ADSL woes

*sigh* it's the 23rd and we've used 90% of our 2nd 1gb (our cap is 1gb but we can up it to 2gb). The sadness that is capped internet.

I got a parcel note in the post earlier - methinks Gem Twist has arrived!

I've made payment for Wintersong & Rugged Painted Lark - they're being posted off tomorrow - YAY!! The LocoRoco umbrella is on its way and should be here soon. Atlantis Bey is due to leave the US shortly. So much excitement!!

The bridesmaids and I are going for dressfitting on Saturday. Can't wait for things to START now... we've basically only got October now...

Saturday morning we're meeting up with G's folks hopefully (that reminds me, I must sms his mom to suggest it) to design the favours. And we need to buy ribbon for the confetti baskets.

Work was very odd today. I got ragged for not making my boss tea because I'm supposed to 'look after him' when the tealady's not at work. The typist took tea and coffee into his office for him and the boss, and I got such 'grief' from him for not making tea, and he was saying (jokingly) that he's thinking of phoning G and telling him that he mustn't expect any tea, that I 'wouldn't give him tea even on his deathbed!'. Thanks hbbm. The simple reason for my not bringing you tea is because I'm not watching the time, waiting for 10:30 to come. Firstly, because ever since I started working at the co 4+ years ago, I NEVER GOT TEATIME. So 10:30 would come and go without it registering (I gave up wanting a teabreak and ended up rushing to the kitchen to make a cup of tea/coffee at random times when the phone was quiet). Even now, 10:30 comes and goes without me noticing because I've been conditioned not to have any 'expectations' associated with 10:30. Also, I'm usualy BUSY with stuff YOU GIVE ME TO DO. So that's actually 2 reasons why I sometimes slip up with making tea for you. So anyway, the typist shared with me the fact that he complains to her and the accountant that I don't make tea for him. Gee, thanks. That's great. Terrific. Thanks.

Also weird today was (haha) the fact that the office area near me and the receptionist is being recarpeted. Haha, because they spent the entire morning laying down THE WRONG CARPET. The smell of the adhesive was horrendous so it was almost comforting to know that our distress wasn't in 'vain' but that there was 'payback'! They took the carpet up and put down the correct ones quickly enough though, and I must say it's looking good. Can't wait for our area to be done because the dark brown old rotten mat that's there at the moment is horrible and deserves to die a painful death... it's really hideous!

Tomorrow is a public holiday. I'm so glad. I want to sleep late and STITCH! We're having sushi for supper so tomorrow night will be 2nd night of sushi (we use half an avo and half a 200g pack of smoked salmon at a time). Yum!

Ok I'm going to go attend to the sushi rice now - that's all for now!

Bebopalula!!

Office Space - lately at work I've been feeling so much like the guy in that movie. Well, before he broke out of his cubicle-life at least.
I don't know whether anything is physically wrong, apart from being very very unfit (again)... but I suppose it would affect my psychological wellbeing...

I know for a fact that I'm slowly but surely dying of boredom at work!!! This past week has been a serious ordeal simply because I've had very little to do. Hbbm has been away and I've been working on address label stickers. W00t!! I'm so bored and as I sit here now, typing this, looking out our window at the tree, sky, fence, plants, outdoors, I really really wish that I could just NOT go to work. It's one of those stunning, windless, warm evenings, today has been gorgeous. The neighbours were away most of the afternoon so we were able to have the back doors open (no cigarette smoke spoiling everything).

I cleaned the fishtank earlier... 1 more clean before the wedding, the next is only after the wedding! (monthly cleans)

Yesterday we went to the jeweller and showed him my ring - he's going to make the wedding ring's millgrain match the millgrain on my ring. We also went to the post office, to fetch a parcel! Milton and the palomino Morgan mare & foal (and the saddle+bridle) arrived! So exciting! They're really gorgeous.

Here's a pic of them all - Prancer I got when I was about 14 or so.



I'm waiting for Gem Twist to arrive, and then after a while the Locoroco umbrella (yes, I finally found it - online shopping for the SUPERWIN!!) and the Chemical Brothers' Brotherhood CD should arrive! Really can't wait.

My Locoroco phone charms arrived this week too - went to fetch them during lunch-hour. They are very cute! Such cheerful things :D

I've also decided that I'm going to buy those other horses: Atlantis Bey V (which is on its way in the post right now), Rugged Painted Lark & Wintersong - I'm just waiting to make payment. And for Uncalled For and Strapless (see previous post for all their stunning pictures!) I'm waiting for a postal quote before I make payment.

SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!! Yes it's a SPLURGE but hell... a person's gotta cash in once in a while!

heeheehee!! As each arrives, I'm going to post pics on here. I can post a pic of the Locoroco umbrella, CD & phone charms in the meantime, to keep this a happy multicolour post! Brace yourself:



hmmm... what else is there to blog about right now.

Wedding things! We've arranged the time+place to meet with the decorators, the ministerdude and the musician/s. G's outfit is complete, hopefully the bridesmaids and I are going to go for dressfitting on Saturday. G and I've formulated an email with info for everyone who has RSVPed, we've booked Sydney Opera House tickets. The photographer is going to meet up with us about a week or so before the wedding. My fake-tan appointment is booked... I've made an appointment with a dermatologist to make sure I have clear skin on the day... I've decided on a french-manicure... basically the most important thing now is for the dresses to be made.

Our list of To-Arrange is as follows:

* Forex (after we get our passports back)
* Seating plan (we've already mapped it out but it's not set yet)
* Menu / seating plan / other stationery
* Favours (we have to finalise the design)
* Ribbons for the confetti-baskets
* Dentist/hygienist appointment
* Copy all documents and stuff like itinerary etc
* Arrange payment for everything on the day/arrange for things like cake-stand to be handed back
* Buy stuff for inside the favours

I have to meet up with (a) hairdresser to discuss hair cut and highlights for the wedding
We have to also ask the (nice!) neighbour if she minds popping into our place every 2nd or 3rd day to feed the fish.

That's all I can think of right now - my list isn't complete but that's what's on the cards for the next while. We will have to meet up with everyone closer to the date to finalise proceedings and stuff on the day.

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lemme leave this blogpost as it is, it's quite large already. I will most probably think of more stuff but hopefully it can wait for another post!

Excitement

I got my LocoRoco CD on Saturday. G and I ended up grinning the whole way from the Post Office to the jewellery shop. It's so funny and happy!

I really can't wait for my other stuff to arrive, I'm waiting for Gem Twist, Milton and Palomino Morgan mare & foal Breyer model horses as well as the dressage saddle & bridle to arrive. Also waiting for the LocoRoco phone-charms to arrive! Can't wait!

I've also found these 2 gorgeous Breyers that I'd like to get:

and then there's Atlantic Bey V:



I'd also like to get Wintersong:

and Rugged Painted Lark:



It's so exciting! Yes it's a splurge, but I've been saving and being 'conservative' a long time and feel it's time for me to actually indulge a little bit. I suppose I've been saying that a bit now - but the stuff I posted about previously (LocoRoco bag/umbrella/PSP pouch) are not available anymore, probably not going to become available again. Breyer model horses, however, are here to stay!

What is news... not much. Dude is now more manly grown up bird than ever before. Everything in his cage is to be courted and flirted with, from the perch to the nibbleblock. He won't eat it, he just wants to court it and flex his muscles and impress it. *sigh* Dude that's not what I bought it for.. it's FOOD!

Things are pretty much on track with wedding plans. Work is too boring right now for me to feel like making a list... but it's pretty much on track.

Now my inspiration to blog has faded. At least it's past 3pm.. but eeek I so badly hope that there's a parcel/parcel note in the post box for me later!!

Stash!

I've been doing a bit of online shopping (splurging)... I think it's about time since everything has been geared towards saving for the wedding and honeymoon.

Work has been so unbelievably dull lately, so I've been checking out ebay.  It's quite fun - there isn't much I'm looking for but I've found a Breyer horse I've been 'wanting'  for the past 10+ years (at the time I saw it first I was 14 and it was a case of ONE DAY IN MY DREAMS).  The model is Gem Twist.  Also bought Milton, a dressage saddle & bridle (yes, I know neither Milton nor Gem Twist were dressage horses!) and a palomino Morgan mare and foal from an online shop.  Really excited - they should be on their way now as I type.

On ebay I found a set of 6 keyrings (LocoRoco), as well as the LocoRoco soundtrack.  I'm basically looking for any LocoRoco merchandise as I saw some pretty funky stuff while googling.  I've seen:  an umbrella, a PSP pouch, a carry bag, keyrings, keyringthing+screen cleaner, inflatable LocoRoco (very big!!), a beanbag, footrest/chair, stickers, soundtrack CD (and other CDs)... a guide book with stickers, notebooks/addressbooks (not sure - the text on the site was in Japanese), little stuffed toys, PSP skin... that's all I can remember right now!  I'd love all of these... but they are nowhere to be found really.

I can't wait for Locoroco2 to come out... :D

I've also 'splurged' musically:  bought the Chembros' albums (they were on 1/2 price sale) and also their brand new Brotherhood album (the one I'm getting has the bonus disc with Electronic Battle Weapons).  I REALLY cannot wait for it all to arrive..................

Things are on a go-slow regarding the wedding.  The main things are now sorted - I had the fake tan (it looks really good, very natural and subtle!)... now it's just the finer details (like discussing with everyone what exactly we require)... and dressmaking.  A lot still to do but there are 56 days left... time is ticking!

I'm so tired right now.  It's Casual Day today, so I'm wearing jeans and takkies.  It's one of those beautiful days outside, but as per NORMAL I'm irkedly cooped up at the office bored out of my mind.  I really wish I could just... GO HOME EARLY... open the back door, take a couch out into the garden, crack open a nice cold coke, pour out some chips and have some chocolate.  Just soak up the sun... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH like that'd ever happen!

%!@#&@*&~!# stupid work!!!

Welcome to the BoreDome

Right now I am exceptionally bored.  I am having one of those Office Space moments where you wonder "what the f- am I doing here".

It's lunch time, and I'm having cottage cheese on toast - again.  It's the same every day.  I'm not complaining about having cottage cheese on toast many days in a row, I'm just fed up and sick of having the same DAY every day.  It's the same every day:  bored, lazy, disinterested workday, same old dull lunch every single day, home and then catch up on some fun stuff if possible in the evenings.

I am so sick of the dullness, the same boring non-existence at work.  Where the bosses don't give a fuck (except when something is bothering them personally), where no one actually enjoys their job, or wants to be there.  Sick of getting phonecalls about shit I DON'T CARE ABOUT!  Honestly, I really couldn't care less if invoices never ever happened ever again and all the companies working on this project didn't get paid.  Woopdefriggindoo!!

And honestly, why should I care about this, if our bosses don't actually care about us (robots/workers/employees).

Example:  when I got here 4.5 years ago, the fax machine was a decrepit piece of shit.  It had to be serviced about every 6 months, it took 1hr&10mins to send 9 pages.  It was only replaced about 2 months ago, despite numerous complaints and problems.  Yet things like a table or photocopier squeaking must be attended to INSTANTLY because the sound bothers the boss too much.  Or we now have to use the photocopier/printer downstairs to print anything A3 because A3 print jobs make the print-queue slower... so the boss complained.

GET OVER YOURSELVES!!!  The print-queue is slow... it doesn't take 15mins!  The microwave is busy dying (has been for about 6 months AT LEAST), it takes about 15mins to do anything remotely like warm food and it makes the most horrendous noises I have ever heard coming from a kitchen appliance, but it isn't being replaced.

Anyway, enough of that.  I actually don't care.  I'm sick of having to come to this place and having to pretend I give a damn.

I guess that's my point for this post:  I'm tired of trying to pretend I give a damn.

Powerless rant

I don't really know for sure what it is exactly that I'm feeling.  I will just let my thoughts run now and see what I find.

I am angry.  Or at least that's the closest I can describe it.

Two of my colleagues leave on Friday, another leaves the end of next month.  I feel so restless because of it because now that they are leaving, they feel freer to share with the rest of us the crap that they had to put up with.  It's not very pleasant.  I have ranted about it here in the past, but apparently one of the bosses was talking to a potential re-employee (he left a few years ago) and basically going through the staff list, listing everyone's faults, along the lines of "x doesn't know what she's doing, y doesn't have a clue, z just blabla" blabla dissing everyone.  Apparently he disses us to clients, co-working company's people, etc.  Another colleague says "don't think that any of us is spared of that 'treatment' by him!".

So now they are having interviews.  And for some reason that just makes me feel so angry.  The false-civility, treating them like normal people, when in reality we all don't *get* treated... we just aren't really there.  The fact that we are so not-there that the boss can just in a fit of anger and frustration threaten someone's job, without actually GIVING A F&&K that it is a person that he's getting angry at.  It's a goddamned person who would actually, when you get down to it, LIKE to enjoy their job!!  But no, that's only part of it.  The fact that your needing time off after an OPERATION is so begrudginly acknowledged/allowed, or like the one occasion: a pregnant colleague tripped down some steps, nearly bashed her head open on a sticking out bit of ex-wallshelf (the metal bracket) and the only response the one boss had was "she's been here, what, since the beginning of the year? she should look where she's going!".  A) she's pregnant, you septic goat-testicle, and B) how bout just asking "are you ok?" maybe if you feel like it add "you should be more careful!".  Asshat.

Anyway, I'm sure I've ranted about all of that before.  But right now I feel so angry and fed up (again).  This makes me feel so restless and itching to bash them across the faces with a brick and yell at them and kick them and jump up and down on them and kick them into the dirt.  Or something.  Something that feels satisfying.  Not the greatest sentiment/mood/state-of-mind but that's what I feel like.  And then I'd say "toodle-doo, *@&#^&$^&$!" and leave.

But realistically I shall go make myself a cup of tea and keep calm.

Unexpectedly relaxed weekend

Apart from my laptop crashing quite a few times this evening. Going to run a memtest next time I'm on. It just bluescreens and that's it.

Friday evening G and I watched Darjeeling Limited. It was a very strange movie. Completely opposite to what I'd expected. Thursday evening we watched Enchanted which was brilliantly entertaining. I LOVED the curtains with the dress-panel holes!

Yesterday morning we popped in at S's work to drop off the visa application forms. Just a couple of things we must send through to accompany the application but that's ticked off our list. We had brunch with G's folks too and then we walked around while G's dad shopped for shoes for the wedding. He was successful too, and G's mom and I both laughed and shared the sentiment of "if only shoe shopping was that simple!!". We also went into the music shop and I picked up The Cardigans Live in London DVD. I'd phoned the day before to find out whether they had it in stock and also how much it is, and the lady had kept it aside for me. I also bought the Chemical Brothers' Push The Button. The other albums are on their way (online shopping rules), so in a few weeks' time I will have all the Chembros' albums! I've also added the Loco Roco soundtrack to my wish list... something completely frivolous and indulgent but the game is just so insanely adorable!

G and I hung out at the mall for about an hour while we waited for my nails appointment: I'd made an appointment (a sort of trial run) for a nail-do for the wedding. Basically the lady gave my nails a file+paint and also put extension/false nails on my little fingers so that I could see whether I'd like them for the wedding. I don't. HAHAH, they are SO WEIRD, typing with them now feels very odd. I just can't get used to the slight change in sensation and they don't look so good to me. It looks as if the finger under the nail is too large and is pushing at the nail making it bulbous. I really love the french manicure though, so that's what I'm going to have on the day!

After the 'manicure' G and I bought ribbons for the wedding car. I also splurged a little and bought some manicure tools (emery board, buff+polish stick, cuticle sticks and some clear nail polish). I think it's about time that I indulge in a little self-TLC. Things are so hectic with wedding preparations that I feel quite cosmetically (health&beauty) neglected. It's surprising how revitalised something like a good filing and painting of your nails can do!

Friday morning (apologies for chronologically hopping around!), G and I went to the attorney to sign the marriage contract stuff. Then we went through to visit the wedding venue. Had a very good 'brainstorming' session with the co-ordinator. So many things to think about and decide on and plan. YAY!!

I also got to work on the little horse cross stitch. It really doesn't take that long to do, just that it's such intense work that it actually gets exhausting. The stitches are small and it's over 2 so I become temporarily shortsighted after a while of working on it. After the 2nd one, I don't think I'm going to do any more over-2 or small count cross stitches again.

Yay, it's nearly payday! And, unrelatedly, hopefully the washmachine will have finished shortly! It's bedtime!

Hectic week/end ahead...

and it's gonna become busier and busier as the wedding day draws nearer.

Success!

Just a report back on those boots I mentioned in my previous post: I phoned the shop. They cost R4500. There goes that idea!

Today G and I went to the HUGE mall nearby at about 1pm. We got home again at about 7pm. Somewhere during the afternoon we had lunch so it wasn't as if we went shopping for 6 hours straight. It was a very fruitful shopping trip.

G found a shirt for the wedding and some jeans. I found 2 t-shirts, 2 pairs of pants, 4 pairs of track/pyjama pants and a 2 pack of vests. AND we found vacuum bags - we've been looking for them for months.

I feel very much more inspired now. New pants which I can keep for at home/going out, instead of just jeans. I will keep those black pants for work (that reminds me - I have to sew the buttons back on some of them - tumbledrying evidently weakened buttons' stitching). I just wish that they weren't pants needing ironing. I HATE ironing but *sigh* what must be done must be done!

I saw boots like the ones I had my eye on, but they were cheap ones (for a few hundred) which wouldn't last more than about 6 months if I were lucky. Not worth buying because the excitement at having such nice boots wouldn't outweigh the disappointment when they inevitably break. And yes, 'break' is the word I use here because if the cheaper boots give in, they are not repairable. Decent, well made ones you can get restitched or re-heeled (what's the right word?). One day, I will have boots like that.

G is currently playing Patapon. I had the PSP out yesterday afternoon and played a bit of Patapon. Then I switched over to LocoRoco (man I love that game!) and played for HOURS and eventually 'finished' the game! Yay!!!

Odd day today

Today I feel so unbelievably restless and unsettled.  G is having problems with his net so we're hardly able to chat during the day.  Somehow that makes me feel unsettled, as if I'm cut off with the outside world.  I feel it helps us keep up to date with what's going on with each other during the day.  Also it is useful for just ranting into because both G and I have stuff we NEED to just offload about, such as DUMB COLLEAGUES!

At this very moment, the receptionist is busy cleaning.  Gawd knows why, she's just got a bee in her bonnet this morning and has got a little bowl of water, a scourer and some general purpose cleaner and has scrubbed the entire cupboard, her desk, her keyboard, the printer, dunno what else (I've been overhearing her cleaning so I can only identify the items by sound).  I saw her cleaning the printer - cleaning it with a SCOURER!  And SOAP!  So that the surface is all matte with a soapy layer like you apply when cleaning a kitchen counter or something.  That's gotta be good for it!  Presumably she subjected her keyboard to the same treatment.  You gotta wonder sometimes.  I just... don't care... can't be bothered to tell her that it's not such a good idea.  She doesn't listen anyway.

G and I watched Stardust last night.  SUCH a good movie!  Fun and lighthearted entertainment... I thoroughly enjoyed it!  Tonight we're going to watch Little Miss Sunshine.  When we went to the movieshop last night to take the movies out, their system had 'lost' our details.  Apparently if you don't hire a movie once every 5 months, it deletes your info which seems a bit dumb considering that not everyone gets to or feels like watching a movie every single weekend or even month!

I've printed out a calendar for the next 3 months and pencilled in all the things we have to do.  The next few weekends are going to be very busy!  We're going to pop by at a ribbon shop and someone who hopefully will do my nails.  We're also going to the mall nearby so I can take a closer look at some boots I've had my eye on.  Calf-high leather boots.  I'd really like a pair but I am seriously doubtful whether those would be even remotely reasonably priced.  A similar pair in the US costs $200 which is +-R1500, but I doubt a good pair like that would cost anything less than R4000!!!!  HAHA so yeah, it's more a shopping trip to see the real price so that I put that idea out of my mind!

Dude is so cute and such a sweetheart.  I took him out of his cage last night and let him have a bit of playtime.  Clipped his nails as well - while he was sitting on my finger I fiddled around with his nails and clipped a bit and at first he was a bit annoyed because it was as if I were biting his feet myself (budgie to budgie behaviour) but then he seemed to realise I was doing something not as a budgie and he sat quite still and seemed tense but kept calm.  I gave him a neck scratch afterwards and must have accidentally caught one of his quills (baby feathers) under my nail and tugged it because he gave quite a squeak and jerked away - but still sat quietly and let me hug him and give him more head scratches.

I read up on the Aus immigration/quarantine website yesterday that they are now allowing pet birds in from NZ subject to strict quarantine and analysis.  Hopefully in the next while (before we move) they will allow other countries to bring in their pets.  I'm going to check back regularly... if we aren't able to take Dude I will be MOST upset because he's really like 1 of the 3 members (excluding the fish!) of our family.

3 people at the office have resigned.  2 are going the end of this month and the other the end of next month.  I'm not surprised.  Just this morning the typist told me what the boss had said of the messenger guy "if he doesn't go around this office every day checking that none of the lights have blown, he won't be working here for much longer!"  Shit like that REALLY demoralises everyone because although they might not hear it to their faces, they can sure as hell SENSE that type of sentiment and attitude.  Hell *I*'ve even had that type of thing said to me by that boss.  I don't recall the details (thank heavens) but I do recall being threatened that unless I sorted it (some mess-up) out, my job would be at stake.  Charming.

Anyway, enough for now - I have work to do (yay *rolls eyes* so interested in it right now)...

~*~

High school reunion

Apparently there's going to be a high school reunion for my matric year sometime next year.  I read about it on Facebook a while ago and recently checked on the group again.  Reading the Wall comments everyone is pretty much feeling the same way I suppose - "10 years have passed?!?!?!?".

One thing that made me go ! was someone's comment saying "yes! and we must bring our hubbies and wifeys and kiddies!".  If you think about that for a second, you'll realise why I'm so ! about it.

There were approximately 150 of us in the year.  If you double that it's 300: student + partner.  And if you were to include 'kiddies', estimating that I'm not alone in my childfreedom and that some classmates have probably popped out 4, you could say there'll be 2 kids per couple.  SO that totals 300 adults and 300 'kiddies'.  It sounds horrible...

Firstly, all that a reunion is really is a parade of how successful everyone is now, how lovely they still look, how well they have (haven't) aged, how great their partner is and how cute/clever/etc their children are.  To me, that doesn't sound like a great deal of fun.

Add to that 300 kids.  I don't think I need to go into detail here.  300 kids.  If the adults behave themselves (hopefully they have grown up a bit since matric), there will be 300 kids running around the entire time.

I dislike it enough when I'm forced to be surrounded by kids by being seated near the kiddies section in a restaurant, so I am not *willingly* going to go surround myself with 300 kids...!

Ugh.  No thanks. 

Sushi

As you can see, sushi has become a regular meal for us! The california rolls (uramaki) came out better than expected! The 2nd pic is pretty much "the usual" when we make sushi for supper.

Excerpt from Letter of Notification of Appointment of iPod

I hereby notify yourselves that I shall heretofore become thereby frustrated whereby I shall with immediate effect anull my interest therein, whereby I shall hereinafter go postal, which, on behalf of myself, I trust is acceptable to yourselves.

The aforementioned iPod, without which I would go postal, is hereby appointed as maintenance manager for my sanity.

Wedding to-do list

I thought it'd be good to type up the 'to-do' list, so that a) I can see what still needs to be done and b) it'd be a record of where we were at this point with all the planning.  There are 88 days left!

August

Nails/tan/beauty treatment

Travel insurance

Contract

Exercise!!!

Favours

September

Visas

Forex

Vows & ceremony

Ring cleaned

Seating plan

Menu, cashbar, canapes

Menu, seating plan card stationery

Music

Transport to wedding

House-sitting/someone to feed the fish and water the plants

Confirm everything with everyone!

October

Get rings made

Hair highlighted

Make-up trial

Sound equipment

Meet photographer & decorators to finalise details

Buy favours-contents

Make copies of all vital documentation for honeymoon

Go to dentist and hygienist

Arrange payment and return of items hired

 

Apart from the above list, G still has to sort out outfits with the bestman, we have to chat with his parents and my mom about proceedings, have to book some things to do on the honeymoon.  We've already booked all the flights, the hirecar, accommodation as well as a tour-card.  Also, I have to buy nice clothes - suitable for an Aus summer!

 

SO MUCH STILL TO ORGANISE!  So exciting!!

 

*disclaimer:  I'm blogging via email, so the layout of this post might be WONKY.  I will have to patch it up some other time.

Inspired

I have been reading old posts on S's blog - reading about her wedding preparations and stuff and I'm inspired!

Yesterday we went to visit 2 jewellers. We've picked out ring designs but aren't 100% sure which metals we'd like but I think we're sorted now!

The first jeweller was recommended by my boss's daughter who got married last year sometime. He seems nice enough and gave us quotes for different metals for the ring designs we have chosen. We were intending to go to a factory-shop place (set of factory shops - not quite a mall!) afterwards, but decided against it because it was the last Saturday of the month (after both paydays!). Apparently this place is busy enough on a NORMAL Saturday so we decided instead to go visit another jeweller who was recommended by an ex-colleague.

This guy looked at the other guy's prices and told us that they were wonky - also when I told him I was considering platinum because it won't scratch, he told us that platinum isn't as hard/scratch-resistant as it's made out to be (it's a sales-pitch). He gave us prices for both our rings in white-gold (18 and 9ct for mine and G's respectively) and they are much better than the other guy's prices. So it seems we have found our jeweller!! I'm so relieved. He says he can make them in 1 day for us, so we aren't in a rush now to get them made. It would be nice to get it done and ticked off the list asap but it's good that we don't have a cut-off rushrush date.

So it now seems that everything is on track. The huge things have been organised, now it's smaller things which must take place closer to the time. The invites have (99%) been mailed off. The bridesmaids and I went to meet with the dressmaker. She said if we wanted we could use this next month as a get-fit/lose-weight month so that she can take our measurements again. It's all so exciting! And I probably mentioned about 5 times already but I have my shoes and jewellery sorted!

It's 21:35 now, and G is busy playing an 'escape game'. Dude is chattering away to himself and the fish are chilling in the tank. Altogether a happy home :D This weekend has been rather relaxed - after we met with the 2nd jeweller, we went for lunch at a nearby restaurant. It was empty apart from us for the first while - we'd evidently 'beaten' the lunchtime rush - but after a while other people came in as well.

After a YUM lunch, G and I went for a stroll on the beach across the road. It was GORGEOUS on the beach, the wind was icy but otherwise it was really relaxing and so enjoyable to be there with nothing 'on the cards' to be done that day which we should rather go do than waste time on the beach. We usually end up doing 'necessary' stuff (like meet with jeweller/wedding plan/stuff like that) and then spending the rest of the weekend doing chores and wasting the rest of the time sitting on the internet. It was so nice to get out of the house and be 'timeless' for a moment! I hope that we can do more of that kind of thing from now on - wedding-rush is on track so we should have time!

Anyway that is all for now - last week was really stressful and I'm so glad it's over! I am going to re-count the days left til my last day at work here... I really can't wait O.o

GI Joe!

Strange bossman

Hbbm is funny at times... I think he is becoming more soft as he gets older.  Apparently he used to be very scary and would shout at people a lot (including in front of people in a meeting in the boardroom)...

Yesterday was an example of his oddness:

He called me into his office saying "... I've got a problem... there's some brown on the screen... dunno... how to get rid of it or something?"

It was the stationery/background of the email he was replying to.

"ahh, so nothing sinister... I was just worried".  At least he found the reply button this time!

He also has a biscuit on his table next to his keyboard... it's from Friday teatime.  Yum. %-)

A bit later on, he called me into his office to ask me to help - he's got himself into a bit of a loop.  He'd evidently replied to a sent item instead of a received item and merrily emailed himself!

And then, the best bit:

He appeared at his office door (perpendicular to my desk), and showed me his trousers stitching had come apart below the one pocket, saying that he'd have to sticky-tape it from the inside.  He goes into his office, and I hear him moving stuff, probably looking for the stickytape.  He comes back and says "don't come in here now, else you might see something embarrassing..!"... he goes back in, comes out again and laughingly says "just letting you know that there's no lady coming in through the other door, ok??".."ok give me about 3 or 4 mins" and goes back in, closes the door and I soon after hear that RRRRRRRRKKKKKKK sound of a longggg piece of stickytape being pulled and torn.  Eventually he comes out and shows me his handiwork (he seemed rather chuffed with himself)!

Today has been quiet.  I think I overheard hbbm and the other department's not nice boss chatting, and I think hbbm said that he's thinking of retiring because the money just isn't worth it anymore.  He's nearly 70, so that's completely understandable!  I'm really holding thumbs that he retires next year or after, so that I can safely work here until it's time for us to make our moves!

Our wedding + honeymoon plans are coming along nicely!!!  Can't wait!

Contemplation

I think I'm a sensitive, reactive creature. Emotionally sensitive and things affect me which really shouldn't have any impact on me at all.

I will blog about 'usual' stuff now and see if it inspires me to blog more 'thoughtful' stuff hehe... I have so many thoughts in my head right now, and they just don't want to come out!

Things have been busy. The invites are almost 100% sorted - gotta get addresses for a couple of people and then send them off in the post. A few we will hand-deliver. They really do look lovely :)

I have been BORED out of my MIND at work lately. For the most part, all I have been doing at work is filing. I am so bored and frustrated because (as always, where filing is concerned), it is never-ending! Just when I see the end in sight which would be when that dude's filing cabinet is empty, HBBM has urgent (shit) emails to type to people in Mauritius "BLAAAAAAA BLA BLA it's urgent they leave work 2 hours before we do blablabla hold-my-hand-I-can't-TYPE! wahhhh... " and then other work which prevents me from maintaining the upper hand on that filing and then it goes awful again. WHY THE HELL AM I STRESSED OUT ABOUT FILING - jees, is that my sole purpose in life??

All day, at work, I think/mull about the things I COULD be doing at home, useful, NOT-pointless stuff (unlike what I get to do at work)... and every evening, after spending the entire day doing 'nothing', I can't even do those things I had been wanting to do because there's always SOMETHING. Always washing up, or washing, or SOMETHING. Every evening. Same thing on weekends. It's Sunday afternoon now, and almost the entire day yesterday was spent doing chores. So - when is there time to have fun hey? Yes I've griped about this before, but it never changes.

I went through my clothes yesterday, doing a cull, if you would call it that. A long overdue sorting through of clothes. Removing clothes that no longer fit or things I just haven't ever worn in the past CENTURY. It was quite strange. I now have a rather incomplete wardrobe because nothing much is left. It was so strange to dig out the old stuff. Old tank tops, button-t-shirts, quite an assortment of tops basically. They were such a reminder of certain timeperiods, and I felt such a sense of loss. A time which I can't get back, a time which wasn't fully experienced, or not quite fully "lived". Such vivid reminders of particular days, things I would wear with the outfit, feelings and expectations and moods of that time. I guess life is a series of periods, each with their own expectations - and they are rarely fulfilled. Or is it just me? I wouldn't actually know, but it always feels that way.

I suppose it's that problem of reaching +-25 and wondering "so what have I achieved?"... or how much have I grown and changed in the past 10 years. I don't really know. If I think back to those times, in a way, nothing's changed. In another way, so much has changed. I guess I'm still the same person, just living in different circumstances.

I'm not sure what I'm feeling, disappointment perhaps. I guess a person is excited about what is coming, future things, plans, but when they happen, they aren't as huge as they were supposed to be. Being 'grown-up', not that big a deal now is it. Now I get to worry about my hands, how dry they are and wrinkly and stress about how old they are already looking when they really shouldn't! Or how none of my clothes really fit anymore, how they fit me 100% for such a brief time for about 6 months about 2 years ago. It feels so unfair. So when am I going to have that 'carefree' time, where I'm at my best, most beautiful, most impactful, most lovely? Most up-and-coming, perfect? Has it passed already? Why?

I'm so tired. Feel like sitting up on my cliff-top, alone. I'm so sick of ... everything really. Getting home, and there are things to do. Getting home, and hearing the neighbours and their F***ing KID! Like, ENOUGH! ENOUGH damn it. I'm TIRED of hearing them slam their front door EVERY SINGLE TIME they leave or come home. SICK of seeing their car pull up after they've been out, hearing that DAMN CHILD singing BARNEY theme or HAPPY BIRTHDAY...!!!!! Sick of having to constantly be aware of things, like "the washing basket is full/the washing up needs to be done/the bin is full and needs to be taken out/the house needs a clean/things are needed from the shop/the windows need to be closed cos it's dark or raining/my hair needs a wash/my nails need to be cut/WHATEVER!!! I'm so tired of everything now. I'm SICK of doing PERSONAL work for hbbm. Typing up letters regarding the PAVEMENT plants outside his HOLIDAY HOME!!!!! Damn it, damn it all.

I feel fed up... people. I'm fed up with everyone it seems. Mom told me about aunt+uncle, how they fight, argue and taunt each other enough to get themselves into a rage, enough for the one to hit the other because the other challenged them to do it. Their kid stands by and witnesses it. Sick of it... mom not being home, running herself into the ground being OUT of the house when the house needs sorting out and getting into order - she told me how excited she feels when going out on mobile-home holidays and how sad and upset she feels coming home... And people...! I'm tired of it all. I'm tired of how it upsets me. I can't not be affected by it but it's driving me mad. A friend of mine in the US says I should 'change what you can, but things you can't change, forget about'. Easy, it should be. I'm tired.

There's too much to do. I have so much I WANT to do, for fun, recreation, but there's always something else that *should* be done instead. I want to stitch or play games, but I SHOULD go through old magazines and toss them out. I should scan photos in, I should finish the other x-stitches (gifts), I should EVERYTHING. Too much. I'm tired.

News from another planet

Friday was funky! I phoned the PC shop and they'd got their delivery of RAM and so we were able to go buy 1gb each of 667MHz laptop ram! YAY!! When we got home after going out to buy the ram, we plugged in the ram chips and voila! They worked first time! :D I'm now sitting happily with my spiffed up perky laptop. Love this thing! :D

Friday rocked too because I phoned the traffic dept, held on a while and got put through to a cheerful sounding guy at 'collections'. Bang on time, my license was ready, 8 weeks after my test just as they said it would be. Yesterday morning G and I went to fetch it and it's a 100% correct, *my* driving license (my photo, name etc). Just a pity that I'm going to have to apply for a new one in about 4 months' time!!!

Yesterday we also popped in at the aquarium shop. I bought a heater (but found out that the one I thought was broken is in fact still fine), some yum (HURLICIOUS) mealworms for the fish (HURL HURL they're so revolting!!! not freezedried, just kinda... dead in the tin).

Cleaned the tank a little while ago. Still love my fishtank! Gorgeous little fish! It's going to be sad leaving them behind when we move. I will be able to look forward to buying a whole new setup though, and once we get fully settled down I'd like to try my hand at a marine aquarium.

We're busy with the invites now... there's still quite a bit of stuff to organise. I think we're on track though. Later this month the bridesmaids and I are heading off to meet with the dressmaker for measurements and stuff. Eeek!!

I really wish weekends were 3 days long. I don't see what's wrong with an 8 day week. I don't mind working 5 days, but the weekend being 2 days is too short. I'd love a 2nd Sunday so that I can just relax and NOT do anything I HAVE to do, because all that would have been done the day before. *sigh*

I stitched a bit a couple of nights ago. Here's GI Joe as he is now:



I don't really have much else to blog about. My head was full of thoughts and inspiration the past few days and now that I sit down to blog, it's all gone.

I just looked at the fishtank from where I'm sitting and I can see the male congo tetras showing off how manly they are, puffing and prancing and challenging each other. They're such narcissists! :P I think the reason everyone in the tank is showing off is to redefine *their* space. I moved all the floating plants around so I probably changed the "territory boundaries". The hatchetfish are probably going to 'fight' with each other until the plants grow/move back to where they were.

Cosmic imbalance

Strangely enough, this year seems to be one of imbalance or dischord.

It's unfortunate because our wedding is this year and a lot has been achieved already this year so far.  I got my drivers' license, got moles out, etc... long-term things.  The wedding plans are going well, the honeymoon plans are going well too.  But then other things are going wrong.  Very wrong.

Some occurrences this year:

My budgie (living with mom & sis) died earlier this year.

Sis bumped mom's car with her car - broke the headlight on mom's car - expensive to fix and it's still not 100% sorted. 

Sis & mom's arguing/situation.

Sis's work shit:  govt dept did a job-satisfaction survey and no one is happy. Solution?  Tighten the contract wording so that no one can change jobs. Sis's library has 4 members of staff (including the cleaning/book-repair/non-counter working lady).  1 of the 3 counter-working ladies is resigning.  HOW THE HELL CAN YOU RUN A LIBRARY WITH 2 MEMBERS OF STAFF??  Sis is stressed to the max which affects everything.

G's sis's dog was kidnapped by her ex... from her new home (rented).  Luckily she had bought a puppy just a short while before.  She moved back in with their parents and then G's parents' dog passed away (on G's bday).

G's sis was in a car accident (no injuries), car was a write off but insurance paid out.

G's folks have to move again.

My sis was in a car accident (no injuries).  Car 1 slammed on brakes, car 2 slammed on brakes, sis slammed on brakes but didn't stop in time and hit car 2 which hit into car 1.  Bad enough?  Sis's insurance writes the car off (it's an old citi golf)... and will not pay out because one of her tyres had a bald spot which "would have been the cause of the accident".  Her insurance will not pay for car 2's repairs either.  What now?

I dunno. Just felt like blogging that.  Nothing much is going on these days (bloggable)... Work is the same, driving me crazy with lack of stimulation and excess of boredom.  Wedding preparations are taking place.  Honeymoon plans.  Sorting through old junk.  But I'm not feeling particularly restful or "happy".