Pssst I moved...

here: http://superjay9.blogspot.com.au/

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Back to the Future

I'm surrounded by some amazing people in my life. People who do extraordinary things and inspire me to want to be better. At everything. I gave up looking back and harping on things that I can't change but today I've been thinking about how much my life has changed in the last 10 years. I'd love to be able to meet the me then and tell her a few things. I'm sure I'm not the first to think this so I'm not claiming this is an original thought. Obviously I can't do this. I don't regret the things I've experienced in the last 10 years either but I'm loving parts of my life so much right now I'm wishing I'd started earlier. So my new goal for every day is to make sure I appreciate all the goods things in my life and thank God for them. I'm going to keep challenging myself and surrounding myself with all the positive people I can.

Someone I'm only starting to get to know posted a link on her Facebook wall yesterday that got me into this pondering state of mind - you should read it : http://paleogirl-push-it.tumblr.com/post/13105183805/25-questions-to-ask-yourself )

'If not now, then when?'

They all make you think don't they? So much to do and I have time if I want it so I've just got to start doing it. This is how I choose to live my life now. I want to be able to look back and say I wouldn't change a thing.

Hit Me!

Never delete. That’s what they say. Put it out there, leave it and let others decide. Maybe it’ll be a real gem one day. Everything had to start from something. I’m sure someone thought selling bread already sliced would never catch on and hey the cliché ‘that’s the best thing since sliced bread’ has to mean it caught on in a big way.

So I swam 30 lengths of a 50m pool today. Swimming is so soothing. It’s just you and silence. Well, mostly silence except for the splashing, the deep inhaling and the kids. It is silent when you are under the water. My point is simply that I tend to find inspiration when I’m swimming. Actually it may be just a water thing for me to be honest. I get hit with the inspiration bat lying in the bath, standing under the shower, in the rain oh most especially in the rain. Maybe, if I believed in reincarnation which I don’t think I do, I was a cloud or a fish in a previous life. Can you even be reincarnated as a cloud? It isn’t really permanent, tends to dissipate. So maybe not a cloud.

I swam and cleared my head, to make a path for the future career inspiration I was hoping for to paddle its way in to my thoughts, when I got an eerie feeling. You know the feeling you get in Horror movies where the girl wakes up in the middle of the night to a noise and goes to investigate (normally clad in a see through white singlet and her underwear) and you are screaming at her ‘Stay in bed! Lock the door! Stop you stupid hot chick you are going to die!’ – you know that feeling? The something bad is about to happen feeling – well, I got that about halfway through a free-styling lap. I stopped. Treading water I looked underneath me (old habit, I’m scared of the Kreepy Krauly) – nothing. Then a flash of hot pink caught my eye. I knew what was coming. I couldn’t turn back. I was going to have to face it when I reached the other side of the pool. I would need to face it sometime or get out the pool and make a run for it.

So I swam, I swam for my life to the other side. I had to open my eyes. I had to turn around to go back. I looked. There ‘it’ was standing by the side of the pool like a bad David Hasselhoff impersonator – the middle aged man in the hot pink budgie smugglers.

Try clearing your head of that image. No inspiration for me today. 

Boo! I see you!

I'm in a reflective mood today. It is Halloween Monday, 12 week Challenge came to a gloriously successful end on Saturday. I'm pretty happy with what I've achieved and loving my new lifestyle. But it is Monday today. Last night as I lay awake listening to the rain I began to ponder. I pondered over many things. Mostly about what happens next. I have to make sure the ghosts of my past don't come a-creeping back in to my daily habits.
Life over the last 12 weeks has been hectically demanding but undeniably uplifting at the same time. Determined not to lose that momentum I made sure that I got up and went to my early morning RPM class at the gym. Best thing I could have done. Started my week off in the right way as it always does. Ally, my instructor is awesome! I've set myself new fitness goals for the next 8 weeks (Christmas - can you believe?) and I'm ready to go. Boo! There is no scaring me away! I'm a Gym Freak now!

Next thing I need to focus on is my career. A much needed change has to happen come January and I want to make it a positive one. I want to get me that career that will make me say 'Hell yes! I love my job!'.
I've got no conclusions yet on that one.

Monday is almost done for me and so I wish you all a Happy Halloween. Hope it's a hoot!
Yes, I'm very corny today. It's my blog I can write what I want.

A simple end to a long day...

I promised myself I would write every day but today has been long and I'm tired so I will simply leave you with this poem:  
                   There once was a girl name Jay
                   who moved to a land far, far away
                   She's nothing left in her head
                   It's time for her to go to bed
                   She'll be back some time tomorrow
                   Parting - it's true- is such sweet sorrow!

Goodnight everybody!  
                   

I feel Italian

I have a passport that says I am Italian but with my pasty white skin I've never really looked the part. Until tonight. I just had my first ever, ever Spray Tan! Yes, you heard it here first. Me - until tonight - a Spray Tan Virgin.

It is a rather bizarre ritual I have to say. I didn't really know what to expect. Of course, I've read the literature. I've seen it on episodes of Friends and Sex and the City. Others have told me what to expect, what to wear, how to stand, what not to do and to just close my eyes and wait till it's over if I'm not enjoying it.

'Put this on' my always cheery Beautician friend, Kym, said as she handed me what looked like a tampon. It was in fact a very sexy paper g-string. O la la! I may stock up on some paper underwear for those special occasions when you just want something that is easily torn.
She instructed me on the correct way to stand once I was suitably attired. With my legs apart, facing the back wall of the shower and my arms in line with my shoulders bending at the elbows - a bit like a scarecrow. Too easy.

She left me to prepare. Paper g-string on I waited for the knock that would mean this is it, there is no going back. It came. In fact there were two of them. Light and fast. Knock, Knock! 
I assumed the position as Kym armed with what looked like a paint spray bottle simply said, 'This may be a little cold.'  And you know what - it was.
After that I closed my eyes and followed the instructions: turn to the right side, turn your head away, turn to your left side, face me, lift your head, keep your eyes closed. 
And just like that it was over and I was all alone in my paper g-string with a mirror and a hot air blower that looked a bit like a vacuum cleaner. But man oh man was I brown! Dark brown like my Sicilian ancestors would have been!

Of course, most of the dark will wash off in the shower in 2 hours and I'll be left with a shade only 2 shades darker than my normal pasty white. For now though I almost feel like I've been on a long holiday and worked hard for this tan. It is amazing the confidence a tan gives you. I may do this again... and again!

So where was I?

6 months have flown by since my last post and my life has transformed somewhat. I'm coming to the end of a 12 week challenge at my gym and to say the experience has been one of the most rewarding of my life may be overstating it but I do feel rewarded. Besides losing weight, getting fitter and healthier I've learnt a few things about myself in the process. 

You know what? I reckon I'm pretty friggin' awesome! Perhaps I should sign off here and allow you all time to ponder the enormity of my awesomeness. Let me bask in all the comments that will no doubt concur that I speak the truth. 

I know. I know you've missed me. 

In all seriousness I do feel awesome. I met some really inspirational people over the last few weeks and I now call them my friends. I'm surrounded by positive people and energy in my every day life and I'm feeding off it. I've discovered I push myself harder in group situations and have uncovered a competitive streak I never thought I possessed (think I got this from my mother). It is working for me though because I'm mostly competing against myself. I've set myself goals and have to push myself harder every week to achieve them. Folk around me throw around the phrase 'I beat my Personal Best today' and that is what it is about - beating yourself to better yourself. 

I'm turning into a walking, talking motivational poster. 

I've been throwing myself into this challenge for the last 12 weeks and don't intend to slow down much after it is finished on Saturday - I have been neglecting the creative side of my brain though and it's feeling a little rusty.  So today I set myself a new challenge: to delve into my craft every day.

And so the journey begins again...

They are coming to take me away! Ha ha hee hee!

When my alarm woke me up rather rudely this morning I took my earplugs out and was assaulted by bird whose chirp sounded like a game of Space Invaders. Then a thought popped into my head, just a one worded thought. Friday.

My next thought was for Saturday. And then I wanted to go back to sleep. See the thing is this, I'm a little scared for tomorrow. I'm waking up around 5am, getting dressed in my finest gym gear and heading down to a park to take part in my very first Boot camp. Yes, that's right people! I am waking up before the sun on a Saturday to voluntarily take part in a torture, I mean Exercise, session - military style.

This is the new me. Or it will be.

Good times

My friend Adam and I used to have a game we liked to play - back in our misspent youth when we still hung out at Alternative nightclubs dressed in black and wearing our Doc Martins. Good times. The game involve the age old tradition of People Watching aka Peopling. We'd pick random strangers and give them a back story. The stories were worthy of the greatest Tabloids and some of these folk, if their stories were true, should have been interviewed by Oprah and had a book deal in the bag. I'm not talking about short one lined biographies but epic tales, multiple characters that navigated their way through some pretty sophisticated plot lines. I wish we'd recorded some of them.

I've started playing the game again. I'm going to share my stories with you on this here blog. Yes sirree Bob! I'm bored I need entertainment so I will begin to entertain myself. I'm going to try get pictures of the main characters if I can. It'll have to be undercover. How exciting!

A 40-something lady shopping in our local IGA superstore a few nights ago was wearing a white vest top, teeny weeny blue shorts, the thickest woollen black socks I've seen worn in tropical (yes that means it is a warm place) Queensland and no shoes. I think she deserves a story.

I didn't get the photo but I can paint a picture without one. So watch this space for the story behind The Lady with the Black socks.

One more sleep!

Watched the movie Julie and Julia again. Did you ever have one of those movies that cheer you, inspire you and that no matter how many times you watch it, it just gets you every, every time?

I think it is because both the woman portrayed in this movie attacked life with such passion.

The perfect movie to watch on the eve of my 35th birthday. 35. Not quite sure how I let this happen but it is here tomorrow and nothing I can do about it.

I do love birthdays. And that number doesn't really worry me. Life just gets more exciting the older you get and there is still so much left to discover, learn, see in this world. All it is, is a reminder to get busy living.

I've just realised in these last 2 post of mine I've got out my soapbox and been preaching a little. Must be because I'm getting so much wiser in my old age.

Did I mention it is my BIRTHDAY tomorrow? YAY! Later Reader!

Can you imagine it?

I've been watching on TV the last few days the floods in Queensland. Watching things and people fight not to float away. Water is so powerful, and so hard, when it comes at such a force, to protect yourself from.

I've watched farmers sob into the camera. All their crops gone. I've seen heavily pregnant woman surrounded by all they own. No home to bring her new baby back to. I've seen the same footage over and over again yet I'm moved every time. The death toll climbs steadily and there are reports saying that some of the 50 odd people (they say bodies but there is still hope right?) may never be found. One body was found 80 kilometres from where he went missing.

Can you imagine it? We complain every day about something. Something we wish we had. Something else we wish we could do.

Imagine losing everything. Be thankful today.

7 days in.

With a word or two I'm back in the game.

2011 literally started with a bang for us!

And ever since we seem to have had nothing but rain, rain and more rain with a smattering of sun just to fool us into thinking we live in the Sunshine State. Luckily we haven't been flooded where I live but my car has never been cleaner.

On to other things besides the weather. This morning as I sat working I was startled awake by a THUD.

A poor Lorikeet had flown smack BANG into my window. Poor fella sat dazed, confused and, I'm sure, a little embarrassed on the wet grass for a while before flying off and hiding away. I think I heard chuckling from all the other Lorikeets! Who here hasn't walked into a glass door before? Well I haven't but I've seen loads of people do it and I ... sympathised with them, of course.

How is this for a coincidence? I drafted this post early this morning, then in my daily reading of my regular blogs I came to Wozzel. Read Wozzel for a new way to deal with glass doors. Words to live by. I'm getting a hammer.

I'll be back in a whizz.

Strange things in a Strange Land

When you move to a new country noticing cultural differences is common. Adjusting to these differences can be the biggest obstacle you need to overcome before you start to feel like you are part of a community. Sometimes it never happens. Sometimes the things you see are so bizarre and unfathomable that you find yourself waking in the middle of the night screaming: 'NOOO, not my favourite tekkies!'*

I've been noticing these:

What does it mean? Is it part of a group initiation ritual here and if I'm called upon to take part do I get to choose the tekkies I chuck? What if I can't get them to loop over? Do I get some practice throws? Does everybody know about this ritual except me?

I really don't know how I'm managing to sleep at all with this mystery haunting my every waking thought.

*trainers

Aren't they lovely?

Meet my new obsession: shoes!

Da Do Run Run Da Do Run Run

I've told you all about my new running mission. It has been going quite well - I've steadily built myself up to 7 minute running slots - so I run for 7 minutes walk for 2, run for 7 walk for 2, you get the idea? This for a *pka these-legs-were-made-for-walking-girl is quite an achievement.

I just did a little victory dance all by myself. It is an impressive routine - you'd laugh your ass off!

Yesterday, however, (even longer pause for effect) I couldn't, I just couldn't, get out of my bed at 5:15am. I'm not a morning person. Never have been and I'm working on training myself to be one. One change at a time. The Sun, unfortunately, love, love, loves the morning and in my neck of the woods is rising earlier and earlier making a later running time not just exercise but a torture session in Hell.

So instead I headed to the gym and selected a treadmill closest to the fan. Warmed up with a 2 minute fast paced walk and then off I ran, and ran, and ran, and ran. 14 minutes later I returned to walking pace. That's a doubling of my normal time. I was too shy to do my victory dance at the gym but I imagined myself doing it in my head. I am legen-wait-for-it-dary (I do love Barney Stinson)

How does that happen? Is it easier to run on a treadmill? My legs are stiff as sticks today so I must have used different muscles. Any experts out there know why I can run for so much longer?
I'm almost afraid to hit the rugby field again - my mere 7 minutes is going to feel like failure.

Got to run (love a bad pun) - catch you later!

*previously known as

All the better to hear you with my dears!

I got my assignment done and in good time you will all be pleased to know. I do love William Shakespeare. So much so that I've contemplated naming my unborn children after his characters. If only the boys names weren't so, well, so naffy. Now I know naffy isn't a real word but sometimes no real words fit and then you have to make up new ones to get your point across. It is allowed. I've decreed it.

Seriously though - can you imagine how much a young lad would be teased on the playground with a name like Horatio, Romeo or Mercutio?

That brings me to another topic entirely: Plastic Surgery. I've got ears. Two of them, in fact. They perform their function more than adequately and I really can't complain about their size. Small, dainty- even been called pixie like. Have a look at a Pixie's ears, will you please? Cute, little, often pointy (mine lack that characteristic) and they protrude. Beautiful!

Therein lies my complex.

Up till the age of 9 I was totally unaware of the protrudingness (another one of my own words) of my ears. That all changed when I started at a new school and made a new best friend. My best friend and I were as inseparable as best friends could be. Teachers even used to confuse us because apparently we looked alike enough to be sisters. BF obviously did not like this confusion. On the first day back at school in the third term I went to sit next to her as usual at the desk we shared.

BF: 'I don't want you to sit here'

Me: 'But why?'

BF: 'I don't want to be your friend any more'

Me: 'But why?'

BF: 'Because I don't like your ears!'

True story. And so began my love/hate relationship with my ears. I begged my Mom to let me have the operation to put my ears back. She put the case to my father who declared, 'There is nothing wrong with your ears.' Wallet closed. I did inherit my ears from my Dad so I think he was a little sad that I wanted to undo this genetic connection.

As I've grown older I've outgrown the complex but still whenever I'm asked would you ever have Plastic surgery and, if so, what would you like to change? My first choice is always 'My ears!'

What would you change?

A mere procrastination...

I think I've mentioned before that I'm a mistress to Procrastination. Right now I should be doing prep for a Hamlet assignment that is due this week but I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to write a blog, check my facebook and shop on ebay. All important stuff. Can it wait till I'm finished my assignment? Well, yes but that is entirely my point. Besides, if I wasn't so inclined to add to my stress levels and wasn't so very good at working under pressure, you might never get to read another of my titillating blogs ever again.

We did enjoy Melbourne. Cool People. Cool vibes. Fantastic food and I'm still dreaming about the Bloody Hot Bloody Marys. If you ever find yourself in Melbourne - head to Chapel street to a place called Yellow bird for brekkie. Breakfast Burrito and a Bloody Hot Bloody Mary. You can't go wrong.

Ooooh and he got me some new shoes. Killer heels but it is a price a girl must pay to look sophisticated and sexy. Or the price he must pay rather. They are so pretty.

If the truth be told I'm more of flat shoe gal but lately I've found myself drawn to heels.

So to Melbourne we shall return and hope she will be happy to have us. I forgot to charge my camera battery so no photos to share but that might just be for the best.

I'm going to head out for a run now to focus my thoughts on Hamlet - 'To be, or not to be, that is the question -'

Farewell!

In and out

I know I've been gone a very long time this time. Lack of time if my only excuse. Thanks to those of you who have left me comments, emailed or texted me to find out when I'd be back. All 2 of you. It really did wonders for my ego.

Alas, my time today is short but I solemnly promise I'll be back next week. Sometime. I swear. Off to Melbourne for the weekend.

Take care now

A Perfect Day

I think everyone at some point in their long or short life ponders, even if only for a moment, how they will die. On Friday I thought my time had come. Obviously, seeing as I'm writing this, I thought wrong.

I guess it makes for a pretty funny story though, so I will share it with you and let you all have a laugh at my near-death experience. I set out for my daily walk-jog on what I can only describe as a beautiful Queensland morning. If I had died that day, at the very least, it would have been the perfect day to do it. I made it all the way to the sports fields that I amble around. Most mornings I'm kept company by some arrogant Magpies, some yellow billed birds I don't know the name of and a few Ducks. We all pretty much keep to ourselves. They do their bird thing, I trot. Friday was no different except today we had some extra company - some kids doing athletics training on the track next to mine. My witnesses. This was the setting for the scene of my near demise.

On my third lap I approached two Ducks who were ducking around and I thought they would move away as I approached. Now this isn't something I'll admit too often but, wait for it, I was wrong. It happened out of nowhere. I should have seen it coming. The bigger Duck didn't move. He turned. Looked me in the eye. I was looking down at the time. He put his head down, strained his neck as far as it could go without popping off and aimed his beak at me. He quacked something rude in Duck language to me. I didn't have time to explain I didn't speak Duck before he charged. Forget ambling, I sprinted with that little... I mean, big Duck charging behind me. I must have got 10 metres, feeling chuffed I'd outrun the monster duck, when I turned.

The Duck was 9 1/2 metres behind me.

True story. Remember I said I had witnesses. I'm sure you are all pleased that I'm alive and well.

A rant, because I feel like one...

I know people say this all the time but time is flying by. It feels like yesterday we were celebrating Christmas and here we are today in August. Life is rushing by too rapidly for my liking. I'd like it to slow down. I'm not sure I'm ready to be 35 in 2011 so I'd appreciate if 2010 stuck around just a wee bit longer. Alright?

This morning I heard that Selfridges in the UK is already putting up Christmas decorations in their stores. Hamley Toy store has launched their Christmas catalogue. Harrods is next. Things have not gone quite so mad in Oz yet. That I'm aware of anyway.

I remember being a kid (memory of an elephant I have). I remember the excitement started to build soon as you started to see the decorations, Father Christmas in the stores and on the TV and school closed. Then there was the big night in our city when the City Council turned on the Christmas lights down the main street in the CBD and my folks would pile us 4 kids into the back of the car and drive us down the road to 'ooh' and 'aah'. Good times.

Now. Now kids will still have another 5 months to wait. I wonder has the enchantment I remember from Christmas time been lost to the seekers of the Big Bucks?

I'm glad I was a kid then and not now. Rant over. I'm out.