The thing about Christmas!

In the last few days I’ve been very, very homesick. I’ve been missing my mum and my grandad the most. And I think as Christmas approaches, I miss them even more! Last night after a few failed attempts to sleep, I decided to call my mum to tell her how much I love her. Two hours later, I managed to say NOTHING!!!! I wish I could call my grandad to say I love him, but he has gone for a year and a bit now… but that’s all ok!!!

Well, I really want to use this post to say how I really feel about Christmas. And just to let you know, I’m writing this now under the influence of three pints of beer and half a bottle of wine, so I don’t know what you might read here…

Anyway, the topic is Christmas!!! I reckon that Christmas is good and bad. When I was very young, I used to LOOOOVE Christmas. Every year we used to have the party at my grandparents – our house. My mum and dad didn’t really have money to buy our own house, so I used to live with my grandparents, my uncle (mum’s brother), mum, dad and my brother. It used to be a bloody mess!!! But I always loved it!!!

My grandad was a very generous man, and I think I was his sweet heart (I don’t like to play favourites but my uncle’s favourite was my brother so I guess I can say without remorse I was my grandpa’s favourite one). Every year we used to have a fabulous HUGE Christmas party and he used to buy me heaps of cool presents. We always had a great feast, hundreds and hundreds of presents and all the relatives used to come over. Man, that used to be the highlight of my whole bloody year. My grandad was ok with money at that stage, so presents were in excess. I was very young, so I can’t deny that it was all I thought about…and after all, everyone seemed to always be having a ball as the food was great, the whole family was there and everyone got presents. That used to be the time when Christmas was bloody fantastic!!!

As the time went by, money became an issue. My grandad was having a few financial problems (as everyone always does in Brazil – a part from the corrupted politicians, which is another story). So the X-Mas parties weren’t that crowded anymore. There weren’t that many presents anymore. And being a young girl, for me that was a shock!!! All of a sudden Christmas didn’t seem to be that great anymore. And I have to say that it is too embarrassing. But that’s exactly how I felt. And I won’t ever forget the day that instead of having 40 relatives in my house for Christmas, there were only the seven of us. That was maybe one of the saddest times of my life!!! So that’s when Christmas started to suck for me…

After that year, I cried a week prior Christmas every year without stoping. I didn’t know exactly the reason for the tears. And now that I don’t care about the presents, I think that I cried not because of the lack of money to buy presents, but because I realised that the relatives that I loved so much weren’t going to spend that special night with me. I realised that Christmas wasn’t about all those presents. Christmas was about having the family together laughing together, joking about each other, having that smile in my grandad’s face because the house was full of people…

Nowadays I still feel that Christmas is kinda sad. And, even though my grandad isn’t here anymore, he still plays a HUGE part in my Christmas. But not for the present, but for the happiness he brought into my heart all the time he lived!!!!
Well, I think that’s the thing about Christmas. It’s good and bad. It’s happy and sad. It’s family and individual time. So that’s how I feel.

I miss my family sooo much, and Christmas is kinda of important to me.

Sorry about the melancholic post. But that’s the thing about Christmas…

Merry Christmas!!!!

Quick note!

Hi, hi!!! I’ve been missing sooo much sitting in a chair and spending my whole day reading blogs. Oh yeah!!!! Believe me, after I started my new job I haven’t had much time to visit you guys. I’m sorry!!!

Well, but as I was saying, I started my new job this week and it has been so much fun. I don’t think I should be giving you many details about it for a few reasons (which don’t include you, I promise!!!), but I’d like to say that so far so great!!! I love the team and the environment, and I think it’s just in the perfect industry for me. And it seems like I’ll be as busy as hell very soon, just how I like it!!! It’ll be very different to my previous ‘glamorous’ job. Wish me luck!!

But before I go, I’ll just let you know what happened in my X-Mas party in my ‘glamorous’ job last Friday, which was by coincidence my last day as well. We went to a Turkish restaurant, and the food was really yummy!!! They have belly dancing performances usually in the weekends but in this time of the year, they have it more often. Anyway, the dancer goes around picking random people to dance with her. Guess who she picked???? Of course it had to be me, huh??? But that’s ok because I can be a bit of a show off sometimes and I know that shaking my ass is one of the things I know how to do best. I’m Brazilian for God's sake!!!

In the end of the night the Director made a speech to thank me for my good effort and dedication. I was pretty touched, as it was the first time someone had a speech to thank me, and I was there for only five months!!! I also had to do a speech. It was a bit weird but as I’ve just mentioned before, I’m a bit of a ‘shower’ so I didn’t really care. I actually enjoyed it!!! In the end of the night they gave me a BEAUTIFUL orchid flower. Man, that was NICE!!!! Do you know how precious and expensive orchids are??? Anyway, even if it was cheap, I love it!!! They gave me another present and a big card, where everyone signed.

Aren’t they lovely??? God bless them… I think I deserved it after all. I’m a good employee.

Well, that’s it for me. Tomorrow is the BIG day… my partner’s admission is on!!! Thank God I won’t get drunk (yeah, right!!!).

Beijos people!!!

Today I'm feelig blah!!!

In fact, I’ve been felling blah for the last four days. Honestly, I have not a clue why the hell I feel that way.

Since my HUGE shopping spree, I’ve been feeling kinda empty… What the hell???? Shopping used to be my best therapy, and the more I spent, the happier I got. Although, in these old days, it used to be mum’s money we were shopping with, not mine!!!!

There are sooo many good things happening with me at the moment and I’m steel feeling that way. Please God, tell me how to fix this blah feeling in my heart…

I thought that maybe a useful strategy for me to feel better would be sharing with you the good things that have been happening with me lately. So here I go (bullet point is easier for me to organise my thoughts and I guess it keeps the blog dynamic, so don’t complain, shut up and like it!):

• Today is my last day at my ‘glamorous’ job. As I said a few times, the problem isn’t the place but the boring role. Anyway, my workmates have told me they were very happy to have me around and they really wish me the best. I had people calling me from the Melbourne office (people I’ve never met before but I used to work with via phone/email all the time) to wish all the best and thank me for my help and efficiency (see???? I’m a good worker!!! To you all suckers who chose not to employ me when you had the chance).

• I have a new job where I’ll start on Monday. It isn’t EXACTLY the job I’ve been dying for but I think it’ll be very challenging, busy and it’ll teach me a lot. Well, that’s what it looks like and that’s what I’m hoping for…

• I spoke to my mum last night, and for a loooooong time I hadn’t heard her voice being so lively and happy (I’ve told you before my mum has been depressed for two years). She sounded soooo great, just like in the old times!!! I’m sure she isn’t 100%, but I think she’s much, much better… I MISS her like fucking hell!!!!!!

• My boyfriend is getting admitted to become a solicitor (I’ve told you this too), after five bloody years of Law studies. Oh dear, I’m glad he has survived to this boring, long and difficult journey. I’m so proud of him and his efforts. I’m also proud of the man he is and proud of myself for hooking up with someone so beautiful, supportive (even with my shopping) and gentle!!!! Love you bebe!!!

• My future lovely father-in-law (hopefully), gave me a trip to Melbourne for X-Mas (air fares and accommodation). So babe, his dad (future father-in-law, hopefully again!!) and I are spending five days shopping, pigging our ass off, drinking and watching cricket (that isn’t really the highlight of the trip in my opinion but that’s a different story…). It should be a blast!!!

You see!?!?!?!??!?! These are all good things that have been happening in my life at the moment and I still feel very, very shitty… but why???? I feel soooo lonely even though this week I went out for dinner with a new friend, got drunk and danced Brazilian music (many may not find that as interesting as I do, but…) under the full moon. Even though my babe has been very patient with me for the last few days after I screamed at him. Even though my beautiful best friend cooked a yummy salad for me during my lunch break today. Even though all these good things are around me, I still feel blah, shitty and lonely.

AND THAT’S NOT FUCKING PMT!!!!!! Don’t say that, I know it looks like it but it can’t be because my period is coming only in two weeks time. AND THAT’S TOO MUCH FUCKING INFORMATION ALREADY!!!!

You see?!?!??!? What’s going on here??? Sorry about the shouting but I need to let it out. Please someone help me out of this shit…

I shopped till I dropped!!!

Hello everyone!! Today is Monday, and as a full-time worker, I have to say this isn’t my favourite day of the week. I hate to think that I still have 4 days ahead of me until I get two days off… :(

I had a great weekend though!!! My babe is getting admitted in the bar (I don’t know if that’s how you say this exactly. He’ll be admitted as a solicitor) in a week, and we are having a big party to celebrate. As I’m the first lady (ha!!!), I really want to look outstanding!! So that’s how my weekend became great!!!

I convinced him to come shoe shopping with me on Saturday, as I’ve already bought the dress for the admission party. There is this great outlet here in Brisbane, close to the airport with heaps of good brands with reduced price. Oh yeah!!!

He was super patient with the whole getting IN and OUT of every single bloody store, but as I know him sooooo well, he was getting very bored (and I think it’s fair enough!!!). Yeah, and I was getting very frustrated, as I wasn’t finding bloody anything. So an hour (only!!!) later, after a jacket and small little boring top, we decided to leave.

I was very, very frustrated as I usually go to this outlet with B, spend 3-5 hours shopping, and leave with at least 10 bags. But not Saturday, noooopppp!!! So I had to fix this problem. I still had the whole Sunday to be able to find this pair of shoes to go to the party.

I was determined to go back on Sunday, hopefully with my beautiful crime (ops!), shopping partner B, and sort this shit out!!!!

I was very excited after B agreed to come, and help me with my hunt to get a pair of shoes. B and I got up in the morning, put on our shopping gear (it consists of comfy shoes and easy to put on and take off clothes to easy the whole trying new outfits process) and we headed to the outlet. Man, it was FUN!!! We got there at 12pm and we had a quick bite to eat. Then the hunt started…4-and-a-half hours later (and a couple of hundred dollars less), I finally got the shoes for the admission party. But not only that!!! I got a perse (mine was old and almost black. It used to be red), pair of pants, a belt (red. Everyone NEEDS a red belt!), a red pair of shoes because I don’t have any (only two) like the ones I bought and a handbag. Ah!!! I also bought a X-Mas present for my babe’s auntie who I LOVE very much!!! B got a dress, two tops and a pair of red shoes as well. I’m telling you, girls NEED red shoes, belts, handbags. Red is THE colour!!!

My biggest excitement of the whole day though was when I got home. Babe was watching the Cricket (there is a very important competition happening here in Australia at the moment), and as soon as I arrived he asked me to see everything I had bought. And although I was feeling a bit shitty as I spent so much money, he was absolutely supportive of my shopping. He said I needed every single thing I bought and he loves the shoes I bought for his party. Man, I LOVE this man!!!! I feel so lucky that he always supports me but he still tells me when I’m wrong. I’m so lucky to have him!!!

That was my great weekend. By the time I got home, my back was so sore and I was exhausted!!! I definitely shopped till I dropped… in bed!!!!

Ops!!!! Intruder…

Man, ha!! Listen to this. I usually go home for lunch everyday. Yesterday after I had lunch, I heard someone dropping something off under the door. I went to check it out and there was a letter from the building carer saying something in these lines:

“I’m so sorry for the intrusion this morning. I thought you were aware of my visit. Even though I thought you were informed, I still knocked the door several times before entering the unit. I also shouted ‘hello’ all the way down the stairwell blah blah blah…”

The letter was a bit more formal than that, put you get the picture. Well, I was a bit confused and curious at the same time when I saw this letter. I was at work in the morning, and I kept wondering if a stranger did come into the unit while I was away. I kept thinking if this carer actually had been in our unit, what the hell was he doing there??? We didn’t receive any note saying they need to inspect the unit or anything like that.

Anyway, I left the note on the table but I was going to ask my flatmate if she knew anything about it once I got back from work. And that’s what I did:

Me: “B, have you seen this note??? What the hell went on this morning???”
B: “What note??? Let me see…”

(Pause for her to read it)

B: “hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha”
Me: (thank God I am not curious) “What, what, what???? Tel me, tell me, tell me…”

Well, it turned out that the carer definitely came in this morning, and she had company in her bedroom. Meanwhile, this carer nutcase comes in, knocks the unit door and no one hears him (of course – when we have company in our bedroom, we don’t hear anything that is outside the bedroom, right??). Then he decides to get into the unit anyway. Then he goes downstairs, where our bedrooms are, and goes straight to B’s room. Then he knocks the door however, he opens it straight way... Guess what he found???? tchan, tchan, tchan, tchan!!!!!! An alligator eating a bird!!!!!!

He was so embarrassed!!!! He closed the door straight away and raced to the door trying to get the hell out of the unit as quick as possible.

Man, how awful for him and for B and her ‘friend’. We still don’t know what the hell he was doing in our apartment, and that’s something I really want to know. We didn’t get any note saying he was coming around, and I don’t think he should have entered the house at all without one of us opening the door for him.

Well I hope it teaches him a lesson…

Stupid Bureaucracy

My Brazilian drivers licence expired late October, so I’ve been in the process of getting my Queensland one. Man, I’ve never seen so much bullshit in my whole life. To start with, because I’m Brazilian, and Brazil is not a first world country (that isn’t what they say, but I KNOW!!!), I have to go through the same process is a person who has never driven before. So I have to do a written test to get a learners licence and if I pass I can book the driving test to get the permit licence. And you may be asking “but the traffic in Brazil is in the other side of the road comparing to the Australian”. Good point!! But the Americans, or Swiss or Canadians (the first world countries), they all drive in the same side of the road as Brazil, but yet they don’t need to go through all the hassle that we do (fucking racists!!!).

Now, listen to this crap!!! If I DIDN’T have a licence at all, I would walk there (to the Transport Department) and say:

Me: “Hi, I’m here for a written test”.
Bitch (she is the bitch who assisted me): “Great! Can I please have 2 IDs, proof of address and 17 bucks, thanks?”

Then I’d do the fucking test and if I passed they’d take a picture and give me the licence straight away.

But because I have a Brazilian licence, the nightmare starts. First of all, I have to have it translated by a reputable institution that they choose. However, even if I have this perfect translation I still can’t drive in Australia for more than three months with the Brazilian licence (even if it hadn’t expired!). The thing is, I don’t have this fucking translation. But who cares, I thought that as a resident of Australia I have the fucking right to go to this fucking Transport Department and just do the test. If I pass, I should sit my ass in the chair, taking a picture and piss off with my stupid learners licence.
But NOOOOOOOOOOO, that isn’t what happens in this country. After I passed the test, that’s what happened:

Bitch: “Can I please have you Brazilian licence with the appropriate translation?”
Me: “Why?”
Bitch: “Because you have a licence already so I can only give you the learners if you give me you Brazilian licence with the appropriate translation”.
Me: “WWWHHHHAAAATTTT????????????? So, what would have happened if I arrived here and said I had no licence at all, would you give me my learners now???”
Bitch: “Yes!”
Me: “WWWWHHHHHHAAAAATTTTT??????”
Bitch: “But you chose to be honest so now you get fucked as you won’t get you licence until you bring me a proper fucking translation of you useless Brazilian licence that you aren’t allowed to use in this country anyway. So, by the end of the day, your useless Brazilian licence is only useful to put you in trouble and make your life in Australia hell!!!!!”
Me: “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That’s a very loud scream)”

I mean, the last part of the conversation I came up with. The bitch didn’t really say that but it is exactly what the deal is. My Brazilian licence is not an advantage when I want to use it here. However, when it is absolutely unnecessary, they decide that my licence is the major element for me to get an Australian licence.

Man, it drove me mental!!! I love driving. That’s the thing I most love in this whole world. But now I have to wait until I get my licence translated to get a learners licence that I’d have gotten if I didn’t have a Brazilian licence at the first place.

Sometimes I hate this country….

YES, I’m a friendly-neurotic!!!

Well, it might sound crazy but I’m a self confessed friendly-neurotic!!! This is something that I don’t try to hide from people, but I don’t usually go around promoting it either. The reason why I don’t mind admitting it is that I don’t think my neuroses affect anyone (yeah, right!!!). So that’s why I named this little thing friendly-neuroses. So I thought I might dedicate this blog to all the friendly-neurotics around. If you are out there, and you feel like you’re a bit neurotic about little things that don’t affect anyone else but yourself, please come out of the closet and join me!!!!

But please note; I’m seriously talking only about those people who DON’T drive others crazy with their nonsense. So, to illustrate this a bit better to you, I’ll give you a few examples of my friendly-neuroses and you see if you fit in:

• I only change pyjamas when I change the bed sheets.

• I can’t wash tea towels or bathmat together with my own clothes.

• Under no circumstances I use the bathroom towel to go to the beach. I have to have a beach only towel.

• I can’t get changed without having a shower first. If I’m changing clothes, I have to have a shower before.

• I have clothes to go to uni, clothes to go to work, clothes to go out. They are all different and they live separately in my wardrobe. I can’t wear the jeans to go clubbing for a lunch in the park. That’s impossible!!!

• I hate when the cleaner at work move my things on the desk around (pencil case, stapler, these unimportant stuff) and he doesn’t put it back in the exact same place.

• I hate when people buy things they will NEVER use, even if it costs 5 bucks. It isn’t about the money, it’s about the attitude!!!!

• I can’t chuck food away. So if I cook something that I can’t keep (salads, fish etc), I pig myself until I bust instead of being a normal person and just throwing the left over in the bin.

• It drives me NUTS when people at my ‘glamorous’ work print stupid and unnecessary things in normal paper. People, if you’re printing a recipe for you bloody wife to cook it for you, please print it in a recycle paper. PLEASE USE THE RECYCLE PAPER!!!!! And I promise I am not an environmentalist freak, I promise!!!

• I don’t like people driving my car (er, my boyfriend’s car). It isn’t that I don’t trust people’s driving skills, but I’m just neurotic!!!

• I’ve just opened an internet banking account (after a few good years resisting it) two weeks ago because I don’t have time to go to the bank to deposit my rent anymore. I used to go to the bank every single week to take money out of my bank account and then walk to another bank to deposit it into my land lord’s account. It used to be like that because I hate computers and technology and above everything else, I DON’T TRUST THEM!!!

• I have a HUGE key ring, and my babe hates it. So if he needs my keys, he leaves half of my key ring behind. It drives me mental!! He thinks I’m crazy, I call it a friendly-neurotic.

• I never wear black and brown together, NEVER!!!

• I find it very, very hard to write without using heaps of !!!!!! or ????, as you may notice in my posts… I feel that if I don’t do it, I am not expressing myself properly.

Well these are just a few things that I can remember at the moment. Do you think you fit in under the friendly-neurotic category??? If you do, welcome!!! And maybe let me know about you friendly-neuroses stories.
Beijos e tchau!!!!

Is this fear, craziness or what???

It has been five days since we came back from Straddie Island. I think I had told you that I organised a surprise for my babe last weekend. I kidnapped him for a weekend way, just the both of us. It was absolutely marvellous!!!!

On Friday morning, I woke up a bit earlier than the usual to pack his and my stuff. I was so anxious the whole day waiting for the time to come to pick him up from work… I had to tell him that I had plans for our Friday night as he had a work function to go to, and he always attends them. But the good thing was that he thought the surprise involved only the Friday night. It didn’t occur to him that we were going to be away for the whole weekend. He actually thought we were going to the Pearl Jam concert that was on, here in Brisvegas (I really wish we got tickets for that!).

Anyway, he was very, very happy with the surprise and we had a fabulous weekend with a lot of food, alcohol and sun baking involved. I have to say that, although I got an AWESOME bikini line (us Brazilians – boys and girls - really like that white bikini shape on the body after baking hours under the sun, very weird hey??), but I’m quite hurt at the moment… it looks good though! We should do some sacrifices to look hot sometimes…

During the weekend though, I was very, very worried about the sharks that inhabit the Australian beaches. I promise I don’t want to scare anyone, and always when I talk about it here, people make fun of me. But I’m PETRIFIED of sharks. And they live bloody everywhere in Australia, rivers, channels, beaches, you name it. And what people don’t understand is that I am not scared of dying, I’m scared of having one of those animals serving themselves with a few bits of me (legs, feet, a hand – or two - , arm) but keeping me alive and making me live with the pain and the loss. Not even mentioning the terror of coming across one of them in the water, where they are five zillion times faster then me, having to look straight into their teeth. Believe me, you won’t ever meet anyone who fears sharks more than I do! Well, why am I telling you this story again? Ah! To tell you that my babe wasn’t allowed in the water without me (funny!! Not the other way around) just in case a shark was around. I’d be too worried about him. Imagine if a shark actually came?? And he was there by himself??? Know that I’d make a difference…ah!! Forget it!!! It’s too hard to explain why my almost thirty-year old boyfriend wasn’t allowed in the water without me. Also, both of us were only allowed to have a very, super quick deep in the water… so the sharks wouldn’t bother with us.

Now that I’m actually writing about this fear I have of sharks, I’m starting to realise that I’m very, very crazy!!! Do you also want to know one of the prerequisites for me to get into the water in an Australian beach? I need heaps of people around. My babe asks me why, considering that if a shark comes no one will be able to help anyone…and my answer is (and I try very hard to believe it!) that they will get distracted by so many people that they will leave me alone. There are always a few people that are swimming further away from the shore than I am. Man, this is sick!!!!

Throwing a few thoughts in the air

There isn’t much I want to write about today but there are a few thoughts I’d like to share…

I’m so excited that, for the first time ever, I’m taking my babe to a romantic weekend away. I never could afford it before, and he’s always surprising me (I LOVE surprises!!) and being very nice to me, so I thought now is my turn to be lovely to him. I’m taking him to a small Island in the south-east coast of Queensland.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Last night I couldn’t sleep much :( I’ve been so addicted to a few bloggs that I’ve been reading, and they are so inspiring, that I kept waking up, but kinda of being half asleep, thinking of these bloggs and what I could write to make mine more interesting… I love reading and amusing myself with some excellent bloggs that are out there.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I spoke to my mum last night and she sounded much better. I haven’t told you this yet but she’s been depressed for two years now, I think. But she had always been up and down. In the last three to four weeks though, she was absolutely shit!!! I mean, she was crying pretty much everyday, talking nonsense, very depressed. For me it’s very hard as I live a few continents away from her, and I can’t help her much. It’s strange, and very bloody difficult to see (hear, I mean) her that way. She’s always been my strength, my balance, she always encouraged me and took care of me. And now she is so lonely, fragile, weak, depressed!!!

She wants to come over to stay with me for a while. But I don’t think it’s a good idea, as she doesn’t speak a word in English, and she’d feel even lonelier here, as I have to go to the ‘glamorous’ work everyday (as in week day).

It’s a different thing here compare to home. There she is in her own habitat, and even though she hasn’t been that great, at least there are people there that she can talk to. I guess I say these things to myself to make me feel better. I hope you don’t think I’m a selfish bitch who prefers to leave her mother suffering instead of sacrificing her freedom. Am I that bitch??? Am I really doing that to preserve my freedom??? Well, I don’t actually think so. I love mum more than anyone else in this world. She’s my hero and I’m doing this for her own good. But where was I going with this blog again??

Ah!!! I remember now… I was saying that I spoke to her and she sounded much better. A good friend of hers (who lives in another city), came over to visit mum. I think that’s why she is happier. Think all mum wants now is a bit of attention and companionship. So good on her friend who can bring mum this happiness. I actually ask mum just before I was saying good-bye, “please be happy like that for a while. I’m proud of you and I love the sound of your happy voice. I missed this. Please be well and happy again.” Sigh!!! I’m suffering with this…

Melbourne Cup...go,go,go!!!!!

Today we have a HUGE horse race Carnival here is Australia. Every year they hold this event on the first Tuesday of November. It’s heaps of fun!!! The boys get all dressed up in charming suits or sometimes they choose to be a bit funny and more creative, and they try colourful suits or sometimes costumes (I'm trying to upload a photo to show you but blogg has been a bitch and it won't let me). The girls go through heaps of trouble to look amazing! And most of them do it very well. They all wear very posh hats and the most attractive dresses. Every year they have a contest to see who has the most beautiful outfit of the day.

This event is called Melbourne Cup, and of course you can tell by the name, that’s held in Melbourne (ddduuhhhhh!!!!!). The whole country stops at 2pm (and in a few states at 3pm) to see the 24 horses racing, trying to collect the main prize, which I don’t know exactly how much, but I think it’s around one million Aussie dollars.

Not being an Aussie myself, I have to say that in my first year in Australia, I was chocked with the Australians’ obsession with horse racing, and with the Melbourne Cup in particular. Even the few people who don’t gamble normally (there aren’t too many of them here in Australia), make sure they make their way to a TAB (I don’t know what the name stands for but I know it’s a kind of a betting bank full of smelly people, wearing some weird clothes etc) to place their bets.

Here at my ‘glamorous’ work, we had a sweep. So I got the list of all the 24 horses and wrote them in a paper so we could gamble a bit and have some fun. So each one of us got the chance to pick at least two papers out of the hat, and for each horse you get, it costs two dollars. So I collected AU$48, and the person who picked the winner (horse) will score AU$40. And the person who picked up the loser, the last horse to come, will get AU$8. That sounds good. At least once in a while the loser gets to win something…

Well, but what I thought was quite funny is the fact that we are all having a bbq this arvo, and the company is providing the food and the alcohol. But the boss MADE SURE that everyone knew that partners weren’t allowed in. But guess who is coming??? His wife!!! Also, when we were doing the game with the horses, everyone picked two horses only to make sure everyone would have at least two options. He came in running, saying that his wife was coming so he could pick four horses. It kinda of pissed me off, as I had to have only two horses in the end while the only partner allowed in the bloody bbq had her two.

Now, I have to say that I'm happy about one thing. He picked four very shitty horses, so even though he has more chances to win than everyone else, he still is going to lose. Hehehehehehehe… I’m keeping records of every horse each of us picked and he is so disappointed that he got shitty horse that he wrote down under his name in the record (I didn’t see him doing it. I just know it’s his hand writing!) the name of the four best horses... What a nut case??? He should be happy that at least he’ll have his partner at the bbq to cry with when one of us gets the first prize!

Go, go go horses!!!!! Good luck to everyone!!!!

Thank God for the ‘pregnant woman top’!

I’ve been feeling very, very fat lately. My friends keep laughing at me when I say that because they reckon I’m just crazy! Well, I tell you. When I was in high school, all I wanted was put on some weight. I was skinny and very tall, so not many guys were interested in me (I still don’t know how I managed to kiss a lot during high school…). I come from a place where big bums, nice worked out legs and small waist are the bomb!!!

Yeah, now I cynically say that I have to loose some weight. But I DO!!!!!! I’m still tall, I still have the long and skinny legs, but my tummy, oh boy, my tummy isn’t looking its best. I used to love wearing my small tops, and showing off my ribs (there wasn’t much skin in that time!). But know all I can wear is the pregnant woman tops, you know the ones that are tight around the breast but they get loose from there downwards? Thank God for the pregnant woman top!

So, to solve this problem, my boyfriend and I started a diet together. It isn’t really a proper diet, it’s more like healthy eating. We’ve been eating fish, veggies and salad, instead of my old favourites (burgers, pizzas, junk food!). It’s going well, although we only started it five days ago.

Now, the next step is the exercises. PAIN, PAIN, PAIN!!! I was dieing to do kick boxing as I think it’s great for girls to know how to defend themselves, and be able to kick some asses. We went to check out the place but the babe wasn’t very happy with the idea. He said that the gym was full of men with high level of testosterones, WHAT???????????????????????????? Hahahahhahahahhahahhahahha… how funny is that? Who would say something like that?

The bottom of the story, he convinced me that he would help me with the boxing exercises by training me himself. He bought the boxing gloves and off we went for the first session last night in the park. I have to say, it was great, but ouch!!! After a few good years being so sedentary, I’m in absolutely PAIN!!! My arms hurt, my legs, my abs, everything!!!

I hate exercising! I wish I could just blink my eye and make it happen. I would like to have muscly legs, a six-pack and I would LOVE to be able to wave good buy without having to hold the skin hanging from my arm…PAIN, PAIN,PAIN!!!!

Chapter 3: How to enjoy life?

Does anyone there have the secret to enjoy a healthy and beautiful life? When I say healthy, I don’t mean boring! I mean enjoy a life full of happiness, smiles, parties, companionship, friends, love, passion, lust, all these things…
I wonder sometimes if I enjoy life as much as I should, I wonder if I actually LIVE my life it all.
I envy (in a positive way) those people who are so young (or at least my age) and they’ve been in so many different places in the world, or they are passionate about a particular sport, or a band, a festival or whatever. I’m so scared sometimes to turn 40 and say that I haven’t done much with my life.
It’s funny though as I left home when I was 18 years old and I’ve been living in a different country for four-and-a-half years. I’m sure there will be people saying that I have done heaps already. But you know when you look back and you don’t have that many stories to tell?
I’m so scared that one day, when I have my kids, and they ask my friends “what was mom like when she was young?” And they go like: “well, don’t really have much to say…” That’s a scary thought!
So, how do I enjoy life? Bettina and I always talk about how important it is for someone to have passions, and that is what makes a person be interesting. But what are my passions? What am I crazy about? I think that after all, although I always try to be everywhere, doing everything, I ended up doing nothing and just living one day after the other…
I don’t know! I should be grateful for my life (and I guess I’m), but I just wish I could live my dreams, make them happen. Do you enjoy your life?

I'm so proud of her!!!

I know this might sound weird, but I had to write about what just happened a few minutes ago! My best friend just sent me an email to say she is one of the three finalists for the Queensland Media Awards for best Journalism student.
How cool is that??? It’s also awesome the feeling that, even though we studied together, the same major, and she is a clever little thing, while I was just an average student, I can still share this great joy with her. I’m so proud of her!!!! She is not only beautiful, funny, baladeira (someone who party hard) and so much fun, she’s also very INTELIGENT.
You go girl!!! You ROCK!!!! And it was so funny how she said, “I don’t think I’ll apply for it, it’s too much hassle!” And now, here she is, the finalist!!!!
I’m so proud of you babe! Good luck!

Chapter 2: Friends, the family we choose...

Isn’t this saying great??? “Friends, the family we choose!” But I couldn’t agree more!!! Last night I had two friends coming over to my place in one of those ‘last moment’ things (which I absolutely love, by the way!!! I love spontaneous behaviour!!!), and we had some dinner and wine.
After a few glasses, we started talking about our friends back in our home country. In my case, all my friends at home go back to the ancient time. Not that I’m that old, but most of my best friendships started back in primary school…and, despite the distance between us, we still love, care and think of each other a lot.
But who doesn’t have that friend who we used to love to spend heaps of time with, but now we just CAN’T STAND them???
Well, I do, I do and I do. I have (had) this friend who is ABSOLUTELY spoiled. She drives me MAD!!!! Don’t you hate spoiled people???? The ones who, when you’re having a discussion (or an argument) they will speak up their mind and walk off on you. You just stand their frustrated because they were stupid (immature) enough to not let you share your opinion. Or how about, when they get frenetic and rude to you because you disagree with something they say. They also cut you off when you are having a very interesting talk with someone else to tell you a plain joke, and when you don’t laugh at it they say “You’re boring!!!!” Ooohhhh dear, I hate spoiled people!!!! There is nothing worse for a person to be. I’m exaggerating, I know. But that’s a pretty bad thing.
Well it turned out that I kind of got rid of her. As in, all the time I go back to my home country, I barely see her because she doesn’t hang around with my friends anymore. They can’t stand her either hehehehehe… I know that’s mean. But did she ever let anyone tell her that she wasn’t being a very nice person and she would miss out??? No, she DIDN’T!!! So face the consequences.
I actually felt sorry for her once when we were all in a friend’s wedding, and we started talking about how awesome the Hen’s party had been, until she realised (so did we) that she was the only one in the table that hadn’t been invited for it. How sad!!!
Well, I don’t know why I dedicated the second chapter of my book to this person who I don’t even like much. I guess it was actually to remind myself of how much I love my real friends, the unspoiled ones. Also to use this opportunity to say to you all that I love you very much and you all have a HUGE place in my heart. I definitely have chosen you to be my family.

Chapter one: Is life always beautiful???

Hello!!! I finally left my laziness aside and decided to write my first chapter in the Open Book.
Well, I believe the first chapter is the key to hook you or not as a reader so I was thinking wether to have a beautiful, colourful start or if I actually should right about how I really feel at present…
For the happiness or sadness of my readers to be (if there is actually someone reading this), I decide to right about my boring and discontent moment in my life.
Before I make you go any further, just be aware that I really hope this Open Book isn’t going to be all about my melancholic phase…
Routine, I think that’s one of the problems hunting me at the moment. The funny thing is I’m not talking about routine in a relationship (poor thing. I can’t blame my beautiful boyfriend for this). I’m talking about waking up everyday at the same time, having a shower, having breakfast (which is also the same everyday) and driving to work.
Then, that’s my ‘favourite’ part: do LITERRALY nothing at work. To be very honest, I think that’s my real problem at the moment. I think I’m going absolutely nuts for the fact that I spent three-and-a-half years studying Journalism to become a PR person, to work in TV or to work in a big company developing their communication strategies, but instead I’m a receptionist in a very, very small company that barely gives me any work to do.
I feel like I’m so ready to face this famous and so competitive working world, but I’m here, setting in my desk, writing my first chapter because I have nothing else to do. Please don’t get me wrong. I love to come here to update my blog, and keep you informed, but I’d much rather to do this is a hobby, as a stress relief from my busy day, which at the moment I DON’T HAVE!!!!!
Please dear reader, tell me what is the secret to get that dream job??? I know it won’t happen suddenly, but I just feel sometimes that it’s taking to long for it to happen to me!!!
And I’m sure someone out there, at some stage of their life, has felt the same way I feel right now. But I know what I’m going to do. I’ll leave you here now (I promise I’ll come back soon with my chapter 2) and I’ll straight way start hunting for the job I really deserve. WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!

Introduction

Welcome to my open book.
Hope you'll find that this is a good book to read while you feel like procrastinating...
This is actually the reason why I started writing it at the first place.
Maybe not! The reason why I started writing it is because I always wanted to have a little place where I could write down my crazy thoughts, and I finally decided to leave my neuroses aside (I promise I'm a little bit!!!) and do so.
I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you can share your thoughts with me.
Shall we start???