2008 and it's vibe

Due to the craziness that continues across the country as we are still on holiday, I have had a really difficult time sitting down and focussing enough to write something worth your time.

This has technically always been my problem. When have I not wasted you time? Maybe
only here.

And that's because I didn't even write it!

Today is the 31st, despite my own constant forgetfulness about the date. It is indeed the final day of 2008, a year overflowing with joy, happiness, friends and family.

I found this questionnaire here. Her blog is great. Give it a read because she is funnier and a better speller than I.

1.What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Being proposed to. Had a *severe* wardrobe malfunction. Went to university. Got a Ta too.

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

I make the same resolutions every year. Every year I fail miserably. Next year I will probably make them once again... I am just that sadistic.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No! The group of us married (slash me being soon-to-marry) girls are all waiting to see which one will fall preggo first. They have all been married a year or two longer so they shoudl get on it!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. Thankfully God has been gracious.

5. What countries did you visit?

Mozambique and The Free State. I am pretty sure The Free State is it's own strange and backwards country.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A Husband. A South African Driving Licence. A smaller butt.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

16 August, the day that the Fi proposed. *sigh*

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

This. It's one more step away from her.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I lost my wit. Here I can just link this entire blog...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Sprained ankle twice. Several icky flus and colds. Multiple mystery bruises and the most recent unknown injury to my toe that has left it purple and in pain.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My tattoo. It's my constant reminder to breathe life in.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Cope. Next year South Africans might actually have a Democratic election and a chance to break away from the corruption of the ANC.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The choice of the US election candidates.

14. Where did most of your money go?

University and the revolving items. And developing pictures.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?


The wedding.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Sting. His music was the soundtrack for my year at university.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?

Happier definitely. I'm probably the same size. And most definitely poorer in money. But I am most definitely richer in other areas of my life.

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

I wish I enjoyed res more.

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

Less stressing about Spanish!

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With the family and the Fi. Chilling SA style.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Re-fell...

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Whose Wedding is it Anyway, Grey's Anatomy and Army Wives

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Probably. I am a really not-nice person most days. But lucky for them I am also a terribly forgetful one as well.

24. What was the best book you read?

eh, I read a lot of books this year. The best one? Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles were actually surprisingly good. I had not read a book like that before and really enjoyed it.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Wind it by Jody. Can't get that song out of my head despite hate/loving it

26. What did you want and get?

A ring.

27. What did you want and not get?

A discontinuation of country music.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Were there any great films of this year?

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 20 and went on a picnic with the Fi and the family.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A licence or maybe the set box of Greys.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

This year my personal fashion consisted of the "I'm too broke to buy clothes" look, combined with the "I live at res and res food sucks so bad that I am putting on weight and don't really have anything to wear" look, followed by the "I am no longer in res and losing weight and can't keep my clothes on"

32. What kept you sane?

Weekly phone calls from the Fi. Dancing with the flatmates. Chilling with my gnomies.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


Johnny Depp.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


South African politics always stirs me up.

35. Who did you miss?

Meeka the BFF

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I met the most incredible group of girls that I lived with.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Things don't always work out the way we planned but sometimes better!

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

"That was when I ruled the World"

Today I have nothing to say.

Because I have no words today. See ya'll when I find some.

She's BAAAACK!

I know you loyal readers definitely missed me. I know, I know. It's good to be back.

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and the Fi. The entire day was spent lounging around, braaiing and eating said braaied food. Yum. Over and over I looked around and thought, 'Man, I am so blessed'. Because I am.

After the whole debacle about Christmas presents, everyone thought up gorgeous presents for the Fi and me.

I must have been a very very good girl this year.

My parents bought us one of these:
Since we didn't have a television. It is glorious! I can't remember the make or size or anything of it, but its ours and that makes it special. In addition we got one of these too:
Same unknowledge of make and size and things. That's what the man is for! You know what I know? I know that ours is black and ours. and shiny. and plays DVDs. Hooray!


The Fi spoiled me with a puzzle with a beautiful picture that I have been lusting after and one of these:

It's possibly the nicest wallet I've ever owned. I mean Mr Price R30 wallets PALE in comparison! Thank you! :)

So that's my bragging! Especially because my sisters, brother and aunts all spoiled us with magazines, kitchen goods and photo frames. *sigh* I must have been very very good.

The Fi and I have been busy moving his junk...err... things around into the place we will be living in after we are married. It is a beautiful flat complete with balcony and an extra room deemed 'the study'. This makes us sound educated and intelligent and well, that's the vibe I am going for. Inside The Study we have his books (soon to be joined by my books) and his desk (soon to be joined by my desk) and all the smart things we can possibly cram in there to be- you know- studied.

I do suppose that is the best synopsis that I can give you, dear reader, this evening. I am tired. I have 70 more Thank You for Attending the Wedding cards to produce. I probably should go do that.

Or maybe I'll just go to bed and sleep off the cramp in my tired-of-moving shoulder.

Merry Christmas eve!

The title pretty much says what I wish to say. Have a wonderful holiday today and tommorrow. Drive safely, drink responsibly and all the rest of it. :)

Until I see ya'll again! xxoo

Bertha is a stalker.

Facebook has enabled many different things. I am able to see when my friends hook-up/break-up/argue/cut their hair/stir their coffee and all the other GLORIOUS aspects of facebook-dom.

Its amazing the people who invite you. I wasn't really popular in high school because I preferred to keep a small group of good friends and a lot of acquaintances. These lovely folks that I hardly knew in high school ALL have invited me on Facebook. The cheer leading girls who drove me insane in gym class are living it up in France and the nerdy boys who sniffed snot all throughout English class are astonishingly good-looking and well rounded individuals.

Let me just say that I, Elizabeth, am anti-stalker. When I lived at the coast I had my fair share of 'stalkers'. I do suppose they were just love-sick puppies hoping for my number, but seriously following me to the beach/work/home/school is creepy. And a tad stalker-ish. Stalking is uncool.

Bertha, however, does not have the same ethical boundries that I have.

I know all this information about all these randoms because Bertha facebook stalks them. They invite me as friends, she checks out the photos and information they post and heck, I know more about them now than I have EVER known about them.

Bertha is creepy.

Then there are those blog comments she posts. Yes, Scoman, she does this to you excessively. She has the most outrageous way of sounding like a weirdo.

For this I apologise.

On behalf of Bertha.

She is a creep.

What I *LOVE* about Christmas

Today is a glorious day! I have completed the Christmas shopping. Hoor-freaking-ay!

I must admit I am not a fan of Christmas shopping and every year I end up thinking to myself that I have GOT to start earlier. I am a very bad Santa's helper. OOh, I enjoy gift giving. I enjoy finding fabulous finds for my loved ones based on my personal financial strain. Love that.

I am a big fan of shopping in general. It's grand and fabulous, especially when you have cash to spend. Halle-freaking-lujah.

But what can't stand, and encounter every freaking time I went out Christmas shopping, is the dreaded, the horrible, the irritating 'stop-directly-in-front-of-you-to-chat-to-some-distance-
acquaintance-about-the-weather-and-block-not-just-the-
aisle-but-the-entire-corridor-making-it-impossible-to-
get-by-until-they-finish-the-dumb-conversation' Person. The 'SDIFOYTCTSDAATWABNJTABTECMIITGBUTFTDC' Person is usually the affluent Bimbo parading around in high heels with gazillions of parcels being juggled by their significant other. The SO of the SDIFOYTCTSDAATWABNJTABTECMIITGBUTFTDC stands there shifting their weight awkwardly behind the SDIFOYTCTSDAATWABNJTABTECMIITGBUTFTDC and stares awkwardly at you, the extremely irritated unable to walk shopper.

This strange traffic jam enables the second dreaded person to irritate the Unable to Walk Shopper. The dreaded Neck Breather comes up behind the Unable to Walk Shopper and breaths from their nose upon your irritated neck. This allows you to feel two steaming streams of toxic nose breath colliding into your neck hairs. The stench is horrendous, the claustrophobia is growing and you.are.angry.

And you can't do anything about it. Until the weather-talkers realise they actually don't want to talk to each other and continue on their merry ways. Until the Nose breathing Neck tickler holds his breath, you are stuck.

*sigh* Christmas Joy. Christmas Cheer. Yeah, I love Christmas.

Shameless Plug

So yesterday my baby bro started his own blog. Please go show him some bloggy love. Thanks. Check it out here

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Self- Absorbsion might just give me what I want?!

Dearest Readers, (yes that included you almost-Husband)

My infamous Christmas list is just that. Infamous. Hence, I will be unable to explain the items that I require for Christmas besides the three cuties (JD, JR, and TDMB)Please revert to item one and purchase him for me. Then resort to item two and purchase him for me. Please remember to include house training and a flat that allows animals in the parcel. Number three will probably the hardest to arrange although it might be the best for South African society. So take one for the team.


Best of the seasons greetings to you.

Thank you,

Elizabeth

The most amazing post! :) (David the "Fi)

Well now that I've hacked into your account( Mr. Fi), I have to say, that your Blog Picture is so cool! :) Johnny Depp is cool, well I'm glad that I came close by having a brother that is a Johnny depp Look-a-like. ;) Little cute dogs are, well, cute... As long as it's a Jack Russell. Dave Matthews , ROCKS... , I guess there is something to be said about being born in South Africa, Johannesburg. Ok, seriously, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS??????

My Christmas List

With a lot of nudgings from the family and the Fi, I have created The ULTIMATE Christmas List.

Read on and buy. Thank you very much!

The most Legendary Christmas List:

1. Johnny Depp. 'nuff said.



Yummy.

2. A Jack Russell puppy. Preferably super cute. And house trained.



Thanks.

3. A Personal Concert from the Dave Matthews Band. I choose to have this concert on the day of my wedding. Thank you very much.



*sigh*

Maybe my sights are a bit high. But seriously who wouldn't want Johnny Depp carrying a puppy walking onto the stage of your wedding band (aka Dave's band)?

Clearly, no one.

Zapiro is my hero

I love Zapiro.

Today he has come into hot water yet again because of a cartoon published by the Sunday Times earlier this year. Jacob Zuma is suing Jonathon Shapiro (Zapiro) and the Sunday Times for R7 million. The claim consists of R5m for alleged damage to Zuma's reputation and R2m for alleged damage to his dignity (as said by NEWS24).

The cartoon, posted below, shows lady justice being pinned down by political leaders and Zuma preparing to rape her.



Has Zapiro crossed the line?

I personally side with Shapiro. The elitism of the South African government is disgusting. The disregard for justice is more than merely concerning. This is a blatant and shocking image that accurately reflects my own shock and disgust. The fact that Zuma has recently been acquitted of rapes charges is moot. This is clearly a separate issue.

Pity, because I wouldn't mind writing another post about how much I despise Zuma and the ANC. I am ashamed of you ANC. I am ashamed of you Zuma.

First Dance Stumbles.

In case you haven't noticed, I am getting freakishly excited about the wedding. I am pathetic... Pathetically excited.

Like that puppy that wees on the floor when you get home. That is me. Without the weeing.

I am absolutely stoked for every moment of the rest of everything that is coming. Except one.

The One.

That's it.

You're right.

The first dance.

I can't dance.

Oh I can break it down. I can make the room hot and happening with my moooves but a nice little dance with the new Hubs is... put lightly, scaring the crap out of me.

The Fi can't dance either. He doesn't really want to learn either. So. There's us, in my minds eye, stepping on each others toes and looking absolutely ridiculous. ehm. Lame.

In any case.

We have a lovely song. *if you click there you can watch their youtube video of the song* It's so beautiful and the lyrics are very special to both of us:

Dance With You

sittin' on the beach
the island king of love
deep in Fijian seas
deep in some blissful dream
where the goddess finally sleeps
in the lap of her lover
subdued in all her rage
and I am aglow with the taste
of the demons driven out
and happily replaced
with the presence of real love
the only one who saves

I wanna dance with you
I see a world where people live and die with grace
the karmic ocean dried up and leave no trace
I wanna dance with you
I see a sky full of the stars that change our minds
and lead us back to a world we would not face

the stillness in your eyes
convinces me that I
I don't know a thing
and I been around the world and I've
tasted all the wines
a half a billion times
came sickened to your shores
you show me what this life is for

I wanna dance with you
I see a world where people live and die with grace
the karmic ocean dried up and leave no trace
I wanna dance with you
I see a sky full of the stars that change our minds
and lead us back to a world we would not face

in this altered state
full of so much pain and rage
you know we got to find a way to let it go

sittin' on the beach
the island king of love
deep in Fijian seas
deep in the heart of it all
where the goddess finally sleeps
after eons of war and lifetimes
she smilin' and free, nothin' left
but a cracking voice and a song,

I wanna dance with you
I see a world where people live and die with grace
the karmic ocean dried up and leave no trace
I wanna dance with you
I see a sky full of the stars that change our minds
and lead us back to a world we would not face
we would not face.

---Live---

I do suppose that the beauty of the song will over ride our pitiful performance. *right* And if not there is still hope in a magical dancing fairy *right*

There goes the puppy again. *sigh*

I won!

I came back today from my extreme camping trip to see that I won Hillbilly's giveaway! Needless to say I am so very excited! Thanks again to her and her fabulous Husband for choosing me! I suppose I should begin thinking of my own giveaway! Would ya'll be keen on something South African? Or something more fabulously chic? Weigh in and I'll keep my eyes open!

The camping trip was amazing! Thanks for hanging in there with the scheduled posts. Although it looks like only a few actually posted. Ehm. Lame. I would care more but last night I was caught in a ferocious thunderstorm and yeah, nearly died. Ok not really but it kinda felt like it.

It looks like I did promise a sneak peek at the invites. I have to be honest A good little blogger would blur out all the names and yadda yadda. So if you are planning on stalking me, please don't. Thanks.

Here was our inspiration: The Fi and I saw this on theknot and LOVED it.



We made a bit less stark and more elegant using, of course, chocolate brown and red! I tried really hard to get a good picture of it but this was the best I got:


It was very exciting giving them to our friends and family. Sorry Grandma, yours will be posted soon! Just waiting to hear from Ann about her or Grandpa's postal address :)(Shameless I know! :) )

Sorry to the men out there...I like weddings.

** this post is totally scheduled. I am actually getting dirty and chillin' with the wildlife... err... my family right now!***

I enjoy wedding planning. A lot. I have moments of thinking, "heck I could so do this for a living." I watch Whose Wedding and I can't help but think "I could do that!!"

Th problem is of course that finicky women drive me insane. There that goes off the radar. merr.

Anyway,

My bridesmaid Pookie is getting her dress made for her. LUCKY! It's gonna look like this:



The colours are blood red and chocolate brown. The main portion of her dress is brown with a red sash. She even found a brooch to wear like this:


*Sigh* She's going to look exquisite!


Tomorrow I'll continue the weddingness and post the invitation design since we got those done and out! Hooray!

I like camping

I am really looking forward to this weekend. Its a 5 day weekend for me mostly because my company is taking off Monday and tuesdays is a Public Holiday. This is rad. My family and some friends of the family are all going to make a noise and party til the break of dawn. The Fi can only come part time since his silly boss demands he works on the Monday. Dumb.

So in essence tonight I will look like this



Except in colour. And there will be many more people. woohoo!

My top Seven Favourite things about camping are:

1. The Food. I don't eat bread, chocolate, or any other carbohydrate and I haven't for a month. This wedding means weight loss means no bread or anything like that. So camping means braais! (BBQs) and Potjies! (stewish stuff) and biltong (beef jerky but yummier!)

2. The Fire. burn baby burn.

3. The company. Camping means lots of friends which means lots of laughter and games! which brings me to numero 4

4. Games! I am the poker champion. Bring it on boys!

5. The Fiance. Obviously camping with him is great!

6. The wildlife. I love the possibility that a rhino will crash into my tent. (or not)

7. Camping makes me feel wild and unpredictable. I am just that hardcore!

You know things are getting bad when people get creative.

I'm not sure where I saw this first. Heck, who knows where they see things like this first. In any case, I am being a horrible bloggy lady today and actually going to work. Yesterday i got a 1/2 day at the office and so today I better, you know, pick up the pace.

This is a supposed email that I got off funnyandjokes.com Hope you enjoy it

Modern Sexism?

Last year I was jobless and desperate. I was so desperate I was ready to go into....


Retail.


I figured I knew music better than average folk, and so when I walked by the local music shop and noticed it was hiring I walked in to ask for an application.

Do you know what I was told?

No.

I asked why. (apparently pending humiliation does not act as a strong deterrent.)

We don't hire girls.

I asked why again. (I have no shame)

The hours are long.

Sir, I currently work 12 hour night shifts. I can work. (No I do not know WHY I remained there.)

The shifts are dangerous.

I am hardly someone people mess with. *insert angry eyes*

We have a policy to only hire men.

So me and my curvalilciousness marched right outta there.

I vowed to never ever buy anything from there ever again. No matter how great of a deal it was.

But I failed.

The Fi took me on a date on Saturday and before the movie we ravaged this shop like never before. The sale... was astonishing. R10 per CD. That's $1. Per.CD. *sigh* and they weren't terrible CDs. We scored. And I gloated. In front of the the very man who told me last year I couldn't work there. I have no problem helping him lose money. Surely after this sale, the products that don't sell will be put back on the rack for R180. That's R170 you lose dumb Afrikaans chauvinist. Suck on that!

With great thanks to the Fi, I realised my own hypocrisy. I worked as a cocktail waitress previous to this conversation. I was hired on the spot as most waitresses are and I happened to be one of the longest working female waitresses there. For good reason. But I digress.

I overheard one of my managers turn down a girl because she wasn't pretty enough. What kind of discrimination is that? It's crap and I knew it. At that moment I should have quit. I should have waltzed right outta there. But I didn't.

So as I complain that I was born the wrong gender, I myself removed the rights of the other girl by staying there. By enabling those men to pick and choose and even getting an ego trip out, I became no better than the company who refused to hire women.

So while the man sucks on my wicked deal, I gotta suck on my own inadequacies.

*sigh*

Even I contribute to the discrimination in society.

The Naked Truth

Prompted by Hillbilly's contest I have been thinking a lot about my expression of truth.

It really baffled me. How do I express truth? When has truth been best expressed to me? What is truth? How do I know that it is true? And worst of all how the heck am I going to communicate this to a gaggle of strangers?

And so I thought. A lot. And I worked out clearly what I know truth is NOT.

I really don't buy into relativism. The thought that truth is transient doesn't fit well with me. I am transient. I am fleeting. My mortality encourages my search for truth that is steadfast, unwavering, and strong.

My closest experience to Truth was when I was taking a picnic in the Pilansburg Mountains. I wandered off by myself exploring and found a spot on a gigantic rock overlooking a scene much like this one.

I looked out. The wind picked up and threatened to throw me over. The jutting dead trees littering the ground deep below me offered little comfort. For a brief moment,vertigo gripped me fiercely.

I panicked.

I was going to fall.

In my panic I looked to my feet. They were firmly planted. The rock had been my support and I was, in fact, in no danger. I sat there for a while because, despite being on a cliff overlooking a kilometer plummet, I was completely secure. I was not going to fall.

Truth to me has inherent religious connotations. I have no shame in saying I put my trust and my hope in Jesus Christ. This is rock solid. This is stable. This has found me completely secure in my situation. Much like how I felt on that rock in the Pilansburg, despite the immediate danger I am facing, I am safe. The truth is that when the wind dies down and the sun beats upon my face once again, my feet will remain firmly planted in truth and I will not fall.

Nana's Box

Nana's box is a touching blog supporting the victims of cancer. It is a nonprofit service which provides a photo box to cancer patients who are under going treatment.

This service provides support the patient through volunteers who are interested in the emotional support of cancer patient. She says it more eloquently than I. Go read it here.

Nana's box is doing a fantastic giveaway with the most beautiful pendants! I can't seem to get the pictures of the pendants on here. (darn) But go check it out! There are some FABULOUS pendants! Here is the link for her entire collection.


Go here to enter before 14 December!!

I may not be as computer-savy as I should be...

*sigh* I just figured out how to add badges in HTML to my sidebar. I am finally displaying my two badges to the two sites I am a member of. They rock and stuff and you should totally check em out.

I am writing this tentatively. I was hoping that 8 days into my blog hiatus I would have been inspired. I should have something extremely well written by now surely.
Alas, I am at a loss.

I am stumped. Hillbilly has an awesome contest going on. I can't think of what to say! My expression of truth is... something solid. Something unmoving. Firm and concrete. I may be a thinker, but I don't buy into this relativism of truth. Sorry. If I'm gonna believe in something, its gotta be rock solid. I don't have the means, the strength or the desire to put my hopes in something transient. I am transient and I believe truth is not.

I'm as stuck as the 12 year bubble gum under your chair at the local diner. the ideas are just. not. coming.

Rest is near dear child.

I am weary. I am tired. I need my rest. Tomorrow I will get it.

Today is the end of Nablopomo.

I have learned through this that I may not have that interesting of a life. I am not as witty as I thought I might be and I really don't approve of too much multi tasking. Blogging might just take a back seat for a while.

Then after a few days of some well deserved rest, I will stun you all with my incredible wit, intellengence and perfect grammar once again.

Congrats to all you who made and defeated the Nablopomo monster! Gold Stars all around!

Plans to hijack Airports Consume my Life

The wedding day Itinerary. Who thought of this? Really. I would like to punch their baby. How the heck am I going to know how long it is going to take to do things like speeches -How long I want to spend dancing- What the optimal time is to cut the cake?

Its too bad I can't make the celebration last forever. There are people like the BFF who are flying in. The Fi's best man is flying in from the UK. I want to spend the entire celebration with them. And of course the new Husby.

So I choose to not have an end. Nope. Maybe I should hijack the airport to keep those I want here... Anyone wanna help with this?

Less than 80 days... holy crap.

College Lessons

NaBloPoMo 2008 is almost finished. Somehow I have managed to actually post more than the required amount, write my finals, pass all 13 or my subjects and get three distinctions. yay me. gold star.

I found the following quotes on A Corner... of my Soul. I had to appreciate them. Because well, amen.

"I learned three important things in college - to use a library, to memorize quickly and visually, to drop asleep at any time given a horizontal surface and fifteen minutes." - Agness DeMille, Dance To The Piper, 1952

"A college education shows a man how little other people know." - Thoman Chandler Haliburton

These are the things I learned this year in college. Especially the sleeping one. In fact, I could do with a nap right now...

The normal Thanksgiving schpeel

Apparently today is Thanksgiving. So Happy Thanksgiving! Eat, Drink and be Merry.

Obviously Thanksgiving isn't a holiday (or even mentioned) here. This makes me sad because we could always use a little count your blessings time.

Blessing #1

There is a program that a local radio station is conducting. It is called the Christmas Wishlist by Highveld The idea behind this is that businesses donate goods in order to help people who have had a hard knock in life. This morning an 18 year old girl was the person helped. She was looking at raising R125 000 in order to pay for University. She had lost both parents recently and could not affford this despite being accepted into a very good design school. Standard Bank donated to her all the funds for her fees, meals and everything she would need for the next 3 years.

Generous people who care, this is Blessing #1

Blessing #2

Last night my mother stayed up late with me in effort to finish these damn invitations. Purely anyone who can tolerate me for that long deserves a metal. In this catagory are my incredible friends without whom I would be a blubbering mess of an idiot.

My friends and family is blessing #2

Blessing #3

The Fi. He never fails to make me laugh (even though sometimes its AT him)and to romance me. I am so thankful for him. *sigh*

Blessing #4

I have a job. I do not have a life-threatening illness. I have people around me who support me and those around who don't. I have a place to live. I have food to eat.

Life's big little things is Blessing #4

Blessing #5

Opportunities. There are few people whose pipedreams become reality. I really can obtain my dream. I have so many opportunities to do what I want with my life and that in itself is a HUGE blessing

These Top 5 things are the things that this little South African/ American is thankful for today.

Mememememememememe!

*oops! I posted this without an edit and noticed there were parts that were written really crappy. Ok so maybe I didn't catch all of them but I at least gave it a once over and my laptop has not eaten portions of the text!! :) *

Last week I was tagged. But since I had so many posts half written I forbade myself to skimping out and doing the easy meme. So now that I have cut down on my blog
portions, here I am fulfilling my tagged posts.

This taggity was from Hillybilly Duhn. She is seriously the coolest Hillbilly I know. My Mother's Father lives in Missouri and trust me, she is way more fabulous than him.

1. What is your funniest childhood story?
When I was a kid I liked showing my way cool princess panties to every friend I could. Especially the neighbor boy... I got caught that time and got the worse hiding of my life. Still remember the pain even now... Not funny I know. I am just a not funny kinda gal.

2. What would your dream dress look like if you could design it?
um Pretty. And probably utterly fabulous. And totally not like anything anyone else has worn. It would be shocking!

3. What weird habit does your hubby have?
Hubby-to-be has a few really weird habits But if I were to pick the weirdest...When he gets angry or tired he blows on both his arms. And it relay bugs him if I counter-balance his equilibrium. In fact, it's really really funny when I counter-balance the equilibrium. He freaks.

4. How many cookbooks are in your kitchen?
Just one actual cookbook. The Fi gave it to me for our year landmark of being together. I am still not sure what that means... Maybe I am really that bad of a cook.

5. Granny panties or loyal Victoria Secret girl?
Neither. Temptations baby.

6. My favorite memory from 2008 so far is?

The day that the Fi proposed. *sigh*

7. I secretly...

stutter. Its not really a secret if you've ever heard me do it, but I have gotten really good at not do it. Except when I get really excited or speak spanish. I am a spanish stutterer.

8. I could really go for...

Ice cream. or chocolate. or anything Carb orientated. *sigh of diet sorrow.* *sigh of looking freaking good in my wedding dress*

9. We are going to have a big snowstorm and you will find me...

Dancing in the snowfall then locking myself in the house with candles and hot chocolate!

10. I knew he was the one...

gradually. There wasn't a specific moment when I thought to myself, "I am going to marry this man" Apparently, the Fi had this moment. I just had this peace and sense that gradually grew.


Now to tag 3 more people. I choose...

Sco-man (gotcha back- mwahaha *evilness inserted here*)
Yaya
and
Anna Lefler

PS Totally gotta check out those blogs. They are F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.

Jack Handey is the Bomb Diggity

There are a lot of things that really amuse me. Men with their flies down while trying to pick up girls is hilarious. Funnier than that are the women whose dresses get stuck in their bum cheeks. These are even more funny when either of these people are being jackasses.

However. there is one thing that will ALWAYS get me giggling on the floor.

Jack Handey's little quotes are the funniest things in the world. Except maybe when you watch someone laugh so hard they pee their pants. That probably takes the cake.

Here is a collection of my favourite Handey-isms.

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

If you define cowardice as running away at the first sign of danger, screaming and tripping and begging for mercy, then yes, Mr. Brave man, I guess I'm a coward.

When you go in for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges.

To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other.

We tend to scoff at the beliefs of the ancients. But we can't scoff at them personally, to their faces, and this is what annoys me.

Probably the earliest flyswatters were nothing more than some sort of striking surface attached to the end of a long stick.

Better not take a dog on the space shuttle, because if he sticks his head out when you're coming home his face might burn up.

If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you think liked dolphins the most? I'd say Flippy, wouldn't you? You'd be wrong, though. It's Hambone.

If you're a young Mafia gangster out on your first date, I bet it's real embarrassing if someone tries to kill you.

Children need encouragement. If a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way he develops a good, lucky feeling.

Instead of trying to build newer and bigger weapons of destruction, we should be thinking about getting more use out of the ones we already have.

If you ever catch on fire, try to avoid looking in a mirror, because I bet that will really throw you into a panic.

Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me, you.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Sometimes, when I lie in bed at night and look up at the stars, I think to myself, "Man! I really need to fix that roof."

If you go flying back through time and you see somebody else flying forward into the future, it's probably best to avoid eye contact.

I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.

Whenever you read a good book, it's like the author is right there, in the room talking to you, which is why I don't like to read good books.

Instead of a trap door, what about a trap window? The guy looks out it, and if he leans too far, he falls out. Wait. I guess that's like a regular window.

If I ever get real rich, I hope I'm not real mean to poor people, like I am now.

For mad scientists who keep brains in jars, here's a tip: why not add a slice of lemon to each jar, for freshness?

It's sad that a family can be torn apart by something as simple as a pack of wild dogs.

I hope that after I die, people will say of me: "That guy sure owed me a lot of money."

If you get invited to your first orgy, don't just show up nude. That's a common mistake. You have to let nudity "happen."

*sigh of joy*

Delurking Day

Today we are delurker-ing.

I don't have fancy prizes *sorry* BUT! I want to know who reads these insane posts of mine. So if you read, comment. Then I'll do you the favour.

Even if its just, "Yo yo my home-girl."

Ok?

Ok.

Ready, Steady, Go.

Tagyoureit

Thank you for the tag Average20something and Sco-man!

Here’s the rules for this tagyoureitgame:

1) Each player starts with eight random fact/habits about themselves.
2) People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3) At the end of your blog post, you need to tag eight people and list their names.
Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged and to read your blog.
4) If you have already been tagged and do not wish to go through the exercise then let the taggee know.

Let's rock this thing: Ok...

1)My little toe isn't really a toe. It's more like a stump. No one knows why. The poor things hardly even grow nails...

2) I have three colours of fingernail varnish, bright orange (given to me by Meeka my BFF), grey, and burnt pink (which is nearly finished). So if you wanna send me some more, in more fabulous "married person" colours, it would be appreciated. ;)

3)I have this thing about checking my email. I. Need. To. Check. It. Constantly.

4)Right now I am refusing to eat bread, pasta and potatoes purely because I ate so many of them while I was a starving student

5)My favourite thing to drink is strawberry juice. I feel like a kid everytime I have to suck the seeds from my teeth...

6)I learned this was my favourite drink while working as a cocktail waitress. If anyone asks me if they should be waitresses, I scream a loud NO!.

7)As I type this, I have hairdye colouring my gorgeous locks... And I told the Fi that the time he sees me he had to notice. And tell me I look beautiful!

8)I am terrified of insects. Really freakishly scared. I see one, I cry.


Tagged-a-doodle

1) http://hillbillyduhn.blogspot.com/- The most frequent commenter on my blog
2) Your Artistic View- My first follower
3) Betsy- The woman who introducted me to the Mochaclub
4)Carla- Because her blog is so inspirational.
5) Savy- She is a 'starving' student like me
6) Cindi- She's a fellow 20-something and her blog is raw, honest and a blast to read

The presence of wrinkles made me rethink life

No longer can I look surprised. This facial expression has just become dis-allowed. There is a presence of not one, not two, but three! Wrinkles. On. My. Forehead. ALAS!

Add these to the beginnings of crow-feet on my eyes.... I’m just biding my time before I am a wrinkly saggy woman with a cat on my lap screaming at the neighbourhood kids to stay out of my precious petunias. Oh Lament!

I can see it now... AHK!

Patty Cake

I know what I want. I like lime green, orange, red, grey, brown and black. I do not like yellow. I do not approve of rainbows, flowers, bows or heart motifs. They make me vomit in my mouth.

In fact, to the great dismay of the amazing women trying to help me plan the decor of the reception, I don't ever accept (EVER) something at face value. Something will need to be changed, tweeked or just plain thrown out. I think these are good qualities for a bride to have as long as she can stick to her decision. Which I do. Mostly.

I am getting more and more excited for our four tiered chocolate sponge cake with buttercream icing and fondant. Finally got the picture of what I discussed with the cake artist to show the Fi and I think he is as excited as I am. (Although I think it has more to do with the cake being all chocolate than the design)
This is the design I want. Sort of. It will look like this, except the foundant will have a silver shimmer. The ribbons will be blood red and satin. And instead of weird, random leaves, I would love to have some exotic white flowers cascading down the edge. *sigh*

Our colours are apparently "difficult". It has been a mission to find anything in Blood red and chocolate brown. This cake though, it just worked. This, my blog-friends, makes me a very happy woman.

More pictures to come! Once we finish the invites and do a few mock ups of the table arrangements. (You see anal retentive bride means she and her team of magical women are compiling the music, centrepieces, invites and stationary, decor and set up of the venue. These fairies are the best for putting up with me!)

xoxo

The Pursuit of the Grown Up Within Me

I live in-between worlds at the moment. I am not yet married, but no longer single. I am an adult back living with my parents. I am no longer a student, but don’t really have a steady job yet. I kind of have a position here and there but still drift in almost unemployment. I am almost registered at the distance learning institution but not quite. I still have to find the funds for the first instalment of payment. I am kind of this and kind of that but not definitively in anything.

I am not normally this girl. I usually have a plan A, a plan B and if all else fails, a miserable plan C. I bounce between plan A, B and C but never ever drift between. So this is new and strange to me. I like categorising myself. Giving words to myself makes me feel more understood by myself and even more place-able in the world.

Most of my dissatisfaction stems from my own confusion regarding my studies. I love studying. However I love the Fi more. And so I have to compromise. He is also compromising in his own elements for me and I do not feel at all cheated by this concept. Instead of returning to a University to attend formal lectures, I have opted to study via correspondence. Since the Fi is changing jobs to a company in the East Rand (40 minutes without traffic from Pretoria) I just cannot envision myself having the patience to drive everyday to Pretoria. Maybe for a few weeks but since I want my Masters in English; I cannot promise doing it for a few years. I am just not that motivated. I currently battle to walk the 15 minutes to my lectures. See? Would not happen.

Other motivations are perhaps more personal and revolve around my desire to not tax my marriage from the start, personal convictions about the importance of an education, and that burning edge to get a head start in the writing business are all feeding my hurry to get enrolled.

Not everyone is seeing it this way. The disapproval is based on many of my seemingly bad choices. I am again reduced to that little girl who cannot remember how to tie her shoelace. Ugh! This shouldn’t affect me. I’m too... me to need the green light from others. But I have to be honest here. I need this green light. I need that acceptance.

But I am not going to get it.

I guess this is how one grows up. They make decisions despite their approval rating and take responsibility regardless if it flounders or flourishes. Maybe they drift in-between until they decide and move forward.

So here I am deciding. Moving.

Hoping this doesn’t bite me in the ass.

University has brainwashed me into thinking Trains lead to death.

I am what I call an independent thinker. Or at least I like to think I am. To my parents great dismay I am not a Republican. To societies great dismay I am not a Democrat. I am the great Fence-sitter of philosophical matters.

We were presented with this situation. I would like to hear what you would do. Because I am fence sitting.

Remember it’s my world. So what I say goes ok?

Ok. There is a train travelling at full speed with 10 people on board. The train is heading straight for a brick wall and at impact all 10 people will die.

However, you are capable of changing the path of the train. You can change it to travel down the other path where it will run over just one person. Do you change the path?

Most people in the discussion said an emphatic yes.

But then what if that one person was carrying the cure for cancer or AIDS, would you still change the path?

Most people said an emphatic no.

Then the question was posed, what if that person that would be run over was your child and the person carrying the AIDS cure was on the train... Would you change the path?

I am evidently not a very caring person. I would not change the path regardless. How can one life be any less important that then lives of 10? I am too irresponsible. By taking action I am responsible for the consequences and there is no way I would want to be responsible for the death of someone. The other 10 shouldn’t gotten on a train heading for disaster. But see, it’s irresponsible. And I can talk this in circles for hours ... because no thanks. I will be avoiding trains for a while. A long while.

I just can’t handle this no-answer-makes-you-look-like-a-nice-person situation...

i am a pompous word person.

i am a pompous word person. i am the anal retentive person who hyperventilates when she sees the damned ‘Ten items or less’ sign in the supermarket. Count nouns require ‘fewer’ not ‘less’. Grr.

All the signs for the movie Two Weeks Notice. Ugh. It should be two weeks’ notice.

But i am an inconsistent word person. my own grammar sucks. but i’ll correct your grammar.

i think i suck. and i am terribly sorry my suckiness permeates even grammar. Ugh. suckiness isn’t even a word. blast.

Art people are pompous snobs.

Perhaps I should clarify a few things for my readers who do not know me personally. I am an art person. I am extremely interested in the impact of society and economics on art. That is why I do Art History. It expands my mind, it makes me wrestle with various thoughts and ideas that are explores through art. Ok. So I like art. I am an art person.

BUT! Art people really drive me crazy. Being art people, they are frequently not word people. And they try really hard to be. My lecturer is one of such people. She is really smart and she fancies herself an intellectual. This means she uses really big words which have little meaning to explain a really simple concept. UGH! This is a huge pet peeve of mine.

Why focus on the modernity of something? Instead focus on why something is progressive. Is it necessary to discuss the implications of the ramifications of the socio-economic modernity or can we just say that we need to look at the impact that society and economics play in the modern world?

Perhaps I am a pompous word person. But I just have to say it... clarity in writing is difficult enough to achieve. Don’t try and throw in big words. You sound stupid to those who understand what you write. Big words used in a row can often have undetected (by the writer) redundancy errors. HUGE pet peeve.

In any case, for the average sane person, the meaning gets lost and then what’s the point to writing something no-one understands/ has no significant meaning?

Exactly. There is no point.

Geeky post about books

I recently finished Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I have a few things to say about it.

First though, for those who haven’t read it or forgot the basic storyline....

The story is set on a boat in the late 1800s. Marlow is the main guy and he is telling his four rich ship mates the story of when he did fresh water sailing in the Congo. He got a job with The Company who was concerned with the ivory trade. Marlow is sent to fetch Kurtz an important guy who was known for his methods in ‘dealing’ with the natives. Marlow hears a lot about this Kurtz fellow and when he finally reaches him, Kurtz kicks the bucket. In a nutshell that is the storyline. If you want the actual details go read the freaking book.

*breath*

I tried reading this 77 page novella several times. Each attempt I would reach page 5 and be so exhausted that I couldn’t continue. However, when I did manage to finish I was really impressed. Ok I know, it’s a classic for a reason and I am a fan of classics and yadda yadda but seriously. I was really baffled by the various standpoints the author took on common issues addressed in modern novels.

Firstly the standpoint on Imperialism is very different to modern novels. Conrad’s resounding thought throughout the book is that imperialism has far reaching negative effects, but his focus was not on the natives but on the Europeans. The maxim, ‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely’ is fitting. Conrad’s point is that Europeans, without a check, were more detrimental to themselves that to the natives.

This is interesting to me because if I have to read another book about how evil the European people are who came to Africa to exploit the natives are, I will puke. I am sorry that I am white. I am sorry my ancestors were dumb. Let’s stop writing books saying the same thing ... Yes I am talking about you Poisonwood Bible. Colonisation and Imperialism were atrocities.... So it was nice to not read another book about how mean the whites were to the natives. Because we KNOW they were bad and mean people with bad intentions and yadda yadda (brainwash mumbo jumbo)

Second interesting point: The Role of Women. According to most feminists thinkers, Heart of Darkness is novel that degrades women. Surely they have a decent point. Marlow is constantly annoyed at the naiveté of the women he encounters. But when one thinks about it, Marlow himself was just as naive in his dealings with reality, refusing to see things (especially Kurtz) as they were. Even subtle minor characters, like the Russian guy, held this same innocence. Conrad doesn’t dismiss women as silly and out of touch with reality, but people in general, men and women alike.

Sigh. It is nice to read something that doesn’t blatantly address the female gender as the superior gender. Equality is not superiority. So there.

That is my blub about the Heart of Darkness.

Weigh in. What did you think of Heart of Darkness? What are your views regarding the betrayal of Imperialism (or colonialism) and women in novels, both classic and modern?

Lemme have it!

Oh and can I do this more? Or shall I skip the analysis of the books I read next time (unless of course I HAVE to say something. Cuz its my blog and I can make it suck if I want to) But I don’t want to have the suckiest blog in the history of suckiness. So let me know if I should skip to something else next time...

Because I love my readers I will listen to what you want!

Introducing the Alter-ego

I have an alter-ego. She lives there inside that part of my brain that I don’t really like to look at very much. Bertha is her name and she... scares me.

(I am thrilled to learn that I am not the only one with a split personality. Hillbilly's confession here.)

When things get uncomfortable for the normal me, Bertha comes out in her annoying squeaky voice. If Bertha ever decided to rampage my body I would be one bad ass mother trucker. She’s fat and doesn’t bath and probably lives in her pickup truck on the side of the highway in my skull. And there she'll live, like a parasite...leeching...

And that’s nasty.

I have to admit; most people who see Bertha on a regular basis know her antics well. Those who don’t... well they don’t. And when I try and blame my alter ego.... well, they don’t take too kindly to it. Shifting blame? I am not. I am just telling you about my mental instability.

You see, the brilliant are mental cases. That makes me brilliant. And beautiful. Because Bertha tells me so.

And if no one else will compliment me then Bertha will do it. As much as I hate her treatment of those around me, like that poor girl who used to live in the flat above mine, ehm. Bertha sure is damn nice to me. Its hoes before... everyone else. So maybe I’ll extend her rent a little longer for free. Just tell me I’m pretty again ok? And tell that girl she’s a slutty whore for me too.

Two fewer mochas a month..Totally do-able.

So Betsy commented on my blog post last week regarding an non profit organisation that is concerned with the needs in Africa. I checked it out.

They are attempting to allow normal people like you and I to help with the desperate situation in Africa. For the cost of 2 mochas a month ($7) you can make a difference in the life of several African people.


They have six projects that you can contribute your money to. HIV/AIDS, child mothers (described by the site as: "These young women are called "child mothers" because they were only children themselves when they were abducted, trained as fighters, and given as sex slaves to rebel soldiers in the LRA. Now that they have escaped or been excused as expendable, the community at large rejects them and their children."),Orphan care, Education, Job creation and Sudan regrowth.

The part I like best is this little phrase, "All of our work is through trained indigenous leaders: Africans developing Africa." As a white person in Africa, we are viewed with a whole different level of stigmatisms that only an actual person who had lived in Africa for several years can understand. Americans especially. I find this difficult because I love Africa. But becuase of the understandable nuances that come with being of a different culture I seem helpless to actually provide accurate assistance. But when we can gve the resources and training to indigenous leaders who can teach the general public, we might have a chance to help.

For $7, a lot can be done.

I applaud the mocha club. It's about time that we get involved in the world around us.

If you are interested in getting involved the web address is mochaclub.org

Do something.

To Write Love on Her Arm

Yesterday I wrote love on my arm.

It is a campaign to promote awareness about Self-Injury worldwide. Thousands of people worldwide wrote on their arms in red ink to raise awareness about SI.


This campaign is close to my heart because the cutters I know are close to my heart. No judgements no stigmatisms.

They need understanding. They need hope. They need Love.
See more at towriteloveonherarm.org

Don't stop reading if you think I am lame.

Busy studying today. I know a certian few of my faithful readers might enjoy the thought behind this joke. If not, stay tuned. Because I will try to be more intertaining after examns. (Why does NOBLOPOMO coordinate with the toughest exams?! ugh!)

Ok so heres the joke:

A teacher was retiring after 30 years of teaching, so each child
decided they wanted to bring her a special retirement present. A
little girl who was the daughter of a fine chocolate dealer brought
her a box full of fine chocolates.

A little boy who was the son of a florist brought her a big bouquet of flowers. Another little boy who was the son of a fine liquor dealer brought her a big box that was sealed, and it had something leaking from the bottom of the box. The teacher said, "I bet I know what this is!"

She tasted some of the juices that were leaking from the box and said, "I bet this is some wine!"
The little boy said, "Nope!" She tasted it again and said "Liquor?" The little boy said, "Nope!" She tasted it again and said, "Beer?" The little boy said, "Nope!" She said, "Well what is it?" The little boy said, "A puppy!"

No more Pauses

Today I just want to keep the post short, sweet and simple. This is one of my favourite ee cummings poems. It betrays my... cultured... side and my ridiculous No regrets- love life side. Let me know what you think!

since feeling is first
ee cummings

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;

wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a far better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
--the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids' flutter which says

we are for eachother: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

And death i think is no parenthesis

Quick little barf of words

Wedding plans are going fantatically. yay!


The invitations are almost ready to be shown to the world! It has been so much fun to handmake them. My amazing mother helped us sooooo much. She pretty much designed them herself and they are GORGEOUS!

Even my dad got in on the action of Weddin' cooordinatin'. He actually knows a someone who makes fabulous cakes and flower arrangements. BONUS! We met with her and I can't wait to get started! yay!

Wedding planning is fun. But its CONSUMING MY LIFE!! But then its only 14 weeks until the big day!
Maybe I can hold out going crazy until then...

Cultured is now the politically correct term for Geek.

The last exam I wrote was my English grammar exam. *yes I realise that despite this class I sometimes say a lot of crap very badly*

Anyhow, We were waiting for the exam to begin when people sitting behind me began this convo:

Chick #1: What do you think about this class?

Chick #2: I think it's lame. Who could possibly enjoy a class about grammar. Its like, so boring.

Dude #1: You'd be surprised.

Chick #1: Ya, there are people who actually specialise in this subject.

Chick #2: Holy Crap! You're kidding! How geeky is that?!

Me: (shrink down staring and the giant yellow card in front of me... the yellow card that betrays my field of study. Yes, I am the geeky connoisseur of the English Language who is indeed specialising in grammar.)

My friend Pookie (She would hate knowing that I just called her that in public) has called me a geek since I moved to SA. I didn't read the right magazines, or watch the right TV shows. I did not attend the awesome parties even though I was invited (which apparently is the epitome of Geek-dom I guess). I listened to rock and roll. I tried to read as many books about as much as I could (which might actually BE the epitome of Geek-dom).

But I have decided. Geek is SO last year and now Cultured is the politically correct term and more widely accepted way to refer to us... special people. Plus it sounds more fabulous. And me? I am fabulous. or something. *sniff

The Phone Call of Destiny

I just got the phone call. Every BFF drools over the moment when their BFF from overseas wakes them up with a phone call to tell them something very exciting. Today I got that phone call.

Meeka called to tell me that her boyfriend got down on his knee and popped the ‘will you marry me question’. The subsequent sounds of joy that radiated from my mouth were not really words so much as squeals of joy and excitement. This is so exciting! Not only are we both getting married but we are getting married within the same year! We are so blessed to go from grade2 cuteness into grade 3-6 awkwardness together. We were blessed to go from grade6 into middle school awkwardness together. We were blessed to go from middle school into high school. Although I left before graduation and prom we ‘went through it’ together in spirit. We got our first tattoos together, fought with our dads together, found our faiths together and pretty soon we will both be going from single-dom to man- and-wife-dom pretty close to together.

So here's a huge shout out to my newly engaged BFF. Congrats Meeka! May your lives together always be full of joy and love.

Making the Fi do the hard work.

Making invitations is hard work. The Fi is measuring and cutting squares of papers, my mother and her friend are stamping on the squares and me? I man the printer adn look pretty. Or maybe woman the printer. (Sh, they don't know I am actually blogging and not arranging the RSVP wording.)

I think I have found my favourite part of wedding planning. The arranging of details and the preparing of fun stuff just tickles me! The wordings the colours the smells and tastes. Perhaps I have missed my own vocation. But then something goes wrong and ugh. I am so glad I am doing this once. SOrry Fi you are stuck with me! I am never doing this again!! :)

ahk! Ok so I have been caught...

The gig is up.

Christmas beetles buzzing in my ear means its time to pull out the fly swatter.

Christmas in South Africa is tainted. Not only is it blooming hot and sticky over the 'snowy season' but you have to get a plastic tree. *Cringe*

Also with this time of the year the blasted Christmas beetles come out to play. They are excellent pilots when they are aiming for my open mouth or blinking eyeball. They are lame. Today I saw my first one of the season. Bring it on beetle! I got the super fab fly swatter. You are going down...

Refusing to forget Joy

Today I am admitting to my most pathetic attribute. I have my moments of sentimentality. I know. I am lame. Today is the 7th. Meaning me and the Fi have been together for 18 months. Maybe I am pathetic but this makes me happy.

I like thinking about the things we have gone through and the things we have accomplished. It is fun and inspiring.

Like the time we played putt-putt and I slipped in the water and he caught me. *sigh* or the time when he brought me flowers after my surgery. And the time he wrote me a song. And the time when he pgot down on his knee to ask me to be his wife... and the time.... See it's fun!

So enjoy today and relish in the moments that you may forget if you let yourself.


Keep the joy today! And happy Friday! And day...7 of NaBloPoMo!

Music Actually Rules the World....We just don't realise it yet...

Happy Thursday everyone! It is a glorious day considering 1. We have already passed Wednesday, the worst day of the week and 2. because tomorrow is Friday. And although I write an exam until late and will thus be missing the normal Fri night with the Church youth playing games and chatting about life, love, and Jesus Christ, I am really looking forward to one week closer to being done with this year of University.

Because today is so incredibly rocking, I have a game just to pass the time. Yes these are lame. No you don't have to finish reading this post. Unless I tagged you. In that case, you better or the force of a thousand ninjas on speed might just harass you in your dreams....

RULES:

1. Put Your ITunes/ music player on Shuffle

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT (or else tiny leprechauns will come to your house and eat you! or something)

Here we go:

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY?" YOU SAY:

Man Who Sold the World- Nirvana

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?:

Falling for the First Time- Bare Naked Ladies

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Nothing Ever Changes- DC Talk

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

And Can it Be? - Rob Watson

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

Knocking on Heaven's Door- Guns and Roses

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

Introduction to Destruction- SUM 41

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Du Riechst So Gut- Rammestein (Like I even know what this means! They just rock hard and tight)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?

I Alone- Live

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Bloody Sunday- U2

WHAT IS 2+2? (WTFH?)

Show me Heaven- Jessica Andrews (No, no, no. I can't believe I have this on my playlist! BARF)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Zero- Smashing Pumpkins (LIES! I love my BFF!)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Crash - Dave Matthews Band (*Sigh)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Am I Understood- Relient K

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Bats- Tourniquet

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Elderly Woman Behind the Counter- Pearl Jam (LOL! I just died laughing.)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Son of a Preacherman- Dusty Springfield (Ok.. so the Fi is a son of a preacherman...)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

The Closest Thing to Crazy- Katie Melua (Uber cute... awwwww)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

I Believe in a Thing Called Love- The Darkness (Um.)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

One- Simple Plan (Um. again. Maybe disgruntled maladjusted teens?)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

The Battle of Forevermore- Led Zepplin

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

Over the Hills and Far Away- Nightwish (The definition of ironic. This song, this question. I miss my BFF!)

WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?
Pain for Pleasure- Sum 41 (Fitting I guess...)

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG?

End the End- Linkin Park

TAGGED:

1. Hillbilly Duhn
2. Your Artistic View
3. Carla
4. Will Robson
5. Savy


Ok, so if you are bored- this was amusing. Give it a try... Especially if you are bored. ha! Or just writing exams like me and do nothing exciting despite trying to post more frequently. Lame!

'Til the morrow!

Life in the Big City

This post was saved and I accidently posted it early before I was ready for it to be read. I am sorry if you read it before I could remove it. My comedic genius was working on making it funny (obviously!)...

Yes I do realise that Pretoria (or Tshwane as we are to now call it) is far from a thrilling city. Full of the backwardness of poor city planning I am now knee-deep in dutchmen-ville. I do get teased for the way my South African accent is turning more Afrikaans and that I no longer need to read the subtitles of 7 de Laan. I say things like 'too much of' , 'ja', and I have even caught myself saying the dreaded, 'Can like to be'. My grammar has gone out the window. All because I study English at TUKKIES! (too bad I can't record the way that has to be said. Because there is a way to say it so that is sounds strong powerful and very Afrikaans.)

So, that leads to today's thought. These are my top 13 tips to living as an American in Pretoria.

1. Don't tell anyone that you are American. Either they will ask you something retarded like whether or not you know Oprah or their third cousin twice removed who lives in Canada, or they will try to rip you off trying to make you think that you have to pay to walk on the sidewalk.

2. Don't leave your windows open at the traffic lights. The beggars/hawkers will reach into your car and steal your stuff. And you probably like your stuff and don't want to chase a one or two legged man down the street just to get your cellphone back.

3. Try not to speak. You accent will give your nationality away. See Number 1.

4. Learn Afrikaans. It is a lot of fun to eavesdrop when no one knows you understand what they are talking about. Hours of entertainment here... Especially when you get the luck of them talking about you while you are in the room.

5. Don't drink the water. No, really, I think someone might have died in the reserve they pump it from. When people drink it for extended periods of time they begin to like Steve Hofmeyer and adore Vernon Koekemoer and say things like 'Can like to be'.

6. One word. Loftus. Avoid it and the traffic created by it.

7. Don't bother trying to find parking. Walk everywhere. Sure it might be more dangerous, but if you take your car it will most likely get stolen then you will have to walk home anyway.

8. If someone says 'for you my friend I'll give you special price' understand one thing. You are not their friend, everyone gets the 'special' price and you are most likely getting ripped off.

9. Buy a new map book every 6 weeks. Pretty soon after all the name changes you won't know where you are going. Ever. Try and keep ahead of the game.

10. Don't give money to ANC supporters. Despite failed promises, a collapsing economy and increase after increase in everything from the 60% increase in electricity prices to the incredibly ridiculous taxes to interest rates they will continue to vote ANC until they die.

11. Learn how to ride a dead horse. You have to deal with things not working. Broken this and that, Bank systems will be offline and even power outages when you want to cook dinner/dry your hair. If you understand how to ride a dead horse maybe you will cope easier with all the dead things in Tshwane.

12. Eat at Po's Kitchen. It's the best Chinese in the world. Expect maybe in China. And say hi to Po for me!

13. Don't carry money while you walk home. Spend it all while you shop. Black people who are dressed better than you, who actually still have a car and have their party of choice in government will probably stop you and give you a long story about their brother's sister's cousin's child who is hungry and how a neighbor gave him a meal and now he needs money to buy a thank you gift to the child's neighbor. Confused? I was too.

Missing the Rainy State

Sometimes I really miss Oregon. REALLY miss it. I found this list (thanks mom!) and had to share it for some joy!! You know you are from Oregon when....

1. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
2. You use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.
3. You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
4. You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
5. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
6. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal.
7. You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain.
8. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima, and Willamette.
9. You consider swimming an indoor sport.
10. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark—while only working eight-hour days.
11. You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
12. You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
13. You have no concept of humidity without precipitation
14. You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
15. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.
16. You notice, "The mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can actually see it.
17. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.
18. You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks on.
19. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
20. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or people from california
21. You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time.
22. You measure distance in hours.
23. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
24. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk season (Fall).
25. Your grandparents drive at 65 mph through a rain storm without flinching.
26. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
27. You carry jumper cables in your pickup and your wife knows how to use them.
28. Driving is better in the winter because almost everybody stays home.
29. You blame everything that's not right on ex-Californians.
30. You are sitting at a red light surrounded by Subaru Legacy Outbacks.
31. A tree or mudslide has ever damaged your house or car.
32. You live equidistant to a symphony hall, a winery, and a volcano.
33. Your children learned to walk in Birkenstocks.
34. You complain about Californians as you sell your house to one for twice as much as you originally paid.
35. You only honk your horn if collision is imminent and never for anything else.
36. You consider something a "hill" (not a mountain) if it doesn't have snow on it or has not recently erupted, regardless of its altitude.
37. You find a wallet with $500 and give it back to the owner.
38. Know at least eight people who work for Intel or Nike, or used to work for Tektronix.
39. You think skiing always means being covered from head to toe, in snow or water.
40. Have ever called your insurance agent to ask if your homeowner's policy covers falling trees, flooding, or mud slides
41. You believe swimming is not a sport but a survival skill to prevent boating deaths.
42. Obey all traffic laws except "keep right unless passing."
43. You think downtown is "scary" because you were panhandled there....once...
44. You know that Burgerville has the best hamburgers...ever.
45. You have only used 5 main freeways/highways: I-5, 217, 205, 26, and 84.
46. You know that Kindergarten Cop and The Goonies were filmed in Astoria and Cannon Beach, respectively.
47. You know where Astoria is.
48. You think that the Beach is the best place to go for vacation, or just for a day off.
49. You love going to the Original Pancake House....because its original....
50. You take pride in Lewis and Clark and know who Sacagawea is.
51. Were excited when the Crater lake, Oregon quarter came out.
52. You went to Washington Square....just to eat lunch at Panda Express...or Scoozi.
53. You love the smell of rain.
54. You are the only person in the line at the grocery store who asks for paper, not plastic (because while paper "kills trees" it is recyclable, and plastic bags will sit in our landfills for the next millennia).
55. You know the exact day you had school off because it snowed like....one inch.
56. You have been to camp 18...or just driven by it.
57. You are sad during christmas because it never snows in the valley.
58. You know where the valley is.
59. You go out of state and wait in your car for someone to pump your gas.
60. Your state and local legislatures are republican but your state executives and national representatives are democrat.
61. You are more concerned about packing a sweatshirt or a jacket when going to the beach than packing a bathing suit.
62. You smile at people you don't know as you walk by them on the sidwalk.
63. People call you a hippy and you just smile because you can't hear them over the grape-nuts.
64. you make subtle remarks about washington drivers, but save your real road rage for california drivers.
65. You've witnessed 300 nude bicyclists just cruising around downtown like its no big deal.
66. You yield to pedestrians who are standing on the sidewalk.
67. You know that it is illegal to buy or sell marijuana, but it is legal to smoke it on your own property.

Television heartbreak

I am not a big fan of the TV. I don't have access to one 5 days of the week and its only when I stay with my parents that I veg into oblivion in front of the TV. I hate it. Don't get me wrong... I love certain progams (obviously!) And certian movies- (like yesterday I sat drooling, plastered to the TV watching Health Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You *sigh*) Ok, so despite my adoration to certain elements of TV, there are very uncool elements. Like my unstimulated brain. I come up with no new ideas, no new explorations, no new thoughts while I am absorbed into the TV. Where as when I read, I marvel at more. Even when I watch movies I can think about what makes it successful, why I am enjoying it (other than great looking men). Because as a novelist, you are trying to keep your readers attention for 2+ hours just like a film writer/producer/director.


I received this is a post from Dumblittleman in my email box the other day. Other than my weekly one hour of Wives or Greys, i really should cut out the other crap- like How do I look, Isaac and Clean House (TSN network should die! It is the ultimate time sucker)


Treating The TV Addiction

• Thirty Day Experiment. Take it upon yourself to start a 30-day experiment, in which you will not watch a single minute of TV. After this month is complete, feel free to analyze the results and make an informed decision. After the 30 days, it's solely up to your discretion if you want to go back to TV, or if you'll take on a new, more fulfilling hobby.


• Journal Your Progress. In retrospect, it's not always easy to see day-to-day progress because we simply and easily forget our experiences. Your mission will be to take a few minutes at the end of each day to write about how you spent your TV-free time, how you felt about this, and any other ideas that you have during this time period.


• Insert Good Habits. Whenever you're taking out a bad habit, it is important to insert a good habit into the void. Otherwise, this void, which works like a vacuum, will suck you right back into your bad habits. Below I will list 5 things you can do during your prime time, other than watching TV.


• General Task List. Make sure you keep a general task list of things you can pick up and do at absolutely any time (much like the items you see in the list below). This way when you get a brain freeze and can't think of your next action, and your daily to-do list is empty or requires action from someone else to begin, you'll have something productive to do to fill in the time-gap.
  

5 Smarter-Than-TV Tasks

• Clear You Mind (And Your Desk). It's common sense that when you're in a clean and organized environment that you're mind will be clearer and more focused on the task at hand, instead of the mess at hand. Take a few minutes to make a clean-task-list in which you'll categorize which areas of your work-area, or your home, need to be cleaned up.
  
  
  • Work Desk
  • File Drawers
  • Book shelves
  • Bathroom
  • Bedroom
  • Kitchen
  • Living Room, etc.
  
  I know it can be mind-boggling to look at the way you've let your area go, which makes it hard to get started. However, if you take 15 minutes a day in order to speed-clean a certain area, it will make it much easier, or unnecessary to clean on "cleaning-day." This is a task I love to do while plugged into an audio book or into some speedy techno music.
  
  Other than organizing your living area, you'll also want to organize your mind by having yourself a...


• Mental Vomit (Onto Some Paper). One way to clear your mind and focus is to organize your physical environment. Another very useful way is to organize your internal environment. This includes sitting down with that ol' pen and paper (or in my case MacJournal), and doing some major planning. Some of the things you can plan out are:
  
  
  • Tomorrow's Task List
  • Weekly Goals and Task List
  • Monthly Goals
  • Yearly Goals
  • 5 and 10 year Goals
  • List of things to-do before you kick the bucket.
  
  At this point you must think I'm some kind of organization freak, even if I do only half of the things that are on this list. However, experience dictates a few very important facts about organizing your thoughts into task lists.
  
  
  1. If you trust your mind to remember what's important, you're going to forget.
     
     
  2. If you keep too many open-loops of things you need to be doing, you're going to procrastinate on getting them done.
  
  
  3. If you write it down, your much more likely to get it done.
  
  Remember, planning is a time investment that earns huge dividends. Without constantly setting goals that make you reach outside of your comfort zone, you're bound to settle into a life that is neither exciting nor anything greater than mediocre.
  
  While measured output is a great way to spend time, another productive skill set to adopt is...
  


• Read For Fun and Profit. What are YOU filling your brain with today? Is it the TV junk that's all geared toward making you a top-of-the-line consumer, or hand-picked books that will improve your character, increase your knowledge, help you get some culture, and teach you skills that you've always wanted to have?
  
  Prime time is a huge chunk of time that you can use to read. Reading is much better for your brain than television, because it's 'usually' not full of commercial advertisements, and doesn't flip between images every 7 seconds or more. With reading, you really have a much better chance of monitoring your brain's input.
  
  You can read novels for fun, self-improvement books, or books that will help you make money directly or through your field of work. It's also a pretty nice way to unwind and relax after a long day of work while expanding your vocabulary.
  
  All this sitting around is highly productive, but once that's over with, it's time to get your butt up and...
  


• Burn Baby, Burn! (Like disco inferno?) Okay, well, what I'm talking about is exercise. You've been watching TV for so long, and gawking/envying all the hard body actors and actresses, that you're practically an expert of what sexy is, and know just how sexy you'd like to be yourself.
  
  I don't want to tell you that you'll be happier if you get your body into stellar shape. It might, or it might not, that is really not of any consequence. What I can tell you is that you'll have an overall feeling of well being if you do daily exercise, which will strengthen your muscles, give you more energy, and invigorate and focus your mind. Some of the ways in which you can do this are...
  
  
  • Take up running. This is something that I just got into myself. If you're not in the best shape of your life, you can start out by walking, then walking faster, then jogging, until finally you're able to run. The key is constant and never ending improvement.
  
  
  • Pick Up Games. You can find a fun pick up game at your local park, gym, or social club. The key here is that the people and the fun will keep you coming back, and the sport will get your sweaty and feeling good.
  
  
  • Exploration/Shopping. You want to be active, and you need to do this no matter what. A fun way to do this is to walk around (or bike, or run), and explore a new area. Explore a new city, park, or even a shopping center if that's what you're into. Go at a fast pace that is comfortable, but challenging, so that your heart rate is increased and you're actually doing some work!
    
  
  
• Bondage, bond... I mean family time. Someone somewhere gave family time a bad name. It doesn't have to be arguing, fighting, and hating on each other as often portrayed on TV. The difference between TV and real life is that on TV someone else makes the plot; in life our actions and decisions dictate how the movie will play out.
  
  Generally speaking, your family members are the group of people whom you can most trust and rely upon. On the other hand, these people can be the most critical of you as well, which could make them a less than ideal group to come to when you have problems.
  
  This creates a fun game you can play during prime time every day. Build the amazing relationship that you've always wanted with your family, while they're still around for you to enjoy them. You can do this in so many ways, that the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
  
  I'm talking about cleaning together, planning together, reading together, exercising together, and yes, even having family time together as a family. I know it's a stretch. You can make money together, pray together, accompany each other to social events, aid each other in fortifying your morality, ethics, and character.
  
  When you start thinking of your family as home base and strengthening this social foundation of your life, you'll notice a lot of magical things happening. You'll feel better in general, as well as get a lot of support in areas of your life. Next, you'll notice that your relationships with other people are getting exceedingly better as well.
  

This list represents just a few things from an infinite list of activities that are better and more productive than watching TV. I'm sure you can think of even better ways to spend your TV free time.

Written on 10/27/2008 by Alex Shalman. Alex is an avid reader and is constantly learning how to improve his life. You can catch him at Practical Personal Development .

Ok, so I definitly cannot commit to everything on the list. But I can cut out TSN. Except for Whose Wedding - thats like IDEAS time! :)