Freckle Princess

Happy December, folks.  I can't believe it's the end of the year already.  Another year gone, another year older, but what have i accomplished?? 

 

Anyway, on a brighter note, let's talk about the actual subject this post is supposed to be about.  U2 was fantastic.  After waiting around for practically a year, I finally got to use the U2 tickets I bought last year on day 1 of U2's performance in Melbourne - 18th November, Telstra Dome.  The place was huge, and it was packed.  As usual, everyone was having a few beers and some food while waiting for the concert to start.  Another venue for them to picnic. 

 

Kanye West opened for U2 but I don't think Aussies are really into him, I think some of them don't even know who he is.  I got general admission tickets so we could stand and have fun during the concert.  Unfortunately we weren't there very early so we weren't right in front.  But I got to experience the whole jumping up and down to see, sitting on the shoulders and waving my hands in the air kinda stuff which was cool.  Back to Kanye, he sang all his hit songs including Gold Digger, Touch the Sky and All Falls Down. 

 

As for U2, they really kept us waiting, but they started with a bang and belted out songs like City of Blinding Lights, Elevation, and Vertigo right at the beginning.  It was AWESOME!!!  They sang most of my favourite old songs including One, Where the Streets Have No Name, Angel of Harlem, Pride (In the Name of Love) and lots more.  We were really lucky the weather help up and didn't disappoint.  It was cool enough that we didn't feel hot in the throng of people.

 

I've posted pics of the concert in the album - you can see the extremely cool backdrops for the stage (wayyyyy cool)and my t-shirt there.  I got the same one for my brother who is the biggest fan of U2 but has never had a chance to go to one of their concerts.  So poor thing.  Can you imagine how touched he'll be when he gets the t-shirt?

Finally, after weeks and weeks of logical persuasion and plain whining, CS decided that yes, we should go for the Melbourne Cup!  How exciting!  An excuse to go shopping for a hat to match my dress!  We had a field day in the department stores that day trying on hat after hat.  Believe it or not but I think CS was even more excited than me about picking a hat.  Said hat can be seen in pictures above.  Nice and simple. 

 

Anyway, so we went to Flemington, and CS couldn't really remember the way there so we kinda followed a cab that had people in it who looked like they were going to the races cause they were all decked out and most notably wearing hats.  So obviously we got there without getting lost.  Parked pretty far away up a hill so we had to trek downhill, and me in my 3.5 inch heels.  Not fun.  Especially not as it was an extremely windy day.  It was overcast and the wind was craaaazy. 

 

There were lots of horses in the stables (duh!), all looking nice and pretty.  I learnt that race horses have very tiny frames so they are lighter and are able to run faster.  I actually thought that race horses had loads of muscles and strong bones so they can run faster....I guess I was wrong.  With so many horses, it was hard to pick the right ones to bet on.  If only I'd followed my instinct, I wouldn't have lost money.  I blame it on the lousy tips CS got.  Un-re-li-a-ble.

 

We bet on every single race "both ways" - new horse betting term I learnt.  The food there was really good.  They had chocolate dipped strawberries, marshmallows and strawberry sticks, finger food, and champagne of course.  People were crazy - picnic-ing on the grass like real full on picnic, even in the parking lots!  They had folding tables, bottles of champagne, picnic baskets, and some even had tents! 

 

My feet were tired but it was a really good experience.   

My sis is finally getting married!  Woo hoo!  After the most romantic proposal a girl could only wish for, (think Maldives, a villa in the ocean, a private tent on the beach with a personal chef and a ginormous rock) it has finally happened.  And now has come the time for yours truly to play the part she was born for - the Maid of Honour.  Well, plenty of reasons for me to travel next year.  Japan, KL, Sydney, Sibu, and hopefully more.      

 

 

Was watching Oprah this afternoon and it was one of the older episodes with Mary J. Blige, hence the title.  But of course, also a family related post.  My sis, Madoc and Haydn were here to visit for a few days.  So our place was even more cosy than it usually is.  Haydn's still as cute as ever.  Pictures will be up on the right hand side. 

 

I took a few days off work so we could go out.  We all went to the Royal Melbourne Show which was really fun.  They had a petting zoo, which I didn't see last time.  I saw Mary's little lamb!  So adorable.  And even a kid (baby goat) that was intent on chewing everything in sight including the show bags.  They had ewes that were due to lamb during the show, so they were in a glass cage so people could watch while they gave birth.  How cool was that?  I didn't get to see it happen though, but I saw a lamb that was only 3 hours old, and the placenta still on the ground.  Yeah, gross right, but still interesting.  Anyway, we wanted to go on the ferris wheel when it got dark but then it started drizzling too so we just went on the bumper cars.  It was really fun, haven't done that in a long time. 

 

We got some shopping done as well.  Kookai, Bardot, Country Road.....yum!  I got a really nice dress from Kookai, which I can wear to the races if CS does decide to go.  Also got wedges from CR, and a cute li'l bubble skirt and khaki shorts from Bardot at a bargain. 

 

So what else is new?  Weather's getting warmer, but I'm still hating my job more everyday.  Still making it to the gym for my fitness classes, so that's good.  Had a real cute guy pilates instructor today.  Reallyyyyy cute. 

 

Summer is close, and we're planning a summer holiday to Sydney cause everywhere else is going to cost too much during Christmas/New Year.  Can't wait.  I've got two bathing suits to break in.   

I joined a fitness club.  Voluntarily.  And am paying big money for it - $88 a month.  Money that would otherwise have been destined for another purpose.  Have I gone out of my mind?  No.  It was just starting to feel a little unhealthy to sit at my desk all day at work and snack away (although I have been trying to snack on fruits and yoghurt as a "healthier" option).  So this place is really nice, I quite like it.  It's new, and really near my place - just two tram stops away.  And the most important thing is that it has plenty of group fitness classes, which is exactly what I was after. 

 

I went for my first pilates class on Thursday and was rewarded with aches on every single muscle in my body including my neck, feet, and wrist.  I have a feeling I definitely did something wrong.  Oh well, I'm only new at it.  I didn't know it involved "twisting" ones body into such odd positions.  Luckily the pain only lasted 36 hours, and only my abs still hurt making it difficult to cough.  So yeah, I have to go at least 3 times a week to get my money's worth of health so to speak.  Wouldn't it be awesome if I manage to lose weight and still eat the same amount of butter, honey and chocolates as I do now, because I plan to?! 

I hate that you turn all your bad days automatically become my fault.

I hate that you take it out on me everytime anything doesn't go your way, no matter how small.

I hate it even more that just because you're tired, I'm Enemy #1.

If you had just opened your mouth and asked, you would've found out that I wasn't even that hungry after all and was happy to stay at home.

Next time I see a car coming your way, I won't even bother grabbing your elbow just to save me from hearing "what the f*ck is wrong with you?!"

I hate the way you get irritated so easily.

I hate that your bad day becomes a miserable night for all.

It's not just once or twice, it's everytime you're tired.

Everytime you're tired, or lose your way, you treat me like dirt.

I AM NOT DIRT! 

You say sorry, but you've already treated me like dirt. 

You say sorry, but it happens again.

Work stress.  That's what you always say.  Fine, I accept that. 

But tonight was definitely NOT work stress.

Tired is only an excuse to a certain extent.

I hardly ever finish work at 5pm nowadays, and when I do come home early to watch a little telly

You turn up at 6.30 and say you wanna play game.

Soccer.  F*ck that. 

Just let me watch that crap TV series Neighbours.

The title says it all.  I suppose that's a good thing too, since I can speak freely so as not to offend anyone who might read the stuff in here.  Time has really flown.  Hmmm..that sound a little off, but who cares?  So I've been working for many weeks now, and my contract is 2/3 up.  So I might very well be out of a job really really soon (God forbid).  Speaking of work, I don't think I've mentioned that I've started to really hate my job the past 2 or 3 weeks.  I don't think I will be able to take more than 3 months of this, anyway.  Some customers are just soooo unreasonable, I hate it when they shout and scold me like it's all my fault.  Yes, I know, we're not supposed to take it personally, and I don't.  But I just don't like the fact that they're yelling at me - I guess I don't get paid enough to stand being yelled at.  And some of them really go out of their way to put you down.  They're all these uneducated country bumpkins, who think they're the king.  Yeah, sure...they rule the land of brainless bumpkins - nothing to be proud of, I wish they knew that.  I swear, some of them are so incredibly stupid, it's just shocking.  I won't go into details.  And before anyone says anything about me being prejudiced against country people and blah blah blah, I'll say that I'm not prejudiced, but after speaking to roughly a few hundred of them, trust me - a lot of them really are very stupid.  Some can't even read.  And some are just too damn lazy to even open their mouth to speak properly.  It just puts me off when I answer the phone all cheery and friendly, and someone mumbles in audibly.  Like HELLO!!!!  Speak UP!  Of course there's always a silver lining in a dark cloud.  Just like that nice Canadian guy who called up.  I must say though that that lining is extremely thin. 

 

Obviously, I have acquired new things as usual.  Among them are 4 new cookbooks!  I joined a book club....I know it's a scam, but I figured I can get the better of them.  I got 2 Jamie Oliver cookbooks, 1 Kylie Kwong and 1 Bill Granger cookbook all for less than $40 only.  Talk about a good deal.  For those who didn't know, I like to bake, and cook when I really crave for certain foods - like my Mom's cooking, or rice for that matter.

 

I love that there are 4 seasons here in Melbourne, cause with the seasons come the fashion.  I have a thing for dresses and shoes currently.  The latest designs are just so cute - polka dots, bubble skirts...so me!  So mine.  I am just drooling over Steve Madden's latest designs, especially the Lalo, Lemore, and Indigoo designs.  His shoes are ten times more comfortable than Tony Bianco's too.  I actually have a pair of the patent black stilettos, but too bad they're too big!  Gotta get them replaced. 

 

Love has been up and down, and therefore life with it.  But everything's pretty okay now, I guess.  This month has been a good month in terms of income, and I have great plans for every cent.  Hopefully all goes as planned.  Or else there will be a lot to cry about. 

 

Kei Kei is in town for a few days.  Going to meet up with her tomorrow and Sunday as well.  Have a party (can't remember the last time I had real party to go to) at a colleague's place tomorrow night as well.  It'll be fun.  I'm sure there'll be lots of drunken people being more lame than they usually are.

 

Well, I guess that's it for this time.  I wonder when the next will be. 

U2 is on schedule for November 18th, 2006.  Yay for us!

Madonna is NOT coming to Australia - boo.

 

Overtime pay is fantastic.  Can't get enough.

Training is boring, but the breaks are good.

Late shifts suck.

 

My hair went through a minor makeover.  I got it all chopped off and am left with a bob now.  I like it, it's the change I needed. 

 

It's hard not to appreciate a good sale when you see one.  I have discovered more good shops than ever, and this has brought joy to the shopaholic side of me.  As usual, my favourite store did not disappoint - Kookai provided me with many good pieces for work and for play at a fraction of the original price.  Since then, I have been tramping around in my new items as often as I can.

 

I am getting addicted to eBay.  Yes, I'm a late adopter, a laggard, whatever you want to call it.  However, maybe I'm not such an addict after all since I haven't actually bid on anything at all as yet.  Have my eye on an iron right now.  Unfortunately for me, work clothes need to be ironed, so therefore, an iron I shall buy.

 

We have finally passed the 2 year mark!  Hip hip hooray!!!  I bet no one we know ever thought we'd make it this far.  Well, neither did we.  We celebrated at The Botanical (restaurant opposite the Botanical Gardens), which served pretty good food at a hefty price, and me, with Dragon Snaps (my fav) and Daisies. 

 

There's hardly any time to fold our laundry, and tidy up the house, which is annoying cause our place is already cluttered enough as it is.  It's not that we're untidy, we just have a lot of things.  I haven't had time to cook because I get off work late in the evenings, which makes me cranky after awhile - I need good home cooked food to appease my stomach at least once every 3 days (max). 

Hmmm...I didn't realize that it has been so long since I last blogged.  Well, what can I say...I have been busy, for once!  I have been working weekdays, and then weekends have been spent shopping (usually Saturdays), relaxing (at night), dinner-ing (usually Saturdays), grocery shopping (Sundays) and cleaning up the house! 

 

My roster has been pretty shit these two weeks...doing the 1 - 9pm shift.  And I'm working the whole weekend this week.  B U M M E R!!!  Have been getting pretty good at the job in the sense that I am now confident enough to multitask while taking a call.  For example, e-mailing while listening to a customer rant, and occassionally responding with a "uh huh", "hmmm", "yup", "I understand" and "I see where you're coming from".  Today I even picked it up a notch by doing a Sudoku while in between calls.

 

Oh, I have not mentioned how I got into trouble my second week of work.  It was all because of an e-mail that somehow or other ended up in the office printer.  God knows how.  In short, I was whisked off to a room, spoken to, and got off unscarred.  I have been a lot more cautious about "socializing" during work hours, though.  Mostly cause I keep feeling a pair of eyes watching my every move.

 

Well, the World Cup is over, and so is my Psychic Business - now that there are no more matches that I'm interested in predicting outcomes for.  I think I have done very well this time around, too bad I didn't place any bets except one for the final.  Needless to say, I won.  My silly boyfriend, never listens to me when I tell him who's going to win, if not I'm sure he could've made more. 

 

In more recent news, I had a HAIRCUT!  I really needed a change so I chopped off my mane of hair and am now left with a bob.  I kinda like it, actually.  It definitely got everyone's attention.  Will post some pictures up as soon as I take some.  And in other news, Kookai has had a really good sale, and I managed to pick up quite a few things.  I have an obsession with their wrap tops...just so nice and stylo.  Am still looking out for a nice pair of black boots that I can wear to work and out, but haven't really been looking at shoes now that I come to think of it. 

 

That's all for now, am so sleepy.  Weather has been crap, which makes it even harder to get out of bed in the morning.