Renlish

A bit of Sunday Stealing since I have the time and the inclination this week.

1. Are you in a job that you truly enjoy?
Fuck no. I hate my job. With an absolute passion. I’ve hated it since I started it in 2006. I hated it up until I got promoted 18 months ago. Fucking LOATHE it now.

2. If you could do any job in the world what would it be?
I think if I could find some way to be creative at my own leisure – do the occasional photoshoot, some digital art, make-up artist work, or writing all on a freelance basis… I think that would be rather cool. I think that could possibly make me happy. I know I could probably do all that too, but I have never been one to be able to put myself out there. I am a shy, wilting flower.

3. If you could be a character in a novel who would you be?
That’s an interesting one as I don’t think I would like to be any characters of any of the books I’ve read. I mean… Hunger Games? I’m not at all competitive – or into blood sport – so being Katniss would be a problem. Could I be Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars? Eh, cancer doesn’t really float my boat. Could I be any of the plethora of real life women that Philippa Gregory has written about? No, I think I’ll leave those lovely, strong ladies well enough alone too because seriously? Who needs a husband that wants to chop off your head?

Actually, on second thought… being Mercy Thompson would be freakin’ cool… bestiality issues aside, of course. She’s sexy.

4. When it comes to spending time with those you love, do you think it should be about quality or quantity?
Definitely quality over quantity. I know that I can only stand being in my sister’s presence in short doses before we try to kill each other… even though I’m in my thirties and she’s 28, we’re still never far from slapping each other stupid.

5. Is there a job/career you wanted but realized you couldn’t possibly do for one reason or another?
I wanted to be a vet… but then it was pointed out that I would try to bring all my patients home with me (I am a bleeding heart). I also wanted to be a paleontologist (you know, dinosaur-bone-digger-upperer) but it was pointed out to me that you sortakinda have to be smart to do that sort of stuff. Similarly was my slightly less lofty goal of becoming a speech pathologist… I needed a TER score of 88.9 to get into the ONE university that offered that course. I got 36.4. ‘Nuff said, really.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world or out of this world where would you live?
Scotland.

7. Where would you most like to visit and who with?
I really want to visit Luxemburg. It’s a tiny blink-and-you’ll-miss-it country but some of the pictures I’ve seen and articles I’ve read about the place really piqued my interest. I’d love to visit the place for myself. I’d probably go with mum as she is like me and loves to wander (though significantly slower than myself) and enjoys history as much as myself. We’d go searching out old things with interesting stories.

8. Which skill would you like to learn?
Deepthroating.

What? Don’t look at me like that.

9. What made you laugh today?
My dog who has decided that I am for sitting on if I sit on the ground.

10. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
Another day off! It’s Moomba Day! (aka Labor Day.) A public holiday.

11. What is your sign and do you believe in horoscopes etc?
I’m a sagittarius. But to be honest I don’t think I believe in horoscopes… which is amusing because I believe in stuff like Tarot and clairvoyance.

12. If you could change one thing about your life thus far, what would it be?
I would have battled through my issues instead of hiding behind a mountain of food and pain.

13. If there was one charity you could give a huge contribution to, which charity would it be and why?
Something to do with animals. They have no rights.

14. Should smoking be legal?
No, it really shouldn’t be. Smokers drain our healthcare resources when they INEVITABLY get sick with some wasting disease.

15. What are your views on the smoking ban in public places?
I would love it, personally. I’m asthmatic. That shit in my lungs, plus all the regular shit in them can kill me. I am tired of holding my breath to walk up the street to get my lunch.

PS – I used to smoke.

16. Why do you blog?
It’s cathartic. And I enjoy it. Sometimes I even have something worth saying.

17. Do you have a favorite author?
See #3.

18. Can you play any musical instruments?
There is no musical talent in my body. At all.

19. What would your ideal car be?
Bugatti Veyron.

20. Describe yourself in one short sentence.
Learning to live.

21. What do you look for in a spouse/other half?
Kind, patient, gives good hugs, not a know-it-all. I got three out of four.

22. Worst meal you’ve had?
Anything from La Porchetta. Fucking awful place.

23. What do you do to relax in the evening?
I jump online and watch Youtube videos all night.

24. Do you get along with your siblings?
See #4.

25. Do you have any regrets?
Lots. I regret waiting until I was 32 to do something about my weight. I regret that I missed out on my teens and 20s. I regret not travelling more. I regret the bad things I said to my mum. I regret not facing my issues with my father. I regret not finishing university…. I regret treating some people as badly I did because karma is a bitch and it all came back to me eventually.

Ugh. It’s the day after my sister’s wedding. I am KNACKERED.

But the, I was the matron of honour so… I suppose I’m supposed to be knackered after looking after everyone all day. I’ll post up pictures soonish.

Anyway, Sunday Stealing for today….

76) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?
Communication, communication, communication. People don’t talk to each other enough. Sure, they connect, they say things but no one takes the time to really speak and more often than not, they don’t take the time to listen. Two-way street.

77) How did/could someone win your heart?
Prosciutto. ‘Nuff said.

78) In your world, what brings on more creativity?
Music tends to do it for me… or movies that I watch… or conversations with friends…

79) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?
Losing weight. Hands down. Sure, it’s brought it’s own problems (like my back and hips being royally fucked) but at least my chances of getting diabetes or having a heart attack have been significantly reduced. Plus I can wear purdy clothes.

80) Why did you break up with your last ex?
He was married and I didn’t know.

81) What would you want to be written on your tombstone?
“She died happy.”

82) What is your favorite word?
Quidnunc

83) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: delusional.
My husband. lol

84) What is a saying you use a lot?
“Fair enough.” It’s basically a statement I use when I cannot be bothered with a conversation any more. Usually to head off arguments where I know I am right but the other person will not shut up about whatever we’re about to argue over. I prefer to just know that I am right and let them think they are. Mind you, I also say this when I am truly enlightened about something or someone has made a statement there really is no reply to.

85) Are you watching Idol this season? If yes, how do you like it?
It’s not on in Australia anymore. Plus I like watching So You Think You Can Dance much more… those are people with ACTUAL TALENT.

86) Were you surprised that House got canceled?
Wait… WHAT?!?!?!?!

87) What is your current desktop picture?
Um…. This one….

88) If you could press a button and make anyone in the world instantaneously explode, who would it be?
Mass murderers and child abusers. All of them.

89) What would be a question where you’d not tell the truth?
I’m not writing it here.

90) One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by WEEPING ANGELS. The Weeping Angles aren’t really doing anything, they’re just standing around your bed. What would you do?
Um, tell ‘em to fuck off and let me go back to sleep.

91) You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power?
Fart in colours.

92) You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?
I don’t want to relive any of it.

93) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?
It’s not worth mentioning here.

94) You have the opportunity to sleep with the music-celebrity of your choice. (let’s say that you are both single and available) Who might it be?
*sigh* Ray Stevenson, for reasons I’ve already stated.

95) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?
SCOTLAND.

96) Do you have any relatives or friends in jail?
Nope.

97) Who’s winning the U.S. Republican presidential nomination? Why?
I don’t care. I’m in Australia.

98) Who’s winning the next U.S. Presidential election?
Apparently not Obama…

99) If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say?
Go away. lol

(Continued)

I am Sunday Stealing in bed… Love the fact that they have the questions up in time for the Australian Sunday morning.

21. Did you go to your high school prom?

We don’t really have proms here. They’re called formals.  There’s no stigma attached to the Australian high school formal.  We don’t have kings and queens of the formal.  They’re generally held at restaurants or function venues rather than highschool gyms (or am I thinking too much of Grease, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight?) Girls also don’t have to give up their virginity on this most sacred of high school events.

But in answer to the question; yep, I did go to my high school formal.  It was a quiet affair – I can’t even remember where it was held, really.  Some friends and I got together and pooled for a limo and we ended up in this dodgy old thing where the driver really just wanted us out of his car but grumpily drove us around for about 30 minutes because we thought it was the coolest thing ever to be in a limo.  I was dressed in a beautiful black, shimmery, long-line pencil skirt and matching blazer with a white chemise underneath. I was plain against some of the other girls who had the whole miniature bridesmaid thing going in their orange taffeta, but I looked decent enough to be there.

No, I did not have a date.

22. Perfect time to wake up?

8.30am.  Just enough time to enjoy another hour to wake up properly, clear the cobwebs and then get up, but not enough to feel like you’ve wasted the half of the day. Unfortunately, six days out of seven I need to be up at 6am. UNFAIR.

23. Perfect time to go to bed?

For me, probably about 10pm is the perfect time. But I’m usually still awake and doing stuff at midnight, 1am, 2am….

24. Do you use your queen right away in chess?

I don’t play chess.  It’s too hard a game for my noggin to get itself around.

25. Ever been in a car accident?

A couple. The worst being during the long, six-hour drive out to Mildura to see my then-3-days-old cousin.  Mum was driving, my sister was in the car as well.  A tyre burst. Mum lost control of the car and we ended up hitting the ditch on the other side of the highway and flipping over onto the roof.  Was not fun.  I copped a mild concussion from my forehead hitting the windscreen though my sister copped the worst of the injuries in the back. She was badly bruised as the back seat collapsed in on her.

The things I remember about that day;

1 – Every single male who stopped to check that we were ok said “Oh, you’ve had an accident!”  Um, NO SHIT, SHERLOCK. My mother just thought she’d tip her car over in a ditch for fun and I’ve got this massive lump on my head to improve my stunning good looks.  The females were moderately more helpful, offering barley sugar to help with the shock and making sure my mum was ok too.

2 – A nearby farmer and owner of the Calgoa pub came to pick us up and take us back to his place. Props to him, he helped arrange towing, fed us at the pub, let us watch TV and otherwise calm down.

3 – The mouse plague. Melbourne reckons it had a mouse plague last year. HAH!  It was nothing like the plague of 1993.  I remember my aunt who drove all the way to Calgoa (four hours) to pick us up to take us the rest of the way to Melbourne holding her breath as we drove along the dark highway, crunching over thousands of mice…

26. Closer to mom or dad…or neither?

Definitely mum. For obvious reasons.

27. What age is this exciting life over for you?

I don’t understand the question. It’ll be over when I’m dead, and not before.

28. What decade during the 20th century would you have chosen to be a teenager?

I actually like the era I was born in.  As a woman, I didn’t have to face any of the difficulties that my parents and grandparents had to deal with.  War, immigration, women’s rights… the good fight was fought for me.  I used to harbour some romantic notion that I wanted to be born in the medieval times, though I kinda like having all my teeth and like the idea of not dying in childbirth.  Similarly, the Edwardian era would have been way too stifling for someone such as myself. And knowing my luck, I would have been born into service and I HATE housework.

29. Favorite shoes you have EVER owned?

They’re a pair of no-particular-brand black shoes with a 2″ thick heal and pleated uppers. They look great with jeans and were comfortable from the first night I put them on. I was lucky enough to find another pair and snaffled them up for when I have worn my current ones to death.

30. Do you have an article of clothing you have had since you were in high school?

Well, I do have my summer uniform still.  It’s wrapped up in plastic in a box somewhere.  I was keeping it because it had been signed by all of my friends (we all did that, even though it was against the rules) but since I am no longer friends with those people, I guess I should find the stupid thing and throw it away.

31. Were you in track and field?

Ha.  Hahaha.  HAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAAAAAAA!

No.

32. Were you ever in a school talent show?

Nah. I have no talent.  I don’t think blowjobs would have been an acceptable talent back at a Catholic girls college talent show, anyway.

33. Have you ever written in a library book?

Yep. In pen too, I R A REBEL!

34. Allergic to?

Dog hair, cat hair.  They make me sneeze… but I love my babies and would never get rid of them because of a few wheezy morning sniffles.  Horses I am allergic to in a bad way. My face and hands swell up and I can’t breathe.

35. Favorite fruit?

I love most fruit.  I’d have to say my favourite staple fruit is a Pink Lady apple. Sharp and sweet and crunchy.  My favourite summertime fruits are apricots and berries.

Eh… For some reason I thought today was Saturday and that I still had a couple days of my holiday left. Turns out that tonight is the last night that I can stay up until all hours.  Not happy, Jan!

Anyway, 2011 redux in Sunday Stealing…

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Met some new people, on my own, without any handholding from the manbeast.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My one resolution from last year was to at least make an effort in losing some weight and hopefully lose about 10kg.  Well, 33kg later, I think I can say I kept that particular resolution, and thumped it into next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No one close to me, though a work colleague had a little girl and an old blogpal, Trish, had her first little kidlett. He’s very cute too.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not that I am aware of.

5. What countries did you visit?

Sadly, I stayed local. I would have liked to have gone on a few trips through.  I did manage to get over to WA for a couple weeks. The manbeast and the in-laws and I drove down south to Denmark (that’s Denmark, Western Australia) to celebrate the father in-law’s 70th birthday. It was quite an event and a lovely, lovely break.  Even if the getting there was one of the most frustrating parts.  Actually, travelling anywhere with the in-laws is mindnumblingly frustrating.  They go so slow!

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Money.  Time off.  I guess I am going to get the latter come July 6 when I am made redundant from my job!

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

None. There was nothing special about 2011.  Maybe Feb 19, when I bought home my puppy. That was a good day.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Not committing murder.  Or suicide.

Actually, being serious, losing the weight I’ve lost so far. I am super proud of myself.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not committing murder. There are people in my life who need to die.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

At the moment, my favourite thing to wear is a shirt I got from City Chic. Beautiful drapey sleeves with bejewelled rose patterns on it. It cuddles my ample figure in all the right places and in all the right ways.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Um…

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?

A couple of friends of mine in a situation where I tried very, very hard not to make any judgements.  I failed. Judgements have been made. We’ll leave it at that.

13. What song will always remind you of 2011?

I really don’t listen to a lot of music that’s relevant.  Most of my stuff is old.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Taking photographs.
Pursuing graphic design work much harder than I did.  (None, actually and probably put off those who were wanting stuff.)
Working out instead of making excuses to lay about and eat.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Geting sick less would have been FABULOUS.  Sigh.

16. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes.  With my puppy.

17. What was your favorite new TV program?

Haha…um. A new guilty pleasure.  Ghost Adventures.  Love it.  Zack Bagans is so darn cute.

18. What was the best book you read?

I’d have to say The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.  For a young adult series, it was extremely fast paced and intense. A lot of people have complained that Katniss changed from being really strong in the first book  to being a whiny idiot in the second and third.  I disagree. Put it this way, if you’d been put into an arena knowing that only one person would make it out, watched all your friends and acquaintances perish in nasty and horrible ways yet somehow managed to survive only to be shoved back into that environment to do it all over again… yeah, I’d be a bit broken too.

19. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?

Telling the Stygian Witches they could go fuck themselves.  But I can’t do that until July this year. *sigh*

20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

LMAO. Getting thinner and sexier.

21. What kept you sane?

The company of a much adored new friend.

22. Who did you miss?

My grandfather.  It’s weird, because the guy has been residing under a rose bush in the local cemetery for the past 14 years but in many ways he was the glue that held the family together. Even though he didn’t really get on with his daughters all that well and he divorced my grandmother long before I was even a thought in my mothers head or a twinkle in my dad’s eye, he was always considered the head of the family.  In a year where my family has been going through some relatively tough times, I’ve really missed the way he could take the mickey out of anyone and make them laugh at themselves.  Me especially. I used to love he would mercilessly tease my grandmother until she was in a rage – she never caught on that if she gave as good as she got, she would have earned his respect, even if they were divorced.

23. Who was the best new person you met?

I’ve met a handful of people, both in person and online who have been inspirational and a damned lot of fun. They know why they are. I appreciate them every day.

24. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2011?

I’m sexy and I know it…. *wigglewigglewiggle*

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“I’m not in love.”