Ocean Dreaming

Observing Dreams

2007-04-29T11:27:00.000+10:00

I guess everyone that has been following the tagboard and posts of the last few months knows a how much our gorgeous Chrissa has been through. Together we share many dreams. Chrissa and I met by accident on Myspace...only i dont think it was an accident. It was fate that brought us together....though through many challenges we still havnt met in person, but our dreams together are as strong as ever. Through every challenge our love for each other grows stronger.

In Chrissa's post below she tells of feeling like the 5 year old school girl, kissed goodbye at the front gate. As she begins that new journey, i am begining that journey with her. Im reaching out to hold your hand. Chrissa, together you and i shall journey onwards. The unhappiness of the past is going to give way to hapiness together.

The first dream that we shall share...and hence the blog title is that of building our own private observatory. Chrissa, you are forever giving your love to everyone else...I want to start by giving back to you.

Everyone that knows Chrissa knows of her love of Astronomy. It is an area that i have not studied, but one that i want to learn. I want to build chrissa her own personal observatory to mount your telescope. The first observatory is to be built in Chrissa's back yard, whilst the second is to be build on Flinders Island (North East Tasmania).

That leads to a second dream we both share. Both of us we very quickly found have always had a dream of a remote coastal getaway. As it turns out, early last year, i was lucky enough to be offered exactly that in the form of a property on Flinders Island. Chrissa and i are planning to build on that property, and hopefully everyone can watch the progress on Google Earth and Google Maps....You can see the property here.

The next Journey has begun together Chrissa, lets keep on smiling all of the way *poke* :)

Standing Here

2007-04-29T10:44:00.000+10:00

When I was little I used think the only reason my parents didn't want me was the one they would tell me almost on a daily basis...I was told that I was brought into this world to complete the "happy family" picture for their social circle, and other than that I had no use....I was a burden, too much trouble. I even remember so clearly the night my father told me that I was worthless and that to add to my worthlessness and his disappointment I had been a born a girl. Through all the years of my parent's neglect I had one saving grace, Julie, my parent's housekeeper and my nanny, if it wasn't for her love and nuturing through the years I would be far more of an emotional train wreck than I already am. Now she is gone and the world feels so big, and inside my woman's body I feel like the frightened little 5 year old girl that she kissed goodbye on the first day of school...

Mind Wanderings

2007-04-10T15:25:00.000+10:00

Everybody has their own personal world. It is composed of different people, different places, different ideas. My world, like everyone else's is a small piece in the jigsaw puzzle of the universe. I do not wholly understand my world. That is one of my favourite things about it. I do, however, understand parts of my world on some level. It is strangely ironic that the single biggest question in the universe is composed of only one word. Why? That everyone's view of life is different is one of the most wonderful things about the universe for me. As Walt Whitman said, "Oh me, oh life/of the questions of these recurring/of the endless trails of the faithless/of cities filled with the foolish/what good amid these/oh me, oh life?" I feel like that sometimes. I believe that, in order to see any meaning in your life, you have to live your life as yourself. Difficult, but possible.

Close to my heart

2007-04-09T09:52:00.000+10:00

Here comes that bunny again!

2007-04-03T15:41:00.000+10:00

Happy Easter from Chrissa and Drew. :)

Remember, no meat on Good Friday, attend Mass on Easter Sunday and chocolate Easter eggs are a breakfast food. ;)

Happy Snaps

2007-01-24T23:32:00.000+11:00

There is a lengthy update on the way, so don't despair you shall be bored witless again in the very near future. ;p In truth I had written a nice long newsy entry, but as Blogger does so often it saw fit to morph into Pacman and go on a feeding frenzy with my text. :/

So! I have decided that I shall assault your ocular senses with some of my favourite happy snaps that I have taken through the week. Unusually for me they are all digital and also something I am learning to appreciate more and more, macro photography...

Little snowmen guys

2006-12-04T16:03:00.000+11:00

I enjoyed what can only be called a lazy weekend. The closest I came to doing anything remotely strenuous was to help with the Christmas decorations. A Christmas tree stands in pride of place in the lounge-room...looking festive with all its trimmings, the Christmas lights (which I'm sure could rival those in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation) are all in place and working and the boughs of holly, snowmen, bows, stockings and whatnot are also settled in their respective places.

Amongst all the Christmas decorations put up over the weekend these little guys are my favourites.

I absolutely adore this time of year...I love present shopping for people, I love the Christmas traditions, Christmas carols, parades, the decorations both at home and in the general community, I love the light displays that through the hard work and generosity of others are there for all to enjoy, I love Midnight Mass and of course, I love the food (drools at the thought of Christmas dinner and all its trimmings). And now there is only 20 days for people to get that shopping done, menus planned and decorations up!

Earlier today I had the chance to walk through my new home and view the almost finished result of all those weeks of building. Once the few little odds and ends are finished and I get the keys handed over in my hot little hand on Thursday this week. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be moving in and in a lot of ways gaining a fresh start. With the new house and so many other great things and events in the pipeline I know it is going to be a great year next year. :D

And there is more! I signed up for a short course photography class that starts after the new year, not only will it be beneficial for my photography, but give me another interest to pass the time until I leave for my holiday. Cool, huh?

I've also made a decision about whether I'll go out on the dinner date and decided to accept...after all my thoughts on dating at the moment were explained and I was still encouraged to accept the invitation, so I am. :)

Contemplative

2006-12-01T13:26:00.000+11:00

I'm having a day at home today...partially because I am a dark shade of tomato red due to a double dose of sunburn, also because I have been out and about so much lately that it is nice to take a breather and spend the day as nothing more than a couch potato, but mostly because I woke this morning with tremors, and slightly blurry vision. My first reaction to the symptom flare up was "please, not again"...although I try to remain positive and try to keep a positive outlook on the future there are some days when the effects of MS can be overwhelming, frustrating, and even angering. I hate finding the most simplest of tasks difficult to undertake/carry-out at times, and I hate the losses I have endured (several friends and a significant other) because of it, either directly or indirectly...To be blunt it is a pain in the bum and heartbreaking at times to have MS, but then I realise that there are people who are so much worse off than I in so many different ways, and that friends or others who decide to walk a path heading away from me because of my MS...well, really weren't worth walking a path with anyway.

So the gist of that little ramble is that even though having MS is a bit like riding a rollercoaster, and I'm not going to be on this earth as long as I would have liked the days that I am able to make the most of life I'm going to do so and not let symptoms, small minded or self absorb people get me down.

All that is really a roundabout way of leading into my next bit of news...

I went to a pool party/BBQ yesterday ( which I enjoyed thoroughly), hence my skin's new shade of red (maybe I should post a couple of the pics taken of my lovely tomato coloured face), and while having a conversation about joining an agency that deals in "extras" for commercials, films and TV programs (it was suggested to me a couple of weeks ago, sounded fun, so I went ahead and did it) with a few people I was introduced to a very genial and witty up and coming film editor (and as Kym eloquently observed and voiced, he's a real hottie)...anyway, the long and the short of it is that we hit it off really well and he asked me out for dinner...as in a date...as in a proper date not a casual date thingie. Now, the thing is I'm not interested in a serious relationship (still gun-shy and not ready) and I am not one of those people who need to be with someone because they don't want to be alone (these are the ones who generally take from a relationship, but forget it you to give as well)...and because of my MS I am very apprehensive and more than a little frightened to let some get close to me in such a way...I've already had enough heartache to last me a lifetime and wouldn't like to have another serve...so...saying all that I don't want to pre-judge someone, I don't want to close any avenues that could help me move on...and last but certainly not least, he called me pretty, lol ( a girl's got to grab every compliment they can as you never know when the next one will come your way :p).

What do I do? I told him that I wasn't really thinking about serious dating and he answered that it was fine; he would still like to take me out to dinner. Asked me to think it over until Monday evening and give him an answer to going out on a dinner date then.

Meanwhile I have another more immediate dilemma; the Sci-Fi channel launched here in Oz today--with tons of great programs in the day's lineup--and also the second Ashes cricket test starts to day...which one do I watch while I impersonate a couch potato? Channel flicking perhaps? Hmm...some decisions are very difficult to make. ;p

Catching up

2006-11-28T16:42:00.000+11:00

The past couple of weeks have been busy ones, good, but busy and that busyness accounts for my lack of updates here. So...this is going to be one of those odds and ends get you up to speed entries...

Lessee...Ah yes, my friend's wedding. I love attending weddings, I find myself weepy eyed and gushing with happiness for those taking the course of matrimony...But, some weddings that I attend I enjoy more than others and the wedding I had the pleasure of being invited to on the 17th was in a word a "hoot". Not only was it romantic and gorgeous, but it was a lot of fun. The bride and groom were intent on having a great time and making the most of the celebrations, they were also intent on their guests being relaxed and having the time of their life. I had a total ball dancing and socialising...I even managed to go a few rounds in the limbo before the pole was too low and I crashed and burned.

A few days out from the wedding I found myself in panic mode and madly dashing around the shops to find something to wear...finally I settled on a rich gold coloured fitted sheath-style dress in satin accompanied by a gold organza wrap...Finding jewellery was an even harder exercise, but I managed to find a lovely necklace and matching earrings in a small jewellers to compliment my dress. In the end it was not a lack of anything to wear that was the biggest hassle, it was my navel ring...I had to remove it for the evening. When you wear a fitted dress with a navel piercing there is a little trick of placing a clear band aid of your navel and piercing to give a smooth appearance through the clothing, unfortunately this didn't work this time, so, out it came.

Here's a pic of my dress and jewellery and one of the offending navel piercing.

What else has been happening? My house is almost complete! :D I'm a veritable bundle of excitement at the prospect of moving in the week after next. I've spent a great deal of time finalising the last details of decorating and landscaping. The travertine flooring in the kitchen, 2 of the bathrooms (my ensuite has a special nonslip flooring), the meals area, family room and entry hall look fantastic. The carpeting...well, there was a hiccup with the carpeting...they had used carpet from two different dye lots and therefore there was a marked difference in the colour of the carpet from room to room....even though I was fuming at the time I realised afterwards that if i had been there when the carpet was laid the first time the mistake would have been picked up straight away...and besides, it's only carpet, not as though it was a life altering mistake.

I hope to have a few photos up in two weeks once I have moved in and unpacked. :)

And for another happy event, I'm off to Europe for eight weeks of holidaying. :D I'll be visiting England, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Greek Isles. I won't be setting off on my lonesome...through sheer necessity (I couldn't find anyone who had a free eight weeks for an all expenses paid holiday) I'm taking my cousin, Callum along with me. So, if I can manage to get through eight weeks without being placed on a murder charge for bringing an end to Callum's life for irritating the hell out of me it should be fun. ;p To top off my European holiday I'll be flying straight to the LA in the US for the Star Wars Celebration IV...I missed out on the previous one and the world would have to go to hell in a hand basket before I miss out on this one. Maybe I might have a chance to finally meet some people who I have known through SW.com...I guess it would depend on whether anyone would like to meet up with me at some point when I'm there. And if all that isn't exciting enough I get to stop off in Hawaii on the way home,. Yay! :D

The good news keeps on coming! I had a big medical review last week with some of my specialists and everything is looking...well, peachy keen. They called my recovery and progress remarkable, which is great to hear, however, I have been very diligent about seeing through with all my physio, recommended exercise and offered advice and it has paid off. I still have some muscle weakness issues with my left arm and hand, but nothing that now sees me carrying out everyday tasks with too much trouble...and I am determined to overcome that residual problem as well.

The other evening I also had a chance to participate in a talent show for charity, which was both fun and an utter delight. I did a duet with Nicholas singing "In The Year 2525" by Zager and Evans. I don't know how it happened, but we placed second, I was in complete astonishment for the following 24 hours and best of all the evening raised a great deal of money for a children's cancer camp.

During the past couple of weeks I have had the privilege of babysitting Kym's (my best friend) twin boys. Wow!..do they have energy on tap or what? I couldn't believe how quick they were at getting into mischief! Even though each time I babysat I was completely exhausted I still had a wonderful time...after all, I got to play with toys without having to feel guilty. ;)
There have been a few social occasions where I was able to catch up with a few people and of course enjoy myself. I have also gone out on a casual dinner date and a casual lunch date...nothing serious just a nice chance to feel a little bit special, indulge in good conversation (for the most part) and do something different. :)

All in all the past couple of weeks have been great. :) I cannot wait to see what the future has planned for me.

Laziness brings you a meme

2006-11-12T19:00:00.000+11:00

I have plenty of thoughts and happenings that I would like to put down in black type, but the simple matter of it is I'm too lazy to do so at this moment. So instead you all get a everyday run-of-the-mill meme...you lucky people. :p

If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Overlooking a long stretch of isolated coastline.
What's your favorite article of clothing? My big fluffly pink toweling dressing gown.
Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? Eyes
What's the last CD that you bought? Era 2 by Era ( a replacement for a lost CD)
Where's your favorite place to be? Without a doubt the beach.
Where's your least favorite place to be? Hospital...
What's your favorite place to be massaged? Hands
Strong in mind or strong in body? Definitely strong in mind
What time do you wake in the morning? Any time from 5am onwards. I'm an early bird. :p
What's your favorite kitchen appliance? The microwave, of course!
What makes you really angry? People who are intolerant or judgmental and people who do nothing but complain about every little thing in life.
If you could play any instrument, what would it be? Guitar
Favorite color? Blue.
Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV? As I am already the owner of a sports car then I'll chose the obvious, sports car.
Do you believe in after life? I am not sure what I believe. I consider myself agnostic because I am incapable of making up my mind.
Favorite children's book? Charlotte's Web. :D
What is your favorite season? Summer (Bring it on!) I adore the long hot Australian Summer days.
What's your least favorite household chore? Ironing, by a long shot.
If you could have one super power, what would it be? X-ray vision. ;p
If you have a tattoo, what is it? One I got with my bubble gum?
Can you juggle? Are you kidding? I'm a well known klutz.
The one person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to? My mum...nuff said.
What's your favorite day? Sunday.
What's in the trunk of your car? Spare tyre, a jack, a few tools and a tyre iron I suspect...
Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? Eenie meanie minie moe...too hard to choose.

Remembrance Day

2006-11-11T07:36:00.000+11:00

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

-Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae on May 3, 1915

LEST WE FORGET

Picking up the strands of my life

2006-11-06T21:22:00.000+11:00

I unpacked one of my beloved telescopes today in the hope that I will be able to lift my gaze to the heavens in the coming days. As I unpacked my telescope I realised that I had missed gazing through an eyepiece enormously. Astronomy had been one of my favourite hobbies and one that would see me pass many a happy hour. Unpacking that telescope also made me see how many things I had let slip, how many things I had left wanting...not only in regards to hobbies and interests, but many other aspects of my life. I am happy to report that as the title of this entry suggests I am slowing picking up the strands of my life and more importantly, I'm having fun doing it. :)

When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,
When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

-Walt Whitman

This and That

2006-11-04T11:57:00.000+11:00

I had many plans for the day, but I'm tired...so, I'm gonna be slack today (talk about high ambition ;p).

I hope to have my photos back online in the next few days; including a stack of new ones I have taken in the past few weeks.

The landscapers have started work at my new house. The yard has been designed for maximum visual impact that is also one that is easily maintained. The backyard has been designed to allow for an inground pool in the future...with the current water restrictions in Melbourne it wasn't worth putting one ine at this time as I would never be able to obtain a permit to fill it. I will however have a great outdoor entertainment area complete with BBQ, outdoor kitchen and patio. :D

Last, but not least...I would like to share a couple of things that were sent to me that I found rather amusing.

How America views the world. (click to enlarge pictures)

Another little bit of humour.

Remember they are just a bit of fun. ;)

A taste of Oz

2006-10-28T20:09:00.000+10:00

I wanted to share this music video mainly because of the wonderful photos...It is a way of sharing a little piece of my homeland. The song is called One Country and it is by Midnight Oil, they were one of Australia's premier bands and their songs were always an expression of their (which were shared by many) political view on many issues affecting not only Oz, but in the bigger picture the world. I hope you enjoy, particularly the photos depicting the many varied facets of Oz.

And take the time to watch these four music clips...

Bedlam Bridge

The Dead Heart

Beds Are Burning

Blue Sky Mining

Spring is here!

2006-10-26T19:38:00.000+10:00

I had some free time today to sit in the garden and catch up on some reading, but more often than not my eye would be captured by the dash of colour bursting forth in a display of Spring.

So enraptured by nature's palette I couldn't help capturing the moment...

I can still be surprised

2006-10-25T20:47:00.000+10:00

I had one of my favourite activities this morning, physio therapy...not. To my mind (and body) physio has more in common with torture than therapy. Before starting the session I did argue vigorously against needing any at all...my arguments fell on deaf ears. :(

Now to the real point of my entry; I was asked out on a date by one of the male therapists (one whom I am not on their patient list) I was both stunned and surprised that anyone could look at me and still ask me out on a date...I mean to say I am far from my physical best. Anyway, needless to say that I turned them down. My future as well as my present is one of being single methinks.

But I'm still flattered that someone would even consider asking me out. :p

The modern day poet

2006-10-23T18:56:00.000+10:00

It is no secret amongst my friends that I am a lover of poetry...most know of my love of Tennyson, Browning, Whitman, Banjo Patterson, Poe, Keats, Lawson to name a few, but as well as the "staple" poets I also have a great love of Aussie poet Rupert McCall (especially his cricket based prose) most may only know him as the author of the poem The Crocodiles Are Crying penned as a tribute to Steve Irwin and read at his memorial, but he has many a good verse to his name...he also has an interesting background.

Rupert McCalls name was raised in a conversation I had earlier today, so I thought I would share one of my favourites amongst his works...

Green and Gold Malaria

The day would soon arrive when I could not ignore the rash.

I was obviously ill and so I called on Doctor Nash.

This standard consultation would adjudicate my fate.

I walked into his surgery and gave it to him straight:

`Doc, I wonder if you might explain this allergy of mine,

I get these pins and needles running up and down my spine.

From there, across my body, I will suddenly extend -

My neck will feel a shiver and the hairs will stand on end.

And then there is the symptom that only a man can fear -

A choking in the throat, and the crying of a tear.'

Well, the Doctor scratched his melon with a rather worried look.

His furrowed brow suggested that the news to come was crook.

`What is it Doc?' I motioned. `Have I got a rare disease?

I'm man enough to cop it sweet, so give it to me, please.'

`I'm not too sure,' he answered, in a puzzled kind of way.

`You've got some kind of fever, but it's hard for me to say.

When is it that you feel this most peculiar condition?'

I thought for just a moment, then I gave him my position:

`I get it when I'm standing in an Anzac Day parade,

And I get it when the anthem of our native land is played,

And I get it when Meninga makes a Kiwi-crunching run,

And when Border grits his teeth to score a really gutsy ton.

I got it back in '91 when Farr-Jones held the Cup,

And I got it when Japan was stormed by Better Loosen Up.

I get it when Banjo takes me down the Snowy River,

And Matilda sends me waltzing with a billy-boiling shiver.

It hit me hard when Sydney was awarded the Games,

And I get it when I see our farmers fighting for their names.

It flattened me when Bertrand raised the boxing kangaroo,

And when Perkins smashed the record, well, the rashes were true blue.

So tell me, Doc,' I questioned. `Am I really gonna die?'

He broke into a smile before he looked me in the eye.

As he fumbled with his stethoscope and pushed it out of reach,

He wiped away a tear and then he gave me this stirring speech:

`From the beaches here in Queensland to the sweeping shores of Broome,

On the Harbour banks of Sydney where the waratah's in bloom.

From Uluru at sunset to the Mighty Tasman Sea,

In the Adelaide cathedrals, at the roaring MCG.

From the Great Australian Bight up to the Gulf of Carpentaria,

The medical profession call it "green and gold malaria".

But forget about the text books, son, the truth I shouldn't hide.

The rash that you've contracted here is "good old Aussie pride".

I'm afraid that you were born with it and one thing is for sure -

You'll die with it, young man, because there isn't and cure.'

What's in a name?

2006-10-19T20:16:00.000+10:00

Very few people I know actually like the names they were given when they entered this world, even if every other person has a different view of their moniker and I am no exception. Many a time I have wondered what posessed my parents when they chose Chrissa Beth for me to carry through the sum total of my days on this earth.

Okay, I admit that I wouldn't like to have a name that every Tom, Dick and Jane has, but Chrissa? I want to be able to buy those dinky little note pads that come in a vast range of boys or girls names. Or how about a key ring tag emblazoned with my name? Nope they don't come with Chrissa either. Anything I have ever had that is tagged with my name I've had to have it custom made.

So...this is a roundabout way of openingly wondering the why or how parents bless or curse their offspring with the names that they do. I mean what were Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin thinking when they named their daughter Apple? Or Geri Halliwell when she named her child Bluebell Madonna?

And me? Where is it that my parents unearthed the name Chrissa Beth? Meet the original--my great grandmother...
I have no idea of the exact date that the picture was taken only that it was in the last part of the 1800's.

Spring delight

2006-10-18T20:07:00.000+10:00

It was another glorious Spring day today! I can almost taste the Summer as the days begin to warm and head towards daylight savings.

My day was a mixed blessing with delightful and re-energising things such as enjoying a walk through the botanical gardens followed by a shared picnic lunch with Julie, Kym and her boys, a new look hairstyle and the torturous and sad things like physio therapy and visiting my mum's grave to place flowers.

Even after this amount of time the pain of losing my mum and the circumstances surrounding her death and funeral are still as fresh and painful as the very first day...I'm not so sure that will ever change.

Times have been difficult the past couple of years, but they are what they are, they cannot be changed and they have in some ways made me stronger than I would have been otherwise...anyway enough of that, better things to think about and look forward to, though I will add one last thing--I have neither seen nor heard from my father in about 7 months.

I need to organise my photos. I have so many that I have taken over the last few weeks (including today at the gardens) that I would like to share...

On the 68th day from Christmas...

2006-10-17T20:57:00.000+10:00

Can you believe that it is only something like 68 days til Christmas? 68 days! Where has the year 2006 gone? Okay, so I know where most of my year has gone, but despite the bulk of my year in hospital the year has still sped past.

You walk into any supermarket, department store or a larger convenience store and you are sure to come across Christmas odds and ends; be it decorations or delectable goodies.

So, on this 68th day out from Christmas I started my Christmas shopping. Two dozen delicate etched glass baubles are now a part of my tree decorations, several Christmas presents are now awaiting my attention and a nifty wrapping job and a stack of gold fabric gift bags are sitting waiting to be filled to the brim with a variety of little treats and handed to all and sundry at Christmas time.

After Christmas I'm hoping to find a travel companion so as I might be able to spend some weeks traveling overseas. As things stand (in a medical capacity) I cannot travel overseas by myself and in any respects it would be prudent for me not to travel alone anyway. I'm sure someone would love to be paid to travel and sightsee with me...Or maybe not. :p

Peering at animals peering at me

2006-10-16T19:56:00.000+10:00

Today I enjoyed a pleasant excursion to the zoo, but boy am I exhausted! It was the most glorious day weatherwise and Sarah, Josh and Nicholas were good company. It had been a long while since I enjoyed all the delights the zoo had to offer and I found myself as excited as a child as we made our way around. :D

Numbered amongst my favourite were the Meerkats and tigers, and yes, I avoided the elephants. ;p

Viewing the tigers brought back memories of my holiday in Queensland just after I was released from the rehab centre. The holiday(shared with a few friends) gave me a chance ground myself a little. I can't change what happened to me, but I can choose not to dwell on it and put it behind me. What was it that the character Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption said? "Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying". I have chosen the former and part of that process was the holiday in Queensland...where we visited all the different "worlds", such as Dreamworld (home of the aforementioned tigers), Sea World, Movie World, Wet'n'Wild and the Australian Zoo (more about that in another entry) of course.

I'll upload some more photos of my holiday and my trip to the zoo later, but here are a couple taken it Queensland (excuse the lack of quality they were taken by a disposable cam) and a scan of my super pass for the plethora of adventure and theme parks.

Time for a change

2006-10-13T19:20:00.000+10:00

I thought it was time my blog had an overhaul--'tis long past due I think--so I tweaked an old blog layout I had, giving the whole appearance a much cleaner, simpler look. I like it.

It took me a few days to do the simply adjustments on this, something that would have taken me 20 minutes previously, therefore I won't be playing with this blog layout for a very long time. Apart from the tiny little tweaks.

Vegetable peelers, jugs and cars

2006-09-26T18:16:00.000+10:00

I had a valuable visit to the Independent Living Centre today, not only was it informative, but a lot of fun. I had no idea that there were some many things available to help people with all manner of disabilities; they had everything from various special potato peelers to cars specially modified for people with disabilities.

I made the visit with my occupational therapist with a view to finding a few things to make life a little easier when I move into my new home. One nifty little find was a special jug (kettle) that is in a tilt stand, so when the water is boiled I need not have to lift it (ongoing muscle weakness and atrophy is still a major issue), but simple tilt, and hopefully avoiding being burned. We also managed to find a few other bits and pieces which I shall endeavour to have some photos taken of, then upload.

Speaking of photos...I noticed that all my photos are gone from my album. :(

The road is long

2006-09-23T21:36:00.000+10:00

It has been so long since I have been here, I wasn't sure whether it still existed or indeed if I could remember the password. I'm not sure how much I'll get to say in this entry...it is a much slower process for me to write an entry now. Hopefully once I have my new Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition program up and running properly things will be a whole lot easier, currently it still has a few bugs to be ironed out.

There is so much to say, and I have not the faintest idea where to start.

Anyone reading here in the past would know that I have MS, and epilepsy; what seems like a lifetime ago now I had a mild stroke (ischemic) brought on by an episode of status elepticus (an epileptic seizure that doesn't stop, and without medical intervention can be fatal). I don't remember my first weeks in hospital as I had been placed into a medically induced coma to give my brain a chance to rest, and recover (I'll go into more detail in later entries). The stroke I suffered was only mild, but with my MS the effects were exacerbated somewhat...after my initial hospital stay, and deemed sufficiently recovered enough to be discharged I was moved to a rehab (physical not drug) centre where I underwent months of physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy...Yay? Whilst in rehab I had two stints back in the hospital, the first one due to the recurrence of pneumonia, and a partial collapse of my right lung (a common side effect of being on a ventilator for a lengthy period), the second for more problems arising from my epilepsy. The staff were wonderful, both nursing and therapists, but the last month of my stay I was itching to be anywhere but there. Finally I was released into the care of who I like to call my "third" parent, Julie where I stayed until I was capable of living on my own again.

So many things have changed...my house has been sold, and when the building has been completed I'll be moving into my new purpose built home...a home that later on as my MS progresses will be able to accommodate my needs. I have daily therapy routines, and even more medication to take on a daily basis. :( There are many things I cannot, and will never ever be able to do now or again. The entire scope of my life has changed, so much so I find it difficult to remember how it used to be. The main thing is that life goes on, and I'm not ready to throw in the towel in regards to my battle with MS, and making more headway in my rehab recovery.

It has taken me ages to write this much, so I think I'll leave it here for the moment. I still have plenty more that I wish to put into writing, must of all directed at those who worried, and cared about my well being and whereabouts...so, I hope you all (whoever may happen upon this blog) can bear with me for a little longer...

Not so peachy

2006-03-08T15:37:00.000+11:00

I had intended this entry to be a newsy one...crammed packed with all the fun and silliness that was to be had during my weekend back at home, however after three less than stellar phone calls today my mood is more in tune with a vent rather than a happy gush. And there you have the topic of my entry...A Vent!

Phone call 1-This morning I was somewhat stunned to learn that the phone call I had answered was from none other than my estranged father. It would seem that he had in the course of the morning or even the previous day found that during my visit home I had paid a visit to my mother's grave where I had laid flowers with a note attached. Apparently it is not enough that he managed to stop me from being able to say goodbye to my mother whilst she lay dying in hospital last year and prevented me from attending her funeral...Now he is demanding that I stay away from her resting place. Just when I think the hurt from so many issues relating to this man is starting to lessen something comes up to whip up the hurt into it's original intensity.

I can say with all honesty that I despise the man. Sound less than generous? Not at all. I can say with a great deal of certainty that if the details of this man's actions were laid bare in writing you will see that my confession of my contempt for this man is generosity itself. This man took a piece of my soul....a piece that I will never get back.

Phone call 2- What can I say? [sarcasm]Gee, I feel special! [/sarcasm] Thoughtless words spoken to me two days running leaves me wondering....
I'd say more on this subject, but well....perhaps I should resign myself to the fact that I am not esteemed at all.

Phone call 3-Do all male tradesman think that all potential female clients are stupid? A phone call with a moronic painter who tried to pull a swifty and make a quick buck at the expense of my bank account. All I want is my freakin house painted ASAP after the current tenants have vacated. Gah!

Wasn't that fun reading?....

*sigh*

Thanks!

2006-02-28T20:07:00.000+11:00

A quick note between posts (I am working on another entry), I would like to thank all those who have commented, you have my appreciation. :)

Keep the comments coming. ;p

Why don't cats have airbags?

2006-02-23T08:58:00.000+11:00

In the recent past I joined the ranks of those people seeking a seachange. Placing my own property up for rental, I happily exchanged city life for that of one in a small (really small)... (Really, really small)...coastal town. Thank you to luck and relatives of a close friend I was able to exchange a not so exorbitant amount of money each month for a roof, four walls and chattels that I could call home until the owners decided it was of use to them in a way other than extra income. Not long before my residence there, the current owners had done some renovation work including the reconditioning of the wooden floors. They had lifted age old carpet (decorated the floors of Noah's Ark, methinks) to reveal beautiful Huon pine floor boards. A nifty resand and polishing saw a result that was aesthetically pleasing...giving what essentially is a cottage an impression of spaciousness, but at the same time still manages to retain a warm homely feel. To keep the floors in tip top condition (so I am informed by the owners) they need a biannual big-time-polish with specified big-time-polish stuff and several days ago saw one of those biannual times upon me. *whimpers* Diligently I followed the instructions the owners had given on how to do a big-time-polish. They look great! Fantastic!...which is all well and good if there was not a teeny weenie problem… the goddamn floor is so slippery that even my felis catus, Holly needs airbags to avoid injury as she navigates her way around the house. A midnight expedition from the relative safety of my bed to her kitty litter saw at least three of her lives vanish in a crash and bang of fur and claws meeting furniture or wall. In regards to myself, I have found, after the first ten times of bum meeting floor, that if I walk in a fashion similar to that of a gecko crossed with a praying mantis, I am less want to resemble a trauma victim. I have tried many a varied remedy to alleviate the problem; all to no avail…I would hate to think of Holly having to don airbags for the entirety of her life.

Life is all about ass

2006-02-22T13:29:00.000+11:00

you're either covering it,
laughing it off,
kicking it,
kissing it,
busting it,
trying to get a piece of it,
or behaving like one.

Hit me with the humour stick!... Hit me!... Hit me!

2006-02-17T22:05:00.000+11:00

Today my lunchtime was passed in the company of a group of females from differing generations. The luncheon was not a planned occasion, not in the formal sense of the word, more an opportune one. At this little assemblage I managed to have any appetite for gossip sated--thank you Lillith, but also have my eyes opened to the fact that there are still females that regard me as being somewhat near the lowest rung on the ladder of life success simply because at the age of 26 I still had not married nor reproduced. Even though I have successfully negotiated my way through business opportunities (part ownership in a cabinet making business and half ownership in a beauty products company) and have done so since the age of 23, have, on my own, overseen financial plans for my future security, carved out a not too dull social existence, have many and varied hobbies, and find myself for the most part contented with who I am (looks in the mirror at herself...does my bum look fat in these? ;p). I am still below par because there is no husband and progeny? Puh-leeze, I find this more than a little sad, if not slightly disturbing.

How do you measure success in life? I believe no matter what your circumstance, if you are happy with who and where you are or have been in life, then you are sitting on the top rung of the life ladder.

All of which in a round-about way leads me into the pondering of this particular female gathering--overall not the most stimulating of experiences. The conversation was intelligent and diverse enough, however their sense of humour was glaring in its absence or perhaps my idea of humour just varies greatly to theirs...However that might be, I had to resist the urge to duck out of the eatery, find the nearest book store and purchase a copy of the Oxford dictionary.

joke (jōk)
n.
1. Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
2. A mischievous trick; a prank.
3. An amusing or ludicrous incident or situation.
4. Informal.
a. Something not to be taken seriously; a triviality: The accident was no joke.
b. An object of amusement or laughter; a laughingstock: His loud tie was the joke of the office.

What is intelligence if it does not come partnered with the ability to laugh at either oneself or life in general?

Let the games begin!

2006-02-11T12:49:00.000+11:00

Lost World

2006-02-08T12:29:00.000+11:00

According to today's issue of the Melbourne Herald Sun, the joint expedition of 11 Australian, Indonesian and US scientists exploring part of the Foja mountains in the province of Papua that covers the western half of New Guinea discovered a lost world, "It's as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth," claimed Dr Bruce Beehler.

It is home to exotic new species of birds, butterflies, frogs and plants as well as mammals unafraid of humans despite being hunted to near extinction...read more

I am buoyed by this news and yet it is tempered by a slight feeling of trepidation. To know that the Earth above sea level is still hiding some of her secrets elicits a sense of excitement, adventure and makes me want to race out and obtain a narrative of Dr. Livingston's discoveries in Africa. It is indeed nice to know that we (humans) have not completely ransacked the Earth and there are pockets of pristine environments and yet, therein lays my sense of trepidation...How long before humans do what we do best, encroach, plunder and pillage resources, pushing various species of flora and fauna to the brink of extinction....How long?

On a more personal note, I feel crappy. :/ I had trouble sleeping last night and as the night wore on my throat became even sorer, a headache appeared, blocked ears, stuffy nose. I hate summer colds! :( Never mind, I'll live. :)

Movie Musings

2006-02-07T16:42:00.000+11:00

With an extremely early night last night--mostly due to sleep deprivation (self inflicted) the previous night and a slight headache (result of aforementioned sleep deprivation)-, I found myself awake, up, ready and on the road by 7:30am....even the fickle Tasmanian weather was being kind, a fine day, not overly warm, but warm enough to enjoy the day without being dressed as the Michelin man. The early hour ensured a lack of traffic and the making of good time...before I knew it I was parked and stretching my legs along a small isolated stretch of beach. Just with the first footfall on sand I could feel my soul lighten (not that it needed any lightening-it was already content). It was a great place to relax. I strolled along the sand, paddled in the water in a fashion then sat down upon the sun warmed sand watching the waves lap at the shore...their sound a beat to my musings.

I have began to think of myself as being "movie jaded", blockbuster after so called blockbuster has left me feeling somewhat...I guess to be blunt, feeling ripped off. Armed with high hopes I would trudge off to the local theatre to view the last cinematic offering only to leave disappointed and with the realisation that once again I had been duped by the promotional hype....that in no way did the film deliver what all the spin promised it would. I have also grown weary of unoriginal formats, scripts, subject and content matter and visuals... and the mere mention of a sequel is enough to send a not so pleasant chill up my spin; Revenge of the Sith is the notable exception due to my love of the Star Wars Saga, along with Pirates of the Caribbean and is forthcoming follow-ups because the first was so damned funny. Someone in Hollywood has a light bulb moment "Hey, why don't we make a comic book superhero movie" and the rest of Hollywood cannot help but jump on the bandwagon, leaving us with a plethora of sequels, prequels, remakes and rip-offs. In an effort to avoid being reduced to a numb minded edible starchy vegetable during my search to be entertained I have found myself turning more and more to obscure independent films and have indeed on many occasions of late found entertainment solace there...On such film being Walk on Water an excellent film IMO, well worth the time to view. Walk on Water is also from another film category that I have found some nice little cinematic gems, foreign language films and one such recent find (DVD) was the Korean film My Teacher, Mr. Kim. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the film was indeed exactly what it said it was a light easy watching comedy. Not the most intellectual of movies, however it never pretended to be. I found My Teacher, Mr. Kim to be a pleasant way to waste some time without having to overtax the brain cells. And, one I understand caught Hollywood's eye for their version of a remake. ;p

One last tidbit before ending this entry-I have added a game (Star Wars Flash) for those who find they need something to help erase the memory of perusing my blog/website before moving on...enjoy *wonders how to do a smiling tongue poking wink* I do also hope to add some more interactive content to the site in the form of polls, discussions etc and keep an eye out for the addition of a couple of other little projects I am working on and hope to integrate in the near future. :)

Life in the Bermuda Triangle

2006-02-04T19:40:00.000+11:00

Since moving to this town not so long ago, I have become aware of a few things...

To be considered a local you need to either be born here, been in residence for at least 20 years or be related to half the population in some way.
Outsiders (anyone not fitting into one of the above categories) are either to be regarded with suspicion or treated as an oddity. (the last one would be me-oddity) ;p
A latte is a...."What's that? One of those foreign things?"
A coffee is never served under 30 minutes from the time of ordering.
Takeaway is when you take your groceries home or gather something from the veggie garden.
In order to not have people stare at you as though you have suggested that they go and eat spiders, do not mention an idea or way of doing something that may have come about in the last...ohh, century.

Even given those things, I love the place, I sincerely do. The scenery is picturesque, the air clean and clear (if not a little frigid-still getting used to layering the clothing), the pace of life is slow, on the whole the people are friendly.

A pizza delivery at the forth lily pad on the right

2006-02-03T21:30:00.000+11:00

After spending several creatively challenged hours putting together a cohesive design for my own little corner of the frog pond and then throwing out the welcome mat, I hope it will only be a hop, skip and leap until it turns into a thriving little pond of trivialities, overviews and reviews, rants, raves, observations and nonsensical chatter. :) With life in its usual pattern of relatively organised mayhem, happily distracting and busy, I hope I can find sufficent time to see my blog progress beyond this intial entry following the move to the frog pond (forth lily pad on the right ;p). I shall be endeavouring to give regular frog news updates from my own lily pad as well as those from the broader scope of the frog pond. :)

Can someone e-mail me a pizza! PLEASE!! If someone had told me 6 months ago that I would be craving a greasy home delivered Pizza Hut pizza I would have rolled around the floor in laughter, but now I am at the deprivation stage where I would not think it quite ludicrous to sell my car, house and my cat for a home delivered pizza. Everyone has one consumable that they would almost move heaven and earth for if they were deprived of its pleasure. What would yours be?

A change is as good as a holiday

2006-02-02T19:37:00.000+11:00

A small entry to acknowledge(before anyone states the obvious :p) that yes, I have changed the layout, title etc and I will attempt to update on a more regular basis. Once I was a prolific blogger and I would like to get back to that....prolificness? :p

Keep an eye out, you never know...tomorrow may well bring a nice big entry. ;)

Aargh!

2005-11-30T20:48:00.000+11:00

I had a long informative entry that was eaten by my stupid, irritating server! Gah! I'm so ticked off that I am not even going to attempt to rewrite it until the morning. *trundles off muttering* Pacman-like servers....

A quick note

2005-11-28T20:51:00.000+11:00

I had not realised how many weeks have gone by since I last made an entry here. It has not been the lack of any thoughts to put into words...indeed, quite the opposite. Too many thoughts have been swirling through my mind...too many to find an anchor to translate into written words. Word recall problems were also not helping the situation any. Even the smallest of words were beyond my grasp and recall at times. To work through these problems I have decided to blog every day, even if it is nothing but odd bits of trivial news about my day. So, look for another update tomorrow. Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-Channel. ;)

Home remedies and toilet paper...not to be combined

2005-11-02T10:24:00.000+11:00

It has been a busy and topsy turvy week and this has given me little time to write a decent entry. So here I am, armed with coffee and munchies, ready, willing and able to keep you enthralled, engrossed, totally captivated with the week's happenings. Ok, I am exaggerating, you will not be enthralled nor engrossed nor totally captivated...in fact you will be bored witless. :p

Amongst my past couple of fun filled viral days, I had the occasion to drop into the chemist once... or a thousand times, and during one such visit I had the pleasure of being in conversation with an understanding local. A local who could see my urgency in returning to home with some medication that would see the road gang in my head subside for an hour or two, so this in mind, she was good enough to keep the conversation to a minimum, stalling my departure by only 30 minutes. (Yes I know, I sounded a bit snarky there. :p) There is a point to my mentioning the conversation with this lady. Really, you can believe me, there is...
Part of the conversation went as follows:
"Dear, several of the ladies who have spare time on their hands, are coming together twice a week for classes for home remedies and some of the ladies were wondering if you would also be interested in learning these techniques."
"Home remedy lessons? Me?"
"Yes, dear."
*clutches bag of assorted painkillers, lozenges and medication a little tighter*
*Ahem* "Oh well....*motions to bag*...I think the chemist products are sufficient for me, thanks"
"Dearie, home remedies are so much better for you. "
Not wanting to disappoint and desperately wanting to escape, I could think of no other response than "I'll think about it"
Then with what appeared to be a gleeful smile at my inescapable situation the elderly turned and then promptly asked the sales person for Panadol and a cough elixir. :/

Today’s cyber surfing finds were prompted by one of the topics of conversation that was brought up in a discussion on the phone with a friend, toilet paper. Yes, that’s right, toilet paper. My friend was vividly articulating the intrusiveness of some governmental forms she needed to complete, and how the only thing they refrained from asking was whether you rolled, folded or scrunch the toilet paper when making use of the bathroom. This in turn led to openly wondering if people’s choice of toilet paper was influenced by pattern, brand, ply, fragrance or whether it simply came down to economics and the price was the determining factor in their purchase. We even delved into what would be the majority of people’s placement of the end (or beginning, depending on which way you look at it) sheet, under or over the roll. An odd topic for a phone conversation I grant you, but nonetheless, that pretty much sums up my conversations with Sarah.. ;)

Themed toilet paper
Toilet paper museum
Everything you wanted to know about loo paper
Care for paper prose?

I'm the boss!

2005-10-17T08:45:00.000+10:00

If you find a package on your doorstep, a package labeled with "Send anywhere, but here", a package that has a meow emanating from it, (do not shake, fold or bend and be kind enough to insert some tasty morsels into the holes provided), that would be my cat, Holly. Alright, I did not really post her, however it was very tempting to pack her up and send her to Kitty Etiquette School. I had to spend a great deal of time last night trying to piece together 10 pages of paperwork, thanks to a Hollycat who decided the papers on the coffee table were a welcome sign for the local cat manicure parlour. *scratch, scratch*

I started my big project this morning, the "bird feeder" (I made one once before of a differing design)...I have to say right now that there should be a law against tools and building materials assaulting people! Numerous times my hammer dared to strike me, done sneakily and without warning when I was simply trying to get some nails to behave themselves. Who knew that tools could be so vicious? And the building materials, they are not to be trusted at all. They are pretenders! Laying there all inert, looking completely inanimate, as though they welcome being shaped into this and that. But I know better...inanimate my foot, look away for a minute and your body will be left with bumps and bruises for a week in testament to their animation. Given the personal attacks on my person by the tools and building materials, the big project will be ongoing for another week.....on second thought, make that several weeks. *gets a steely glint in her eye* I'll show them who's boss this time for sure.