Sunday 31 March 2013

Easter 2013



Feeling crappy, I wasn't going to bother with the bunnyprints this year, but I love my Nephew's face when he sees them so much that I couldn't resist. Silly bunny always seems to drop a few eggs hopping up the steps. 

And of course I wasn't going to miss out.
A little white chocolate for me.

Saturday 30 March 2013

My New Years resolution is still going strong

New Years Eve is the typical time when people put their resolutions for the new year on the cards, many of those re-use the same resolutions each year, including me.

Fact - Only around 12 per cent of people stick to their New Year's resolution

My New Years resolution for this year was to put an end to my swearing, cursing, profanity, whatever you want to call it. Being a person that thought nothing of throwing in the odd F-bomb every now and again, I was at the stage where I didn't even notice I was using them but I know I wasn't too bad. It's been a full 3 months in now and I must say, I think I've done really well! I can't recall uttering a single curse word, of course thinking them is a totally different story. Although, I haven't done anything really painful to myself or been caught out in a situation where swearing would commonly slip out.



This resolution resulted from 2 places. Watching Gordon Ramsey on one of his restaurant shows and listening to 2 women on a tram into the city one night. Now I'm not a prude, but it just gets to the point of being vulgar and seriously, is it really necessary? I had to turn Gordon off because it was off-putting, I wanted to see what the show was about, but he was just too much. And these 2 women on the tram, dressed to the perfection with full face done, hair perfect, looking gorgeous but then their mouths opened. Every second word was F-this and F-that, I started wondering if they spoke to their parents like that. What was wrong with these women that they couldn't control it on a busy tram surrounded by older people and young kids. I generally have no issue with people swearing, I don't get offended as I don't really care, but these 2 were horrible.
I really did think this resolution would be a difficult one for me to uphold, but I've surprised myself and  it's become natural. Give it another 3 months and I think I'll be cured from the 'swearing like a trucker' woman I was and I'll let swearing back into my vocabulary as long as it's in context.

Fact - Swearing is the verbal equivalent of attacking a punching bag to rid yourself of frustrations.

Friday 29 March 2013

Quick cure for Boredness

With being sick at the moment, I'm kinda achy and feeling blah, so spending a bit of time in bed. But when I'm not in rugged up in bed, I'm bored (get your mind outta the gutter).

So I've decided to take on a project. It's been a while since my last one, my Niece's cushion.

But that took months and I want something I can do  that will take a week max. I want some instant gratification. I've decided to take on dryer balls. With the wet weather now well and truly here, I imagine my dryer os going to be getting a workout, so timing is perfect. From what I hear these dryer balls make towels fluffier, cut down drying time, take out wrinkles, remove static and reduce pilling. So I've decided to give them a go.

I've got everything I need, according to craft websites. Wool yarn, stockings and time. Simple.

Wrapping the wool around and around and around, until I get something similar to the size of a tennis ball. Being so simple, I make 2 and that's it for now. Next time I do a load of washing, the balls will go into the machine and felt themselves. Of course they will shrink, but I think they're big enough, if not, I'll add some more yarn. And soon I'll have the fluffiest towels ever, perfect for when stepping out of a hot shower into a cool room.

Thursday 28 March 2013

SCV = Sexy Cold Voice

After feeling a bit off yesterday, it's confirmed today, I have a cold.
The only good thing about a cold is the Sexy Cold Voice.

Well good for most, I don't get the sexy cold voice, I just sound infectious.

And I'm not going to get my flower now. Living in St. Kilda, the local florist I was friends with, would always bring me a flower when I was ill, just to make me feel better. I'm gonna miss that man.

I shouldn't even be sick, I've been looking after myself better in the past month than I have for years.

Grrr, I hate colds.

Update

******
Well I was wrong, seems like this cheeky turtle has a dose of the flu.

Update on the Update

******************
Apparently cough mixture and a V drink don't mix well. There's a party in my head and I'm struggling to keep up.

It ain't easy being Green, not this day anyway.

Went on another meet today! Let's call this guy Green. He was working at a location nearby, so we organised to grab a coffee and a bite to eat, at a cafe near Blackburn Station I'd been to before (yes I don't drink coffee, but it's not about the coffee!). Simple introductions and it was obvious 'Green' was shy and uneasy and not that I mind that, believe it or not I'm shy, difference is I see shyness is a self imposed barrier we can all break through. As usual (only because silence is a meet-killer) I take the lead and start asking questions, usually about what they did last weekend and a bit about work, general stuff to get to know them a bit. 'Green' was very forthcoming with his answers and soon appeared to relax and settle, it doesn't take long. So I get around to asking about if he's met others from the site and how they've resulted, 'Green' says he's met a few and it's going well, he's not found the right woman yet but has made some female friends along the way. Great, good for him! Some more talking and I'm thinking this is the sort of guy I want to be socialising with. All of a sudden with a mouthful of food he gets this odd look on his face, I instantly think he's going to start choking. 'Green, how ya doing' gets said from somewhere and there's suddenly this man standing next to me, 'Green' starts coughing and this new guy introduces himself, and asks if I'm Green's new assistant. Of course as I don't know what this new guy knows about the 'Greens' online stuff so I casually say no, just a friend. So this new guy starts talking about how the kids went during the birthday on the weekend. I sit there thinking, maybe he has a kid or it's a Nephew, whatever... I don't mind. More talking, this new guy would talk the ears off a wooden buddha, he gets up casually states to 'Green' he should bring his Wife and kids over for a BBQ before the rain sets in for the year. Looking at me the new guy says "Greens' Wife makes the best meatballs'. Now you might be thinking OMG! What did she do! Did she turn him into meatballs!?!
Well... I waited until his friend grabbed his coffee and left. 'Green' started to say 'Sorry, I' and I cut him off. Now I'm not a prude and not judgemental, I'm not against what he wants, just the way he's going about it. I could have been a real Bitch to this guy but really, what would that have achieved? So I told him that I didn't care of his reasons for being on the site, the issue was he lied about it on the site, to me in messages and to my face. I swear, everyone would have a better chance at finding what they wanted if they were just honest to themselves and others from the start. 

What I've learnt... Even the best liars get caught in the end, as you cannot control the unexpected.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Damnwidth and Personal Trainer #3, Chatting with Caz

Woke up to a lovely surprise this morning, no bandwidth! Seriously? So annoying when I have so much to do online at the moment, so I'm blogging today at not even full dial-up speed. I was 200% sure I'd settled on a plan with the enough damnwidth (yep it's my word of the day) to get access to what I needed, what I wanted and a bit more for. But no, so I'll need to look at upgrading and the issue with that is I have no damnwidth to research other suppliers. Damn you Optus (shaking fist) damn you!
Rant over.

Although I'd cancelled my appointment with PT#2 due to my quads, I was determined not to cancel with Personal Trainer #3. I found a fix that worked but didn't feel very good. I sleep on my stomach (or else my boobs try to strangle me) so I decided to turn my electric blanket up to full heat, setting it for 75mins and snoozing my way to relief. Now, trust me here it wasn't nice, it was uncomfortable being so warm, laying in sweat was gross and I woke up feeling like an unbathed hippie but it really worked, no quad pain! 

Moving on, I met up with PT#3 at the same place I was at with PT#1, found out this is there regular spot, all good except for the bird that likes to stare at himself in car mirrors, seriously this bird is so vain! Will try a towel over it next time, he can stare into anothers mirror. And there was some Cross Training school thing on so there was a constant stream of kids. 
Anyway PT#3 is Caroline, sorry Caz, and I gotta say, what an incredible lady. Firstly what I found different from PT#1 was that I felt instantly at ease, not sure if it was a woman thing or having already met one, the next was easier but it was great. Secondly it was like chatting with friend more than anything else, we have so many little things in common, I'm surprised we haven't crossed paths before. We went to Primary School next to each other and would have been in the same grade, we have a similar work change story although different industries, a main relationship has been similar, family mix and story is quite similar, we've both tried online dating and nickname our cars. But then there's the interesting opposites too, Caz is a traveller and I haven't found my airfeathers yet, she's moved out whereas I've moved in, what we find attractive in guys is a total opposite and there's more, but I'm not sharing.
I swear if her favourite colour is Aqua, I'll be speechless.
But it wasn't all sitting and chatting, we talked while we walked and it was fun, I also have no heel pain! That's what I want, I want this Personal Training to be fun or I'll stop. I can't believe we chatted for over 2 hours, I felt guilty as I'm sure she had other things do to. So I think I've found my PT in Caz, if she'll have me. The 2 year commitment didn't seem to phase her.
PT#1 isn't out of the woods though, give me a few months and I think I'll be ready for a bit of Leigh's style. But now what to do with PT#2, I've decided to call and thank him but let him know I've found what I'm after. I'm not going to settle for second best anymore.
Dang it! I forgot to get Caz's number.

So after that meeting today, I missed out on getting done what I wanted but do I care? Hell no! I'm one step closer to being the best I can be.

His comment made my day!

Was out walking Chase yesterday morning and got chatting with a guy who had been on run, I commented on how sweaty he was and he said the funniest thing (not as funny now, but I was in stitches when he said it.)



Sunday 24 March 2013

48 Questions, 48 Answers.



1. What time did you get up this morning?  It's just after 4am, haven't been to bed yet. Although yesterday I went at 10amish, I got 2 hours sleep.
2. How do you like your steak?  Well done. People who eat raw meat are savages!
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?  Oh wow, it's been a while. I remember I'd won a double pass to a movie and the cinema didn't want to honour the pass, umm umm ahhh... Master and Commander!
4. What is your favorite TV show?  The Walking Dead.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?  Ireland. I'll find me a Leprechaun one day.
6. What did you have for breakfast?  A banana, never used to eat brekkie but it's another thing that's changing.
7. What is your favorite food?  Properly done roast potatoes. Yum!!
8. Foods you dislike?  Broccoli, that texture is so wrong and hot chillis, if we were supposed to eat them, we'd have asbestos tongues.
9. Favorite place to eat?  Mum's of course.
10. Favorite dressing?  I’m not a fan of dressing.
11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?  A little one. Toyota Corolla, surprisingly it fit a fully decorated, baubles, tinsel, lights, the whole shabang 2 metre tall real Christmas tree in it one year.
12. What are your favorite clothes?  I've amassed a great collection of PJ pants.
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?  Baha, California. I want to spend the day at one of those huts on the beach.
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?  It’s just a cup.
15. Where would you want to retire?  Way to young to even consider this.
16. Favorite time of day?  Between Midnight and 6am.
17. Where were you born?  Box Hill Hospital.
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?  Is wrestling classed as a sport? Cheering on the guys at the local footy club is up there.
19. What is your favorite fragrance?  Vera Wang's Princess or mens aftershave.
20. What is your favorite face cream?  Olay baby!
21. Favorite baby/kids products?  Swings!
22. People watcher?  Yes but not in a pervy way.
23. Are you a morning or night person?  Night person, if I have to be up early, I just don't go to bed.
24. Do you have any pets?  2 Dogs, 5 fish inside and about 2 dozen in an outside pond.
25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share?  The blog just about tells it all, restarting my life.
26. What did you want to be when you were little?  A boy, having 3 Brothers, I was always left out. Explains the mechanic phase I went through.
27. What is your favorite memory?  Walking from Frankston to Seaford piers with my Nan. R.I.P.
28. Are you a cat or dog person?  Dog, never felt complete without one.
29. Are you married?  No.
30. Always wear your seat belt?  Always.
31. Been in a car accident?  Yes, neither my fault.
32. Any pet peeves?  Teenyboppers, bad spelling, need a list?
33. Favorite pizza toppings?  Ham and cheese, I'm easily pleased.
34. Favorite flower?  Singapore Orchids.
35. Favorite ice cream?  Not really an ice-cream fan.
36. Favorite fast food restaurant?   Noodle box.
37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?  Once.
38. From whom did you get your last email?  Twitter notification.
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?  Don't have a credit card, I could blow some huge dough at Gardenworld though.
40. Do anything spontaneous lately?  Yes, threw out my fave shoes.
41. Like your job?  Ha!
42. Broccoli?  Nooooo.
43. What was your favorite vacation?  Spare of the moment drive from Melbourne to Canberra.
44. Last person you went out to dinner with?  Family.
45. What are you listening to right now?  The possums in the Mulberry tree outside.
46. What is your favorite color?  Aqua.
47. How many tattoos do you have?  2.
48. Coffee drinker?  No. Brothers fooled me once by giving me a huge spoonful of grounds, they said it was Milo :(

If you do this yourself, let me know.

Saturday 23 March 2013

It can't be said I'm not eager

Had to cancel on my night out last night and meeting Personal Trainer #2 today due to quad pain. After researching online, I've found rest and heat to be the most recommended treatments, so 3 hot showers today and maybe a movie night tonight, cuddling a heatpack.
Fingers crossed I'll be able to get Chase out for a walk tomorrow and  be moving enough for meeting with Personal Trainer #3 on Tuesday.

I discovered during the week my local Contours gym is running a free 7 day trial at the moment as opposed to the usual 5 day, so after emailing them, that's tentatively planned for next month.
And I've also found a local walking group on MeetUp, so that's penned in for April 13. Maybe I'm pushing myself too much, maybe not enough.

During the week, I also signed up for an online 'Writing for the Web' course starting late April through Open2Study.com, as it only goes for 2 months, I thought why not.

Anyway, back to tonight, tossing up between Taken 2 and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, nope going with a classic, The Green Mile. Someone wanna toss my heatpack in the nuker?

Friday 22 March 2013

Easter's on the horizon



Time to start thinking of a new place to put these bunny prints for when I see my Nephy Ryan. First year was inside, second was through the dog door, last year was a rush job up the front steps. 

Would up the wall be too much!?! 


Personal Trainer #1, 1st session with Leigh

Continuing from the previous post I now detest black folders

Arriving at The Ring (area of a local parked named back in high school), Leigh was already waiting. Bugger... quickly put out the ciggie, walk over and pass him the dreaded black folder hoping I never have to see it again. I know it sounds stupid, but it's not really the folder, it's what it represents. Anyway, he doesn't put the folder away, we start walking and he starts reading through my homework.  This ring we're at is on a decent slope, down was fine, the flat was better, then uphill was awful. I couldn't believe how soon I'd started puffing, this was nothing like the walks I do with the dog and then I worked it out. Chase stops at every single tree, so I have to stop and with his short legs, our pace is slow. With the trainer on the other hand, we're not walking for pleasure, this is exercise and there's some pace to it (although some of it may be due to his long legs haha).

Next issue hit when I stepped onto a brick speedbump in the road, I could feel my Plantar Fasciitis starting to let me know it wasn't liking this new exercise, so quick stretch and I can keep going. It's so hard to have a conversation or answer questions when your puffing away, but we kept walking and stopping to stretch my heel. There was a few people also on walks on the side path, we ventured up but by this time, my right heel is on fire. I was glad when Leigh suggested some different exercises. So onto squats, now I don't think I've squatted like that since school exercises classes, the first few felt fine but then I started feeling a different pain in my foot arch, not to mention jelly legs. Next was the resistance rope, standing on it and stretching it as high as I could, no heel pain with that one! (I had a passing thought of this band slipping and hitting me in the face, funnily though, it hit the trainer instead). Finally a bit more walking. One interesting thing was, that I felt more comfortable around him after he'd given up some information about himself, not work related but personal stuff. It made him more approachable (sure that's not the right word) knowing that he's not perfect.

Not sure how I'd rate the session having no comparison to put it against. But I agree with Leigh, that the walking was poor, I was disappointed in that aspect. The squats got better with repetition and my arm strength was good. He mentioned I seemed a lot more confident after the session and honestly, I did feel good, what I had done although minor, was productive.

All in all, I am really pleased I've taken this step. It's 17 hours after the session now and although I'm still in a lot of pain and gone through 3 ice-packs on my heel, I really can see myself continuing with this. With just this one session, I would highly recommend anyone with the slightest passing thought about contacting a Personal Trainer, to give it a go, there's nothing to loose and everything to gain.

I did make the trainer aware I was shopping around, and unexpectedly he was great about it, I have another session Saturday morning with a different company and 2 further options.

Pick Yourself Up Personal Training

I now detest black folders.

I've started checking out different Personal Trainers in the area as walking is a no brainer, I'm wanting to get more out of my exercise routine. So Wednesday morning, I met up with Personal Trainer #1 Leigh from Pick Yourself Up Personal Training at a local cafe. Chatting for a while, I explained why I'd made contact, what I was hoping to gain, mentioned my injuries and then he opened this dreaded black folder (will explain why dreaded shortly) which I hadn't noticed him holding before. Opening the folder, he explains a bit about this paperwork he has and it's homework for me! The last thing I expected was homework, having had no sleep for 2 days at this stage, drinking the previous night, thinking of the paperwork I already have to sort through later that day from my move, and a date that night I've already postponed once, I had an image of myself slapping him in the face with the damn folder (sorry Leigh!) I didn't though, wouldn't be too good to make a scene at what I guess would be my new local shoppo. So wanting to get this out of the way, we organize a trial session the next morning. As he's leaving he reminds me to be as honest and open on the forms I can be, this will only work if I'm honest to myself. As I have an appointment close by soonish, I decided to stay and get this 'homework' out of the way.
Working through the forms starts off simple... name, address, 'the usuals', etc and then it gets to what I want to achieve and I'm stumped. What is it exactly that I want? Why do I want it? How would my current injuries keep me from doing physical activities? The thoughts start flowing and they don't stop. I get to my meeting and those questions keep racing through my mind. 3 hour meeting and I don't think much was achieved. Getting home, I stash the folder away and refuse to look at it while I relax watching a bit of wrestling. I see the folder again as I leave for my date, I debate ringing Leigh and canceling the whole thing but refrain, as I really do want to do this. So date goes well and I get home after 4am (we spent the night talking, that's it! Get your mind out of the gutter) Quick change and I get started on the paperwork from the move, knock it out in 2 hours, old life gone when these hit the post office later in the morning. 
Sitting down for a break, I spy the folder. I'd put the it and the questions out of my mind till then and now I've ran out of time, it has to be completed. So after questioning my motivation, second guessing the answers in my head, I forced myself to write it all down and I'm finished. Check the clock and it's 9am, yep another night with no sleep. Not complaining, it's my own fault but it helps explain what happens next. I change again, grab the stuff I need and head off, get halfway down my street and realise I've left the dreaded black folder on the counter. Head back, get the folder and go to reverse out of the driveway. I get the shock of my life when I this horrible bashing noise vibrates though my car, there's a woman bashing on the boot! I get out and she starts with the screaming 'You almost hit me', 'YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME', I look and see I haven't even reached the sidewalk yet, she's come into the property line and I can't help but watch her with a sly smile on my face. I ask her to settle down and then the biggest shock of all comes, she's slapped me across my face. I'm dumbfounded, she then looks at me horrified and starts walking away. Seriously woman, did I really need this now? Nothing I can do, I head off to meet Leigh knowing I'll now be late. Get there, out of the car, say good morning to Leigh and he asks how I'm doing. Still a bit shocked, all I can mutter is 'been better'.

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Can an old friend ever really be a stranger?

So I had my impromptu Burvale Hotel thing on last night and I was disappointed at the turn out, but it ended up being a brilliant night (everythings coming up Milhouse!).
On leaving, I ran into an old mate from school, haven't seen him in 10+ years. It was still early, so when after telling me about his wife, kids, small talk, etc. he asked me back to his place to catch-up, I was happy too. I can't believe how much he's grown, it was quite hard to not look at him as the teenager I remembered for a while, but after chatting for a couple of hours that had certainly changed. He was one of those guys boys you think growing up won't turn into much. Sure enough he failed High School and bummed around for a while, but then went onto TAFE and University and is now a business owner. Married to a stunning woman, with a little boy and another on the way, the token Labrador, beautiful home, well travelled, the complete package.
So I've been invited over for his Birthday BBQ in a few weeks and unsure whether to go or not. It would be great to talk with both of them, as they were so lovely, but it doesn't feel right even though it is totally innocent. We shall see.

Will have to re-think the online dating meet thing too now, but there's a few ideas up my sleeve.

What I've learnt...  Expect the unexpected with no expectations.

Tuesday 12 March 2013

The only way is up..... right?

Ok, I think I've gotten my head around the weekend so here goes.

Wrong number guy
So this guy called me and he's dialled the wrong number but a quick chat and we decided to meet for breakfast. It may sound like a strange way to meet people but imagine the romance of the story if someone asks how we met?
So sitting at the Cafe and this guy approaches, (we organised to spot each other by wearing green tops) and I'm surprised how attractive he is, he really pulls off the green. After simple introductions, we order breakfast as I'm starving, scrambled eggs and bacon on toast, YUM! He seems quite shy at first not giving any eye contact and it's kinda cute. I start asking him about what he likes to do for fun and if he's travelled, 'the usuals' and I keep getting one word answers. Running... weights... Bali... Brothers... I don't believe I've ever had a more boring, one-sided conversation. So I pay for what I've ordered and thank him for meeting me and get up to leave, he states and I quote 'your nice, wanna breakfast next week?' So I was short, sweet and to the point... 'No!'

What I've learnt... Pretty, shiny boxes can still just be cardboard.
W/J
So I POF message this younger guy W that I've had a short back and forth convo with and I'm surprised to see he's at my local venue (he lives close to city). So I organise to meet him after the original meet. After waiting 15 mins and not seeing him, my phone battery dying, I decided to leave. Heading out of the venue, I stop myself and pull up at the exit. He comes over shortly after.
So I start chatting and then he says that his mate set this all up. I ask him name and he says J. Apparently, his mate W set up the profile with J's permission and gets in contact with people, gives them J's number and then texts back and forth. I'm the first person  J has met from online as I'm local (J is from Doncaster, W is the distant one).
I ask questions to try and get him talking but it's just not working, 20/30mins later we say goodbye and leave.
Heading off, I decided to head to Kmart to buy a car charger and when I plug my phone in, he's texted saying he's read the online messages between W and I, haha.
I don't want to say he's boring, as I don't know if he is, he didn't ask questions about me or open up much at all. I'd have to see this guy again and see, but mates possibly.

What I've learnt... You can led a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Bring on the next ones.

Monday 4 March 2013

Bad Profiles #1

So what's the deal with people having no info on their profiles? Do people not realize that having no info on profiles speaks volumes... in the negative!

Seriously people, this is what you look like to most people viewing you!


Here's some very common profile snippits sure to get a prospective partner moving onto the next person.

'I hate filling this part out' It's a profile, like taking the garbage out, no-one likes doing it but it's gotta be done.

'Ask if u wanna know!' Seriously?... Do I even have to comment on this one?

Blank profiles This just shows your not really serious about meeting anyone.

'I'll fill this part later' This shows laziness. If someone's not willing to put in a few minutes writing about themself, why should I bother spending a few minutes writing to them?

There's so much more I could write about this but maybe next time.


You've got one shot at a first impression, 
make it count.