After a long day at work I like to unwind by taking a bike ride, jog or long walk. I often also look forward to a cocktail, some trashy television, an hour or so of Facebook stalking (yes, I'll admit, I like to know what all of my "friends" have been up to over the last 24 hours), cooking dinner, and falling asleep at 8:30 after watching an episode of the West Wing.
This evening I decided to unwind with a G&T and a mix of my favourite tunes. I like to lip synch as much as the next guy - here are my suggestions for the perfect "long day" playlist:
Katy Perry, Waking Up in Vegas
Bon Jovi, Livin' on a Prayer (or any other Jon Bon tune for that matter)
Carrie Underwood, Before He Cheats
Kenny Loggins, Meet Me Halfway
The Black-Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling
Taylor Swift, Love Story
Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror
Genesis, Invisible Touch
My list goes on, but I won't bore you too much with the details and dance moves.
I would like to take a step back and mention my obsession with The West Wing for a moment longer. Yesterday evening I watched the series finale of the show. In March, six months ago, I started watching Sorkin's seven season television series and fell in love with the characters and amazing writing and acting. The West Wing is truly a fabulous show - if you haven't seen, give it try.
Every Tuesday evening, since our move to Brisbane, Conor and I traveled to Civic Video and rented a disc or two (for $1 each!). We watched 6-8 episodes a week. Now that I think about it...that's where my spare time went over the past six months. Ah well, I think I'm okay with it.
For those of you who know the show, I admit, I'm in love with Josh Lyman's character (played by Bradley Whitford). This fact only plays a small role in my obsession with the show. Or a semi-small role.
If you like politics, give it a whirl. If you don't like politics, definitely give it a try - it might change your mind about the government entirely.
Back to rocking out - it's the only thing that might distract me, now that date night with Josh has come to an end.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
A Sweet, Sweaty Mess
I started this post about a week ago after changing my shirt for the third that day (hence the post title). It's starting to get warmer in Brisbane. Temperatures have reached 35 degrees Celsius over the past two weeks. The five minute walk home from work in my black uniform has some days taken me what seems like hours to complete. I have jumped into the pool, which is still icy cool due to its shady location, a handful of times upon my return to the apartment complex. I never liked swimming alone, but these days its the best option for cooling down quick. Summer is on the way, whether I'm ready or not.
The grocery store near our home set up their first display of Christmas decorations last week. It's hard to believe that Christmas is only two months away. A regular customer asked me if we would be setting up a few trees in the store for the holidays. It's difficult for me to imagine green and red bulbs, garland and holly in the desert. Maybe we will see some snow this year (in the mountains in New Zealand) - there's hope.
Conor and I travelled to Boondall on Sunday evening. About a month ago he joined an ice hockey league in the suburban town. Ice World. If the temperatures continue to rise, the rink might be my new best option for keeping cool. Watching Conor play hockey with 16 year old Australian boys was rather, er, interesting.
The musty, sweaty smell of the rink reminded me of home. It was cold and for the first time in a almost a year, I could see my breath. The lightly padded floors, torn posters of retired NHL stars and Zamboni made me long for the Sherwood Ice Arena outside of Portland. The young players and parents wrapped in winter coats, hats and mittens made me wish our Centre Ice package could be transferred to Brisbane and that we had definite plans to compete in the World Pond Hockey Championships in Plaster Rock again this winter.
I miss the cool fall weather, my little black dog, hockey season and wearing scarves.
Gosh, I love wearing scarves.
In just two weeks we head south, where temperatures will be a bit more tolerable, for the Melbourne Cup (Australia's equivalent of the Kentucky Derby). We are travelling to Melbourne with six friends and staying for three nights and four days in Conor's favourite Australian city. I have yet to visit Melbourne and am incredibly excited to a.) get away for four entire days and b.) wear a glamorous dress and hat to a horse race.
Upon our return to Brisbane, we begin our move into a new apartment. Luckily, Conor's brother Dylan arrives for a visit amidst our move. He will be our first house guest in the new apartment, and also a great source of cheap labour. We are looking forward to the move, escaping the noisy highway beneath our balcony and the sounds of cranes and large trucks late at night working the new bridge that spans the river directly across the road from our complex.
I think I may turn the air conditioning on, wrap up in my favourite green scarf, and bake some cookies. Maybe I will pop in the last few episodes of the West Wing. Nothing screams America more than Washington DC and Toll House cookies.
The grocery store near our home set up their first display of Christmas decorations last week. It's hard to believe that Christmas is only two months away. A regular customer asked me if we would be setting up a few trees in the store for the holidays. It's difficult for me to imagine green and red bulbs, garland and holly in the desert. Maybe we will see some snow this year (in the mountains in New Zealand) - there's hope.
Conor and I travelled to Boondall on Sunday evening. About a month ago he joined an ice hockey league in the suburban town. Ice World. If the temperatures continue to rise, the rink might be my new best option for keeping cool. Watching Conor play hockey with 16 year old Australian boys was rather, er, interesting.
The musty, sweaty smell of the rink reminded me of home. It was cold and for the first time in a almost a year, I could see my breath. The lightly padded floors, torn posters of retired NHL stars and Zamboni made me long for the Sherwood Ice Arena outside of Portland. The young players and parents wrapped in winter coats, hats and mittens made me wish our Centre Ice package could be transferred to Brisbane and that we had definite plans to compete in the World Pond Hockey Championships in Plaster Rock again this winter.
I miss the cool fall weather, my little black dog, hockey season and wearing scarves.
Gosh, I love wearing scarves.
In just two weeks we head south, where temperatures will be a bit more tolerable, for the Melbourne Cup (Australia's equivalent of the Kentucky Derby). We are travelling to Melbourne with six friends and staying for three nights and four days in Conor's favourite Australian city. I have yet to visit Melbourne and am incredibly excited to a.) get away for four entire days and b.) wear a glamorous dress and hat to a horse race.
Upon our return to Brisbane, we begin our move into a new apartment. Luckily, Conor's brother Dylan arrives for a visit amidst our move. He will be our first house guest in the new apartment, and also a great source of cheap labour. We are looking forward to the move, escaping the noisy highway beneath our balcony and the sounds of cranes and large trucks late at night working the new bridge that spans the river directly across the road from our complex.
I think I may turn the air conditioning on, wrap up in my favourite green scarf, and bake some cookies. Maybe I will pop in the last few episodes of the West Wing. Nothing screams America more than Washington DC and Toll House cookies.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Up
Up. Conor and I went to the movies on Saturday evening and saw the newest Pixar film. It made me laugh, and of course, it made me cry. My somewhat silent outburst was not similar to the flood that followed Leo's death in 1997 or when Frodo said his final goodbye to Sam in 2003.
Excuse me while I put on The Essential Kenny Loggins before continuing this post.
Thank goodness for 3D glasses. Unfortunately, Conor snatched them off of my face and tossed them into the recycling bin as we left the dark theatre and headed out into the bright lights of the Queen Street Mall. At the end of the movie I had one of those awkward moments where I had to hold my breath in order to keep from letting out one of those loud, obnoxious sucking sounds. The harsh inhale. You know exactly what I mean.
I wiped my nose on my shirt.
My mascara ran.
I teared up twice on the walk home.
With all of that being said, if you haven't seen "Up", see it. It is well worth the staining of your favorite J.Crew tee and the puffy circles you might wake up with the following morning.
I walked away from the theatre with a wet face. Also, hope. Motivation. And the need for something more. From myself.
All of this from a Disney movie, eh?
At 5:15 this morning, before I walked out the front door and headed to work, I sat on the edge of the bed and gave Conor a gentle shake. (He claims that it doesn't bother him one bit when my alarm goes off at 4:30, but I'm not sure if I believe him.) He was [seemed] very attentive as I attempted to explain my thoughts. I told him how wonderful it is for me to share my adventures with him. And how I hope we (and I) have many, many more wonderful times and amazing adventures over the years. I thanked him. I might have cried a little bit on the way to work, but I'm okay now.
Here's the thing, I'm a very lucky person. I might have mentioned that in my last post. "Up" opened my eyes a little bit more to this fact. I will try harder to live every day to it's fullest. In addition, the film made me realize that every little bit of good has the potential to go a long way. A very long way.
So, slow down. Smile. Say please and thank you. Ask questions. How are you? Can I help you? Smile again. Learn something new. Ask more questions. What can I do to help? Walk a little slower. Listen.
Up might not be for everyone. But I enjoyed it. Even if I couldn't shake my congestion for a few hours.
Excuse me while I put on The Essential Kenny Loggins before continuing this post.
Thank goodness for 3D glasses. Unfortunately, Conor snatched them off of my face and tossed them into the recycling bin as we left the dark theatre and headed out into the bright lights of the Queen Street Mall. At the end of the movie I had one of those awkward moments where I had to hold my breath in order to keep from letting out one of those loud, obnoxious sucking sounds. The harsh inhale. You know exactly what I mean.
I wiped my nose on my shirt.
My mascara ran.
I teared up twice on the walk home.
With all of that being said, if you haven't seen "Up", see it. It is well worth the staining of your favorite J.Crew tee and the puffy circles you might wake up with the following morning.
I walked away from the theatre with a wet face. Also, hope. Motivation. And the need for something more. From myself.
All of this from a Disney movie, eh?
At 5:15 this morning, before I walked out the front door and headed to work, I sat on the edge of the bed and gave Conor a gentle shake. (He claims that it doesn't bother him one bit when my alarm goes off at 4:30, but I'm not sure if I believe him.) He was [seemed] very attentive as I attempted to explain my thoughts. I told him how wonderful it is for me to share my adventures with him. And how I hope we (and I) have many, many more wonderful times and amazing adventures over the years. I thanked him. I might have cried a little bit on the way to work, but I'm okay now.
Here's the thing, I'm a very lucky person. I might have mentioned that in my last post. "Up" opened my eyes a little bit more to this fact. I will try harder to live every day to it's fullest. In addition, the film made me realize that every little bit of good has the potential to go a long way. A very long way.
So, slow down. Smile. Say please and thank you. Ask questions. How are you? Can I help you? Smile again. Learn something new. Ask more questions. What can I do to help? Walk a little slower. Listen.
Up might not be for everyone. But I enjoyed it. Even if I couldn't shake my congestion for a few hours.
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