Happy Halloween!

If you are American, anyway. If you are Australian and you celebrate Halloween, bah humbug to you. And your pesky little children, too. If you are American, you will probably think I am a mean bitch after reading this post. Sorry about that.

I cannot stand it when people here (here being Sydney) use the Halloween excuse as a means to run around ringing doorbells for hours on end (CONSTANTLY too, geez, fuck off!) and demanding lollies.

I mean, excuse me? Do you SEE any pumpkins around here? Any autumn leaves falling off trees? Any spooky decorations? No? Excellent. Go away now.

Perhaps I should put some handy pointers down about this subject. So you can see what a grouch I actually am about it all.

• You only need to ring the damn doorbell once, assholes
• You should not be roaming the streets BY YOURSELF when you are all of six years old. Where the hell are your parents? Hello, child molestors?
• We don’t celebrate this holiday and the fact that you aren’t even dressed up? You are not worth the effort of going downstairs.
• If there were any lollies or candy in this house I would have eaten it already, so I wouldn’t give it to some snotty little brat that I just saw stomping through the garden to get to the damn door anyway.

So while I gleefully ignore the constantly ringing doorbell and restrain myself from hanging a rude note on the front door, let me leave you with this nice video.

P.S. I still want me some candycorn.

Mmm.. Hoagie

A WHAT-ie?

I stumbled across this earlier today on the inter-time-sucking-net, and thought it sounded amusing, particularly for the commenters out there!

Check out the Hoagies blogging awards!

It’s kind of like the HACAH awards here at alyndabear, but different. Same, but different. You know? Hee. Plus, mine are invisible, so the Hoagies have got me beat there.

So go and check it out, email Heather with some nominations and have fun. Because everyone loves a faux gold turkey trophy. And the prize? Is in jellybeans. What’s not to love?

 

Anyone lost their undies?

Did I mention that I put my hand up to do a swimming scheme with the kids this year?

Because I am a nut and don’t have enough to do already this term. Nobody else would put their hands up for it though, and I felt bad about that, so I offered. It’s basically the standard "learn to swim" programme for kids that don’t get a chance to do it at home.

It runs for 10 days. (!)

Excuse me while I keel over. I know, 10 days. WHERE I MISS OUT ON 2 HOURS OF TEACHING TIME WITH MY KIDS. Have I mentioned I have reports to write, accreditation to start working on, and resumes to make up?

Regardless though, I went along today and despite the craziness of having ten minutes to split my kids up to different classes, make sure they had their work and bags and all that AS WELL AS shuffling 46 swimming kids and their lunches, goggles and the rest onto the bus, it all went pretty smoothly.

Gorgeous day, so gorgeous that I actually went against my better instincts, and got dressed in my gym shorts and a daggy long shirt so I could jump in if I needed to. It was so nice that I was actually hoping the instructors would ask me to get in and help. But alas! No help needed today. Bugger. What’s the bet the day I’ll be asked to assist will be wet, cold and miserable?

High points would have to be seeing them all so excited to either a) Get in the water at all, b) Splash around like loons or c) Swim a few metres by themselves. Plus, they are a great group of kids that we’ve got, and I have another teacher with me to keep me occupied. Perhaps I can burn my palest of pale legs to match my red nose?

Low points though? Leaving my kidlets behind and missing out on teaching time. Also, bellowing like a mad-woman into the girls and guys changerooms because the kids are too busy flinging wet towels at each other to get on the bus to go home. And the four extra pairs of undies and swim shorts that we ended up with at the end of the day.

Where did they come from?

Are they breeding?

Are the school children’s change rooms a spawning ground for evil underwear demons that are planning on taking over the world?

I do not know. But I have 9 more days to uncover all the facts for you. SUMMER!

*****

By the way, speaking of SUMMER, nobody bothered to mention that SOUTH KOREA IS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. Shit! Because I am a dork who figured it was not THAT far from Australia, I assumed they would be in summer weather in January too. Um. No.

These are the average temperatures for January in South Korea. Courtesy of Google, of course.

Hours of Sunlight: 6.
Average minimum temperature: -9o celcius.
Average maximum temperature: 0o celcius.

WAHHHHH! (But yes, I’m still putting a resume in.)

Just call me Rudolph

Psh! The perils of trying to get fit!

I went out for the afternoon to a backyard barbeque for one of Jason’s workmates. Would you believe that this is the first time I’ve actually met any of them, despite us being together for over four years? Crazy. They have apparently called me "The Invisible Girlfriend", implying Jase made me up. Ha!

So of course beforehand, I was trying to get the whole dutiful girlfriend vibe going on – stressing for ages about what to wear, trying to get my hair nice, you know, the general paranoia of the most shy social butterfly ever.

I had a great time! Despite the hot / cold / just decide on a damn temperature sort of weather, it was very small and the guys were very friendly. I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, which was nice. Add in a table tennis area to keep me occupied, as well as a yummy double tiered cake, and there were no complaints from me (except for the tiredness). I was even happy with my hair and felt generally okay, until I looked in the car mirror ON THE WAY HOME and realised I have a nose that is comparable to Rudolph.

I know Christmas isn’t that far away, but seriously.

It’s so bad that I tried to take photos of it, but all that it managed to show was that I am apparently quite blotchy. My hair is kinda nice though, I like that it went the right way for once. Doesn’t happen often.

And look! Pretty certificate! Red nose! If you close one eye, squint a
bit and look directly into the sunlight, I even look fitter too! Hoorah!

When You Were Young

Why is it that I feel so old somedays?

Mum and I participated in a 4km walk this morning, and I am proud to say that I completed it in 36 minutes and 49 seconds to be exact.

Yes, I thought I was going to die in the first 10 minutes because oy! My shin bones felt as though they were going to poke out through my skin and explode.

Yes, I thought I would never keep up with mum, but I managed! Even though she did slow down once or twice for me, fearing I’d get pissed off if she left me behind. Bless!

Yes, there were runners who did the 8km RUN and finished ten minutes before us, but that is absolutely not the point.

I am very proud. And you know what else? Sitting on the silver seats for a 2 hour presentation hurt my ass more than the 4km walk hurt my shins. AND I didn’t even win a raffle prize. I did get a nice certificate though – and funnily enough, the ladies wrote my 36:49 time down in the 8km run times – so if I hadn’t noticed the mistake, I would have come FIRST in the runners. Yeah, right!

Psst. Thanks guys for your comments about the Korea teaching experience. I’m going to put a resume in, and I’m just hoping I’ll get accepted. Fingers crossed for me, and I’ll keep you informed when I hear things. You guys are great.

Opinion?

I’ve been considering something a little different for over the Christmas holidays.

As you might know, in Australia teachers get from around the 21st of December, through to the end of January off, since that is the kids main summer holiday break. I recently found out that I probably won’t be recieving holiday pay over that time (like permanent teachers do, anyway) because I was only temporary for the year – which left me with a sort of dilemna.

I’m sure I could budget now to start putting money away and saving for things like board, car repayments, gym fees and other expenses (particularly expensive petrol and phone pre-paid cards) but I was still a bit worried.

Anyway.

One of the girls at work found a notice in the staffroom about working overseas in the Christmas holidays – in South Korea (Seoul – the capital), teaching English to kids. They pay for your airfare, your accomodation, lunches, Sunday outings (four in total) as well as $1400 at the end of four weeks. They provide the work for you, and there is a Korean translator/teachers aide in the room with you as well, to help the kids. It’s from December 27th to January 29th, or around then.

I sort of want to do it.

But I’m also a big chicken and have some reserves too; mainly that it will be dodgy, or that things would just go wrong. I like to think worst-case, sometimes, it’s my negative streak. And then there’s Jase. (Who I should mention was 100% supportive of it all, bloody man. Couldn’t he have pretended to be just a trifle disappointed that the LOVE OF HIS LIFE might be going away to a foreign country for four weeks? Sniff.)

Here is a link to the accomodation site. (It should be in English, and the links to a virtual camera shot of the apartments are down the left. The two single studios are apparently the ones on offer. Because the living arrangements are important. VERY important.

So what are your thoughts? I have no plans in that time anyway (other
than sitting around relaxing and trying not to spend the money I won’t
be earning!) And hopefully, it’ll be going with at least one or two
people from the school that also want to go, IF we get our resumes
accepted for the programme.  I still have a week or so to get a resume made up, but I’m still weighing it all up.

Should I go? And why?

Or should I NOT go? And why?

I value your opinions, so go for your life!

Sunday Scribblings: Bedtime Stories

Today has left me feeling exhausted.

I’m tired of drama, and expectations.
I’m tired of feeling as though I’m working and working and working and still not getting anywhere.
I’m tired of second guessing myself.
I’m tired of being unsure about what I want for myself, and how to get it.
I’m tired of waiting for things I want RIGHT NOW.
I’m tired of the mundane, the everyday.
I’m tired of thinking too much.
I’m tired. Full stop.

It’s been said a thousand times before, about how nice it would be to step back in time to when things were simpler. To when we could look at things without being cynical, or sarcastic. To when there was barely a thought into the future at all; when we lived for the moment, and that was as far as our minds would allow us to go.

For me though? At this second, in this place, at this moment, it would also be nice to jump right ahead. Past the current insecurities and whinges, past the incessant rantings and whinings, into a different place.

It isn’t as though I’m trying to escape it all, or that it is all too hard. I’m not exactly saying that. One can never actually escape from all of the uncertain parts; but instead? I’d like to just move away from where I am now, and look forward to DIFFERENT insecurities and whinges.

Whether they’ll be better? No idea. Will I still feel the same as I do now, just in another time? Maybe. But hey. A girl can dream.

For now, I’d settle for someone reading me a bedtime story, and being greeted by a sleep where I really can escape my mind, at least for a short time..

For more Sunday Scribblings, go here.

Flat Stanley ~ Day 1

We had a very busy day, today.

The school had an all-day gala day, where we were doing activities and moving around the whole time, so I didn’t really have time to give poor Stanley an introduction. I did give him a tour of the classroom, and tomorrow the class will get to meet him too.

Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be putting class pictures up with Stanley, for the kids confidentiality stuff, but we’ll have fun just the same. Maybe I’ll take Stanley to visit Jason tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled!

Stanley enjoys the view of my classroom, from the teachers desk. He thought it was very quiet and that I should stop whinging, but then he realised that there were actually no students in there, so he took it all back.

This is Stanley’s new favourite book. I had to pry it out of his hot little hands. Stanley likes to read.

I am proud to say that he learned how to write his own name today. Oh, and to stand up all by himself, too. See how he holds the pencil? Clever Stanley.

He was a real hit with the ladies today. This is Stan the Man with some of the beautiful teachers from my school. Stanley can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

I also have a charming photo today of one of my kids wearing a Scottish cap with wild, bushy hair coming out from underneath it in all directions, which I’d LOVE to post in time for Halloween. A big boo to the confidentiality stuff, although I know it’s there for good reasons. Oh, and I’m officially in love with my cheap-o new camera.

Chasing Cars

This entry contains lots of bits and pieces.

No order, no real sense, just, well, bits and pieces. If you read it all, give yourself a pat on the back.

• Some good car news – the other driver admitted liability, so my excess has been waived (hallelujah!) so I don’t have to fork out nearly $1000 after all. Insurance has apparently got an assessor on the job, so I have to play the waiting game again to find out a) what the hell is wrong with the car, b) what needs fixing, c) WHEN it will get fixed and d) when I’ll get my baby back again. I’ve seriously felt ill about the whole mess since Sunday, not particularly sick, but just not right. I hope this passes soon, because I’m tired of feeling this way.

• The thought of one day teaching overseas, possibly in Europe, is freaking me out. In a good way, but I’m still freaking out. Yep. Don’t even ask me why I’m thinking about this right now, when I have so much to do in the next term and I don’t even know what the hell is happening next year. Brain overload.

• The gym was packed with people again today. I enjoyed it much, much more when I didn’t have to panic about finding a spot on the bloody circuit. And I hate stretching my sweaty, post-gym body on the mats RIGHT next to other sweaty, post-gym bodies. It’s called space, people. Use the next damn mat over.

• My new shoes are making my feet go numb. The identical joggers I had before the dodgy stitching incident didn’t do this. I am confused. They’re the same make as the old ones, the same size, everything is the same. Why are they feeling different?

• I recieved two emails about Flat Stanley coming to visit. Once he’s finished his trip with me, my momma wants to take him around with her for a wee trip (convenient, no postage!) so he’ll pop off to Ngaire in a week or so. Kathy has also wanted to have a visit while Stanley’s down under, so we’ll get a sharing system up and running for that. Sound good?

• Lastly. Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars. Probably the world’s most over played song right now, but since it was playing as I typed this blog post up, I’d like to pop the lyrics in. They’re exactly how I’m feeling right now. Scary how exact. Have a great night.

We’ll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don’t need
Anything

Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie
with me and just forget the world?

I don’t quite know
How to say

How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They’re not
enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
and just forget the world?

Forget what we’re told
Before we get too
old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into life

Let’s waste time

Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me

To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you
lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we’re told
Before
we get too old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into life

All that I
am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they’re all I can
see

I don’t know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that
these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just
lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Look who’s here!

And he came in the cutest post-bag ever!

HI FLAT STANLEY!

Edit: Because I’m a twit and I forgot that some people don’t actually know who/what the heck Flat Stanley is (cover your ears, Stanley dear) I’ll give you some of the background rundown. And because I am lazy, I shall steal Aimee’s words.

"Have you heard of Flat
Stanley?  Flat Stanley is part of a project that some schools do.  You can read
more about the Flat Stanley project here. I made my very own Flat
Stanley.  I will document his time spent with me (about a week?) and then I will
send him to someone else, who will then blog about Flat Stanley’s adventures
with her.  We can track the progress of Flat Stanley and see all the places he
has been….if we keep this up, Flat Stanley could be in 10-11 new places before
the year is over."

He arrived yesterday, and asked me to say a big thankyou to Aimee for making his plane flight so comfortable.

What can I say? I was so excited that I had to take pictures, EVEN with sweaty gym hair, no makeup and blotchy skin.

Poor Stanley must be jetlagged, he just doesn’t look as excited as I do. He’s resting now, but I’m sure he’ll be as good as new soon.

I have a feeling that Stanley and I will be on the phone to insurance companies all day, and then watching movies in my NEW DVD PLAYER.

And if you’re interested in having Stanley over for a visit, please send me an email and we’ll sort it out. He’s a rather quiet houseguest, actually.