A Christmas Story

For the first time since Primary School I got to dress up as an angel for a Nativity play at church*. I’ve always been an angel. I was never one of the lucky ones that got to be an important character like Mary or even a shepherd. I think it was cause I was shy. The shy people always get to be angels. Nevertheless, I got to wear little wings and sing Christmas carols. It was great. Until “Away in a Manger”. The piano sounded the little introduction, I took a big breath and started.

“Away in a manager, no crib for a bed…”

I only realised too late that nobody was actually singing. Except me! The camel that was standing in front of me turned around so abruptly, and stared at me as if I had just committed an unforgivable sin.

“Stop singing!” He hissed.

My voice died in my throat and I tried to curb the heat rising in my cheeks. The piano started again and I tentatively sang – trying to blend in with the rest. By the time "The First Noel" came along I felt less embarrassed, and started to hope that perhaps people hadn't really noticed. It was finally during "Good Christians Men Rejoice" that I was over it. I sang the last song, "Joy to the World" with much gusto.

Maybe next time they'll let me be a shepherd.

*Since there were a lot of carols that needed to be sung, we were roped in to help the kids with the singing.

The Christmas Party

My husband and I approached the whole Christmas party thing without expecting much. I wore my jeans and a smartish top, and decided last minute to apply a thin layer of makeup. We arrived to a table sprinkled with Christmas crackers and sweeties and other goodies. And to the news that the restaurant we were supposed to go to was full (turned out to be a matric dance), so we were relocated another. Which wasn't bad - had a great view, comfy chairs... Nonetheless, due to this "inconvenience" my colleague's husband managed to get us a good deal (and all)*. Instead of the simple 2 course meal (starters and main) we had settled for, we were going to get all that PLUS dessert and drinks (beer, champers, wine) on the house.

After the initial pleasantries, the beginning minutes were a bit awkward. You know how you're trying to size up everyone's partners... And nobody really knows what to talk about. And you don't want to be the idiot who talks about work. There were a few tense silent moments... But I tell you, as soon as the starters came, and the wine and beer started flowing things got a little... more relaxed.

A lot more.

The food was just magnificent. Even though we couldn't pronounce what we were eating (vindaloo, jangari, paneer, poppadoms etc etc), and mostly had to wave around wildly to have the various dishes passed around to us, the unique and exotic flavours of this Indian cuisine were just so delicious. I completely overindulged.

As for the company and conversation, things just got better and better. Towards the end of the evening we were laughing non-stop. It was so bad at some stage that it felt like I had done 500 sit-ups, and my jaw was aching worse than it had on our wedding day. Granted, as time wore on (and the wine flowed), so the conversation seemed to dip lower and lower below the belt...

I can't remember when last I laughed so much, and when last I had so much fun with a bunch of people that really accept me. Most of the today was spent reminiscing about memorable moments, good food, and the hilariousness of it all.

*Indians always know how to get a deal.

Christmas Party and More

I'm looking pretty cute today.

Got my little red and white Christmas hat with fake white hair extension braids sticking out on either side. Hats suit me I think. My husband thinks I look cute - like a German. The only uninvited guest on my face at the moment is a horrible pimple. As usual it has come at the wrong time: our Company's Christmas Party is tonight. Nothing concealer can't fix though.

Still deciding what to wear. Don't wanna pitch up looking too formal, but on the other hand your colleagues have only ever seen you wearing your work shirt. In a way you do want to make a bit of an impression. Like, this is the real Gnome. Better pluck my eyebrows. And should I wear makeup? I hardly ever do. Only for special occasions. Does this count as such an occasion?

Sat for a long time studying the menu of the place we're going to tonight. We had to give our orders in this morning already. You have to be careful of your choices. You don't want to choose something that could be potentially embarrassing - such as prawns or chicken or something that you would have to approach with knife and fork, and then have to leave a lot of the meat on the bone. Rather get something you can just shovel down and make sure you use all the money the stingy company has allocated to you.

I've always had trouble choosing what to eat. Once I find a good dish I seem to stick to it. Which is so boring! I wish I was more adventurous with my food choices... I've become rather dependent on my husband when it comes to choosing dishes. He seems to know exactly what I want. He makes deciding what to eat so much easier. He's totally taken to the whole cooking thing as well. I hardly ever cook anymore. The only thing I make is salad. I really bagged a winner. *Gnome is so proud of her choice of husband*

So my colleague wanted to know if I've got any good jokes for tonight. God forbid I'd have to tell a joke. I am so bad, and when I try, they ALWAYS fall flat and people just don't laugh. Cringe. Luckily our one colleague is a bit of a loud mouth, so rest assured, we won't have to make too much needless conversation. I'm actually just there for the food after all.

Flying high

Flying used to be a pretty novel and exciting exercise. But with the inception of low cost airlines like Kulula, 1time and Mango it's become pretty run of the mill. So normal, in fact, that I find it rather boring and just a means to an end. I even have a list of things that irk me about flying.

1.) When people push and shove to board the plane. Guys, you have a RESERVED seat. Believe it or not, you have a space in this plane. YOU WILL NOT BE LEFT BEHIND.

2.) When you have asked for a window seat, and some idiot has decided that he deserves to sit at the window even though he checked in after you, and you actually deserve the window seat, but you're too nice to make a fuss over a view that you only indulge in at take off and landing anyway.

3.) The same dude that stole your window seat wants to go to the loo just after you have made yourself comfortable. When flying with Mango, this means having to get up and wait in the aisle for the dude to finish his business. So annoying.

4.) That there are still people out there who don't switch off their electronic devices during the flight. People, this could interfere with the electronic equipment of the plane. Obviously they don't get that this might make us crash. Crash = dead. Hello?! Priorities people.

5.) I can't imagine that there are still people that don't know how to fasten their seat belts. Even if you're not a seasoned flier, it's really not that higher grade. Click. And lift buckle to undo. If you have a problem, call the flight attendant. If you managed to book your flight online, the seat belt should be child's play.

6.) The fact that people unfasten their seat belts BEFORE the seat belt sign has been switched off and the aircraft has come to a complete standstill. Surely they say these things for your safety? Either way, it irks me that people just don't LISTEN.

Easy post

Had the most amazing extended weekend in Cape Town. Got up at 4 this morning to catch an early flight, and now get to be at work until 5. My response time is impaired accordingly. So I've opted for a reasonably easy post today... Thanks Toby for the tag.

1.When is the last time you held hands with someone? Probably this morning with my husband on the plane.

2. You wake up as the opposite gender, what’s the first thing you do? Faint.

3. Have you ever climbed out a window? I can't recall off-hand, but I'm sure I have sometime in my life...

4. Where is your mum? In Cape Town.

5. Morning or night person? Mmh... More morning than night nowadays, but not early morning.

6. What was the last movie you watched? In the cinema the last I watched was Ratatouille. On the weekend I watched some of Napoleon Dynamite (before I feel asleep).

7. Do you have a crush on anyone right now? My husband...?

8. Any cool scars? I have a "volcano" on my head from measles.

9. Things about the opposite sex you notice first? Not anything specific (physically). Probably if they are shy/outgoing.


10. What do you do when no one is watching? Fart. And blog. And Facebook. Sometimes all at once.

11. Ever been in love? YES. Still am.

12. What’s something your friends make fun of you for? My slight dislike of children, and the fact that I speak German.

13. What is your curfew? My husband demands me home at 5pm :)

14. Would you ever dye your hair red? Been there, done there. Got the photos to prove it.

15. You + alcohol = talkative

16. What’s your worst personality flaw? I trust too easily.

17. What career would you wish to be in? One which fulfils me.

18. Which country would you like to visit? Italy.

19. Do you want a well paying job or a job you enjoy? Definitely one I enjoy, but there must be some money involved. A good balance...

20. Do you wish to have the same best friends when you’re older? Mostly yes.

21. Do you believe in needing a religion? Absolutely.

22. What did you wear today? Wearing black pants and work shirt.

23. When were you last on the phone? Probably about 20 minutes ago.

24. What shoes did you wear today? Black closed shoes.

25. Do you like maths? Not complicated school maths. But financial maths is cool.

26. What about history? I only did it up to the end of Grade 9. Wasn't my favourite to be honest.

27. Have you ever seen 5 squirrels at one time? I think so - at the Company Gardens.

28. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? With much effort. And only if I push my nose into a more reachable position. And then I end up with gob all over.

29. Do you have a brother? Nope.

30. Who’s your favourite person to talk to? My husband, Mrs M, my sister, God.

31. Have you ever used ‘photobucket’? No.

32. Do you like hugs? Bring it on.

33. Do you want to be a doctor? No thanks.

34. Have you ever fallen asleep with gum in your mouth? Not that I can recall.

35. What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Take my pillules.

36. Do you brush your teeth everyday? Every day. Twice. I now have a toothbrush with a tongue cleaner. I use it diligently.

37. Would you date a girl/guy with hair longer than yours? If my husband had long hair I would still love him if that's what's implied.. But I guess in principle I'm not that into long hair on men.

38. Do you want to be famous? Definitely not.

39. Do you spend a lot of time contemplating life’s causes? Sometimes...

40. Do you do your own laundry? Unfortunately yes. I hate it. I don't iron. Ever.

41. Whats the last thing you Drank? Water.

42. Last song you sang? "Africa" by Toto. Such a singable tune.

43. Last person you hugged? My husband.

44. Last thing you laughed at? I laugh a lot. I think I laughed something my colleague said. Can't remember what it was even...

45. Last time you cried? Can't really remember. Maybe a few weeks ago?

46. What colour are your bed sheets? White.

47. What colour is the carpet in your bedroom? Don't have carpets.

48. What’s under your bed? Lots and lots of dust.

49. What time did you wake up today? 4:15 am. *YAWN*

50. Current annoyance? Hunger. Tiredness. Phones.

51. Current desktop background? A photo of my husband and I sharing a joke on a picnic. Very cute.

Anyone who feels like it, consider yourselves tagged.

Why

Why do people not return phone calls?

Why do you have to lean on people for days before they get back to you?

Why does chocolate have to be so fattening?

Why is PMB weather so erratic today?

Why does prestic get sticky after you've played with it for too long?

Why do I feel like a whale the one day, and the next like I've never been slimmer?

Why am I scared of people in authority?

Why does my deodorant let me down at the end of the day, even though it promises not to?

Why do people use each other?

Why do people wearing hats always drive slowly?

Why do we never know what to make for dinner?

Why oh WHY does East Coast Radio ALWAYS play the SAME songs over and over and over again?

Did you miss me?

Feels like I haven't blogged in ages. My absence has been due to a number of reasons. Firstly I think I am currently suffering from a mild case of blogger's block. Yip. I just cannot seem to find anything profound or exciting or interesting to write about. Or maybe all the profound stuff that I want to write about is not something I necessarily want to share with the entire blogosphere. Nonetheless, I hope this will pass soon...

To add to that I was off work for a couple of days last week, entertaining my family who came to visit for a few days. And then, in a surprising twist of fate, work has actually been busy. "Busy" is quite a loose term, though, and includes chatting to friends online and uploading photos on Facebook. So there. But I don't need to make any excuses to anybody anyway. Right? I am doing this for me. This is Gnome's Gnomeland in which Gnome can do as Gnome pleases.

Blah blah blah. Am I waffling?

So I'm sure you are all dying to know what happened to my performance appraisal. Are you? Or have you already forgotten? HA. Well either way I'm gonna tell you. It went super well. My boss is really pleased with me, and I jumped up from a 2.4 (out of 5) to a 4.1 (out of 5)! Yay for hard-working Gnome. I really am chuffed with myself. I tried to peek at the other people's scores (nothing like a little healthy competition), but only caught a slight glimpse of a 3.something somewhere (WOOHOO). Whatever my colleagues' scores were, at least I beat myself - hands down.

So the time with my family was just so wonderful. We had the coolest day on Friday (it was finally sunny) - packed with activities from morning til night. I really like being around my family. They're really some of the only people I can truly be myself around. Most of the time anyway. I am, however, enjoying peeing with the door open, having fart contests with my husband whenever we feel like it, and walking around naked* again now that they're gone.

The only less desirable side effect was that the time with my relatives was one big FEAST. Instant gratification, delayed depression. It all went pear-shaped when they arrived and we scoffed pizza for dinner (got a great deal at Scooters - 5 large pizzas for R 105, since one lady - who was vegetarian - ordered Hawaiian [with HAM] by mistake)**. It was just downhill from there. Chocolates, cheese, more chocolates and more cheese. Picnics with cheese and chocolates for dessert. I think you get the picture. And we went out for dinner. And conveniently didn't have time to run in the evenings. So this week, people, I am eating less. No chocolates and cheese. Had a piece of cake on Monday though... Right. Starting today. Or maybe tomorrow. Still have some chocolates to finish...

*The journey from the bathroom to the bedroom is but a short one.
**Did you know that Debonaires doesn't seem to have BANANAS on their pizzas anymore?! I am totally never going to Debonaires ever again. Bananas on pizza rock.

Washing Day

Once in a while disaster strikes at our place of residence. There are 2 washing machines that have to serve the needs of all the people staying there. They don't really live up to their promise of royal speediness (being Speed Queens and all), but they are adequate. At least when both of them are in working order.

Saturdays are a nightmare. Regardless of what time you want to do your washing, there will always be some bright spark with their sunlight soap and washing basket that is gleefully loading up both machines, having arrived only seconds earlier. Alternatively you will be greeted by the familiar swishing noise of water and a big red shining light: In use. I would love to just refuse to get up at an unearthly hour on a Saturday morning, but when you run out of clean panties, what's a girl to do...

We get around these little dilemmas by doing the washing on weekdays. My husband doesn't have lectures on Tuesdays, so these have been deemed official "Washing Day". In the past few weeks, however, my husband has been pretty busy, so the washing has been piling up. He has managed to do a load here and there, but it never really made a dent in the growing mound that is our washing. Things were getting desperate (I had to start wearing emergency underwear - those with worn out elastic - and socks that have exceeded their expiry date).

And now one of the machines is out of order.

There was just nothing for it. I would have to get up at the crack of dawn* to avoid any physical harm brought about by "Dirty Washing Pile-up Syndrome". I've heard it gets quite severe. Rashes and that sort of thing. Nasty.

How lovely and crisp the air was this morning. I got 2 loads done before work without any hiccups. Never mind that I am falling asleep at my desk, and making really stupid mistakes at work today.

All is fair in love and washing.

*Our wonderful friends did offer us the use of their (private) washing machine, and we are definitely going to do the rest of our Everistic pile of washing there tonight. Thanks guys :-)

Girliness

After much careful planning we finally had the long awaited girl's night on Friday. I can't believe how excited I was. I wasn't always this girly...

I grew up very much as a tom boy. I'm told that I played with cars when I was small. Somewhere at the end of primary school I started watching cricket, and have been doing so ever since. In High School I would buy shoes in the men's section, and wear nothing but jeans (or shorts) and t-shirts. What I knew about make-up was scary. The only remotely girly thing I did was dye my hair (way too many times).

After Matric I cut my hair really short, and for a whole year people would mistake me for a guy (this is another post altogether though). I used to get really offended, and finally grew my hair again.

During my studies I had some girly girl friends, and they often encouraged me to pluck my eyebrows, wear make-up, and paint my toenails. They would even inspire me to buy girly clothes, or freely share advice on what I should wear. I liked being pampered. All girls do.

But I think it was only really when I met my husband that I started embracing this whole girl thing fully. I started buying skirts (and love wearing them), I got my ears pierced and ADORE wearing earrings. I love putting on make-up and straightening my hair. I wish I could go to the hairdresser more often and crave going shopping for new outfits. I just love feeling beautiful and girly.

*HELP*

I'm still not a overboard girl though - I still watch cricket (and we even watched the rugby at our girl's night on Friday!!), but I love being feminine and looking the part. I was surprised that I seemed to be the one with the most make-up at the girl's night!

I've been waiting the whole week for nice weather so that I can wear open shoes to show off my beautifully painted toenails... :-)

Songs I hate

1.) Any song by UB40. They all just sound the same to me. Not only that, but the lead singer sounds really bored, and I just don't like his voice. And he's not always on key either.

2.) "Shut up and sleep with me" by Sin with Sebastian. The depth of the lyrics is astounding.

3.) "I said I loved you but I lied" by Michael Bolton. Not sure why I don't like it. I just don't.

4.) "If you don't know me by now" by Simply Red. I just don't find it has anything to offer me. It drags on and it sounds like he's whining.

5.) "(Don't know what it's called!)" by Jennifer Lopez. I have not heard a more REPETITIVE song in my life. It's slowly driving me insane. It starts with this repetitive horn-sounding, up-and-down tune, which is repeated throughout the song.

6.) "Evergreen" by Will Young. Initially I had nothing against this song, but it was SO overplayed that I now hate it. Too soppy and just hate it.

7.) Mariah Carey when she sings really high. After "Hero" I just haven't connected with her music. Especially when she shows off by singing in a ridiculously high octave.

8.) "Hey Baby" by DJ Ötzi. Initially I could also handle this one, but heard it in Germany for months, and then again here in SA for more months. Just so overplayed and really mindless. It might be slightly enjoyable if you're really hammered on a tropical island somewhere on holiday.

Facebook success story

I’ve met a couple of people (including my wonderful husband) who just aren’t into Facebook. For a variety of reasons. Be it wanting to stay anonymous, wanting to let the past stay in the past and avoid awkward reunions with people you’d rather forget, or just to be a nonconformist. Despite some occasional irritations with Facebook, I’m rather glad I joined. And here’s why.

When I worked in England during my gap year, I met an array of people from different cultures and countries. When you’re so far away from anyone familiar, your survival depends largely on finding friends. I made many wonderful friends in my time in England. Most of which I have lost contact with.

In the past few years, I would often think back to the people I had met there. I sometimes even googled their names to see what the Internet would cough up, but without any success. There was one friend in particular that I would often think of.

She had worked with me at the tills. One day when I came to work, she was just there. I had prayed hard for a Christian friend (there weren't that many around where I worked), and here she was. She saw my WWJD bracelet, and we immediately hit it off. She was such a radiant, intelligent, humorous, deep person. Somehow it always felt as if we'd known each other for ages. There was no ridiculous small talk, it's like we would always get right to the good stuff.

Over the years, she slowly started slipping from my memory. With the event of Facebook, however, I thought back to those days in England. I searched for her, and there she was. What was even crazier than finding her after 6 years was the fact that she was coming to South Africa. To Durban to be exact.

In the days before the scheduled meeting I suddenly felt nervous. I had forgotten what she was like - what her voice sounded like, how she walked, how she responded to me, how I responded to her... What if we had changed? What if we didn't have anything to talk about?

Waiting at the beach I felt my heart pound as the minutes dragged on before her arrival. And then suddenly she was there. Sunny and radiant as ever. In a bright skirt and cheeky hat. And as we hugged it felt like everything was coming back. As if we never really spent that much time apart.

We spent time together until late that evening - shopping, chatting, eating, playing card games... I have been struggling lately with friends - ones that I've lost, and ones I never had. God gave me a great gift yesterday - in the shape of my friend from England. It's been ages since I felt so free to express myself, since I've laughed from the pit of my stomach, and could truly say that I was really genuinely sad to leave her again.

Thank you God for Facebook.

Arnold

Every once in a while I go through the contacts on my cellphone to see which numbers I can delete. You know, some people you meet once or twice, get their numbers, and then you never actually see them again. At the first delete cycle you hesitate to delete them. It's like cleaning out your clothing cupboard. There's always a chance that you might wear that top again (when you loose that extra weight - which you have been planning to do for years). By the second delete cycle you are more sure that you actually want them gone, since you haven't been in contact with them again. But it's only by the 3rd delete cycle that you are really certain that you will not need their number again. And so they disappear.

In some delete cycles you come across names that mean nothing to you. Like Arnold (as I discovered last night). I know an Arnold? Arnold Arnold... I turn the name over and over in my mind, but just can't place it. At all. I ask my husband, but he also doesn't know. Do we know him from church, work, our parents? Perhaps he is really important - a policeman who helped with the hijacking case, or someone from the insurance? He could be a stalker, or a pleasant grandfather-like old man.

Arnold will stay with me for at least another 3 delete cycles. Just in case he is important.

4 things

- Did you know that Luciano Pavarotti died today? I just read it on yahoo. He had pancreatic cancer. Not that I'm a big opera fan, but he was a pretty big star. Feel a little tinge of sadness.

- Facebook is driving me up the freakin' wall. For the past 3 days it has been so slow that it takes over 40 minutes to load, and then it doesn't load everything. Arg. Not that I'm addicted to it, but a friend that I met in England (and haven't seen in 6 years) is down in SA for a few days (in Durbs!) and we're trying to make plans to meet. But we're making these plans on Facebook. Now I can't get on and have had to ask a friend to go online for me and read her msg and respond for me. So frustrating and irritating.

- For once I am upset that Eskom got their act together quickly. PMB had a major power outage today. We got to a dark office this morning - no phones, no computers, no lights, no photocopying. We were informed that the power could be out until after midday. We were busy colluding with our manager on taking turns to go home, making plans to duck work at 1, when the printer gave an ominous beep, and we all watched in dismay as the green light on the computer screen flickered on...

- As hard as I try, I just cannot resist biscuits. Trying to ne healthy this week (salads and all that), but damn. At Young Adults last night, the biscuits were calling out my name longingly, and I had no less than 5 biscuits. I have a serious biscuit weakness.

Social phobia 2

Here's another nail in my introvert- and antisocial-proving coffin.

When I go to the hairdresser, I really hope for someone who either talks a hell of a lot and doesn't ask me anything, or for someone who just shuts up and does my hair. I really can't stand it when hairdressers are all fakely interested in me for 30 minutes. I'd actually rather have silence. It won't even be awkward. He/she is, after all, rather busy with my hair, and I'd prefer their undivided attention to the task at hand.

I've had hairdressers commenting on the thickness of my hair ("You have really thin and delicate hair!"); the quality ("It's really knotting at the bottom here, there are split-ends, you should really cut your hair more often!"); and I've even had hairdressers reprimanding me for dyeing it. I mean, I know it's not good for your hair to dye it, but do you have to speak to me like a little child while other customers are sitting around waiting (and staring)? Arg.

I know small-talk has its place, but I find it so tedious when it's with someone you'll probably never see again. Does he/she really want to know what I do for a living, or where I come from? They're really just talking to seem polite. Maybe it's rude, but I refrain from small-talk with hairdressers, dentists and the like. Unless there is a future for this friendship, it's frankly just a waste of my few and precious extrovert genes.

WANTED

Gnome, Pietermaritzburg, desperately seeking a full 9 hours of sleep (after very inadequate rest last night). The following items could greatly improve her chances of having a peaceful night's rest.

1.) Mosquito repel device (ANY kind - just not repellent*). You know it's spring when you can't sleep cause of the mozzies humming in your ear. Gnome spent hours last night trying to slap away the mozzies. All in vain. The mozzie saw Gnome's dozing off as a go-ahead to attack.

2.) Temperature regulator. Going to bed with your feet hanging out from under the duvet, only to wake up feeling cold later, putting on socks, only to wake up again, sweating. Temperature changes during the night = grumpy Gnome.

3.) Bigger bladder. As much as Gnome tries to go back to sleep after waking up with a full bladder, there's just nothing for it. The trip to the loo is inevitable. And scary**.

4.) Noise extinguisher. Fate will have it that Gnome and her husband live in a place where a rooster does its nut at 3 in the morning.

5.) Simmons Beautyrest Individual Pocket Coils Mattress and Ace-sized (as opposed to Queen or King) duvet. Even though Gnome is quite a deep sleeper, when her husband moves around like he did last night, an individual pocket coil mattress and a larger duvet might have ensured her a few more minutes undisturbed sleep***.

If anyone is able to assist with any of the above items, please get into contact with Gnome immediately. She is very willing to negotiate about prices.

*Peaceful Sleep, Tabard, whatever you are using, the stuff might repel mozzies, but simultaneously makes you repell others (STINKY!).
**Since watching "The ring", looking into the mirror at night has never been the same again.
***No, Mom and Dad, this does not mean I agree with the separate bed/duvet theory.

Social phobia

Before I met my husband, I thought I must be the only person on the planet that deliberately tries to avoid people in public places (mostly shopping centres), just to stay away from embarrassing one minute pointless conversations. Obviously I was wrong. Together, my husband and I go to great lengths to duck & dive in the aisles of Checkers (or whatever shop we are in at the time), intensely and animatedly discussing the pros and cons of oven baked chips, just to avoid being detected.

One unfortunate incident happened in the aisles of Pick 'n Pay. We hurried away from the clutches (and eyes) of an irritating fellow student, who just does not shut up (plus he has this annoying habit of bumming lifts off you at the most inconvenient times), but this hawk eye had seen us and finally tracked us down (he followed us all the way to the detergents aisle!), rudely interrupting our important dialogue about toilet cleaners.

Just yesterday, while shopping, my husband was caught off-guard by his (ex) landlord. I had thankfully gone looking for some juice, and when I saw (from a distance) what was happening, I spent the next 10 minutes closely investigating the frozen fish (found some good specials too).

And then today, a guy walked into the shop looking rather very much like a guy I once dated. I was in the back in a flash, carefully examining the books that had come in (turning them over and over in my hands), going to the bathroom to wash my hands (a few times), and looking at paperwork (that was not mine) just to avoid an awkward reunion*.

Sometimes it is unavoidable though. Often you see the familiar face too late, and you cannot run and hide. My husband and I then employ the "I'm in a hurry" tactic. Instead of stopping to say hello (and enduring the ensuing awkwardness), it is just much safer to acknowledge that you have seen the people, give a polite "hello" (and even a wave for effect), while still on the move. This seems to be the perfect strategy. You are not being rude to the people, yet at the same time you are avoiding any awkwardness.

I am just really grateful I have found someone that shares my dislike of awkward social interactions.

*I'm not even sure that it was him, but I definitely wasn't going to take a chance!

Mixed post attempt #2

This is the 6th time I am attempting to start this post. 2 of my colleagues are engaged in an in-depth discussion in Zulu. It sounds really fun - they're laughing. It's cloudy and miserable outside, all students have left for the weekend.

My crazy colleague (N) has just invited me to a mega party at a stadium this weekend. But alas, my party days are over. There just seems to be no need for these things when you're married. Or maybe I'm just getting old...

Had a wonderful dinner with friends last night. We had the most scrumptuous curry while sipping wine and talking (mostly) crap. I've noticed that in our (and our friends') relationships, the men do most of the cooking. They seem to enjoy it more than the women! It's great. Is this how it is nowadays or is it just us?

I'm having another one of those delicious German cappuccinos. And a rusk. Even though I just had lunch. My emotions have really been a little extreme today. It freaks me out. A little thing can set me off, and then once I've lashed out I can't understand or remember how or why it was so upsetting in the first place. And then I get upset because I freaked out about nothing. At this point my husband is looking at me as if I'm from Venus (and he's from Mars), and then I just wish that the whole situation will just go away like a bad dream.

Aaah. The joys of PMS.

I realised something weird this morning. When I have to get up early in the morning (weekdays) I am always so tired and reluctant to get up. But when I don't have to get up early in the morning, I wake up early and am not tired. Huh?!

I'm actually glad that Dezi is finally gone from 7de Laan now - it was really dragging on and on and on and she was giving (miserable) Jan-Hendrik false hope. And what is up with Livia (Isabelle - whatever her name is) not telling Ryno that she got her memory back etc. I mean DUH. Listen to (motherly) Karien dammit. I HATE it when people in soaps don't tell the truth.

STILL haven't watched Bourne Supremacy. Hubby and friends really want to watch Bourne Ultimatum, but I refuse to go until I watch the 2nd one.

Enough RAMBLING!!

I'm off to have a great weekend. Hope you do too... :-)

Random ramble

I've been doing so much blog-hopping today, my eyes are about to go square*. As much as I enjoy not being swamped with work, I really do enjoy having some work to do during the day. At the moment, the ratio of hours that I'm busy to hours that I'm bored is about a 1 : 7.

Crap.

People have such different styles of blogging. Some talk mostly about themselves and their deeper issues, others like to tackle current events, others still talk about useless crap (there are some hideous blogs out there!), while the rest mix all these up. I think I prefer those that mix up their posts, and don't concentrate only on current events or themselves exclusively. I often enjoy reading blogs where the mix happens in one single post. I like the fact that a post is not only about a single topic**.

I'm wearing a skirt today that has little jingly things on it, so it makes a noise every time I walk. My husband isn't very fond of it. 10 to 1 he thinks the noise is in his head. The skirt has now been baptised as "The Creaky Brain Skirt".

We watched "Hairspray" last night. It was wonderful! I am, however, terribly predisposed towards musicals, having taken part in productions of musicals in high school (albeit only in the orchestra...). But even my rather music-shy husband really enjoyed this one! The music has you bobbing away in your seat, and John Travolta is an absolute scream. Did you know that Nikki Blonsky (she plays the lead, Tracy) worked in an ice-cream store before she landed the big role?

We made budget today. Thanks to our ridiculously high prices no doubt.

*My mom used to tell us that if we watch too much TV our eyes would turn into squares. Now that I think about it, we only got a TV when I was 11... Maybe she was referring to the computer on which we would play prehistoric games on an orange screen...?

**I'm trying it out in this post! Did you notice?

Meetings

I don't think I've ever met anyone who likes meetings. It is only grudgingly that people agree to write minutes or chair meetings. Especially in churches. Getting people to be members of church council or representatives for synods is like pulling teeth. It doesn't surprise me one bit. Only if I hear a (very clear) voice from heaven will I willingly agree to be on one of those.

We have meetings in the shop every Monday. That's OK though (even though I always get to write the minutes), since it can't last longer than 50 minutes (we open the shop at 9), and the stuff that's talked about actually affects me.

But take the church (half-yearly) AGM we had yesterday. I was so ready to go after an hour. My husband and I go to these things because we are members of the church, and it's important to know what's going on, and be involved etc. The pastor's report, the report on the youth and even the finance report was interesting (bearable anyway).

But as soon as we got to nitty gritty things like passing a motion about some trust that I didn't even know existed... *CRINGE* And then there was a discussion about the wording of the motion. There was actually a discussion about whether or not to omit the word "THE" from the sentence.

Some people seriously just like to hear their own voice. When the chairperson asks: Are there any questions? and your question is not of life or death importance then please just shut up! Gee man. We were there for over 2 hours.

I know it's good to inform the people of what's happening in the congregation and involve them in the decision-making processes, but there is so much damn red tape anyway. If anything wants to be decided it first needs to go through so many channels. You'll be lucky to suggest something as a congregation member and have it take effect before the end of 2009. Stuff that was discussed and voted on at the last AGM in Feb are still waiting to be decided by the council.

*SIGH*

Plus, do you really have to vote on every single little detail? And what's up with people abstaining? Why can't you just decide on which charity you want us to support next year? If you're going to abstain, then just don't come to the meeting.

*Gnome decides to come well-prepared for the next meeting: armed with good reading material*

Maths

The last time I did any proper maths was in High School. I did some (rather enjoyable) stats in my studies, but it was never like the maths I did at school. I was glad to leave that behind after the jubilation-evoking 50-odd percent I got in my matric exams (I was just glad to pass the damn subject). So I was rather surprised when my manager asked me for my help with some maths problems (for her studies) yesterday.

Somewhere in the old rusty maths section of my brain I hauled out knowledge of fractions, BODMAS and indices.

Today we spent a good half an hour going through some more problems. Somewhere along the line, my teachers must have done something right. I was really chuffed at how much I could still do. BODMAS especially just seems to come naturally, like it was always there. Even though maths was my worst subject, I still seem to have the basics in place.

It's like riding a bicycle...