The Sleepy Ramblers Meme

Taking some time out from writing assignments.

Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.


Have you ever eaten at restaurant and you realized you forgot your money?

Thankfully not. Have I walked out without paying. Once or twice, but I've always managed to get back and sort things out.

True or false-you can pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time.

True. Joys of being ambidextrous.

Do you prefer to drink out of cans or bottles?

Out of bottles. Cans can be a bit sharp.

Do your socks match today?

I'm not wearing socks.

What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it?

The last book I read was Leap by Myfanwy Jones. It was excellent. A very Melbourne book. A great exposition of the grieving process.

Are you currently borrowing something from someone?

Not at the moment. I try not to borrow things.

Write an extremely random statement.

The Louis the Fly song was composed by Bryce Courtney, a well know Australian author.

Are there any major holidays you don’t celebrate?

As an Australan, we don't do American holidays, but as an Australian, I don't celebrate Australia Day - or Invasion Day as I call it. Bring in the Republic I say.

What is one thing you will never understand?

The American healthcare system. Universal socialised medicine makes far more sense for all.

Have you ever stepped on a bee?

Yes. And been stung by said bee.

What helps you wake up in the morning?

A half hour lie in. I need to ease myself into the day.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

An omelette and a cup of coffee.

What is your favorite thing in your room?

My bed.

Who was your first kiss with?

That would be telling. A gangly, spotty youth. No idea what happened to him.

Do you worry about small things?

Far too often.

The What's a Crush meme

Blog time. I've had a lovely, but not very productive weekend. really do have to get on with the study.

Anyway, on with the questions, supplied, as always, by Sunday Stealing.

1. What do you find hilarious, but most people don’t find funny?

Death - a lot of the time.

2. What was the best year of your life so far?

This year has been pretty good. 2010 was good too.

3. What’s your favorite thing to do on the Internet?

Probably Facebook and blogging.

4. What fad have you held on to even tho it isn’t popular any more?

Pokemon Go. I still play daily.

5. What do you spend most of your time doing?

Working and writing.

6. What do you spend way too much money on?

Theatre tickets and makeup.

7. What event, large or small, has changed the course of your life most?

The death of my niece. The reverberations are still being felt.

8. Who do you have a hard time taking seriously?

Anybody who's a Liberal/National politician - horrid scumbags that they are (if you're American, think Republican)

9. What do you judge people for most often?

Liberal/National Politicians

10. What was the most beautiful view you have ever experienced?

The Scottish Highlands are amazing.

11. What is something you read or heard that has stuck with you for a long time?

Slaughterhouse Five has never really left me.

12. What’s your favorite thing to shop for.  Why?

Red lipstick. A girl can never have enough red lipstick.

13. What’s the best compliment someone can receive?

"You're really intelligent."

14. What’s something people go on and on about and you just can’t stand sitting through?

The "No" campaign for this marriage equality survey Australia is being put throught

15. What’s something you can do that most people can’t?

Use scissors left-handed.

16. When was the last time you tried to look cool and ended in embarrassment?

That would be most of the time. I am so not cool.

17. What is the most ridiculous rule you have to follow?

I'm not sure I agree with the blanket bike helmet rule we have around here.

18. What country do you not know the location of, even though you should?

Venezuela - I have a rough idea, but yeah, it's somewhere in South America.

19. What do you have a hard time with but most people find quite easy?

Using scissors with my right hand.

20. What’s the most impressive skill you have?

I write fairly well.

The Getting To Know You Meme

Writing this from the airport food court. Was hoping to be writing this from the Qantas business lounge, but the upgrade didn't come through so I am here - also working on some stuff for uni and getting out some admin while I have the time. Ah well. There is some good people watching to be had as I wait for my flight.

Anyway, questions, as per usual, are from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

Probably exercise and write.

What’s your favorite piece of clothing you own / owned?

I really love this white dress with red poppies on it. I need to lose some weight so I fit into it again, but I love that dress.

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Breeding large dogs. That would be awesome. Puppies!

What would your perfect room look like?

I have no idea - airy and spacious, but with the ability to block out light when needed.

How often do you play sports?

I don't, but I walk and go to the gym a lot.

What fictional place would you most like to go?

Hogwarts!

What job would you be terrible at?

Anything to do with dealing with the general public. I have no patience. I sucked at retail.

When was the last time you climbed a tree?

When I was about ten.

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal for?

Procrastinating

What skill would you like to master?

Writing novels that sell.

What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?

I'm hoping to walk the Camino de Compostela de Santiago next year by myself. That should be an adventure.

If you had unlimited funds to build a house that you would live in for the rest of your life, what would the finished house be like?

A big tree house - but with all mod cons - and very good air conditioning.

What state or country do you never want to go back to?

I still really have no desire to go to Perth, Western Australia after the last time I was at the airport there and they were so rude. Naples in Italy - don't want to go back there either.

What songs have you completely memorized?

Other than lots of kid's songs, I do a pretty good Bohemian Rhapsody.

What do you consider to be your best find?

Sam at the Benefit's Eyebrow bar in Myer Sydney. She gets my awful eyebrows just right.

Are you usually early or late?

I'm always late. There is a greatness to my lateness.

What pets did you have while you were growing up?

We had two dogs and two cats when I was a kid. We also had chooks (chickens) but they are stupid and not pets.

When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?

Writing stuff. I fix up lots of writing stuff - resumes, cover letters, website text.

What takes up too much of your time?

The Freemasons. Thinking of leaving. Huge time drain for what seems like little in return.

What do you wish you knew more about?

The subtle art of really not giving a f*ck.

What would be your first question after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for 100 years?

Is Keith Richards still alive?

The Creepy Crawlies meme

Right, a long weekend, my team lost at the football and the only thing I feel like I have achieved is unclogging the vacuum cleaner and watching a lot of The Good Wife. My tutorial remains undone, but I have a few days on that.

Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.


1. You are walking down the road and you look down. There is a bug. Do you step on it? 

Depends on the bug - but I would probably walk over it. Spiders, on the other hand, get stepped on. Eww.

2. What is one fantasy that you want to come true more than any other?

World peace.

3. Someone knocks on your door. Do you look out the window to see who it is before you open it? Do you open it regardless of who it is? 

Yes, I look out the window. There are some people I don't open the door to - salesmen in particular.

4. Have you ever eaten Play Doh?

Yes, when I was a kid. Mum used to make it for us.

5. What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon as a child and why?

I used to love Hong Kong Phoeey and the Wacky Races. No idea why.

6. Are you a “people watcher”? 

Absolutely. It's great fun.

7. I have a bowl of fruit. There are apples, oranges & pears. You help yourself to one - which one do you choose?

Probably the apple. Pears and oranges can be messy to eat.

8. What is your biggest pet peeve in the blogging world? 

People who moan and grizzle all the time.

9. What is one religion that you could just never see yourself joining?

Any sort of fundamentalist group - this includes Christian fundamentalists. I'm just too easy going.

10. What word do you use far too often? 

Actually, actually.

11. How long do you spend in the shower? 

5-10 minutes. Depends on whether my hair needs washing.

12. If you were to write a personal ad about yourself, what would it say?

Eclectic,world-wandering writer chick seeks similar.

13. Your favorite flavor of soup is….? 

Mulligatawny.  (it isn't but I like saying Mulligatawny :) )

14. You are sitting on a bench in the park and a bug walks in front of your feet…. do you squash him?  (I am assuming this is a different bug from question #1)

I will still let the bug go om its way. I might say shoo or something to it.

Today is a Fashion Show

A lovely quiet weekend at home, with a night out at the Pop Up Globe Theatre in the parklands (www.popupglobe.com.au) for a bit of Shakespeare. My hair has been re-browned, I've had a good relax and all is right with the world.

Questions, as always, from Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. A way to win your heart

Feed me ice cream.

2. Something you feel strongly about

That we should not be having this stupid plebishite to decide about marriage equality over here. it's in humane and stupid (as it is non-binding - arsehole politicians)

3. A book you love

Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres.

4. Five pet peeves

Rude people, parents who will not contain their badly disruptive children, people who sniff when they should just blow their nose and get on with it, people who smoke in the street in front of me (ex-smoker here) and people who put near empty cartons of milk back in the fridge.

5. What you ate today

Eggs for breakfast and I had a Chinese takeaway for dinner.

6. How important do you think education is?

Probably the most important thing in the world.

7. Five people you find attractive

Clive Owen, Josh Charles, Daniel Craig, Craig McLachlan (Dr Blake), Steve Carell

8. What you wore today

Blue jeans and a black top

9. Something you always think “what if” about

Ah, that would be telling. I wonder what would have happened if the dice rolled in different ways on some occasions.

10. Something you’re proud of

I am currently doing my last Masters subject - and I'm sitting on about at 3.8 GPA (Lots of High Distinctions)

11. Something you lust after

Cuddles in all shapes and sizes.

12. A word/phrase that makes you laugh

Moist. Moist is a weird word.

13. A quote you try to live by

Be the change you want to see.

14. Something you like and dislike about yourself.

Dislike that I'm still overweight, pretty much like the rest of me.

15. A problem that you have had 

I have no patience for idiots. This weekend has been a big one for that.

Let's Pretend

The great thing about delayed flights is you can get some study and work done.

So here I am waiting an extra hour for a flight and getting this out of the way before doing my tute paper for the week.

Questions from the excellent Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. What is your middle name?

Jane. I wish it was something a bit more exotic or elegant like Eleanor or Elizabeth.

2. What is your favorite color?

Pillarbox red. Quite partial to teal too.

3. What’s your lucky number?

64.  Beatles fan here.

4. Do you have any pets?

No, but I loan them off people when they go on holidays.

5. Where are you from?

Adelaide, Australia.

6. How tall are you?

5'6" in the old language - 167 cms in the new.

7. What shoe size are you?

9 (seven in England) I was an eight and a half, but it's gone up a bit over the last five years. I'm told that is a common story. Most of my friends of the same age have said the same.

8. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Far too many. Around 30.

9. What was your last dream about?

I honestly can't remember the last time I had a dream at night.

10. What talents do you have?

I can recite Jabberwocky when very, very drunk. That is my party trick.

11. Are you psychic in any way?

Yes. I read tarot to a professional standard - it's sort of a requirement.

12. Favorite song?

Australian Crawl's Reckless.

13. Favorite movie?

Just one. Today it is The Princess Bride. Love that film.

14. Are you religious?

No. Spiritual, yes. Interested in religions, yes, but I am not religous. I'm a Freemason - far better for my purposes.

15. Have you ever been to the hospital?

Yes, I was even in hospital last month overnight - thankfully nothing serious.

16. Have you ever been in trouble with the law?

No.

17. Have you ever met any celebrities?

I bummed a cigarette off Jeremy Clarkson 20 years ago.

17. What color socks are you wearing?

White and grey. Goes with my running shoes.

18. Have you ever been famous?

No. Occasionally imfamous.

20. Would you like to be a big celebrity?

Absolutely, positively not! I value my privacy.

21. What type of music do you like?

Rock - and adult alternative. Like The Pixies.

22. How many pillows do you sleep with?

Two. One to sleep on, one to cuddle.

23. What position do you usually sleep in?

I'm a side/tummy sleeper. With at least one leg out from under the covers.

24. How big is your house?

I rent a two bedroom flat.

25. What do you typically have for breakfast?

Cereal or a protein shake.

The Back to School Blog

Running late again.
Questions thanks to Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1.  What kind of school did you attend (Big? Small? Public? Private? Specialty? One-room schoolhouse?)

I went to a very, very ordinary public high school in the outer suburbs/ country South Australia for high school. It was public country primary school as well.

2. What did you wear to school (uniform? dress code? Whatever you wanted?)

There was no uniform at primary school. At high school we wore school colours - which were deep blue, yellow and white. It could have been far worse.

3.  How did you get to school?

A school bus picked us up for both primary and high school at the front gate.

4.  Who was your favorite teacher?  Why?

My French teacher was awesome. She became a friend.

5.  What was your favorite subject?  Why?

I really liked French and English. I liked being creative and communicating.

6.  What was your least favorite subject?  Why?

Physics in Year 11. taught by a Yeti - it was awful. Never like Phys Ed either.

7.  Did you belong to any clubs?

No

8.  Were you a picky reader?

No. I read everything. Still do.

9.  What did you do in your free time?

Hid in the library.

10.  Did you get good grades?

Other than in physics, yep.

11.  Did you like/participate in sports?

No. But I love exercise now.

12.  Did you have a boyfriend/girlfriend in high school?

I had a boyfriend in Year Eleven. He was the year ahead of me. It ended soon after he left school.

13.  When did you get your driver’s license?

At the end of Year Eleven. I was 16.

14.  What kind of kid were you?  (Popular? Class clown? Shy?  A nerd?  Teacher’s pet?)

I was the quintessential weird nerd. Very unpopular.

15.  Who were your heroes?

Talking Heads and Gough Whitlam

16.  Were you ever bullied?

Thankfully, only very mildly. That I let if wash over me seemed to put the bullies off and they left me alone for the most part.

17.  Did you learn how to touch type?

Not at school. I learned that a few years later. A very handy skill, but I was in the academic stream  - and computers were only just coming in when I was at high school.

18.  Who was your best friend?  (Are you still friends today?)

I didn't have a best friend. When I think about it, I really didn't have that many friends at school. It was very lonely. However, I am in touch with a few of the old class mates now. Things have come full circle.

19.  What is one thing you regret about high school?

I wish I got my head around the fact I could do P.E. and enjoy it. And not taking Economics.

20.  What were you most proud about?

I got out of high school alive.

Bonus question:  Did I like High School?

For the most part I hated it - but I loved the learning. That was the thing that kept me sane during my teenage years.