My Blue Heaven

Fat cat

Oh. My. Gosh. How fat is this cat!! The poor thing… I feel so sorry for it. So, hmph, my kitty ain’t got nothing compared with this cat!

Anyways, just chillin at a friend’s now, doing some last minute planning for houseparty (youth group camp). Got the day off work tomorrow.. woohoo! And got Tuesday off too (recuperation time – and so I can actually get some semblance of a holiday over the easter holiday period).

So long, farewell..

Well, just for the easter long weekend. I’m heading off to Fitzroy Falls Conference Centre from Thurs night to Mon arvo for our church youth group camp. Should be fun. Anyways, will be back next week.. with lotsa piccies hopefully. 🙂

Ciao all. Have a good easter holiday!

Cha-ching!

Ok, I just spent a fairly obscenely large amount of $$ on this absolutely gorgeous pink winter coat (by Very Very). I’ve had my eye on it for ages… passing it every day to and from work. I finally caved in this morning and tried it on. BIG mistake. I instantly fell in love with it… how it felt.. the lining is divinely silky smooth.. and the coat is this lovely soft wool/cashmere. Just gorgeous, and a really nice girly dusty pink colour. So cute! This is what it looks like.

So yeh… I spent the morning pondering over whether I should buy it or not. I even made the typical “crisis” call (and email) to Vron about my “dilemma”. I also consulted a few friends over ICQ, and mentally went through my wardrobe to check it would match my current clothing collection. Finally I made up my mind… and I bought it! I think this has got to be the most I’ve spent on a single item of clothing. *ponders for a moment* Yep… it even beats my formal dresses (which actually isn’t *that* hard to do).

How much was it? Hrm…. not telling.. 😛 (Lets just say it was less than $300, but more than $200).

Anyway.. guess I’m gonna be eating mum’s cooking for the next month.. or two!

Current listening :: “Sweet Kisses” – Jessica Simpson

Now & Then

As predicted, the “Red Corvette” Fudge hair dye has almost completely faded over the past month. Check it out.

Celebrity Spotting

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, at dance class last Wed night, we had a “celebrity” in our midst. Sophie Monk (from Bardot) attended my intermediate jazz class (with Ramon). That was kinda cool-ish. She’s alot scrawnier and shorter than I imagined. Really skinny… like to the point of no figure/straight-up-and-down. Poor girl.

Weekend Update

I had a fairly non-eventful weekend. Friday night was Glue – we had our first ETAG for the year (Evangelistic Talks at Glue). Apparently about 83 kids turned up! Wowzers! And a few prayed the prayer too. Good stuff. Andrew gave the talk, which went very well.

Saturday I caught up on some sleep, met up with a girl I’m following up, and then just chilled and watched my “What A Girl Wants” dvd… heehee.. looove that movie! 🙂

Sunday I got some much needed sleep in.. (1:30pm.. woohoo!) Then went to Burwood Westfield for some lunch and shopping (din buy anything though… darn it.. I really need some new shoes! I’ve now resorted to wearing my previous OLDER pair of Colorados coz the newer ones have holes in the heels!)

Did some pondering over the weekend.. over the Queen Bee or Alpha Female phenomena. And yes, I’m talking about YOU! (Sorry, just being whimsical. Maybe I’ll address this issue properly.. later.. maybe..)

Anyways, I hear an EasyWay Honey Milk tea calling…. mmuuuuust obeeey…. 😉

Current listening :: “Infatuation” – Christina Aguilera

More dancing fun

Went to dance class last night again…. for an amazing 2nd week in a row. Very rare for me to be able to do this, this year. It was awesome! I *really* love dancing… and only being able to do it about once a month has, I think, intensified my enjoyment of it. I guess you appreciate it more when you’re restricted.

Anyway the lyrical routine was basically the same as last week… to a different song though – Christina Aguilera’s “Voice Within”. T’was very nice. The main routine was to a song from Janet Jackson’s new album “Damita Jo” (which I’ve just gone out and bought :P). The song was track 10 “All Nite (Don’t Stop)”. The routine was really quick.. with alot of moves to remember (no breast popping though… in case you were wondering :P). Thankfully the first section (the chorus) was repeated, so we didn’t have to learn too many different steps. (We did up to 1:12 mins of the song). The dance was fairly raunchy too… with the Ramon’s typical crotch-grabbing, pelvis thrusting moves. 😉 Apparently a partnered section is to follow after what we learnt! Man, I wish I could go again next week… Ramon’s partnered routines are so cool!

On a side note.. interestingly, I find that I dance better when people are watching. I guess I like the performance thing. I mean, it can be a bit distracting sometimes (which can lead to stuff ups).. but it gives an extra thrill… And at the end of class, when Ramon opens the door and people from other classes gather outside the door to watch us dance – I get this electric thrill through my body as I dance, and I throw myself more into the moves, giving my best performance. I like it. 🙂

So anyway, I went out and bought the new Janet Jackson cd today – “Damita Jo”. I’m quite liking it so far! I think I’d describe it as warm… thats how the songs feel… warm. There are quite a few tracks to this album too… 22 in total! Though 6 of them are interludes. The tracks that jump out for me so far are:

• “My Baby” (track 5) – a very sweet song
• “Spending Time With You” (track 7) – relaxing.. like the warmth of a tropical island
• “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” (track 10) – the song we used in dance class
• “R&B Junkie” (track 11) – a very funky old school style!
• “I Want You” (track 12) – another sweet song.. the latest single
• “Thinkin Bout My Ex” (track 14) – a Babyface song… just really pretty
• “Slolove” (track 20) – a funky, upbeat number.. I liked it within the first few seconds of play!

Note however, that some of the tracks on the album are a bit… err.. risque… *cough* But then, what’s new eh?

Oh, and my back seems to be fine now. Thank goodness! It gave me no problems at all at dance class last night. However, my knee is hurting a little, as it always seems to after a workout. 🙁 And my ulcer is slowly healing itself.. I’m trying this new thing “L-Lysine Hydrochloride” tablets.. I’ve heard good things about it for killing off mouth ulcers? Here’s hoping…

Here’s a piccy I took of Coltrane the other night. Heehee.. he looks so grumpy! Prob coz I just forced him to endure a 17 photo photoshoot.. 😛

Current listening :: “Just A Little While” – Janet Jackson

Strains and pains

I think I strained my back yesterday at the gym. And embarassingly, it wasn’t even during my workout. It happened while I was drying my hair!! I think that warrants a classic “Vron” bimbo headshake.. don’t you? 😛 Anyway, I reached across to brush at my hair, and as I twisted round, I felt a sharp pain in the middle/lower left area of my back. Doh. Its not too bad now, just a little sore if I move certain ways. Hopefully it’ll be better before dance class tomm nite!! Also my knees were playing up a bit after working out yesterday…. I really hope these exercises do something quick. In fact, I should probably remember to do them exercises more often. :\

On top of that, I managed to develop myself a mouth ulcer yesterday too. *sigh* I hate ulcers. And mine always stick around for ages. 🙁 I got some fairly extreme advice today from a friend – she suggested rubbing salt into the ulcer until it bleeds! And then it’ll heal real quick after that. She says she usually uses a toothbrush!! *cringe* Far out, I dunno if I’m game enough to do that. I find putting salt on it bad enough as it is.

I’ve gone on a bit of a dvd shopping spree lately. Bad Kazzart. So far this month I’ve bought myself “What A Girl Wants”, “Never Been Kissed” and I just bought “Maid In Manhattan” and “Monsters Inc” today (2 for $40 sale!). Granted, all of these were on sale.. the most expensive being “Never Been Kissed” for $24. “What A Girl Wants” was the cheapest at around $15. But yay, new girly girl movies to add to my collection! 😀

Btw check out my cam pic! Isn’t Coltrane absolutely adorable!? 😀 He was so cute last night… sleeping on my chair whilst I was using the computer. He took up most of the chair (I had to sit on the edge!), and one of his legs was dangling off the edge. Heehee… he’s getting so big now. My baby is growing up! 😛 Ok, aaanyways, enough cluckiness… I must be off. Gonna watch 50 First Dates tonight! 🙂

Current listening :: “Baby Boy” – Beyonce (Man, Beyonce is hot! Have u seen the new video to “Naughty Girl”? I looooove the dance routine in it… its very Rrramon! :D)

Mellow

I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all the while
I could change the grey skies to blue
If I had you…

I could leave my old life behind
Leave all my pals, I’d never mind
I could start my whole life anew
If had you…

*sigh* This song is just absolutely beautiful. It’s this kind of music that got me into jazz… the beautiful jazz ballad.. with soft sweeping brushes, laidback walking bass line, mellow yet rich piano comping, just the right touch of that smooth saxaphone.. and finally, the soulful voice of a female jazz vocalist. I’ve had the What Women Want soundtrack on rotation lately. I love the songs on it.. all the jazz ones anyway! So beautiful..

Weekend update

My weekend was alright. On Saturday afternoon, I went to Clarence and Grace’s wedding.. which was very nice. I was a bit late, so I had to stand up the back.. surrounded by a plethora of mothers and babies. Far out, so many babies out and about now. I thought Kat and Pete Lau’s baby was rather cute though. I held him for a bit during the service.. gee he’s a heavy one.. my wrist started hurting after a while.. hee.

So after the wedding, I had my yearly (or so) visit to my old primary school – to vote in the local council elections. Bah. I had no idea, so I just picked one of em. It’s always weird going back to my primary school. Everything looks so small, compared to what I remembered it to be. And walking through the playground, I remember where I used to sit with my friends, where I used to make up and practice dance routines, where we had assembly in the mornings, where we played tip.. and I remember the path I walked up with my mum, on the first morning I arrived at the school, at the beginning of year 3. *sigh* Life was simple back then, was it not? I wonder where all my classmates are now. Esp my old best friends – Leanne and Jenny.

Then Saturday night was spent at home, alone. I was kinda bored, but managed to keep myself amused on the net, or played with Coltrane. I had lots of cleaning to do before my parents came back on Sunday anyway.. a fair few loads of washing, had to do the dishes, clean the kitchen etc. Unfortunately whilst I was busy with this stuff, I neglected to notice Coltrane’s miaowing… and he ended up PEEING IN THE HOUSE.. ON THE LAUNDRY!! Thankfully it was the dirty laundry, but still… I tried to get him to stop.. to no avail. I ended up having to carry him outside, whilst holding a dirty towel to his butt so he didn’t pee everywhere on the way out!! Yeh, that was my excitement for the night.

On Sunday I picked up my parents from the airport. *sigh* My three weeks of freedom with the car is over. 🙁 It’s back to living with the folks, mk 2.

Current listening :: “If I Had You” – Nnenna Freelon (What Women Want OST)

Thoughts

Last night I went to a Jazz Topix class before my jazz fusion class at the Con. Jazz topix is this new addition to the Jazz Outreach Program – complimentary for any “performance class” student, they’re a bonus series of half hour tutorials that broaden performance skills and general jazz knowledge.

It was pretty cool… coz I was learning something new. We were learning how to sightread jazz charts and melody lines. I never knew there was a standard on reading and interpretting the melody in a jazz chart. Things like crochets are all “short”, quavers in a run are joined and long until the last quaver of a phrase, which is short. So we sat in a small circle and jazz “scatted” (eg dah dah doooo.. bah!) this jazz chart given us for the sightreading exercise. It was pretty hard actually. But fun… I’d never done anything like it before. I spose coz its been all same old, same old for so long – with playing piano at church, or even with other stuff – things get pretty boring after a while. Its nice to do something new and fresh and different. Keep things challenging.. which is one reason I like going to these jazz classes.

On that note (haha.. pun not intended), playing piano isn’t the only area in my life in danger of going stale. It seems to be life in general at times. Everything is always the same old same old.. work, church, stuff… I’m starting to wonder what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and what I could be doing different… other possibilities in life. I had the crazy thought today as I visited the beautician and chatted with her on how she got into the industry (whilst getting my toenails painted.. hee) “I wonder what it would be like to be a beautician? It sounds fun.. I definitely find this sorta thing interesting. I wonder if I’d be crazy enough to drastically change vocations like that. Hm.. prob not. Maybe I could start into it as a hobby?” So, I might start off trying something like a massage class. It sounds fun (though tis a pity I won’t benefit much from it myself.. hehe). Still, I think I’d enjoy giving people massages. There’s something satisfying about it.

So anyway, gotta head off to Glue (youth group) soon.

Oh, and I forgot to add, went to dance class on Wed night. Was much fun indeed! It’s been like 2 months since I’ve been. It was nice to be back. 🙂 The routine was to the theme song from “Queer Eye For A Straight Guy” apparently. Funny.

Current listening :: “Si Ya Se Acabó” – Jennifer Lopez

Catnip

I went shopping on Sunday, and whilst going gaga over the adooorable Golden Retriever puppies in Pets Paradise, I decided to buy Coltrane a new toy. 🙂 So I bought him his first catnip toy ever… its this small plush bird with a few feathers stuck to it (most of which promptly disappeared within the first few hours of play… probably into his stomach).

Anyway, I’ve never tested the effect of catnip on Coltrane before… and boy oh boy, does he love that toy. It hangs from this elastic cord which can be hung from a door frame. At the first introduction he was fascinated with it – he couldn’t stop sniffing it, purring away like a mini motor. He then proceeded to bat at it playfully.. and try to catch it in his paw or mouth. Its really quite amusing to watch him take a flying leap at it, catch it in his mouth only to have it catapult away on its elastic cord as he let go. And then as he turns around to intently watch his prey bounce around, he’ll crouch down, with that pre-attack quiver in the butt, he’ll take another flying leap at it. Hehe. I gotta catch this on video when my parents return. Soo funny!

On nastiness

Thanks to people for your constructive comments. For those who were wondering, no that post was not about me and people making nasty comments on my blog. Not particularly anyway. I’ve had a few smackheads visit every so often, but not enough to really be a bother. It was more about what I’ve seen elsewhere, on other blogs/forums/websites.

So yeh, I’m feeling a bit better about stuff. A rant is a rant yeh? And no, to reiterate myself, I don’t hate men. And I don’t wanna kill all men etc etc. 😛

Girly girl schtuff

In other news… I bought a belt last Friday. I like! Have been wanting to get a “fashion” belt for ages now (I say “fashion” coz it really serves no practical purpose other than to look good.. :P). Its from Miss Shop.. about 2 inches wide and white. Here’s a piccy. 🙂

Anyways, I watched “Maid In Manhattan” for the 2nd time last night.. on dvd. Ahhh its sooo romantic…! *sigh* I love girly movies! I also FINALLY bought “What A Girl Wants” on dvd – on sale as an ex-rental at Video Ezy eastwood. Woohoo! Also saw a few others on sale for $15.95.. like Princess Diaries, 10 Things, Coyote Ugly. But I managed to limit myself to the one dvd.

Speaking of girly movies… I can’t wait for Chasing Liberty, The Prince and Me, A Cinderella Story, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and Win A Date With Tad Hamilton to come out here! We need more girly flicks!! The earliest one will be in April – “Win A Date With Tad Hamilton” and “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” (I’m looking forward to this one in particular! I loved the original Dirty Dancing.. and this one looks good too! I also love watching latin dancing.. & I wouldn’t mind trying it again sometime). Then I’m gonna have to wait till June for “Prince and Me” (and “Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban”!! Woohoo!), then September for “A Cinderella Story”, “Princess Diaries 2”, and “Girl Next Door” (which looks kinda interesting.. heh). And who knows when Chasing Liberty is gonna come out here. Its not listed on Hoyts or Greater Union. 🙁

Current listening :: “Come away with me” – Norah Jones

Deadline

Four days and counting. Eeek! Really really gotta buckle down and get this darn project finished. Argh. I hate deadlines. 🙁 Doesn’t help not getting enough sleep at night too. Ah well, I’ve had my mocha… I’m ready to up and at em! 😛

I watched The Fighting Temptations on the weekend. I like Beyonce.. she’s preetty. 🙂 Has lots of awesome gospel choir music in it.. and a sizeable chunk of dodgy theology, but ah well.. its just a movie. I enjoyed.

Ok back to work..

Current listening :: “Automatic” – Utada Hikaru