Cat-astrophes

Yeah, interpret that.

xxx

Bad habit #34 - distraction:

I often get distracted by shiny things. More often than not, these shiny things involve fire. However, on days like today, 'shiny things' is a broader category.

I don't think my computer has been disconnected over the past 3 hours - yet I have probably sat here for a total of 20minutes during that time.

There's just too much else to look at.

Like my fish.

I have a few zebra-something-or-others. Now, when I first bought these fish I was told that they were schooling fish. They needed one another for comfort and safety. I could deal with that - they could keep each other company whilst my goldfish swam around in circles looking pretty all day.

Unfortunately my goldfish died over a period of time. They were old and lived a happy life sucking algae from pebbles.

Since the absense of these gentle giants, I have noticed a rather alarming change in these 'schooling fish'.

They have become territorial.

Each fish measures a mere 3cm in length, but they guard their section of the fishtank with all passion, aggression and fervor! One in particular patrols the front of the tank methodically. Another peeks from beside a piece of driftwood, and the other swims back and forth at the back. If someone swims a little to close to the borders of someone else's territory...look out!

It's complete aquarium anarchy.

I think one of them likes to stir up trouble for the fun of it too.

Reminds me of someone I know....

(I can almost see someone's ears going red right now...)

Maybe fish really only do school for security - and when the possibility of danger is erradicated, their greed for power takes over. A selfish relationship indeed... (George Orwell eat your heart out...)

Oh yes, and what of the doctors?? FREEDOM!!!!

for awhile...

No more needles at least for (hopefully) 6 months.
*that* is something to lift a glass to (latte of course)

xxx

I'm not cut out for flatting...

My flatmate (temporary flatmate) came home yesterday and I hid in my room. I got bored quickly, so came out for a moment, was bombarded with questions so hid outside on the balcony. When she realised that I was only outside and 'not asleep' I was bombarded with more questions. So I got to cleaning...

...then I went to sleep.

Is this what that stereotype is all about where husbands say all they want is peace and quiet, but the Mrs keeps chattering? I think I now understand...

Anyway...off to the doctors for round 6....


xxx

I never made it out of the house - I ended up wrestling with the ancient warlord 'Laundroid'.

Don't be alarmed, I overpowered him with a combination of fabric softener and magical washing powder.

I then puzzled over how to hang 3 loads of washing including manchester in a small flat (sharing washing machine and hanging space all of a sudden has put a temporary spanner in my independant routine...). Quite pleased with the idea to hang dark, damp sheets over open windows, I read infront of my new solar powered 'evaporative cooler...'. Thankyou global warming.

The charm was, the sheets were all but dry within minutes (or tens of minutes...) and by the time they were all folded there came a storm!!!So I spent the next hour dancing from window to window (after a rather close strike pulled me off the balcony and back inside).

Anyway, one last thing to share...a photo from my recent adventure abseiling...

This was obviously not the descent, but a bit of a walking track (and a rickety one at that) leading down to some rocky ledges by the ocean. Absolutely spectacular views, but I have to admit I was in love with this 'path'.

Even though doom felt imminent, it had such a rustic charm about it.

...and the way the water swirled around underneath like my washing did this morning, made everything so Indiana Jonesish...

I felt like doing a summersault all the way down...

...but that would be silly.

 

It's early, and it's hot.

Okay, I know it isn't as hot as it has been this summer, but it is still enough to be sticky and uncomfortable. Which has again lead me to wonder what I can do with today that could revolve around getting cooler.

I did this very thing on that 47 degree day...the New Year was spent searching for air-conditioning. I am proud to say that when I wasn't at church or in a cafe, I was soaking in a pool - right up until that change blew through at 10pm...

Now I have a single warm line on my head where there is a crack in the curtains. If I move about 2 centimetres every 5 minutes I'm sure I could be char-grilled by 9am.

Enough babble...on with the search.

I think I'll begin with coffee before it gets too hot for that.


xxx

Last night after seeing a friend play at a gig somewhere in south Sydney I stood outside in the rain. I was watching the drops fall infront of a street lamp - they appeared to be floating in slow motion to the ground. I didn't realise I had a smile on my face, and I didn't realise they were watching.

"You really enjoy the simple things, don't you?"

I decided to make a day of simple things.

Unfortunately there wasn't anymore rain, however I *did* manage to get lost trying to find my way to Balmoral. Instead I decided to find the simple things in Manly, because that's where I ended up.

I found a little cafe and had THE BEST LATTE I'VE HAD IN YEARS. Then celebrated the coffee with a big fat gourmet chicken burger (marinated chicken breast...crispy bacon....toasted tasty cheese....drool drool drool) and salad.

Then on the way home I did indeed find Balmoral, and enjoyed a walk, the scenary, the wind, the sand (tasty). Good photo oppurtunities there...

Then I enjoyed a Cat-nap...as all people should do.

Now I am reliving uni-music and have pulled out old mini-discs (Soko - In November Sunlight and Tim Reynolds - Common Margins) to listen to music with no complicated fandangled lyrics (after having Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl' stuck in your head for a day it is a much-welcomed break, believe me!)

Tonight I'm off to a salsa social...but not before one big fat coffee and a Lindor chocolate...dark of course...

xxx

Every now and then, somebody comes into your world with a couple of words that stick with you for a lifetime.

They may be words that give you hope - for Oprah it was a woman that let her know she was beautiful.

They may be words that destruct - "hey, you're smart....who would've thought?"

They may simply be words that keep you guessing.

Two years ago a friend made a statement about a personal matter that didn't mean much to me at the time besides 'what does he mean by that?'. Stranger still was that it turned out he was right, I was wrong. Then came the questions that I still wonder to this day - what could he see that I couldn't? What made him say that statement in the first place?

What it was that he said is irrelevant. What I find intriguing that it still haunts me to this day. I'm sure if I was to ask him about it, he probably wouldn't have a clue what I was on about - so often we blurt out words that exist only for the moment they were spoken in, and become nothing to us who said them. However for the person we spoke them to, they become milestone moments that have the potential to change the very course of our lives.

Ooh...I'm deep today!



xxx

The butterflies have returned with a vengeance. Infact I think they have become carnivorous and are currently enjoying rennovating my insides.

Strangely they have never been this bad before - so although this whole process is scary, I'm finding it intriguing also.

Still awaiting my doctor to return from his holidays so I can get the results from the last blood test. Still off red meat and iron-rich foods. Still dropping like a zombie at 8pm. Still forcing myself to stay awake.

Still drinking coffee...

Actually, that is probably the one thing that hasn't benefitted at all throughout this whole health-thing. Since being told that caffeinne inhibits iron-intake I have found it to be a new reason to drink it! I've stopped limiting myself to 3...and lately 4 cups have become a daily minimum. Still a far cry from the old days, but still not good on the old system. The other day I wandered around with a splitting headache before realising that I hadn't had a coffee in 24 hours. I stumbled to the nearest cafe and within 20minutes the headache had vanished.

Hi. My name is Cat. And I have a problem...


xxx

Why is it that when granted time, time escapes?

For some reason I have an expectation of holidays such that I spend hours a day running through meadows, sipping pineapple juice from a coconut shell on the beach, sleeping under a shaded tree, sailing dreamily down the river, watching the sunlight play on the ripples whilst napping on a gondola on the harbour...

Instead, I have been filing papers, paying bills, organising budgets, washing clothes, dusting and reorganising cupboard space.

Oh how romantic.

Still, it makes me even more appreciative of Christmas day. Some lovely person took me to a lake nearby that I didn't know about. There are some amazing views there and they showed me a few vantage spots. I think I might frequent it a bit more. At least I can say I've done *something* these holoidays so far!!

xxx

Long time no blog.

My motivation for writing was the fact that I'm now on holidays - hooray!!

I actually began my break with yet another blood test (what a way to celebrate), though the bruising was nowhere near as bad this time through. However, I did almost pass out on the way out...though I think that was more to do with the fact that I had to fast for the 12 hours prior to it.

Anyway...will find the results of those in a fortnight...my doctor conveniently went on holidays....

I've discovered that I am teaching year 1 next year...exciting and scary at the same time. Non-English-Speaking ankle-biters...this ought to be fun.

It has also been brought to my attention that I didn't bring closure to shannanigans. Let me just say there is a reason why I act before I think.

My partner in crime was a little too excited and decided to tell a few people. A few people became a lot of people. A lot of people think too much. The lady who was looking after the keys began to rationalise too much, and, well...let me just say she refused to let us anywhere near the car.

Talk about no humour.

So the car is safe...the boss is clueless...and now the rest of the staff has cottoned on to the fact that you have to watch the quiet ones. *sigh*

xxx

Is it really appropriate for 'exes' to send Christmas Greetings? I know intrinsically there is nothing wrong with it. So why am I reacting so negatively to a cutesy-wutesy card? Is it simply because I partly never want to hear from the person again? (There is no unforgiveness here, I just have no desire to maintain any contact.) Is it because of what was written?

"The best part of my year was getting to know you..."

Go jump.

Is it because it reminds me that I'm still single? (I don't think that's the one) Is it because I'm overly cautious that he's trying to keep his options open (so to speak)? Is it because I over-analyse...?

Bingo.

The funny thing is, when I saw his name my reaction was 'who??'. The same thing happened about a month ago when he called.

'Sorry, but who is this?'
'.... Guess'
'Jonno?'
'no'
'Bob'
'no'
'Lenny?'
'no'
'Dave?'
'no....'.

He seemed a bit offended. Pffft...when I move on, I move on! Total memory erasure.

Nothing constructive to say, just had to vent.


xxx

Two days at school camp and I feel 10 years older.

The kids had a great time. I had fun with the espresso machine. Infact, since dancing around it on arriving at the campsite the principal is looking into getting one for the staffroom!!!

yay!!!

Aside from a near-drowning experience and waaaaay too many sick bodies it was a great little retreat. The workers at the site were fantastic.... very nice.

I had to try not to laugh when my colleague marched 6 girls outside at 10:30pm because they would not stop giggling and waking up the others. As they were lining up against the wall, I remembered all those past school camps where the same thing would happen. I would close my eyes, breathe a little deeper and always get away with it - nobody ever suspects the quiet ones.

Now, years have past and I'm the one throwing shoes at the walls at 5:30am telling over-excited munchkins to 'shush'.

Hah...bet they sure were scared when two teachers wandered into their rooms in pyjamas, tangled hair and those deadly teacher-stares. It sounds like something out of a horror movie.

xxx

Hmmm...so far I've had a total of 9 hours sleep this weekend.

I met an interesting lady last night. She is from Canada and is over here on business. She by chance happened to come to church (where I met her) by taxi and is staying in a hotel 5 minutes from where I live. Coinkidinkal indeed.

I ended up giving her a lift home, and in the meantime discovered that she is researching the emotional reppurcussions of children who are refugees or immigrants from other countries. Coincidentally the school I work at is made up of a large proportion of children that fit these categories. She was quite a wise woman - I learnt a lot in that car trip.

I picked her up for church again this morning - it's her last day in Sydney. The sweet thing had a card for me and a little 'Canada' pin. One thing that really struck me in the card was this:

God is using you to meet my needs for worship and spiritual refreshing.

When we do those 'little things' we have absolutely no idea of the impact they could be having on another - even if they seem so insignificant to us. Picking up someone and spending a little extra time driving around is no big deal for me - but for her, it meant she could go to church on a Sunday (which she said she hasn't been able to do for the past few weeks) and was able to have communion (which she hadn't done since being back in Canada) which meant so much to her.

Anyway...she'll be off to Melbourne now. It's amazing the amount of people we could potentially impact if we made a little bit of space for strangers.

Just a thought.

xxx

Beware, I feel a rant coming on...

A few weeks ago I recieved a letter in the mail informing me that my local council is installing parking meters in my area. They work on a zoning system, and I can apply for a parking permit if I wish, for a annual fee (of course...).

What's more, if I do not have visitors parking (which I don't), I can apply for a parking permit for my visitors also. Again, for an annual fee (of course...).

However. They did fail to mention that these parking permits are restricted to one car only and must have the car rego number printed on a sticker that is permanently placed on yours or your visitors windshield. Not only that, but you are restricted to two visitors permits.

I'm sorry, but you can't have any more than two members of family or friends.

Oh but it gets better.

If I want to apply for one of these little stickers, I must apply in person with two pages of forms and documentation of proof of identity and ownership of vehicles for both myself and my visitors. Oh yes, and did I mention that I can only apply weekdays between the hours of 10 and 2???? Sorry kids, but I have to duck out and give some council worker some money.

This all happened over the last few weeks. Plenty of time to deal with it all. What pushed me over the edge was this. Here is a quote from the letter I recieved at the end of October:

parking near your area will be meter parking between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Saturday limited to four hours.

However the signs that have been newly inserted in the turf outside my building read 2hour parking 8am-6pm and then 4 hour metered parking 6pm to 10pm.

Are they just trying to get my attention away from the fact that I'll be paying $100 a year just to be able to park at my own house???

I think the real victims are going to be the small businesses surrounding me. They can't afford to lose customers due to crazy parking. Most of them are dependant on street parking, as their little 200-year-old federation style buildings don't exactly have ample guest parking built in.

The thing that gets to me most is this:

Revenue from parking meters will be reinvested in the local area in which it is collected

In otherwords, I can sleep easy at night knowing that I'm paying the council workers well. (A friend who is in fact a council worker confirmed this one for me...)

Good move, local council.

xxx

Last night I had BestFriend and her husband over for a Christmas/tree decorating celebration. Whilst sweating over a roast elbow-to-elbow with BF who was making her famous pavlova (YUM) we were reminiscing over the silly things we used to say as wee-nagers.

After a sigh I said "huh...remember when we used to say that we'd never be old and boring and do things like cook dinners for each other for fun...ahhh...I wish I had've been there when I said that..."

Hmmm...

Getting prepared for camp on Monday. We had our last meeting at lunch today. One boy whom I taught last year put up his hand:

Miss, will it be dark when I close my eyes?

xxx

Latest discovery (best tip since discovering water can burn...or is that only Syndey water?):

When mixing old penne with new penne, first ensure that the new penne is not that new scary 5 minute cook stuff when your old penne is Aldi 'how slow can you go' pasta.

The result is something interesting.

Maybe the tip should be 'cooking when fluey should be left to the professionals'.

Tomorrow - the roast.

xxx

Contrary to popular belief I have discovered that it is infact possible to burn boiling water.

I hereby publish my apology to Mr Schmidt from my year 7 science class at Singleton whom I used to make fun of because he taught us the theory of boiling water in term one, and then 10 different ways to boil water in term 2.

Obviously I wasn't paying enough attention.

And now I depart to go watch yet another thunderstorm.

Have I mentioned how much I love Spring??

xxx

Flu again! As if I had energy to spare! It seems my body didn't find Friday's rain dance as fun as I did...

The funny thing is, this has all made me think about the concept of sowing and reaping. Obviously what you sow is what you reap...which made me think if I sow energy...

The irony in this is that although it sounds great in theory ("in theory communism works") trying to force your body to do something it simply does not want to do is incredibly difficult (I had to take a rest yesterday carrying a loaf of bread and a carton of milk up my stairs...). However, motivated, I got up to do some aerobics (hooray Ozstyle...) then seeing their smiley happy faces I thought 'pilates sounds good'. On went the dvd.

I stood for a moment watching more smiley women do squats and thought 'yoga sounds good'. Change dvd.

I layed on the floor and watched a woman with an airy-fairy voice do crzy stretches on her back and thought 'five more minutes sleep sounds good'.

The spirit is willing but oh boy the flesh sure is weak right now!

Make mine a tall glass of ecchinacea with a twist of vitamin C.


xxx

BOOOM!!!!

Haha...love it



xxx

I love spring.

The summerish days flirting with the odd thunderstorm - and when it suddenly gets 'too hot', it spins cold again. Then when you get out all of your winter clothes again, the clouds disperse and you're left with an unbearably steamy heat.

No really, I love Spring. It keeps me on my toes.

Yesterday poured continuously - which was great for the kids (HA!). They were crawling up the walls (a few literally...). So when I had to walk 32 hyperactive little bodies through the rain to the otherside of the school for assembly I could hardly expect decorum. I'm just counting my blessings the principal didn't walk past at that moment. He would've seen 32 kids screaming through the rain (yet taking their time moving into the building...) and a saturated teacher trying to hide a huge grin.

As a result I think I got a bit of a chill (seeing as I had to be the first out of the building and the last in, consequently I was the soggiest). I've woken up with a voice an octave lower than what it was yesterday and with a husky edge. Love it.

Get soaked. Sing loud.

I love Spring.

xxx