Merry Christmas

Hey everyone! :D
Merry Christmas - I hope you all get to spend it with people you love! And a Great New Year - maybe this time around we'll stick to our New Year's resolutions ;) Have absolutely great holidays and be safe :)

Learning to order Chinese

Couple of new things: 1: My wonderful friends in IT have supplied me with a 'new' Heroes episode - 'Season 00 Episode 00' - its apparently about little moments inbetween that never got aired! Can't wait to snuggle up with T tonight and watch it!
2: Just got back from my 'meeting' - my friend loves the pics and wouldn't change anything - brilliant! Totally relieved plus got another boost of creative energy! Have a feeling i'm gonna be spewing 'em out today! ;)
3: We had lunch at a chinese restaurant. Ah! Love the whole feel of chopsticks, elaborate chinese dragons on the walls in red and gold, and soothing chinese violin melodies playing softly in the background. Then came the menu. Now here's me, trying to learn from past mistakes. I decide to order a starter since main meals are usually huge and looking at the prices a starter (usually the size of a normal meal) would do just fine. 'Shrimp Chips' .. hm, that sounds yummy. Somewhere in my mind I have a vague idea of a french frie / shrimp mixture.Ii order a large portion, just to make sure its 'meal-size'. now those of you who know what's coming - contain your laughter! They bring me a plate piled with chips. As in packet crisp type things. Large and puffy, like cheese puffs, and in interesting, see-foody colours. Hmm. Ok, this is not what I had in mind at all! Feeling slightly foolish and completely un-cultured I'm off to find a menu. I check the starters again, since I've already got the 'chips' on my bill now. The only thing that looks satisfying as a 'not-too-big-not-too-small' meal is Steamed Dumplings. Ok, dumplings it is. Once again those of you sniggering to yourselves - contain it! I traipse back to the table, satisfied with my choice, until I get them. The dumplings. Four of them. Each the size of half-a-meatball. Nicely packed in a little square on a plate the size of a teacup saucer.
I have to say that after snacking some of the 'shrimp chips' and nibbling on my dumplings, I'm actually surprisingly satisfied. So here are my 3 beautiful things for the day:

1. I had lunch in a very lovely chinese restaurant and, although I didn't get to feel all fancy with my chopsticks I learned something new about chinese food.

2. I had a successful reaction to my drawings and am, for the first time in ages, totally inspired.

3. As my friend M so rightly pointed out: I am healthy; I have gone through the day so far without any accidents; I am loved - by many people; I have all my limbs; I get to go home to a comfortable flat and a loving fiance; I get to live in a country that is not ravaged by war; I have a holiday to look forward to; I have an education and a degree thanks to my father; because of said degree I got a good job shortly after college and my opinion is respected (because the degree says I'm supposed to know I guess); ... as M said - there's so much to be thankful for, why do we have to employ brainpower to list only three?! Its time to be more positive and thankful!

My 3 Beautiful Things today

1. my good mood has lasted so far and its almost lunch!

2. my work is becoming more appreciated plus a tip-off from T last night on a major accident resulted in a frontpage story since the taxi that caused the accident was actually a getaway car for a robbery that was being chased by the houseowner on a quadbike. strange things!

3. i have a meeting at lunch with a friend who wants to publish my drawings as illustrations to her book. Life is good :)

Happiness

hello people!! :)

Today is a good day! :) I got T's christmas present all done and ready. Well, I couldn't get it as nice as I would have liked, but those are minors. The important part of the present is good :) And I get to give it to him tonight! Yes yes, its not christmas yet. Well, this year we're not gonna have a proper christmas so we decided to use the moments we have for ourselves. Yesterday he brought my present home, and it was torture to have to look at it and not touch!!! So he eventually caved (or was it planned?) and I was allowed to rip! This wonderful man!! He went and put together a make-up hamper for me! Not ready-bought, but as in walking through a shop, looking at little things he thought I would like, and having it all put together :) I love him so much!
So tonight I get to give him his present, a book he said he wanted - did the layout for each chapter and cover, printed and bound. Hope he likes it - wish me luck!

On another note, my friend R told me about a great new blog - 3 beautiful things. Hm, we should all really do that - think consciously about what there is in a day to be happy about! Here's mine:

1. I woke up this morning from a nightmare and had T next to me to cuddle up to.

2. I successfully finished his present today and can't wait for tonight to give it to him.

3. I get to give him the good news that our budget isn't as horribly screwed as he had feared.

Gotta Read!

A while ago my friend R told me about Cecelia Ahern. Today I googled her. Now I have a new list of books to keep an eye out for! And a new movie I have to see - 'P.S. I Love You' -- a movie that, incidently, stars Gerard Butler!!! Always a must-see! :) Of course I realise it will be heartwrenching movie (stories about a partner dying always hit a soft spot) but nevertheless I think I'll put it on my list of girlie-evening-wine-drinking-tissue-soaking movies!

On another note: all Gerard Butler fans out there - you haven't seen the best until you've seen 'Attila the Hun'!!! For all of you that have seen it you'll know what i'm talking about, for all of you that haven't - go rent it!!! You won't regret it!

Heroes in Danger

I just got shocking news!!! Because of some strike of Heroes-writers, the show might be over for good!!! I googled it immediately - thankfully it looks like the show won't be cancelled though. Couldn't quite figure out what the strike was about, but as long as Heroes isn't over for good, I'm breathing a sigh of relief! Its is the one show that T and I are equally addicted to!!! It just got us hooked at the first episode!

Been watching MTV out of the corner of my eye all morning ... now they've got some dating show on. These always amaze me! My god they all seem so unbelievably fake!!! And then they dare to talk about 'love' - what they're busy with has got nothing to do with love, its all just show! I know none of this is exactly new, but ugh!!! Hello!!!

Quiet Time

Hi everyone, I'm back! Sorry for the silence, just finished off the last heavy batch at work and am now looking forward to some quiet time.
The race over the weekend turned out quite successful! And I'm proud to say that my honey received the Floating Trophy for Sportsmanship :) Plus he won himself an all-expenses-paid dinner too! Wonder who he's gonna take ....?! :)
Well, haven't got much else to tell except for work, so before I start blabbing I'll sign off.
Have a nice weekend everybody!

Airports

Feeling Fuzzy... Where one is supposed to recuperate over weekends and come to work on a Monday all fresh and glowing, I come to work feeling worse than I did on Friday! Ugh! But I'm blessed with a wonderful colleague who takes one look at me and decides he's gonna take over my shift tonight. Bless his heart!
Whent to the airport on Saturday to pick up a friend and i was reminded of that starting scene in Love Actually. And I found myself looking for people arriving and the people welcoming them. (The departure section was at the other end of the airport, so only happy scenarios). Boy was that dissapointing! Most people came out of the doors with no particular emotion on their faces, and no one specific to pick them up. Mostly tourists I suppose. One guy met up with a girl - half-happy hug, then walked on, hugged another girl a little further on, and left. No big emotion, no great joy, no wide smiles. I think the 'happiest' welcome was with us and a very rich looking business man. And the business man was welcomed by two men - some foreign investor i guess. So that glow has definitely gone off airports.
I was reminded however that the next time I will be part of this scenario I won't be saying goodbye to the man I love, but we'll be leaving together, hopefully for a romantic honeymoon in Europe ... (daydreaming)
Lets hope!

Vacation update

Ok so we're not going to a river in the north anymore. Change of plans, now the guys want to go to a dam in the south. Plus point: there we can have a bungalow, electricity and a shower. Minus point: its gonna be blistering hot. Well, I suppose its gonna be blistering hot wherever we go...! If anyone's looking for me, i'll be under the hat thats bobbing around in the water!!

The Bikini

Oh dread - I have to buy a new bikini for our christmas holiday. And shorts too! I don't think y'all realise what a nightmare that's going to be! Rrrrr!!! Especially when you're a 'fuller figure' and are going on holiday with a model. Gonna need to do some serious TLC-therapy for my ego before we go!

Memories and Cats

I've given up on keeping a diary a long time ago, because i found that i tend to waffle on endlessly to a point where i annoy myself should i ever read it again. I have found, however, that keeping memories is important, and i've taken too saving all my old emails (the important ones at least) as a substituted form of a diary. It started with emails to a good friend of mine - they were almost dailies, and now i've decided to sort out my entire mailbox (and about time!).

On another note, ooh i have again gotten hooked on the idea of getting a kitten. I've wanted my own cat for as long as i can remember, and now that i'm working and have a place of my own i'm much closer to that possibility (Yes, sadly the cat in the profile pic is not mine). I have kept myself at bay until now with little arguments like 'cat hair everywhere' and 'can't look after it all day'. But those arguments are starting to loose power. Only problem now though is that the little 'place of my own' is not actually so much 'of my own' but rented. And landlady has a cat that rules the premises and does not wish to share it with any other pets. Understandable. Hm. We'll move one day! One day soon! And we'll buy a little house together. And when we do, the first thing i'm doing is getting myself a cat! Now if i can figure out how to get that cat to love me and not abandon me for T (as many other pets and children tend to do) that would be great!

Positivity

OK enough feeling sorry for myself! Early new years resolution: be positive.

Aaand since i don't have much to tell i figured i'd post some photos...

This was one of many great outings - that cheetah was so tame it was unbelievable! At first I absolutely did NOT feel the urge to go inside, especially with her growling at me! Trainer: “No, she's not growling - she purring!!” Ah well if you say so!!! She turned out to be quite sweet, although I still believe we shouldn't be so arrogant as to think we're totally safe, they are still wild animals after all!

Its actually amazing. Ever since I moved here and T and I moved in together, I've taken photos almost everywhere. And now, although our life feels pretty normal and very quiet, people look at our pinboard and keep remarking what a fun life we've had together so far. And we smile and agree :) Because they're right. And where they comment on the photo occasions, we silently add all those special evenings just spent cuddling, chatting or clowning around and laughing, and we find nothing to complain about.

Why can't this day just end?!

... hasn't this day just gone on forever??!!! Man!! I feel like I'm halfway melted into my chair! And its not done yet, am on the late shift tonight.
Realised something today - since there's only two layout artists in my department as of late, once my dear colleague goes on holiday in January, I'll be working late every night for two weeks.. save me!! I know i shouldn't moan, i'm very lucky in many ways, but geez, can i get a break?? Somewhere??

No, this isn't called 'Happy Place' for nothing - its supposed to remind me not to moan so much. Lets see .. happy things. Ah, i'm going home to a wonderful man tonight... after the shift... and after his meeting... make the hours go quicker!! Grrr!

Well, I've got a chocolate to whisk me away to a temporary blissful state of sin - my colleague thought I looked like I needed a sugar boost - he really is a sweetheart!

I think i'll indulge with a real feel-good movie tonight - 'Chestnut' - so cute! If i don't fall asleep halfway through!!

Good night to everyone out there, and may you all have pleasant dreams..!

All things good and bad

I finished Written In The Stars by Sarah Ball last night! Ooooooh!!! Absolutely brilliant ending!!!! The way everything worked out, and then the twist at the end!! Fantastic!!! It was one of those endings that had me squeeling with joy!! Plus it was so picturesque i just fell in love with their life in the end.. oh can't give away any details.. Oh for any of you out there that are looking for a book to make you feel good, keep you glued to the pages and mourn when it is done, you gotta read this one! And her first one, Nine Months, it was just as brilliant! Now i gotta run out and find her second book too! (There's so many books i GOTTA read already, but this one's definitely on there!!!
Did i mention that the ending's fantastic??!!!

Watched the first episode of Deadwood last night... what a waste of time! Pretentious american machoism disguised as a western series. Aargh!! It feels like they built the story around the swearwords. Now I'm not all holier-than-thou - thou shalt not swear, but honestly, this was just annoying!! Only for die-hard western fans, and even those might be put off.

Downer of the Day

Downer of the day: Most Loathed Enemy is out of the hospital and back at work. Ugh! I really wish he'd just dissapear! Go work somewhere else, move to the Antarctic, I don't care! Just out of my everyday sight. That would be nice.

Career dreams

I was chatting with a friend just now and remembered how I wanted to become an illustrator for Disney when i grew up (one of a few career dreams). Well, I'm no illustrator for Disney, and maybe that's good, they don't really seem to illustrate much anymore. I have, however, 'landed a job' to illustrate a friends book. She's into alternative healing and is writing a couple of books, and my drawing style is exactly what she's looking for. This is fantastic! Its taken me a couple of days to get from paralysing intimidation to excitement, but I think its going to be great. I get to draw Angels and Fairies and i get paid for it.
So everyone reading, feel free to remind me every once in a while to get my butt going and do some drawing!!!

Christmas

well, its confirmed, we're spending christmas in the bush. ah its gonna be nice, just lazing, camping, floating down a river on a little boat. but its gonna be the first time ever that i don't spend christmas eve the 'proper' way. you know, a christmas tree, lots of candles, family around and unwrapping presents. its going to be really strange! T and i might quietly exchange presents on christmas eve with some candles on, but he's not all that much into the christmas music, and we won't be up long because we're leaving at 5h00 the next morning.
well, for that i'm making myself my own big christmas treat: i'm taking some of my bonus and i'm going shopping for the trip - proper summer clothes :) its gonna be fab!

Carly Simon

aah, don't you just love carly simon's 'you're so vain'? great music will always remain great music, no matter what age you are!

oh and i've found out what that spider was from last night... a friggin CAMEL SPIDER!!! aargh! but: for anyone who got the email about the soldiers in iraq - that email is a total hoax! thank god!

Nightmares

ever wake up from a dream that felt so real that, for a moment, you really confused about where you are? and worse, ever felt the urge at such a moment to slightly wack your boyfriend for something he did and then wake up and feel guilty for that totally confused look on his face? hmm.

other than that, i had the worst experience ever last night: since our flat is very small and we still feel fairly student-like sometimes, we don't have a dinner table. we eat like the chinese. legs crossed, on the floor, whatever food laid out on the coffee table, usually in front of the telly. all's good, until i suddenly feel this soft something moving over my arm!
quick facts - we stay in a cottage on a huge, garden-filled property. So now in summer with all the rains, all the members of the tiny little animal kingdom feel the urge to seek refuge in our flat! and this one was a humongous spider-like thing, with two fangs as long as its legs up in the air at its front, and i couldn't shake it off! i have not freaked out like that in a long time!!! especially when, after crawling all over me at amazing speeds, as i jumped and squirmed and screamed, i saw it running up my chest, coming straight for my face! i tell you, i want to move! to a concrete block of flats! with no garden in sight for miles!!! death to all the creepy crawlies!!!

Light at the end of the tunnel

just got my paycheck - oh joy, oh glorious bonus!!

isn't it amazing how one batch amount makes such a difference when you're scraping by every month! tonight i'm gonna cuddle up with T and finally enjoy a bottle of Rosé again..... yaay!

Hello

Hello there, world of bloggers. After reading one blog after the next and becoming slowly addicted to it, I’ve decided to give it a go myself.

Unfortunately now that i've finally managed to get through the set-up, lunchbreak is over and there's work waiting. But i'll be back ;)