Ahh, back

It has really been a while since I blogged last. I'm on the other side of a very large event, and everything is fantastic :D

I don't want to go into detail right now as I'm quite tired (it IS Friday, after all!), but just felt like clocking in here and mentioning that I have been stitching and will put up a recent pic of GI sometime.

Until then - toodle-dooooo!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEK

Right now I am SO IMPATIENT I could burst.  I'm sitting at work, waiting.  I could be at home, packing or tidying up or ANYthing, but I'm stuck at work, waiting.  I'm waiting for invoices to come in so that I can send off the 3 bundles of invoices (separate jobs).  The thing that sucks the most is that HBBM is out at a meeting and when he comes back he'll have a lot of work to give me, and probably then all the invoices will come through.  I can't do it all at once so I'm super-frustrated because I COULD be doing the invoices NOW and be free to do work when he gets back.

There really isn't that much left to do.  Last night I cleaned the fishtank - the tank really looks spiffy again.  I will NOT skip algae-scraping again, because the previous clean really didn't look clean at all, simply because the glass was all algae'ed.

Clipped Dude's nails last night.  Shame, it was the hottest night, the little blanket we use to hold him is also quite warm too and he got so hot.  I just had to clip his nails though because he was starting to stick to the blanket which covers the back of his cage (and which is flipped over to cover his whole cage at night).  Although he will be staying at his grandparents while we're away, and they have birds and would be mindful of him, I don't want to risk him getting stuck and silently panicking and hurting himself.  Things like that can happen so quickly so I just wanted to be sure he won't have a problem.  He really is such a sweetheart.  I gave him such a nice neck-scratch last night, he REALLY enjoyed it.  My sweet Little Dude.

Things are pretty much all on track.  The dressmaker just has to phone and let me know I can fetch the dress.  Tomorrow is my fake-tan, Friday is my manicure etc... then it's RELAX and BE EXCITED.  We do have to pack and make copies of all the NB documents and stuff.  I think the only thing we have to do still for the wedding is make a seating-plan board.  Oh and G has to prepare a speech (I don't think I'm going to - it's too excruciating for me to talk in 'public' even though it is family+friends).

EEEEEEEK I can't believe it's HERE AND NOW almost the day!  Not much time left, and then we're jetting off overseas!!  So exciting.  I've stuck ALL my Chembros' music on my ipod... not that the airline has no entertainment etc, but still.

Eeek!!!!

I will blog more if I can think of anything.

Nearly there!

This is just a 'holding' post, things have been busy lately (obviously) and I'll be silent for the next 3 weeks or so... SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!!

So much

... has been happening since I last blogged!

For one thing, we got our forex. Thankfully before this whole mad crash of the dollar. We also went to customs to go fetch Atlantis Bey V. And Strapless has arrived! They are both truly stunning. My little herd is complete!

Yesterday morning G and I went to the jeweller's place to check out the rings. Mine is done, but I want to ask him to 'lower' the millgrain-ridge a bit, and also fix up a flat edge which shouldn't be there. G's ring does not fit, despite the fact that the jeweller made it 3/4 of a size bigger since the last time we met with him. G's fingers must have been swollen cos of the hot weather, so the jeweller's going to resize it again.

I had my hair cut yesterday. I now have a few wispy bits, perfectly suited to the hairstyle I'm going to have. I haven't had a fringe for about 10 years now, and it's strange - a fringe is so frivolous and impractical, and yet it LOOKS nice. I think I might keep it but make use of clips!!

Yesterday afternoon we had a meet with the 'wedding party' to discuss logistics. G and I have to make up a list of what was discussed and decided.

This morning we were up early again to have a dressfitting. The bridesmaids' dresses are complete, my dress is going to be ready during the week. So exciting!!!!!

This afternoon I had a hair&make-up trial. I looked totally different, I'm really pleased with the result! Let me just leave it at that and give away no more clues! I am however feeling burny-eyed/puffy/sleepy because I'm evidently not used to make up and my eyelids feel a bit ... well unhappy is too strong a word... but just not 'normal'. But, the wedding is a once off thing so I will soldier on ;)

I'm so tired though, been on the go so much this past while and no 'downtime' really. I really want to sleep late just once - but it's unlikely until after the wedding.

Anyway, as I'm sure ANYone could guess, I REALLY don't feel like work AT ALL...

Click and grow my city

http://kitton.myminicity.com

Horses!

After OCD'ishly checking the track and trace site for progress on the parcels almost the whole day, after work on Thursday I checked the postbox and voila, both parcel notes were there.

Atlantis Bey V has been held up at customs as they aren't able to assess his value - obviously he looks more expensive and they aren't sure what to charge me for customs duties.

Wintersong and Rugged Painted Lark were ready for collection though, and I phoned the post office on Friday to find out what their hours were - they close at 17:30. Such a pity I'd not brought the note with me to work, so we popped by at home to fetch it. We got into the post office at exactly 17:25. They weren't to friendly about it but dammit, there was still a WHOLE five minutes til closing, so they did help us after all. The box had been opened by customs and taped up - they'd bashed it a bit. We popped by the shop afterwards to buy stuff for Syndicate, then we came home and I was able to open the box and wow - the horses are STUNNING!

Here are pics - I tacked up Rugged Painted Lark to see how it fit and he looks good both tacked up and untacked. Wintersong is so lovely.






Sat morning we were up early, to meet with the cake-lady, fetch our passports and go see the jeweller. The rings aren't ready yet, which is a disappointment. His communication isn't all that great, because admittedly things like designing wedding rings etc take time and need to be fitted before being finished, etc etc, but he hasn't got hold of us to let us know what the progress is, nor has he said anything about it when we've tried phoning him. I don't expect to be kept up to speed to the second, but it'd be nice to know when phoning to find out how it is going and being told that we can come by on Saturday that it's not finished, but still has a bit of work to be done. Then at least we don't have these excited expectations. Anyway, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and we will wait and see how the rings are once they've been completed.

S, L and I went for a dressfitting that afternoon, and I have to say that they look STUNNING! Their dresses are pretty much 100%, I'm going to fetch them on Sat. My dress is pretty much done, it's my sort of final-fitting on Sat, and I should be able to collect the dress during the week after. SO EXCITING! I just need to break my shoes in first.

Oddness

Just some weird news: G and I took a drive to the nearby mall, to get milk + carrot cake because his mom was going to pop by to pick up the materials to make the favours. We'd come to a stop at a robot, and I was dreamily looking out the window, thinking about the honeymoon, when there was a 'doof' sound and my head and the headrest connected.

It was weird, there was this sound and it seemed like time slowed enough for me to only realise once my head was banged against the headrest that we'd been bashed from behind. I think I automatically asked G "what was that?!". Somehow, we'd been bashed from behind by a large bakkie, driven by 2 very dark rasta-like dudes. They just sat in the bakkie, unmoving, obviously in quite a bit of shock.

I was (and still am now) a bit out-of-it because of my cold/sinus so I was slowly/calmly surveying what was going on. G got out and we both saw that this bakkie's front bumper was bashed in by the Audi's back bumper. The Audi's bumper wasn't dented at all (yay expensive car quality!!). G started asking the guy to move the bakkie back, like hellooooo, you just bumped another person's car, you have to get out and talk to them and exchange details. But these guys were evidently not quite aware of what to do next. The guy driving was very dumbstruck with shock, and his friend was a bit more aware of his surroundings! G was getting VERY angry because these guys were so 'elsewhere' and weren't actually talking to us really... just sort of elsewhere (dunno how else to describe it).

Luckily 2 other guys drove past and kinda pulled over saying "hey guys!" (seeming to be friends/acquaintences with the rasta guys) and kinda woke them out of their siesta/daze. I took photos with my phone of the two cars' bumpers as they were, also got a photo of the back registration plate. Seems these guys weren't able to brake (hence bashing us), and somehow they weren't able to start their bakkie and reverse. G asked the guy to, but he mumbled something about the clutch. At one stage they tried to move their bakkie back but it just rolled forward again, against G's bumper a 2nd time!! Man, that is so roadworthy! Anyway, I doubt either of them have drivers' licenses, but we exchanged details after G pulled away and reversed into a parking place alongside the road, and they started their bakkie and drove into a parking bay ahead. Their bumper is bumped in a bit, G's bumper luckily doesn't really have any damage. I think it looked worse because it was dusty and the dust was smeared off by the other guys' bumper, but there is a small line/scratch here and there.

Here is a pic of the 2 cars:



So a rather weird occurrence for the day. I really think that more expensive cars' materials are able to withstand stuff better than cheaper cars, making the initial outlay worthwhile as the car ages and more 'life' happens to the car. Hopefully in Aus we can buy a similar car :D

What else is news... I have a really clangy head from sinus. I hope it's not becoming infected, else it'll mean more medicine etc which is TERRIFIC because my medical aid benefits for the year are used up. Yay. I've taken some sinus med but *sigh* it doesn't seem to have worked yet.

Wedding plans are on track! The bridesmaids and I went to a dressfitting on Sat, and their dresses are almost complete! They should be ready next weekend. My dress is going to be assembled for me to try on next weekend, then I think that's it - 1 final try and then it's done! I can't believe it... so quick :D So exciting! EEEEEKKKK!!!!!!

Things are all on track methinks. We're meeting with the ministerdude on Thurs, we met with the decor people on Thursday past, and we met with the musicians on Sat past. The music is awesome. So cool - live music! The decor people set up a demo table for us, and it looks stunning. Simple, not too hectically decorated, basically the tablecloth+cutlery+crockery+glasses and serviettes, with a bouquet in the centre. And yet, it looks great! So exciting TOO!

I might already have mentioned but Gem Twist arrived and is gorgeous. I've put them all back into their boxes except for Gem Twist because his box is all smoky - there's a reason they mention "smoke-free home" in the listings! Wintersong and Rugged Painted Lark have arrived in the country, they still have to go through customs, and Atlantis Bey V has arrived and come through customs. Probably will be sent to a post office soon. Can't wait! I also bought Strapless - I gave up on the online shop I'd been waiting for a reply from and bought her from the same person who sold Wintersong and RPLark. Sadly I didn't know she had Strapless too else I could have bought all 3 at once and saved on shipping but ah well, can't win every time!

This is a pic of Gem Twist and Milton showing off in style:



I received the LocoRoco umbrella and it is so awesome and cute and funky and cool! YAY!! Lucky I had the track+trace number because I've still not received the parcel note for it yet! The lady I collected it from at the post office says she knows/thinks the guys just throw away the notes and never deliver them! I've also got the bag and strap/screen cleaner, as well as an inflatable LocoRoco and a media kit (which includes a t-shirt!), but I'm probably going to get those after the honeymoon (a friend in the US got them for me!). So exciting!

In the saga of the labels/addresses etc, there's new stuff afoot. Now, guess who has to make NAMETAGS. Names printed on stickers, to be stuck on everyone's chests at the party. Me. Yay. It really baffles (and enrages me too!) that this whole thing is just so... unexplained. Like G's mom remarked "it's almost as if you're not worth being given instructions!". Exactly. It's just "this must be done... get someone to do it" and 'this' gets given to me. And as they think of more things that they hadn't thought of before, it just gets tagged on to what I am doing/have done. It's EXACTLY that I'm not worth them actually sitting down with me and going through what needs to be done. "We are having a party on 28 October, this is the list of people we're inviting, we need you to: get their contact details, create envelope labels, stick invites into envelopes, label envelopes, stick stamps onto the envelopes, make namestickers for everyone... by x-day of x-month, X is who you have to get hold of for any information". It just pisses me off and I doubt it needs to be said that I CAN'T BLOODYWELL WAIT until the 28th of October is bloodywell over and done with. Even if it means that the next while RUSHES PAST and we are in too much of a hurry with wedding stuff, this shit at work is just demeaning and I resent it.

This weekend has been BLISS - the neighbours have been away which means we haven't been woken at 7am to hear "it's POTTY TIME!!". It's been delightful! Can't wait until we have our own place one day and the neighbours aren't JOINED TO US BY A WALL! Oh and I'm also looking forward to having an actual garage. The other kids in the complex have decided it's fun to ride their skateboard things (not quite a skateboard) around the poles of the carport. Around G's car. Between the poles and G's car. Between G's car's front bumper and the plantbed. It's so annoying because it's this constant flitter of activity RIGHT outside the kitchen window which is distracting, and also because it's a constant anxious-querying thought in our heads every time we look up at the flitter of movement like "bumped/scratched/scraped/touched the car?". Also it's almost like a disregard of 'territory', because although the complex is in its nature a shared-space sort of arrangement, it doesn't mean that any tom dick or harry can hang around and touch/lean on your car, or hang out by your front door etc. So it's similar to having a front lawn with a low fence or no fence and kids playing on your lawn.

Ok this post has become very long and rambly. Blame it on sinus! YAY I have an excuse to ramble on! Yay :D

I'm really itching to work on Golden Ice again. Time is so limited now, not so much for me but definitely for G. He has so much homework/overtime to do. I'm looking up at Heremia above me on the wall, and she looks so vivid. Damn, I don't want to be tempted to work on Golden Ice now! I have to finish these 2 horses for the moms. I think once I've blogged this I'm going to try finish the 1st one. Maybe even start on the 2nd but I'll see how far I get. This is a pic of the one, but it's not up to date:



And I'm getting better at making chopstickable sushi! We found nice chopsticks and this is a pic of the first sushi we ate using our new chopsticks (these are my ones):

Pointless

Right now, I'm at work, and I don't want to be at work.  Who ever feels like being at work.

Once again, it's invoices time.  And once again, I've made a mess-up.  Great.  Somehow, months and months ago, I typed a 4 instead of a 2.  So the figures don't tie up.  I won't go into much detail but it sucks.  It just is impossible for me to do these invoice-things withOUT making a mistake in SOME or other way.  And so anyway I've been working at this one particular job's set of invoices and it's all been alright, been hurrying as much as possible to get them out ASAP.  But there are mistakes.  And hbbm keeps spotting mistakes.  It's so frustrating.  I never said I was an accountant.  No, I'm not managing the company's finances, or balancing the books or whatever, but I never said I was an accountant and did invoices.  But I do invoices.  Or I try hard to do invoices but somehow, I just don't seem to understand WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON.

It feels great, trying to do this work and FAILING at it, every time.  And it feels wonderful to have your boss say (matter-of-factly, not even angrily!) that he has no confidence in your work and that he must check it every time cos there are always mistakes.

Earlier on, he came to me 15mins before he had to leave for a meeting, dictated a letter and gave me some reports to copy, print certain pages onto blue dividing-sheets, print some pages on letterhead and then bind them.  It was a MAD rush but I managed and he was only a bit late (not my fault).  But he comes back after his meeting and I'd "messed up" with the blue sheets and put them in the wrong order (or something, I don't know).

So yeah, a nice, USEFUL day all round.

I dunno... I feel so useless... like, I'm not good at anything really.  Something simple like TYPING stuff like these invoices etc... I just can't do right.  I'm not a QS to understand what I'm doing, I'm not an accountant to understand what I'm doing.  By appointment letter I'm a receptionist, by payslip I'm an admin assistant, but what am I really?  I don't know.  I hate it.  I suck at it and I just don't feel like I'm any good at ANYthing right now.  Insecurity mayhaps?  I just... I feel so discouraged.  From having tasks to do which aren't fully explained, trying to do them despite not really understanding, and failing every time.  No, there's no time for it to be explained until I understand, or it's stuff that I wouldn't understand, not being a QS or accountant.  I'm blabbering now.. I don't care about this stuff.

Hbbm is in a meeting now, I'm not sure whether he's going to be out of his meeting before 5.  Part of me is hoping he won't be so that I can go home and lick my wounds by playing my new Chembros album...loudly.  Part of me is hoping he will be so that this FUCKING SET OF INVOICES can be sorted out and SENT OFF!!!

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.