Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart

Given 7 things by perfectinpart.


Comment to this post, and I will list seven things I want you to talk about. They might make sense or they might be totally random. Then post that list, with your commentary, to your journal. Other people can get lists from you, and the meme merrily perpetuates itself.

1.What is your favorite outfit?


At the moment, I have two, both dresses. One is a summery dress: it’s black/brown (like really really dark brown) with leopard spots, ties around the back and has sleeves for a change (this is seriously the only ‘animal pattern’ thing I own lol). I usually hate summer dresses because they have spaghetti straps and are made to fit girls with B-cup boobs.  The other is a dressy-dress: it’s black with like a jacquard ‘print’, sleeveless (which actually looks nice on me in this dress!) and also ties around the back with a silky ribbon. And it has a silky rose on the band/tie part. Brown dress with black flats (which I wear with everything!) and dressy dress with black heels. I just bought some new black heels that are suede and just the right height. I mostly wear black shoes for some reason.


2. If you could only read one book and watch one movie for the rest of your life, what book/movie would you choose?


One book – that is hard! I have a book that is the first three books in the Anita Blake series, so I’m gonna pick that. Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse and Circus of the Damned. Mostly because I am obsessive with Anita Blake. Also, the early books are better than the later ones. And they have lots of Edward, and Edward is awesome (nothing like sparkly-vampire-Twilight Edward – pretty much the complete opposite). I don’t think I could just read one book for the rest of my life; I like reading too much.


Movie – that is also hard! Maybe anime – Totoro or Howl’s Moving Castle. Totoro is so cutesy and I love it. And Howl is pretty cool and a bit darker. Also I can watch them in Japanese, so it gives a bit of variety!


3. Have you ever gotten someone famous' autograph?


Not really. I once pre-ordered a Superchick cd that came with autographs, but I’m pretty sure they were printed. I haven’t really met anyone famous. Although Shortland Street people used to come into Foodtown when I worked there. But I wouldn’t have had a clue who they were because I hate Shortland Street. And I don’t think we were allowed to ask for autographs anyway.


4. Describe your dream vacation.


I want to go around Europe, either with Graeme, or with Cathy, Gaylene and Rosalie. I’ve been to London, Guernsey, Wales, and Amsterdam, and I would like to go back to all those places, and spend a bit more time in them. Everywhere except London I’ve only spent a weekend at. London I would like to do a bit more as a tourist (rather than just being one in the weekends!). Europe has so many different cultures and so much history, and I’d love to explore that. It’s so different from NZ, because our history is not even 200 years old. I definitely want to go with someone else though. I want to share the experience and be able to talk about it with them. There are a lot of places I want to go! I’d probably just get a ‘round the world’ ticket and go exploring.


I also still really want to go to Japan, even though my Japanese isn’t very good anymore.  I’d love to go either in the winter, when there are winter festivals, and I could go skiing in Okinawa. Or in April, when there’s the cherry blossom festival. Japan has so many festivals! Tokyo looks amazing. So different! Plus I want to see Sayaka again! I’d go to Gifu so I could meet her family too. I am invited to stay there if I ever make it to Japan.


5. What is a typical morning like for you?


My work morning routine:


Wake up around 6am. If I had a shower the night before I just wash my face, otherwise I have a shower. Get back into pj’s temporarily and go downstairs and have coffee and check the weather, email, Facebook etc. Eat either museli or porridge for breakfast. Organise my lunch/snacks for the day, which is usually leftovers, and sometimes includes making pasta or rice. Make Graeme’s too (because we usually have the same thing). By this time it’s nearly 7 because I waste way too much time! Go back upstairs, blowdry my hair if it is wet and pick out what I’m gonna wear that day. Put on makeup and do my hair (usually straightened or in a bun) and get dressed. Kiss Graeme goodbye somewhere in there. If I have time, I’ll make the bed, do dishes, or hang laundry out. Take the rubbish and recycling out if it’s rubbish day (Graeme is supposed to do it, but he forgets and leaves before me). Walk to the train station, which takes 8 minutes and catch the train at 7.50 (not that the train ever arrives when it’s supposed to). At the moment I listen to my (brand new!) ipod and read a book on the train. Walk to work, which also takes about 8 minutes. I’m usually at work about 8.25. Make a coffee, check news, and start some work. We have a tomatoes team meeting every morning, to discuss developments in the case or anything that needs to be done that day. On Thursdays we have a team meeting. Then I get to work!


On the weekends, we sleep in and it just depends what we need to get done as to what the morning is like! It varies weekend to weekend.


6. What beauty products do you use?


Way too many. Haha. Face cleaning stuff – Neutrogena cleanser and toner, and Nivea moisturiser (a different one for day and night). A Nivea eye cream most days and sometime eczema cream (I tend to get a bit of eczema around my eyes).  St. Ive’s apricot scrub twice a week and a face mask once a week. St Ive’s body moisturiser. Makeup – Za liquid foundation, Maybelline Fit Me concealer and powder (cos I prefer my face to be matte). A Covergirl ‘highlighting’ blush. Eyeshadow – whatever random Avon one I decide to wear that day. And a Maybelline mascara. I also have a Blixtex pot lipbalm that lives in my bag and two different Vaseline handcreams (one in my bag and one on my desk at work). Oh! And hair – Herbal Essences anti frizz shampoo and conditioner; sometimes Andrew Collinge blonde ones. Dove heat protector spray and random hairspray to stop tiny little fluffy hair. See? Way too much beauty crap!


7. What is one talent you wish you had?


I wish I were more musical or artistic. I always wanted to learn the flute, but never have. Mind you, it’s expensive to learn, I looked it up a while ago. I played recorder when I was about 12-13 and was not too bad (I’d like to say good, but I can’t remember). I got to play the tenor in our group, because I was the oldest and thus the only one whose fingers could fit. But I never carried on with any music for some reason. I wish I could draw, but I can’t draw to save my life!

I haven’t updated since like November. Must be better at updating lj. ‘tis good for me. Even though I know I say this all the time.

Anyway, lots of things to write about!

Christmas was ok. Still weird. Everyone of my dad’s family was around on Christmas day (except for my one uncle), so that was nice. It was good to see everyone. And holy crap Hayley and Melanie have grown up so much! They’re 16 and 17 (I think , about that) – Mel is starting uni this year. So weird. I caught up with lots of people while I was up, and it was nice.

I still don’t like Diana. Nobody else does either. People say things to me about her and it’s really obvious they don’t like her. Emma said to me that she tries too hard, and that’s why – it’s quite true actually. She tries to be friends with us and stuff and it’s just awkward. For Christmas, she gave us all Dutch chocolate letters. This is kind of a big deal, because it’s what Oma has done and always does for us (she did this year too). It’s something special in my family just with the grandkids and Oma. Now, Diana knows this. And yet she decided she should give us one too. Apparently she brings up the Dutch thing a lot. Because it’s something similar? I don’t know, but none of us really care about having a Dutch background and other than food, it doesn’t really get brought up. I don’t really hear it, because I’m not there, but Emma thinks it’s weird. I hear about Dad and her having fights relatively often. Occasionally I know it’s been something to do with Mum, like Diana wanting Dad to get rid of her stuff or something. I don’t know why they’re still together, and I wish they would break up. Dad seems to be doing ok, and as long as he’s happy I guess it’s ok. I just don’t like her, and I’m less convinced Dad is actually happy. I think they’re just being dependent on one another. I don’t really know, and I think it’s better for me to just leave it alone.

Work is good. Two of my colleagues are currently in Italy. Hopefully they come back with information we need. We’ve been working on figuring out whether there’s any injury from imports which is going ok. I’ve had my 18 month anniversary at MED. This technically means that I move from graduate to policy analyst. I’ve had my necessary review with Martin, which went very well. He just has to talk to Gaye to find out how it all works etc. And he can’t get in to her til like the beginning of February. But once he has, I should a. change job description, and b. get a pay rise! Looking forward to that!

It was mine and Graeme’s one year anniversary. We went out for dinner and to a movie. Dinner was nice – we went to Two Souls. They have awesome food and good service. Then we went to see Melancholia at The Embassy. The movie itself was weird, and neither of us really liked it. It didn’t flow too well and didn’t make a heck of a lot of sense. The theatre was bad; we won’t be going there again. We had to collect our tickets half an hour before the movie which meant we had lots of time to waste, and since we’d just eaten dinner we didn’t want to sit in the café/lounge, so we went for a walk. Bit of a pain, but whatever. I really needed to pee when we got back, so bathroom. Bathrooms are lovely, nicely designed (as is the whole theatre), however, NO TOILET PAPER. None. At all. Every single stall was out. So I used paper towels because there was no way I was gonna last the whole way through the movie and it was close to starting. The movie was really loud. These are tiny theatres, and the sound was all the way up. Melancholia has some loud music to start to add drama etc, but the theatre made it worse by turning the volume up so much. Graeme and I were both covering our ears at the end. Now, if a 24 year old thinks it’s too loud, it’s probably too loud. And Graeme was complaining that their air conditioning didn’t sound like it was working properly, because we could hear it and you’re not supposed to. Oh well, our anniversary still turned out ok in the end.

I’m going away to Melbourne for 4 days soon. I can’t wait! Just have next week, then I am up to Auckland next Saturday and then to Melbourne on the Tuesday. And Jess is gonna be in Auckland so I get to catch up with her! Yay!

Like usual, I suck at updating. I've been thinking for weeks that I need to post something. And then I forget/get busy/whatever. Maybe I'll write something later.

I am really hyper for no particular reason. I don't know why. It's like 4pm, so I should be tired, but no. Weird. Maybe I'm just getting overexcited about stuff haha.

Me and Graeme were going to go iceskating tonight, but depends if the weather holds. I hope it doesn't rain! I wanna go again! The rink closes on sunday :(

And we started a secret santa among the grads. We're doing the same as last year - a BYO dinner plus secret santa. I got Sanna! So should be fairly easy, but I have no ideas at the moment. My secret santa gift for last year was epic! I made ninja moose cookies for Herman, with a note saying  they stole his sisu. This involves two separate jokes - ninja moose is from a quiz night in which that ended up being the name of our team through a series of miscommunications. And Sanna and Herman have an ongoing joke about sisu, which is a Finnish (Sanna is a Fin) word for 'courage' and it's a huge insult to say you have no sisu. So I have to beat that.

Better do some work while I have energy! lol

PERSONAL
I am shorter than 5'4.
I think I'm ugly sometimes.
I have many scars.
Tan easily.
Wish my hair was a different color. (darker)
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
I have a tattoo.
I am self-conscious about my appearance.
I have/I've had braces.
I wear/wore glasses.
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger.
I have more than 2 piercings.
I have piercings in places besides my ears. 
I have freckles.



FAMILY & HOME LIFE
I've sworn at my parents.
I've run away from home.
I've been kicked out of the house.
My biological parents are together.
I have a sibling less than one year old.
I want to have kids someday.
I've had children.
I've lost a child.

SCHOOL & WORK
I'm In school.
I've fallen asleep at work/school. (almost haha)
I almost always do my homework.
I've missed a week or more of school. (in primary school)
I've been on the Honor Roll within the last 2 years.
I failed more than 1 class last year.
I have a job.
I've had a job for at least 2 years.
I've stolen something from my job.

EMBARRASSMENT
I've slipped out an "lol" in a spoken conversation.
Disney movies still make me cry.
I've snorted while laughing.
I've laughed so hard I've cried.
I've glued my hand to something.
I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose.

HEALTH
I was born with a disease/impairment.
I've gotten stitches.
I've broken a bone.
I've have my tonsils removed.
I've sat in a doctor’s office.
I've had my wisdom teeth removed.
I've had serious surgery.
I've had chicken pox.

TRAVELING
I've been on a plane.
I've been to the UK.
I've been to Spain.
I've been to France.
I've been to Russia.
I've been to Finland.
I've been to Asia.
I've been to Africa.

EXPERIENCES
I've seen a shooting star.
I've wished on a shooting star.
I've seen a meteor shower.
I've gone out in public in my pajamas.
I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
I've kicked a guy where it hurts. (by accident!)
I've played a prank on someone.
I've ridden in a taxi.
I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I've eaten Sushi.
I've been snowboarding.

RELATIONSHIPS
I'm single.
I'm in a relationship.
I'm engaged.
I'm married.
I'm currently in the middle of a divorce.
I've gone on a blind date.
I've been the dumpee more than the dumper.
I miss someone right now.
I have a fear of abandonment.
I've gotten divorced.
I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
I've told someone I loved them when I didn't.
I've told someone I didn't love them when I did.
I've kept something from a past relationship.
I have an ex I don't think I'll ever get over.

SEXUALITY
I've had a crush on someone of the same sex.
I've had a crush on a teacher.
I am a cuddler.
I've been kissed in the rain.
I've made out with my best friend.
I've made out with someone who I wasn't dating.
I've hugged a stranger.
I have kissed a stranger.

HONESTY & CRIME
I've done something I promised someone else I wouldn't.
I've done something I promised myself I wouldn't.
I've snuck out of my house.
I have lied to my parents about where I am.
I am keeping a secret from the world.
I've cheated while playing a game.
I've cheated on a test.
I've been suspended from school.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL
I regularly drink.
I've passed out from drinking.
I have passed out drunk at least once in the past 6 months.
I've taken painkillers when I didn't need them.
I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
I can't swallow pills.
I can swallow about 5 pills at a time, no problem.
I have been diagnosed with clinical depression.
I shut others out when I'm depressed.
I take anti-depressants.
I'm anorexic or bulimic.
I've slept an entire day when I didn't need it.
I've hurt myself on purpose.
I'm addicted to self injury.
I've woken up crying.

DEATH & SUICIDE
I'm afraid of dying. (I'm afraid of ending up like my mum at the end, not exactly of dying)
I hate funerals.
I've seen someone dying.
Someone close to me has attempted suicide.
Someone close to me has committed suicide.
I've planned my own suicide.
I've attempted suicide.
I've written a eulogy for myself.

MATERIALISM
I own over 5 rap hip-hop CDs.
I own an iPod or MP3 player.
I have an unhealthy obsession with anime/manga.
I own multiple designer purses, costing over $100 a piece.
I own something from Gap.
I own something from American Eagle.
I own something from Gucci.
I own something I got on e-Bay.
I own something from Levi's.
I buy more than half my clothes at Wal-Mart.

We had a good holiday week with the kids. We came into town last Friday and took them iceskating. Ashley was so funny, she absolutely loved it! She was zooming around, no worries about balance or anything. And Jonathan was clinging to the side and wanted one of those metal sled  things to hold on to. I tried to teach him how to skate properly, but it just didn't work very well - he wouldn't listen properly, and I think the sheer amount of people freaked him out a bit too (it was crazy busy because a school holiday programme group was there too). Ashley wants to go for her birthday and is probably bugging her mum about it lol. Her birthday is on Sunday. Graeme doesn't have them this weekend, but he was thinking about taking them again next weekend, for Ashley's birthday, and since it will be the last weekend the rink is on the waterfront.
Picture's here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.2459253011534.2137245.1558414089&type=3

We took them to Te Papa as well, but didn't spend that long there because Graeme and I were shattered. Saturday was spent tidying/packing. And Sunday we went up to Palmy to go and visit Graeme's uncle (and drop the kids home on the way back down). Graeme got a grumpy gf on the way back down though because I got called Fern (his ex/kid's mum)... slip of the tounge, and he apologised, but still! Grrr!

And this week has been moving week! I am so tired... We moved big things from Graeme's place on Wednesday evening and big things from my place on Thursday evening. So all of that stuff is moved to the new place, and mostly where it should be. And garage is filled with boxes + pieces of bed + pieces of couch. We're making another trip to Graeme's tonight, and I think we should be able to move everything that's left. So we just need to finish moving things from my place and then clean them both. And do all the unpacking! I'm looking forward to organising everything though. Yes, I am a geek for enjoying cleaning/organising etc lol.

The trip to work is not too bad. It's about half an hour all up - ~10 mins from home to train station, ~15 min train ride and ~10 min walk from train station to work. Not bad at all. Supermarket is right there too, which is handy for grabbing milk and things!

The house is warm, we haven't had any heating at all on so far. The heater has still been on (although at a lowish heat) at both of our places up til now. And MASSIVE. It's 3 stories, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one is an ensuite). Plus great kitchen, huge lounge, and a dining room. And Graeme has a big garage! Seriously the only thing we don't like is the washing line. It's at the back of the  house, but has this really steep hill behind it - basically we can only use the front two lines on it. But we can cope with that. I love the place altogether :)

Funnily enough, Cathy! Best buddies since we were about 10. Come up with the most random names for each other: e.g. Indian One and Indian One Two (yes there is a story behind this). And despite living in different cities, we are still best friends and talk heaps!

20 years ago (1991)
1. I turned 4 years old.
2. My little sister was born – how exciting for a four year old!
3. I went to the Gold Coast with my grandparents.

15 years ago (1996)
1. I turned 9 years old.
2. I was in year 4 and had one of my favourite primary school teachers.
3. We held a ‘kangaroo court’ in class one day and I remember having to go do something on the monkey bars.

10 years ago (2001)
1. I turned 14 years old.
2. I was in year 9 and it was my first year at Rutherford.
3. I started studying Japanese and loved it!

5 years ago (2006)
1. I turned 19.
2. I started a Bachelor of Business degree at AUT University.
3. I started my first real job at Foodtown.

3 years ago (2008)
1. I turned 21.
2. I got my first overseas experience and did an internship at cebr in London!
3. I finished my Bachelors degree and started to really think about what I was gonna do.

1 year ago (2010)
1. I turned 23 years old.
2. I got a job at MED and moved to Wellington!
3. I missed my mum a lot with all the changes (and still do) – and had to deal with the one year anniversary of her passing.

Yesterday
1. I started my new role in trade remedies!
2. I made a delicious Thai curry.
3. I went for a long walk with Graeme.

Today
1. I got put on an investigation(provided we receive the application we’re expecting) – big step for a newbie!
2. I walked home and now my thighs are sore!
3. I experienced the biggest earthquake I’ve felt while living in Welly!

Tomorrow
1. I will be helping prep for a review of an anti-dumping duty we are intending to initiate on Thursday.
2. Graeme and I are going for a swim!
3. I’m making nachos for dinner.

In a week
1. I should be much busier at work.
2. I’ll probably be tired after spending a weekend with Graeme’s kids.
3. It will be my one year anniversary at MED! (in exactly a week!)

In one month (August 5th)
1. It’s only about a week until my brother’s birthday.
2. My team will have finished our social media project and presented it to the leadership team.
3. It will be colder here probably!

In one year (2012)
1. Graeme and I will have moved in together.
2. I will still love my job.
3. I'll be happy.

In five years (2016)
1. I'll be turning 29.
2. I'll probably have changed jobs again.
3. I’ll hopefully be married :D

I need to update here more. And I say that everytime I update! So maybe I should actually do it? A few things to note (in chronological order) since my last real update:

• It was Christmas, and, well, Christmas was ok. It was weird without Mum, but I got to go home and see everyone, so that was good.
• I was back in Wellington for New Years. That was... odd? I went into town with some random guys and bar hopped a bit. We mostly ended up at The Establishment for most of the night because they were dumb and wore sneakers so bouncers wouldn't let us in to more interesting places. Not very exciting.
• I met a guy :) We spent a whole day together, and then he came over again in the evening (lol). So things have been going really well from the start... it is 3 months today. Anyway, his name is Graeme. He's 31, but neither of us really notice the age difference - we get along well and that's all that matters. He's aircon/refrigeration maintenance tech. And he has two kids, Ashley (10) and Jonathon (7). This is scary. But they're good kids, and they seem to like me well enough. Ashley was on the phone to Graeme's mum last weekend, and I heard a "she's lovely, Dad's really happy, and it's much better when Dad's happy" lol. He only sees them every second weekend and a week in the school holidays.
• I moved. My flatmate got a managerial job (he jumped way up the ladder in his organisation!) and moved to Palmerston North, so I decided to move as well. I'm in a little one bedroom in Brooklyn (I think it's awesome that I can say I live in Brooklyn lol. Plus there is a 'Central Park'). I like it, and my landlords are really nice.
• We're still paying rent for the Titahi Bay place because we were on a fixed term lease. And the landlord is shit and cannot find a new tenant (we don't think she's been trying very hard). Johnny is meant to be talking to DBH to see if we can stop paying. I think I'm gonna be stopping soon anyway, because I am going to get myself into debt by paying double rent if it doesn't finish soon. And I am not getting myself into debt to essentially supplement someone's income. She's had two months. One of my collegues managed to find a tenant for their place in Waikanae in ONE DAY.
• Work is weird at the moment. I have an acting manager because my manager got seconded because of the Christchurch quake. And he's kind of back now, but not really. Lots of other people have been working on that too and kind of crazy rushing around. But then the rest of us are kind of slow.

I always say this too... but I think I might do A Day In My Life. I'll see if I can be bothered on Friday (I have a workshop tomorrow, so it won't be very interesting lol).

Words meme!!