOVE EUROPE.

i havent been back this way since 2000.

i have a habit of visiting europe during the olympic games. yes... and this time its not sydney games im bailing on... but the beijing olympics!

and i call myself an event manager.... (sigh-- btw. i could have been working on WYD 'the time of your eternal life'- talk about corny!) but hey... clogs are calling...

xoxo

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate;
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”
Actually, who are you NOT to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others will not feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine – as children do.
We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just some of us: it is all of us.
As we let our own light shine, we give others permission
to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others from their fear.
May we all give ourselves permission to shine today
so that the truth is reflected in all of us.

- Nelson Mandela
1994 Inaugural Speech

loving tea.

went out for some tea with my lovely canadian friend sarah :)

love that 'gorgeous geisha' from T2 :) its a green tea with a hint of 'strawberries and cream' :) YUMMO!

enjoy your socks style!

who is ready for this journey?

Courage is daring to take that first step, or different path. It is the decision to place your dreams above your fears. - Source Unknown

Im on an adventure--- as cheezy as it sounds...

an adventure... for .... LIFE!

joy

good food. yes. its nice to have nice friends to hang out with!

braveheart/ thomas the tank engine.

they can take away my facepaint. but they cant take away... OUR FREEDOM!

turning 3.

my nephew turned 3 yesterday.

he had a party at willoughby with a toy castle and slippery dip. cupcakes. fried rice. coffees ( not for the kids! for the adults, my groovy brother barista makes the best hot chocs!). facepainting (provided by yours truly)...so cute!

which brings me to a funny story.

My nephew loves Thomas the Tank Engine. I thought he wanted to be facepainted as a 'tiger'. He was adamnant on Thomas so Thomas it was.

Freakin hilarious though--- i pained a grey coloured/ nose/ mouth area and the rest of his face was painted blue.

he loved it!

I was enjoying the painting ;) ... even funnier was his best friend, Xavier (i love that name, it starts with an X!?!).

V: 'Xavier-- what 'face' would you like painted?'
X: (pondering and looking at his friend's 'Thomas' face)
" I want to be Blue"
V: (laughing... at the thought that if i were to paint him blue-- it was going to look hilarious and wondering... what would his parents think?)
" You would like to be Blue... ok, like Nathan? or would you like to be Thomas? Because he is blue"
X: ' Yes, Thomas'
V: " Ok, Blue Thomas it is.".

i dont have any photos on hand to post up, but i tell you what. That made my day.
It gets better though.

My brother in Law, Matt came up to me later and (smiling) said... (after seeing Nathan in his 'Thomas/ Blue faced glory')
" Who turned my son into 'Braveheart? They cant take away our... FREEDOM!"

I thought that was freakin hilarious!

That topped off a fun filled tiring day of kiddie entertainment, noise and cold.

... Later that day

I recalled the story to my sister, Sharon about Xavier and the 'Blue' and she thanked me again for painting the kid's faces.

I then joked about how my other sister Michelle had originally requested me to do her makeup for her wedding in Holland. Now, dont get me wrong, I have done a theatrical makeup course before and I have done my sisters makeup for parties etc ( i love painting! faces/ canvasses etc) however... It crossed my mind that i dont really want the pressure of making my sister look her 'best' on her wedding day... which leads me to think if i sent her a picture of my latest 'makeup' pursuits, that indeed, she might end up looking 'blue' on her wedding day.

Certainly puts a new spin on something new, something borrowed, something BLUE!

hahahahahhahahahaha.

If anyone would like me to paint their face or their kids faces at their next party. just give me a bell!! ( for me to dress up as an asian clown will cost extra).

The 2nd 10 Commandments

... if this offends you in any way i do apologise-- its not meant to be blasphemous!

• You shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities
• You shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass
• You shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.
• You shall face each problem as it comes, you can only handle one @ a time anyway
• You shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows
• You shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you can.
• You shall not re-live yesterday for good or ill; it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life & be happy now
• You shall be a good listerner, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking & some people do know more than you do.
• You shall not become 'bogged down' by frustration for 90% of it is rooted in self pity & will only interfere with positive action.
• You shall count your blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one.

i love rain

i love the sound of the pitter patter.
i love using the window wipers on my car.
i love seeing raindrops on windows.
i love that rain waters and helps things grow.
i love seeing rain falling onto the ground. plop plop.

i think i love rain because frankly. i love water! :)

this is nice (they usually are sentimental fluff) but i actually like this one!

read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!


HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Try everything twice. On Madams tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times!

2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches)



3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.


6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.


10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.I love you, my special friend.


11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

And if you don't send this to at least 4 people - who cares? But do share this with someone.



Lost time can never be found.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

i underrate my ipod collection of music

am i such a dag?
sure. im going to hang out my daggy music laundry right here people.

westlife.
backstreet boys.
britney spears.
justin timberlake.

but wait.

i have

U2.
crowded house.
ben harper.
jack johnson.


i also have
wham.
culture club.
spice girls.


but!
i also have
joss stone.
nina simone.
erikah badu.


its like an up and down of ugly to ok. to almost cool.

i hope the dagginess and more 'cool' music evens itself out!

what has this got to do with 'which disney princess are you?'

6. What do you eat on a daily basis?
Cabbage soup with crushed Vicodin and Prozac.
Nutrisystem and moderate balanced meals.
Vegetarian or seafood; sushi is a must.
60% carbs, 20% protein, 20% fats: for the energy to keep up with a busy lifestyle.
Whatever I want to eat, food is my other lover.

FREAKIN HILARIOUS>

If i was to be honest. Im probably the last one. What a crackup!!

But if wanted to sound cool. The reality is, I am probably number 3.
HA!

screaming kids & things arent as bad as they seem

ok. thursday mornings are a stretch for me. I have these new swim babies classes i take. i think i have a new appreciation for motherhood parenting and what kind of parent i would HATE to be.
complaining mothers, taking out their repressed anger on their children and subsequent swimming teachers is a DEFINATE NO NO! I am all for constructive feedback and improving systems... but when things are just a bit haywire... people- please!! get a grip!

in general though, nicer parents are raving about their kids new teacher - who is animated somewhat (go figure!) and are telling my managers about it which is SUPER DUPER!

so thats my vent for today.

i did end up going to meet a new recruitment agent yesterday. I was dreading the thought. but it was MUCH better than i anticipated. this lady actually WANTS to help me find a job! thats freaking AMAZING. I will take it as a gift from above and she actually gave me some helpful advice with tidying my CV and was nice enough to even let me know how well presented i appeared. at least im doing something right! the job sector is back in events/ marketing. hopefully there will be something appealing that comes along.

meanwhile. im just counting down the days til the end of term! cant wait! then im off to see my sister get married.

who enjoys rejection?

i got turned down for an interview today.
:( that sucks.
usually im onto this sort of stuff. apparently i dont have enough 'design' experience! ARGH!!!!! gimme a break people!

the job doesnt even require a design background!!!!!!! (although it would help)

also. i went to see a careers counsellor today to see if they would help.

why do i bother? she was nice. but really. when i left, i felt more bewildered and with more questions than i did when i got there.

more research she thinks. ok.

however. on a lighter note... i got 88% for my Austswim Exam.

Yes. My brain still works!!!!!!

and if i was glass half empty i would rejoice in the fact that i only got 12% incorrect! which is cool :)

haha

its been an eventful week.

i successfully endured a 2 hour exam tonight.
i think the coffee is only kicking in now. darnit! its nearly 1am. i need to get to bed.

Hopefully after tonite's exam (i havent sat an exam in a few years since 2004?!)

I was freaking exhausted.

and... it was all about swimming instructing.

Wanna know the three types of water resistence?
My acronyms were working for me to rejig the memory.
F.E.S (Fried Eggs, Salsa)

1. Frontal
2. Eddy Turbulence (this one always made me laugh-- Eddy!?! ha!)
3. Skin/ Frictional

I only need 60%+ to pass!

and...
Thanks to David for an inspiring cut/copy of MLK and enlightening me at Mil and Martin's housewarming :) I had fun!

6 weeks

6 weeks.
for a while now, its almost been a bit of a blur to imagine how a year seems to pass by.
at least... its actually less daunting than i used to think.

6 weeks til i head to holland to the land of clogs and windmills and to celebrate with my sister and to be husband... and hopefully get the chance to see the van gogh museum ( i love art) have a hash brownie or two (jokes?!!?) and get the chance to travel to venice, prague and looks like berlin... and then to england.

i cant complain... although ive been a place that has made me somewhat apprehensive about it all... im beginning to smell it.

oh wait... thats just the burnt toast!

and despite other reports. things are good. they actually are really good.

cheering up depression...

challenged to stop asking why

to live in the moment perhaps?

i sometimes think i think too much.

and when i get really into my own head (beware)... i often start thinking thoughts into another dimension.... and ask too many big questions.

thats why i need friends-- like you guys... to keep me grounded.

bring me back to planet earth. yes.

can we talk about the banal and the superficial now? my head hurts.

urban dictionary. you make me laugh!

The word for May 11 is nut huggers

really tight jeans worn by a man

Damn Bell's got his nut huggers on today

exciting new roof!

this is the progress on the roof of the kitchen our team built at suubi village near kampala, Uganda, Africa (sept 2007) for watoto

very exciting!!! i cant believe the roof is on! the progress is slower than some have expected, but for me... in all honesty... at least stuff is being done!!! hopefully it will be finished by september 2008. that would be amazing!

i watched 20 episodes of season 5 scrubs back to back

being sick has its plusses. (i hate being sick-- its the inactivity that kills me, but hey, i dug up season 5 of back to back scrubs! yay!)

favourite scenes:

'kung fu fighting'

'when jd's scooter gets shot at at the convenience store and when he hits a water pot hole and disappears under the road completely.'

'elliot's hilariously crazy ' mexican apple picker' fantasy'

'jd turning 30 and trying to finish the triathlon'....

ah.... so many good pointers! anybody got season 6?

i (heart) cherry blossoms

my bro is in hokkaido, japan at the moment touring the whole spring time cherry blossoms!
im so jealous! he's sent some pics back
i will have to go back one day when they bloom-- its a big celebration over there! Spring Time!!!

is a pet a 'want' or a 'need'?

i used to have dogs.
i now have swung to liking cats. (gasp! says the dog lovers)
i have owned pet fish.

ive thought of buying a bird.

i love animals.

is a pet a 'want'? or a 'need'?

they keep you company... especially dogs... just when you need it. no questions asked.

"I need someone who believes that the sun will rise again, but who does not fear my darkness. Someone who can point out the rocks in my way without making me a child by carrying me. Someone who can stand in thunder and watch the lightning and believe in a rainbow." ~Fr. Joe Mahoney

it was dad's birthday on may 3rd. it was his 72nd birthday. happy birthday Dad!

"Text Support"

i love urban dictionary:

The word for May 06 is Text Support

Advice, encouragement delivered via text... frequently related to dating and boss hating. Pronounced like tech support.

Hey, thanks for all the text support last night! I have a coffee date with him today.

where is home?

so... i read somewhere that those whose take on life is more inherent on 'realism' or 'reality' tend to lean towards depression.

great.

is that whats been happening?

so... how do i get myself back to being happy (knowing full well, that it is indeed most oftentimes, a choice)...

do i need to be slightly delusional to gain that sense of happy?

searching the scriptures gives a sense of hope. but im not sure about happinness.

i like tea- and reading books- to escape.

distractions. good company. beautiful landscapes. new destinations. makes me happy.

lately. because of so many changes... ive realised that there is joy to be found in the familiar. i think i used to loathe it... because i labelled it unfairly 'boring'. but really... it is comforting.

put it this way... im coming from a place where most recently, the house i grew up in has been completely flattened, demolished. i had a dream about it the other night. it was strange, surreal and frankly... a little unsettling. i think its because the house reminded me so much of my Dad, that to see the house completely gone, and just a pile of dirt, was something similar to looking at a bomb site. That is probably why i am finding it so comforting to visit friend's homes-- people and places that ive known for a long time. Because its familiar. Because... it feels like home.

everybody loves ramen

everybody loves ramen

hilarious. i bought a t-shirt with this on it.

i love play on words. and i love ramen! (wasnt THAT keen on the original 'raymond' series, but hey... a little bit of pop culture never hurt no body!!)

sometimes. you just gotta laugh.

you know when life gets so serious and you wonder sometimes how it got this way? life is absurd. really! plus...

im tired... im also sick... with the flu. great.

i just finished this book

it was needed... as hard as it is for me to realise that sometimes life is just a series of crap shituations

i need to work on building my happiness levels big time!

for someone who is so used to being a generally happy person. im going to give myself a pat on the back for not being too much of a sad -sack... considering.

you know... sometimes... i struggle to let myself be sad. because you know? oh, who likes to be sad?! i certainly dont... but sometimes. things just are sad!! but im learning... very slowly... that its totally ok.

because in the long term. if you dont let your emotions just be--- (anger, happinness, resentment, joy, confusion, pain etc) you go numb... cos grief... which is what ive been experiencing... is a necessary form of growth... it cant be rushed. oh. its painful. heck... its not even funny.

but boy oh boy... do i try!!

thanks for hanging in dear blog readers. i know my posts havent been as 'minivanmegaFUN' as one would like it to be of late.

so... to bring back the Van... ill talk about things that i enjoy to bring it back to something more fun.

Movies. now... i cant wait for this new 'Get Smart' film to come out! I love the original series! i Hope to get them on dvd one day... who can forget agent 99 and the cone of silence? the shoe phone? i love it.

oh. skype.

got to commie dinner at the french's last nite. it was so good to see john, jane, hannah and tom returned home from the roadtrip and the gang :) yay.

and ... i got to 'see' jo on skype which was such a blessing today. oh. its so high-tech!! video cameras and the rest... i will have to fix mine up...

im enjoying the part time work at the moment. so much more flexible in being able to connect with loved ones in different time zones far far away.

yay.

thank God for friends!

praise God for the internet!

aside from information overload and way too many applications (at times-- esp in facebook) i love that i can communicate with my family, my friends. its such a blessing.

but mind you... nothing beats seeing people in the flesh-- face to face. that is a real blessing.

what a mystery though--- how technology seeks to 'connect' people together, but we might all just end up communicating in the solitude of our homes-- writing to one another via the internet!

balanced.

feeling balanced today.

im excited again!

its sooo good.

back in the pool-- the kiddies are soooo cute!!!

back to loving life!!!!!!!!!!!! where have i been?

im nineteen again.

apparently i look 19. or pass for a teenager. (so ive been told lately by grans at church)

this makes me laugh. and cry. all at the same time.

is it my asian genes?

i guess i dont like it sometimes, only because people treat you differently when they think youre a 'kid'.

but it does make for good laughs when i try avoid eye contact with a bouncer at a bar--and look like im 'sneaking in' to an over 18's venue... not much hope with a gold drivers licence as my ID. i look even younger on that than i do in person!

today's forecast: clouds are clearing.

things are getting better.

slowly. but surely.

acceptance.

God. give me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change. courage to change the things i can... and wisdom to know the difference.

i miss my dad

so im trying this new thing... i.e. talking about my dad.

plus... i had lunch with my uncle dennis yesterday. he was Dad's best friend during university.
it was a nice lunch. U.Dennis in some ways probably sees me like part of the 'family'. i guess with all those that are familiar with chinese lineage and community... alot of our chinese relos are related somewhere along the lines.... esp those that immigrated here many generations ago...

anyhoo... it was just lovely. i felt very spoilt-- his kids are all in their late 30's- 40's (similar to my family i guess, but i was born much much later... ). He took me to have a nice lunch at the Tea Room at QVB. Ive always wanted to go there. I have heard of the afternoon teas they have there, but we didnt do that, we had a nice lunch special. salmon. always a favourite. anyhoo. My uncle is a solicitor and i think is ready for retirement. He would easily be in his 70's now. My dad would have turned 72 this year.

so he shared with me more clearly their history. my uncle actually knew my dad's eldest sister first at school. strangely enough, dennis went to a girls primary school in hong kong in the 40's. there werent enough schools, so some of the boys went to whatever school was available. anyhoo...

he shared of a funny story where my dad had actually 'crashed' his honeymoon he married my aunty rose (i think that is why my middle name is rose :D)... pretty funny imagining my dad driving in his first car (a white beetle) and driving all the way from sydney to melbourne in a day... to be their chauffeur! He did that in 1963.

one thing that was really interesting was that i had gone on family holidays with mum, dad, u. dennis and rose when i was about 8. i guess being the 'baby' of the family meant that i got to hang out with the oldies while my other siblings got left to their own devices. i guess what may have been seen as a 'lucky' kid to go on these cool adventures to then europe and the usa (i went many times before the age of 12) because dad was an electrical engineer for SBS back in the eighties, he had lots of conferences he went to in vegas ( i remember, because i snuck in a 'poker' machine pull at the age of 8) so... i got taken along.

if anything... i only just realised, that i am glad i have these wonderful memories of travelling, because... in some ways, my siblings are 8 to 12 years older than me in age respectively ( i have 3 sisters and eldest brother) and well, i kinda felt like i didnt get to know dad as an adult or a teen... something that i definately missed out on and now coming to think of it... it makes me feel better than i was lucky enough to have those times with him... thats probably why i like the U.S. so much. not cos of Bush== but certainly, because of the fun, positive memories they evoke of time with mum and dad back then.

yes. i think this is healing. talking about Dad. i think its healthy.

krang

oh, this was too funny to pass up.
i love the site bustedtees. ( i should get commission for this!)
they just have released this t-shirt with 'KRANG' on it. oh my gosh, i totally forgot about this other villain from the TMNT (teenage mutant ninja turtles) cartoons!
the name immediately flooded memories of my favourite afternoon school tv cartoons :) oh... memories. (im trying really hard not to think im getting old(er)...

i love bookstores...

ive been feeling very bookwormy of late...
been reading all sorts of psychology books... self help if you would call them ( i personally hate the term)... jo had read ' a road less travelled' and jane leant me a copy. its fascinating... and yet, all this reading about 'dependency' and all that within society and relationships has gotten me twisted in a knot about how i dont want to be in a co-dependent relationship and wonder how the heck i would firstly, identify it and secondly, how to not be 'sucked in'... as with most things scary... the fear of the unknown is a seeming shroud.

im also fascinated by how we view our society and question how we function in it. questioning why we do what we do. i started reading a book called 'enough' at the local bookstore today by John Naish-- from the book jacket:

"For millions of years, humankind has used a brilliantly successful survival strategy. If we like something, we chase after more of it: more status, more food, more info, more stuff. Then we chase even more. It's how we survived famine, disease and disaster to colonise the world." "But now, thanks to technology, we've suddenly got more of everything than we can ever use, enjoy or afford. That doesn't stop us from striving though, and it's making us sick, tired, overweight, angry and in debt. It burns up our personal ecologies and the planet's ecology too." "We urgently need to develop a sense of 'enough'. Our culture keeps telling us that we don't yet have all we need to be happy, but in fact we need to nurture a new skill - the ability to bask in the bounties all around us." "In Enough, John Naish explores how our Neolithic brain-wiring spurs us to build a world of overabundance that keeps us hooked on 'more'. And he explains how, through adopting the art of enoughness, we can break from this wrecking cycle."

although i will admit im a product of a chinese/australian family. 'wealthy' in the grander scheme of things and well... growing up in hongkong as a child and a mother who always loved to shop... its hard to unlearn the things that you grew up with... the book really resonates with where im at in life. this striving for more. its so futile. it doesnt add to our happinness... in fact, it creates more stress. depending on who you hang around... that is our society. more more more. i really loathe advertising. ironically, i used to work in the industry. unless its serving a greater purpose to help those that are less fortunate and marginalised in our world... its just a juggernaut of multimillion dollar proportions to convince you of things that you really 'need'. oh, ive been there. havent we all? who doesnt have a mobile phone? who doesnt own or possess or would like a new laptop-- preferably a mac? or an ipod? dont get me wrong. i love technology. heck, im using it now. but just what is it about technology that i love? the communication? the 'connectivity' the 'speed' the access to information 24/7? why do i need to know that i can at 3am go on the net and find something to entertain me or buy from? its an interesting time we live in. we can get what we want, when we want (provided you have access to the facilities) but in general... most in the western world has access to these things, and yet, has it really added to the quality of our lives?

anyhoo... all this searching comes back to a very introverted delve into my being... who i am... where i am at in life at this point. its 2008. i am 2 1/2 years from 30... (despite my youthful good looks, no, im not 19 years old!) its an interesting if not scary proposition to be approaching the shorter end of the stick towards another decade milestone on this earth....

which leads me to wonder where i 'fit'. not just culturally, but who i am as a result of losing my dad when i was 11... plus the moulding of co-ed public education within the leafy private schooled northshore... having been born overseas... my world has always been infinitely bigger in my mind than the comfy north shore and prior to that i grew up around eastwood/ carlingford--in my pre-teen years-- which is somewhat leafy, but another world from the 'north'. why do i believe in a God who loves us for who we are, but even more so to not leave us separate from him forever. Jesus- infinite wisdom, deity, forgiving, sacrificial, controversial, universal-- he seeks to find those want to find him. He divides. Thats not always a comfortable thought.

anyhoo... so im searching. for what... who knows.

meaning? oh, that sounds so cliche

faith? isnt that just hoping for more, the best... even though we cant 'see it' in our present?

contentment? isnt that just trying to enjoy being in the moment with what you have? would you say that is the theme/ content of the book 'enough'?

purpose? yes. definately. thats a hard one.

---but to use my 'gifts' to bless those around me... thats about all one can do... i dont how else to go about life?!

thank God for grace. for i dont think i am worthy of all the wonderful people, places and things that have blessed my life-- im am infinitely grateful.

i just realised that i started this blog entry on an entirely different note and as usual, have gone and changed the subject back to me... oh, how self indulgent!

meditation

it was my 3rd week of participating in 'christian meditation' tonight at church.
it was lovely.
i am really connecting with God and the silence in these times.

God is not only in nature. but in the silence.

i like it. lots.

things you can remind me of later...

i would like to buy a pushbike. i think it will be better for the environment and even better for my fitness and health.

i've always owned dogs previously. but i think a cat would make a great pet.

thinking of studying to become a fitness instructor. i think it would be hilarious! and fun!

random good thoughts.

had lunch with my cousin natalie today.
we had a really good, nice time down at deewhy.
we talked about the usual... life, work, her teaching career, my swimming instructing and dis-taste most recently for desk jobs, love, parenting and our fathers.
yes. it was therapeutic. i feel sooo much better. it was so nice to be able to share and hangout. we havent done it since we were kids.

Dr. Phil's personality test

I scored 52 on Dr. Phil's personality test
Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, one who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

i also like

online scrabble
horlicks
the beach
the ocean
acquariums- i love fish
milo
good muesli with yoghurt and pear
funny photos
road trips
a good laugh
great music-- jazz, anything thats not on pop radio, live music
walking in the fresh air
reading good books
brothers and sisters (in real life and on tv)

i like

...

pentimento bookstore in newtown.

strawberries. eating them. seeing pictures of them.

that my nephew loves salmon and icecream (not at the same time!)

reading. 

japanese food

indian food

mcdonalds (i know its evil, its my weakness)

sunshine

the sound of gentle raindrops

painting

drawing

making cards

buying gifts

sending cards

chatting with friends on the phone

brunch is even better with friends- at a cool, relaxed cafe with blackboards and good frappes

cups of tea

relaxing music

watching snow fall

snowboarding

driving my car- road trips!

drive thru (mcdonalds!)

reading funny comments on my blog or on photos on facebook

friends who stick by you thru thick and thin

patience

movies

good food, good chats, good company, interesting people

peace

le poisson de Babel est amusement

deseé escribir esta entrada del blog en español sobre todo porque pienso que suena fresca y amo el babelfish... que escribí a email en él al jo el otro día, pero después de que ella re-tradujo nuevamente dentro de inglés. pienso que era definately un caso de ' perdido en la traducción!'. había algo divertido sobre los pechos o... no recuerdo algo y bien el escribir al jo sobre los pechos. anyhoo. compré un libro llamado hoy el ' vivir con un perro negro '. su un libro provechoso de la palabra del cuadro por johnstone del matthew y del ainsley. su un libro de ' cómo tomar el cuidado alguien con la depresión mientras que se ocupa '. la he comprado como indirecta no tan sutil para mi momia del envejecimiento. las familias chinas no hacen frente a esta materia. realmente no apenas familias chinas. cuento a la mayoría de las familias no tengo ninguna idea. su difícilmente bastante lucha de la enfermedad pero hey, por lo menos conozco im no solo. ¡la identificación justa del pensamiento la puso hacia fuera allí!

found this nice list for stress busting. just thinking about it makes me relieved!

• Curl up with small book that you can read in an hour
• Drink coffee in the morning sunshine
• Eat your dinner on the beach or by a lake
• Feed the ducks at the park
• Find a quiet place for a rocking chair ride
• Get a blanket and a book and find a place to park it
• Get a therapeutic massage
• Get some flowers for yourself
• Give shoulder massages
• Go a whole day without music, TV, newspapers or phone calls
• Go lounge on the deck
• Go to an old book store, buy a book, and read the whole thing
• Go to bed and dream!
• Have a mud bath
• Hire a foot masseuse
• Listen to Jimmy Buffet music or any other music that relaxes you
• Nap
• Pick a favorite place to watch the sunset or sunrise and go there often
• Read all night and sleep all day
• Read the newspaper at a park
• Rest under your favorite tree
• Sit and think somewhere
• Sleep in a tree house
• Sleep in a field
• Smell the roses
• Snuggle with gentle creatures
• Spend some quality time with a hammock
• Spend the entire morning in bed
• Unplug the phone and take a bubble bath
• Visit a steam room
• Walk barefoot in the park
• Walk through an old graveyard during the morning hours. Bonus: Find out which gravestone is the oldest.
• Watch the clouds drift by
• Watch the Saturday morning cartoons
• Wear your pajamas all day

i love bad pop songs. and dare i say it... rick astley.