shopping list for a husband

A friend of mine has lent me the book Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr Good Enough by Lori Gottlier, and in the prologue of this book Lori has written her 'Shopping list for a man' - and to all the people who think that I'm too fussy, just check out this list (with my comments in Pink.

• Intelligent - well dah! Of course you want a guy who is at least a little bit smart!
• Kind - once again, isn't that a given?
• Extremely funny - why 'extremely' funny? How about just a little bit funny?
• Curious - what do you mean? As in 'curious about anal sex', I DON'T THINK SO!!
• Loves kids - in a pedophile way? Do you want a husband or a father?
• Financially stable - that would be good. You don't want to have to support him.
• Emotionally stable - naturally.
• Sexy - like Justin Timberlake? I don't think many guys are really that sexy.
• Romantic - that would be appreciated. But my Dad once scraped the ice off my mum's car, so she wouldn't have to do it, and I think that is more Romantic than anything in a fairy tale.
• Passionate - to the extent of doing it in a toilet at the pub? I don't think 'passion' is that important.
• Compassionate - hmm....don't really know about this one.
• Irreverent - that's a big word.
• Intuitive - how about psychic?
• Generous - considering how used I am to being spoilt, I'm going to say that this would be a good quality.
• Same religion but not too religious - I just want someone who is open about religion and not in a cult all kinds of brain-washed!
• Optimistic but not naive - just asking for too much.
• Ambitious but not a workaholic - once again, asking too much.
• Talented but humble - I'm thinking a saint would be more likely!
• Warm but not clingy - I thought she wanted someone who is passionate!
• Grounded but not boring - grounded?
• Soulful but not new-agey - what about religion?
• Vulnerable but not weak - are you serious!
• Quirky but not weird - no comment.
• Free-spirited but responsible - how about someone who wears flowers in his hair?
• Charismatic by genuine - kind of like James Bond.
• Strong but sensitive - like He-Man I'm thinking.
• Athletic but not a sports nut - what if he was one of those hot soccer players?
• Open-minded but has conviction - does this really need to be on the list?
• Decisive but not bossy - personally I kind of like it when a guy tells me what to do!
• Mature but not old - how about 'young at heart, but not young'.
• Creative but not an artist - creative how? Embroiders his own pillows?
• Supportive of my dreams and goals - this one is ok.
• Has a sense of wonderment about the world - WHAT??
• Is close to my age (shares my cultural references) - the cultural references thing makes sense.
• Good listener and communicator - maybe you'd be better off with a woman!
• Flexible and can compromise - as long as he's bendy!
• Sophisticated - well educated, well traveled, has been around - I think the well traveled and well educated options are good.
• Over 5'10" but under 6'0" - as long as he's taller than me, it's all good.
• Has a full head of hair (wavy and dark would be nice - no blonds) - I actually don't mind bald guys, and have lately been attracted not only to blonds but rangers as well.
• Has shared political views - this is a good one.
• Is not into sci-fi or comic books - this could be a problem because actually don't mind a bit of sci-fi or comic book movies.
• Has good taste/sense of aesthetics - well if he's going out with me he obviously has good taste!
• Health-conscious and physically fit - I agree with this one - but not if he tries to make me exercise.
• Cares about the community at large - and is attempting to achieve saint-hood.
• Cares about animals - this is a good point.
• Competent - well you definitely don't want him to be incompetent.
• Handy around the house - yep, I need this one.
• Cooks - as long as he can look after himself and not starve, that's good enough for me.
• Likes the outdoors (hiking, biking, Rollerblading) - I guess this would be good.
• Likes my friends (and I like his) - this is a fairly good one as well, I wouldn't want his friends to be jerks.
• Not moody - yeah, I'm moody enough for the both of us.
• Trustworthy - would I be dating him if he wasn't?
• Is a team player - are we on a team?
• Is literary and enjoys wordplay - 'wordplay' like scrabble!?!
• Is math or science oriented - I thought she wanted someone creative?
• Likes discussing (but not arguing about) world politics and world events - this would be good, although I don't mind a good argument.
• Stylish - nah, I'm stylish enough for the both of us.
• Not a slob - this is an important one.
• Is madly in love with me - yep, I want this. I want a guy to sweep me off my feet!

Isn't this the longest list ever! And so specific! With a list like this I'm not surprised that she struggled to find a man. And the next time someone says that I'm too fussy I'm going to show them this list - there are things I here that I would never have thought of, and that I wouldn't event bother thinking of.

I'm sure that this book will continue to inspire me to write more posts, so stay tuned.

you don't wanna be in love, you wanna be in love in a movie!

The above statement is very true and accurate when it comes to me. The quote comes from the movie Sleepless in Seattle and rings so true that many of my friends and family have often said it to me!

But why wouldn't I want to be in love in a movie? Movie guys say the best things and are so super sweet! Here are some of my favourite lines or scenarios:

The Young Victoria Albert says to Victoria: You are my whole existence, and I will love you until my very last breath.

Gone with the Wind Rhett says to Scarlett: I've loved you more than I've ever loved any woman...

Pride and Prejudice Mr Darcy says to Eliza Bennet: ... you must allow me to tell you how much I ardently admire and love you.

Someone Like You Eddie comforts Jane when she is crying, and when he looks after her in the work meetings, invites her to a party on New Years Eve and tries to push through the crowd to get to her.

Labyrinth Jareth says to Sarah: Everything you have wanted I have done...Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave.

I'm sure there are so many more...but that's all that is in my head at the moment. And I have to say: Is it really too much to ask for?

that guy

I think that most girls have a guy from their past, usually high school/college, who is 'that guy'. The guy that was the most popular, cutest, most charming etc. The guy that every girl wants to be with, and every guy wants to be. In Hollywood this guy is usually played by a Freddie Prinze Jnr type.
Well last night I kissed 'that guy'! Yep!! The guy from College that every girl wanted to kiss. The one that we refer to as his full name, and every girl sighs and says "oh yeah!". Well I KISSED HIM!!! Actually he kissed me!
Very exciting!!
I told him to call me so we can 'go out' some time (yep, that means hook up), so we'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'm not holding my breath, that's for sure!!

love a change

They say that a change is as good as a holiday, and I do kind of agree.

I'm a big fan of changing my hair (colour or style) to improve my mood, and today I re-arranged the living area of my apartment.

I live in a tiny one bedroom apartment and everything has been basically the same since I moved in a couple of years ago. So today in an effort to clean up a bit, I decided to re-arrange everything. I moved my DVD shelves, my TV unit, my coffee table, the lounge and my buffet. I didn't think I could really do much to move things around, but I decided to do a bit of an angle thing with the TV, so it all works.

I have to say I'm pretty happy with the results!

i survived titanic

Mrs Peter Joseph (Catherin Rizk), left Cherbourg on 10 April 1012 aboard HMS Titanic. She was 24 years old and from Detroit, Michigan.
Traveling with her were her children Michael (6 years old) and Anna (2 years old). She was in 3rd Class and were traveling home to Detroit, Michigan.
"In early 1912, Catherine's husband Peter sent her and their children back to Lebanon in order to save money. By April, however, Peter sent for them to return."
Passenger fact: Catherine suffered from tuberculosis; she may have also traveled to Lebanon to be in a healthier climate.

Mrs Peter Joseph (Catherine Rizk) survived the sinking of HMS Titanic. She was one of just 151 3rd class passengers to survive. He children survived with her.

some ponies for the afternoon

titanic

Tomorrow night I am going to the Titanic Exhibition which is being held at the Melbourne Museum, check it out here. What is it about the tragedy of the Titanic that captures so many peoples imaginations?

I cannot wait for the exhibition, my friends and I have VIP tickets so that we get a special Titanic experience! When we enter the exhibition we'll be given a boarding pass with the name of an actual passenger of the ill fated voyage on it. At the end of the exhibition we will be able to discover if our passenger survived the sinking, or was one of the more than 1,500 people who lost their lives.

I'll be taking a copy of the movie Titanic with me so that we can watch it after viewing the real artifacts and replicas at the museum. It is all very exciting!!

a kiss on the cheek

On Saturday night I was out on the town and greatly enjoyed watching, listening to and dancing to a band that was playing at one of the pubs I visited. What made the band all the more enjoyable was the very cute bass player!!

So I spent a nice portion of the night dancing away and perving on this cute and talented man (well he could have been a boy but I think he's definitely in his twenties at least!!).

On my way back to my car, after my friend and I had parted ways, I bumped into a friends boyfriend who was out with one of his friends. They were on their way to the pub where I had just been, so I told them "there is a band playing there with a really cute bass player", to which they replied "that's our friend!!".

They scooped me up (literally) and took me back to the pub to introduce me to the bass player. Unfortunately that introduction did include the phrase "The Duchess wanted to meet you" - yep I was a little embarrassed.

Upon introduction the bass player, who was holding an amp in each hand (which was causing muscles to bulge!), lent forward and kissed me on the cheek. I really have to say that it was the nicest greeting I have ever received!!!

The guy who introduced us told me that he would give the bass player my number (since he had left to get some much needed sleep) and it would be up to him if he called me or not. Considering I had already given my phone number to some random Irish guy I was happy to take those odds!

So now I am left with cyber stalking and waiting for a call which might never come. At least since this guy is in a band it should be easy to 'coincidentally' show up where he is playing.

tracking my cat

There are many days and nights when I am at home alone and I have no idea where my cat is. I often joke that I just sit at home with my cat like the spinster that I am, but the sad truth of the matter is that my cat has a more active social life than I do!

But now I may have a solution. Sony have developed a cat collar that posts on twitter what your cat is up to. Check it out here.

This collar can also post to a blog and actually post photos, recognise other cats your cat is friends with, and has a GPS tracker so you can see where your cat goes. I think it is a fantastic idea! Once they make the technology small enough so that it is comfortable I am going to get one for Winston!

sewing entry 2011

This year I won Third Prize in the sewing section of the Canberra Show. I am determined to enter again, but I must decide on what I am going to create!

Before the end of the year I have a couple of things I would like to make, including a wedding dress for my sister's wedding in France (don't panic, it will be a very simple dress and shouldn't take too long at all!), but I want to get started on my Show entry sooner rather than later.

Last year I entered in the Non Professional (less than two years experience) 'Any article of hand or machine sewing', and I think since this is only my second year entering I will stay in that category.

But the delima is: do I design something myself, or go with a pattern?

One pattern I did have in mind is a replica of Scarlett O'Hara's red dress -

Which I would make in blue so I could wear it myself.
But is that too much?
It's not as though the prize is a lot of money or anything. It's mainly just ribbons unless I win the Grand Champion award which is $500. Last year some ugly ass outfit won. Very strange!

bad boyfriends

The other night I was flicking channels on TV and I came across a segment that I had seen advertised on one of our current affairs show. This segment was about some dodgy guy and the girls he had used and abused. One of them had a kid, the other two were there saying how horrible he was, and then they talk to him and I am honestly surprised that he could get one girl to go out with him, let alone multiple girls at the same time!

He is on the dole, has all sorts of piercings, and looks malnourished!

At the end of the segment the 'anchor woman' said "And if you've had a relationship with this guy we want to hear from you.".

It made me go "I wonder if from now on when a guy is a poo head can we just call a current affairs show and get them to do a name and shame on him?".

Can you imagine!! This is the fireman who took this girls virginity and then stopped returning her calls. He also has had charges against him for assault on a previous girl friend!

Or, meet this charming and good looking man. He lies about being married! Have you dated him assuming he is single? Call us!

It is all just a little bit ridiculous, isn't it. Really they should be running a story on "Why women go out with arse holes!" or "How does this dead beat even get a girlfriend?". Those are the kinds of stories I want to see!

to be a fashion designer or not to be

Every now and then, usually after I have had a succesful sewing day, I wonder if I should become a fashion designer.

On the weekend just gone I finished a dress that had been on my model for months! Nothing was stopping me from finishing it, I'm just lazy. The dress started out being from a pattern (I think it is a New Look pattern), but I wasn't happy with how the top sat. So I cut up the top and changed it to what you see below.

It's not absolutely perfect, and I have to pin a brooch over one bit at the front that is a bit iffy, but I'm happy with it. I wore it to work the other day, and no one really said anything, but I felt pretty!
Anyway, it is these small successes that make me wonder "what more could I do". I currently have an idea in my head for at least one dress, probably more. And these are dresses that won't be made entirely from patterns, but from my head.
My plan is to copy onto brown paper a few key pattern pieces that I can re-use and alter (like I did for my one-shouldered dress), but then make most things without an actual pattern.

I have had a look at some different Fashion Design courses you can do, and they all start with Fashion Illustration - which is a problem because I can't draw! But I am going to borrow a book from the library (I'm on the wait list for it) and see if I can learn. If worse comes to worse I can have print outs of figures and then draw the clothes on, that I could do I'm sure!

And then the questions is: do I design things just for myself, or do I try and sell some things....hmmm...watch this space.

attacked

Yesterday I was attacked by a huntsman spider!

I was riding my motorbike, and when I stopped I turned my head to the side as I put my kick stand down and noticed something on my shoulder, it was this:

Cue hysteric screaming inside my helmet "agh!! Ahg!!! Oh my god!! get it off, get it off, get it off", obviously all of this was said inside my helmet because there was no one else around!

I tried grabbing the spider, since I still had my gloves on, but I missed it. So I quickly removed my gloves and helmet, all the while thinking "please don't crawl down my neck". I threw my jacket on the ground, found the spider and kicked it off.

It was so scary! And then when I was riding home, after confirming there were no more spiders on me, and locating the original spider to ensure that he hadn't returned, I started to get really itchy on my neck right near my helmet. Cue hysterical visualisations of the spider laying eggs in my helmet, those eggs hatching and eating into my skull.

This turned out to be false. But all in all it was a very stressful episode.

shopped like I never shopped before

Well I have to admit, the title statement is a lie. I have shopped like that before, just not in a very long time. It has probably been a year since I have bought anything that I didn't really need (around the time I returned from Egypt to find that I had speant way more than I meant to!). But with a pay rise, some pays overlapping and weird tax stuff, I found extra money in my bank account and so I went shopping!

This is what I bought over the weeked:

Pleasure Stay bra

Elle McPherson underpants

Target gumboots

Cue winter coat (actually on lay-by, but their lay-by is only for 3 weeks, so I'll include it in this tally)

Joanne Mercer red boots

Carmen Steffans fabulous 40s heels

Target wall clock

Bras'N'Things undies (I feel I was ripped off here, I asked if the '3 for $20' pants were comfy and wouldn't ride up my bum, and was told that they were really popular because they don't ride up your bum. But the first pair I wore went right up my bum! Cranky!)

Lush buffy bar & bath bomb thing

Big W pump pack for moisturiser (rather than buying the $99 Aesop moisturiser in a pump pack)

Review blue top (totally cute!)

So the only thing I 'need' to buy to complete my 2010 winter wardrobe is some black leather gloves (mine are brown), and I might get some more hats for the season. I'm also waiting on my Dad to acquire me an umbrella from his work, since I'm now walking to work (hence the gum boots).

I think I'm pretty much set for this winter - although I do have to make a few new work dresses, and a fur stole or muff.

So I have relapsed into my Shopaholic ways (I even bought a couple of magazines), but I'm determined not to let it get the better of me, and once I get my Cue coat out of lay-by that will be the end of my naughty shopping ways!

the september issue

Last night I watched The September Issue which is a movie about the September issue of Vogue, which is the biggest issue of Vogue as it marks the start of the new fashion year.

I love the movie The Devil Wears Prada, based on the book of the same name, which is meant to be based on Vogue and the famous Editor Anna Wintour. I really enjoyed that movie, I own it on DVD and watch it often. But the reality of Vogue is something completely different. One of the main fashion editors, who works closely with Anna, is absolutely horrible. Apparently she used to be a model but now her hair is horrible and frizzy and really needs a conditioning treatment, she wears horrible flat shoes, and horrible ill-fitting clothes! She does not look like someone who knows anything about fashion, let alone working for the best fashion magazine in the world!

So while the movie was quite informative about the fashion magazine world, and I was left thinking "how could I get a job at Vogue", I was also left thinking "if I worked at Vogue I would at least put a conditioning treatment in my hair!".

I was also inspired to make more clothes, design some myself, and wishing that I had a lovely workshop that I could use to sew in, so that I don't have to vacuum up fabric scraps from my lounge room!!

ballgown

This is my ballgown.

I love this dress so much. Even when the dress is bustled (see below) it is still magnificent! And I am so comfortable in it (which give more evidence to the idea that I was born in the wrong century). All I need now is somewhere to wear it!

psychic - i don't think so!

Yesterday I spent $50 going to a "Wellbeing and Spiritual Festival" where I saw a psychic.
Along with there psychic there were many stalls offering 'healing energy' and all of that. I really have to wonder about paying someone $20 or more to hold their hands over me and claim that they are healing me. There was also a guy there with these mobile chicken coops who said to me "call me Uncle Joseph", which just sounded wrong and very pedophile-like.
So my Psychic reading was very disappointing. The woman was just plain crap! And she didn't even make up anything good. The most interesting things she said were:
- Something will happen that will change your life, but there's no way to predict what that is,
- There are people who are jealous of me because I "have it all",
- I'm going to meet a man before the end of the year.
She was just so crap!! If you're going to be a dodgy psychic then you should at least make up some decent stuff!!

lost

This weekend saw me riding my motorbike to Sydney, taking 4 hours (each way) and then an extra 30 minutes or more spent lost around Sydney. It was very funny! And I was very happy to get off the bike!
As a Learner I technically can't go over 80kms/h in NSW, however the speed limit on the highway is 110kms/h. So I was pottering along at about 95kms/h and made good time. It wasn't too uncombfortable. My seat is quite nicely padded, so it was probably just my shoulders that ended up hurting.
I made three stops on the way up - one for McNuggets at Macca's, one shortly after then to put on another jumper (it was a bit cool), and one to put in some more petrol. But then once I was in Sydney I had to stop and consult the GPS on my phone 4 times before I found my way to the hotel!!

On the way back I had to stop once to check my directions as I had gotten lost again, and then stopped twice on the way back. Once for food and a much needed toilet break (I was close to pulling over to the side of the road!), and once for petrol. All up I put about $20 worth of petrol in the bike, didn't pay for parking and I'm waiting to see if I get any toll notices. That is a big difference from the $110 it would have cost me in the car!

But the funny thing about getting lost on a bike is that it is quite difficult to read a map while you're riding (it's actually impossible), so I had to pull over, turn off the bike, and get out my phone so that I could use the GPS to work out where I was. But even though this is quite incconvinient and in a car I could just look at a map while I was driving, it really isn't at all stressful. I just kind of ride around aimlessly looking for the right sign, hoping I don't end up on some road that I can't get off of.

And the traffic in Sydney is not as bad as I thought it would be. In Canberra if you put your indicator on and try to slot into a space in front of the car next to you, the person in that car takes it as a personal insult and tries to kills you. In Sydney no one really cares. So I was slotting in and out of traffic and I didn't once feel like I was going to die. I also think that in Sydney people are much more used to driving close to people and so are actually maybe a little more aware.

dream diary 6

On the weekend, while napping, I had a dream about a man. The man was inspired by either the character of Eric Northman in True Blood, or the actor himself, Alexander Skarsgard.It was a fairly innocent dream, nothing too kinky, and the one major part that stands out in my memory is fixing his tie and collar before he left for work. We were together, not just shagging, but as a couple. (for more specific details he was wearing a blue, green and white striped shirt with a very nice matching tie, but the collar was messed up and as I fixed it he smiled at me - I think he must have been sitting down since he is 6'4"!!)


It is really easy to interpret this dream: I'm lonely.

date was a bust

So it turns out after all of my stress yesterday I can probably put the date into the category:
"He doesn't like me"

Everything was fine during the date. We were chatting, laughing. No awkward silences and he didn't say anything to annoy me. He is maybe a little full of himself (but apparently that is a common trait for an economist).
But then the end of the date comes, we go to the counter to pay and I pull my purse out. I'm waiting for the "oh don't worry, I've got this", but as I'm pulling money out of my wallet and the waitress is taking it I realise that it isn't coming. And obviously, he's just not that in to me.
We stand outside the cafe where he says "It was nice to meet you" (a dismissal if ever I've heard one), and I just said "yep, good to see you" and then we walked our separate ways.

I would love to know if it was something in particular that turned him off. I obeyed all of my friends rules and so he shouldn't have been freaked out - I didn't even ask him if he was married! And I guess it's fair enough if he just doesn't like me. There have been plenty of guys that are nice enough that I just don't like. But still, considering he arranged the date and all of that I have to wonder what changed.
And during the date, when he was telling me how drunk he had been when we met, I said "I'm surprised you even remembered me to text me", to which he replied "well I always remember the important things". That would count as a good sign wouldn't it? Obviously not.

first date angst

My first date with the new guy 'Michael' is fast approaching. It is fast approaching because it was meant to be tomorrow night, but instead it has been changed to tonight.
This means that the carefully planned first date outfit, hair and makeup is not being used. Instead I'm in my standard work clothes (thankfully I made a bit of an effort today), and I'm riding my motorbike, which means that my hair is not perfect.
I am taking consolation in the fact that when he met me I was not looking my hottest. That is, I've looked hotter.

So after work tonight (well at 6, which means I will hang around work for a while) we will meet for coffee (well hot chocolate since I don't drink coffee).

My angst is as follows:
- What if I really am affected by ugly lights, meaning that in day light I look like crap?
- What if I really like him but he doesn't like me?
- What if he really likes me, but I don't like him?
- What if he is married?
- What if it all does work out? What happens then? Where does this lead?
- What if I spill my drink down my front?
- What if he stands me up?
- What if I talk to much?
- What if there are awkward silences?
UGHHHHH!!!!!!

the drought has broken

After at least a year of not one guy asking for my number, the drought has finally broken! Last week my valued wing-woman and I were shocked that we spent a fair amount of time flirting with some guys (I was flirting, she was supporting) and they didn't make a move or ask for my number. What's with that! So when I went out last night it was with the expectation that it would be a quiet night and once again all boys would be poo. But I was proven wrong!

Dancing away with my friends in T&G I noticed a guy through the crowd. He looks like (or at least has an air of) Michael from Grease 2 (see below). He was tall, light brown hair, button-down shirt unbuttoned enough to show some chest hair (my friends and I agreed that it was very 'manicured' but I liked it anyway!). He has a cute smile and even a chin dimple (slight, and discovered once he moved closer). He just has the clean-cut look about him, but as we know from Grease 2, the clean cut guys can become 'Cool Riders' and join the T-Birds!
So I smiled at Michael (as he will hence forth be known), and he definitely saw me. BTW, just so you know I had on a black short skirt, black heels, maroon top, the top half of my hair pulled back and my glasses on. I, naturally, pointed Michael out to my friends and one of the agreed that he did look like Michael from Grease 2. I noticed Michael talking to his friend and his friend then looking over at us.

So we kept dancing away, Michael made his way over towards us and then stood behind me. When someone walked past and luckily I had to fall back into Michael he made his move. And his opening line....."Do you girls work in the public service?".
Me: "No".
Him: "Because those glasses look nerdy"
Me: "I'm going for the naughty librarian look"
And from there we were off and running.

At one point I thought he was after one of my friends, which I resigned myself to but happily knew he would be disappointed since she has a boyfriend. But she maintains that she could tell he was always interested in me. He was a little random, asking how tall I am and being amazed at how tiny I am. He picked me up to confirm that I was tiny (he's 6'2", an economist and 32 years old).
Anyways, eventually he grabbed me for a bit of a 'groove/grind' (which I'm not really in to because I like to be able to dance normally without obstruction). Then I said "we're going to King O'Malley's now"....and he asked for my number!!
Wooohooo!!

Then we left and I let him kiss me on the cheek, to which he responded "You can do better than that" and he got a kiss on the mouth - but not a pash. I'm not going to give the milk away for free. And there was a couple who had basically be mating on the dance floor, which put me off any kind of smooching in public.

BTW - why is it when you only give guys a peck they respond with "you can do better than that". It's not the first time a guy has said that to me and I just think it is the weirdest comment.

I already received a message from Michael, at 5am saying "Sorry I didn't get back to you, my phone died". I responded this morning with "then I'm lucky you got my number before your phone died ;-)". We'll see if anything progresses from there...I'm trying not to get my hopes up since boys are poo, but we'll see.

the library

Today I re-joined my local Library. It turns out that I was actually still a current member, although I hadn't been there since 2004. I also had a current fine from returning some books late in 2004. The books were all politics ones that were obviously for an essay for Uni - damn Uni! You have cost me so much!!


But I have to say that the new Library (well I went to a new one, there are still plenty of old ones around) is quite fancy. There is a new self-check system that reads micro-chips in the books, so you don't have to scan them one at a time, and I do believe that the range of what the library carries has increased.


Today I borrowed Hell Island by Matthew Reilly as an Audio Book for my drive to Sydney this weekend. The book only goes for just over 2 hours, but all the other ones that were there go for over 10 hours! And since it's only a 3 hour drive to Sydney I figure I can mix the book with some music listening.


There is also this great system of being able to go online and request items. So I requested the latest Matthew Reilly book (I'm 70th in line for that) and 90 Day Geisha. I also have a list of other books that I want to read, so I'm going to use the 'My List' system they have where you can add heaps of books to your list and then request them when you're ready to read them. Then they ship the books to the library that you choose and off you go.


Really it's all very civilised.

the stranger

She didn't know him, but as their eyes met she knew that she wanted to.
He had turned around and left the counter just as she walked in, and they almost collided. He looked at her and then looked away as he said 'excuse me' and made his way around her. She watched him walk away, her eyes taking in every inch of him as he went to a table and sat down. She quickly looked away and walked to the counter to place her order.


As she stood waiting for her hot chocolate she allowed her gaze to wander back to where he was sitting. He had taken out a book and was reading it while sipping his coffee. She sighed as the barrister handed her her drink. Across the cafe she walked, wondering if he was watching her. As she walked through the door she turned for one more glance to find that he had been watching her and once again their eyes met. She gave a small smile and turned walking out of the cafe and away from the man.

what I did today

Today is Sunday, and after an early morning motorbike ride (ok, it was 11am but since it's Sunday that is pretty early!) I decided to finally make something with this fabulous material I saw a while ago.
When I saw this fabric I fell in love with it...I was just drawn to it for some reason. But at $24.95 per meter I was naturally very hesitant to splurge on it. To put things in perspective I usually spend about $8 per meter on material, lately I have been lucky enough to find some great fabrics on sale (but even at full price they're no more than $15 per meter!).
When I finally realised that I couldn't stop thinking about it I went to buy a couple of meters so that I could make a summer dress (halter neck style). Unfortunately they only had 1 meter left! But I bought it and today I made this skirt.
I had a particular idea of what I wanted, but unfortunately I didn't have a pattern that would create my idea...so I made it without a pattern! I had an idea and I made it happen. I know it's a pretty simple skirt, but it is a Duchess original!
People often say "you must have so much time on your hands" when I tell them that I have made something. But this skirt only took me a couple of hours. And sure, I probably should have been cleaning my house, but apart from housework what else would I be doing if I wasn't sewing?

saying goodbye

Last weekend I was out at my parents place and I decided to help with my Mum's effort to clean up by sorting through some of the stuff that she is still keeping for me. I found some great treasures (a couple of watches), a lot of that stuff you keep for no reason (boxes from jewellery), and things that I thought it was time to let go of.

In particular I threw out my horse ribbons and most of my horse books (I only kept one).
After being involved with horses through most of my teen years I became un-involved when my parents and I moved to the country. It turns out that it is harder to find horse agistment in the country than it is to find it in the city. I moved my horse from a paddock that had established yards, dressage arena, jumps and trail rides to an empty paddock with nothing in it. I also went from a paddock where other people would ride and you could make friends to not knowing anyone. Then when I decided to go to Uni and I was working a lot I realised that rather than leave my lovely horse (who was still quite young) sitting in a paddock doing nothing I should sell him to someone who would use him.

My horse, Doc Holliday, is now in the Snowy Mountains doing regular horse treks and apparently he is well taken care of. Selling my horse is one thing that I really regret. But I have to be honest and say that I didn't ride him half as much as a should. I had a bad fall from him and I was admittedly a bit nervous. He is better off somewhere where people ride him regularly.

So when sorting through all of the stuff Mum has kept for me I came across a pile of horse ribbons that I had won when I was young. There was only one blue ribbon, and that belonged to Doc not me. One of my friends took him in an event and won on him - something I never could do. So the ribbons have gone. The saddles have gone (except for one that my Dad has kept for himself, just in case). The grooming kit has gone and the horse books have gone as well. I have let go of that part of my life, but I yearn for the day when I will have the time and money to ride again.

dream diary 5

Last night I had a dream that I am sure I have had before.


In the dream I am in some kind of military unit (I don't know whether it is the army, or a private thing) and I'm in Central America or Mexico to be exact.
I arrive on the base with a heap of other people (I think before hand there were some issues with packing). While I'm sitting on a bench taking in the surroundings, which includes a body of water, I see an Alligator coming up! Oh my god!! I jump up on the bench and start freaking out! But it turns out that the alligators are actually soldiers who turn in to alligators in the water, but are human on land, and can be stored in photographs so that they don't take up a heap of room when travelling.


With one of the other women I start going through a series of gates when she tells me to stop and starts trying to get something off my back. It turns out that there was a giant black scorpion on my back!! Arghh!!


Then we go into a room where we're all dancing and making fun of our national dances. The zoom gets stuck on my camera while I'm taking photos, but I fix it.

The end.

Weird, huh?

Some interpretations from www.dreammoods.com:
Alligator: To see an alligator in your dream symbolises treachery, deceit, and hidden instincts.

Scorpion: To see a scorpion in your dream represents a situation in your waking life which may be painful or hurtful.

Army: To dream that you join the army suggests your feelings of superiority. You feel that no one is a match for you.

Dance: To dream that you are dancing signifies freedom from any constraints and restrictions. Your life is balanced and in harmony.



Those are some pretty conflicting symbols to have in the one dream!

divorce

Everywhere I turn people seem to be splitting up, getting divorced or cheating on their partners.


There is the friend I work with - her husband left her when their 2nd child was less than 12 months old.


There is the friend of my sisters - her husband left her with 4 children, no job and no work history (she started breeding as soon as they got married right after school).


There is my uncle - his partner of close to 30 years kicked him out and had a new guy move in after a week (how she found a new man I have no idea!!).


There are the parents of a friend of a friend - they went away, the husband went home early and by the time the wife got home he had cleared out all of his stuff and left her.


There is the husband of one of my friends - I think he makes advances towards me, but I just freeze him out. I feel, however, that were I to encourage it he would easily cheat on his wife.


Then there are a lot of my friends and people I work with who complain about their partners. And most of the women in my Women's Motorcycle Club are divorced - getting a motorbike seems to be the thing to do if you get jilted!


I know a lot of this blog is me complaining about being single. But I am quite happy to not have to wonder if my partner is flirting with the new girl at work, or if he is leaning too closely to one of my friends, or if I have his babies will he leave me. I am quite happy to be single to avoid these thoughts.

a year in review

I am about to throw out my 2009 Diary, but thought I should go through it an see if there is anything I need from it, as well as taking the opportunity to review the year of 2009.

January
On 29 & 30 December 2008 I got my motorcycle L's, so I started the year with an exciting new adventure! I picked up my new bike (Pagsta 250cc Cruisa) on the 10th. I also had three social events to go to that weekend. Then there were social events through the week and on the next weekend as well. January ended with my sister visiting, and me getting badly sunburnt at the Australia Day concert.

February
In February I went on my first ride with Girls on the Move, and became a Tupperware demonstrator as well. I was hating my job as a Marketing Manager (well more hating the people I was working with than the job itself) and I was itching to do something else. I was studying French on Monday nights and doing Swing dancing on Thursdays. There were also a lot of social gatherings going on. I decided to quit my job and start my own Event Management business. I also started getting injections for my upcoming trip to Egypt. I finished work on Thursday 26 February.

March
I started March looking for work, but I have come to the conclusion that Employment Agencies are a complete waste of time for people looking for work! They may do their jobs if you're looking to hire someone, but if you're trying to find work they are no help at all. They put you through a long interview and assorted tests and it is a waste of time! But early in March I found employment through a friend of mine and I have been there ever since. March was also the month of my super wedding weekend, with a wedding on Saturday and one on Sunday. They were both great, but I was exhausted afterwards! I also met my sister's French boyfriend.
By this time I was also doing Tupperware parties and quickly learning how annoying Tupperware is! I also found a new crush at my work.

April
I departed for Egypt in April and spent a month travelling around Egypt and Jordan, returning to Canberra in early May.

May
Back in Australia, back at work, back in to Tupperware and back into my social life. I also did a few Yoga classes at the gym I was paying for, but not using. Another thing I started was a walking group with my friends. I would send out an email and go for a walk every weekend. This really only lasted just over a month! I think May was when I started losing touch with one of my friends, or noticing that she was in a different space to me and that we really have nothing in common any more.

June
June started with my motorbike breaking down in the middle of the night. Very annoying! Then I started noticing how dismal my finances were. This led to a change in Health Insurance, which hopefully won't come back to bite me on the bum!

July
In July I decided to cancel my planned trip to New York (I was going to go in November). I realised that my finances just weren't going to accomodate it. And there were social things that I wanted to be able to do, and I didn't want to have to say the dreaded "I can't afford to go out" - it's so boring! I also went rock climbing this month, it was great fun! And I started tap dancing, also fun but a bit tricky at first.

August
August was a social month with quite a few outings due to the Fireside Festival - this included some trivia nights, dinners, etc. This was also the month of the dreaded hens night, where I got so drunk that I vomited on myself in the taxi home. It was hideous! I hope never to repeat it!! I also got my first official client in August, although really they're my friends, but they are insisting on paying me, so that's official enough! I also started my blog in August.

September
This is the month that my sister got engaged, by bike broke down again, I started making my first quilt, I went to my first Opera, and I think I started giving up on my crush round about nowish.

October
Looking through my diary October seems to be quite boring. But thinking back it was horribly hectic. It was the month of Motorcycle Awareness Week and GOTM were working hard on the Pink Ribbon Ride, and the MAW Fashion Parade. And nothing wears me out more than dealing with unorganised useless people. So it may have been quiet, but I think that is because I couldn't deal with talking to anyone!

November
In November I committed to advertising in the Local Wedding Guide for 2010 and I took a week off from work to just take some time out. Instead of taking time out or doing all of my house work that I needed to do, I sarted making my wonderful Regency period dress. This is the month that I also decided to submit items to the Craft section of our "State Fair" in February 2010. Sometime in the past couple of months, I can't remember when exactly, I coloured my hair changing myself from a brunette to a red head or "ranger".

December
Apart from the usual Christmas things (which this year also included making a lot of my own gifts) nothing else is happening.

So that's my year. I did a thing on facebook that listed some of my status updates for the year and it was very funny! I'm a bit crazy with "I love boys" then "I hate boys", it made me laugh to look back on it.
Hopefully I've made you laugh as well.

the dress that launched a thousand ships

I don't know why I have titled this post "the dress that launched a thousand ships", but maybe because I think it should be able to launch a thousand ships. I made it from scratch with my own two hands and I am pretty impressed by it.
The pattern is from Butterick and the material is from Spotlight.
It probably cost around $100 to make (including pattern, fabric, lining, trim, etc.) and would have taken roughly 30 hours - the longest part being the cutting of the fabric and the overlocking of the edges.
Huge thanks have to go out to my Mum who paid for all of the materials (part of my Christmas pattern) and helped me by pinning the hem and yelling at me to stand straight so that the hem would be straight!

If I use this pattern again to make a more simple dress I will make the sleeves a little pouffy! What do you think??

a new year

Tonight is New Years Eve and we are welcoming in 2010. I am heading to my friend's house for a fancy dress party dressed as Jane Austen. I have to stop at the supermarket on the way to pick up some meat to BBQ, although I could have gone earlier today, but why waste a great costume? Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to post a photo or two of my great Regency Period dress that I finished making yesterday. All up I would say it probably only took 30 hours or so. And I owe my mum a big thanks for helping pin the hem.

So what do I have planned for 2010?
- I'm going to learn Arabic.
- I'm going to try and keep on top of my house work, probably by implementing a reward system (I'll make a little chart, and get a tick for every piece of housework I do, and when I get 10 ticks I will get $10 to spend on crafty stuff or anything that I want).
- I'm going to start tap dancing again. It's a great skill and will be my fitness effort.
- I'm planning to make items to sell on Etsy, hopefully this will go well.
- I'm going to promote my event management business....hmmm....how, I don't yet know. But I have an advertisement going into the local Wedding Guide, so hopefully that generates some business.
- I will not be so generous towards people who just don't appreciate it. I limited my generosity last year, but I think I need to limit it even more.

I would like to strive towards having someone to kiss next New Years Eve, but I think that is a waste of time. This will be my tenth kissable New Years Eve (not counting any before I was 18) and I'm still waiting for a kiss. Although I did get an offer of sex from a guy I dated when I was 22. Hmmm....I don't think so. Although after spending time with my spinster aunt maybe I should think about it. Here are some boyfriend options that I have rejected:
- Gay Guy (apparently this guy really liked me, I thought he was gay, now I can't actually remember him);
- Dirty/Stupid Guy(the guy I dated who has offered me sex. I was his housemate for a while and I learnt that he doesn't wash his sheets and he thinks that history is boring);
- Fat/Philosophy major Guy (someone I don't find physically attractive, and he studied philosophy and so is one of those guys who just likes to argue about everything for the sake of it - very annoying!);
- A*hole Guy (the Fireman I lost my virginity to, who stopped returning my calls, but then texted about a month later saying that he really is a "good guy" and that we should go out);
- White South African Guy (tells racist jokes, although he is friends with a black Kenyan guy, strange).

So really, when I complain about not having any options for a relationship that isn't really true. There are plenty of options. None that I really like...and I think that all of these guys deserve to be with a woman who chooses to be with them, not one that settles for them.

ownership

There is nothing I hate more than people claiming ownership when they shouldn't.
Phrases such as "There's my girl" and "Look after your girl" just irritate me and make me want to scream out "I'm not your girl!!".
I'm sure, however, that when a big spunky guy (along the lines of Jason Statham) calls me his girl I will swoon with delight.
I know I'm just in a foul mood because I'm the only person I know spending Christmas alone again! Well, that's not entirely true. I have a friend who is enjoying her first Christmas since her husband left her, and I'm not exactly alone since I spent the day with my parents, but you know what I mean. Yesterday when everyone was leaving work to spend time with their partners, I was going home to an empty (although it's actually over-full) apartment. My cat wasn't even home.
I'm really getting quite fed up with this being alone thing. But am I willing to settle for one of the guys that I know like me, even though I don't find them the least bit attractive? Do they deserve to be "settled" for? Shouldn't someone choose to be with them? I just wish the right guy would choose to be with me.

its beginning to look a lot like christmas

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and my last day of work until 4 January 2010. Christmas is here and is causing controversy as usual.

With all of the bad things we hear about throughout the year, I have to admit that I cast a weary eye when I see a child sitting on a man's lap, even if that man is Santa. The problem is that we often hear about bad things being done by people we trust, and I think it makes us all a bit cynical and skeptical.

There are also issues with the words "Merry Christmas" and even Santa's involvement in Christmas. I saw a thing on the news last night where a Catholic school have set up a mini Bethlehem so that people can come along and see what life would have been like in Bible times. When asked why they were doing this, a small boy said "to remove Santa from Christmas". The problem is that while Christmas has become commercialised, with Santa being the main purveyor of toys, the traditional Kris Kringle/St Nicholas character is just as big a part of some peoples traditions as the Birth of Jesus is in others.

Then there is a town council who have removed their "Seasons Greetings" signs and replaced them with "Merry Christmas" signs because they wanted to bring "Christmas" back to the holiday season. But what about the many people who are not Christian? I for one do not consider myself to be Christian, and I wish people "Happy Holidays" rather than force a particular religion on them. However when talking with friends we always refer to Christmas, and I still expect to receive gifts! It is a very interesting and complex situation.

So Happy Holidays!! Enjoy the festive season and stay safe.

after christmas craft plans

I have many many plans for things to make at the moment, but here is a list of things I plan to make after Christmas.

1. Blue/Black/Grey check work dress
2. Black Bridesmaid dress
3. 3 different Studio Cherie purses (1 large vintage, 1 small coin, 1 clutch)
4. Patchwork quilt for a friend's wedding
5. Patchwork lap quilt for the Canberra Show
6. Patchwork quilt for a friends birthday/anniversary
7. Purple gloves to go with my purple dresses
8. Purple/Grey check winter coat & hat, possibly with matching hand bag (or is that too much)
9. Infinity dress (x2 - 1 as a trial for me, 1 for my friend when she goes to Europe)
10. Possible wrap dress for my friend who is going to Europe (maybe I'll have to send it to her)
11. Christmas stuff with the Christmas fabrics I will get during the sales (hopefully!), including:
• Christmas Tree skirt (for mum's Christmas tree)
• Christmas gift bags
• Christmas stockings
• Christmas table runners, place mats etc.
12. Many more dresses that I want to make - now that I have my duct tape dummy the world is my oyster!

I think that should keep me busy until July, actually probably even a bit longer than that!

treasury on Etsy

Today I have been "featured" in someones Treasury on Etsy. A Treasury is a collection of items that one person will put together. EndlessSummer has put together a Nutcracker Ballet Treasury (http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=79300) and has featured one of my Nutcracker PDF Cross Stitch patterns on it.
Unfortunately the pattern she has featured, while it is lovely, takes 12 emails to send! Well I have broken it down into 12 separate PDFs because it is almost 80 pages worth of pattern! But it would be a really great large Cross Stitch.

dream diary 4

Last night I had a very vivid dream about a baby. The dream started out quite strange (as usual) and I had to kind of hunt for the baby, or hunt for certain items to exchange for the baby (who had obviously been kidnapped). My parents were in it at one stage helping me look through a car park for something.

Anyways, when I finally completed the challenges (or whatever it is I had to do) I got my baby back. And it was Troy's baby (Troy is a married guy who once lied to me about being single...I believe him for a while before I started adding a few things together). I could tell it was Troy's baby because of the beautiful green eyes it had. And it was a boy.
The baby didn't have a name, but once I got it back I had to get nappies and food and outfits and all of that kind of stuff. It was very strange, and has left me with a melancholy feeling...

I'll never have Troy's baby and I think I would have liked to.

brrr...it's cold in here

In my office at the moment it is only 16 degrees, while outside it is actually 28 degrees. I'm all for a nicely air conditioned building, especially when it's warm outside, but I do feel that 16 degrees is a bit too much!

There are arguments raging in my workplace about whether it is too cold, too hot, just right. Should we complain about it and make something happen or should we just shut up and take it. Personally, I refuse to sacrifice myself on the alter of faulty air conditioning. I have been sick for weeks and I can't get over it because it is bloody freezing inside and bloody hot outside. A nice 22 to 24 degrees would be appreciated.

I don't mind too much if it is cold in winter because then you can rug up in cute winter clothes. At the moment I am wearing a winter beanie, a dress with stockings and a cardigan, as well as a winter wrap! I also have my heater on under my desk. I feel like a bit of a freak, and I feel feverish quite often.

I'm not allowed to whinge about it to my workmates any more, so I have decided to whinge on my blog. This is what it is for I suppose. And if you get sick of my whinging you can just take a break and not read it!!

pink lunchboxes and paperclips

The other day I was in a complete funk for no reason in particular. Actually that is a lie. There was a reason. My doona was at the bottom of my doona cover leaving about 20cm at the top of just empty doona cover - it upset me greatly!
Anyway, I was there in my funk and my friend said to me "you can't be miserable when there are still good things in the world", to which I replied "really, like what!?" (I may have been a little aggressive). Then she gave me the answer of the ages "like Pink Lunchboxes!"
It's so true - life can't be too bad when there are still Pink Lunchboxes.
Then a couple of days later we left work to go and get some lunch from "the van" when I saw my next happy-go-lucky thing. At the top of the driveway going in to work there was a pile of paperclips, and not a small pile either! It was huge! Like someone had just dumped a box of paperclips there. I exclaimed "Oh look, paperclips!" and I thought it was the most amazing thing in the world. Simple things!

craft this week

This week I have been quite productive craft wise: I've made a table runner, outdoor seat cushion, coasters, place mats, hand bag and a hand towel. Very productive all up!

I was going to wait to post this or show anyone what I have been working on, because all of these are potential Christmas presents (although I may not have allocated the present to the recipient yet)...can you see your present here? I'm hoping that if someone doesn't like their present they can maybe sell it on Etsy or let me know and I can give it to someone else who will like it.

I've had so much fun making all of this stuff and I would love to be able to spend all of my time just making things. I have a number of other projects to do before Christmas: a pin cushion (probably just for Etsy, but maybe for a friend), a quilted note book, a sleeping mask, an apron, maybe an oven mitt or two. Hmmm...there's only 3 weeks to Christmas, I wonder if I will get it all done in time.

I'm also waiting on my fancy ribbons to arrive from overseas so that I can wrap my presents. I have my brown paper all ready to go, and I'm going to print out some "TheDuchessE" stickers, but as usual I'm not using cards or anything. My goal for next year will be to cross stitch some small Christmas scenes and make cards out of them. But I'll have all of 2010 to work on that!

lamb korma

I currently have the biggest craving for Lamb Korma! I am most definitely not a fan of spicy food (I have a sensitive palate) but whenever I go to an Indian restaurant with friends I always order Lamb Korma, and lately I am craving it like nothing else!
I am hoping to find a "Chicken Tonight" style recipe base so that I can just add the lamb, and some rice, and I'll be good to go. I may swing past the supermarket on my way home tonight and see what I can find.

If you have a fabulous Lamb Korma recipe then please post it in my comments and I will love you forever!