Wedding Fever (and other updates)!

I am not gone - I'm still here.

My baby brother is now officially a husband - and I now officially have a sister (in-law).

It was such a beautiful day. Exactly how I dream of my wedding day turning out. Perfect weather, your closest loved ones, wine, laughter and perhaps a few tears (yes, I cried throughout the whole ceremony. Hey, I love weddings, what can I say!)

My sister-in-law (how weird does it feel to be saying that) looked stunning. She was so beautiful. And my brother looked so handsome. There is something about suits that make him look gorgeous!

The day was wonderful and followed by a night of revelry with family dinner at the local sizzler. Sounds tacky but I had a ball (a special thanks to Brissiemum - my cousin - who made the extra special trip with DH and her kids from the other side of town just for dinner. It meant so much to me to be able to see them that night as I was so disheartened at being so near yet not seeing them. I love you and miss you all).

Some of my favourites highlights of the day, night and trip in total:

• Seeing the flowers for the wedding. I had reservations about artificial flowers being used for all of the flowers, but was pleasantly suprised. They looked real from a distance - very impressed.
• That my brother's old workmates took time off work to come and watch the ceremony. I thought that was especially nice of them. And good to catch up with them as well.
• Watching my brother get married. It seemed so surreal - I can't believe he's all grown up now.
• Seeing my aunt who we all thought would not make it to the wedding or be around at all by now after a very serious bout of illness recently. She looked magnificient all things considered and her sense of humour hasn't dampened. Love you Aunty C - I'm so glad you were there.
• Watching my "adopted" nephew (Brissiemum's son and my second cousin) work his way through the buffet. 12, yes 12 plates of food plus one ice cream cone. I'm still don't know how he didn't get sick.
• Hearing all of the fabulous one liners my "adopted niece (Brissiemum's daughter and my second cousin) come up with. Among the top 5 are her statement after Brissiemum told me how the superteen vomited on their driveway after a buffet pig out - said by Young Miss "There was watermelon in there too." Thanks for the visual Miss.
• Coming home. Even though I am Brisbane born and bred until 3 months ago - I don't miss living there. I just miss my family. But I love Tassie with all of my heart and it was so good to come home.

I know there were so many other wonderful moments throughout the day but these are my favourites so far.

I have started working in my new position at work and become a official employee as of Tuesday. Weekends are pretty much booked up until christmas and I have already started planning christmas lunch, decorations etc. It is absolutely my favourite time of year. I just wish it would be colder. Spring has officially arrived in Tasmania and I am in mourning for winter. I detest summer with a passion. However, I now have a family visit in January to look forward to and the big 30 is looming on the horizon.

What a busy end of 2008 and busy 2009 it shall be!

Ever So Clever

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!

Onto the celebrations.

Tomorrow - the local county fair!!!!

Hot Chocolate for you, Hot Chocolate for me!!!

I have a nightly ritual. I cannot go to bed and get a good night's sleep without my cup of hot chocolate.

I LOVE hot chocolate. Especially since I forever gave up tea and coffee (I may have sneaked to odd tea in but didn't really enjoy them). Hot chocolate is now my beverage of choice.

It has now extended to me taking a hot chocolate in a travel mug in the mornings for the drive to work and that early kick to start my day. I sometimes buy one from my favourite gluten free cafe down the road from work when I need a pick-me up during the day. And, luckily, I am surrounded by hot chocolating women at work, united by a love of chocolate that is hot.

What do I drink when not in a hot choccie mood - you can never beat a nice glass of milk or drink of water.

I'm so boring!!

Now, who's put the kettle on???

Kicks and Giggles

OH. MY. GOD!!!!

This morning I had the interviews for both of the jobs advertised at work.

Normally I rock at job interviews. I haven't been in an interview yet that I haven't knocked out of the park. I have been offered the job I've interviewed for probably 96% of the time.

Today, I was a bundle of nerves. I felt totally sick before I went in and I was prattling along throughout the entire interview. I'm sure I did well, but I am so desperate to get one of these jobs that I think I freaked myself out totally.

So, what better way to recover from a very long and tiring day but a day off the the local town fair/show. Oh, I suppose I should also pick Mum and Dad up from the airport.

Now, who remembers what time they are flying in???

Game Over

Why oh why did they have to show it down here.

While I love AFL, what I don't love is Rugby League. Today is Grand Final day for the NRL. And, much to my chagrin, Dad was able to find a cable channel covering the game.

Please let the game end quickly before my ears start to bleed!!!

How To Save Daylight

Can you believe it is so easy. Just wind your clock forward one hour. If it is that easy, why don't they do it in Queensland???

At the risk of sounding like a child.....

Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah - I've got daylight saving!!!!

Bring on the 9.00pm sunsets!

Duck, Duck......Goose???

Question:
How do you know you live in a small country town?
Answer:
When 3 geese waddle past your drive way and up the street in the middle of the day as if it is quite normal for them to do so.

Question:
How do you know that one of the people in the house that the geese waddle past did not grow up in the country?
Answer:
When she thinks the first two geese are actually great big ducks!

Question:
What does a new to the country girl do when she sees geese waddling up a little country road in the middle of the day?
Answer:
Squeal that there are geese (or ducks, whatever!) waddling past the house, runs out with the camera and proceeds to check in neighbours driveways to get pictures of said geese only to find they are nowhere to be found (apparently geese can fly - did you know that???)

Question:
Who is the goose why did all of the above
Answer:
You are looking at her
(Do I feel like a goose or what?)

Music For The Masses

I'm in a little trouble. I think.

I've done more unpacking (hey, I don't care if I've been in my new home for nearly 3 months - I will unpack as I feel like it. Okay, perhaps I'm just procrastinating - do you blame me?)

I unearthed a small container of my favourite cd's a few weeks ago. My absolute favourites that I play all the time. A little Ella Fitzgerald, Van Morrison, Pearl Jam, Nickelback and quite a few compilations. I was rather pleased because now I had something to listen to (there doesn't seem to be any radio down here except triple j - I can only take triple j in small doses. Generally the drive to work and that's it).

Anyway, I found a huge, and I mean HUGE, box of more cd's the other day. And I was rather frightened. How much many have I spent on cd's over the years. I seriously don't remember buying half of these things. And what's worse, I probably only listened to them once and bought them for one song on an entire album. Since the advent of itunes, I have been able to significantly reduce my cd spendage but I don't know what to do with the ones I don't listen to. I should start putting them onto itunes I guess but do I try to sell some off? I just don't know.

One other thing that came flooding back while going through the cd's. I can't believe how many memories are triggered by certain songs. So, if for entertainment purposes only, here are the songs that played a huge part in my life.

• My first ever cd that I got (a birthday present) - New Kids on the Block
• The first ever cd that I bought - an early nineties compilation. I still love popping it into my stereo every now and again. I still feel like I'm 13 when I listen to it.
• Kriss-Kross - Jump : My first ever high school dance
• Bryan Adams - Please Forgive Me : My first ever slow dance with a boy (awwww), my first ever kiss (double awww and yes, it was with the same boy) and what started my love affair with Bryan Adams. Incidently Bryan Adams was also the first ever concert I went to see. Still in my top 3 favourite concerts as well.
• The Rembrandts - Friends theme song : The year I graduated high school and Friends was a huge thing at school. I loved Friends then and still do now. The theme song from the show was our theme song for our graduation as well. I can't believe that was 12 years ago now!
• Chumbawamba - Tubthumping : The year I turned 18 and officially became an adult. My first time out clubbing this was the first song I actually danced to. Still not sure how on earth we danced to that song.
• UB40 - Red Red Wine : Played at one of my favourite pubs on a particularly great night out with a huge group of friends. Sadly the pub burnt down a few months ago but I still love UB40, some 10 years later
• Backstreet Boys - My first and last serious boyfriend gave me one of their cd singles. I still wish I didn't associate BSB with that idiot.
• Robbie Williams : I went through a big Robbie phase when I got my first proper, grown-up job. This was also when I turned 21. It was also the same year I travelled to the US for the first time (ah, my home away from home).
• Nickelback : My first "grown-up" concert
• Dido - Life For Rent : I kept listening to this song whenever I wanted to back out of the big move to Tassie or when I have second thoughts about doing things. This is my motivational song.
• Jason Mraz - I'm Yours : My new favourite song. I hope that one day I meet someone who I feel like I'm theirs! Barry Watson, are you free???

I am also finding new artists all the time that I fall in love with.... Jason Mraz, Ida Maria, Demi Lovato.

Any suggestions for a new favourite???

Who Are You???

Ok, so I've just finished watching the first season of Samantha Who (hey, I'm home and I'm sick and I can't do anything except sleep or watch tv - and damn it, that's what I intend to do) and I'm totally hooked.

Apart from the fact that I'm a HUGE Barry Watson and Christina Applegate fan (where can I find myself a gorgeously cute and handsome Barry of my own - I love him and I want one!!!!) it is so funny to watch. And yet, educational at the same time (oh my god - I really am old).

Maybe I paid a little more attention to it than I normally would but it really hit home in a way I didn't expect. Perhaps it's because that new chance that Samantha gets is what I got. Well, not in the way that she did, but I was so unhappy in my old life that this year I finally found the courage to start all over again.

You know the saying about the grass being greener. Everyone always says you don't appreciate your life until you jump the fence and try the grass for yourself. Once you do, you'll be thankful for your life. Well you know what, I've jumped the fence and I'm not jumping back.

Without getting too soppy and sentimental, I am totally in love with my new life and the new me. I didn't think it was possible to feel this content with the decisions I've made in my life lately. I have the enormous joy of being able to say that I've found a job and workplace that I am totally in love with. It's the first job I've been in my entire life that I would happily spend the rest of my life working there.

I'm more motivated than ever in my entire life to exercise. I'm trying things that I always wanted to try but never had the courage to do. I'm making new friends and am not scared to be myself. I'm learning how to not take comments or random things personally. I'm learning how to say no (which is a massive accomplishment for the eternal people pleaser). I'm learning to accept me for me. I'm trying to not be ashamed of the things that I love and not pretend to love things that I think will make people like me better for. Damn it, I love Disney and I'm not ashamed to say it anymore.

So, in summary - when people tell you that rather than groaning about your life change it and just be yourself - believe me, it isn't easy to do but so totally worth it in the end!

You may even end up suprising yourself!!!!!!

This is so not where I saw this blog entry going however I am brave enough to say that I just don't care!!!

Oh and who knew that Barry Watson with a short haircut and semi-beard was so god-damn gorgeous?! Yum.

Spring Chickens

Can you teach an old dog new tricks???

Ok now I'm not admitting to being old (nearly 30 isn't old, right???) and dog - well we won't go there. I'm nice, really!!!

Anyway, I am loving spring more and more each day. It is now officially day two of spring and even though I can't really do anything right now I'm already planning on my spring and summer activities.

However, this summer I am going to start doing things that I haven't done for years.

This summer, I am going to buy a bike and start cycling again. I haven't ridden a bike since I was probably, oh I don't know, 10...12... somewhere around there. I wasn't very good at it back then, but this time, I going to conquer a bicycle.

I'm going to start running. I have a running buddy lined up - just as soon as I can get back out and start exercising again.

I'm going to go hiking. Never did it, always wanted to. Now that I'm living in Tasmania (seemingly the hiking capital of Australia) I'm going to start.

Swimming - maybe. Could be too cold. Haven't decided yet.

I'm going to play golf more. I bought a golf set a couple of years ago and haven't used it that much. This year - it's going to get a real workout!

Play softball - I've already joined a team.

I'm going to go to the local fairs. I think I can call them that because they are not really like the Brisbane ekke - we have the city show and then local town shows. My town even has it's own little fair. And I've already got a group of friends to go with - so excited!!!

See - don't you wish you lived in Tassie right now?

If only just to see this accident prone idiot make an ass of herself all summer long!!!! See, should be fun :o)

Cleveland - Not My Hometown, Just a Spot on the Map

In reply to Brissiemum's comment:

I am no longer a Queenslander. I am now a Taswegian flying to Queensland for a family wedding. I follow the Geelong Cats over the Brisbane Lions. Rugby League - what's that??? Summer days at the beach - it's to cold to go swimming!!! Yep, most definitely a Taswegian now. I'm such a traitor!!!

Oh, BTW - can you please turn the furnace down before I arrive!!! We don't want me to melt on the day, do we?

Upside - plenty of wine so maybe I won't notice it by the time the reception starts. Good plan, don't you think?