The Swiped Meme

Argh. Sunday night, been at a barbeque all day, have got nothing I've really wanted to get done, done, start a new contract tomorrow morning and in 14 days I'm heading off to Thailand for a week. \

Too much on, too little time.

Questions, as always, from Sunday Stealing. And I like them for a change.


Do you need to write down things to remember them?

Occasionally. Shopping lists are made but I only stick to half of them. If I have to get something done, I'll write it down.

Do you keep a diary/journal?

I keep this blog. That will do.

Are you scared of thunderstorms?

No. Love them. Especially tropical thunderstorms, like the ones you get in Thailand. I'll be there in a fortnight.

Do you have any unusual fears or phobias?

I hate going down escalators. I've got a fear of falling and getting onto escalators is the worst feeling.

Whats your favourite Disney movie?

Oh, that's a hard one. It's a toss up between "Up", "The Incredibles", "Monsters Inc" and "Brave". I adore Pixar. "Finding Nemo" is up there too.

Have you ever painted a house?

The inside of a house - plenty of times.

What's the tallest tree you've ever climbed?

I can't ever remember climbing trees as a kid.

Do you always wear identical socks?

Yes. Very rarely they get mixed up. Then again, all my socks are sports socks.

Do you live by any motto or philosophy?

No, but I am partial of telling myself that a life lived in fear is a life half lived.

Do you lick the yogurt or dessert lid?

Of course. Why waste it.

Do you lick the spoon clean after making something sweet?

Absolutely. I made brownies today, it has to be done.

Have you ever played the bongos?

Yes. Badly, but yes. I think I was in school at the time.

Have you ever handled a snake?

No. Eww. Hate snakes.

Have you ever assembled furniture by yourself?

Yes. Ikea is my friend. I'm good at Ikea furniture.

When did you last go to the beach?

I was down at Manly Beach in Sydney a few months ago. And I will be on a beach in about two weeks when I go to Thailand.

When if ever did you last go to London?

2010 as a part of a round the world trip. I won two tickets to anywhere in the world. That was pretty cool. Need to go again.

What do you do to cool down when its hot?

Ice blocks and air conditioning. Sometimes I might go for a swim. Living in Australia, the movie theatre is your best friend in summer. Free air conditioning.

What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?

To the Americans out there, I love Vegemite. I think pickled herring is pretty exotic and unusual, even if it isn't in Scandinavia. Eel is lovely. Crocodile is tasty. I love kangaroo... but nothing too out there.

Do you have a favorite mug?

Yes. I've had it nearly 20 years. It's big, pink, chipped and comes from Whittard in England, and I love it.

Do you know any self-defense or martial arts?

Not really, but I love to box at the gym.

Who's your favourite movie action hero?

John McLean  - Die Hard. Though John Cusack and Nicholas Cage in Con Air are wonderful too. Not really into action movies.

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?

No, but I've been pillion many a time.

Do you collect anything?

I ask friends to bring me back small elephants from overseas. And I like Pandora beads.

Is there anything you wished would come back into fashion?

Boofy unstructured hair. It would make life so much easier. And Dunlop Volleys.

Do you stick to conventional fashions or like to try and be original?

I'm pretty conventional, with the odd streak of individuality. I love my Dunlop Volleys.

Have you ever given someone a handmade present?

All the time. I make cakes and baby blankets for friends all the time.

If you could have any feature from an animal what would you want?

I'd love a cat's ability to sleep anywhere, anytime. Would love that.

Very Much Questions Meme

A quiet weekend. Yes. And after  a week of being sick, it's wonderful to be back in the gym and walking about again. And I've got to see the cat. That was great too.
So now to do my final tutorial paper for the this subject and get my blog done.
So let's get this meme started.  Questions, as aways, brought to you by Sunday Stealing.

1. What was the last clothing item that you bought? 

A wrap dress off eBay. It's nice but just a bit small., but give a few weeks of weight loss.

 2. If you could stay one age forever, what age would you choose? 

35. I started to get my crap together at 35.

3. When you say “lol”, are you really laughing? 

Occasionally. I've normally done a spit take or I'm showing some amusement.

4. What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in the past year? 

Started my Masters in Writing. It's interesting for me, probably boring for everybody else.

5. If you started a business, what would it be? 

I have a CV and job hunting website. But I'd probably go freelance writing if I was to do anything on my own.

6. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog? 

My friends do. I tend not to talk much about my blog at work. I don't talk much about my

7. How long does it take you to write an average blog post? 

Half an hour to an hour. Max.

8. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow? 

I have a blog roll - and occasionally tap in to a few of my favourites.

9. What is your bedtime? 

Normally between 11 pm and midnight.

10. Introvert or extrovert? 

Highly introverted.

11. What is your biggest wish? 

That my 15 year old niece didn't have leukaemia.

12. What is the best job you ever had?

I had a great job at a telecommunications company doing all sorts of things. Great people, got me on the road to where I am now.

13. Dog person/cat person/both/neither? 

Both. Though known a the mad cat lady, I'm an animal lover. Would love to have two cats and two dogs one day.

14. If you had $1,000 to spend any way you wanted, what would you do with it? 

Airline ticket somewhere - actually looking at doing this next week. Yay.

15. How do you “dress” your toast? 

If at home, butter and lime marmalade.

16. How do you feel about snow? 

Love it, but I never see it as I live in Melbourne, Australia. Used to love it when it came in London.

17. What was the worst job you ever had? 

Another telecommunications job, with a bullying boss. Just awful, Lasted seven weeks.

18. What song can you not stop listening to? 

Rodriguez's "Most Disgusting Song". Love it. Actually, just love Rodriguez. And the song isn't that disgusting.

19. Love your name or hate it? 

Indifferent. I've grown into it.

20. How did you choose your blog/twitter handle?

I seemed like a good idea at the time some ten years ago. I've been working under this name for years.

The Random Meme

Yay, I got this done early.

Questions, as always, come from Sunday Stealing.

1. If you were to go to a costume party tonight, what or whom would you go as?

I've seen this done before at a Shakespeare party. I'd go and find a big branch, like the ones sitting outside my place at the moment (they did some trimming in the week) and go as Burnham Wood from Macbeth.

2. What are your choice of toppings on a hamburger?

My normal order at Hungry Jacks (Burger King) is a Whopper with Cheese, heavy pickles. Love pickles.

3. You are chosen to have lunch with the President on the condition that you only get to ask one question. What is that question?

As an Australian, we don't have a President. We have a Prime Minister. If I got the chance to ask anything of our current Prime Minister it would be along the lines of "Why are you such an incompetent, ideological arsehole?" or "When are you going to fuck off out of office and let somebody competent be in charge?"

4. It's your first day of vacation. What are you doing?

Sleeping.

5. What is your concession stand must have at the movies?

I can't see a film without a choc top - an Australian institution of an ice cream cone with chocolate on top. If I'm at a mainstream movie theatre I will have a boysenberry choc top. If I'm at an independent cinema, I like to try the more exotic ones - like last night I had a Coffee and toasted almond choc top. Wonderful.

6. What do you like least? Pop up ads or email spam?

Pop up adds - hate them. At least spam doesn't get in the way of your reading and it's easily deleted.

7. What do you think Captain Hook's name was before he had a hook for a hand?

Either Darren or Dwayne. He seems like a Darren or a Dwayne. Inferiority complex.

8. Rock, paper or scissors.

I go for rock in the first instance.

9. Say a brick falls on your foot and there is a young child nearby when it happens. Whah is your cleaned up expletive of choice.

Firetruck! Or maybe Sugar....

10. What is worse? Being in a place that's too loud, or too quiet?

Too loud. I'm an introvert - there is no such thing as too quiet.

11. What is one quality that you appreciate in a person?

A sense of humour that doesn't grate on me.

12. In an old fashioned lolly shop, what type of sweet would you expect in a big jar behind the counter.

Notice I've Australianised this question. I'd go peppermint humbugs. They remind me of my grandpa. 

13. What is the most distinguishing landmark in your city?

Probably Flinders Street Station.

14. Everybody hears discussions they find boring. What topics put you to sleep quicker than any other?

Umm, tennis. Followed by anything to do with renovating. No interest.

15. How many times did it take you to pass your driver's test?

One on the written, two on the practical - though I had to turn up at the police station three times - the second time I went to Yankalilla police station they were too busy to see me - somebody had stolen a plough.

16. If you were to have the same topping on top of vanilla ice cream for the rest of your life, what would that be?

Crushed up almond toffee.

17. What food should be removed from the markets to ensure you life a healthier and longer life?

Donuts. Any kind of donut. Donuts are addictive.

18. You are offered and envelope which you know contains $50. You are told you can either keep the envelope or exchange it for an envelope that may contain $500. What do you do?

Go for the other envelope - you never know your luck.

19. What would you give up? Cable TV or ASDL Internet?

As I'm Australian and pipe half my television through my ADSL connection I'd say I can happily live without cable. Profits only go to Rupert Murdoch anyway, and I want none of that.

20. What is your highest level of education?

I've started a Masters in Writing, but I have completed a Bachelors Degree.

21. How much is a gallon of gas in your city? What is the highest it's been?

Okay, I'm Australian and like most of the rest of the world we're metric. A litre of petrol was $1.40 on Saturday. I've seen it as high as $1.70 but that was years ago. Then again, a few months ago it was $1.15... So lets do the maths. 3.8 litres to a gallon, times by $1.40, times by the exchange rate (80 US cents to an Australian Dollar) makes it US $4.20 a gallon. Not sure if that is expensive or not...

22. What kind of lunchbox did you have as a kid?

Tupperware - like most kids of the seventies.

23. What would you rather have? A cook, a housekeeper, a nanny or a chauffeur?

A housekeeper. The place might stay cleaner. No need for any of the others. 

24. Would you rather be stuck in a lift or stuck in traffic.

Traffic. I'm claustrophobic, at least in traffic you can get out if you really have to.

The Caps Lock Meme

I'm just back from Adelaide where I've spent the weekend with my family. My niece, Lolly, has leukaemia and I'll be making an effort to go back every couple of months from now on. We're hoping for the best, but I have to say, childhood cancers are FUCKED. I can't think of another word for it. You wouldn't wish the treatment on your worst enemy. However, my stoic, plucky niece, who's been going through the wars, is doing as well as she can, and it was great to see her, my sister and the rest of my family.

For Mother's Day I made sure my mum's dishes were done before I left her place (she left on holiday at 6 am - didn't get to see her)

Anyway, here's this weeks meme, questions courtesy of Sunday Stealing.


1. YOU HAVE 10 BUCKS AND NEED TO BUY SNACKS AT A GAS STATION. WHAT DO YOU GET?

Banana custard donuts - every time. Sometimes chips, but if the Coles Express has them, banana custard donuts. The fresher the better.

2. IF YOU WERE REINCARNATED, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE?

A very well loved and pampered cat.

3. WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE REDHEAD?

Me. Though Jessica Rabbit comes a close second.

4. WHAT DO YOU ORDER WHEN YOU’RE AT AN I.H.O.P. OR BREAKFAST PLACE?

No idea what and IHOP is, but my Sunday morning breakfast after pump is an omelette with mushrooms, broccolini, caramelised onions and chilli jam with sourdough toast. It's called Eggs Herbivore. Yum.

5. LAST BOOK YOU READ?

The last book I finished was "Elizabeth is Missing" by Emma Healey. I'm currently reading JK Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy" again as we're doing it for book group next week.

6. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

At the cinema, I saw "Boychoir" on Friday night - and I loved it.

My sister and I watched Pitch Perfect before I went to the airport this afternoon.

7. DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF UNDERWEAR.

I have a new bra, that is comfortable, holds me in, pushes up the puppies and looks great. This is a bit of a mythical bra - comfortable is good.

8. DESCRIBE THE LAST TIME YOU WERE INJURED.

Burned my thumb on the iron the other day. And my left shoulder still isn't quite right.

9. IF YOU COULD INVENT ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

A fail safe and non-invasive cure for leukaemia. I so wish I could do that.

10. ROCK CONCERT OR SYMPHONY?

Symphony.

11. WHAT IS THE WALLPAPER ON YOUR CELLPHONE?

This.

Taken along the Great Ocean Road at twilight a few years ago.

12. FAVORITE SODA?

Slimline tonic. And passiona on the rare occasion when I can find it. I miss Tresca from my childhood too.

13. FLAVOR OF PUDDING?

Okay, I don't think pudding in Australia is the same as pudding in the US. I love self-saucing lemon delicious pudding. If only I knew how to make it.

14. WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A PEDICURE OR A MANICURE?

I have both regularly, but I'd go pedicure - love having my feet played with.

15. ANY BUTTONS OR BLINKIES IN YOUR SIDEBAR?

No.

16. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON YOUR BLOGROLL?

Five or six. I don't do much blog maintenance.

17. WHAT’S THE LAST PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU BOUGHT?

Aforesaid mythical bra from question 7. Seriously, when you're a 38DD - comfy bras are hard to find.

The Anyday Meme

The Units, Chance and Lance turned five yesterday, so it's off to see Shaun the Sheep movie for their birthday - along  with a couple of their friends. The birthday cakes are made, complete with smarties and a car on top. I've also got to get my tute papers done for the week and try to get my final paper underway. It's due in on Monday - argh.

Questions, as always, are from Sunday Stealing - however, they're really not up to scratch this week.


1. What is your dream career, and what path do you plan to take to get there? 

I want to be a writer, not just a technical writer. I've started a Masters in Writing to help get me there.

 2. Who do you aspire most to be like? 

I aspire to always be me and only me. That will do. No point being somebody else.

 3. What do you like in a best friend? 

Laughter, loyalty and kindness. With those three things you can get a long way.

4. Do you currently have any squishes (people you really want to be best friends with)? 

Who wrote these questions? A 15 year old. Next.

5. What is your ideal platonic relationship? 

Oh, for pity's sake. Friendship is friendship. They're all different and special. Next.

6. Best late night IM/phone conversation story. 

None that I'm able to share. I stopped doing that a few years ago as it was too destructive.

7. List one person you’d like to wear the sweater of, one person you’d like to bake cookies with, and one person you’d like to drive around and get lost with. (can be celebrities or fictional characters, has to be three different people and not all the same person) 

Another question for a 15 year old. I do all this stuff with my friend, though I'd like to drive around with Clive Owen.

8. Describe your current best friend(s). 

Wonderful. Mad. Generous. Irish.

9. What is a strange, little-known fact about you? 

I sucked my thumb until I was 33.

10. What is a career you wanted to have when you were younger, and still kind of want to have now? 

I still think being a doctor or an astronaut would be pretty cool.

11. If you could have tea and pleasant conversation with one person, who would it be? 

I don't really like pleasant conversation. The only person I ever had tea and pleasant conversation with way my grandmother but that never lasted long. We were at each other after about ten minutes.

12. If you had a time machine, what era would you go to? 

I reckon the early 1920s could be fun, especially if I had money, and lived in England.

13. What celebrity or historical figure would you love to have as your best friend and why? 

What is the effing best friend thing. Seriously, friends are friends.

14. What fictional character would you love to have as your best friend and why? 

Amy from Gone Girl so she could mess with the author of these questions.

15. If you could have one wish, what would it be (cannot be related to romance or sex)? 

Australia had a better, more visionary, Federal Government and Tony Abbott was hit by a truck.

16. If you were trapped on a deserted island and could only take one item, what would it be? 

A kindle with every Booker Longlisted book loaded on it.

17. If you could pick one career other than the one you are pursuing/plan to pursue, what would it be? 

Doctor

18. What is your best memory you have with a friend? 

Too many to list.

19. Do you have any peculiar interests that most people don’t know about? 

I'm a freemason. And I knit.

20. What were your favorite childhood toys? Do you still have them?

The teddy my grandfather gave me when I was 2 days old still sits in my cupboard. 

21. Favorite baked good? 

Struedel Buns - only available in Adelaide, but they're AMAZING. Coffee Eclairs in other states.

22. If your best friend were here right now, what would you do with them (cannot list best friend as your romantic/sexual partner) ? 

I've just been to my best friend's five-year-olds' birthday party. it was great. If she were here now we'd be watching telly and having a cup of tea.

23. Who would you love to play video games with? 

I've never been into video games.

24. If you could visit any country, which one would it be? 

I'd love to go to Peru and go and see Macchu Picchu.

25. Are there any friends you miss having around?

Yes, a lot of them. Reindert and Lachlan in particular.