2005 Xmas Wish List, redux.

From a post I made last year, in response to a What do you want for Xmas thread on a message board somewhere;

-a Smart Car (eco friendly, I want the sporty coupe, convertible)
- a laptop. (i mac)
- mp3 player (creative Zen)
- Plane tickets to London and Canada.
- a few grand to blow on books.
- Hookers and blow. Ok, so I'm not ~that~ greedy. Anal will do. But he has to wear a Santa Suit and call me Ho.

The first 6 items are dispensible.

I found it today with some amusement.

I bought a car some month ago. Looked very seriously into Smart Cars, but in the end the enormous cost factor detracted from their benefits, and I wound up with a sunshine-y, screamingly bright yellow Hyundai instead. Still guzzles about half the petrol that the monster truck I drove before did, so I feel I did not totally sell out on the environmental concerns portion of this one.

The IMac. Yeah...still with a strange unexplainable desire to own an apple, but have moved on now to the MacBook Pro. And will make this one a reality in the new year. Gotta love the Australian "Salary Sacrifice" scheme...wherein you can purchase high ticket items that can be justified as partially work related by obtaining item right away, and paying for it in installments from your pay, PRE tax.

The Creative Zen. Never got it. Sort of. I made the mistake of telling the Bastard that I wanted a new MP3 player...and what does he do? Buys a Ipod for himself. Then bores of it and buys a goddamned Creative MP3 player....and wonders why I am a touched miffed at him showing off his toys. And I STILL don't have a decent MP3 player. Not that I am bitter, or anything. I've just appropriated one of his for the time being. That'll learn him.

Plane tickets to London and Canada. Check. We leave Saturday. And Have managed to throw The U.S and Bangkok into the mix, as well. Have I mentioned "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!", yet?

A few grand to blow on books. Hmmm. While I doubt I've spent quite THAT much, we've added to our collection considerably; and next month I'll be sorting through some of my things in storage in Canada and ship a number more books here.

Hookers/Blow....immediately replaced by anal on second thought. I'm pretty much guaranteed to get this one if I ask nicely. Hell, even if I demand bitchily.

Which reminds me.....I need to go shopping for a Santa Hat.

I was thinking of you today...

For T.


The window was open, the early morning air was clean from an overnight thunderstorm. I could hear the kids next door splashing in their pool. The macaw was back and feeding on the seed I leave out for him...or her...I don't actually know.

I was standing at the kitchen counter, cutting open avocado's to make guacamole, and suddenly, I feltt myself back in your flat, remembering the day I first made you guacamole and it launched a discussion about how British people ruin it by adding tomato and onion.

You were so close I could smell you. But when I went to touch you, it all dissolved.

Next time I will try to hold on tighter:)

Miss you.

Better then Books?

A friend of mine covets the Sony Reader. Basically, a hand held electronic storage device with the capability of holding about 80 books on it's memory card, displaying them on a scrolling screen for reading pleasure.

While I am a total junkie for new toys, and readilly admit to this, the Reader is one device that passes me by. I just don't get it.

I don't get the same innate pleasure from reading words on a computer screen. The texture, the smell, the experience of a book in my hands cannot be duplicated in the digital format.

Google news (customized) is my homepage. I spend the first hour of every morning skimming news articles.

I also read one print paper every day, and about three days a week, another print newspaper as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking digital media in any way. 99% of my job is carried out through the internet.

I check online for movie tickets, travel bookings, first stop for any research, for directions and maps, for phone numbers, I check ebay for an estimate of cost before buying pretty much anything of value.

But I love my books and newspapers. The internet is convenient, and versatile, and able to keep up with my 2 second attention span, and my need for info NOW. And that is alot of "ands".

But I hope it never completely replaces print media. Reading books in digital format is only half an experience for me. And nothing can replace my leisurely saturday morning coffee and newspaper ritual.

I....

AM: Excited
WANT: A cannon Eos and a MacBook
WISH: that travel was cheap
HATE: Bigotry
MISS: London
HEAR: Gottan Project
WONDER: if it will snow for xmas in NF
REGRET: nothing.
AM NOT: managing my time effectively
DANCE: far too little these days
SING: to nearly everything
CRY: when i need an emotional de-pressuring
AM NOT ALWAYS: confident
WRITE: not often enough
CONFUSE: the sensible
NEED: love
SHOULD: be at the gym

26 days to go!

So the tickets are paid for, the hotels and rental cars are reserved, and everything is a go for the big upcoming trip. Just over three weeks to go and we've already packed out backpacks, which are sitting expectantly at the end of the bed, reflecting the anxiousness that is us.

And as an added bonus gift, I have learned that when I return, I no longer have a job. Company is being sold, and out we all go. How's that for a send off gift? "Enjoy your holidays! and subsequent unemployment"!

I'm fiddling with the idea of starting a small business on my return. The boi is terribly supportive, and certain it will explode and we will be rolling in success and money inside a year. He's already planning to quit his job and make me his sugarmamma, coming to work as my biatchboi while finishing his degree.

Not that there's any pressure, or anything.

I'm mixed about it all. With 5 grand for new equipment and marketing, I'm more then confident I can pull it of. As things stand, with no capital, and second rate (in my opinion) equipment, I'm really fucking nervous about wetherI will have the balls to pull this off. Doubting myself will not lend itself to a good sales pitch, either.

Stress over money and plans to move again in the near future means my face is broken out and splotchy like a teenagers. Sexy!

And yet, several days ago, I tossed all cares and concerns out the window. I am determined to enjoy the trip with every ounce of my being, and debt be damned. I've waited too long as it is, and the travel bug and friend-sickness will wait no longer. So off we went today for vaccinations (to protect from all the nasties on the Asian portion of the trip), and giggly-excited we are about the entire thing.

Our credit cards will smoke and combust by the time we are through, but damnit, we are in for a riot of a time.

Clear your calendars and pack away your breakables; hurricane Nikki is on it's way.