34 Days: Notes from a Good Day

It was wonderful seeing Bridget today. It's been too long.

The last time we caught up was before Easter. Lots has changed in the interim.

Bridget and I worked together at my last job. She's awesome.

So lots has changed. She was made redundant a few weeks ago and is enjoying the wonderful life you have early in redundancy when you

She came for a coffee around lunch time. Her first words to me, "Oh my god you've lost a ton of weight."

Validation is always nice. Actually, it was great to see her again. It's strange when you go from having lunch with somebody three times a week to rarely seeing them. She's good value.


-ooOoo-

Book group was great. There were only five of us there due to illness and holidays. It was a great one. A hard book to read (Michelle de Kretser's "The Life to Come". Great conversation and most of it about the book.

-ooOoo-

Saw the doctor this morning for a typhoid jab. Other than feeling a little off colour for most of the day and having a sore arm, it was great to come out of the doctor's surgery knowing she's thrilled with me. Having lost 10 kgs in three months, she's over the moon. Giving a blood pressure reading of 130/80 made her even happier (even though the first reading was dreadful, but I suffer from horrible white coat syndrome).


-ooOoo-

Coming home from book group, the mother of all brush tailed possums was sitting on the fence. For some reason possums make me happy. They also scare the crap out of me.

-ooOoo-

I taught a new phrase to a colleague. He thought these were great. The conversation went something like this.

P: So, Anton, tough day?
A: Indeed, Pandora.
P: One of those days where you just want to chuck it in the fuck it bucket.

Anton collapses in a peal of laughter. He regained his composure and said he might file that one away.

P: So, it was a day of hard conversations.
A: Yep.
P: From where I was sitting Colleague X took a visit from the Fuck Up Fairies.

Anton doubles over again.

P: You could sort of say that Colleague X might be a bit of a fuck up fairy himself.
A: Don't.... I won't be able to face Colleague X tomorrow.
P: Fuck Up Fairies, Fuck Up Fairies, Fuck Up Fairies. Oh, try saying that three times fast when you're drunk.

Well, that was my day. Some good bits among the dross.

Today's Song:

35 Days: Not up to writing

Maow Maow has gone home.

 I am once again on my own.

He's been gone two hours. I miss the critter.

Other things front of mind:

• I have to go and get my shots for Bali tomorrow morning.
• Work was crazy today.
• I miss the cat.
• I'm looking forward to sleeping in cat hair free sheets tonight.
• Finally got my book group book read. They're going to hate it - and there are no questions for it on the web.
• I miss the cat.
• Mars and Venus were very bright in the sky tonight.
• Why do my friends laugh at me when I bring up astrology?
• Why do people feel the need to tell me their life stories? Tonight it was fill in trainer Peeetttteeee. I might be getting Peeeeettttteeee's cat over Christmas.

I'm going to bed now.

Too sad to write.

I miss the critter.


Today's Song:

36 Days: The "So what do you do?" Meme

Sometime between checking out, having another book reading deep bath and going to have my eyebrow's mowed, I need to get this blog done. I there is so much on my to do list today.

• Have the eyebrows mowed.
• Find brunch which fits the food wanker plan - harder than you think in Sydney.
• Do some interview prep
• Write out the invite for the birthday party being help at the start of September
• Walk out a minor back ache (new mattress)
• Avoid Dymocks and Sephora
• Get to the airport on time
• Do my food shopping on the way home
• Placate a grumpy pussycat.

I quite like these questions, supplied as always, by Bev at Sunday Stealing.

What excites you right now?

I'm going to Bali in 31 days time. I love going away. This should be a good trip - seven of us are taking over a villa in Ubud for five nights. I'm taking Cards Against Humanity, a few books and a lot of gin with me. 

What are you looking forward to?

The Bali trip - and strangely, the birthday party which is being help a few weeks after my birthday. Oh, and I'm looking forward to finding a new, longer term, fun, interesting, challenging, well paid job. I have a month left at my current job - it will be good to shore something up. 

What’s the best thing that happened to you this year?

I found a great naturopath who has helped me get my health back. It has been eye opening and most wonderful. I feel half my age now. 

Where did you grow up?

Many would say that I have not grown up yet. If you get to forty and haven't grown up, then growing up is not a requirement. But I was raised at a place called Myponga, South Australia and I truly became into my own when I moved to London. The most interesting facts about Myponga is that there is a reservoir located near the town and there was once a rock concert akin to Woodstock held there in 1968. London is a great place. Wont hear a word against it. 

What do you do for fun?

Read, go to the movies, go out with friends, go to the gym, cook. I love playing with kittens and puppies. 

Who is your favorite superhero?

Can I say Deadpool? I do love Superman, but I've got into the Marvel Universe of late - and I've got soft spots for Thor and Doctor Strange. 

Is there a charitable cause you support?

I support a few charities, but the one that has received money off me monthly for the last few years is the Fred Hollows Foundation, who go into third world countries and help restore people's sight. I also support the Hamlin Fistula Foundation, who does great work helping treat women's birth injuries in Africa. I also support the Leukaemia Foundation. This will always be done. 

What’s the most important thing I should know about you?

I am unfailingly kind and loyal. But cross me and I won't be responsible for my actions. 

Tell us of something that relaxes you and always makes you happy.

Just give me a kitten or a puppy to play with and look after. Any animal, really. Shakespeare makes me happy too. Just arranging a trip up to see the Pop Up Globe in Sydney in September. 

If you could take the train from anywhere to anywhere, where would 'anywhere' be?

I have a friend who's done the Trans-Siberian railway and the Orient Express - both trips sound amazing. But I will say, one day, I would love to go from Adelaide to Darwin by train. That's an amazing trip I'm told. 

What will you always pack in your suitcase?

A small bottle of gin. My spare mouse. Dental floss. An extra pair of knickers. An over packed toiletries bag. If going overseas, a rubber sink plug and a fold up clothes line. Phone charger. 

What will you never pack in  your suitcase? 

Class A drugs. A vibrator. Anybody who has asked to be packed in my suitcase when I'm off on a trip.

Today's Song: (and I know these guys are Trump supporters, but I love this song - it pre-dates Trump)

37 Days: Gin and Tonic

I love my Sydney visits for many reasons, even though I'm not overly enamored with the place. Sydney is often humid. The people are brash. It's expensive. The coffee, when I drank coffee, was hit and miss. It's hard to get around at times (although they have an airport train - unlike Melbourne.)

But my visits to Sydney mean a lot to me. I visit friends. I get a good hotel room for the night - and I get to have a day off from my life for a night - which is awesome. Hotel rooms are great things. They make me feel a bit decadent.

The first day of a Sydney trip is my one day "off" the regime that I give myself a month, not that I stray too far from the programme (superfood salad with hot smoked salmon for lunch, nuts that I brought from home for snacks, chicken and salad for dinner - all fits quite well - only the poached pear with butterscotch sauce and ricotta for sweets was on the avoid list). I'm not quite as strict is what I'm saying.

On my Sydney visits, I aslo let myself drink in moderation for the afternoon.

So today, it's Plymouth gin and tonic.

I'm on my third - over the day.

And it is bloody marvellous.

I think the best thing of all about these trips is I often get to read a book in the bath. This is my version of heaven.

So this is where I'm am at the moment. Happily buzzing in a mild Plymouth haze, reading my book, which has to be finished by Tuesday night (and it's a hard read, but good) and holed up in a hotel.

I'm not sorry. Life doesn't get much better than this.


Today's Song:

38 Days: The Guilt Trip

I am still in possession of Blarney and Barney's cat, the eponymous Maow Maow. For the last three weeks he has been:

• Demanding breakfast any time between 5.30 am and 7 am
• Sleeping on my blue snuggie on the couch
• Sleeping in the very middle of my bed
• Spreading kitty litter all around the flat
• Making a mess of his dinner (He has the table manners of  a two-year-old)
• Sitting on my chest when I get home from work
• Demanding my attention when I'm on the phone
• Covering my clothing with hair
• Beating up his blue teddy (which I've called Hump)
• And when anybody is in the stairwell, baying for attention.

The last point I found out about last night when my downstairs neighbour, Amy came up. Amy and I have been feeding each others' cats for years. She told me that he's been playing up when he hears people in the stairwell talking, he makes out as if his throat has been cut. 

As I'm off for the weekend, I give Amy some instructions as to what to do with the lad. He's quite easy to handle. Give him roo meat twice a day, fill up his water and his 'pussy flowers' (dry food), give him a cuddle.

After the roo meat, the cuddle is the most important. This critter will go to almost anybody. At home, he receives Christmas cards from people around the district, he is that friendly. When I have guest over, he's onto them like a rash.

Amy also noticed his tail, when she was giving him a pat last night.

"Such a stumpy tail," she said.

"It's not stumpy, he's fat." I retorted.

"Have a look.." 

"No, it's like fat men have little willies - fat cats have stumpy tails."

"Ah".

Poor Maow Maow. 

So Amy will check in on him over the weekend as I'm out at a play tonight and off to Sydney in the morning. I find it strange that I'm arranging cat sitting for an animal who doesn't belong to me. 

I'm also not looking forward to the guilt trip I'm going to be fed both tonight, when I get home from the theatre, and tomorrow morning when I get out my suitcase.

Animals! Who'd have them?  I'm sort of pleased he's going home on Monday night.

Actually, no I'm not. Despite the scratches and the bits of kitty litter around the flat and all the hair, I rather love having the critter about the place.

Today's Song:

39 Days: Decisions, Decisions

I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence at the moment.

You see, I have a ticket to The Rocky Horror Picture Show next week.

I write this with a bit of sadness. When I bought the ticket, Craig McLachlan was going to be Frankenfurter. Since then, he's been dragged through the papers as something of a douchbag predator. Rightly or wrongly, he is no longer a part of the show. It's a complete sorry mess, as trial by media is an awful thing, just as mistreating people who you work with should never be tolerated. (Added to this, the Melbourne Theatre Company has announced that Geoffrey Rush would no longer be performing in Twelfth Night in a few months time. No reason was given why he is no longer in the production - and I find this a bit sad as he would be an awesome Malvolio - just as he was an incredible Lady Bracknell a few years ago - another one who has suffered trial by media).

I will say that I think there is a lot to be said for due process. Even if he, and Rush, are douchebags - they have the right to be tried properly - in the courts. A sorry mess indeed.

Anyway, replacing Craig McLachlan, who really was the BEST FRANK EVER, is Todd McKenney - who I've always thought of as a bit of a dickhead. Ever since he played Nathan Starkey in Strictly Ballroom - I've thought he was a bit of a dickhead. Anyway, he's playing Frank.

Will he be as filthy as Craig McLachlan? Maybe, maybe not. McLachlan really was the best Frank (and I've seen Robin Cousins, Jason Donovan and a couple of other no name Franks over the years - he left them all in the cold. His ad-libbing alone was priceless).

This is by the by. Todd McKenney is Frank. He might surprise me. But I'm not banking on it. At least he can sing - and dance - and will probably be able to prance around on the heels without an issue.

But still, it's Rocky Horror.

And that means I get to dress up! (Along with Alice, who also likes to dress up for Rocky Horror - but she always goes full Columbia - hot pants and sparkly jacket and all).

So here are my choices.

1) Do I find a black dress, a white apron, tease my hair up, don a whole heap of makeup and go as Magenta - which I have been doing for years - as I am Magenta - and I have the hair. And the boots.

2)  Do I locate a set of surgical scrubs, some pearls and a set of washing up gloves and go as Frank?

3) Do I go in my satin pyjamas and Mickey Mouse ears (along with teased hair - though technically this is a Magenta / Columbia hybrid)



Or do I find a new persona? Find a suit and go as a Swing. Find some tight jeans, a leather jacket and go as Eddie - or a wheelchair and an afghan and go as Doctor Scott. If it wasn't the middle of winter, (and a requirement to lose another 20 kgs) the thought of turning up in a petticoat and going as Janet could be up there with the options. 

But that is what I'm thinking about today. It's such a hard choice.

The only choice which is not available is going to Rocky Horror in civvies.

That is against the rules. IT'S THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. YOU HAVE TO DRESS UP!

The other decision will be made nearer the time. Do I risk public transport in full Rocky Horror mode or do I grab a cab/uber?

I love The Rocky Horror Show. I just don't like the hard choices which go with it.



Today's Song:

40 Days: Film Review - AntMan and the Wasp

It's tight-arse Tuesday. There is a new Marvel film out. It must be family movie night.

Family movie night normally involves grabbing my kid brother and seeing what ever blockbuster Marvel/ DC Comics movie which has come out ( or any other movie which involves car chases, things blowing up and people dying).

Last night was no exception.

I've grown fond of the Marvel Universe, although I can't say I've seen all the films. AntMan and the Wasp are no exception. It's great fun.

Okay, the plot is a bit farfetched. IMDB.com says, "In the aftermath of 'Captain America: Civil War,' Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to re-balance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he's confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from their past."

Going in blind, and not seeing the first AntMan film, I really enjoyed this. It's light. It's silly. It's very funny in places and it is a great two hours of entertainment. The effects are awesome too.

Some standout moments for me included Paul Rudd, playing Paul Rudd (I still remember him in Clueless) and smaller parts played by Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfieffer. If I can look as good as her at 60 I will be a very happy woman. Evangeline Lily is also good as Hope/The Wasp,  as is Hannah John-Kamen as Ava/Ghost. My other top pick in the film is the most awesome Michael Pena, who lights up every scene he's in.

I've learned that with Marvel films you have to suspend a bit of belief and just run this it. There are some thought-provoking moments, but the most part, it is a very entertaining and very funny film with some laugh out loud scenes, well worth the price of a ticket. Just don't think too hard if you see it - especially when you wonder how Michelle Pfieffer can be in an alternate universe for so long and come out looking as good as she does.

The movie also ties in with The Avengers: The Infinity Wars (or as I call it, The Avengers - Everybody Dies) - and it is worth staying through the credits just for these scenes.

In all, AntMan and the Wasp is everything you want from a Marvel film.

Now I just have to search out the original AntMan. I'm only just filling a few of my Marvel gaps. This isn't a bad thing. Marvel films have a great heart and a great sense of humour to them (Think Guardians of the Galaxy) I wish I'd got on to them sooner.



Today's Song: