August 30, 2008
· Filed under I'm avoiding study...
Question. Is it too crazy to have my day-by-day itinerary of my next holiday planned out? My next holiday which I plan to go on in…er… 18 months?
I’m hoping to take my brother to New Zealand. I spent a month there earlier this year and absolutely loved it. There are places I haven’t seen and want to, and as well as that I felt like I was on such a flying visit last time that I didn’t get to fully appreciate many of the places I did get to.
I really think I should lay-off the extreme advanced planning however…as I think it’s turning my brother off the idea of traveling with me! *sigh*. I have a sneaking suspicion that my anxiousness to get the thing planned is also due to the fact that I’d rather be anywhere but chained to my desk metaphorically dry-reaching an honours thesis that just isn’t ready to come out.
August 29, 2008
· Filed under Hehehe, People I love
Today my nephew was with my mum and gran in a park near gran’s place. I wasn’t there but the story goes that he saw a dog and -seriously- chased it up the hill “ooff ooff-ing” at it the whole time. Now a few conclusions may be drawn from this situation… A) he hasn’t got my gene of canineophobia, B) he possibly has some canine genes mixed in there hence the ‘ooff-ing’ and C) that is one steep hill he ran up! I should know- I use it as an exercise circuit. And he’s only 16 months old!! Maybe he’s also going to be the next Usain Bolt- Just give him a dog to chase and he’ll break world records in a flash!
How I wish I’d been there to witness both my mum and gran struggling to catch up to little Sam running up a hill in hot pursuit of a highly sought after ‘ooff ooff-er’.
August 28, 2008
· Filed under Not happy Jan (it deserves its own category), Random
I realised yet again tonight that I have a very strong dislike for being home alone at night time. *sigh*
It’s quite a debilitating and un-realistic fear. And yet it is very very real all the same. Didn’t help that somewhere in the house I could hear what sounded like a mouse scratching at something *shudders*. Doesn’t seem to matter how loud I sing, how loud the TV or music is on, how many lights I turn on- I still manage to hear the slightest of noises and freeze while half expecting a complete stranger to enter my kitchen.
Fear sucks. It really does.
August 27, 2008
· Filed under Random, Social Health stuff
I saw a Naturopath for the first time yesterday.
WOW.
It was full on! I found it hard to concentrate on all the explanations of what each organ in the body does and how certain types of food can hinder or support the processes of that organ. It was frustrating that so many technical words were used and when I did ask her to use ‘plain language’ she started giving me metaphors of ‘building your house on the sand or the rock’ and how ‘a river should be like an organism teeming with colour and life, with water so clear you can see through to the bottom. BUT! If you stick a factory up one end of the river then it gets polluted!’…I’m not too sure what I thought of her explanations.
She pricked my finger using one of those little things that you can use if you have diabetes. OUCH! “Mosquito bite” my left foot! The tip of my finger is still purple and bruised from the ordeal. She laughed at me because before she even started talking about what she was going to do I had my head turned away so that I wouldn’t be able to see what she did- or any blood for that matter. Well in a funny way I ended up seeing much more of my own blood than I’ve ever seen! She stuck it under a microscope and it came up on this big screen right in front of my face. At first all the cells were darting and swimming about but eventually they slowed down and she started to point out things about them. I admit as a self professed scardy-cat when it comes to anything blood related- it was rather interesting. Apparently all the cells should be roughly the same size- but I had a lot of little cells in amongst the normal cells and supposedly the little ones were starved of iron. I felt very sorry for the little dwarf cells trying to make their way around but the bigger ones just overwhelmed them.
It was a little disconcerting when her ‘mmm’s’ turned into ‘ohhh’s’. She was moving the picture around saying ‘these lymphoids are usually rare and hard to find- but you have an overabundance! They only appear when your body is fighting a virus or infection!’ Oh my poor little lymphoids…they were trying so hard! She then showed me some other little blobby looking things starting with ‘m’ that were supposed to be helping these lymphoids fight infection. I was less than impressed with their size and number! Although the worst thing she did was every so often she’d point out this little squiggle and say ‘fat cell’. Hmmmm….. :s
Anyway….after all this use of big words, shaming me about my diet and looking all too closely at my blood- the bill came.
WHOA.
I was told that we’d start ‘conservatively’ addressing my health needs and deficiencies. Apparently ‘conservative’ equals 3 bottles of pills for $90- which won’t last very long because I’m taking two of each everyday. What bothered me most about this is that it acts to exclude the already excluded. If people want to improve their health through better nutrition and supplements that can apparently be very beneficial, they’d have to be rather affluent to have any chance. It makes me question- is this because funding for natural health remedies is so low? Or are the prices unnecessarily high? All I know is that we have a problem when we start increasing health inequalities through class divisions. Hmm…so my story about a naturopathy consultation turns out to a little rant about health justice. Maybe now I’m in a better frame of mind to write some of that thesis…
August 26, 2008
· Filed under People I love, Random
Went for a lovely long walk this morning with a lovely friend 
Would’ve been about 3-4 kilometres we walked- and not just flat either! My legs are at that stage where my muscles hurt, but not so much that it’s uncomfortable- more that they’re just reminding me that I’ve used them. It was the perfect time for a walk as the sun was shining with just a slight cool breeze. Just walking along chatting and contemplating life- it was great. Mind you conversation can get tough when you’re marching up steep hills and almost out of breath!!
I’ve been a little too inward thinking these last few days and it was great to talk out some of my ideas and realise that it’s always good to run things by a good friend before deciding if they’re really worth thinking about or not. It’s so so true that God created us to be in relationship with others. It’s so important to bounce thoughts off each other and thrash out ideas. I always find it so liberating and refreshing. Sometimes it’s hard if you simply don’t understand what the other person is on about- but when you do it’s just great . Makes life not seem so isolating and scary. And I don’t mean that ‘it’s nice when everyone agrees’- because then no ideas are bouncing or thrashing!! They’re just sitting still. But I do see a lot of worth in the validation of other ideas.
I wish I’d taken a camera to take pictures of some of the views we saw. Ah well- the weather’s warming up so I’m sure there’ll be plenty more walks to come! I’m also in a particularly happy mindset today because last night I started imagining spending a month somewhere in Europe next July. Of course these thoughts come when I’m busy with study hehe…as usual! And if my bank account found out about such ideas it might run and hide…but still…nice to ponder
August 23, 2008
· Filed under Random
Last weekend I spent a fair bit of time in the city catching up with friends and going to some live music acts. There’s just something about the city that gets me every time. Ever since I was a little little girl with my gran going in for a day of adventures I’ve had this sense of awe and wonder about the city. Perhaps the reason why I haven’t grown out of it is because I don’t go in often enough to become nonchalant about the place- as I’m sure many who work there everyday could easily become.
But yeah…I love Melbourne City. I’m proud of it also. And why not?? It’s certainly come a long way in lots of areas- which I’ll discuss more. So I’ve decided to develop a little list of things that I love- and feel free to add your favourites to the list! (little sob…I’ve just remembered the assignment I did for final year uni about Melbourne’s urban planning history and it’s influence on sense of place and health…and it’s all gone!! Yet another thing I’d forgotten I’d lost due to the dreaded ‘incident’. Grr). But anyway- I shall endevour to remember!! Ok so here’s my list:
1) I love the layout of the streets in the city- the grid makes it easy to get around, nothing’s ever super far away or hard to get to and it’s just plain user-friendly.
2) The Botanical Gardens. I’d hate Melbourne to be the kind of city that is completely full of concrete. The nice gardens around the place make it easy to escape from the hussle and bussle without having to go far or pay anything. I also particularly like the public art projects that’ve contributed to this recently- especially in Melbourne Central’s food court- anyone seen the vertical garden?! It’s incredible.
3) The Traveller’s Aid. This one’s for Gran. Everytime we’d go into the city for a day when I was younger we’d have lunch at the Traveller’s Aid on Collins St- this cool little place about 4 floors up above some offices and it was always full of backpackers, the elderly and they had a lot of resources for disabled travellers. The food was average but I didn’t think about that at the time. I loved their apple cakes and we’d always sit at the same window- the one looking across at Abbey Bridal (I was obsessed with wedding dresses- poor Gran).
4) Degraves and Flinders Lanes. Twenty years ago the space for outdoor dining and resting was minimal in Melbourne. Since then according to my cousin who’s a senior Urban planner these spaces have increased something like 350%?! A huge effort has gone into making Melbourne a more livable, vibrant and cultural meeting place. I think they’re doing a good job. Fed Square is another such place. I still think it’s slightly ugly looking- but I love it. They always have cool exhibitions on in the NGV galleries there and I love the free concerts- like when JBT played.
5) The 35th floor of the Sofitel Hotel- if you don’t know about it- you should. From an early age my gran would take me up there and each time she’d say ‘now look posh- keep your head up and pretend you’re staying here’ hahaha…it was hilarious fun. We’d saunter up the big red velvet carpeted stairs until we reached…the toilets. Those toilets have THE best views- floor to ceiling windows that I’m always too scared to get too close to but are great to look out.
6) The Windsor Hotel- again the toilets. I mean why use ordinary toilets in the city when you can pretend you’re staying at fancy hotels and use bathrooms that have actual towels to dry your hands with?! And cute little chairs in front of the mirrors? And flowers? I think I’ve made my point. Oh and their chesterfield lounges in the lobby. Mmmhmm. Weird looks from the guys who stand to open the doors for you…but who cares.
7) The arcade with Gog and Margog in it. I’ve forgotten it’s name- but on the hour these funny looking creatures on the walls move about. Come to think of it they’re kinda scary…but it seems to be a tradition to go and see them do their thing.
So yeah…a few things that I love about Melbourne. I might add to the list at some stage.
Oh and one more thing- those 3 funny looking statues on some corner…they’re 3 men dressed in business suits and I always have the urge to pat one on the shoulder when I’m waiting to cross the road. They’re awesome.
August 20, 2008
· Filed under Random
I had an exciting morning- I got to participate in an honours study at Uni on chocolate, mood and eating habits. It was all quite interesting- we filled out some surveys about our mood and attitude to eating, then we ate chocolate (and it was good) and then filled out more stuff discussing how we felt when we ate it and how we felt eating at other times. AND then at the end of it we were given a $20 coles myer voucher for our time! Makes me wonder why I chose to do such a mentally exhausting study with a) no chocolate! and b) no rewards to give my participants :s.
Maybe if I do a PhD I’ll have to twist my research parametres a little…
August 19, 2008
· Filed under People I love
I took my 16 month old nephew Sam for a long walk today- an hour and a half! My sister in law tells me that he now weighs 10kg and the pram weighs 15kg so I was quite proud of my effort pushing that pram up the steep hills around here. He chortled away to the birds- and even a wallaby as we walked along and every so often I’d peep through his little window and wave to him and he’d look up with THE cutest smile (half clucky?? no…of course not!).
Now don’t get me wrong- I’ve done enough babysitting in my time to know that babies and little kids can drive you up the wall. But I don’t think that’ll ever stop me from loving my nephew to bits. The thing that amazed me most about him today thought is that he’s getting super good at comprehension. He has a set of magnets on the fridge including things like a frog, a boat, a cow, a bee etc etc. Anyway if you ask him “Sam- where’s the dog?” He’ll toddle over, point to it and go ‘oof off!’ I’m simply amazed at his development.
I know it’s silly- cos all people do that stuff. But- seeing him as a funny little foetus type thing that appeared just over a year ago- I find my self dumbfounded at the things he can do. I’m only an aunty for goodness sake- not his mum or dad! I feel sorry for my kids if I ever have any- I’ll be tearing up when they first learn to pick up a block haha. I’m not sure what he thinks of me though. I’d like to get inside his head- here’s this aunty of his who just stares at him when he does stuff cos she doesn’t know how to respond to such an incredible human being.
What’s the point of being an aunty if you can’t boast about them eh?? :p Gosh I love my nephew! Although- I can’t say I’m too impressed that he seems to have my brother’s name ‘David’ almost downpat- and I just get ‘Uu!’ Hmm…favourite Uncle perhaps?
August 14, 2008
· Filed under Over-analysis
So my brain must be split in two. I’m sitting here transcribing interviews and find myself at the same time contemplating how different people react in different friendship-ending situations (as I said earlier today…it was a rather boring and tedious interview this morning!). But yes- not just break-ups, but all scenarios where something happens and a connection is lost. What is it about some people that they have the ability to make the definitive ‘chop’ and walk away, whereas others still think about it for sometimes years afterwards? Is one more emotionally “in control” and mature than the other?
Coming from the camp of people who struggles a lot in the walking away business- so much so that I don’t like to lose contact with even the most fleeting of friendships because I feel guilty and obliged to keep an interest in them, I find this issue a hard one. I wonder about the people who do outwardly appear to cut people off and move on as if the friendship or connection they had with that person in some way was purely a ‘transaction’ of sorts. I wonder if it really is purely an outward thing and deep down it’s actually due to some sort of disconnection somewhere. I would be concerned actually if I did find myself able to meet someone, get to know them and then walk out of their lives again as if just making a quick detour.
I’m not saying we should all cling to every friendship/relationship we ever have with anybody- our list of facebook friends could just get out of control then :p. But yes of course that’s not logical- as the Bible says in…Leviticas? Or Lamentations? whichever one- there are seasons. So to clarify for myself, I’m not talking about when you just lose contact. I’m referring more to when something ‘happens’ that causes the distance.
There are no easy answers and I’m sure we all wish we could have these perfectly fluid friendships that could come and go and never involve any pain/betrayal/loss/unforgiveness etc. I guess the psychologist in me just wonders why different people react in often such polar opposite ways. Hmm…back to the transcribing about the importance of having chickens
August 14, 2008
· Filed under Not happy Jan (it deserves its own category)
Sorry “Jan” but I’m unhappy with you again! Had a hectic day of interviews today for my study. The first one was frustrating because my participant did not at all fit the criteria so I sat there for an hour stringing out this long conversation about chickens and vegie gardens thinking to myself ‘this is useless. Completely useless- but I’ll have to transcribe the jolly thing anyway!’ So yeah…that was my frustration for the morning. I came home, re-grouped and tried to de-stress about this afternoon’s interview.
So I get to the cafe- it’s kinda scary mind you going to a cafe expecting to interview someone you’ve never met and you have no idea what they look like. I sat and waited for 20mins getting weird looks from almost everyone else in the room. Finally I went out to my car to ring this participant thinking perhaps I’d been at the wrong cafe, and she answers the phone and explains ‘oh no- I rang the uni yesterday leaving a message for you that I couldn’t make the interview’. <Insert exasperated and annoyed expression/grumble here>.
I can’t give out any of my own numbers for stupid privacy issues so the number she had to ring me one is supposedly manned all day and I’m contacted if any of my participants ring. So yeah- not happy Jan (or whoever it was who didn’t pass on my message and left me feeling alone and awkward in a stupid cafe!!).
There. I’ve had my grumble for today. I’m so tempted to walk 1min up the road and devour a pint of pleasure all on my lonesome. Hmm…tempting
