It's a very lazy day. So far I've done a bit of internetting, washed and hung out washing, watched the kitten clamber over the shed roof, listened to some Neko Case and eaten some mashed potato/sweet potato/chili/garlic/Parmesan that C made. At the end of the day, no computer in our house will have Microsoft in it (except my defunct old one in the shed). C is finally taking the plunge and installing Ubuntu/Linux on his computer, overriding Windows. He's very nervous about it. I'm sure he won't regret it.

I'm going to a friend's 'Independence Day' (1 year since she left home) party this evening, should be pleasant.

Since I discovered her website several years ago, I have been very fond of zine writer Vanessa Berry. I bought her book at the This Is Not Art zine fair two years ago, and I don't think I've even read it all, because I read a chapter at a time, and then I read it again, and I don't want to feel like I've finished it, I want it to keep going. It's inscribed with; "To Bianca, All the best ruffley red things to you, xx Vanessa 30.9.07", referring to the ruffled red shirt I was wearing. Ordinary Magazine has featured a little story she wrote about a shopkeeper which is lovely (and a little sad).

Here are a few stray links that might be of some interest:
Awkward Family Photos; Gotham Chopra's Writing Songs With My Friend Mike; Emerald Arts blog from the Renew Newcastle Project; the sketchbook of Stephanie Davidson; Justin Heazelwood aka The Bedroom Philosohpher; 5 Myths About Sleep and Insomnia; the Barcode turns 35; an article about how an indie musician, Amanda Palmer, can make $19,000 in 10 hours using Twitter; 10 Very Good Reasons Why You Should Grow A Giant Beard;

Happy weekend.

I just had my mum over for dinner. Which, sadly, I pretty much used just as a time to bombard her with my (one) problems and make her sort out ways to deal with them. She is good at it, and always has easy solutions. She did have quite a few cigarettes while she was here though (she hides them under the couch cushion on our front veranda and when she drops in she grabs one), and I stressed her out a bit. I didn't bite my nails at all (her pet hate), but she kept correcting my stressed out posture. She's a bit like my conscious, or reasoning, when she's around, she generally knows best. C made us delicious pumpkin/garlic/parsley spaghetti and then we had some store bought mediocre apple pie.

C and I caught the bus to Kotara today as we had to purchase a new router for the interwebz. On the bus to Kotara there were some colourful types, namely, a very bogan ocker-tongued fellow behind us who spoke unconceivably loudly on his mobile phone and utilised just about every cliched Australian slang phrase imaginable with lots of "maaaate" and "tell ya old girl". I was under the impression that 'old girl' meant your mother, but the way he was using it made me think otherwise. There was also this woman and a baby who were getting off at their stop and as they walked past the baby grabbed C's hair. Everyone involved found it quite humorous.
While there I also checked out a pair of shoes I've been admiring at a shoe shop and to my surprise, and my wallet's dismay, they were half price ($45), so they're ordering them in my size and will apparently call me tomorrow and I'll go get them. They look like this, but red, so cute;


I'm just about headed to bed.

I need to stress less. I think I let my 'ideals' get in the way of logic sometimes. I think that everyone and everything should be equal and fair and on the same level, and people are all good, and things should be discussed and problems worked through logically - and I'm starting to find that people aren't like that, and despite what I'd like to think, I'm probably not like that. It's so frustrating when someone isn't behaving the way that is expected, the way you think they should, and when you just want things to be 'fair' and 'equal', but people have different feelings or definitons (or lack of definitons) about what that is. I hate passive agression and back stabbing and I don't want to behave that way. I just want things to be 'better' (better for everyone involved), but I'm impatient. C says I need to learn to be patient. He said I'd probably say "But I want to know how to be patient now!". Regardless, three deep breaths and no frowns. (Definitions of words in italics are of course very subjective to personal opinion)

I hope you enjoyed the mundanities of my day.

C and I are going to go watch a documentary called 'Fuck'. Also, as a rule, never Google the word 'fuck'.

I knew this would happen sooner or later. Here is a whole bunch of stationery I am obsessing over and will never get.









1. Unicorn Wishes Mix & Match Stationery, 2. Cath Kidston's Blooms and Berries Mix & Match Stationery Kit, 3. Faun Mandala Mix & Match Stationery, 4. French General Stationery Kit, 5. Grady McFerrin Stationery Box 4, 6. The Perfect Note, 7. Dumpling Dynasty Mix & Match Stationery, 8. Wonder Woman Mix and Match Stationery, 9. Miso Pretty Mix & Match Stationery, 10. Correspondent's Delight, 11. Cath Kidston Stationery Box, 12. Cath Kidston Birds & Blooms Stationery Box, 13. Sunblooms Stationery Box, 14. Emily's Mixed-Up Stationery
15. Goldfish I Have Loved (too much?) Mix & Match Stationery, 16. The Bad Girl's Mix & Match Stationery, 17. Oh Boy Mix & Match Stationery, 18. Andy Warhol Fashion Mix & Match Stationery, 19. Hemlines Mix & Match Stationery, 20. Sushi-nery Mix & Match Stationery, 21. Retrodepot Folk and Flora Mix & Match Stationery

Starting fresh; postcards to strangers; new stationery; pink (?); eucalyptus lollies; Morrissey; nachos; Dollhouse; Treasure Trove Thursday (I seem to find all the best stuff from the interwebs on Thursdays); Post Crossing; scones (even if the first batch were overdone and the second were underdone) with jam and cream; gourmet food @ camping; camp-fire scented; camping in general; receiving mail; The Chaser's return; Clive Pugh; distant vague travel plans; five minute phone conversations with my ma; my Nanna's chutney, jam, salmon noodle cakes, falafel, hummus and herbs she sent us home with from our visit; orange blossom pashmak; these intensely creepy ads;



and these half-tint sunglasses (at $10US I am seriously considering a pair);