Rocking the Daisies Tag

The tag is to blog about the Rocking The Daisies Competition so you can stand a chance to win tickets and an ipod.

Here’s how it works:
1. Blog about the competition, telling us all what you would take with you to the concert.
2. Link to RTD Competition and Digicape (the sponsors)
3. Tag your friends in the post.
4. Register here, tag your name and my name (angel) and copy your blog post onto their website.

The list:
1. TSC. A concert is no fun on your own. Besides, at my height, I may need to sit on his shoulders!
2. Comfy shoes. Self-explanatory.
3. Camera.
4. Sunglasses.
5. Loads of layers of clothing.

Not very exciting, I know. But very practical, you have to admit.

I hereby tag:
Because I Can; Ruby; Supanova; Boldly Benny and Charmskool.

Blegh

Yes, an auspicious beginning, wasn't that?

That's how I feel - blegh. I worked till midnight after my dinner guests left last night, and then crawled into bed only to spend the rest of the night rushing to the toilet to throw up. I haven't thrown up in years, so I found this quite disturbing. I don't know whether I've got a tummy bug or if it's something I ate. Hopefully not the latter - don't want to have poisoned my guests! Although hubby seems fine.

Urgh. My stomach feels like it's trying to digest itself. I'm going to finish up my most urgent work taks and then go home to bed. Hopefully I'll get to spend some time sleeping there this time.

Anyway... wish me luck for my Saturday dinner with my gay uncle, his new Muslim boyfirend, my homophobic father, my teenage brother and his vegan girlfriend, my mad granny, carnivorous husband and my semi-normal mom!

HECTIC... It be Thursday

I know, I know... the subject of my posts is becoming all too familiar, but really - this week feels like it hasn't happened. Between othotist appointments, network issues and a pile-up of admin, I haven't had time to blog or to read my favourite bloggers. And seeing that's usually how I measure time, I feel very confuzzled.

So here's a good ole Slyde-style bullet point list of the latest happenings:

• Bloggirls on Sunday was awesome. There were only four of us (myself, Jackson's Mom, Phillygirl and Angel), but I just love these women so much and we chatted abotu everything from weddings to arguments, babies, men and everything in between. It's so much fun seeing each other in person once in awhile as well as reading each other regularly.
• I have to have orthotics (inserts to wear in my shoes) made. Again. Sigh... The last pair I had were in my gym bag that got stolen and my feet have been getting worse and worse. So now I have to spend a huge sum of money on a real grudge purchase. But it's necessary, so I'll just have to suck it up.
• I won R2 500 in a Ster Kinekor competition. Which may cover my orthotics. What a fun way to spend my money ;-)
• My uncle is in SA. He lives in Dubai, and I haven't seen him in ages. He didn't even come to my wedding. We used to be really, really close, but a couple of years ago things fell apart and I don't know where I stand with him anymore. I'm a bit nervous to see him on Saturday evening. Eep!

And that's about me for the moment. Now I'm going to go and read about YOU.

Eep - it's Friday again!

Where does the week go?


Here's a funny for your Friday, which I imagine is folk etymology, seeing I can't believe it could be true:

Tagged

So Leez tagged me to do the 8 random things meme. Here it goes:

1. I hate people touching my neck. It freaks me out completely. Even TSC has a hard time getting near my neck without being smacked.

2. I love office stationery. It makes me happy when I have lots of pens, pencils, highlighters and other paraphernalia on my desk. It's the simple things.

3. When I forget to wear my watch, I feel naked. I have to hide my wrist so people don't see it without its clothing! Strange, I know.

4. Although I loathe shoe shopping, I absolutely LOVE shopping for gifts for other people. I could spend all day trawling a shopping centre for that perfect something.

5. I am terrified of the telephone. I hate, hate, HATE having to call people I don't know. In my job, I have to do this A LOT, so you'd think I'd get over it. Sometimes I write myself a script, which makes it a bit easier.

6. My name, aside from meaning 'perfection' (hah! I wish), is of Hebrew origin and means palm tree. Joy.

7. Being an absolute heathen, I drink my white wine with ice. Shock, horror! Funnily enough, it drives me mental that my in-laws insist on chilling a good bottle of red wine overnight before drinking it. I mean... really!

8. I desperately want my own house and garden so that I can paint my walls, hang as many pictures as I'd like and plant my own veggie garden.

I'm not tagging anyone, but please feel free to do this meme and let me know so that I can see how random you are too.

Networks, connections and other such wonders...

I have an especial love of that thing that happens when everything seems to work together nicely. I will call it serendipity, for lack of a better word.

To explain what I mean... Say you sell handbags for a living. One day, you visit a friend for tea, and meet another of her friends that takes fashion photos. You get chatting and she asks to use some of your handbags in her next shoot. You get exposure and she finds a willing supplier. Silly example, but you catch my meaning.

Well, I am finding that blogging opens a new world of connections for me. I blog because I love to blog, but more and more, it is coming up in work situations. I have found friends, sources, business contacts and inspiration through blogging, and it doesn't seem to end. I can't believe there was a time when I didn't blog!

Do you sometimes feel like this, or am I just on an insane caffeine high?!

Friday post

Wow! Another week has flown by. So loving some of the clients I'm working with (including the one with the blog). Not so much the one that's been giving us headaches because of an ad they flighted that has caused much offence. But I've learnt about PR crisis management.



In other news, I'm giving a beading lesson at the office this afternoon. Yay! I think the last time I gave anyone a lesson was in varsity. BossChick had this awesome idea of doing something creative every Friday, so last week we iced cupcakes and this week we're beading. I've brought a huge bag full of my bead boxes to the office, which I had to sort through last night. Poor TSC waited for ages for me to come to bed, because I was happily seated on the living room carpet, surrounded by beads and two naughty cats that were trying to steal them.



Grand Prix this Sunday. Yay!



Anyway... Friday Funny:

I [particularly like this pic, coz the kitty looks just like my Marble.

Funny for the day

Corporates in the blogosphere

What do you think about companies that have blogs? I think it's pretty cool, becuase it's a live way of interacting with them, but I know that a lot of people reckon it's a bad thing for a company to start a blog because it's like advertising.

I pitched the idea of a blog to a company we're working with, and they bit, so I had to start the bloody thing and load up tons of content all in one day. Coupled with the five meetings I had from 9 to 4 yesterday, it's made for a trying two days. But it's all done, and I think the blog is cool. Of course, I can't tell you what it is, but if any of you know how to get people to read corporate blogs, let me know!

A Saturday post

Wow... This is my first ever post from my laptop, and may be the first on a Saturday too. I'm at my folks' place, hooked up to their Internet (Schweeeet!) so that I can download Adobe Reader, so I figured I'd write up a quick post, especially seeing I have not been very good at the post-everyday thing for the past while.

Ruby commented on my last post that every profession 'has its thing'. By this, I guess that she means that there are jokes asbout every job. For example...

An airliner was having engine trouble, and the pilot instructed the cabin crew to have the passengers take their seats and get prepared for an emergency landing.
A few minutes later, the pilot asked the flight attendants if everyone was buckled in and ready.
"All set back here, Captain," came the reply, "except one lawyer who is still going around passing out business cards."

AND

A door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman manages to bull his way into a woman's home in a rural area.
"This machine is the best ever" he exclaims, whilst pouring a bag of dirt over the lounge floor.
The woman says she's really worried it may not all come off, so the salesman says, "If this machine doesn't remove all the dust completely, I'll lick it off myself."
"Do you want ketchup on it?" she says, "we're not connected for electricity yet!"

What's your profession and what's your best work-joke?

My industry

How the media would handle the end of the world

USA Today: WE'RE DEAD
Wall Street Journal: Dow Jones Plummets as World Ends
National Enquirer: O.J. and Nicole, Together Again
Inc. Magazine: 10 Ways You Can Profit From the Apocalypse
Rolling Stone: The Grateful Dead Reunion Tour
Sports Illustrated: Game Over
Playboy: Girls of the Apocalypse
Lady's Home Journal: Lose 10 Pounds by Judgment Day with Our New "Armageddon" Diet!
TV Guide: Death and Damnation: Nielson Ratings Soar!
Discover Magazine: How will the extinction of all life as we know it affect the way we view the cosmos?
Microsoft Systems Journal: Netscape Loses Market Share
Microsoft's Web Site: If you don't experience the rapture, DOWNLOAD software patch RAPT777.EXE
America OnLine: System temporarily down. Try calling back in 15 minutes.

Random thought

First Monday in the new office

Seeing I started the new job last Tues, this is my first Monday in the office. So far, so good. I had my first status meeting, which was actually a lot of fun (especially since I brought home-made cake - the bribery starts). We have a chill room, filled with beanbags and stability balls, and everyone is very honest and open, which is cool.



The end of last week was quite hectic, and I had my first taste of PR crisis management, which was thrilling, if a little stressful. The weekend was good - we had a potjie and wine lunch on Sat, which was lots of work, but lots of fun. And we wtached loads of DVDs and chilled, so I got a bit of rest, which I think I really needed. I forget how much energy big changes take out of me!

Here's a Vernie pic for you...

Friday?! Already?!

This is the strangest feeling - I can't believe it's Friday. Usually, after a full week, I arrive at Friday like a deranged desert-wanderer desperate for water, clawing my way towards the weekend.

Today, I feel like it can't already be the end of the week. Why? I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's a combination of factors. I've been so busy, between the new job, setting up my CC, changing my bank accounts into my married name and so on, that time has flown. Then I started the new job on a Tuesday, which made it feel like a Monday, so today feels like Thursday. And, I guess, I'm just loving learning so many new things, which also makes time go by faster.

Shew! As for Hubby's nickname... I LOVE your suggestions. So funny I spat a mouthful of tea onto my monitor while reading them. Hehehe... gross, I know. I would love to get inside your heads for a bit to find out where you come up with some stuff. I think that I will go with a combination of Expensive Mistakes and Cheap Thrills' 'The Chin' and Glugster's 'Sheepskate' and call my beloved 'The Sheepish Chin' (TSC for short).

So thanks for your help, my lovelies. I am slowly making my through your blogs to catch up on all the news I've missed. Have a great weekend.

Returned from a long absence

Hello loyal readers *she says optimistically*, especially Charmskool, Phillygirl, Angel, Boldly Benny and Sleepyjane (who were kind enough to leave a comment on yesterday's pathetic three-line post). After temporarily falling off the face of the earth, I am back in blogland.

has been a busy period indeed. I am on day two at the new job. So far, so good. I went to my first client meeting this morning, which I really enjoyed, and I like the people I'm working with. In true blogger fashion, I will come up with suitable nicknames for them in good time. Today, I'll start with my new boss, who calls eveyone 'chick' or 'dude', which is slightly bizarre coming from the company MD. So, very unoriginally, she will henceforth be known as Boss-Chick. She is very cool and bluntly honest. I foresee a time when I will need to tell myself "don't take it personally" when she exercises that particular character trait, but at least I always know exactly where I stand with her.

In other news... If you haven't see Kung Fu Panda, you HAVE to see it. Laughed my butt off, Well, actually I unfortunately didn't managed to rid myself of my behind, but I got a great ab workout. Jack Black was the perfect casting choice, as was Dustin Hoffman. Hubby and I saw it on Friday night, and it was a great start to the weekend.

Speaking of hubby... I have decided he needs a better nickname too. Any suggestions? Here are some facts that may help in procuring him a worthy name:

• He is a big, strong rugby player of an Afrikaans man;
• His parents are sheep farmers in the Northern Cape;
• He is currently studying;
• For the past few years he has worked in the construction industry;
• He likes to think of himself as a rough and tumble kind of guy, but he turns into a gooey softie when he cuddles our kitties;
• He also turns into a big puppy when near baby doggies, rolling aorund on the floor with them and making dog sounds;
• It took him six months to remember my name when we met during our gap year;
• We hated each other when we met. It took a slap for us to get along;
• After four months of long distance dating (which sucked) at the beginning of our romantic relationship, he completely freaked me out my telling me I was the woman he wanted to marry;
• He has a complex about his chin. For some reason, he thinks it's too big. I, of course, reckon it's perfect;
• He sucks at suprises;
• He doesn't read any of my work. In fact, he doesn't read. This studying thing will be interesting.

I look forward to your suggestions!

Sorry for the long silence...

I started the new job today, so it's been a mad rush to get all the ends tied up at the previous company. I will post soon with news of the new job and weekend and other such stuff. Forgive this short post, and please do come back!

Schmodels...

So yesterday was my dad's bday. And one of my bestest friend's too.

We went out for supper to Blueberry Grill in Kyalami. Since hearing the name I've had that song Blueberry Hill (is it by Chuck Berry?!) in my head. My folks arrived late, after being given faulty directions by someone who works there, so they were a little peeved to start with. Then we sat down at our table in the non-smoking section. The room was empty and freezing cold. They had those patio gas heaters, but none of the were on, so we asked them to turn them on. No gas, apprently.

They said they'd move us to a warmer area, which turned out to be the passageway between the non-smoking and smoking scetions, directly outside of the toilets. My dad promptly threw his toys out the cot and called the manager (and he says I get my attitude from my mother?!).

Suddenly, they managed to produce a full gas bottle out of nowhere, so we moved back to our original table. Once we were warmer, things were far more pleasant. The food was actually really good. I had sushi (yum!) and hubby had oxtail (double yum). And we got dessert on the house (although my creme brulee was not particularly fabulous. They do mych better creme brulee at The Brasserie* in Irene Village Mall. But then again, all of the Willoworld restaurants are cool).

And our waitor, Eugene, really did try hard. He joked with us and made sure everyone was happy. So, despite bad beginnings, it ended up being a good evening.

Here, then, is a funny for today:

Six Question Meme

Seeing I am rushing off to an interview, I don't have time to write a nice, creative post, so here's a meme I stole from Gill:


Six Question meme
The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What was I doing 10 years ago?
Grade 8.

What are 6 things on my to-do list for today?
1. Post on blog.
2. Read favourite blogs.
3. Buy the rest of Dad's birthday present. It's his Bday today and we're all going out for supper. Yay!
4. Resist murdering government client.
5. Get approval on various stories
6. Wrap dad's Bday present.

Snacks I enjoy?
Oreos, pepper salticrax and doritos.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire?
Buy hubby a bakkie (a utility vehicle or truck for non-saffers); send my parents on an exotic holiday; start my own company, invest in the stockmarket; buy a house; give lots of money away to various people in need; support my favourite charities; self-publish a book; and start a skills development training college where the disadvantaged can learn language and writing skills.

Places I have lived?
Joburg
Ladismith
Boksburg
Durban
Cape Town
Pretoria
(not in that order)

How did you name your blog?
Self-explanatory! A journalist that jots down her random doodles and thoughts.

I'm not tagging anyone, but feel free to go ahead and do this. Let me know if you do.

Funny for you

Parks Board warden finds an Indian man at the Blue Lagoon with ten shadfish in a bucket."That's way over the limit," he says. "You're under arrest."
"But lahnee, please," the man says, "these are my pet fish from home. Ijust bring them down here to let them swim free once a week. When I whistle, they all come back and get into the bucket to go home."
"I don't believe it." says the warden.
"OK... I will show you." The man promptly dumps the shad into the sea and gazes after them as They swim away.
After a minute, the warden says, "OK, so how long?"
"How long what?" says the man.
"How long till you call the fish back?"
"What fish?"

Post-wedding stress disorder

The wedding was every bit as traumatic as I'd anticipated. And then some.

To give you an idea, some of the guests included:

• A lady who carried her blind dog around with her everywhere. The poor animal stood bewildered and miserable next to her chair for most of the event, too scared to move an inch, probably because it kept getting stepped on.
• The drunken and disorderly MC, Frank, who fed himself Schnapps with a spoon straight out of the bottle, tied one of the chair sashes around his head, smacked people on the back of their heads as he walked behind them (trying to get their faces into their food) and generally did anything else he could think of to draw attention to himself, including insulting the bridal couple* and swearing as many times as possible in one sentence.
• The world's most useles DJ and his two live singers. The one singer wasn't so bad, apart from his need to fit in as many 1980s country treffers (hits, for those of you non-Afrikaans speakers) as possible. The other one was... painful. First she butchered Purple Rain to a dgeree that it was barely recognisable, and then she proceeded to murder Neil Diamond too.

The wedding started at 4pm, and we left at about nine, but it felt like it was after midnight. Hubby and I were the only ones to give an actual gift, seeing my uncle had phoned around and told everyone to give money instead. Here's a pic of the tea tray we made for the couple. I was quite chuffed with it, and a little sad to see it go.

By far the cutest guests at the wedding were two little kittens. They need to be fed every hour, so they couldn't be left at home, but I still reckon that the smokey, noisy sports bar hall was the best place for them to be. Here's me with the bigger of the two. Check out my bright red nose and know how freezing cold it was!


At least it's over. My cousin is happy, and I'm happy for her. The groom seemed nice enough, although he was a little liquored up for some Dutch courage, so it was hard to tell. He's one of those people who talks really fast too, so I didn't get half of what he said.

The rest of the weekend was good. My gran's birthday dinner on Friday at Rhapsody's in Centurion was stunning, and the Grand Prix yesterday was interesting, if a little disappointing for my team, McLaren.

So now, in my last full week of working here, I'm just trying to tie up loose ends and figure out the bit that comes next.

*My cousin is rather large, to put it politely. She always has been. The groom happens to be exceptionally skinny. The contrast is obvious to all, but there was no reason for Frank to make them stand up and draw attention to 'Timone and Pumba' as he called them. Awful man.