List this

I took this from evalinn

I am: loving the cooler weather, with the leaves turning
I am not: loving cold feet in the middle of the night and the morning
I like: people
I don't like: people
I want: the cat to stop eying off my pumpkin, chili and sour cream soup.
I don't want: to stop learning and growing
I have: a lot of people who love me
I don't have: enough self belief
I know: that I am not perfect
I don't know: everything

I've just reread this - I sound like a reality TV contestant - eek!

Pet Meme

I read Janie's Doggie Meme and found myself inpsired.

What is an amusing anecdote about a pet friend in your life (past or present)?

We got Mzuzi from the RSPCA. She was one of a litter of 8 Ridgeback/German Shepherd cross pups that had been dumped in a sack by the side of the road. She had the shepherd colouring and the ridge on her back, but must have been the runt of the litter because she never got taller than my mid thigh. We took her for a walk one day, and one of the houses that we needed to pass had 2 concrete lions on either side of the front gate. We got to the lions and she went backwards so fast we didn't know what hit us. She stopped about a metre back, dropped and growled at these lions. Cajoling her to move forward didn't work, and going up to pat the lions caused her to jump around barking until we backed away from them. We could not get her to move past the lions, so we had to cross the road to get her past them. She growled the whole length of the property. Once we got past there she was fine and kept walking happily. About 6 months later we were going to the beach with her in the car, and we were stopped at the traffic lights in front of that house when we heard growling from the back seat, with her nose pressed out the window in the direction of the lions.

What is a gift a pet gave to you when you really needed it?

Mzuzi again. I was in floods of tears after a particularly bad fight with my boyfriend at the time, and she pushed her way into my room and just sat as close as she physically could to me, licking my tears. It is very hard to cry when you are laughing so hard at the dog. I miss her so much.

On a lighter note, my kleptomaniac George has brought me a cap in the middle of summer, a pink baby's blanket, a golf score sheet and way too many other pieces of useless tat.

Share a picture of one or more of your pets - extra points for amusing photos.

His Royal Highness King George


"What? I was hungry, and this guy just dropped in"

If ... meme

I stole this meme from Mike. I'm not going to tag anyone for it, but if you want to do it, go for it.

If I were a beginning, I would be ... it was a dark and stormy night

If I were a month, I would be ... May
If I were a time of day, I would be ... 5.47 am. A time with soft light, and not many people.
If I were a planet, I would be ... Neptune

If I were a season, I would be ... Autumn, constantly changing.
If I were a sea animal, I would be ... dugong

If I were a direction, I would be ... forwardly
If I were a piece of furniture, I would be ... dusty. Seriously though, I would be a beanbag. Is that furniture, or just a bag full of beans?
If I were a sin, I would be ... deadly

If I were a liquid, I would be ... viscuous
If I were a scare, I would be ... tactics

If I were a gem, I would be ... unpolished.

If I were a flower/plant, I would be ... a daffodil
If I were a kind of weather, I would be ... tropical
If I were a musical instrument, I would be ... a xylophone

If I were an animal, I would be ...a marsupial
If I were an emotion, I would be ... confusion
If I were a vegetable, I would be ... a pumpkin
If I were a sound, I would be ... echoed
If I were an element, I would be ... Pb

If I were a car, I would be ... a Leyland P76
If I were a song, I would be ... Amazing Grace
If I were a food, I would be ... cheese
If I were a place, I would be ... uninhabited

If I were a material, I would be ... silk
If I were a taste, I would be ... savoury
If I were a scent, I would be ... lingering

If I were a religion, I would be ... Om

If I were a sentence, I would be ... disjointed
If I were a facial expression, I would be ... a smirk
If I were a subject in school, I would be ... 19th century history

If I were a color, I would be ... bright red

If I were a thing, I would be ... a volkswagen

If I were a book, I would be ... much read
If I were an artist, I would be ... obscure
If I were a collection of poems, I would be ... studied in school
If I were a landmass, I would be ... an isthmus

If I were a watch, I would be ... 5 minutes fast
If I were God, I would be ... very surprised
If I were a vowel, I would be ... U.

If I were a consonant, I would be ... M

If I were a theory, I would be... Chaos

If I were a famous person, I would be ... checking my Wikipedia page daily
If I were an item of electronic equipment, I would be ... a CB radio

If I were a sport, I would be ... trugo
If I were a movie, I would be ... directed by Alan Smithee
If I were a cartoon, I would be ... Inspector Gadget
If I were an explorer, I would be ... lost
If I were a scientist, I would be ... Isaac Newton. My kind of scientist sits under a tree and waits for an apple to fall on their head.
If I were a relation, I would be ... an aunt
If I were a river, I would be ... murky

If I were intoxication, I would be ... public

If I were alone, I would be .... still in good company

If I were a question, I would be... unanswered
If I were a habit, I would be... bad
If I were in an atom, I would be ... an electron
If I were you, I would be ... my friend

Steal Away

7 things

Betty tagged me with this meme ages ago and I've finally got my act together enough to do it.

1. Words are fun. I love playing with words and names. This has been pretty unfortunate for some of my pets, especially my rabbit Hopalong Casserole. I really enjoy stupid punning wars, and find they are a great shortcut to friendship. One of my favourite word games is based on a stupid joke. Q How many surrealists does it take to change a lightglobe? A Fish. The aim of the game is reverse word association. Whatever you say can't be associated with what the previous person said. It isn't easy - just don't do it when you are the driving.

2. I like voting. We have a Federal Election and I have to vote tomorrow. I hate the election campaign itself, and I'm so sick of seeing and hearing politicians ad nauseum, ad infinitum. I'm really excited that I get to walk down to the local tennis club or primary school, get myself ticked off the roll as having voted, get given 2 pieces of paper and a pencil and go and stand in a cardboard box to fill in the papers. I'll number 1 to 6 for the lower house, and then I'll select below the line for the house of review. I love standing in those cardboard boxes. Apparently that's odd.

3. I've always wanted to kiss the Blarney Stone. One thing I've always wondered is; if you already have the gift of the gab and you kiss it, does that mean you talk less? I'll try it September 10 next year, and I'll let you know.

4. I love that the spam folder of my gmail gives me Spam recipes. I can't imagine myself trying any of them in a pink fit, but I love some of the choices - Spam burritos, Spam Confetti Pasta, Spam and Cheese pancakes.

5. I'm a hoarder. I really struggle to throw anything out. What happens if I throw something out and I need it later?

6. I hate changing lightglobes.

7. I'm really scared of losing someone I love. My mum's recent emergency surgery and slow and painful recovery showed me just how scary it can be. It showed me just how much I wanted to say, and how much I can't imagine life without people I love.

If you want to do this meme, go for it. I'm leaving it open for anyone who wants to. Just let me know if you've done it and I'll come and read it.

So now what?

I took this quiz after seeing it over at Mike's. I'm devastated. Apparently I'm "Pure Evil"


How evil are you?

Where on earth am I supposed to go from here? Where is the room to grow and develop? Does this mean I've reached the pinnacle, scaled the dizzy heights? How do I improve on perfection?

Suggestions? (Except for working for AOL - I already work for an evil empire)

I couldn't resist ...

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

I'm not sure about some of it, but it was fun. Except the evil. I'll admit to that at times.

Soundtrack to the music of my life

My writing has been a bit scrambled this week. I haven't been happy with anything I've written so nothing has been posted. I've had this meme kicking around for ages, so I'm hoping it will free up my writing a bit.

If you want to do it, copy the categories below, open your iTunes and hit shuffle. Refresh for each category and hit next song.

Opening Credits: Those Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer - Bob Downe
Wow - iTunes is picking up on my mood today - I've half written three things about summer and the way time changes.

Waking Up: I am a Man of Constant Sorrow - The Soggy Bottom Boys
Yep, that sums me up until I can hit the shower and caffeine.

First Day At School: Alone with you tonight - The Sunnyboys
I love this song. This was the live version from the 25th anniversary concert for Mushroom Records. Even more resonant because I was there. I used to get Sunnyboys from the school canteen, but that is probably the only connection between school and this song.

Falling In Love: Simply Irresistible - Robert Palmer
I don't really associate this song with love. Lust maybe, but all of a sudden I'm feeling an overwhelming desire to pop into some Lycra, a short black skirt and bright red cfm lipstick.

Fight Song: Sleeping Satellite - Tasmin Archer
"I blame you for the moonlit sky, and the dream that died" I've had those completely irrational fights.

Breaking Up: Heavy Heart - You am I
Somehow, I think iTunes said it all for me.

School Formal (Prom): Beyond the Sea - Robbie Williams
I love both Robbie and Bobby's versions of this song. But right now, all I can think of is Homer Simpson wanting to live under the sea with the friendly crustaceans. Now, my brain has just headed off on a sea monkey tangent. I've got no idea how music ended up with sea monkeys. In lounge suits. And cocktail frocks.

Life: Changes - David Bowie
"Time to face the strange" Quite appropriate really. Life is full of change, and there is so much that is strange. Strange and wonderful. I've used lines from this as titles before on this blog, and they are often responsible for random visits from Google.

Mental Breakdown: I honestly love you - Peter Allen
Um, OK. I'm not sure how this one happened, but OK. If it was going to be a Peter Allen song, I think Tenterfield Saddler would fit better. iTunes, you forgot to keep reading my mind.

Driving: Headroom - Josh Abrahams and Amiel Daemion
Where was this one for the mental breakdown? iTunes, A for effort, but you must try harder. Having said that, I do find driving is a good way to get some headroom.

Flashback: The Last Night - Bon Jovi
This is still a very new addition to the music library, part of an album that is still growing on me. Still a good title for a flashback. The last night of what? A relationship? A holiday? A friendship? A house?

Getting back together: I only have eyes for You - Ella Fitzgerald
Ooooooh, Ella.

Wedding: Fame - Irene Cara
This should really be a big musical number, but I'm feeling dudded because it has already been used for musical numbers. Oh, sod it. Bring on the leg warmers and headbands.

Birth of Child: Born Free - Matt Monro
I don't know if this movie would have the birth of a lion cub, but that is the birth I would normally associate with this song.

Final Battle: I want it that way - Backstreet Boys
Or the highway? Isn't that what so many battles come down to? I don't think the Backstreet Boys are usually involved though.

Death Scene: Another one bites the dust - Queen
I just fell off the couch laughing. The cat thinks I'm mad. Yeah, cos he's qualified.

Funeral Song: Goodbye - The Spice Girls
This is a film clip I would have loved to be in as a kid. No, it isn't. I'm getting mixed up with the animation of Viva Forever. Look for the rainbow in every star. Goodbye my friend. I always thought that I would have 50 Years by the Uncanny X-Men. They would be very cool cars for the cortege though.

End Credits: Raindrops keep falling on my head - BJ Thomas
Sad, and yet still perky. Where there is life, there must surely still be hope. Watch out for the sequel; "thisisme - the phantom clones"

Interview meme

I've been mulling over this meme for the last month. The questions are from the lovely velvet.

1. What inspired you to start blogging? Do you share your blog with friends and family? Why or why not?
I did a lot of writing when I was younger and I just wasn't doing it anymore. I found I was reading a lot of blogs and thought it would be a good way to get back into writing. I'm also finding that it is a good way to help me process ideas and things that happen in my day. Quite a bit of the stuff I write never gets published, it seems to be enough that I write it. Some of my friends and family know that I blog, but none of them know what it is called. Having said that, I'm sure that if they fell across it by accident, they would be able to identify it as mine. I don't share it with them because I want everyone who reads it to read because they want to, not because they feel obliged to out of friendship or familial obligation.

2. You're granted the superpower of your choice. What do you choose and why?
The ability to shape the world to suit myself. Egocentric, moi? Seriously, there are just so many little things in everyday life that drive me nuts, and I see them driving other people nuts too. I'd be using the superpower to get rid of the little daily niggles that can build up, and just make things that little bit more smooth. Almost like being a super iron really.

3. If you could have one thing or time from your childhood again, what or when would it be and why?
The summer of 1982 - 3. I had just turned 9, and it was the last summer before my grandmother died, my parents separated, and my aunt and uncle separated. We spent the summer at my grandparents home, an old dairy a block from the beach. My grandmother spent most of her time in bed, and we were allowed to go and spend time with her in half hour blocks. I still treasure the book she gave me "Snow White and Rose Red" and we read through it together. I found it in a box of treasure recently and read through it and had a little cry. Otherwise my brother and I and our 2 cousins spent a lot of time on the beach and playing in the back yard. An old dairy has a lot of back yard, garages and sheds for 4 kids under 12 to play in. I've hardly seen my cousins since then.

4. If you had to give up your present career field, what would your fantasy career be and why?
Easy - I would love to be a personal gift shopper. I enjoy shopping for other people and finding the perfect gift. They don't have to be expensive gifts, just gifts that are appreciated for the thought that has gone into it.

5. You can invite five living people to meet for dinner. Who would you choose?
I've been struggling with this one, and I think I might need to have this dinner in shifts. I am fascinated by Deborah Mailman, Paul Keating, Bill Clinton (yes, I know the link is probably redundant, but you never know...), JK Rowling and Jeff Kennett. I suspect this could quickly become a battle of egos though, and I would want to change it to people who just make me happy. So, the winners are my good friends the Fitters, Nay, my boy and my brother. I'd have to sneak my sister in too because she cracks me up. A group of people that can talk about anything, and the conversation can go from sublime to the extraordinarily ridiculous in under 5 seconds..

If you wish to do this meme, ...
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me.
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Eight Randoms

Eight Randoms

I was tagged by Evalinn, here are 8 random facts about me:

1. I hate wearing nail polish on my fingers, but feel naked without bright red toenail polish.
2. I really need to stop dreaming about Rupert Murdoch.
3. I like to tear the crusts of fresh white bread, eat the crusts and then squish the centre into a ball before eating it.
4. I always talk to the radio when I'm driving.
5. I can't help singing alone with Achy Breaky Heart and I'll never remove it from my iPod.
6. I really don't like following rules.
7. White wine makes me feel queasy at 3pm the day after I drink it. Red wine doesn't.
8. I love hats, but feel stupid when I wear them.

Now, I tag:
If you want to do it, go for it. Just leave a comment and let me know you've done it.

The rules are:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Blogging

Happy New Year everyone!!

I've written some fantastic posts for my blog lately, but they have all been in my head when I've been driving or sitting on a train. Whenever I sit down to write them, I've lost them. Am I losing my mind? I don't think so, and if I was, I don't think that would be the best indicator anyway. Surely a better indicator would be making sure that when I drive to work I park on the same number floor of the multistorey carpark as the floor that I work on, so I only need to remember one number for the lift. Tragic but true.

Anyway, I've been frustrated with not posting, and velvet has saved me with the meme on her site (go visit, the trip is worth it!). So without further ado, here is the three things meme.

1. Three things that scare me
Losing someone I love
Someone finding out that I bluff my way through most of the day and don't really know everything
Waking up to find a stranger in my bedroom

2. Three people who make me laugh (so hard, I can think of many)
Emily's mum - anyone who can make me fall off the chair in tears from laughing deserves a mention
Ehater
My sister

3. Three things I love
Falling asleep listening to waves crashing into the beach
Thunderstorms
Books

4. Three things I hate
Being judged
Intolerance
Rude customer service

5. Three things I don't understand
The appeal of Paris Hilton
Why there is so much suffering in the world
Late night/early morning dating ads

6. Three things on my desk (right now nothing because I cleared it before moving it, so my coffee table is where I'm working)
Scissors
Books
Half a box of chocolates I was given for my birthday

7. Three things I'm doing right now
Watching Hollywood's best kept secret
Listening to my cat eat some more of his dinner
Wishing that it would stop being so damn hot and just rain

8. Three things I want to do before I die
Take a year to drive around Australia
Have children
Skydive

9. Three things I can do
Curl my tongue
Hug
Remember completely useless information

10. Three things I can't do
Take my own advice
Walk past a bookshop
Undercater

11. Three things you should listen to
Your mother
Your body - sometimes it is telling you something you need to listen to
Your gut instinct

12. Three things you should never listen to
Vacuum cleaner salespeople
Telemarketers
How to vote cards

13. Three things I'd like to learn
Bagpipes
Massage
Rowing

14. Three favorite foods
Pfeffernusse (yes, the influence of Christmas is still strong)
Stinky blue cheese
Pink lady apples

15. Three beverages I drink regularly
Water
Coffee
Champagne

16. Three shows I watched as a kid
All creatures great and small
M*A*S*H
The Muppets

Fingers crossed I can actually remember what I want to write soon - maybe next week in my hotel room I'll manage it.

Perhaps it is time for a restraining order

I've been tagged with this meme by the lovely Franny.

The Rules: Pick a Christmas lyric that you've always had a question about and discuss it. Then either tag one or more people or either tag nobody and invite your readers to tag themselves and enjoy discussing the subject on their own.

I've always worried about, and felt icky, whenever I heard "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

The first couple of verses - no problem, I'm fine with them. Third verse though, I find out that this fat old man in a red suit is watching me sleep, and knows when I'm awake. I don't know about you, but I think that is pretty creepy. There are times that I want to be bad, and I neither need or want an audience for that. If I ever do, I'll put it on YouTube.

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!

O! You better watch out!

The first line of the fourth and final verse is right - I had better watch out, and so had Santa - he will be slapped with a restraining order within the week.

Please share your questionable Christmas lyrics in the comments below.