Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas and a rant

So Christmas has come and gone - it was non eventful as we celebrated it early whilst my brother and his family were home so the 'day' was spent just lazing about escaping the heat.

However I received some great gifts 'early'

Season 4 of Doctor Who on DVD
Season 1 & 2 of Skins
Some books :

Scheisshaus Luck - Pierre Berg
Reading the Holocaust - Inga Clendinnen
The Writers Tale - Russell T Davies and Ben Cook

Plus the usual clothes :)

My rant though is about text speak. Ok - Text speak R U there will b L8 etc etc is designed for an SMS text messaging service over a mobile / cell phone network to enable to you relay your message in the quickest amount of time with the least amount of characters. What SHITS me is when people comment on blogs, youtube channels etc using the aforementioned text speak.

Nothing screams 'uneducated moron' or 'lazy' more than when I see people leaving comments on other peoples site in text talk when the little comment box is enabled to allow the person to write complete words! I'm not fussy on the punctuation. I mean I'm the last person to comment on others punctuation and or spelling ability! However is it that hard to write a full word out like

I think your video is great instead of I tnk ur vid is gr8t

Urg!!! Maybe it's a sign I'm either
a) Getting old or
b) I am OLD!

The English language is a wonderful tool that enable us to communicate and express ourselves. Why waste it by shortening it and murdering it when it's not on a mobile phone!?!

Rant over
That's all I've got :)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Poxy eye

I often wonder how you can go to sleep and the next morning wake up with an ailment of some sorts, almost like the ‘ailment police’ got your number whilst you were sleeping and decided to cash in on it. I’ve woken up this morning with a poxy eye. I’ve got conjunctivitis or ‘pink eye’ depending on where you are in the world. It sucks a lot. It’s currently only in my left eye – however this stuff spreads – so it will be in both before to long. I’m struggling to see out of it, discovered whilst out that I really shouldn’t drive! As my vision is impaired – even typing this I’m struggling to see what I’ve written on the screen.. The chemist gave me some drops for it well not ‘gave me ‘ I had to pay for them. The drops sting when putting them in – if the conjunctivitis doesn’t affect my vision the acid drops I’m using to cure them will.

So thanks to the ailment police (A relative of the Karma police) I’ve got conjunctivitis for Christmas which is contagious- WOOOHOOO no extended family (i.e the cousins on my mum’s side whom I can’t stand) to annoy me as they will steer clear of me in case they may get infected :)

Looks like Christmas just picked up for me – poxy eye and all!

That’s all I’ve got

Happy Christmas

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Twilight, Harry Potter and Christmas

Oooo I'm right into this book. I'm upto the part of Cullen taking Bel to meet the parents. It's got a hold of me and I'm flicking to the next page and then the next and the next. I've not read a book like this which captivated me in a long time. Not since the Catcher in the Rye way way back..... (Though Inga Clendinnen's memoir Tigers Eye was captivating, but more so in the non-fiction genre!) Anyway... it gives me faith that everyone, anyone can write a book.... If they can nail the genre....

I was talking to my sister in law who's a Mcmassive Harry Potter fan - she'd also not heard of Stephanie Meyer's work (Yes we live in a cave!) however she told me of the story about how J.K Rowlings wrote Harry Potter in a Cafe' (Insert groans here)

I struggle at times to write, and it's something I need to work on, however my best ideas do seem to pop into my head at 2am - and most of the sci-fi stuff I've written have in fact been my dreams!

Anyway.. I'm roughly 287 pages in and I'm thinking if I have it finished by the weekend (With all the family bullshit about to fall out of the sky!) then I'll try and get to the cinema next week to see the movie - though reviews so far of it have kinda fallen short.

I was annoyed when I read Hannibal, and then went to the cinema with my best mate Peter (who had a weak stomach, and we had to pack a vom bag for him) to find they had changed the ending.. I bloody hate that! In fact I've not read a book that's become a 'movie' since that event. (In other words I've not read any Harry Potter!)

Does the book do the movie justice? Or does the movie do the book justice? As a writing major I'd have to say that done well the Movie does the book justice!

If I don't get a chance before hand, those who celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas I hope you enjoy it - others who don't have a nice holiday, and hopefully a nice time catching up with friends and family.

That's all I've got

Friday, December 19, 2008

Address edited to prevent further stalkers!

Forget my inability to punctuate and my pathetic spelling ability!

Today I received in the mail the December edition of a writing magazine I subscribe to.



Either
a) The spell check was having a moment.
b) The proof reader has already checked out for the holidays.
c) I’ve been spelling STREET incorrectly all these years!

I found this highly amusing – obviously enough to share on here!

Suddenly my fear of not putting a comma in the correct place or getting where and were mixed up when writing, seems to be subdued.

Even in the corporate ‘writing’ world spelling mistakes occur.

That's all I've got

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Getting in early

So I've been on holiday's officially for a month now, and what have I achieved in this month? Fuck all! Well if you take bullshit Christmas shopping out of the equation then yes I've done fuck all. So this brings me to the 'New years resolutions' which people make and never keep. I can't remember what I said I'd do last year other than drink more water and consume less alcohol! I managed the less alcohol however I've not done the drink more water thing.

So I'm going to get in early this year with my new years resolutions which I came up with at 2am this morning, whilst waiting for the Air-conditioning to kick in to cool me off at the ridiculous temp of 28c at TWO in the MORNING!! So you can imagine just how hot it is here today!

New years resolutions for 2009

1) Read more: As a writing major I have read sweet FA of other peoples work, and if I stand a chance of being a half decent writer. I should absorb the wonderfulness of others. So I am going to try and read at least ten books in 2009 - that's about one a month with Uni etc on top of all that. If I manage to do this I'll be quite impressed. I'll keep a list of what I read and what I thought. I've stated with Twilight - by Stephenie Meyer after almost everyone I know has said 'Oh my god have you read her she's brilliant' I've literally just started yesterday, and so far so good I must say.

2) Write more: I've been on holidays for a month and I've only written on here and also a short couple of ideas that have been floating around in my head for a while though neither of those pieces has real substance right now, however they are a work in progress, which I will pursue. With my aim in writing more is to 'try' and write at least once a day. Either on here, or just some exercises from the various writing books I've had to purchase for Uni thus far - Fuck I've parted with my cash for them all. I might as well take full advantage of them!

So now it's here in writing. This is the proof of my early 2009 new years resolutions. I'll keep you updated as to the success of it all.

That's all I've got :)

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Bangs head against desk in frustration

I wrote a pretty harsh entry about my father in here - though after a few days to 'calm down' I've removed it - Basically if you missed it - I ranted and swore a lot.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Not happy Jan!

I should have married you!

Is there a formal way of reply to that statement? I’m not sure – but this is part of my response.

How would marrying me have made a difference?

I suppose I should fill in the background to the lead up to the above exchange and the conversation that followed.

I was at a friend’s birthday party last night, and one of the guests was my friend we’ll call him Mr X. Mr X was my best friend, he and I lived together as ‘flatmates’ ‘roomies’ ‘cohabiters’ whatever label you want to put on it, at various houses, flats, apartments in Brisbane over several years. I’ve known him since high school, however when he got married a few years ago he moved away, and well people drift apart, lives go on etc. Last night was the first time in what felt like forever since I’d seen him, and as always the time apart seems like nothing when we’re together. Two years could pass, and it would feel like I only seen him just last week.

Mr X was at this party of a mutual friend solo. His wife was visiting her mother so it was the first time in 3 years since he and I had really spent time alone together, as we had in the past.

As the evening progressed our group that has split off (As you do at parties) got talking about ‘old times’ re stuff at school, and also times we all shared in Brisbane together. We spoke of half naked runs down quiet suburban streets, alcohol consumption that has done irreversible damage to our livers, overall ‘good times’ when Mr X just comes out with the statement of the night ‘I should have married you’ looking straight at me, and taking hold of my hand. Now one could be quick to say it was the alcohol talking, but then he repeated the statement with ‘Seriously I should have married you Sal’

My friends husband spoke up and said ‘You can’t marry Sal, you’ve got the wrong bits for her!’ trying to make light of the situation, which I was thankful for. However there was a long pause before I said the following.

Mr X, I love you, I do, you were my best friend, and we had the best of times together, however how would marrying me have made a difference?’

‘Because you’re fun, you can take a joke, have a laugh, like the same movies and TV shows that I do’

‘I can be all those, and not be your wife’ was my response

He slumped back in his chair, and agreed before getting up to get another drink. The others in the group looked at me, watched him leave before another friend of mine’s boyfriend who’s a fuckwit, came out with the cutting line which fucked me right off “It’s a shame you’re gay Sal cause you and him would be perfect together.”

I then unleashed a rant of abuse onto him, as that was a fucked thing to say. Its not like I woke up one day and thought Hmmm might be a lesbian today! Woohoo! I think of all the male friends I have, and how much ‘easier’ life would be if I could just like men ‘like that’, but I don’t. Yes I’m in a minority, but there’s fuck all I can do about it as I like women, it’s that simple. I can’t ‘live a lie’ and pretend to like men, as I know when if comes to it the darkness of not allowing myself to be me would just swallow me up.

I’ll most likely be alone for the rest of my life, which at times really does suck, however it’s probably a good thing that I’m fond of my own company.

That’s all I’ve got

Friday, December 5, 2008

I'll just go Baaa

So it seems all the blogs I check out have one thing in common right now - this quiz. So as not to look like the odd one out - here are my answers to the unnamed quiz of many bloggers - ooo maybe I just named it.

1. What's your name?
Just Sal

2. What is your favourite thing to wear?
Jeans, T-shirt, shorts if it’s hot. I’ll make the statement here in writing – There are no items of clothing belonging to me that fits under the name dress or skirt.

3. Last thing you ate?
Strawberry Yoghurt, Toast, Cup of tea for breakfast

4. One place you will NEVER eat at?
Mexican Micks

5. I say Shotgun, you say:
Fuck – I hate the backseat

6. Last person you hugged?
My Nanna

7. Does anyone you know wanna date you?
Not that I’m aware of – though if you’re out there I’m single and available!

8. Would you date anyone you met online?
Yeah I’ve already done that. Just to recap… I’m single and I’m available :P

9. Name something you like physically about yourself:
I’ve got a nice smile apparently

10. The last place you went out to dinner to?
Chinese for a mate’s birthday

11. Who is your best friend?
I don’t have one.

12. What time of the day is it?
9:10 am

13. Who/What made you angry today?
The day’s only just started so give me time.

14. Baseball or Football?
Neither Tennis all the way!

15. Ever gone skinny dipping?
Yes

16. Favourite type of Food?
Can’t go past home cooked meal, though I love Chinese food


17. Favourite holiday:
When I was young – Christmas, but now as an adult I see it for all it’s commercialised bullshit!. I love chocolate so Easter!

18. Do you download music:
Yeah I’ve got itunes!

19. Do you care if your socks are dirty?
I do – because they make my feet feel strange


20. Opinion of Chinese symbol tattoos?

I’ve got one – so next question.


21. Would you date the person that posted this?

Nah, he’s male, and taken! Though if I was straight and a few years younger…


22. Has anyone ever sang or played for you personally?
Yeah I had a girl sing me a ‘love’ song she wrote for me once.

23. Do you love anyone?
Yeah I love my family, my little nephews, as for being ‘in love’ see question 7 and 8 :P

24. Are coloured contact lenses sexy?
What an odd question!?!

25. Have you ever bungee jumped?
No

26. Have you ever gone white-water rafting?
Yes

27. Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you?
Yes

28. How many pets do you have?
I have a dog :)

29. Have you met a real redneck?
Mwahahahaahahah I live in Australia’s redneck capital!

30. How is the weather right now?
Overcast and humid

31. What are you listening to right now?
New Nickelback album


32. What is your current favorite song?
Don’t know that I have a favourite. However the song currently playing is ‘Something in your mouth’ by nickelback

33. What was the last movie you watched?
Wanted – Angelina Jolie in all her tattooed glory ;)

34. Do you wear contacts?
No

35. Where was the last place you went besides your house?
The bank yesterday afternoon.

36. What are you afraid of?
Unemployment, wasting my life, not ever achieving security of being able to pay the bills and live above the poverty line.

37. How many piercings have you had?
Ears, Tongue, though currently only have ears

38. What piercings do you want?
I’m happy with what I’ve got

39. What's one thing you've learned this year?
That Uni is harder than I thought. That I can actually write after receiving distinction marks for my writing – which kind of rocks!

40. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
Starbucks? WTF is that!?! *lol* No seriously there’s no starbucks in my 250KM radius, so consequently I don’t ‘order’ anything from there.

41. What Magazines are you reading?
The write stuff – a locally produced writing magazine.

42. Have you ever fired a gun:
Yes

43. Are you missing someone?
I am yes

44. Favourite TV show?
Doctor Who and The X-files are tied

45. Do you have an obession with WoW?
I don’t know what WOW is?!? (Does that mean I’m old)

46. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb?
Yes

47. What celeb do you look like?
Hilary Swank from ‘boy’s don’t cry’

48. Who would you like to see right now?
A single lesbian who’s not got ‘needy’ issues!

49. Favorite movie of all time?
Is it possible to pick just one??? 28 days later The zombie one not the bloody one with the chick from speed in it!


50. Do you find yourself loved?

My family loves me, but that’s kinda by default. Other than that – No

51. Have you ever been caught doing something you weren't suppose to?
This is a very open ended question! I got caught breaking into a friends house once when they had locked themselves out (Which doesn’t count as break an enter!) and the shitty old bastard next door called the police!

52. Favorite smell?
Rain on bitchemen. Home cooked roast dinner ;)

53. Butter, plain, or salted popcorn?
I’m allergic to corn so none

54. What's something that really bugs you?
Rude people, people who can’t indicate whilst driving, violence in general

55. Do you like Michael Jackson?
The old ‘thriller’ one yes – the new plastic bag face – I feel sorry for.

56. Taco Bell or Burger King?
We have neither so I can’t answer

57. What's your favorite perfume?
Jadore

58. Favorite baseball team?
N/A

59. Ever call a 1-900 phone number?
No, but I’ve worked for one :P

60. What's the longest time you've gone without sleep?
Two days

61. Last time you went bowling?
When I was about 17


62. Where is the weirdest place you have slept?
Photobooth at the top of Mt Cootha in Brisbane – after a big night

63. Who was your last phone call?
My Cousin

64. Last time you were at work?
3 weeks

65. What's the closest orange object to you?
Collins Thesaurus

Monday, December 1, 2008

My food has a face

I’m about to start dinner tonight its spaghetti bolognaise. Not sure I spelt that right! Though I’ll need to eat this for the next week after I had to practically sell a kidney to buy the mince! When did dead cows become $7.00 for 500gm? I need to take a long hard look at my back yard, and maybe look at putting some cows into it, with meat prices that high!

I’m not a fan of grocery shopping, and today was grocery shopping day. I’m a list shopper – I make a list of what I need before going into the store, so it can be as quick and painless as possible. I got in and out with a ‘proper’ order (That’s a shopping trolley full) in less than 35 mins – that includes getting through the checkout which the local grocery store has 12 isle with only 2 working! Welcome to the boonies!

So it’s been almost 3 weeks since I made an entry here – slack arse! It’s not like I’ve been ‘busy’ I’ve slipped into Uni student holiday mode far too easily, in fact I’m thinking why didn’t I study earlier in life? I’m sure I’d have been happier sooner. This is the first time I’ve had off in 10 years. It’s quite strange to wake up whenever wander about, filling your days with well nothing much, and then turning around and doing it all again! (This occurs on the weeks I’m not taking my mum to the city for treatment)

This is the final week of my mum’s radium treatment, and it’s starting to take its toll on her, she’s suffering very badly from nausea and dizzy spells. However 4 treatments to go and she’ll be free of it. Then the toxic medication starts. I’m not sure how that will effect her. I hope not too badly. There’s such a feeling of helplessness to see your mother sick (Or any parent / loved one) as you know there’s nothing you can do other than assist where you can, if I could wave a magic wand and take it all away for her I would, but I can’t. It really rings home though about how bad others have it in life. As I said one before – I’ll be quick not to complain about a headache in the future – as there’s a heap of people out there worse off than I am.

I’m off to chop up onions and try not to cry.

That’s all I’ve got
Sal