RAT RACE

This week I joined the public transport Rat Racers of Sydney.

Monday morning I was up bright and early and up to the bus stop, bus to the train station and then a train to "the office".  I have not used PT regularly for at least 5 years.

I was so excited on Monday and couldn't understand why everyone looked so miserable. Is no one happy? Ok, given it is 7:43 in the morning. Newspapers, books, ipods, i phones, ipads, (Apple - you have changed our lives!) applying your morning make up or just snoozing, BUT no one talks to each other. It's just the way it is! Despite the fact many of these people probably see each other every day of the week a the same time in the same place. 

I love that my train trip takes me across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. I used to do this commute years ago and while everyone else has their heads buried in their own little world I look out to the harbour and smile to  myself.  I have a job in my chosen profession , I live in Sydney and it's a nice day. That's  a hell of a lot more than some people can say so I consider myself very lucky and I think we all need to remind ourselves of that from time to time.

By Friday (or possibly sooner) the novelty had worn off a bit. I drove 1 day, that was even worse due to the lack of parking available and Friday I was running around with a few cab charges - which was good on the transport side, but somehow allowed SO many other things in to zap my spirit. The 10 hr days had me travelling home in the dark which makes it harder to see the beautiful harbour. Instead I popped on my headphones and blended with everyone else. 

The plan is to move offices pretty soon to somewhere with parking. I am very much looking forward to that day. But for now its back to the PT rat race for me tomorrow! If you see me - come say HI, it'll put a smile on both our faces.

I tried to take a break...

What a week!!! I started a new job!

MONDAY - meeting # 1, it goes well.
TUESDAY - send resume to #2, quick response. No word from #1. late in the day #2 wants my references and #1 wants me to do some free prep work and meet with crew tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY - meet with Crew #1 while #2 is trying to get me to come in for a meeting. #3 emails me. - It never rains, it pours!! - i kinda like it that way.
THURSDAY - meet with #2. not 1/2 an hour after walking out of their office I have an offer on the table. I need to make the AWKWARD call to #1 backing out of an undocumented non-binding verbal agreement. #3 barely got a look in as it was a love job.
FRIDAY - start work at #2.
SATURDAY - morning meeting for my personal project with my selected crew - SO exciting but can't tell you about it...yet.

That sounds a bit harsh but to put it in perspective:  #1 was a 2 week low budget project, #3 was a 2 day freebie project and #2 sees me selling out to the  corporate world by signing onto an 8 month contract with a  commercial mainstream project.
I was hoping #2 would start up right after #1 - it would have been terrific if I could fit them all in but sometimes things clash and you are forced to make a choice. I'm glad I had some friends to talk to about it all because although I have made it sound simple above, it was an odd choice for me to make. I have always been one to run away from stability and permanency and the # 1 project was set to be a lot of fun and with some guys that I love working with. I did make the right choice -  despite it being a slight side step to my career it's definitely a step forward too. It also means I can start looking at getting a new car, or redoing the kitchen, or an OS holiday next year, or maybe a scooter....

That was my week, along with a house guest, a movie night with too much popcorn (Horrible Bosses), a dinner out (Bananapalm Vietnamese Restaurant).
NO wonder I am too tired to get my ass out of the house on a Saturday night that I promised I would go out dancing with girlfriends.  I just don't want to be hungover tomorrow coz I have so much to do!!!!!
Got a few things on the go right now and I'm gonna do them all - Gotta love being busy.

Happy Father's Day

I was going to go with POLITICS AND POWERTRIPS as a cool title for this week but politics makes me hesitate in posting what I actually wrote.

It started with -

Office politics is bullshit! This is why I don’t like working in offices

There is a thing called tact – which some people don’t seem to have.

It was inspired by a work function I attended but the drama of that night was soon superseeded by a lovely family dinner celebrating my Father's 70th Birthday.

And being Father's day today I thought this was more appropriate and way better karma for me too.

Just a small dinner for 50 of my parents friends and family and an AMAZING chinese banquet at Marigold restaurant in Sydney - Suckling pig, sang chow bau, lobster, steamed fish, abalone, chicken, scallops, shark's fin soup and more -  I can't remember it all coz I was food coma full about half way through the meal.

I don't see my extended family often these days and have always felt like the black sheep that didn't quite fit. Then I sat and enjoyed a glass of wine with 2 of my aunts. WOW what an education! I was hearing about all sorts of things I never knew, and had never dared to ask. What my dad was like when he was young, how my aunt met my uncle, the scandal of divorce in the 60's and lots of other family gossip.
 I finally felt that maybe I do fit in with this family.

They say a girl looks for a partner with similar characteristics to her father. I think about my past ex's and understand why they didn't last - I am single coz no one can beat my Dad!

Can Men & Women Really Be Friends?

"Friends with Benefits" – better than I expected. Laugh out loud even.

It’s the “When Harry met Sally” of the new generation. They are rom coms so yes the last third of these movie hits emotional moments of hormonal proportions. The girls get weepy and the boys are oblivious until they have the realisation that they won’t do any better than this and they make some grand romantic gesture that wins the girl over. Awwww….really?

 It poses the age old question of “Can men and women be friends? Or does sex get in the way?”

Harry/Billy Crystal said “No it can’t be done, not if one finds the other attractive.”

Sally/Meg Ryan – “So you can be friends with a woman if you don’t find her attractive?”

Harry/Billy – “No – you pretty much wanna nail them too?”

Gotta love the Honesty

So – CAN MEN AND WOMEN BE FRIENDS?

I used to think so – I treated everybody the same had lots of male friends. Then I got married. Suddenly the nights out I used to have with my boys became “boys nights” with my husband and I was excluded and at times laughed at for even thinking I could hang out with them. Sexism is alive and strong in our society.

To add to that, when I got divorced many of my male friends cut me out altogether because they decided they liked my ex better than me or something. Bros before hoes or some such crap.

Someone (a boy) tried to explain to me that once a guy has a girlfriend/wife/defacto/partner then they need to get away from a female influence because they have it in their lives as a constant. But when they are single then they are happy to have a female in their presence simply for that dose of female essence.

But it’s true – the reality of when my male friends started drifting away coincided with them getting girlfriends/wives/partners. 

Now I have “girls nights out” with friends that need to get away from their husbands and boyfriends. I love my girlfriends (always there when I need them) but I still don’t understand why men and women can’t enjoy each other’s company without sex getting in the way. 

And this probably explains why I am single – my inability to understand or accept social norms.

(And yes - this post will probably get me in trouble with any male friends I still have - oops, forgive me!)

There's a first time for everything!

this has been a week of firsts for me.

- First trapeze class
- First facial with my sisters
- First coffee tequilla
- First time to the new Cuban bar in the city.
- First time I have fallen asleep at 930 3 nights in a row.

I think I'm busier now i'm unemployed then when i was working. Catching up on everything and with everyone.

Trapeze - AWESOME!!!
highly recommend Sydney Trapeze School. By the end of one 2hr session I swung out, flipped into a knee hang and swung back out to be caught by a guy hanging off another swing! AND we did backward summersaults off the bar too!!! So excited - totally gets the adrenalin going. booked in for session 2 next week.

Facial - a lovely relaxing hour of pampering followed by a spot of lunch with my sisters. These moments are few and far between. treasure them.

Patron Coffee Tequilla  - nuff said. mmmmmm...

Cuban Bar - La Bodeguita Del Medio in York street just behind the QVB. Restaurant upstairs dancing downstairs. The dancefloor is a little tight but the music is good and you can write on the walls. The restaurant isnt bad - book ahead, it gets busy. The lamb neck and duck were fantastic but stay away from the scallops. service was excellent - they even charged my iphone for me.

and falling asleep early - can't complain about that! Heaven!!

Can i have an extension please?

Sorry kids - work work work, busy busy!
Finished one contract on Friday, partied about it on Friday night then had to go to Picton for the weekend for freebie project. back in Sydders now but 2 more days to do.
So - please wait til next week and i guarantee i'll write something good.
If you are lucky you may even get a mid week teaser.
til then, good night !

Flu season

Cough cough sniff sniff.
Been sick this week so a little sympathy please.
But what can I write about? It is usually inspired by a night out or a good meal but all I've done this week when not at work is sleep. I even lost my appetite!! I know - It's tragic!

Body aching, sore throat, headache but not too stuffed up - bonus!!
It's been a weird illness that comes and goes in waves.
Just as I think I'm getting better I get knocked out again.

Friday afternoon - I'm thinking, "yes, I've kicked it. I'm feeling better. Woo hoo!".
Saturday morning - I wake up to a beautiful sunny day. I enjoy the morning sun on my balcony and even consider going for a swim at the beach. As I potter about putting my beach bag together for the first time this season, dig out the bikini and look out the window to see a big fat grey cloud rolling in. Oh well, I take my time even more and decide to go to See Kung Fu Panda 2 instead - AWESOME!!! It was fun.
So it's still spectacularly warm and I go to reach for the beach bag again, look out the window and more cloud?! why are the damn clouds so eager to see me in a bikini. Bugger it - i'm going to the beach! and I know I won't be able to go down to the beach without going swimming. There are so many people out enjoying the sunshine but not too many in the water. OH - the water was perfect!! So glad I went in!
Sunday morning - Oh crap!!! I feel terrible! I lie in until nearly midday then courageously move to the couch only to fall asleep again.

So let's post this so I can get back to sleep!