pruesaysit.com

Out.

Last weekend, I went out on Saturday night. No biggie for most people, but I haven’t been OUT out on a Saturday night for years. And cop this, I didn’t freak out at all. I didn’t have to leave early. I didn’t feel sick. I didn’t spend all night in the can or hiding somewhere. In fact, I did quite the opposite. I danced my arse off and got sweaty with masses of gorgeous gay boys at the Greyhound. Their drag show is brilliant and stars the talent of one Queen who is the spitting image of Liza Manelli! She was fucking amazing. I’ll so be back there sometime soon! Anyway, the talent that on offer notwithstanding, the most exciting part of the night was…well…me. The fact that I could be okay in a loud and sweaty and crowded pub without feeling like I was about to die. The fact I was there with friends I trust, in a non threatening environment certainly made me feel much more at ease and while I’m not likely to become a party animal any time soon, it’s nice to know I can be a party insect when I need to be.

Friends, Family, Food

So I had this crazy notion that James and I were getting our friendship back on track after our brief but honest chat on NYE and in the emails following. But it would appear I was mistaken and we’re back to the whole not talking thing which gives me the shits no end. Why write and then not reply? Or leave a comment in my blog and then not respond when I answer it? Meh, it’s like our friendship is a Photoshop document…many layers and filters.

A big shout out to the Mothership who kicked arse on her surprise test at work today. “Wahoooo! (Clown Icon)” That will make no sense to anyone but her.

Went for dinner with the girls in Springvale tonight. Man, I can’t keep myself away from that place. There was delicious vermicelli with prawn spring rolls. I’d quite possibly walk over broken glass for that dish…then again, I’m a fat chick so that’s not a ridiculously far out thing to say. They also make the yummiest Pineapple and Coconut smoothies! Thanks to Loz who shouted me dinner Mwah.

I have a job interview on Friday morning. Don’t get too excited, it’s not for a particularly exciting job but it’s local and easy and it could be a go-er. The woman said she’s filled the positions she advertised, but might have another vacancy depending on how things go, so we’ll just play the waiting game and see how it turns out.

Giddy

I had the most amazing day this week. Discount Lingerie + amazing, knee melting first kiss + running in the rain= Floating.
I can’t believe we were suddenly standing there making out after imaging it so many times. It was kind of surreal.
Things are going so well right now. Pink lawn flamingoes for all my friends!

Cold but happy

It’s so ridiculously cold here at home. We have this poxy little electric heater that does sweet fuck all to combat the cold. There have been countless phone calls between the real estate agents and myself to organize a proper, working gas heater, and apparently it’s all coming to fruition sometime this week. Just as well, because I think I’m starting to get hypothermia! Right now, I’d settle for ripping up the floor boards and building a bonfire. Note to self: Put electric blanket on the bed!

Given how cold the house is, we’ve been going out quite a bit. We started with an outing to the city the other night. Nate and I ended up in Lygon Street for dinner, so we headed to Universal for an awesome seafood platter. Their garlic prawns are awesome, although you have to endure some pretty average customer service to get them. Then again, it was around 11pm, so I guess when you’re one of the only restaurants willing to serve patrons who walk in at such a late hour, you can be a prick and get away with it.

Satisfied and starting to burp garlic, we left and headed in to the city to take some photos. Nate hogged the camera, so here’s all 2 of the pictures I took.

After a night in the city, we went and sought refuge in Burwood 24 hour Kmart. Is it just me, or is it always super warm in there? I love it! Late night shopping is awesome. I wish everyone would catch on!

Wednesday night Nate, Squish, new housemate Emily and I went down to the Tudor Inn for cheap parma and trivia. We came a dismal 8th, but for our efforts won a $10 voucher. We stayed til they closed, taking 2 hours to play 2 games of pool. In a sad twist of fate, Squish and I had our sober arses kicked by Nate and Emily who were wasted.

I’ve spent a few nights at the folks place this week. It’s been a nice escape from the cold, given that their heating turns their house into the fiery pits of Hell. Mmmm, sacrelicious.

My parents are insane. Totally mental…Just the way I like it. And yes, I’m entirely aware that my dad appears to be groping my mums boob in that picture. Let’s try not to talk about it, okay?

Ch Ch Changes

My poor little PC died at the end of last week, and he’s still in the shop being repaired. In turn, I’m using Nates PC which has found its way into my bedroom. Living with another nerd rocks.

I think I got a job today. I’m not sure how permanent it is, but we’ll see how it pans out. I’m doing some work for a bird I volunteer at the Op Shop with. When I know what the situation is, I’ll elaborate further.

In other news, I’m so over my course. I’m gonna stick it out for the time being, but I’m disappointed by the lack of creative challenge. I really had hoped that Web Design would let me express my creative side, but it’s mostly just coding and stuff that bores the shit out of me. I’ve lost my study mojo.

Loz moves out at the end of this month. I’m stressed about finding a new housemate. Any one wanna move in with yours truly? I’ll cut you a great deal on a room in a house by the beach…complete with ensuite and a plethora of cats!

I caught the train home from my new job tonight. At Night! By myself! From Frankston! While I’m excited about the whole catching Public Transport thing, I think I’m equally as excited over whole making it home alive from Franga!

My chair is broken. I’m not sure what the hell happened, I just came in to my room and it was fucked. I’m sitting on it now, but it feels like a mechanical bull beneath me. And not in the fun yehaw kind of way.

I miss writing in depth stuff here…every few months I have an attack of the guilts and worry that I might piss someone off if I write anything too personal. I’m sure I’ll get over it, but trust me, I know my entries of late have been fairly lack lustre. It just feels like something inside me is broken and I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know where my creative mojo has escaped to.
If anyone sees the right side of my brain floating around somewhere, be sure to tell it I’m looking for it.

To the Dogs

It is common knowledge that the best way to spend a Thursday night is down at the dogs. The little jackets, the pre-recorded bugle sounding out before a race, the smell of stale VB that lingers in the TAB…it’s these little things that make a night at the Greyhounds perfect for a classless lass like myself.
Fortunately, I have friends that are happy to drop themselves down to my level on occasion, so Loz, Jo, Gords, Teeds and I headed to Sandown.

Teeds and Gords placing their bets.

The dogs doing their thing.

Deliberating which dog to back snack from the hot food stall looks least likely to give me food poisoning.

I was too pov to back any dogs, although I did suggest a dog I wanted to win in one race. No more than 2 seconds after I’d uttered my dogs number, said dog went on to start humping every dog in sight. Typical that I should back the humper.

Another jaunty adventure undertaken recently was heading to Karaoke again at the Tudor Inn. No Franco Cotzo in sight. Perhaps he has found a local closer to Brunswick or Footescray?
It was, indeed, a very odd night. I had some bogan woman slap me, not once but twice, in what was an apparent show of appreciation for my Karaoke efforts. Now, I’ve imagined being slapped down at Karaoke, as I’m not very good, but this woman went on about how I should cut a cd, and how I was fabulous and amazing and I “shit all over that fat fucker” Guy Sebastian? Her attention was so odd. She actually followed me around all night, trying to talk to me, telling me how awesome I was. I had a brief peek into what it might be like to be a celebrity…(Yes, I realise this is quite a stretch given that I was just some Karaoke bitch, but I digress) and it was creepy as all hell. She kept touching me and slapping me with enthusiasm and hunting me down, no matter how hard I tried to hide behind friends.
I found a brave protector in Col, a bloke who looked remarkably like Gene Simmons. Yes, he was Gene Simmons age as well. And he was lovely and had be been 20 years younger, he’d have been in like flynn, but rather than let him down, (he was pretty keen, who can blame him?) I let him believe I was gay. I feel kinda bad about it, but I mean, hell, I was only half lying. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he was too old. He was sweet about it and still tried to convince me he could convert me if I had dinner with him. Ten points for effort. It was very flattering, none the less.

Sunday I did something that I have been putting off for about 6 years. I cleaned out all the shit I’ve been carrying around since I moved out of home. A whole trailer load of stuff went. It had been taking up the entirety of my garage since I moved here to Aspendale.
While we were loading the trailer, I had some time to think about why I’d been carrying it all around with me. In a lot of ways, I think all the ’stuff’ I’ve held on to is like a security blanket. I’ve been scared of ending up on my own and knowing that I had all this ’stuff’, it made me feel less scared, more prepared. But I realised that I didn’t need to hold on to everything I’ve ever touched to feel safe. It was quite an emotional experience getting rid of it all of it, but in a nice purge-y kind of way. Tossing all the shit away has been like a physical manifestation of the emotional transitions I’ve been through these last few months, except I didn’t have to go to Clayton nor pay $47 bucks to get rid of my emotional baggage.

Christ. Is that how much shit I’ve been keeping all these years?
Seriously, even my dad looks shocked! Here’s my attempt at a shocked face

I just noticed I look like a I have a spectacular Widows Peak in this picture. Awesome.

Anyways, this is what I’ve been up to. What have you been doing?
Any suggestions for avoiding becoming a pack rat again? How does one deal with Karaoke fame?

Btw, I’m thinking of taking Plush Jesus on an excursion. Anywhere you’d like to see Jesus chillaxin?

Schooled and Smelling Sweet

Tonight I got to lather myself in good smelling potions and lotions. I went to some skin care thing with Andrea, who is now queen of Nutrimetics My feet are all peppermint-y fresh. My wrists smell like vanilla and honey and frangipani. (Some of my favorite smells)  My décolletage is shimmery and smells like apricot. My arms smell like tangerine extract. The building they hold it is in Bayswater. It’s this big grey 80’s building that resembles a Scientology hall when you walk inside. Lots of pictures of high achievers and go-getters on the walls. All soft focus portraits of individuals with their heads tilted to 45degrees. I’m sure you can imagine.

There was a lot of clapping and handing out of certificates and badges. Lucky they had some hand lotion after all the rounds of applause given. I thought I was going to get a callous. The meeting finished off with tea in a Styrofoam cup and a piece of cake, no doubt mixed by some ones feet. I haven’t been ill yet, but I’ll wait another 24 hours before I declare the cake delicious.

I stopped off at 7-11 on the way home to get some smokes. I noticed they sold Toobs…Tasty Toobs. I bought two packets of them. I’d have bought more but I thought it best to try them again to reassure my love for them before I stocked up like a bear awaiting hibernation. Two 600ml Cokes for $4.50. It seemed like a good deal. Last week I paid $3.50 for a 600ml coke. Isn’t that insane? I shouldn’t have bought it, but really they could charge an arm and a leg for it and I’d still oblige them. I’m an addict. There’s no escape for the caffeine dependent.

My Tafe class went well Wednesday night. I put on a confidant facade, but truth be told, I was pretty nervous. I dreaded the thought of it being just like High School, where I failed to make any friends until I hit Year 10 or thereabouts. I’m not particularly confidant when it comes to meeting new people when I’m on my own and within a non-spontaneous situation. For instance, the other day I was shopping at the new deli at Parkdale when I paused to let an old man in an electric scooter through the aisle before me. He thanked me and we sparked up a conversation which ended in him inviting me for a cup of tea at his house, a few hundred meters down the road. It was pleasant and I was totally at ease. But had I known that when I went to Parkdale Deli, I’d have to speak to an old guy who’d want me to come round to his place for a cuppa, I would have been ridiculously nervous. I think it’s all the anticipation of the situation. Knowing I’m going to have to be in that situation beforehand gives me far too much time to dwell on it and create scenarios in my mind of what could go wrong. FYI, I didn’t go and have tea with the old bloke. I had chicken I had to put in the fridge at home, plus he wouldn’t give me a dink. Bastard.

Anyways, back to the whole Tafe situation. I got there a few minutes late. I thought I knew where I was going, but it turns out I didn’t and I gave Nate the wrong directions. Of course when I realized we were going the wrong way, I got flustered and gave poor Nate a hard time. There was some pushing and shoving of the Melways and raised voices. A few map checks later, we finally made it. Nate pulled up out the front and I raced out and into the building. I didn’t even have time to be nervous because I was too busy being scared of being late. Turns out they were just getting started. I took a spot at one of the spare PCs and gazed around to check out the rest of the class. Lots of women. A few guys. Maybe 20 in the class? A distinct lack of obvious geeks which shocked me. At 25 years old, I was certainly in the older age bracket of the class, but was by far not the eldest. I sat next to the eldest member of the class, a lovely American woman. I was really impressed to see a woman in her 60’s tackling web design. It made me think of that phrase about never being too old to learn something new.
Along with the old bird, there was this woman who asked a lot of questions. You know how there’s always one person in a class who asks ridiculous questions that forces others to roll their eyes and sigh with disbelief? Ours was some woman in her early 30’s who reminded me of Mercedes Corby. I knew after her first question that she was going to give me the irrits with her incessant queries.
We learnt some basic html codes. I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that I’m probably not going to struggle with this course much. My geek tendencies will no doubt give me a serious leg up when it comes to being successful in this course. This excites me greatly! I’m going to go to the library tomorrow and get out some books on Illustrator and Dreamweaver. I’m not sure either is a requirement for the course, but both are something I’d like to be able to master.

Here’s me after my first class…Nothing says success like a photo that reveals a tampon disposal unit in the background!

Tonight at the Nutrimetics thingo, someone asked me what I did. For the first time in ages, I wasn’t embarrassed by my response, nor did I have to lie or go into details about my mental health. “I study web design” was my response. It felt good. Great even.
I’m about to go and do some homework. I want to get some boring modules out of the way so I can get onto the good stuff.

PS. I smell awesome.

Good News Everyone!

Look at me! I’m officially a student!!

I enrolled at Tafe today in Website Design! Can you see how excited I am? Hahaha that was me as I filled out the enrollment details!
I’d hoped that I’d scan in my new student ID card…but I’d prefer to preserve your eyesight. It is horrific. I look like a female version of Peter Griffin!