Project 52: twelve

Yesterday I did an exciting and adventurous thing. I went on an expedition and met a friend from the internet! Danielle was one of the first people I met back in the day on Livejournal. I'm not quite sure how exactly we met but we both loved Jesus, Doctor Who and reading and it all sort of snowballed from there.

I've never met someone from the scary world of the internet before but you know what? It ended up being totally fine. I had a false alarm when I first walked into the shopping centre and a middle-aged brunette lady waved at me. I was like "um... wow, she looks really different in real life" and then I discovered that the lady was waving to someone behind me.

The only strange thing for me was technically I was meeting a person for the first time but I already knew them. So we kinda bypassed all the normal things that you'd talk about when meeting someone for the first time. It was kind of like it *should* have been the start of a friendship, but we were actually already in the middle of a friendship instead.

We discovered that we were both banned as children from watching a lot of TV so it's nice to know I'm not the only person in the world excluded from childhood TV nostalgia related conversations. We also both agree that men look better with a 1940s sidepart in their hair. The only downside to our friendship is that Danielle is not as keen on popcorn as me but we decided that we could look beyond that. Well, actually Danielle decided that we could look beyond that. I'm not so sure but I guess it means I don't have to share TOO much of my popcorn so I guess it's ok :)

The only bad thing was that I kept forgetting words because I was all excited and nervous but luckily Danielle is super articulate and knew which words I was forgetting and would supply me with them. A very good friend to have around! I look forward to our next meet up and am so happy that I have a new-ish friend in Brisbane!

Project 52: eleven

I don't have a picture for this one but instead I'll try and create a picture with words.

We have a tradition in my house. Tuesdays are not called Tuesdays in my house. They are called Blu Ray Tuesdays.

We live near a small shopping complex which has a video/DVD/whatever store and a pizza store. Both have something going called "Cheap Tuesdays". This is amazing, $1 movies and cheap pizzas. It means we watch a movie and eat pizza every Tuesday. This is the kind of life you dream about when you're eight years old. And sometimes... we'll watch TWO movies! I know, the scandals that go down in this house! It's like an episode of a reality show on MTV with all this drama and edginess running around.

I love these times with my roomies. We all have differing taste in movies but we can usually find one or two DVDs that will keep us all happy. And if not happy, then we can at least jeer together at the characters onscreen.

Project 52: ten

This desk is, quite frankly, disgusting.

And yet it shows exactly where I am, literally and figuratively, in my life right now.

We have empty water bottles, a wine glass and a tea cup scattered around.

There's an open pack of lollies floating around. Now that I look at the photo, I can see that there are three.

There are stacks and stacks of paper- handwritten scrawls, photocopied sheets.

I couldn't leave my laptop screen up because then it would reveal that I am spending copious amounts of time reading Robin Hood fanfiction. (I have banned myself from facebook... but honestly that's not the main time waster in my life right now!).

I have two half done assignments to show for it. I need to step it up, big time.

And then amongst all this mess, there's two sunny flowers bravely trying to shine their brightness in the darkness. It reminds me that I need to focus on the calm, not the storm. I need to be the light, not the dark.

Project 52: nine

I'm pretty sure that the first clue you're a sociopath is when you torture small animals.


Nilly actually didn't mind it at first. Plus it was too much fun peering out into the garden, unsure where she was because of her size... and then you spot the bright yellow balloon :)

But then half an hour later, she came into my room and did this, so the balloon was removed.

It was a fun way to spend half an hour on a Sunday morning. Nilly's still my friend (she's cuddled up on the sofa next to me) so all's well that ends well. Yes, quoting Shakespeare is a great way to end a blog post!

Project 52: eight

Sunday afternoon, assignment has been handed in and I'm taking a breather before Monday morning rolls around and school and assignments are back in session.

I'm sitting in the sun, I've got my book, I've got my glass of wine, I've got my, I mean roomie's, dog, I've got my bag of chips. I'm set.

Project 52: seven

I love my job. There I said it. I never, ever thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever be able to utter that phrase with a straight face and an honest heart.

You get to cradle life in your hands, whether you are holding them one last time and easing the pain or patching them up so they can go on to bright new adventures.

It's such a privilege and whilst I am basically a poorly paid cleaner with a cool uniform, I hope I never lose this wonder and love that I have.

Project 52: six

Overwhelmed.
I have a crushing feeling in my chest and a panic in my head.

I just have to remember to stop, breathe and think.

I can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Project 52: five

When I was small, I adored dinosaurs.
When I was older, I discovered dragons.

My love for dinosaurs disappeared but my love for dragons remained.

I never liked the stories of dragons stealing maidens or being vanquished by dashing heroes because that's not what dragons did.
Surely everyone knows that dragons are shy and grumpy, wise and kind and above all, brave and noble. That they love nothing more than solving a good riddle and hate to hear a child crying.

I often feel like I'm the only one who knows that. Everyone else just sees dragons as bad and that's the end of the story. I've always wanted a dragon charm but hardly anyone sees them the way I do, which means that their dragons are menacing and evil looking.

Finally after about fifteen years of searching, I found my dragon charm. There's not a harsh bone in his body and to me, I can see a cheeky spark in him and the wisdom in his eyes.

It's silly but it's made me so happy that my search is finally over.

Project 52: four

She is sitting in the sun, reading.
"She's almost a hundred" my father whispers as we make our way towards her.
I watch, fascinated. I have a teensy weensy obsession with those that reach that magical number.

She looks up as my father introduces us. She eyes me as keenly as I do her. She holds out a hand to me and I take it. She doesn't shake my hand like I expected her to, instead she merely holds it.

Her hand feels like the cliche of soft crepe paper and it feels nice. Her thumb rubs against the back of my hand and I wonder if she is marvelling at the texture of my hand, as I am hers.

I notice the book she is reading and it is one that I have read. I mention it and we chat about books. Is she young at heart or am I an old soul? I know the answer.

My dad says that we must go. She squeezes my hand once and relinquishes her hold.
We leave.
I wish I had stayed.

Project 52: three

I love living in a house where I can open up the fridge and find homemade white & milk chocolate mousses just chilling out.

I love living with people who host fancy dinner parties where I get to eat the aforementioned mousse.

I love when people cancel at the last minute and I can bask in the knowledge that they are fools and I will eat their unclaimed mousses.

Project 52: two

It's almost ten years to the day that I moved to Australia.
I switched rain for sun
but there were plenty of negatives too.

snakes & spiders

crocs & cockroaches

sharks & jellyfish

I spent the first six months religiously checking inside my shoes before slipping them on
I've spent ten years not swimming in the ocean

This week, my luck ran out.
I had a brush with one of the nasties- one, may I add, that I was in no way warned about.
I was unprepared
for the terrifying, the fear inducing

... ant

The pain was excruciating,
breath-taking (<-- see what I did there??)
And as I fumbled in my shirt to see what had bitten me,
it bit me again.
I shook it out of my shirt
and as I lifted my foot to exact my revenge
it scuttled down a crack in the pavement.


Please note: this photo was taken four days after the terrible incident. SO SO painful! Everyone was like "meh, it's just an ant bite, deal with it". No sympathy whatsoever!

Project 52: one

Suddenly I am 17 again
The same restaurant with the same people.
I'm sure we look the same but time has changed us
Time shifts again as we talk about babies, houses and husbands
None of them ours

We cackle like middle aged women-
raucous and people turn to stare
But we are young and vibrant
The world is ours.

Some of us part ways,
I akwardly imitate 20-something gal pals from countless hours of television watching
a hug, a kiss, a promise to meet up soon

We drive home together, listening to the music of our teens
As we both unconsiously mimic the voice and movements of the singer, we catch ourselves and laugh.

Breathless, I discover we are ageless.