Obsession

Latest obsessions:
listening to... Sarah McLachlan & Sara Evans.

reading... books on the US response to the Iran/Iraq War and the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan (for a uni presentation tomorrow, unfortunately).

eating... dark chocolate (yummm)

loving... the sunny weather!

hating... uni (the work, not the institution!)

feeling... a mixture between stressed/anxious about said uni presentation and surprisingly mellow (Sarah McLachlan does that to me...)


My other latest obsession, as I'm sure you've heard/read about by now is THE VIOLIN!!
I can't stop hearing it in every song... give me a song and I'll point out the violin part. And probably tell you what string's being played.

My secret love (or not- so- secret love, if you ask my friends) is country music. Wait! Not the twangy, daggy country music! More like pop country. Think the Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts etc... (you've probably never heard of some of those, but that's okay!)

Aaaand guess what, this kind of music, it usually features the violin (well, they call it the fiddle, which my violin teacher says she finds very disrespectful!).
The "fiddle" solos are the kind I dream of playing. Completely amazing. Maybe one day. So I attempt to figure out how to play these, much to the dislike of my neighbours I'm sure. Maybe I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. I've only just learnt how to play "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star"! (and for the record, it's not easy! How Mozart wrote such a thing at 5 years old is beyond me!)

My Dad and I were having a discussion (over MSN, which is how all deep and meaningful conversations occur...) about whether I'm an overachiever. For my birthday this year I received a brightly coloured pair of pj's with the words "Overachiever" emblazoned across the front, from Victoria's Secret, of all places (the giftor shall remain nameless). I did that thing where I have two polar opposite reactions... first of all I was a tiny bit offended that people might have that particular opinion of me, and then I had a good giggle about it.
Anyway, I wondered if I was an overachiever. People often imply that I am. But I contend that I'm just highly motivated. And it helps that I know exactly what I want to do with my life.

And besides, if I'm ever going to play the violin/fiddle like my idol (Martie Maguire, from the Dixie Chicks, she is AMAZING!) I might need a bit of motivation!
(And yeah, I'm a bit obsessed with her too!!)

How I spent my uni "break"

So this past week was mid semester break for the grand old institution that is UWS.

Incidentally I have a funny UWS story. The UWS Student Association, that is, the group that's supposed to foster support for UWS; has brought out these eco-bags that bear the slogan "Don't ask me- I go to UWS"!!!
I don't know how to respond to this. I guess I should mention that UWS doesn't have the greatest reputation amongst NSW tertiary institutions or in the mind of the general population. It's kind of the younger, less respected, kid brother of the older, more reputable unis like Sydney Uni & UNSW. Not that I'm saying it's dodgy or anything. I haven't had any bad experiences in the past 2 years. But it's the only uni "out here" in Western Sydney, so when compared with the bigger, "more prestigious" unis in the city, it kinda gets a bad rap.

So, on one hand, I get my back up and think (as a scholarship recipient and representative who is therefore inclined to vouch for it's professionalism) "That's so rude! UWS is a perfectly good uni. Just because it hasn't been around for centuries like Sydney and doesn't have the city snobs like UNSW attracts..." But then, another part of me thinks it's pretty funny! The slogan certainly plays up to the misconceptions and negative perceptions that UWS faces. So I have a good giggle.

This kind of two-faced reaction is pretty common in me. When someone says something about men being able to do something women can't, on one hand the feminist in me rises up and wants to show them I can do anything that a boy can; and then I think what about all the times I expect to be treated differently because I'm a girl (chivalry and all that).

Anyway, that was not the point of this post. That was just an observation. Coincidentally, it occurred at PAC, where I've been spending the better part of this week, working in the reception/office, answering phones, running messages and photocopying. Scintillating stuff. But actually quite fun because the ladies I worked with were a riot! Sorry to the parent who rang up enquiring about something and had me answer halfway through a laugh, sounding something like this "Good (giggle) after-(giggle)noon, Penrith (giggle) Angli-(giggle)can College, Ali-(giggle)cia speaking!" It was most unprofessional. And I'm pretty sure I totally failed to address whatever enquiry she was making. She wanted to speak to a teacher, and it was 3.55pm (the school finishes at 3.30pm, and this was the last day of term) so I couldn't get in contact with said teacher, and I offerred to leave a message for her. The parents hesitates before asking "Do you think she'll get it?" At this point, I figured I'd already lost the plot so may as well continue, and truthfully answered "Prob'ly not." She said okay, and I replied (and I hate that I said this) "Cool". Like a teenage boy. To a parent of the school that I'm supposed to be professionally representing. Whoops.

I think that might be the end of my career as a secretary/receptionist. Oh wait, I forgot another proud moment. The headmaster asked me to take the details of a senior church minister who was on hold. I thought I'd mastered the whole "take caller off hold, transfer call" and so on, but I ended up hanging up on him! I didn't have the guts to admit this while the headmaster was around of course, so when he came past, I picked up the phone and pretended to be taking down his address!!! Hahaha. Luckily he called back and I lied my way through some excuse about "the phone having a moment". Don't really think he bought it, but he graciously gave me his details anyway. Which was good, because I certainly didn't have his phone number to ring him back!

Apart from that, I had a pretty good day. It was the head receptionist's 60th birthday on the weekend(yes I was definitely the youngest on staff that day!) and also the last day of term, so the atmosphere was pretty jovial. Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday and a Friday... and I got paid for it, which always helps!

The real Alicia Mary's World

Today I took a rare day off and thought... what can I do?
I know! I'll post a new blog. But about what? I read on another blog "It's funny how when you blog, everything in your life becomes a photo op." Haha so true! Hmmm... so how about a pictorial of my "world"! Sound fun? Here we go...

Behind this door...



lies a world of pretty...



a bit of inspiration...






there's photos a plenty...



and my inspiration corner...



lots of books...



more photos and mementos...



lots of clothes...



and of course, the violin and the dance bag...



And my study...


more photos and bits & pieces from over the years...



my kiddie wall of fame...



photos, photos, photos...



my corkboard... photos, pictures, tickets, autographs...





I hope the sheer pinkness of it all doesn't overwhelm your computer screen!

Impatient....

*** update***
I've managed to finish both of my essays! Yay!

And in other news, at my violin lesson today, I finally got to learn how to play with all my fingers on the finger board. That equals 12 more notes to learn people! I must say, I feel a bit more "pro" each time I play with 3 or more fingers. :D


I'm feeling very impatient today... about everything!

1. I've still got to finish my Psych essays by Wednesday and I have writer's block... anyone know anything about the gender differences in aggression and/or pro-social behaviour in 5-12 year olds?

2. Most of my friends finish uni in a year from now... I've got 2 more agonising years to go... barely half way and it's frustrating!

3. I haven't been able to play the violin because of my burnt-to-a-crisp fingers, and I hear really good violinists and am impatient to be able to play like them! Will I ever be that good? I feel like I'll have to learn all over again.


I know I'm basically having a whinge... but it's my blog and I'll whinge if I want! :D

Randomness

Sorry for being so slack in updating lately... there's nothing "blog-worthy" going on at the moment. Well, a lot of stress related to uni assignments (seriously, for one of my Psych subjects I have to write 2x 2000 word essays and ONLY 1 of them gets marked! Is that not the most ludicrous thing you've ever heard! They're flipping a coin to decide which one gets marked...!)

But I digress... I guess I'll answer the questions I've been asked the most:

How are my burns?
My skin is peeling... it's gross. Kinda like sunburn but it feels different. The new skin is pretty red, so I'm trying to leave the old burnt skin on for as long as possible. My fingers look like pieces of meat, burnt and brown around the edges and raw and pink in the middle! It's also very itchy, especially on my stomach. But at least the pain and stinging has totally gone. Is that too much information?!

Uni is kicking my butt at the moment. I've only got 6 weeks left before the end of the semester, but then comes exams... ewww! Being the middle of semester, now is when all my assessments are due. Luckily burning one's body has some benefits... like getting extensions on essays! Not that I'm recommending it to anyone!


And finally, I've got a bit of an obsession with a new game I made up... it's nameless. Basically you ask the players (usually no more than 1 or 2 people) to make a choice between 2 options... The point is to be totally random, eg. Rod Stewart or Neil Diamond? Peanut Butter or Vegemite? North or South island? (These are questions I have asked Mum in real life). It's quite fun, people surprise you with their answers, for example Mum would pick Phil Collins to see in concert over Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond AND The Eagles! Go figure!

The sights of Sydney

*** the dress that I'm wearing in these photos has since been ruined (and it was my favourite!) because I burnt myself again last Tuesday (yes, with the microwave again), this time all over my stomach which now has a lovely red raw hourglass shape burn right in the middle. Neil, in his effort to help, took the dress and the blue tea towel I used to mop up the spilt macaroni and cheese and soaked them. Together. So, my lovely cream dress is now blue. Needless to say, he's buying me a replacement. Not happy Jan.



We went to the city today, it was such a beautiful day after a week of nasty cold weather. We ventured out to the Rocks for lunch and then walked around the harbour.

Alicia's Top 5 Things of what she loves about Sydney Harbour:
1. praline cashew nuts and choc hazelnut fudge at the Rocks Markets
2. Gelatissimo by the harbour front
3. (a non-food thing!) the beautiful weather- sunshine, azure blue skies
4. The Bridge and the Opera House of course!
5. all the tourists taking photos and thinking to myself how lucky I am to live in Sydney :)
































My very own buildings (My initials are A.M.P. in case you missed it!)

I did something stupid...

So yesterday I was at work... "JeansWest fits best"... on my lunch break. Nothing too exciting. Clearly I thought some excitement was needed. I put my pumpkin soup in the microwave- only for 1 minute, I might add. I thought that should do the trick since it was only lukewarm. Anyway so the microwave dings, I open the door and take the soup out... only for it to slosh all over my hands (and all over the desk and the floor).

Well clearly 1 minute was more than enough because it was absolutely boiling. I couldn't get over to the sink fast enough. At first I thought the cold water would fix it, you know like when you touch something hot and you instantly put your hand under the tap. I quickly realised it was more than just a superficial burn like that. For one thing, I was in an excruciating amount of pain. And another, I could see the skin on the palm of my right hand starting to crack and blister already. Yes, I managed to burn both hands. Because I am that clever.

I figured I needed some kind of medical help. Except that I was in the back room of the shop with the door closed and basically incapacitated whenever I took my hands away from under the cold water. My only options were to wrap a dirty old cloth around both hands or make a drastic run for it dripping through the shopping centre and hope the chemist wasn't busy. I chose the latter, because I couldn't be sure I wouldn't catch an infectious disease from the cloth. With a quick "I'm going to the chemist" yelled over my shoulder to my manager Danni, I literally ran- dripping hands and all- to the chemist. Luckily it was pretty empty, because I'm sure I was a sight to see. I went to the counter and told them what happened and while I was waiting for the chemist to finish whatever urgent business he had to finish up, I basically had a melt down- partly because I was embarrassed and felt so stupid!, partly because I was in shock and partly because it just hurt so damn much!

By the time the chemist came over I was in that stage of crying where you're making those embarrassing sobbing noises. The ladies at the chemist were so nice, one even said "We'll take care of you", bless her! The chemist himself looked like he didn't know what to do with a girl crying in the middle of his shop. He seemed impressed with what I'd managed to do to myself though! The first thing he told me was "You really need to have it under cold water"... did he think I was an idiot? Everyone knows that. Gritting my teeth, I told him "I've already tried that." Did he not understand the amount of pain I was in? I was standing there crying in front of everyone, with my name badge from work on and everything, just in case anyone missed me. Then he couldn't make up his mind with what cream to give me. At that point I think I would have taken anything, paid any price just to have the pain subside a little. Oh, and the best part? He told me as I was leaving (without my dignity) "It's likely to get worse before it gets any better. But imagine people who have third degree burns to two-thirds of their body. Now you get a sense of what that's like". Okay, thanks.

My poor manager nearly had a heart attack as I came back to work, eyes red and puffy from crying and my hands looking mutilated. I thought her eyes were going to bulge out of their sockets when I told her what happened. She gave me strict instructions to sit out the back- the scene of the crime- and kept coming in every five minutes to ask "are you alright?" She said she thought she was going to come in and find me passed out on the floor or something! Even though I kept reassuring her I was okay, it did hurt a lot, but I wasn't going to collapse or anything...

I had to wait for Mum to leave work and come and pick me up since I couldn't drive. I had to give her one of those phone calls... I think it started off like "Mum? I'm in a bit of a situation..." Who knows what she thought!

I've since learnt the power of the ring and pinky fingers! I look a bit retarded trying to do anything that requires the use of my hands... I can't put my hair in a ponytail... or pour a cup of tea... or open any jars. And I'm definitely wary of microwaves. Last night one of my friends said to me "So how was the pumpkin soup?". I did actually get around to eating it... it was cold but I didn't fancy putting it in the microwave again!


Some pictures so you get the idea... although the affected areas are taped up so you can't really see how bad it is.


Left hand... 2 fingers out of action.






Right hand... top half of my palm all blistered.