January 31st + a picture

Thirty one days into 2010 and I’m still writing 2009 on paperwork. Is there a time limit that is extended to people to allow for that mistake, or is the only a month waver to get it right? I remember when it turned from 1999 to 2000 and I was caught up a few times (Read a bloody lot!) but the forms I had to fill out back then re my job were all computerised and had the little 20__ bit on them, which helped!

Ten years later and I’m struggling to move on from the 09 to the 10 I mean the 1 is at the other end of the keyboard from the 0 so I kinda have to actively stop and think about the date before I type it, which is kinda frustrating, but anyway I digress.

It’s the 31st of JANUARY 2010 FUCK!!!!! Where did the past thirty days go? I worked out a rough mind map this afternoon of what I have done in the past thirty days.

Here goes:

I have found out what books I have to read for this semester
Purchased two of those book, have finished reading one and onto the 2nd one
I have edited PART of my novel with the help of Scoman being my proofer wingman. (I am YET to finish it, but I WILL do this soon.)
Spent time with relatives I don’t really like
Helped other relatives I like move house / Unit / apartments
Played PS3 games badly
Watched seasons 1 – 3 of Weeds
Watched the final episodes of Doctor Who containing David Tennant's last jaunt.
Twittered a lot about everything and nothing (6,000+ tweets in less than 12 months)
Spoke to my nephews a lot on skype
Written updates here (Yay)
Got more followers on my blog (Woohoo) (Thankyou loyal readers)
Watched many Zombie style movies
Read David Moody’s Hater (fucking AWESOME book!)

**Update** I was writing this and got skyped by my nephews (see below pic) who love that they can see themselves on the TV! (otherwise known as the monitor!) I’m a bias Aunt but I think both boys are just adorable and fill my heart with that lovely mushy feeling

So…….. February…….

February is the month that my almost four nephew will turn four, and he will no longer be almost four, as he will be four and we will wait six months before he starts to refer to himself as almost five. Plus it's my birthday in February also. (I will accept all forms of on-line shopping vouchers from places such http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/ or http://www.ezydvd.com.au/ or http://www.ebgames.com.au/ should you feel the urge to ‘gift me up’)

I also start back at Uni this month (On my birthday) and I’ve been asked to ‘guest blog’ for Scoman on the 21st of February. (The day before my birthday!) Do you get the feeling there is a ‘birthday’ theme here!

So February means it’s time to get my arse back into Uni mode, which means only sleeping in on a weekend, and getting up before 9am on a weekday! (I know its tough being a student!) I’m yet to get my timetable. But I’m going to have an early stab and bet there will be at least ONE tutorial on, that starts at 8am, and is the ONLY time slot available! It happens every year, though in 2nd semester of first year we (the class) managed to sweet talk the lecturer into pushing the time back to start at 9am which was a little more bearable, especially on a cold July morning!

So staring tomorrow I will be:

Getting up before 9am
Getting into Uni mode (not sure what that is yet!)
Sorting out my stuff to go for a trip away in two weeks.
Thinking about my guest entry for Scoman
Purchasing my almost four nephews birthday present
Posting aforementioned gift
Reading a shit load of stuff for uni
Generally being uni focused
Writing on here (yay)

So starting now. I will be taking offers of topics you would like me to tackle (please nothing too hard that takes up a lot time to research such as the microbic state of milk after it has been put into a microwave for five minutes!) But if you have a burning question you’d like me to ‘discuss’ then please ask away. I may not get to it right away, but I will get to it.

Tomorrow’s entry will be in response to Wendy’s (Quilfeathers) tag from her blog, which will consist of some more ‘interesting facts’ about me. I’ll have to think some up, because I was pushing maximum info load with the last lot.

Anyway. The tennis is about to start Murray V Federer. I don’t mind who wins. I like them both. Either way it should be an awesome match.

That’s all I’ve got.


I blurred my Brothers face out in the picture below, as I'm sure he wouldn't want his picture on the Internet. The boys however are innocent little things, and will not be recognised by anyone. They *love* Skype.

Australia Day - History 101

There's been plenty of posts done today about bogans, and invasion day and the need to change the flag. So I'm not going to talk about that. I'm going to give those who aren't in Australia a 101 history lesson on just what Australia day means (Goes to google types in Australia day - gets the following information. Then copies and pastes it here!)

The following is blatant plagiarism from Wikipedia. While I know most of this info from studying three Unit History in High school. I'm too lazy to type it out and well Wikipedia made it sound 'nice' so I just mixed it up a little, (I grabbed some bits, copied and pasted them, and then got other bits and mixed it throughout! (So kinda blatant plagiarism with a slice of 'Sal' thrown in.) You can skip the italics bit if you don't want to read about the history of Australia Day.

Australia Day
On 13 May 1787, a fleet of 11 ships, which came to be known as the First Fleet, was sent by the British Admiralty from England to Australia. Under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, the fleet sought to establish a penal colony at Botany Bay on the coast of New South Wales, which had been explored and claimed by Captain James Cook in 1770. The settlement was seen as necessary because of the loss of the colonies in North America. The Fleet arrived between 18 and 20 January 1788, but it was immediately apparent that Botany Bay was unsuitable.

On 21 January, Philip and a few officers travelled to Port Jackson, 12 kilometres to the north, to see if it would be a better location for a settlement. They stayed there till 23 January; Philip named the site of their landing Sydney Cove

They returned to Botany Bay on the evening of 23 January, when Philip gave orders to move the fleet to Sydney Cove the next morning, 24 January. That day, there was a huge gale blowing, making it impossible to leave Botany Bay, so they decided to wait till the next day, 25 January. However, during 24 January, they spotted the ships Astrolabe and Boussole, flying the French flag, at the entrance to Botany Bay; they were having as much trouble getting into the bay as the First Fleet was having getting out.

On 25 January, the gale was still blowing; the fleet tried to leave Botany Bay, but only the HMS Supply made it out, carrying Arthur Philip, Philip Gidley King, some marines and about 40 convicts; they anchored in Sydney Cove in the afternoon.

On 26 January, early in the morning, Philip along with a few dozen marines, officers and oarsmen, rowed ashore and took possession of the land in the name of King George III. The remainder of the ship's company and the convicts watched from on-board the Supply.

Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day and Foundation Day), is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, along with an address from the Prime Minister.

Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808, with Governor Lachlan Macquarie having held the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales in 1818. In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.

So now that you're all historied (is that a word?) up.... Leads me into the national holiday. When I was a kid, Australia day meant the end was coming to the school holidays. It wasn't a public holiday to school kids in NSW especially. It meant that school would resume either the following week, or the next day!

As a working adult, it meant a day off, which was grabbed with both hands, and held onto tightly, if you planned ahead you could swing an RDO on the day either side of the public holiday, depending on what day it fell onto so could manage a four day long weekend.

I'm once again a student, and now the day off is well just another blur into the three months I get off over summer while Uni is not on. I didn't do anything special today (We did the family BBQ thin at the weekend). If anything the afternoon was quiet as the influx of relatives left! (Woohoo) I'm heading home myself tomorrow. So the 'my own company' will seem a little foreign after a week of others around.

If you're an Australian I hope you had a nice day off. If you're not Australian. Rejoice in the fact that your opposition leader isn't a fuck-wit who believes all women should be virgins until their married (Tony lives in the twilight zone. I've got a $10 bet non of his daughters are virgins!) Long story - Google 'Australian's opposition leader' I'm sure you'll get a news report on anti-abortion Tony!

That's all I've got.

No spell check

Hello readers.

Another update from the little application I downloaded for my iPod. The only drawback is there is no spell check! I suck at spelling and punctuation so this will be short.

We did the family BBQ thing today at my mums place. Relatives decended on the house. Some of them nice others shit! We ate BBQ food, salads, and lush deserts such as caramel tart!

My cousins and I were going to go see a movie however what we wanted to watch (Sherlock Holmes) wasn't on till 6pm. So we went to the video store instead.

I have nothing else to really post about. So as always. That's all I've got.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's hot, I ate hotdogs, that is all

I was going to write an update for you all, but truth is I've done nothing all day. I'm currently at my mum's place for the 'long weekend that isn't a long weekend' and today was fucking hot! So her and I just kicked back and watched the Tennis in the air-conditioning all day!

I've no stories to tell of experiences in the main street of this town, or being accosted at the bank (The ATM). Because the only time I left the house was to goto the bank, and to Woolworth's to buy milk, bread and hotdogs! (We had hotdogs for lunch!) I also bought chocolate. :)

What did surprise me was that the ATM was set alight last night (Like I said yesterday - this town is scary) so I couldn't actually 'remove cash' from the hole in the wall god. So I winged it at the supermarket and prayed I had enough $$ in my account to get me through the checkout. (There's ALWAYS the credit card to fall back on)

So that was my highlight of the day. The ATM not working as it was melted! Buying hotdogs, chocolate and 'essential' tennis watching food, and sitting about in the air-con watching women grunt! (No it wasn't porn!)

How did you spend you Saturday?

That's all I've got

How to make an impression

I’m not sure what others are like when they are shopping, but I’m a list shopper. I either have the list written out or if there’s only a couple of items the list is in my mind, which causes me to focus on those items running in my mind. I DON’T walk aimlessly about – looking at everyone who passes me, just in case I know them!

So I’m in line at the post office, and I get a tap on the shoulder and the words ‘Snobby bitch’ (Always a wonderful way to start a conversation.) I turn to the ‘voice’ and the shoulder tapper, to find it’s a bloke I went to school with! He then processed to explain to me that I walked straight past him and didn’t say hello outside.

Which made me instantly think. I’ve not fucking seen you in over ten years! I’m flat out recognising people I know so how the fuck am I suppose to recognise you!

It was a moment of awkwardness, the point in time where you want the line to hurry up so you can get served, and not have to stand there making small talk with someone from high school, who you had very little to do with back then, but has suddenly popped up out of no where trying to be your best friend right now.

Finally I get served, and I think ‘Thank fuck” I turn and leave and he FOLLOWS me – I couldn’t fucking believe it, he got out of line, and followed me outside to continue the conversation. Except now, the words coming out of his mouth, is him asking me out (Like on a date) before continuing with. ‘Oh unless you’re married of course, then you know it would be like a catch up coffee’

I’m standing there stunned. Wondering if I’m dreaming? He’s putting in the hard yards now with lines like ‘Oh you’ve not changed a bit since highschool, you must still get asked for ID you look so young!’ (Get me a bucket) I’m standing there thinking how the fuck do I get away from this bloke.

So I did the one thing I rarely do. I pulled out the gay card. Now I’m not one to run about waving the gay flag, telling everyone. Hi I’m Sal the lesbian. Because I’m a person before I’m a sexuality. But sometimes you have to reveal this information because. A) The person you’re telling you’re gay is fucking stupid, and b) see option a.

He asked again ‘so are you married? A girl like you would have surly been snapped up by some lucky bloke’ (The lines are getting worse)

I answer: No I’m not married, I’m gay. It was lovely to see you but I have to go, Bye’ All out in one breath, short and sharp, moving away before he has time to process what I’ve just blurted out to him.

He's there dumbfounded and comes out with an even more delightful line (better than Snobby Bitch) 'what like a dike?' I couldn't help myself. I DO NOT like the word Dike. 'No I don't stop water, I just fuck women like you do!' I didn't wait around for his response. (or perhaps punches!) I got in my car and left.

Now re-telling this story when I got home, I think to myself. This bloke is a red neck. The type that believes women should be bare foot and pregnant at all times. So if anything I’ve not only pissed the guy off for rejecting his manliness, his pickup lines such as snobby bitch and invite to 'get a coffee'. But I’ve added to my list of haters who want to bash me, and ‘show me the right way’ (The right way being a relationship between a man and a woman!) As he falls into the category of 'Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve' bullshit

So with that out of the way, I think I got away with down town Hicksville reasonably unscathed. Until another ‘friend’ dropped by this afternoon and accused me of ignoring her. I was like how the hell can I ignore you if I never bloody seen you? I was a bit ‘irked’ by this one. To the point of ‘you’ve got a voice – try saying hello!’ It’s now 10:15pm so it’s no doubt already around town that a) I’m here for the weekend and b) I’m a snobby bitch who can’t say hello and c) I’m gay! (Or a wall that keeps water separated!)

Welcome to the back of fucking nowhere people:

Population My parents + a bunch of fucking inbred yokels!

That’s all I’ve got.

Music is great.

I've just had a total mental block!

I was going to write a blog about how music causes an emotive response to the listener, but then I though it all sounded a bit like the weirdsubconsciousthoughtofSal'sbrain and that sharing this info with you might scare you off.

Then I though Noooooooooooo My readers are RAD I mean #Rad so they will read this, relate to it, and comment on what they think about music and emotions.

So here goes - straight off the keyboard and onto the screen.

I pulled out of my mum's driveway this morning, and the song on the radio was Snow patrol's 'Chasing cars' The image that first jumped into my head was of new years day a few years ago (whatever year that song was HUGE) and the memory of driving home from the NYE party I'd just attended and that song was playing on the radio (at about 1am) and the smell, the ambient light, the darkness of the world at that moment when the song played in my car. That snapshot of time suddenly leached into my thoughts, and in that moment I realised just how powerful music is.

I hear certain classical music pieces and think of my brother's wedding, or of funerals I've attended, and how those moments in time, however fleeting, are now encapsulated within a particular song.

I played a song to my mum today in the car, and told her it was the song I wanted played at my funeral, should I die before her. She cried as she listened to the words, and I felt bad for making her cry, but she reassured me they were happy tears.

The song I played her was Train's When I look to the sky (I'll find the lyrics and copy and paste them at the end of this blog) This of course lead to the death discussion. (Nice as I take my mum to an appointment re her breast cancer!) and my mum expressed her wishes for what she wants re her funeral. I asked her if she wanted a particular song played. She said she'd have to think about it and get back to me. But she did stress she didn't want any 'church' like songs. No abide with me etc.

So as my mum contemplates the song she'd like played at her funeral, and I write down the name of the song and the artist of the track I'd played her today. It made me realise just how powerful music is. It is the one universal language we can all communicate with, which in itself makes it a very emotive tool.

So I ask you my faithful readers. What songs hold a 'special' thought or memory for you, and what do you want played as the 'last song ever' (i.e at your funeral)

That's all I've got.

I found the video clip of the song - so I've embedded it

After two years. Alcohol is in my system

Hello faithful readers :)

I'm on the wine with my Aunt who is 79 years old! I seriously get around!

I've not drank an alcoholic beverage in two years, and this evening I'm on the wine with my mum's aunt eating fish and chips and loving life (Except for the heat!)

Why don't I drink I can hear you ask? (Well if you didn't ask I'm going to tell you anyway)

Back when I was young (18) I spent my final year of high school drunk. Like liver transplant drunk, and so I consumed enough alcohol in my 18th year of life to literally last a life time. The year book has me down as 'most likely to become a musician / alcoholic' I succeed in the latter!

In 2003 I was at the Zoo in Brisbane (It's a night club, there is no actual animals!) and my drink was spiked. Thankfully I was with a group of friends who took care of me, however regardless of the amount of times I'm been munted drunk. I ALWAYS remember what I did / done. This particular evening I couldn't remember 5 hours of my life. I woke up in my bathroom, head in the bath, very unwell. After that I was a little wary of grog. Along comes 2006 and I'm in the WORST job EVER. I go home at night and polish off several Smirnoff Ice double Black's (They are the 7% alcohol ones) each and every night from Monday to Friday. (We're talking TWO slabs of Smirnoff Ice a week. A $120+ drinking habit, without leaving the house) I get to a point that I'm borderline alcoholic (Literally) and so one day I go 'fuck this' I quit my job, and I stopped drinking. Two years later. I'm here writing this blog with two glasses of wine under my belt, and I'm fucked. Talk about a light weight. I mean sure I've not had this 'drug' in my system in a long time. But two glasses of wine? Come-on! I used to have to down four Smirnoff blacks before it 'touched the sides' so to speak a few years back. (At this point I'm not sure whats worse. Being a little pissed after two glasses of wine? Or being lead astray by my 79 year old Aunt!)

Anyway. I'm at my mum's place. We're off up the coast tomorrow, she's got a medical appointments to attend, then we're 'shopping'. Though I'm not a 'shopper' however when I'm with my mum it's more a leisurely look, some lunch and then head home.

I hope everyone else's Wednesday is going well.

That's all I've got.

**NB If this post makes no sense I do appologise in advance :)