The Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter Meme

Have just had a most pleasant weekend. Spent the day up in Bendigo at the Marilyn Monroe exhibition. It was excellent.

And now, after making myself a chicken tagine for lunch for the week and preparing for the week ahead here I am getting this done. It was late last week.

So here we go. Questions, as always, from Sunday Stealing. 

When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

About six months ago. I wrote to my 89 year old aunt. She doesn't have the internet.

Can you change the oil on a car?

No. That's what mechanics are for - but I can check the oil, water and tyre pressure and I can change a tyre.

Ever gotten a speeding ticket?

Only one. Caught by a red light camera on the way to a friend's kid's party. One point and a $150 fine.

Run out of gas?

Nope, too anal for that. Come close once or twice.

Favorite kind of sandwich?

I'm a sucker for a decent Rueben, but I had a toasted chicken waldorf sandwich at the Bendigo Art Gallery and it was divine!

Best thing to eat for breakfast?

Eggs are great. Porridge isn't bad either.

What is your usual bedtime?

Somewhere around 11 pm.

Are you lazy?

Sometimes. It's not something I'm accused of that often. Lazier on the weekends.

When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?

I'm Australian. We don't do Halloween.

Do you have any magazine subscriptions?

Yes. I subscribe to The Age (the local paper) as well as a moderate/balanced political rag called The Monthly.

Which are better, legos or lincoln logs?

Lego. No idea what Lincoln Logs are.

Are you stubborn?

I can be. Try hard not to be.

Who is better…Leno or Letterman?

I don't watch either - haven't both of them retired? Rather fold of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. James Corden is okay too.

Ever watch soap operas?

Not any more. I used to love Days of Our Lives - it's not on telly here any more.

Afraid of heights?

A little bit. Medium heights more than big heights. I have no problem looking over a balcony, but I'm not fond of going up ladders.

Sing in the car?

Regularly, often and loudly.

Dance in the shower?

No, but I do sing in the shower.

Dance in the car?

Sometimes.

Ever used a gun?

Many years ago on a farm. Never shot anything more than a tin can.

Do you think musicals are cheesy?

Mostly, though the edgy ones are good. Rocky Horror, Chicago, Hairspray are good. And Matilda. Matilda is excellent!

Is Christmas stressful?

Yes. So stressful I think I might be going to Tasmania this Christmas.

Ever eat a pierogi?

No, but I have eaten many pasties. Very similar I'm told.

Major annoyance right now?

The Federal Government. They're crap. In election cycle they're even worse.

Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

Doctor, writer, astronaut, vet. I'm a writer now. Still think I wouldn't make a too bad a doctor.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes. Seen one. Felt one. Used to live on a house that had one. They're fine. She was a nice ghost.

The Ask Questions Meme

Better late than never - had a lovely relaxing weekend and this completely slipped my mind.

Questions, as always, by Sunday Stealing and thank goodness they're better than last weeks.

1. What type of criminal would you be?

Probably a bad one - that or a white collar criminal. Not into doing violent things.





2. What are you listening to right now?

Ambient noise and the sound of my keyboard.



3. If you had to choose a stripper name, what would it be?

Isn't it your first pet's name and the street you grew up on - that would make me Soxy Mitchell or Mystery Blockers - both great stripper names.

4. If your phone started ringing, who would you hope is calling? 

The man from the lottery commission telling me I'd won lots of money.

5. Do you drink alcohol?

Yes, but not very much, not to excess and not very often - a glass or two a week - that's it.

6. Do you smoke?

Gave up about ten years ago. A very good move. Besides, with cigarettes now coming in at $30 a packet, why would you?

7. What is the first thing you notice in someone?

Their smile and how they approach you.



8. Do you get attached easily?

 I try not to, but sometimes you can't help it.

9. Do you like your eye color?

 Yes. They're a dark green. I do like them.

10. Have any stupid human tricks?

 I can recite Jabberwocky after a few drinks.

11. Humor me. What physical ideal do you imagine in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner?

 Long and lanky with smooth skin and a hairy chest.

12. Any other essential quirks/interests/other you look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner?

 Intellingence, kindness and a sense of humour are essential. Left leaning tendencies are also a good thing.
  13. Have you ever stolen anything? 

 Nothing more than the odd pen from the stationery cupboard at work.
  14. Any romantic gestures you really like?

 What is a romantic gesture. Can't remember what they are.

15. What’s your favorite color and why?

 Pillarbox red. I am wearing a top of that colour today.

16. What were you like when you were a kid?

 Odd. Chubby. Nerdy. Attention seeking. Bookish.

17. What would your dream house be like?

 I'd love a terrace house in East Melbourne with a courtyard. Big lotto win needed for that.

18. What last made you laugh?

 I watched Florence Foster Jenkins on the weekend - that was very funny in places.

19. Do you have a place you like to go to collect your thoughts?

 I go walking. That sorts that all out.

20. What is your favorite word?

 Serendipity. I love how it rolls of the tongue. Mellifluous is pretty good too.

21. What is your least favorite word?

I HATE with a passion the word AWESOME. It grates like no other. One of the most overused words on the planet.
  22. Would you go bungee jumping/sky diving if given the chance?

 Hell yeah - especially a tandem jump. Something I'd love to do.



23. Do you have any siblings?

 One sister. Three and a half years younger.
  24. Do you like to dance?

 Only in the kitchen or around the living room. I look like a fridge when I dance.


25. What is your definition of cheating?

I really can't say, though I think its cheating when emotions become heavily involved.

The Doodley Do Meme

Another weekend. The papers are in. Two more tute papers to do and that's half my Masters done.

As I'm exhausted, get the blog out of the way so I can go see the Maow Maow. I've missed him over the last few weeks.

Questions, as always, from Sunday Stealing.


Do you keep notes, drawings or letters that people give you? 

Sometimes. Depends on what it is.

How many true best friends are present in your life? 

Quite a few. I don't see lots of them for years on end but I have a few. I'd say there are five or six of them.

Do you currently have a significant other? 

No. Unless you count Maow Maow.

Would you be able to stand being in the same room as someone you hate? 

No. I'd get out of there pronto to save face.

Do you depend on people at all, in any way? 

I try very hard not to.

Have you ever lost a close friend? 

Yes. I don't want to talk about it.

Has anybody ever held a grudge against you for a dumb reason? 

Probably. These are dreadful questions this week.

Have you ever stayed up late talking to someone you like on the phone or online? 

Regularly.

Have you ever felt backstabbed by a close friend? 

Yes. Don't want to talk about that either.

Have you ever regretted ignoring anybody? 

No. I try not to ignore people. It's easier to say no to people and get it over and done with.

Has a friend of yours ever confessed their love to you? 

Yes. Not talking about that either.

Have you written or drawn anything for somebody else? 

I write a lot for people.

Do you tend to hide your emotions from certain people? How do you hide them? 

I hide my emotions all the time. Their nobody else's business but mine.

Do your friends know how to make you smile in tough times?

Some of them do. Give me a cat to cuddle or a dog to talk to and I'm normally good to go.

Could you picture yourself on a reality TV show?

Hell no.

 Are you better at drawing or coloring?

Colouring. I'm not good at drawing.

Do you prefer meat or seafood?

Seafood. Love anything to do with seafood.

Have you ever read the Bill of Rights / Declaration of Independence? 

I'm Australian - we don't have a bill of rights (though some would argue that we need one)

Would you rather become a police officer or a firefighter? 

Probably a police officer - I'm not good with fire.

The Monsters in the Closet Meme

Okay, so here's the rub. I've been stuck at home for the last four days with a bloody Frankencold. Most people get head colds. I end up having to spend a few days in bed because I get a cold and every horrible symptom is thrown at me. Thankfully the fever broke last night and I'm starting to feel normal again. I have to thank Jonella, who popped in yesterday with chicken soup, lemonade and ventolin during the day. That helped a lot.

Adding to the joys of being ill, my uni papers are due tomorrow - aqnd I am hating every word I've written at the moment. Too late to do anything about it now other than pick out typos and hope for the best - and I know that it's not that bad what's written - ah the joy of being a writer.

Anyways, here's this week's meme, courtesy of Sunday Stealing.


Do you usually sleep with your closet door open or closed?

Normally closed - only because if I don't shut it, I run into it in the middle of the night.

Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels?

Of course - particularly if I'm staying at a better hotel. Love the toiletries at The Westin in Sydney.

Have you ever ‘done it’ in a hotel room?

Hell, yeah.

Where is your next vacation?

I don't know yet. I have a feeling I'll be either off to New Zealand or Bali for a few days in the next few months.

Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

Not since my university days.

Who do you think reads these?

I really don't know.

Do you have a calendar in your room?

No - but I do have one in the kitchen.

Where are you?

At home, at my desk.

What’s your plan for the day?

Feel better, finish my papers, finish my book, start cleaning the flat.

Are you reading any books right now?

I'm finishing off Kathleen Grissom's "The Kitchen House". It's okay - I'm not overly sold on it.

Do you ever count your steps when you walk?

Sometimes - but that's why I keep a pedometer / fitbit on my wrist.

Have you ever peed in the woods?

Yes. I've lived in the country. That's what you do when you're caught short.

Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing?

All the time.

Do you chew your pens and pencils?

No, not any more. I used to when I was at school.

What is your “Song of the Week”?

I'm currently using Cab Calloway to drown out our less dreadful Prime Minister and his election announcement. It's working well.

Is it okay for guys to wear pink?

Of course.

Do you still watch cartoons?

Not really, unless you take into consideration kid's films and the occasional episode of Shaun the Sheep.

Whats your favorite love movie?

The Princess Bride. Peter Cook said so.

What do you drink with dinner?

Not normally. Will have a glass of wine with dinner when I'm out.

What do you dip Chicken Nuggets in?

I can't remember the last time I had chicken nuggets - probably barbeque sauce if I had them.

What is your favorite food/cuisine?

I love Malaysian food - unfortunately, Malaysian doesn't like me that much and I suffer for eating it.

What movies could you watch over and over and still love?

Bull Durham, The Princess Bride, The King's Speech, The Blue's Brothers, The Matrix, Three Colours: Blue... That will do for a start.

Last person you hugged/kissed?

I wanted to give Jonella a hug yesterday for bringing me over chicken soup yesterday. She wouldn't let me. She thought I had the plague.

Were you ever a boy/girl scout?

I was a brownie for about three months - then we moved to the country where they didn't have brownies.

Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

Gawd no - the world isn't ready for that sort of sight. Saying that, I have nothing against nudity and tastefully photographing people who are over  and have a few lumps and bumps. There should be move ovf it. Ban the airbrush.

The A-Z Meme

Busy day. Busy weekend. Children's parties and assignments - and lots of cake making.

Good cakes, eh (Batman and Spiderman themes at the parties)




A) What does the last text you sent say? And to whom?

To my friend saying that I will see her tomorrow night to pick up her cat.

B) What does the last text you received say? And from whom?

From my friend saying she was hitting the wall after a few long flights and she won't pick up the cat until tomorrow night.

C) What time do you wake up most mornings?

Somewhere around 6.30 am.

D) Are you afraid of walking alone at night?

Not really. Depends where I am, but if it's well lit, generally no.

E) What do you do to relax at the end of a stressful day?

Read, write, go see a movie, watch telly. Very fond of seeing a movie on Friday evenings.

F) Where did your last kiss take place and with whom?

Blarney gave me a kiss on the cheek on the way out tonight after helping with the party today.

G) Do/did you get into trouble a lot at school?

No, I was a goodie-goodie.

H) Do you enjoy your job? If unemployed, are you content being so?

For the most part, I like what I do.

I) Do you often pick up on double entendres and innuendos?

Unfortunately, yes.

J) Have you ever been offered drugs but declined?

I was offered drugs in Bali the time before last. I ran quickly in the other direction.

K) Have you ever met someone who has completely altered your way of thinking?

Yes. My therapists of the past have been great for that.

L) Have you ever been offered drugs and accepted?

Only from the doctor. Sorry, too many risks around recreational drugs.

M) Tell us something weird that turns you on.

Is chest hair considered weird in this world of man-scaping?

N) When did someone last admit romantic or sexual feelings for you? Was the feeling mutual?

Quite a while ago. It was mutual. Not saying anything more than that.

O) What is something you have given a lot of thought to lately?

The assignments which are due next Monday.

P) When did you last swallow your beliefs to avoid an argument or confrontation?

Last night. I have one friend who it's just better to nod and agree or else it ends in tears. Love him dearly, but we don't agree on a couple of things (politics). Easier to shut up.

Q) Do you usually initiate hugs?

Quite often. Sometimes not, but I like to hug.

R) Are you a very affectionate person?

Yes. Don't tell anybody.

S) Can you roll your own cigarettes?

No - and I don't smoke so this is a daft question.

T) What are you looking forward to?

Having these assignments finalised and over. I'm not a natural screenwriter.

U) Do you have any tattoos. Do you want any/more?

I have a very small Chinese symbol on my hip. I love it. Forget it's there most of the time.

V) Are you mentally strong?

I like to think so.

W) Are you physically strong?

As women go, yes, I'm strong. Stronger than a lot of men.

X) Do you think you’re a good person?

I like to think I am.

Y) Name one thing you wish you could change about your life right now.

It would be lovely to have a functional love life - and a bit more money in the bank. I can change the latter.

Z) What do you usually eat for breakfast?

At the moment, coffee and a protein shake is the way during the week. On weekends, its eggs.