HOT TAMALE...HOT TAMALE...

Breaking up is hard to do...

2006-11-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

OK... I know we've only known each other for a short time, but I need some space. Its not you...it's me! I can't explain it, but I just know its the right thing to do for now. Its the right thing for both of us. It hurts but...

I have decided to stop blogging, but will be visiting the rest of your sites frequently and leaving comments here and there! Thanks for coming over and being part of my world for a while...and good luck! Who knows, one day I might return!

Praise The Colorectal Surgeon

2006-10-19T12:54:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine sent me this and being a nurse I find it hilarious...just wanted to share! It is a song by Bowser and Blue, it's much funnier when it is sung, but I dont know how to add a sound clip??

"We praise the colorectal surgeon
Misunderstood and much maligned
Slaving away in the heart of darkness
Working where the sun don't shine.

Respect the Colorectal Surgeon
Its a calling few would crave
Lift up your hands and join us
Lets all do the finger wave!

When it comes to spreading joy
There are many techniques
Some spread joy to the world
And others just spread cheeks!

Some may think the cardiologist
Is their best friend
But the Colorectal Surgeon knows
He'll get you in the end!

Why a Colorectal Surgeon
Its one of those mysterious things
Is it because in that profession
There are always openings?

When I first met a Colorectal Surgeon
He did not quite understand
I said "Hey its nice to meet you"
But do you mind we dont shake hands?

He sailed right through medical school
Because he was a whizz
But he never thought of psychology
Though he read passages

A doctor he wanted to be
For golf he loved to play
But this is not quite what he meant
by 18 holes a day!

Praise the Colorectal Surgeon
Misunderstood and much maligned
Slaving away in the heart of darkness
Working where the sun don't shine!

REDHEADS

2006-10-19T10:46:00.000-05:00

Noojes...you inspired me with your blonde wig...

I read somewhere that a woman's hair colour corresponds to a traffic light...

Green = Blondes, always give you a green light, are open to trying anything once and thus...they 'supposedly' have all the fun!

Orange = Brunettes, somewhat more serious (? intelligent ?) than blondes, they need to be approached with a little more caution

Red = Redheads, Whoa Nelly! You better stop right there, you aren't going to get anywhere unless they want you to!

Ok so it is a little stereotypical...or is it?
I friend at work recently died her hair red after being blonde for many years. She confided in me (being a fellow redhead) that she felt more MYSTERIOUS, but also less inclined to "get away with stupid things" than if she were blonde.

I HATED being a redhead as a child. I was called (unoriginally) carrot top, Med Head (a med is a tampon in Oz) ...and the rest I have blocked from memory! I hated going to the hairdresser's because they would swarm around me with admiring oooohhhs and ahhhhhs while I shyly cringed under the cape. It drew attention to me and while adults loved it, to other kids I was a freak! As I grew older I started to enjoy the fact that my hair was a different colour to everyone elses. I felt alluring, and special while others suddenly started dying their hair to try and achieve the same look!

Artists such as John Waterhouse, Rosetti, Klimt immortalised us in history.
Emily Dickinson, Clara Bow, Katherine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Greer Garson, Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, Deborah Kerr, Shirley Maclaine, Ann Margret, Bette Midler, Maureen O'Hara...Molly Ringwald, Nicole Kidman, Debra Messing, Gillian Anderson, Julianne Moore, Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon...some are intelligent, sexy, goofy
and we are even hot in cartoon form...Jessica Rabbit, Wilma Flinstone, Thelma and Daphne in Scooby Doo, Ariel in the Little Mermaid!

I tried the dark look for Elvira during last years Halloween...

But I'm more comfortable just being me...

We are unique...and we are taking over the universe!
Do you dare to go red?

Ying and Yang

2006-10-15T11:23:00.000-05:00

Today I am reflecting back on 3 good things and 3 bad things that happened to me this week.

Starting with the bad:

1. I haven't heard anything about my article being accepted for publication yet. I know they said up to 6 weeks before being notified and its only been 2...but I need to know NOW!

2. Working 3x 12hr shifts (7am-7pm + overtime) in a row followed by a 7am- 3pm the next day has meant...sleep, work, eat, Sleep, work, eat etc etc this week.

3. Another week has passed, and the contractors (D&G) have yet again not stepped foot in our kitchen...I've given up and passed the reponsibility over to the O-man. 3 months and still no kitchen!

Finishing with the good to stay feeling good:

1 My Newbie at work is being oriented by myself and another nurse. She requested that she only be with me because she learns more with me...BIG EGO boost!

2. The O-man gave me a present out of the blue...a video Ipod! It was meant to be for Xmas but he gave it to me for my 'saints day'. This is a french custom, and my real name doesn't exist in french but he just made one up for me!

3. We found a 24lb pumpkin and carved out a great Jack O lantern...and I feel better today

4. I have the weekend off work...yippeeeeeee

Ok so that was 4 smarty pants...I guess the balance is tipped to the positive this week! Have a great weekend and new week everyone!

Damn Coffee Heath Bar Crunch !

2006-10-10T15:57:00.000-05:00

I am weak! Weak, weak weak!

As you can see I am having a day (2 actually) of deep self loathing.

Today I promised myself I would go out and do some shopping, run some errands, have a little crazy fun. But I lolled around the house for the 2nd day in a row, ate a whole container of Coffee heath bar crunch (merci Ben and Jerry's!) and surfed the internet all day. In effect I achieved nothing...except consume 53% of my daily intake of saturated fat in just 20 minutes!!

I am depressed, in a serious rut and I don't really know why...in fact everything in my life is in one way or another unfinished yet I am unmotivated to start or complete anything.

Except for that damn icecream...ohhhh I am sooooo weak, and a little nauseous right now!

3BT and An Autumn Day

2006-10-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

In honour of Clare's blogsite 3 beautiful things that I have encountered today:

1. Waking up to my O-man covering me up with a snuggly blanket because I looked cold to him, then drifting blissfully back to sleep toasty warm.

2. Watching squirrels jumping from tree branch to tree branch as the yellowing leaves float down to the autumn leaf carpet below.

3. Drinking hot coffee while standing on the roof deck in the last of the warm sun as a fresh chilly wind whips around me...the city is quiet, its Columbus day holiday, no cars, trucks or police sirens...blissful peace.

And the day has just begun...

Thanks for the inspiration Clare!

Tell me lies, tell me...

2006-10-06T12:29:00.000-05:00

...sweet little lies.
What if you knew you did something wrong that could seriously hurt someone, would you own up to it? Even if it meant the end of your career, your relationship or your reputation?
What about those 'white' lies that are considered not harmful...are they?
What about 'ommissions', not really a lie right? What people dont know wont harm them?
Its sooooo hard to know when to lie and when not to.
In my career we tell all sorts of sweet little lies, just to help people get through the day, to stay distant, to stay human...perhaps to prevent ourselves from being human? To protect others and ourselves.
In relationships white lies and omissions occur to protect the ones we love ... but will karma kick our butts in the end? Is protecting more important and less hurtful than honesty and taking responsibility for your actions?
I'm tired of all these sweet little lies...I dont need to be protected and people better start taking responsibility for themselves cause I wont do it anymore for them. And I'll do the same!

A rock on an island

2006-10-03T07:09:00.000-05:00

The last few days I have been a rock...on an island.
My dream did not come true, neither good nor bad...guess it was just a silly dream!
It seems I've been the rock that everyone comes to with their problems lately.
And I'm the island because somedays I feel so isolated even with lots of people around me.
Its funny how even when you think you truly know some people, they surprise you with whats really going on in their lives. They just walk around wearing a mask so no-one can see the pain. Me included...and mine would be one of those happy/sad faces in one. Back to work tomorrow...good news is that they are making me 'resource nurse' which means more responsibility, same pay...wait was that good news?
Anyway...everybody sing now...
I am a rock
I am an iiiiiisssland...And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.

Big Sis Number 3

2006-09-29T11:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was big sis' number 3's birthday...36yrs old...4yrs off officially being over the hill. So in honour of my big sis Lellie (her nickname!) this post is about her.

She has dark hair, and dark eyes, she looks almost exotic. She is a typical Libran, and everything she does turns to gold. She is 'light', if there is such a thing as an aura, well hers would light up a room. Everything seems to come to her effortlessly. She loves all things Egyptian, has been pierced in many places, she owns a pet rat. She has been married, divorced and is dating a younger man. She has travelled. And even on a bad day she looks good. She is beautiful inside and out. As children we were each others best friend and playmates making cubby houses out of clothes pegs and Mom's curtains in the loungeroom, seeing who could tie up the neighbours kids the fastest, who could walk on their hands the longest, and who could draw better, dance better and jump higher on the bed. We would stay up late eating popcorn, drinking chocolate milk and watching the original King Kong when we should've been in bed asleep. We'd sing in front of the mirror with our hairbrushes, she would be Agnetha and me Frieda from ABBA. She used to tease me for being skinny (I filled out though) and I teased her for being fat (she never was!). She would sit on me, pinning me to the ground and dangle spit over my face (and occasionally it would 'accidently' fall) and we would laugh till it hurt. She would teach me how to smoke sophisticatedly at the bowling alley with her cool friends. Yes we have had our share of sibling rivalry at times! But we never argued about clothes, makeup, boyfriends etc. because by the time I was a teenager she was gone...I guess that was a good thing but sometimes I wish we had. Now we are even further apart...in distance and in how our lives have turned out but we will always be sisters. And we will always be there for each other no matter what. Happy Birthday...you still are the Dancing Queen but just remember...I will always be younger than you ;)

DREAMS

2006-09-28T08:17:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had those kind of dreams just before you wake up when you're half way between sleep and consciousness that shock you? You feel like you've been asleep for only 15 mins but in reality it was 1.5 hours and you wake up perturbed, asking "why did I dream about that? WHY?" Admittedly I've been under a little stress lately, trying to meet a deadline for an article submission for a magazine by the end of the month, orienting a newbie at work, trying to get our contractors to finish our kitchen, dealing with spiteful jealous bitchy neighbors etc etc...but this dream came completely out of the blue and ran me down like a truck!

Well I rarely have those dreams, and when I do, they are either prophetic in some way or they tell me a lot about my deepest fears or greatest hopes. I wont go into detail, but my dream this morning was a combination of something very good happening with something devastating. So I'll let you know if either or both happens! Preferably the good thing...

My Adventurous Weekend...

2006-09-19T17:17:00.000-05:00

The city of Chicago with its unique skyscrapers. Taken from the John Hancock Centre 95th floor.

Having a BIG MARTINI at the hyatt...and lots of coffee ;)

Our view brunching at the John Hancock Centre on the 95th floor.

Having a HUGE steak at Gibsons

The John Hancock Centre is the one in the middle.

The Buckingham Memorial Fountain in front of the city skyline

The Chicago River is the only freshwater river that flows backwards!

Taking a water taxi downtown.

The city lies on the edge of Lake Michigan and there are 33 beaches to lazily waste your day on.

Just some of the photos we took...you get the picture!
xxx

A Whirlwind Weekender.

2006-09-18T10:12:00.000-05:00

...and all that Jazz! Chicago was great, the people are friendly, the architecture is amazing and the skyscrapers impressive. And although I didn't get to drink cognac in a dark corner of a Jazz club, I did get to drink champagne while brunching on the 95th floor of the Hancock building with a perfect view of the city. We ate at Giordano's, Chicago's famous deep dish pizza place with cheese that stretches forever from the pizza to your mouth and is so deep you can only eat one slice. We ate the biggest Australian Lobster tail in history (and the most expenseive at around $90) and the most tender, juiciest Flintstone sized Steak that Gibsons is famous for, in a section known as the 'Viagra Triangle' (a triangular shaped (just like viagra) intersection bustling with nightlife, and infamous for old men out and about with their 'nieces'???). We walked along Lake Michigan and its city side beaches, and strolled through the Celtic Festival which was there this w/end. We strolled around in the Art Institute of Chicago and I shopped like a fiend on the Magnificent Mile. So now that I've eaten for a week, and my feet hurt from all the walking, not to mention an average of 4 hours sleep a night, I'm gonna put my feet up and catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz so photos to come later.
Life is good!

Ozchic_9 VS Jerry (The Mouse)

2006-09-15T09:23:00.000-05:00

Damn cheeky mouse. Its like a Tom and Jerry cartoon here! I came home last night to find it sitting on the dining room chair just looking at me as if to say "you cant catch me, nah nah nah nah naaaah" and ran off like a rocket! Cute as the little guy is, I dont want him here but I dont want to poison him or have his little neck broken in a trap or his feet stuck to sticky paper! So I bought a 'live trap' with a trap door so the mouse goes in but cant get out, then you release it somewhere else. Well I think the people we invented these things are less intelligent than the mouse, coz he wont go in there despite different baits! It's a good excuse to get a kitten. If only I can convince the O-man of that...
Mouse 1. Ozchic_9 0.

MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS.

2006-09-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

...thats what Chicagoan architect Daniel Burnham said! We have decided to be spontaneous which scares me a little (hey I'm a typical Taurus OK!) but also excites me! We have just decided to fly to Chicago for the weekend. Why? Because we can! Because I have never been there! Because we need a getaway. Because I want to sit in a bluesy jazz club drinking smooth aged cognac in a dark corner...that's why...and I can't wait! Its supposedly the most American of American cities. But wait...I have nothing to wear, aaarrrghhh! Maybe some retail therapy in Chicago is called for...on the 'Magnificent mile' - one of the most famous shopping boulevards in the world (according to them...time will tell!)

So have a great w/end everyone...do something spontaneous!

Attack of the giant...

2006-09-08T10:16:00.000-05:00

I consider myself a pretty calm, collected, tough chick. There are few things that can scare me, one is very very large cockroaches! I have had many late night run ins with different kinds and my least favourite are the Australian ones that are large and can fly because they fly TOWARDS YOU if you try to kill them! I cannot bring myself to squish them even, the crunch factor just makes my stomach turn. So I can understand this guy's reaction completely...made me laugh because I react the same way...lucky my O-man has big feet :)
cockroach link(fixed...I hope!)

CLUTTER BUSTERS

2006-09-04T09:49:00.000-05:00

In a past blog "THERAPY" I mentioned clearing out clutter in my life. Saturday the O-man and I went through our entire wardrobe and did exactly that. We kept a tally of the clothes we eventually donated to the Red Cross. When we added up that tally...well I dont know if I was shocked or impressed. (disclaimer: the majority of the clothes were the O-man's ;)...really!)

63 T-shirts
52 shirts
32 sweaters
22 jeans
15 pants
9 scarves
6 winter jackets
6 shorts
5 pairs of shoes (We didn't go through the O-man's yet)
3 pairs of socks (we haven't gone through O-man's sock drawer yet!)
3 pairs gloves
2 blankets
2 bathrobes
2 skirts
2 handbags
1 PJ
1 winter ear/headband
1 winter hat
1 towel
1 poncho

...and a partridge in a pear tree!

So according to the book I am reading, (the pic is above) we have created space for new things to come into our lives and increased the "chi" in our home! We'll see what happens...
What are YOU hiding in the back of your closet?
How's your chi?

CRIKEY!

2006-09-04T09:18:00.000-05:00

I woke up this am...O-man told me Steve Irwin (aka The Croc Hunter) had died.
I didn't believe him...I thought he was joking! After all I had just referred to him in my last post.
When I saw it on the internet...I cried! I loved this crazy guy! He wrestled crocodiles and caressed snakes and respected all of Australia's most poisonous and cuddly animals. He clearly adored his wife and 2 kids and was an international icon.
So full of life and love for people and the environment and a great ambassador for a true blue Aussie!
CRIKEY...the world has lost another great man. But he died with a smile on his face doing something he truly loved, and I can just hear him making a joke about the freakish accident as he took his last breath.
We will miss you Stevo...

MY WORK MONOLOGUE...

2006-08-30T10:17:00.000-05:00

Hi Mr/Mrs *****
My name is *** and I will be your nurse today.
How are you feeling?
Yes I do have an accent?
No not English, not Irish (must be the red hair!) not South African
Give you a hint...much more Southern.
No not Southern Carolina (laughing)...WAY WAY down south.
Give you a clue...
"The dingo ate my baby!"
YES...Australian!
No...Perth, Western Australia.
America's Cup in 84.
5yrs now, time flies.
Why on earth...?
The 2 'M's
Man and Money
Met 10yrs ago, but just married 2.
No in Australia.
No he's French.
Yeah its a long story blah blah blah
No not yet...
But we're having fun working on it!
Yeah they get paid a lot better here
More responsiblities though
3.5yrs study in Australia, 3yrs work there.
American exam here in Hawaii for free.
Similar but different vocabulary and we use the metric system.
Similar to Perth, small city on a river, quiet.
People there are friendlier though, must be the weather.
Conservative and depressed!
The winters were a shock to the system!
Getting used to having 4 seasons instead of 2 now.
No it doesn't snow there.
Coldest on average 2C in winter
Its difficult to convert.
No...all in Australia.
Yeah I miss them.
Probably not...probably stay here for a bit longer.
I hope they do one day but difficult because of the kids,too expensive etc etc
Used to go back about 1x a year.
Not anymore.
Too far
About 20+ hours and expensive tickets.
Americans are workaholics
2wks plus 1wk earned time is NOT enough
Yeah 6 weeks in Australia!
The Great Barrier Reef?
No I haven't...but I hear its beautiful, but its disappearing so...
Yeah you definately should if you can stand the long flight!
At least 3 months needed.
Beautiful beaches, Uluru, Sydney of course, rainforests, desert, gorgeous gorges
Snow in the Blue Mountains, many close Islands.
Of course I highly recommend Perth!
Yeah lots of poisonous snakes and animals!
No they dont roam in the streets or our backyards but many people have them as pets.
Yeah out in the bush!
If you hit a big one it does a lot of damage.
No...He's crazy, we dont all wrestle crocodiles like that!
OK well, if you need anything here is your callbell!

HOPE

2006-08-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

The universe has conspired this week to bring wonderful and inspiring people into my life! It was a very busy week at work, lots of 12hr shifts one after another and very tiring. But I met many people who I admire for different reasons.

The young woman who went blind in one eye due to a disease beyond her control. Her spirit and humor made my day and it touched my heart to hear that she and her husband after 15 heartbreaking years of infertility are travelling to China in December to bring back their adopted baby girl.

The Son who vigilantly sits by his demented mother's side all day, every day, even on the weekends because "I only have one mother, and we take care of each other". Even though she is quite demented she has a lovely quality about her, and smiles widely and winks at me each time I'm with her. She was an artist and lived in France when younger for a while studying art and life! She still has good memories to share. She still has the will to live, largely thanks to her son I'm sure, and is slowly recovering. Her son made the difficult decision to keep her at home and hire a 24hr carer rather than put her in a nursing home.

The little old Italian "Nonni" who refers to me all the time as her "beautiful nurse". She doesn't speak much english, (although she swears in English that would make a sailor blush!). Her 2 daughters and one of her sisters passed away from breast cancer within the last 4yrs. She has been battling the same disease for years too, and now it has spread to her lungs. She will not recover and her granddaughter easily tears up at the thought of having to watch her Nonni die like her mother did. But the family support is phenomenal, and Nonni just found out she will have another great grandchild coming into her life in 9 months time. She still has a twinkle in her eye...she is inspiring.

It's difficult to know what to say when people ask how long they will live or when they might die, if they will ever get their eyesight back or lose it completely, or if they should put their elderly parent in a nursing home. They are questions I cannot truthfully answer. It's a fine balance between keeping some hope alive and being realistic! And this week, these people have kept MY hope alive!

August 18th 1996

2006-08-21T09:24:00.000-05:00

It was a memorable day!
There was a knock at my door (I was living in student housing).
When I opened it, standing there was a tall, man with short dark hair, round glasses, wide shoulders, and cheekbones to die for.
He shyly explained with a ? american accent who he was and why he was knocking.
It turned out he is french, studying his PhD in Illinois but in Perth for 6 months as an exchange student.
His parents who were visiting, met a crazy french woman (aka Savana2222) by strange coincidence and they told her the above.
On finding out this she explains that her best friend is living at the same student housing one floor directly below their son and encourages them to tell him to go and introduce himself to her.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...ON MY DOOR!

It was unexpected and I was embarassed!
I made a few excuses as to why I had to leave at that moment.
But he asked me out to dinner, in fact he cooked and it was great!
He seduced me with his wit, his intelligence, romance and poetry.
He seemed so worldly and experienced.
Corny but...he had me at knock knock!
10 years later we are married, living in the USA and the O-man still seduces me with his wit, smile, intelligence, gourmet food and wide shoulders to lean on when I'm tired. He has taken me around the world, taught me sooooo much.
Oh and lets not forget the romance...in fact he is the one who always remembers August 18 1996 - the date we first laid eyes on each other and our souls met. It was fate!

Vive l'amour (and thanks again Savanna222!)

THERAPY

2006-08-20T18:37:00.000-05:00

Psycho therapy
Massage therapy
Physical therapy
Hypno therapy
Aroma therapy
Art therapy
Drug therapy
Colour therapy
Sex therapy
Music therapy
Shock therapy

...in my books one of the most underrated is RETAIL THERAPY! After a long day of shopping I am sitting here with a smile and new knick knacks for my home including a large Tao statue, roman blinds, a buddha face cushion for my bed, knobs for the closet, Chinese food, a trellis for the garden, and I just purchased a modern bookcase for the bedroom and some kitchen stuff. Phew! What a 'tough' day...I'm feeling better and ready to face the world all over again tomorrow (including my credit card statement!) Next challenge is to attack all my clutter(and the O-man's)...but thats another post ;)

What was the last thing you bought that put a smile on your face and why?

Energy Vampires Beware...

2006-08-16T12:07:00.000-05:00

Lately it feels like everyone around me has been sucking the life force from me with their own agendas and I find myself screaming...

"What about me? It isn't fair
I've had enough, now I want my share
Can't you see, I wanna live
But you just take more than you give"

So, I have decided to do 3 things for the rest of the week.

1. Step up to the plate and ask for what I deserve up front

2. Not to deal with other people's problems/affairs/complaints (I'll listen, thats it!)

3. And to do whatever necessary to fairly get what I deserve even if it means that someone's feelings inadvertently gets hurt in the process.

Now this might seem selfish, hell maybe it is. But I rarely ask for things for myself, and therefore I rarely get them (duh...no surprise there). So, for those who know me...consider yourselves forewarned...and don't worry, its only until the end of the week ;)

So for the rest of the week I think EVERYONE should...

"Take a step back and see the little people
They might be young, but they're the ones that make the big people big
So listen as they whisper:
"What about me?"

A MOUSE IN THE HOUSE

2006-08-12T09:17:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had a disturbing thought..."I could die and no-one would know for about 4 days!" That's approximately how long it would take for someone to notice I was missing and start to worry. By that time I would be starting to smell something aweful. O-man is away on business for 1 1/2 weeks, I am off work for about 3 days, my family overseas hardly ever contacts me and I mainly contact my friends by email. What a thought huh? Have I become that shutoff from others? Maybe that scary movie "Dark Water" that I watched in the dark all alone was to blame! That and the damn mouse that almost ran across my foot scaring me half to death! Luckily the O-man rang me last night just as I was stalking the mouse, and reassured me that he would just 'know' if anything happened to me. My thoughts returned to the mouse as I entertained ways to get rid of it, mostly by torturous and deadly methods which seemed cruel and wrong. Would the little fella's family know he had died a terrible death? Would they even miss him? So the mouse (and I) survived another day as I tucked myself into bed with a slightly paranoid notion of furry vermin crawling in my hair during my deep slumber. Ahhh...nothing like the thought of death to make you appreciate being alive...lol
Any advice in getting rid of this little fella without doing him in???

LIFE BY NUMBERS...

2006-08-07T07:38:00.000-05:00

I have stumbled across a great website about numerology on my search to finding some sort of meaning out of the chaos I call my life right now! Wow, how accurate my number represents me. I am a number 4 according to which this month I feel trapped, and need a healthy dose of optimism and a different way of dealing with an ongoing problem (of which I can think of many!) I need to stop repressing my true feelings coz its stressing me out! "let optimism flow - and let hope, confidence, and creative thinking re-introduce themselves to you." So the other day I was inspired by my little balcony garden, and took some 'macros' which resulted in the above. My garden is one of the few places where I can get back to nature and forget about the city humming around me. So what's your number?

All photos contained in this entry are copyrighted by the owner and cannot be used without explicit permission

MAYBE LATER...

2006-08-01T08:44:00.000-05:00

"The deferment or avoidance of an action or task which requires completion by focusing on some other action or task" (Wikepedia)

I am the QUEEN OF PROCRASTINATION...welcome to my world! 2yrs ago I joined a gym with great intentions of getting a 6 pack washboard tummy and buns of steel, but I have a jelly belly and buns of cottage cheese. Not once...I repeat...not once have I stepped foot inside this gym to workout. Over $1000 later and I am feeling just a little guilty and ashamed of myself. I keep putting it off for numerous "appropriate" reasons.

1. I have too much to do (for example watch Jerry Springer repeats and Sudoku)
2. I am too tired after work (I work part time...actually I have 6 days off right now!)
3. The gym is too far away (I can walk it in 40 mins, or catch the train in 20mins)
4. I have no-one to share the experience with (I sit at home by myself on my days off anyway)
5. I dont know how to work the machines and people will laugh at me (because I've never actually been there to work out how to use the machines!)

Fact of the matter is...I was born lazy! I believe I can do it tomorrow, or the next day or the next. The underlying truths are that I don't think I am worth it and I FEAR it...fear being laughed at, of making mistakes, of the unknown. So I have decided enough is enough. I am gonna go to that damn hellhole of a gym and get myself that 6 pack and steely ass.

But today I'm kinda 'busy' so I'll call and make an appointment with a trainer tomorrow...

WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK

2006-07-24T08:09:00.000-05:00

What is your mantra when dealing with people in general? There are so many different walks of life out there! The zealous, the jealous, the passive, the aggressive, the teasers and pleasers. There are the soft hearted, hard hearted and broken hearted. The humorous and humorless, the critical and accepting, the lonely and the overwhelmed. And in one day you probably meet all of these and more! So where and how do you begin to get along with all of them? YOU CAN'T! You can't please all of the people all of the time but you can please some people some of the time. After harsh words with the O-man this w/end, tears, slamming doors and a chase in the streets on foot followed by more tears and making up, this is exactly what I came to realise. You don't always get what you want, and sometimes getting what you want...well its not what you really thought you wanted. When you have an ideal vision of the way you want things to be, and the universe has a different plan, it is frustrating but there is always a better reason for it and you just have to let go. Let go of the bullshit, the petty things. If it wont matter the next day, the next month or year...let it go! My mantra when things get tough is "Water off a duck's back". I am the duck and the bullshit just rolls off my back like beaded water. You can't control the world or the people in your world, only the way you react. WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK...OHHHMMMM...WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK...OHHHHHMMMMM...WATER OFF A...Tell me what your Mantra is?

IMAGINE?

2006-07-12T10:09:00.000-05:00

It's a crazy world. It's overwhelming to think that 100,000's of people are dying all around the world everyday...heartbreaking to realise that the majority of these deaths are caused by our fellow human beings. Deaths that are unnecessary...just like the train bombings in Bombay recently that killed 147 innocent souls. I am constantly amazed that people can justify this with religion and politics! What goes through these people's minds..."What a great morning to get up, bomb a few hundred people, and then I'll get exactly what I want!" When will they learn? How did they get this way? I am thankful that my good friend in Bombay is OK, and inspired by their courage to get back up, dust themselves off and get back to life so quickly! Don't take your life or loved ones for granted...don't forget to hug your loved one today.

Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one.
--John Lennon

Just Breathe...

2006-06-29T12:54:00.000-05:00

Everytime I feel a little down, like the universe is conspiring against me, things break, and Murphy's rule rules, then I am inspired by the Anna Nalick song BREATHE. It is the most simplest yet most important thing to our survival...to BREATHE. Being able to breathe means breathing life into our world. When I stop to breathe I find that I am also able to rediscover my senses. To look at the sunrise, sunset, the beauty, colours and perfection in nature and all that surrounds me. To hear and listen to those close to me, to enjoy that belly giggle of an uninhibitioned child, the calmness of a flowing stream. To taste the wonderful rich and diverse flavours of healthy foods that nourish me, and of those "forbidden" things like chocolate and icecreams. What about enjoying the sensation of touch, the soft skin in the small of the back of my lover, the goosebumps reacting to a warm breathe on my ticklish spot on my neck. And the smell of warm fresh cooked bread, my favourite perfume (Angel by Thierry Mugler) freshly crushed peppermint or a peeled orange, or that musky smell of great sex mixed with sweat. Do you stop to enjoy these simple things everyday? What do you enjoy when you stop to breathe?

A PICTURE TELLS A 1000 WORDS

2006-06-13T09:37:00.000-05:00

Over the past couple of years I have discovered a passion for photography. The digital age has certainly helped with this, it makes it much more difficult to take a bad photo. I have another photo related addiction...a great website that is full of amazing photos from around the world, from professionals, artists and amateurs such as myself...check it out if you're interested...click here! I can spend the whole day just looking at people's visions of the world we live in. Maybe one day I will throw in my stressful and boring job and adventure into the spontaneous world of photography...not quite brave enough just yet...here is one of my fave photos, of a friends baby boy...whatya think?

For Good or Evil?

2006-06-08T08:06:00.000-05:00

Just for fun the other day I was searching the web for sites where "common people" could list their psychic predictions for 2006. Some pretty interesting reading, and some just plain old weird! But a few of the entries mentioned "hurricane weather in Massachussetts in June 06". Strangley enough a few weeks after the flooding of May, it started raining like crazy with high winds all day yesterday, and the forecast states more storms over the next few days! While this may not constitute "hurricane weather"...it certainly made me think...are we all psychic in some way and we just don't know how to use it...or is the "Farmer's Almanac" really that accurate? Is it a limp muscle flaccid from inactivity...wasted! I know for a fact that my dreams and intuition are strong but I often ignore them...and they usually come back around to bite me in the butt for ignoring it. Imagine how the world would be...would it be for the better or worse? Would we use our powers for good or evil? What psychic powers would you like and how would you use them???

5 Most Annoying Things About Human Beings?

2006-06-06T10:09:00.000-05:00

OK, maybe it's PMS, maybe its coming up to a full moon or maybe I am just fed up! Here is a list of 5 things people do that really annoy me (for today at least ;)

1. When you thank someone and they reply "uh huh!"
What kind of an answer is this? I dont necessarily expect a "you're welcome!" but at least acknowledge that someone appreciates you with a decent response. Perhaps a "no problem" or a "no worries" as they say downunder! Or even a "sure!" Just don't discount me with a dumb uh huh anymore people!

2. People pushing to get on a full train before letting people get off...this is just plain old stupid!! Also a side note to all those people who put their bags on seats despite people having to stand especially the pregnant and elderly...what's up with that? Even worse those spread eagled men who must be so huge they have to take up 2 seats...dream on buddy!

3. When I say "good morning" or "hello" to you ...please acknowledge me with a smile, a nod, grunt or response of any human kind...nothing worse than being totally ignored

4. Telemarketers...sorry I know you're just doing your job, but really??? Next time they call, do a Seinfield and tell them you're busy but if they give you their home phone number you could call them back later tonight or early in the morning...works everytime!

5. People who honk at you if you are 1 second too slow to leave at a green light. So you will be 1 second later getting to your arrival...leave earlier next time dumbass! See...road rage begets road rage!

So these annoyances might seem insignificant to some (and believe me, I have plenty...just trying to keep it "lighthearted"), but they just manage to peeve me right off...so go ahead take a deep breath and get it off your chests...what are 5 stupid things that annoy you about your fellow human beings?

So What's it All About?

2006-06-05T16:11:00.000-05:00

The tamale is considered one of the most incredible foods ever created dating back to Pre-Columbian history. No one is exactly sure which culture first created it! 'Portable food' for warring tribes of the Aztec, Mayan and Incas were needed and thanks to the creativity of women...the Tamale was born! Small packages of masa and corn husk dough the heart of which is just about anything edible, served up with an assortment of spicy sauces...hmmm salivating just thinking of it!

"The heat and spice of the tamale serve as a source of warmth for the body and soul."

And that my friends is the purpose of this blog...to find our 'heat and spice', our inner hot tamales and reawaken our creativity, our bodies and true heart's desires. Why? Because we realise we could be happier! We want motivation to fulfill our dreams..and we want spice dammit! We are the hot tamales...varied and diverse, traversing all cultures, with a spicy or sweet bite of feminine creativity which in it's essence is...nourishing! So if you would like to be a part of the Hot Tamales, and would like to contribute a blog, ideas, comments or inspirational messages please contact us...and we'll cook up a feast...cheers! (ching!)