I Can't Talk, So I'll Have To Write...

In the grand scheme of how sick people can be, I'm not very sick at all, but I honestly don't remember me being this sick in forever. I've had bad turns like labyrinthitis but that lasted only a day etc, this current virus/cold/flu hit me Saturday morning and Wednesday it's still here with a vengeance.

I hate being sick, forget manflu, realistically there's nothing more pathetic than Courtneyflu. I'm totally flattened with an apparent fever (which a doctor's assured me doesn't exist yet I still feel on fire) and what is left of my working vocal chords are being used near exclusively for whimpering and making sad squeaking noises.

The worst thing is not being able to speak, I really like talking. I hate silence so have no dramas with filling the space in with the sound of my own voice nattering away about anything and everything. I'm going to have so much catching up when it comes back. I might just pick up the phone book and call everyone for a chat so I can test it out.

I feel bad because I was supposed to represent my office and give a presentation at an external client gathering today, however I couldn't do it, because I didn't think they'd appreciate me trying to act out our processes with hand puppets...as amusing as that would be.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

So I feel a bit guilty, I also feel guilty that I've left my team for the first time. Not that I don't think they can cope without me, but it's just my nature to feel like I should be there. I dragged myself to work on Monday and yesterday morning for that reason but I had to go home after I just felt so miserable. I was especially miserable as I was supposed to go to Duran Duran but I was too sick :( Woe.It did mean my Mum and Dad unexpectedly went though so hope they had fun!

 

One thing I've noticed while being home is that I have no idea on what to do on a sick day, this whole lying around in pyjamas or in bed thing is so foreign to me. I don't really know how to relax. I can't just grab a book and lie around reading it, I have to be doing something, even if it's just typing on a computer, I feel I'm doing something. I can't even sit around just catching up on tv, I just don't know how to switch off. I'm the same on weekends, I go stir crazy if we're at home all day. It's something I really need to work on. It's probably a good thing that I no longer have access to work email because I always check it. It's funny that someone who's as lazy as I am, struggles to relax! So for anyone reading this, how do you relax when you need to?

I'm too tired to write anymore, so I won't. I'll post something upbeat next blog :)

 

 

 

 

The Reason I Don't Blog Too Often

As you've noticed by now, I'm not really a regular blogger. I want you to know that this is a good thing because trust me I'm sparing you. Otherwise you'd be stuck with the mundane tales of my terribly straightforward life. (A straightforward life I'm very grateful for.)

Eg, the most interesting story of today, is that I, being the master of coordination I am, managed to shut the tip of my finger in the freezer at work while grabbing a lean cuisine - again, evidence that "healthy" food is actually bad for you - and 9 hours later it still hurts. Yup, that's the big news of Courtney's day. I hope you were sitting down.

The other thing stopping me from blogging regularly recently has been work. Most of my life really does revolve around work, which is kind of scary! I'm far from a workaholic but I'm usually thinking about it or spending most of my day. It also has a huge effect on my mood, which has also stopped me blogging a bit, because I've been exhausted from adjusting to the new job and my new role as a manager. I never ever saw myself in a management role as I barely handle managing myself, let alone others. I just never thought I had the personality for it. I think after 6 weeks of it though, I'm beginning to do okay, and I'm realising that I'm more suited to it than I thought. (Still lots to learn and improve though.) It's the first week I'm not coming home exhausted and confused, which means I have a clearer head to blog.

I can furnish you with a general update on how things are rolling along though.

•  The search for a new hairdresser has taken a positive turn. I had a reasonably good experience on Friday. Sure I had to re-trim my fringe, and I didn't love the girl like I've loved other hairdressers, but the colour's nice and it was half the price of my last appointment and is downstairs of my building so terribly convenient. I also got through another appointment without asking the hairdresser to chop my hair off so go me.

• We didn't see The Phantom Menace as planned, but I did see A Few Best Men for a charity screening so I've seen a movie each month as planned. Don't know if I'll get to one in March though. A Few Best Men was reasonably terrible but thankfully not as horrible as I thought it may have been.

• I still don't own a Rubik's Cube.I'll get to that later in the year.

• Ah that whole eating healthy and exercising thing... can you hear the sound of it crashing and burning in the distance? Yeah it did. A combination of my laziness and the way I felt with the job change, eager for comfort food and too tired to exercise. Now I'm sane again, we're trying again. Plus it's 5 and a half weeks to the trip, and I just want to be a bit fitter so I'm starting again. Sort of.

•  My finger really hurts

• I had a moment tonight when I just realised how lucky I am and how happy I am to have made some great friends over the internet. It's really amazing to realise you have friends around the world and can share in their experiences, and laugh and enjoy stuff together etc. Playing Draw Something on my phone with a group of my friends is just highlighting that, playing silly games across the world is a great experience.

• I'm stressing about budgets for the holiday at the moment, it's obsessive. I'm worrying so much. Especially as I'm a bit worried my leave is going to get mucked around as I transfer officially between jobs. Of course I'm not actually worried that we won't be eating, I'm worried about our shopping budget, so it's something shallow that's stopping me sleeping! (I have my eye on a range of Marc Jacobs and Kate Spade handbags...)

That's kind of it at the moment. Things are good.

Have a great rest of your day and/or a fabulous Thursday depending on when you read this. 

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Yes, I'm talking about the trip again...

This blog wasn't intended to be about the trip but once I start talking about it, I don't stop easily, so I'm going with it.

I feel like a year has never flown by as fast as this one has. I assume it's the new job that's made me so sidetracked, but maybe it's just because I'm getting older. Normally the time before a holiday starts dragging, but it feels like it's racing towards us. In fact, we're close enough for me to start thinking about packing lists.

I love making packing lists for a few reasons. It makes me feel organised, it makes me get excited about the trip as I think about what will suit what excursion/event etc, and very importantly it gives me an excuse to shop for the "gaps". ("Gaps" = clothes that I decide that I need and usually don't end up taking anyway, because I'm adorable like that.) Currently I've identified a gap in my jumper collection. I think Aaron's disputing this call.

Oh and then there's the excitement of being able to book restaurants for while we're there now, or in places where you don't book, just reading their menus and thinking about where we'd go. Seriously I'm so excited about the food. There's a good chance that in Chicago and New York City we'll just food place hop and forget sightseeing. So many delicious choices, so little time.

We've been talking a lot about the last holiday and how while it was great and there are some memories that I'll always be excited by, it wasn't really successful as we spent a lot of it irritated and stressed. It's not normal on a holiday to be so tense, that when a place says they've run out of meatloaf you burst into tears at the table. (It wasn't about the meatloaf, though the Daily Grill's meatloaf is really good
.)
 
We've realised that we tried to rush things, or put too much pressure on doing things special and then when things didn't work we got so frustrated. So we've really tried to not put much pressure on us and the sightseeing spots this time. I'm not scheduling a lot as a result, as I'm scared of overplanning.

But here's some of the things we're definitely going to do/see while over there...

New York City 

• Serendipity 3 - one of my favourite eateries ever. Partly because it's where John Cusack was in Serendipity and because of the Frozen Hot Chocolate... (Speaking of Serendipity, remind me one day to tell you about how my sister and I snuck into the Waldorf Astoria and recreated a scene from the movie!)
• Broadway shows - We've got tickets booked to Book of Mormon and Rock of Ages
• Restaurant Row - A street full of varied cuisine restaurants, we're looking forward to just turning up and seeing what's available
• Empire State Building - We went up at night last time, we're going to go up during the day this time
• Brooklyn Bridge - I really want to walk the Bridge, okay well at least stand on it... 
• A Night On The Town Tour - http://www.graylinenewyork.com/tourpage.php?item=NOTT
• Ray's Pizza - the best pizza ever created.

I think with New York, we're just going to take things very easy, there's so much to just walk around and enjoy. I still live in some hope that the Maury Povich show will send us tickets!

Philadelphia
Philadelphia is where we have the most scheduled.

• Independence Hall - we have tickets for a tour
• Independence Hall Archaeology Lab - Every trip Aaron and I have to let out our inner nerds, this is one of those times. We've booked a tour of the Independence Hall site with an archaeologist who'll tell us about artefacts found etc.
• Liberty Bell
• Elfreth's Alley
• The Rocky Steps and Statue
• Mini-Golf at Franklin Square - As well as our nerd side, we also have childlike competive sides, so we rarely miss an opportunity for mini-golf
• Perhaps the Philadelphia Zoo

Chicago
Again, like New York, I think Chicago will be pretty easy going. I'm going to meet a friend while I'll I'm there so am most excited about that. Here's some things we're planning on seeing though.

• Shedd Aquarium
• Adler Planetarium
• Field Museum
• Wrigley Field (Save Ferris!)
• Navy Pier
• We're booking a table at the Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Center, the views should be amazing.
• The Skydeck Chicago - I am very eager to step out into the glass window boxes they have...in theory...

Anaheim

The plan in Anaheim is very much centred around Disneyland. I love Disneyland. Love it. Pretty much we'll spend most of our time there. We might head off to the San Diego Zoo or do another tour of somewhere in the area but I'm not sure.

Sorry, that was long. So long, but for those curious there are some things we've thought about seeing. Anyone reading this have other suggestions?

Why Be Succinct When You Can Ramble?

Firstly, a big shout out to my co-author/muse today...my dear kitty.

It's February 27th and my Christmas Tree is still up. I'm obsessive (no, seriously) regarding the "rules" for Christmas decorations. They must come down on Jan 6th, no ifs or buts. No earlier, no later. Except this year I was distracted and forgot to take it down on the 6th, and now I have no idea what to do with it. It's just sitting there "staring at" me, and being used as a giant toothpick by Obi, who for an unknown reason finds it the tastiest thing on the planet. Because I missed that date, I have no idea when to take it down. I think February 29 is probably the best bet, I can pretend it was in deliberate honour of an unusual day.

I think it shows how the new job has changed me quite a bit, I feel like I've become a bit disassociated with things I used to care about, but in an okay way, like I've grown into a next stage or something. The only thing is I can't work out what I care about now, apart from my holidays...and pinterest. All I know is I'm suddenly desperate for a chaise lounge and a yellow designer handbag.

Meanwhile I cannot believe it's March this week. I cannot believe that summer is over on Wednesday. I can't believe how few hot days we had. It's been a weird summer. I can't believe that as of Thursday I can say my holiday is next month, YAY! (It turns out I still care about holidays and handbags.) I can't wait to get back to the States. I can't wait to eat their food, shop there, see their sights, mingle with their great people and hopefully meet a friend or two. There's a few concerns with the approval of my holiday at the moment which is bothering me, as I don't really want to go leave without pay!

The trip planning is going well though, my sister has agreed to house and catsit, which demonstrates that she has a much stronger character than I, as Obi is a tad difficult. I've made my packing list, ordered shoes to fill the identified gaps, worked out what else we need to book before we're go etc. There's no reason we won't be absolutely fine, yet still I worry. I do feel happy having all these lists made. Lists make me feel all ordered.

So we've got things like cars to book, to the airport when we leave, between the airport and the hotel in NYC, to and from LAX to Anaheim, a few tours and dinners to book etc. I'm trying to make sure important things are booked and have a basic structure so we ensure we don't miss something through not realising it wasn't open Mondays etc but not overplanning, so we end up stressing about the fact that we weren't at this sight by 10:17am exactly and the whole day becomes ruined. So, that's where the holiday plans are at the moment, lots of little things to do, but also lots of fun things to keep me occupied like looking through menus of restaurants etc.

As you could tell, today's blog has no actual theme or point, I just felt like talking.

Hope, if you've read it, you're doing well x

The Secret Life of a Pinterest Fraud

Lately I've spent less time blogging, and more time pinning, thanks to my utter addiction to Pinterest.

It's an addiction I never expected to have as in so many ways Pinterest isn't for me, I'm surely not the person it's meant for. I'm not into crafts, and while I like imagining eating the recipes/cakes etc I pin, I'm never going to make 95% percent of them. Nor am I ever going to have the energy/money/suitable house to make the interior designs I'm pinning. (Despite my dreams, the likelihood of me living in a Cape Cod house somewhere in New York State is reasonably unlikely!) I'm also pinning dresses I'll never fit into, handbags and jewellery I could never justify spending the money on etc.

For a while I quit the site because I felt that it was either making me a fraud as everything I was pinning wasn't actually my life or that I just couldn't enjoy other people's earnest pins of genuine projects they had because I'd never get it. I thought it really was about bookmarking the projects you're going to do, and I was going to do basically nothing. I needed a bunch of pins of people sitting on their couch in a totally unorganised house, eating candy for it to be a true reflection of my life. (I actually read an article a friend posted the other day on Pinterest and how it made her feel lesser because she wasn't achieving her pins, so this probably inspired this blog.)

Then, I just decided, to not add "oh my god, I might not make something I pin" to my already sizeable list of pointless worries, and realised that actually a lot of people were pinning pretty pictures, holiday snaps and things that made them think/laugh. I didn't have to take it seriously, I could actually just pin pretty pictures and it was okay. Now I know that, it's all I want to do all day every day. Post pictures of pretty or holiday stuff and the stuff I'll spend my life admiring from afar. I've also found that it has inspired me, not in terms in projects so much as I saw other people start bucket lists etc, which made me think about my own. (It turns out that it's mostly about going to Paris.) I think it's actually also a great way to get an understanding of people and the things they like in a very easy snapshot. Which I like.

I'm also not going to lie, I've gone from feeling like a fraud to really enjoying seeing "<insert name> has repinned your pin". (I prefer to search out my own pins on the web, rather than repin - though I do repin too) It gives me some sort of silly validation that someone else shares my taste, or loved an idea I also loved etc. I seem to spend more time checking the repins and likes then making my own pins, lately. (It's a character flaw. I very much like people liking "me")

So it appears Pinterest has very much taken over my soul, and I'm okay with that. 

If I was to be a Reality TV Star...

Hello Blog Followers...

It's been a busy few weeks as I've moved into the new job and started settling in. (It's taking me a while). I'm also juggling an illness which is slowing me down. Accordingly, I still haven't done that movie list yet (Shock! :p) I'm planning on thinking about it more on the weekend. I know the Top 10.

I'm watching My Kitchen Rules in the background, a show that's less about food and more about karmic justice, which appeals to me immensely. I'm currently chuckling away as a couple who have spent the week unnecessarily sledging other people's dishes and constantly mentioning they'd do things so much better, have taken 3 hours to serve their main course. Ha. It's great tv, with delicious looking food in the background, how could it go wrong?

Which has led me onto today's blog topic - reality tv, and what shows I'd actually love to star on. Note: For me reality tv are the competition shows, where there's challenges and winners, none of this "fly on the wall" Kardashian stuff. (Oh except for Girls of the Playboy Mansion - the Holly, Bridget and Kendra years. I love those girls and their crazy hijinks.)

1) If I had any talent in this area, the number one show would be Project Runway. Goodness how I love this show, and how much would I love to design clothes. I love Heidi, I love Michael Kors' little squeaky voice while he rambles on and Nina Garcia's ability to jump between looking bored and horrified in one swift face movement. Of course my inability to design and sew are secondary concerns, the real reason I couldn't be on Project Runway is that my constant fangirling would lead to Tim Gunn putting a restraining order on me. God I love Tim Gunn. He comes across as so effortlessly awesome.

*courtesy of Wikipedia*

2) The Amazing Race. How awesome would the Amazing Race be? Seeing so much of the world, experiencing all those little culturally specific challenges and interacting with locals etc. It would be incredible. Unfortunately,unless I got the fantastic challenge that the teams got in Patagonia where they had to eat chocolates until they found one with a flag or something (I'd have kept eating even after finding the flag...) as soon as a food challenge came along, I'd be gone. I have very limited food taste or knowledge so would be terribly precious about eating "icky" food. Oh and of course any of the challenges that involved physical strength or agility or speed etc. I'd probably be reasonably decent at the puzzles, if the stress of the need to finish first wasn't an issue.

3) Survivor - oh I'd really pretty much hate Survivor, can't stand beaches because I hate sand, couldn't stand having my precious amenities but Survivor has this - so sign me up.

 *courtesy of Wikipedia*

Oh Jeff, I heart you.

4) The Apprentice. *Practices her best "It's an honor, Mr Trump, Sir" voice* (I have deliberately spelled honour the American way as it's an American show, and in my head I'm saying it with an accent). I actually think I would love the challenges on the Apprentice, they are right up my alley. Organising things, ordering people around, developing weird obsessive needs for billboards made of papier mache and tinsel. Would totally have that down pat. Shame about the whole working as a team player though. I'd probably either be the really meek one who in the Boardroom can't do much more than squeak that everyone played nicely, or the one who demanded to be Project Manager every week and stormed out of the show when the team refused to listen to my incredible idea that Macy's would be thrilled to advertise their new stationery line through two people in mouse costumes attaching banners, King Kong style, to the Empire State Building. I hate when people don't understand true vision.

I've realised I could keep going, but all the shows require me to have talents that I do not (interior design, cooking, singing) etc. I think as much as I'd hate it, I'd be much better on one of those reality fly on a wall tv show. Im sure there's a market for watching a public servant get home from work, sit on her couch, pinning or blogging away...surely... :p

Have a great rest of your week!

(Not) At The Movies

I'm planning on making Aaron a giant quiz to keep him occupied on our very long plane ride to the US in April, so today as part of that I asked him to name 50 movies he liked, not even favourites just ones he liked. He struggled and it's still not a complete list. (It also featured the six Star Wars films etc so it wasn't even 50 separate films!)

It led to two thoughts, movies that we'd seen in the cinema together and whether I could quickly name 50 films I liked. We realised we've hardly seen any movies together, and as mentioned in other blogs, that's something I want to rectify this year, by going to the cinema more often. We're very picky and so we only end up at films that both of us agree are worthy, which is why we never get anywhere! This year we have to just try more.

To highlight how few I have seen, I realised looking through the Oscar nominees for Best Picture in the 2000s that I'd only seen a handful, whether in the movies or on video or tv later.

All I've seen are

• Toy Story 3 and the King's Speech (2011)
• Frost/Nixon (2009)
• Goodnight and Good Luck (2006)
• Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2004)
• Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2003)
• Gosford Park; Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Moulin Rouge (2002)
• Erin Brockovich (2001)
• The Sixth Sense (2000)

70 films were nominated for Best Picture Oscars between 2000 and 2011 and I've seen 11. A huge 15%. Of the 9 films nominated this year, I've seen none. Moneyball, in particular, interests me but we didn't get around to seeing it. We didn't make the time. So we definitely need to see more films.

The other thought was whether I could name 50 movies I liked off the top of my head. Sure I could cheat and list six Star Wars, four Indiana Jones films, and 22 James Bond films and be instantly over halfway there. I think I could, but I think I'd find myself not just trying to list movies I liked, but actually picking favourites, and then mentally debating whether I liked A more than B, or whether I had enough dramas from the period 1992 - 1996 in there etc. (I'm big on overcomplicating things.) So I've realised that I actually now have got overexcited and need to actually try to come up with a list of my actual Top 50 films. Mostly because I'm curious to see if I have preferred genre or time period. I can tell you what I don't like (stick the word "heartwarming" or "tearjerking" on a trailer or review and see me go fleeing as far away as possible) but do I particularly like certain films? I'm going to assume the answer ends up relating to 80s teen films...

So now off to list every film, I've ever seen ever - well maybe just the ones I vaguely remember - and to try and rank them... the next blog will hopefully have a list.

Until then!