this is a real bus. my sister saw it in germany!

i kid you not. she said it wasn't meant to offend!!! HOW WUDE! haha

journalism 101.

ok peeps.

tonite: 2nd class in journalism. i think i have found my calling! aside from secret aspirations to be jana wendt... or perhaps even andrew denton... the artform and occupation known as 'journalism' is beginning to come to form in my mind... and considerably as an occupation! if anything.... i have always wanted to work in media/communications as a journalist. i think i forgot about it or something... as i went off on a tangent with design and arts studies or something or rather. but heck. i love writing! who doesnt? and its great to be able to review writing... critique it and consider what makes such interesting journalistic pieces. very exciting.

plus. it doesnt hurt that i have a possible 'foot in the door' with my pending interview at acp next week... we'll see how it goes!!! yay!!

things are looking up.

its all good.

Be glad of life,

Be glad of life,

Because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your posessions; to despise nothing in the world except falshood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbor's except his kindness of heart and gentelness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends… and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit. These are little guideposts on the footpath to peace. (henry van dyke).

Famous Resurrections...

Hmmm..

i thought i mite reflect on some famous 'resurrections' ... in my life... here we go....



1) i prayed that someone i knew would have a MILLI VANILLI cd. Matt has one. WHAT A CHAMPION. If you want to 'blame it on the rain'... i got it going 'orn' in my car if you want to cruise around with me!? (chap!?-- it helps with my 6 speaker BOSE soundsystem! YES!)

2)crocheting. whoever said it was out of fashion?

3)painting and photography and writing. I just started a journalism course. its AWESOME.

4) reading. LOTS. of books. mostly theological ones at the moment. i like reading books about God. The information/knowledge/relationship building... its ENDLESS!

5) exercising. im still jogging. i LOVE jogging. cremorne point is still rockin!

6) NEW FLATMATE. -- Speedy Gonzales (her last name is Gonzales) :P
Fresh season. Fresh Start. May is gonna go OFF!

7) Fresh revelations... and reflections of the past... but not letting it bind you into negative thinking for the future... (is that really a resurrection? i feel like my life is replaying events from a few years ago.... strange... bizarre)... but you dont have to re-live them like you did the in the past... you have choices to respond differently... positively to similar circumstances that may be replaying!?

8) MY WINTER CLOTHES. I love resurrecting my BEANIES. oh wow. I always 'treat' myself each winter to add a new beanie to the collection. IT is one item of clothing i just cant live without during the woolie months--- oh... i bought new moo cow uggs. they are AWESOME. go woolies!

9) My electric blanket. Need i say more?

10) The ultimate Resurrection. JC on Calvary. Do you believe?

bored at work...

Ok. So… what does one do without internet access?
You have to be a little bit more cunning to enjoy the lack of stimulation and the amount of bald headed, white haired chaps with shorts and long socks are PLENTIFUL here at my current posting of temp work.

But seriously… when you encounter people named DIDLEY… you do wonder?? Huh? I didn’t even think I heard him correctly at first… I thought he said GIDLEY. And with a last name ( I think its safe to presume he wont be reading my blog!) McCulloch… what a FUNNY NAME!! HAHAH

That’s the thing about working at reception for some places… you meet ALL sorts of strange types! HA!!!

So…. What to do then aye?

Anyhoo.. Without having to entertain myself at the thought of a chicken's head exploding when one sings too high! (which I would admit… is a HILARIOUS thought)… especially when one has to sing high notes in church!! (oh, and no one booed me off stage last nite… woohoo!!)

oh... my sister gave me an excellent idea... to form an excel spreadsheet of my potential itinerary for Africa! YAY!

I've taken it a step further... i've colour coded it! Oh the FUN you can have when left to your own devices!

again...

stay in skool kids! love yas! xo

Hugh Grant arrested over baked beans attack

Is this really news?

I wanna go snowboarding!!!!

HERE

Marjorie Dawes...

You know when you watch a TV show that contains some serious satire… that you know that a lot of the time it is based off a real character/ type or stereotype?

Today. I have met Marjorie Dawes. If you don’t know who im talking about… check out 'Little Britain'… and look out for the 'Fat Fighters Club'…

This is the lady that works the first shift at my current posting for tempwork…

My encounter was brief… as she finishes her shift at 1 and I promptly start at 1…. This executive reception never felt so….

Well. There isnt much going on here.

I mean, there is a really cool security monitor that sits to the right of me, but as for a busy reception, … nothing could be further from the truth.

As for the lady that I have replaced during her annual leave… this is where people come to die!

Anyhoo, back to the story.

So, Marjorie Dawes. She is ever so slightly on the bigger boned side. Glasses, short blondish hair… and to make it Marjorie… she had the accent… and… the lisp.

"S'Alright, I must be off now… do you know where the bathrooms are?... I have left some instructions, notes here for you… its going to be a quiet afternoon. Lorrie left some handover notes right?... Ok… see you tomorrow, I'm in a hurry…"

I don’t know about you, but I certainly wasn’t born yesterday (despite still appearing to look like a teenager!! I got "20" the other day! I have graduated!)

I love how people presume because you are 'new' that you have no idea what to do.

I mean seriously.

Its reception.

The phone has rung once since I have been here, and its been 24minutes to be exact!

Anyhoo, I am trying to make light of a not very exciting proposition. But as with all things… without making drama out of the ordinary… life gets pretty dull!

Hence my ability to make fun of the trivial… I enjoy the sport!

Anyhoo… That encounter with Marjorie (or her twin--) has made my day.

(And if that’s about as exciting as it gets, I have a long 2 week stint here!!)

Haha.

Have you encountered a TV stereotype/ lookalike recently? And no, Home&Away stars don’t count! :P

Time to think...

hmm...

What does one do when one contemplates the 'next step'... in life?

Well... the minivan has had much time to reflect on what to do next...

I love the thrill of the fact that i can... in fact... do almost ANYTHING now that i am not tied down to a full time job...

Now, this Thrill for most... would be considered very 'risque' or even crazy... but really... what can one little minivan do??

For 1) I have got a 2 week temp job ... as an executive receptionist at Transgrid-- ha! the govt. body for electricity in australia!! ... so if you want to call me between 1-6pm over the next few weeks... go ahead... they have some serious spam blockage... i dont even think i can open up GOOGLE in the office! (boring!) let alone bore you with my blog entries there... shame really!

So... what are some things i could do?

1) thinking of doing a course on journalism at the local community college... get the creative juices flowing

2) wondering if i want to seriously consider doing the Gold Coast Marathon on July 1... (no, not 42km, but the half marathon at something like 21.0936 km or whatever it is)... do i want to run for almost 2 hours to pass out?... the thought has occurred to me!

3) planning to raise some serious cash for my trip to Watoto/ Uganda in Oct... and visiting my sister in Rotterdam (Holland) afterwards... and seriously considering bungee jumping at Vic Falls in Zimbabwe (after i help build houses for orphans... or risk dying and wasting e.one's time and money to send me there!)

4) seriously considering trying to work in the TV production/ film industry again... sparking my creative juices and my original desire to work in event management... because it 'seemed' more accessible than tv production... (fyi- did you know my dad was the chief engineer at SBS all those years ago?? plus there is a room/ small production geek office named after him actually at the station in artarmon...)

5) random note: i have actually stood on the set of 'the movie show' with margaret and david years ago when they were still on SBS.

6) I have an offer to work on contract with the Sydney Marathon again this year... its not full time, but the work will be pretty good and well, i've done it for about 3 years, so it'll be like a walk in the park (or across the sydney harbour bridge)! (and it will pay $$ or at least something!...)

Anyhoo... those are my thoughts at the moment...

I am trying to do the whole 'possibility thinking' with the world according to robert schuller... who i believe is one the main reasons i still have dreams to try to conquer!!!

down with the nine to five (although aunty carol gave me her DVD of this movie-- wanna come round to watch it? starring dolly parton!) hahaha

working parttime- temp working never felt so good!!!! (i am secretly crying on the inside wondering how the heck life turned out so crazy, but heck, im all the better for it!!)

feel free to send some love to the vanny re: encouragement... I am afterall... unemployed... sorta!! hopefully not for long!!

xo stay in skool!

love yas :D

Beyonce Concert!! & Noosa...

This was Esther's First ever Concert! (Bless!)

Boy, Was Beyonce really Bootylicious!!!!!!

HAPPY B'DAY CHAPSTER!

Here is a fair review in SMH about Beyonce!

Now that's one big dog!

Do you guys think this thing is REAL??
I Love dogs! But boy, I could ride that thing to School! :P


>Hercules was recently awarded the honourable distinction of Worlds
>Biggest Dog by Guinness World Records. Hercules is an English Mastiff
>and has a 38 inch neck and weighs 282 pounds.
>With "paws the size of softballs" (reports the Boston Herald), the
>three-year-old monster is far larger and heavier than his breed's
>standard 200lb. limit. Hercules owner Mr. Flynn says that Hercules
>weight is natural and not induced by a bizarre diet: "I fed him normal
>food and he just grew".... and grew. and grew. and grew.

Stomp the Yard- Movie Review

Well Well Well...
Aint it just another try hard 'dance movie'...

The answer surprisingly is....


No No No!

This is more for the ladiez... but i would say that blokes would be looking in envy at the HOT DUDES in this movie.

Put it this way, These dudes can REALLY dance and plus it doest 'seem' to hurt that on occasion they like standing around doing their ' Steps' (Think of a Guys version of 'Bring it On'... but with breakdancing and very *ahem... attractive young black men....)

For the guys, there is a real hot chick that plays the romantic interest (as always)...


but as all predictable hollywood cheeze... there is a predictable 'twist' with the lead guy (from the wrong side of the tracks) and how his arch enemy uses this against him...

and ... as aforementioned....

Its basically college styled 'cheerleading' with hot guys. (got a bit slow in the middle, but heck, i was so distracted by the 'dancing' and the cool camera techniques that i didnt really mind)

I say... BRING IT ON!

And give it a worthy 4 out of 5 stars.

Im unemployed... and as Macas says... 'Im Lovin' It!'

Dudes.
I have been officially unemployed since before Easter.
I have scaled the heights of Barbados (aka. Noosa last week...- for those that do not know where that is... its on the Sunshine Coast in QLD)...

It was a free mooch week at good ol family friends AuntyC and UncleB. They have a property just 5 mins outside of noosaville/ noosa.

boy. it was good!!

Have you guys had the opportunity to LIVE IN PYJAMAS for a WEEK!?

I dont even remember what that was like... until last week.

You know what i did today?

nothing.

well not nothing.

i read. then ate some 'char seiew bow' (aka pork buns :P)... ate iceblocks for breakfast (again!)... i do recommend the orange fruit 'splits'... and billabongs classic 'chocolate'... hmmm... my favourite!

The great thing about being unemployed... is that... you can do ANYTHING> and or> NOTHING!

Brilliant!

I never knew life could be this good.

Goes to show how much I work when i do have a job!! ah!

Try resting and living in the pj's for a week... just once!! Try it!

Live a little!!

Oh.. i didnt do NOTHING today... i wrote this post for the blog!

oh! the simplicities of life...

xo love yas.

I love Marc Jacobs!

The Geek of Cool.... :P

A Man after my own heart! Even if he is Gay! :P

Article in SMH

I once was Blind.. but NOW i see!

Amazing Grace!
How Sweet the Sound...
That Saved a Wretch Like me!


Peeps.
Praise God.

I can SEE!

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

The Lasik and ' Intralase' thing went ALL without a hitch :D I think i have 20/20 vision. My eyes right now arent 100$ recovered, hence why i put a dollar sign instead of the percentage.... where is it??? haha



My dear sis Kath came to the rescue as my 'grandma' guide into the surgery and out of the surgery. Without mistaking... no, she's not the grandma ( i am)... i had to keep my eyes closed out of the surgery... back to the car....

If you would like a point by point, minute by minute eye suction, weird alien style 80's movie 'cocoon' renditon of lights and blinky things, blue surgery hair caps and shoe covers, bad 'phantom of the opera' waiting music and 15degree freezing cold conditions so the 'gas' (no, not mine!) of the machines to operate in a controlled and 'safe environment' and the drugs i have had the priveledge of taking in the past 24hours... go ahead!!!

i never take anything stronger than paracetamol. lets just say the valium knocked me out and the codeine helped me sleep the past 12 hours! But gee-whiz, my ability to get up at 5:30am is still ticking like clock work!!

OMYG!!!!!!!!!!

I cant swim for a week, which is a bummer, moreso because incase of infection in my eyes, but heck. This is now a lifetime without ever having to worry whether my contact lenses will get washed out in the surf! woohoo!!!

They even gave me these groovy looking shades/ goggles to wear out of the surgery to add to my crazy collection of sunnies! :D :D
xoxo

Confessions of a April Fool... (and no, she's not chinese!)

I have a serious confession to make... and most of the lovely beautiful women friends in my life are still perplexed...

To clarify.

I AM NOT MOVING TO HONGKONG!!!!!!!! haha

Ok, in reluctance, I am a really sneaky bugger...

I made e.one think that I was moving to Hong Kong on the weekend... and then confessed that in fact... the 'job' (ficticious) was in fact taken by a 'girl named APRIL FOOL'.

C'mon PEOPLE! Without naming names.... hahahah.... APRIL FOOL IS NOT A CHINESE NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know you are all way too lovely and believing and trusting... that is why you are all my friends, but heck... it was just an innocent prank.

But i WILL tell you what is in fact true:

1) Yes, I have quit my job (see previous post)
2) Yes, I AM going to Uganda but only for a couple if not more weeks travelling to build houses for Watoto Children's ministries. www.watoto.com A very reputable and honourable organisation based in Kampala, Uganda. (I will be heading there endSept/early Oct) YAY!! My sponsor child is from Uganda too, so i cannot WAIT to visit her and finally meet her! :D
3) I was never intending to move to HK! But thought i would use it as an experiment to see if people questioned.

I will give full credit to some of the cleverer men in my girlfriend's lives... that watched them get into a tizzy about 'WHY DIDNT VAN TELL ME SHE WAS MOVING TO HK!?' shock/ heart attack responses.....hehehehehehe.

I will name the clever men that knew what i was on!! Thomas Frenchy is one... and Paul (H's man) hehehehehehhehehehe.

But it doesnt mean that if you believed the txt msg about me moving to HK that in fact you're not clever... far from the truth... it just means that you fell for my prank! YAY! Thank you for feeding my experiment (and my ego) and... well.. it just means you care!!!

Hehe... the looks on your faces... 'WHEN ARE YOU GOING? WOW!!! WE GOTTA CATCH UP!'.

Put it this way. My WHOLE family fell for it! :P

Love yas xoxo

I love Dilbert!!!!!!

April Fools Day :D

#8: The Left-Handed Whopper

In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

JD's artistic shots of Van!

I QUIT !

Lets just say that I am glad i stood up for myself... for a change! and... well... the resignation was fit for a movie styled walk out! with a box and all!! BRILLIANT!!!!!

Human Skateboard

Dudes, i think this is the coolest video!!! Its really funny... Sneaux Shoes ( Skateboards) ah... it takes me back! (haha, where can i get one of these?!) http://adage.com/vidt?pId=1

Storms of Life...

Hey dudes, the Van has been swamped with 'life' of late...and well... its all good!!!

Aside from one of my dear sister's moving her life to Holland to be with her 'man' forever... I am sad, yet so excited for her happiness in making such a huge decision to leave life and home in Sydney, to enjoy the fruits of Europe! haha... I reminded her... that her fashion sense has to improve to embrace the 'euroglam' not 'eurotrash' element... ahhh... european fashion! where men wear skivvies without persecution and berets without being coined 'gay'... unless you call it 'gai paris'... haha... did you ever see that old film? too funny...

anyhoo... life for the travelling salesman, missing sal-lee's blog in the far west ( as opposed to the far east... where im from?! :P)...

work is almost killing me at the moment, but there are good things happening. strange how you have to go through the desert to get to the oasis... isnt it? I know there always IS a light at the end of the tunnel... thank GOD!!!

(hence why i have not posted of late)

aside from fantastic news from 2 of my bestest friends in the whole wide world (margie+jason, kirryn+toby) announcing their engagements in the past couple of weeks... there is LOVE in the air... and well... im STOKED for them!!

In the meantime, i have actually been unfaithful to my own blog... have had too much to do... to think... change... pray about of late... i have been looking after a new blog-- for my dear friends at Northside Community Church :D http://cgcremorne.blogspot.com/



how do you guys handle life when it gets tough?

i pray.

lots.

its the only way to stay sane in a world that changes to quickly and rapidly... how do you stay calm in the storm?

Jesus himself calmed the storm... and told his disciples that 'ye of little faith' when they freaked out-- they thought they were going to drown on the boat while JC himself was still 'busy sleeping'...

All he had to do was SAY to the storm.. ' Be STILL'....

If that isnt amazing. I dont know what is.

But as a 'christian'... God promises that we too can trust him to calm our own 'stormy' lives...

(sigh)....
Im SOOO glad!!

I dont know of anything better. Hope in what we cannot see and Faith is what gets me through each day.

Faith to know that when i wake up each morning, the sun will be up... whether its shining in the bright blue sky or hidden behind storm clouds... i have faith that when i wake up... its not still dark! (although i must say that i have been getting up very early as now a newly morning person... i get up to exercise at balmoral beach at 6am a couple of mornings a week!! shamon! crazy!)..

oh... exercise is a HUGE factor in stress release too... for those lazy asses... (i was once one too)... i highly recommend going for a walk.

there is nothing like beating the 'blues' with going for a massive stinky sweaty jog to my favourite running spot of the moment... cremorne point. there is an awesome track that sal-lee in fact showed me when I moved in here... gee i miss the tanner!! and our 'romance' spot while eating Ole burgers... oh... that was fun!!

anyhoo... enough reminiscing...

Im outta here!

slater peeps.
xo

Is Bunnings a New Aussie Religion?

I would have to say.... this article in SMH sums it up... here
and it does make a mention of good ol' Hillsong.

Personally.. I love God AND i love Bunnings! Is that blasphemous? Idolatry??

oh dear :P

Geek VS Nerd

FINALLY! I HAVE ANSWERS!!! HAHA

My mate from work summed it up perfectly.... ( i never knew the actual distinction/ difference between Geeks Vs Nerds...) haha... i'm sure some of you dear friends know which category you belong to!! :P :P

==== by Theo====

Whats the difference… Ha

A geek is some one that knows PC, networks and all that sort of stuff, however also could be expected to be seen night clubbing, DJ ing, might have even have a turn table out back somewhere, enjoys snow boarding on weekends just for the hell of it. Is comfortable with women and themselves, may or may not have studied Karma sutra or Tantra. This is the stereotype scenario of the Geek, basically the guy (or girl) that you want to hang with on Saturday night.

The Nerd on the other hand, is your traditional coke bottle glasses smart person. Is as competent in to ways of PC as the Geek but lacks social skills, Nerds may often be scene Quoting entire episodes of Starwars, will often speak Klingon (see Star trek) may have read about girls a great deal and may even have a cyber girlfriend or girlfriends, this should in no way be construed as being socially adapt however as the Nerd will often, when put in the social spotlight of interaction with a member of the opposite sex, will often break out in cold sweats or heat rashes.

===
HILARIOUS!!!! HAHAH

Which one are you? I'd like to think i'm more of a GEEK. But i have often referred to myself as a NERD (you should see my glasses when i'm not wearing contacts!) and Yes!(i know Klingon!!)... and i LOVE STARWARS!!

oh dear....

===

HAPPY AUSSIE DAY PEEPS!

dudes.
what better to spend the LONG WEEKEND other than with random encounters with family... free coffees in chatswood (ala big bro ivan-- world's best barista!)... a visit to my favourite (and only) nephew! He's SOOO cute! and an arvo of watching kath & kim on DVD (got a good deal from bankstown dse powerhouse-- im such a nerd!).... i also bought the austinpowers 'goldmember' cd for $8bucks. Its the BEST CD ever! its got BEYONCE!!! and my favourite.. 'its a hard knock life... ' with dr. evil... HILARIOUS!



...and i have finally replaced that Pro Hart (seriously) masterpiece that Sal-lee's dad had given her (sally moved away in August!! oh! so long ago...) now... the mantel had been filled temporarily with a crap abstract i painted... and i used only to fill in the gap (its too embarassing to even post how i butchered it)... so... here is my new artwork courtesy of Sal-lee's suggestion to post it up on the blog. Check out Sal-lee's : blog here I MISS YOU TANSTER!!



Dont ask me what it is. Its up to the PEOPLE to decide what i should call it! Leave comments!!! (and should Australia become a republic?... did anyone see the movie 'Queen' i thought it was quite good (saw it on the plane) and no.. not the one about freddie mercury!!)

:D
xo
Peace Out (republicans?)... im not politically biased in anyway... (go johnny!)
Van-nee (gogh)

B2W (Back2Work) Monday blues...

Ok... Peeps
Distraction city ( i dont know what is wrong with my hyperlinks... they're not all working, and i dont have time to fix em! & cos i should be concentrating on actual proper 'work'... i suggest you can cut and paste the links yourselves if you so desire! sorry dear blog readers!)

http://www.bucuticam.com/index.html

This is a beach in Aruba... updated regularly!! To see what we're missing out on... while we're at work... gotta love watching the beach on a computer while stuck in the office...

Also... if you're really bored... join in the celebrity sweepstakes by predicting which old dudes will 'cark' it this year.. prize money is $2007(US) i think! www.stiffs.com


or if you want to see how dumb some people can be (a car thief dude that stole a gas station attendants car and then came back an hour later back to the same gas station to fill up?!) DUH!! www.clumsycrooks.com/index.php STUPID is as STUPID does!!

If you want to see a funny animated video with a dancing monkey (what is with dancing monkey's always guaranteeing laughs?) check this out... its about beer drinking... http://www.rathergood.com/first_drink/

of if you're like my friend Kerry who has the strangest phobia about people chewing woolen cuffs off their jumper? what the ? (i have no idea)... check out http://www.unusualphobias.com/Phobias.html


for cat lovers that like to put 'stuff' on their cats... (heck, i thought I was weird!!) http://www.stuffonmycat.com/

ok. enough crap... these websites have been found via this desk calendar i have called ' wacky websites...'...

such a productive monday!!

slater peeps.
xo

Van becomes a 'Wiggle'.. not-- NINTENDO Wii ROCKS!

One of the adventures i had peeps, was having the priveledge of hanging out with Bailey (Louisa) and Dave... while in NYC!!!
The highlight of course... was my eagerness... and staying power (to the horror of dave) at playing his new NINTENDO Wii. Now, surprise surprise, being a chong... i LOVE VIDEO GAMES. So i played... for hours!!! The Macarones/Bailey combo will think twice before letting me come around again! (Fortunately for them, they are in NY and i here in SYdney... because you know where Id be guys!! Getting my workout at their place!!)
Check out this dicky video of me... playing the 'boxing game' on Bailey's Blog :D

Michael Jackson Remix

Michael Jefferson!!!! haha

NYC/Tahiti Sampler! :D

IM B-ACK!!!!

Loving Sydney.
NYc was great. but intense!!!!!!
i will post pics soon, but lets just say the stop-over in tahiti was the BEST!!!!
it was so great to lie on the beach for a few days and do absolutely freakin nothing.
bliss.

glad to be home though after travelling!! i love the rockin rangies!!! i have been greeted by lou and her new 'mate' doyle! so its just domestic bliss as the third wheel in this place! haha!!

back to work 2mo.. EEK!!

seeyaz all soon :D
xo

NEW YAWK NEW YORK!!

Peeps, im here in NYC
Im loving EVERYminute of it.
even when i have insomnia due to the time difference.
lets just say this place is one HAPPENING CITY
i wont bore you with my adventures as yet...

but let me just say
asian style taking phtoos of everything and anything (e.thing in NYC lookscool! even the picture i took of the trash can on the street!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
NYE was great. i finally watched that FREAKIN BALL DROP! WOOHOOOOO SHAMON!!

i went to the cooooolest underground restaurant/ lair with awesome (but exy $$) mexican food tonite in little italy.
it looks like a crappy diner on the ground floor but the restaurant door entry downstairs into the basement has a 'staff only' sign on the front! the freaky dude at the door was trying to stare me down when i said i didnt know who the booking was under... ( i was advised via SMS how to get there).... but i just STARED RIGHT BACK!!! FREAK!!!

ok...

aside from seeing all the sites... 5th ave, empire state, rockerfeller plaza, radio city music hall... i have already seen empire state and statue of liberty before, but will re-visit with ren when the opportunity arrises... however...

i went NUTS in MACY's with 50% off.... who knew sales would be that cheap! (:p , yes i did know... hence my beyonce style jacket purchase... the gang (here that i'm travelling with) think its more 'j-lo'..) and i have already made new friends and new nicknames...
aka
van 'dicky' fung... because i said that i tend to say 'dicky' things... its all said in love and jest...

not to mention the local SHOE sales of all the designer labels. (shh... yes, i went nuts in there)... lets just say i bought a HOT pair of cowboy boots (ones i've always wanted) and they were only $150.........

also... my new best friend is not only ren (the only person i really knew before i came here), Chris (who is turning 30 on saturday) ... but LUKE-- now... dont get too excited... a gal can only have so many excellent gay friends that work for LV (louis vuitton ...) yes thats right girls. he works for LV... and is a designer!!! yes... he IS my new best friend!! hahhahhahah and only based for work in waterloo, so not far for me to go to hang out from my current work haunt!!

cool.

will be here till monday (tuesday sydney time)... yes this 16hour difference is slowly killing me...

love yas!!
post something cool in the comments for the new year please!
xoxo

1 day to go!! NEW YORK NEW YORK

Ok guys.
I havent *yet peed my pants.... but im happy to say that i'm Packed!!!!!!!!

I got the privelege of finally meeting Chris-- aka, b'day boy/ gay john cusack lookalike... this morning!


I have the ticket to NYC in my hot little hands... and well... my hands are BURNING KIDS!!

NYE NYC style is going to go ORF!

Hope you all had a VUNDERFULL Christmas ... and even better start to the NEW YEAR!

Try not to make too many crazy unrealistic new years resolutions kids!!!

again.. Stay in Skool!

love yas xoxo I'll seeyou when i get back!!

ROCKIN RANGIES XMAS PARTY! Photos!

Peeps--- some of these pics are embarassing, if not just darn messy!
They are a collaboration of Fels, Lous and Van's photos... they are
NOT in chronological order... but i'm sure dear blog readers, that you are clever enough to figure that all out!!!

WE HAD FUN. so THanks to the Peeps that came and joined in the frivolity!!!
HOPE YOU HAD FUN TOO! if you missed out on the party... click on the link to find out what you missed out!

Other highlights of the evening included:

my 'baby' blow up pool aka- massive eski
fairyfloss
kim beazley as santa
food galore!! i heard my fried risotto balls went down a treat
fairy bread was popular
chips werent
sausage sizzle went orf! (thanks to our neighbour steve)
the tarp kept all dry
my hammock was a hit with the party guests
rudolph the red nosed pinata got killed

Post rockin rangies party at SOHO in the cross consisted of 'gate crashing' some 'company christmas party'... HILARIOUS!! (we're from the 'accounts department!' hahaha)

Rockin Rangies HOT Christmas Party!! 15dec2006

Only 2 days to go!!!!!

Ok peeps... NYC for NYE 06-07 is looming.

I am SO excited!! I think i will (almost) pee my pants!!!!!!

I cannot believe how nervous i feel ( i rarely EVER... if never get nervous for flying!) but... now... i am!!

i think its the anticipation... i really do think it might just kill me!!!!

the thought of forgetting to pack my favourite undies or take my passport are few of the silly anxious thoughts that are crossing my mind.

That and i passed out at 5pm yesterday and didnt get up until only a couple of hours ago at 2am!!

Stay in school kids!!

xoxo

(de) motivational poster #2

43things.com

Hey guys,
I somehow stumbled on someone else's site... that referred to www.43things.com ... i totally forgot that i actually joined this site about a year ago when i was still in hong kong... its a site that allows you to post things that you have always wanted to do... now... i posted these up in i think dec/ jan 05-06?? interesting to see what i've actually done out of the list! I like the accountability of it... cos i totally forgot what i put on it.

i dont have 43 things. but i started with 10... i think i have done almost all of them.... :D

http://www.43things.com/person/minivan123

(de) motivational poster

haha... guys. i got sent this through from my minister at northside.
They CRACK ME UP

I will share them each week to keep you ' on track' :P

Deep thoughts...Christmas... GC/Brizvegas and Review of 2006

Hey Guys.

Its funny how the year is almost finished.

What has become of 2006?

Another Year, Another Dollar? (haha, thats about as much as i've saved in this whole process!!)

no... what have we learnt kids?

That ....

1) Money cant buy happiness
2) Life is too short
3) Make the most of your opportunities
4) Love those around you... even the unloveable... because you dont know when you'll see them next
5) Carpe Diem (seize the day!)


Ok, i may have just rambled the most cliched of quotes... but i genuinely believe them..... Life is too short to not have fun... Enjoy it!! most things are forgotten the next day... i've noticed people's memories are quite short (including my own... except if i went to school with you... or have met you... because i always remember who you are!! hahaha BEWARE)

Have a ponder as we wrap up the year... not just to look forward to 'the year being over'... i genuinely believe there is a better way to 'handle' the difficult in life... and often the most frustrating of things such as 'life'...

perhaps its prayer, perhaps its meditation... but where do you draw your strength? your resolve?..... within?? sometimes that works... but sometimes it doesnt... its very very fleeting... and moody!! (i dont know about you, but my moods can change greatly without much notice!!)....
so where do i get all this energy one asks???????? Why have i been getting up early even though i went out til 3am??

I for some mysterious reason think that its all Divine Intervention.... hmmm Yes... that 3 letter word to describe the most awesome of inexplicable... God.

I dont know what you believe about God... and i do care to know!! But what i know... I know to be true... and i live my life by his truth... which is found in the Holy Bible.

Man, i dont mean to sound preachy... but i guess its not completely bogus... afterall... WHAT IS CHRISTMAS??? Its the birth of JC... the MAN himself!! Come down, born of the virgin Mary (blah blah)... but heck... have you thought about what that actually means??

WHAT ARE CAROLS? They are singing of all this stuff!!!!!

Ok. So there are my 2 cents... I'll be interested to see what you guys think about this stuff... regardless of your religious b/ground... everyone has an opinion... whether you're jewish, chinese, buddhist, a travelling salesman or a tuck shop lady... we're all human!! we all have needs!! and well... JC promises that all these 'needs' will be met... JUST FOR YOU.... Thats why he was born and came down.... I wont talk about Easter, but thats a whole nother kettle of fish!!

Reflections for the day... (its cabin fever... Brisvegas is an hour behind... so its technically 5:55am QLD time!! ahhhhh why so early hey? again... divine intervention)


WHA!!!??

Im so tired... but happy i got to drive yet again... the 'Gold Nissan Tiida'... in the Gold Coast...

I got in so freakin early yesterday at GC airport... i managed to hang out and (think deep thoughts... haha ... yes, Van does think beyond the fun and the frivolity)... This beach.... Palm Beach... was so nice to sit and reflect... (i recommend 'private' hang time... with the Almighty on occasion... very refreshing!)

There is something about the water that makes me so relaxed... at peace... and so small.... God made... THIS?!


and this!!


and this!




and this!! (poster of damo found at Robina Music Store (GC/Qld)

Spinout-- Damo was going to be at ROBINA shopping centre y.day arvo after i was there!! He's following me!!!! hahah.... GO DAMO!!! Should have hung around to get an autograph... haha
(i can just ask Lou via his Wife Eileen i'm sure! :P) What a STAR!


This bumper sticker says: " With God, ALL THINGS are PoSSIBLE!" Matthew 19:26
I parked behind this car yesterday... its your usual cheezy/ slightly ugly technicolour quintessential 'christian bumper sticker'... but the message rings true.

Do i hear an AMEN?

(Amen)

Hallelujah!

haha
peace out folks :D

Rockin Rangies Christmas Party!!!

My dear friends....

You are invited to the Christmas Party of the Year!!!
SHAMON!

Fel & Van at Harbourlife 2006

WE GOT BACK!! BABY GOT BACK! SO FUN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BKsOm6Ec2o

time to lighten up... my first thanksgiving!--- and harbourlife!!

ok dudes.
after a crazy VANTASTIC weekend of fun and frivolity.. of turning 16 (+10years anniversary)... i just experienced my very first THANKSGIVING turkey and everything tonite! thanks to Jess and Gareth from Northside... they rocked hard!! (& i went back for 2nds :P) ... the turkey, cranberry, stuffing, mac&cheese... 20 desserts definately hit the spot!! :D :D

and... i forgot to post pics & vids from harbourlife!!! see below... i also got way excited because i got my first comments left on my first first you tube vid
... to MJ- twins to MJ in the car! hahahahaa. its hilarious! this rapper chick wants to get big sunnies too!! hahaha

harbourlife photos:

Harbourlife 25nov2006

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY PET FISH? MINI-ME IS GONE!!

chewy gave a memorable eulogy.... we will miss you mini-me! you had such a great life.... sorry it had to end so soon :(

tell me what happened!! I didnt even realise until lou goes... what is that?
tell me dear blog readers...
did my fish...

1. a) commit fishy suicide (he had enough of life and leaped to his own water free death)?
2. b) got 'pushed' by austin ( my siamese fighting fish) out of the water because the water level was now high enough to kill him?
3. c) got transported by alien life form and somehow landed 10cm out of the tank?

Post your theories in the comments folks!!

Here is the evidence of the death! AHHHHH!!! SO SAD!!!!!!!!!!!! Lou had to clean him out for me... i didnt like the thought of having to scrape him up!!! AH!!!!!!!!! looks like he had enough of life.... wanted to be 'free' ....

is austin guilty???

how did he get there from the tank??????? did he leap to his death??
BIZARRE

does austin look guilty??

man... that was a heck of leap!!!!!!! poor thing :(

No humans were harmed in the making of this footage!

Birthday Stunts- Aus Idol Cameos and Photos!

Thank You to all the WONDERFUL people that have been able to celebrate a ROCKIN 16th BDAY (10th Anniversary) with the VAN-NEE :D YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!
Whether in person, via email or via SMS! There is a lot of love!

Check out BDAY PICS

MY 16th Bday 2006

NEW! More PHOTOS! taken by Jatin :D

BDay Pics- Take 2

Or check out Idol Video/Photos below!

xoxo

Minivan goes WILD at Australian IDOL!

PROOF I WAS ON TV ON MY BDAY! GO THE GREEN AFRO!!!!!

For photos:

GO DAMO!! AUS IDOL final

Go VAN-NEE Its YA BirthDAY!

Its my Bday TODAY! SHAMON!!! I just had to record this on the blog!!