rainbowtatt

It’s a bit weird seeing my face all over teh interwebs.

It’s different if *I* put it there for the 365 project or as a profile pic on Twitter or Plurk or Flickr or Tumblr or Posterous or the gazillion other services I have an account with.

But it’s especially weird cause my face is showing up on two different blogs this week.

Specifically, on Scarlet Words as part of Elizabeth’s Smiley Sunday and on Blog Chicks as Leigh’s Featured Blogger.

Yes, it’s weird, but – don’t tell anyone else I said this – it’s really cool. I feel like I’m a real blogger now and have received the magical powers that make me funny, well-written, articulate and intelligent.

Can’t have everything though, huh? ;)

Yesterday I went down to Cataract Scout Park in Appin for the Scouts Australian Jamboree 2010. My nephew got to go with his troop so I got to go along to Visitors’ Day with my sister and brother-in-law.

It was predicted to get to about 36 down there, so I was prepared with a frozen water bottle and extra water bottles (that leaked all over the car, but that’s another story). I have to say that Scouts know their game – they had buses taking us poor visitors to whoop whoop and back, chilled water taps around the park itself, NRMA roadside assistance on deck, a temporary police station during the entire Jamboree (10+ days) as well as a makeshift medical centre with doctors and nurses.

Needless to say, I enjoyed seeing so many policemen getting about on bikes and golf carts ;)

If I was a kid, I’d love Jamboree.There’s so much to do, and the kids are treated with respect and likewise with the adults. My nephew is having an absolute ball (he’s already lost his voice after the first week) and if I had a kid, I’d be sending them along to Scouts so they can go to Jamboree.

But I’m not a kid. I’m 31-and-a-half. It was hot and humid. And I had to drink water. A lot of water.

I don’t like water.

But I made it back to my beloved, air conditioned car and looked like a watermelon.

Literally:

(That’s not sunburn!)

I had a 2hr nap when I got home, which I think was borderline heat exhaustion/stroke/whatever. I’m still not 100%, and it’s been a full day since I escaped the heat.

But I really did love seeing Noah and all his little Scout buddies and all the fun they’re getting up to. Just next time, turn down the heat pls!

Tomorrow I’m getting a hair cut.

A BIG one:

I think Shazza the superhairdresser wants to go with shoulder length, but I told her I was ready to go with whatever length/style she thought would suit my mug.

I’m veryveryveryexcited :))

P.S. to you cheeky buggers who thought I meant something ELSE with the post title – gotcha ;)

One of the items on my holiday to-do list was to acquire a sewing machine and get down with my stitchy self.

I, of course, forgot how crafty my in-laws are and was told in no uncertain terms that I Should Not Purchase A Sewing Machine, Here Borrow Ours For A Really Long Time.

The first I’ve adopted is my finance’s sister-in-law’s grandmother’s 1957 Lemair Helvetia. Also known as Buela the Beast:

It’s similar to mum’s old machine I used to use when I was little – I think it’s referred to as a zig-zag external front loader. Also, it’s heavier than a semi trailer.

Courtesy of teh interwebs, I found someone had scanned in an old manual – sticky tape and all – so I was able to suss out the basics with threading and whatnot.

I’ve been down to Spotlight to get some basics like calico so I could have a practice run. The machine runs beautifully, though I’m struggling to find a nice, slow speed so I can try to keep on the straight and narrow.

Now to decide what to make!

Happy 2010 to you! Herewith I continue the 2009 post mortem, once again stealing someone else’s meme:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? A couple of things… started my own business, got engaged… oh, I saw Britney Spears in concert (something I’d rather forget, TBH)
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Stuff resolutions, this ‘happy’ business works well enough for me :)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nat had Eliza!
4. Did anyone close to you die? A colleague had a fatal heart attack at 45 years young. Heartbreaking
5. What countries/states did you visit? I managed to stay firmly planted in New South Wales this year. Tragic, or financially conscious?
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Once again, reduced debt
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 19 July, 2009 – the night Dan proposed
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Starting Rah!Creative, though I’m not professinally trained or particularly skilled, but I’ve found a niche that I think works well
9. What was your biggest failure? I’m technically no closer to getting over my ACOA-ness
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I got my impacted wisdom tooth out, does that count?
11. What was the best thing you bought? My new Lenovo laptop, a bargain thanks to OzBargain!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? Dan’s. He had my dream ring made in secret over the course of four months. Legendary effort! Honorary mention to Natty, too, having 3 kids under 3!
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? The same people as last year.
14. Where did most of your money go? Paying off loans and buying appetite-suppression tablets
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Ben Folds in concert. Three times. And every moment I look at my ring
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? The Luckiest, Ben Folds
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
    1. Happier or sadder? Happier
    2. Thinner or fatter? Thinner by about 5kg
    3. Richer or poorer? I’m down to one bank loan and no credit card debt!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Housework
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Pfaffing
20. How did you spend Christmas? Off-site. In-laws Christmas Day and my lot on Boxing Day
21. Did you fall in love in 2009? Abso-friggin-lutely
22. How many one-night stands? hahahahahahahahaaha
23. What was your favourite TV program? Supernatural. Ackles pron!
24. Did you make a friend with anyone that you didn’t know this time last year? Nah, this year was pretty sedate in that department compared to last year ;)
25. What was the best book you read? Pygmy by Chuck Palaniukjas;dfijasdfuk
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? How sad is this? I don’t think I made one
27. What did you want and get? Many things
28. What did you want and not get? Many things!
29. What was your favourite film of this year? Zombieland. Hillarious. The end.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I waited for my mother to ring me on my 31st birthday. She never did
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Losing more weight
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Developed into something more feminine, including dresses
33. What kept you sane? Chocolate
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Jensen Ackles, baby!
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Carbon emissions, internet filters…. :headdesk:
36. Who did you miss? Neal, my sister’s husband who died 13 years ago. Even though she remarried this year and is the happiest I’ve seen her since Neal died, it made me realise how much I miss him, and how much the family misses him
37. Who was the best new person you met? I think the girl I just gave our old couch to… beautiful personality!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009 Good things come to those who wait!
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year

    I don’t get many things right the first time In fact, I am told that a lot Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls Brought me here

    And where was I before the day That I first saw your lovely face? Now I see it everyday Next door there’s an old man who lived to his nineties

    And one day passed away in his sleep And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days And passed away I’m sorry, I know that’s a strange way to tell you that I know we belong That I know

    That I am I am I am The luckiest.

    The Luckiest, Ben Folds

As part of my POQ to 2009, I’ve been spending some time this week thinking about what’s happening in 2010 and what I’m looking forward to most.

In February, Dan and I will celebrate 9 years since we first became an official couple. Because it’s right near Dan’s birthday (and also right near *gag* Valentine’s Day) we usually keep it low key but try to go to a favourite restaurant of ours – hopefully 21 at Double Bay since it’s been so long since we’ve been there.

Also in late February, I’m off to see George freaking Michael in concert with Nicky and Paul. I’m so excited that George is actually touring. I’m likely to cry like I did at Stevie Wonder in 2008, except this time I’ll actually be with friends instead of being a Nigel-No-Mates.

Another February event is That’s Noice‘s first birthday. I can’t believe it’s been a year since we were putting the finishing touches on the web site. Leigh‘s been so brave to take me on board and I’ve learned bucketloads in the last 12 months. We’re in the middle of our annual leave for TN, but I’m already getting itchy feet to pick up speed again for 2010.

In June, I’ll be turning 32 and holy crap that sounds like I should start acting my age some time soon. I think of my sisters at the age of 32, one of which was widowed with a 4 year old and the other remarried with an 8 year old. Then I wonder if I’m behind the 8-ball getting to this age with nothing more than a fiance, 2 cats and a leaky rental property in the inner city. Then I get over myself and stop caring about keeping up with the Joneses.

In August, I’ll be heading out to Gilgandra to become Godmother to Eliza Shirley. Nat’s being very practical and doing a combined 1st birthday/christening shebang. I haven’t been out to the farm in winter, so it’ll be interesting to see how different it is when it isn’t boiling hot. I’m also gunning to get Dan to come along with me, his first farm experience!

In December, I’ll be making my final official car loan repayment (though I’m currently saving to be able to pay it off much sooner). This is the last of the big debts I’ve got, down from the 3 I had when I bought the car in 2005 (yes, I once that 3 loans at once. Yes, I was insane). So by December I’ll actually be able to help improve the deposit to buy us a shanty somewhere in Sydney.

At a date yet to be determined, we may or may not be getting married. Because, let’s be honest, it’s likely that we’ll get so lazy that we’ll not get hitched until our originally planned date (February 2011, on our 10-year anniversary). Quite the contrast to the Junior Bridezilla I became for a couple of months, but let’s not waste time thinking of how I was bowing to the pressures of society!

I haven’t even taken into consideration things to do with my little business or my day job, so I think I’ll have plenty to keep me occupied next year :)

Check out teh cute that I saw at Maccas drive-thru earlier this week:

The dog was actually barking when its owner was trying to order, hehe

Things I’m looking forward to doing during my 3-and-a-half week holiday (starting in… 20 hours!!):

• Sleeeeeping
• Bumming around with the fiance
• Making cupcakes
• Going to the beach
• Catching up with all the friends I haven’t seen in YONKS
• Watching Ellen
• (Maybe?) buying a sewing machine
• Getting a Really Big haircut (as in, a good 25cm off!)
• (Maybe?Maybe?Maybe?) making plans for a wedding of some sort. And, for something totally crazy, maybe even making a decision about dates/locations/etc?)

Things I’m keen to get done so I can really relax when I’m on holiday:

• Finishing 2 client jobs
• Starting 1 new client job
• Redesigning my portfolio
• De-cluttering the house and taking a truckload of stuff down to the Cat Protection Society Op-Shop

Things I’m not looking forward to, but should probably do them when I’m on holiday:

• Getting the car serviced
• Getting the car to a panel beater to fix the giantic dent I created at Eastgardens last week

AND… one small part of me is looking forward to the holidays being over, cause by then it would be a month until I get to see GEORGE FREAKING MICHAEL IN CONCERT. I get teary at the thought of finally seeing him live (really. I’m sorry)

Are you guys getting any time off? What’re you looking forward to doing?

Last year I ripped off a post from Fifikins (aka the woman who keeps kicking my arse in Words With Friends), reflecting on my 2008.

It’s actually one of the better meme/survey thingos out there for that sort of thing, so I’ll use it again later this month.

But it goes without saying that 2009 has been my year. Sure, some of it has been shithouse, but it pales into comparison to the rest of my year.

And on that note, I present my 2009 top five:

1. Started by own business (now known as Rah!Creative) Things have been slow, but that’s kinda how I need it. I can’t handle having a full-time job as well as a needy home business. I’m learning heaps, I passed the Tax Man’s rules and regulations and I even made a profit in my first financial year. WOO!
2. Got my first blog gig (at That’s Noice!) I helped Leigh with setting up That’s Noice! at the end of 2008, but we launched in Feb this year. Fark knows why Leigh trusted me enough with one of her projects, but I’ve LOVED it. It’s not always easy coming up with content and I’ve had to get my head around all the technicalities of having a ‘real’ blog, but it’s been a great experience and hopefully 2010 will be an even bigger year for the blog
3. FINALLY had our water feature repaired After 709 days, our leaking loungeroom wall was repaired. We were also told our building should be condemned in the next 5-10 years, so we at least have a goal for moving out (?)
4. zOMG Dan proposed!1!!!!!! Easily the most amazing event to happen to me. There’s someone in my life who’s willing to tell the world he wants to make it permanent? Crazy. Just don’t ask when/where/how the wedding will happen, cause we still can’t decide!
5. Ben Folds at the Opera House, thrice Ahh, the week that Dan and I played excited fangirls, seeing Ben Folds at the Opera House. Each of the gigs was unreal, but the hands-down favourite was the ‘by request’ gig where we had perfect seats, Ben played my favourite song and played Dan’s actual song request. Blew my mind and we still talk about it to anyone who’ll listen

Have you got a top 5 of 2009? Join in and do yours too!

Yesterday I heard about a couple who named their newborn baby Bear.

Bear.

As in, B.E.A.R.

This is not a bear:

This is a Bear:

I know I’m biased, but REALLY. The name Bear suits an animal much more than a human. Wouldn’t you agree? Plus, my Bear is adorable!