I was somewhat mirthful over getting my first paycheck. I’ve been trying to get a comic book at a local pop culture shop which is run in a most erratic manner – they said stock of Alan Moore’s Promethea was coming but they didn’t know when. Hmph. And they didn’t seem to care much for my custom so I thought bugger that, I’ll buy them on eBay.

So my first official purchase with my new-found wealth was on comic books, Alan Moore’s Promethea books 1-3 and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman volume 2 (which I’ve actually read but loved and so desperately want to own a copy!).

First week of work is over. Oh my god, I’m exhausted. But it’s okay, now I’m drinking beer and waiting to catch up with my ex hopefully – if he doesn’t cancel on me again like he has the last two times I was supposed to see him. I still refuse to believe it’s impossible to be friends with ex-significant others, call me stubborn.

Only one more entry of NaBloPoMo now!

Yes, I’ve run out of steam, could be to do with the fact that when I got home from work I was greeted by a lady and her screaming baby. Lucky I finished work early today (though they did ask me to stay back again…but must think of my health even if the money is tempting). Speaking of work, I got my first paycheck and wow, I’m richer than I’ve ever been in a loooooong time.

I started testing fragrances at work and discovered one that is absolutely divine – it’s actually one I’ve tested before (I have a pouch of imps (that’s what BPAL call samples, short for ‘imp’s ears’) that need retesting and I take them along with me wherever I go, particularly my parents’ place).

Anyway, the one I tried that really tickled my fancy was Alice. Description as follows:

Milk and honey with rose, carnation and bergamot.

In case you’re wondering, it’s named after Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I need a bottle desperately! Am thinking it will be a nice sleep blend (I have a few I rotate wearing to bed because they’re so relaxing and as well as helping me sleep they make me smell nice! Win-win sitch, innit?).

Tags: NaBloPoMo, work, fragrance

Not much happened today, went to work then afterwards picked up my meds and did some supermarket shopping and totally forgot to buy nail polish remover, and biscuits for the neighbourhood kitty that keeps sneaking into our place. Whoops. A stranger added me on last.fm as a friend and I’m wondering whether I should read or test some fragrances, too tired to do anything but drink beer but don’t want to start just yet.

Have witnessed bits and pieces of Battlestar Galactica but I must confess it doesn’t really make much sense to me as I haven’t seen it from the beginning (this is the remake series, not the original. Both my housemates are watching it at the moment). Can someone tell me what the fuss is supposed to be about?

Rules:

1- Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

As above.

2- Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.

1. I love the taste of cod liver oil (yeah, I’m a sick freak).
2. I have very chipped nail polish on at the moment and it looks oh-so tarty.
3. I live with two guys.
4. I have a brother who is a funeral director’s assistant.
5. My initials spell my nickname.
6. My first memory was at the age of one.
7. I work in a call centre.

3- Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

1. http://heart-strutter.org
2. http://bleedingespresso-sognatrice.blogspot.com
3. http://glenyalla.typepad.com/once_upon_a_blog/
4. http://snarke.net
5. http://musicandcats.com
6. http://mandajuice.typepad.com
7. http://phoenixpcd.wordpress.com

4- Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Done!

That’s my post for today…not many more left for NaBloPoMo!

Tags: NaBloPoMo, fun, quiz, meme

So today was my first official day at work where we were actually taking support calls by ourselves. I still needed to put people on hold every now and then but I think I’m otherwise okay though I did hear some of the more seasoned workers complain that apparently we’re not trained enough to be taking calls. They did used to train us for 2 weeks, and I think I’d kind of prefer that but being thrown in the deep end is great for the amount of learning you get done.

I had some chicken curry my mother made for supper tonight which was just awesome, especially with my housemate’s golden ale which is the latest thing to go in the kegs. I’ve also noticed that I’m losing weight which is fantastic! Life seems good so far. Hope things stay the same!

Tags: NaBloPoMo, work, food

I wrote 2 fragmentary poems – the exercise was called a glose – Spanish word, where you get four lines of another poem, copy it to make it the beginning of your poem then you write a free verse poem that is related to the lines you’ve quoted – it can be related in any way, you can discuss the lines, build on them, pick them to shreds, whatever. So yes, I wrote two of those and might do a few more today if I can find some appropriate poems. Now I’m feeling the pinch of not being around my beloved poetry collection! I also wore a ritual oil which is supposed to help inspire creativity, I wonder if it worked? I’ll have to test it on my friend M I think who is also a writer.

Last night I dined with my family, which was lovely. We went to a local Italian restaurant and I had half a dozen oysters natural with chopped shallots and aged wine vinegar, then as a main crumbed cheese-stuffed zucchini flowers with cherry tomatoes and salsa verde. For dessert I had zuppa inglese (which is the fancy Italian way of saying trifle – I got a tad too excited about trifle on the menu which resulted in my father berating me for my child-like enthusiasm) but also got a taste of Mum’s panna cotta which was what I was going to originally order (by the way, I’m listing these descriptions for the benefit of my lovely girlfriend L whose food entries in her own blog always leave me salivating).

I did eventually turn up to a party that my housemate had invited me to and had a bit of fun there…I was a bit nervous, not really knowing anyone but I think I managed to appear pretty socially ‘regular’ for a change. I was greeted at the door by some lads who insisted upon my drinking of hooch (95% alcohol – it nearly made me puke, I swear) and then after that it was chased down by some decent homebrew. The party was for the election (Australia just had a federal election) and (Australian) Labor won, so no more John Howard, w00t! So yeah, overall I had a really nice time and I’m really glad I went. I still can’t get over how well I seem to be doing with just everything this week. Perhaps I really am on the mend…for good!

Tags: NaBloPoMo, poetry, food, party

Tags: NaBloPoMo, life

Tags: NaBloPoMo

Let’s say we’re heading out for a weekend getaway. You’re only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what’s in your bag?

Jeans
Polka dot dress
One of my funny Threadless tees

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

Christ, that’s bizarre!
Feck!
Sadly, yes.
Bruuuunooooooo!
Did you see that thing on the internet?!

(Man, am I really that banal?! sheesh)

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn’t get to do, you probably wouldn’t be in the best mood?

Sleeping
playing Miss Bimbo (!)
chatting to my housemates

You just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We’re talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?

Bookshopping
Reading
Practising my gamba

We’re going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it’ll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?

Lions
Butterflies
Seals

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on TV of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
4? I don’t even watch TV that much! But I guess I would tape Rome season 2, Firefly, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The X-Files? (I really struggled with this question!)

You’re hungry for ice cream. I’ll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
The richest damn chocolate available, honeycomb and raspberry sorbet.

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what’s in there?
Mobile phone, keys, a book, a pen, probably some fragrance vials or bottles.

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let’s pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?

writer
publisher
musician
veterinarian

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?

It gets better.

Yea so at work we got to take calls today and actually speak to customers! I’m no longer hideously nervous though I was just before but the future co-worker who helped me through the process was really nice so that was good. The hard part of training is over and soon the work begins! I had such trouble getting up out of bed today because last night me and the housies had a late supper – choice Turkish food, was delicious. I had leftover chicken and mushroom dip with bread for lunch today. Mushroom dip is so good!!! I think I’m going to have the sweets as my afternoon tea…yum.

Tags: NaBloPoMo, fun, quiz, meme

Training is still going well though today I experienced a bit of information overload and got a tad panicky…not yet panicky enough to have to take diazepam but getting there. I’m pretty nervous about the next two days but what can you do? I just have to keep on reminding myself that I’ve done call centre work before and am not as retarded as I think I am (it’s hard to persuade myself otherwise, I know, but I can try, eh?). Actually, I was late to work because I had so much trouble sleeping which is no good. Our house still hadn’t cooled down sufficiently and even now though it’s about 18 degrees and raining my room is still stuffy despite my having the door in it open.

I should be celebrating. I had a bad year last year, a really bad one and finally I’m starting to feel vaguely normal. So normal I feel weird taking my meds (though of course that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop taking them…that would be stupid). I should also be rejoicing because I’m actually going to have money for Christmas presents for people too.

Went to the pub tonight with my housemates as Rob has returned from his holiday in New Zealand which is good. He was pleasantly surprised to see his hops plant having grown so much. At the pub, Frosty had a chicken parmagiana, Rob a chicken risotto and I had a seafood platter with natural oysters, salmon gravlax, battered prawns and battered calamari. It was pretty nice though the calamari was a touch too salty (they put too much salt on it I think).

The weather has been sweltering but it’s finally starting to cool down. Tomorrow will be 20 degrees cooler than the last 2 days which is insane – like summer and autumn in a short space of time.

So yes, I had my first day of training and so far it seems pretty good. The people seem nice and it’s a great environment to work in. Am still horrendously nervous but I’m sure I’ll be fine once I get going. We all have to start somewhere! An added bonus is it’s only ten minutes’ walk from where I live so I actually came home during my lunch break.

Well, I’m getting back to chilling out…the weather here is insufferably hot at present. I said I wouldn’t drink anymore of the beer that upsets my tummy but I’m drinking it right now!

So our family is actually invited to two weddings today. I’m going to one with my father, and my mother is going with my brother and his fiancee. I was pleasantly surprised to find a dress in size 6 (I’ve no idea what that is in American sizing, sorry folks) thus proving I’m more of a size 6-8 than a 8-10. Woo hoo! Such small triumphs.

Starting training for my job tomorrow. It was sort of funny, woke up at 6.30am this morning (which I hope to do tomorrow) because I got a fierce nosebleed. What a great way to wake up.

Am enjoying Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman which I started the other day. It’s really funny. Well, best be off to my parents’ place to get ready for this whole wedding thing.

Tags: NaBloPoMo, life

I also got a dress and a pair of shoes for a wedding I’m attending tomorrow – shopping was oddly effortless. My father very unfortunately lost the first dress I bought so had to buy a second one but it was cool, my mother bought me a pair of trousers too. Woo!

Well, this is just a short one, am at the parental fold recovering from the shopping. I’m definitely getting better being out in public which is awesome.

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It actually bothers me when someone removes me as a friend on Facebook, I mean, wtf? It isn’t someone I know in real life though I have corresponded with her via several e-mails. And what is with everyone listing that they’re in relationships?! Jealous – perhaps! I don’t know, I need to get over my Facebook addiction (thanks lots Dee! Yeah, I blame you for introducing me to the world of Facebook). Maybe I ought to deactivate my account…

What else…I think I’m over World of Warcraft. I don’t know what it is but both me and another one of my housemates can’t seem to play – I login and try faffing around a bit then end up going back to an inn, going to sleep and logging out. I think having my relatives come over and spend time with us is what properly killed my interest so I need to deactivate my account and leave it for a while. Maybe once the wintertime comes again I’ll get a taste for it.

Yesterday my housemate came home (much to my surprise – thought he had a work function and I was feeling awfully sorry for myself not having anyone else home) and caught me drinking beer out of a longneck (for Americanos that’s a 750 mL bottle) and was asking me what’s wrong with a glass? I didn’t realise that was rather degenerate of me! I mean, it’s okay to drink bottles that are 500mL or less (what Australians call ’stubbies’ I believe) but apparently not out of longnecks. Hmm. We watched some bad TV on free-to-air then watched The Office on DVD which is just cringingly hilarious.

Just finished watching an episode of Oprah and from it apparently even someone with my drinking history could be classified a problem drinker. A bit scary. The bit that had me worried was when you have to start making rules for yourself (my rule is I’m trying not to drink more than a pint of beer a day) but my rule is more motivated by my not wanting to put on weight from drinking so much goddamn beer.

Still waiting to hear about that dratted job…I’m thinking if they’ve left it so late to call then it’s very unlikely that I don’t have the job. Sigh. It is only 2pm but I would have assumed they would have called by now. They said they would call either way…hmm.

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Have almost finished The Scent Trail by Celia Lyttelton. Am up to the ambergris chapter and I have to say, ambergris sounds gross. Especially when it has squid beaks floating around in it (I didn’t even know squids have beaks!). Apparently, sperm whales swallow squid whole because they’re so soft but often end up throwing up the beak (!) encased in some yucky viscous semi-solid thing called ambergris. The beak is extremely sharp and doesn’t break down in the sperm whale’s belly. Usually ambergris washes up on the beach but it can be obtained by (perish the thought) harpooning the poor beast. Ambergris is still fairly rare and smells like musk or something, though apparently it isn’t nice by itself and augments other smells in fragrances, I believe it’s used as a fixative. It looks like pumice stone too. This is all information I got from Lyttelton’s book, but you can read more about ambergris on (where else?!) beloved Wikipedia.

Lyttelton also talked about civet cats and how their anal glands used to be milked for musk (ugh, poor things!) which is now thankfully outlawed. Even worse, the cats where first enraged because they produced more of the substance! God, humans are a cruel lot for vanity’s sake.

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Well, duh, you might say. I know, an obvious statement but there aren’t many opportunities for the largely straight to appreciate that, I don’t think.

Because I moved into a household with two males, for social security purposes I had to fill in a form stating that I was not having a relationship with either party. They ask this because if I were having a relationship with someone they would take that person’s assets and income into consideration when paying me welfare.

Makes me wonder, what if I stated I was having a relationship with both males living with me?!?! Hahaha!

Anyway, they don’t ask all these questions apparently if you’re living with females. It just strikes me as odd – surely if they’re going to ask about males then it’d only be fair to ask about females too? Or is that too logical or something?

Okay, I’ll stop being all serious now and go back to listening to Gang of Four. I highly recommend Entertainment!

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Tags: NaBloPoMo, social+security

Today a little parcel arrived at the door for me – it was from my friend C in the States. So yea, I have more fragrance samples to try! I’m a bit worried that the postman just left the parcel at the door…not exactly a wise thing to do in times like this if you ask me.

I made mashed potatoes for the first time in ages and it’s official – I’ve definitely lost my cooking mojo. It was a pretty sorrowful attempt at mash but at least it tasted nice (I added parmesan…parmesan fixes everything for me, I swear).

Well, pretty sorrowful evening in general. Waiting for someone who promised to call me to call (and of course isn’t…sigh) and drinking pints of beer by myself. My psychologist did tell me to watch my alcohol consumption…it’s so damn hard when there’s so much of it and it’s just staring you in the face! Oh well, off to have another pint.

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Tags: NaBloPoMo, employment

I’ve been up continuing my reading of The Scent Trail by Celia Lyttelton and have just finished the chapter where she has travelled to Tuscany in search of the orris (iris) root harvest. Perhaps there’s hope for me and that 50-book challenge as I’m halfway through the book…if I can slip in a few more comic book collections then I should just be able to make it.

Anyway, from reading this book I’m finding that the world of fragrance is a very sensually layered experience – there are some cultures that practise ingesting certain fragrant concoctions, for example. This isn’t entirely new – after all we have Turkish delight and Indian sweets that are flavoured with rosewater (and are delicious, I might add). As delectable to the palate as they are to the nose, for certain.

And later on today, went to my psychologist’s, oh yea the fun that was that. I wish therapy weren’t so damn expensive, sigh. And I wish it weren’t so hard! I was told today that I apparently have to extend my behavioural vocabulary…sounds pretty wanky but there you go. It includes me trying to be ungrateful and socially…effortless. All in light of my telling her I have a wedding to attend on the weekend.

Finally, some progress on the gamba. Not sounding anything like my former glory but I can hear myself improving! I actually enjoyed playing today though I still don’t have the stamina of the past. It will follow with practise! w00t!

Speaking of w00t, I miss my housemate who’s gone on hols with his girlfriend to New Zealand for just over a week. I’ve dutifully been watering his hops plant which has grown to enormous lengths in the last few days – it can apparently grow 2 cm a day and it really shows! Anyway, hopefully by the time he returns I’ll have a job. Will find out tomorrow I guess!

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Tags: NaBloPoMo, books, reading

I also tested another fragrance called Smut. Let me rustle around for a description…

What a great freakin’ word. BPAL LOVES TEH SMUT! Three swarthy, smutty musks sweetened with sugar and woozy with dark booze notes.

According to the housie, I smelt like musk sticks, you know the yummy pink confectionery? But it’s much nicer than that.

Not much else to report on this end, though I think I might have forgotten to take my happy pill yesterday. Whoops.

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Tags: NaBloPoMo, DVDs, Black+Phoenix+Alchemy+Lab