Halloween and Murphy

The first year we came to Australia- I bought for candies for the kids who may knock my door for trick or treating. No one came and we thought ‘May be Halloween is not as big in Aussieland’.

It really wasn’t. I always thought it should, though. It is such a cute festival… carved pumpkins, dressed up little devils, candies… its crazy cute; yes it is! I got candies the following years, too. Still no kid knocked my door, and Crazy and I ate them later. None of us are big candy fans- but oh well…

It’s Halloween Time!, originally uploaded by LostMyHeadache.

This year- I did not buy candies and had friends over for dinner on the Halloween night; and three (yes, THREE!) kids dressed as ‘Joker’, ‘Devil’ and some other Spooky character from those books that I did not recognise- came over.

Told ya, dude…. Murphy loves me! Believe it, will you?

Anyway- after a two-minute frantic search in my IKEA goodie basket on the kitchen counter- I found a bar of Twist, a bar of Turkish Delight (which was like my staple food during the flu) and a Kinder Surprise. It was a happy thing that I found them! I’d have thrown a fit if I did not! Sometimes, for a non-chocolate person like me, being an impulse buyer of chocolates does come handy, doesn’t it?

Meanwhile I think the evolving Aussie culture is picking up Halloween. I’m happy for that … and Mr. Murphy, here is something for you:

‘Ha! Howzzat?! I beat ya!’

The Happy Gambler

This week just flew…. maybe because this was an insanely busy week. That’s mostly a good thing.

I’m at work now- sipping my morning coffee waiting for the weekend to start. I’m relaxed today- in my new short hair, hints of summer in the air, my grandmother’s watch, comfortable Friday shoes- Fridays can never be too bad anyway.

it started out with a kiss…, originally uploaded by jpghouse.

We have a Halloween party invitation this weekend and have plans for meeting up an ex-colleague- but so far I’m not sure which one to choose… or if I’m choosing either. The party would be full of strangers from Crazy’s work and everywhere else… and the ex-colleague is new in town and lonely….

Oh well, next week will be a short one with the Melbourne Cup holiday on Tuesday. That reminds me that I must do some serious betting… or, at least, get one of those fancy headwears- a small black and white one, may be? Yes, I must!

Sadly, I have no clue about horses- which one should I bet for? Suggestions, anyone?

Grampzie!

Guess who is back from the Grampians! ME ME ME!

流水, originally uploaded by liesl1020.

It was a nice getaway. Very nice, in fact. Grampians is beautiful in itself and it was a crazy beautiful weather, too! It was all ‘win’- the amazing part of Greater Victoria in all her glory.

This time, unlike all other times, we went with a big group- a group of EIGHT! I was nervous at first- being my anti-social self and all, you know? But- I ended up enjoying a LOT! I realize- if you are the kind that likes to keep to yourself and participate only when YOU feel like it (translation: no pushing me around to make me participate; that does not work with me), big groups are better. No one notices you especially out of their ways, and I find that very ‘liberating’.

Strangely, even with all my weird issues and my inability to ‘mix’ with people- I ended up making friends. That does not happen to me too often!

Fair enough. Since I lost some friends, I might as well- make some new ones!

Life is going on. And it’s going great! Yaaay!

Dent bites

While this world is not perfect and the ‘extras’ still does not cover the full cost for wisdom tooth removal- it does partially.

One thing I know for certain now that all of the $750 will not be ‘out of pocket’. I guess depending on when I do it (you know, waiting period crappola and all)- it can go as low as $250 out of pocket.

Okay….. That’s better. Not perfect, no, but still better.

Trick Or Treat., originally uploaded by peasap.

Some further news on the wisdom tooth grounds for now- I’m on antibiotics; as I have a small infection where the tooth is coming out right into my inner cheek (tol’ja that I’m an alien!). I’m yet to book an x-ray appointment (for full mouth, apparently I have a tricky dental structure; see? Alien!!!)- but that’s something necessary for the surgery that will be ‘definitely’ required.

In further news, the dentist’s office smelt very much of… mmmmm… hospitals (what did I expect exactly?!) and ‘The Galea’ IS a dork- the super-annoying kind.

That’s all!

Yarra Yarra

How cool is it to dine in a restaurant with a window view while enjoying the ever-changing views of the b-e-e-a-u-tiful city of Melbourne?

Well… one that is a tram from the outside but a Victorian style decorated full-fledged restaurant from inside?

Top it up with a grand 4-course meal, too- yes?

Pretty cool, I tell you! I know, because I was here this Sunday; I speak from experience

So you now know how my Sunday was, do you not?

You know what would have been even better while we were dining while watching the waves on the Yarra River?

Some rain. YES!

Those of you who never had a chance to behold Yarra in all her glory, here’s a little something for you to understand what I am going on about:

There’s always a next time. And when the next time comes, I’ll have an appointment with the splashy Melbourne rain on top- as well.

Rain on the waves of Yarra while sipping the champagne?

Well… THAT, my friends, would be just the right amount of perfect. This wasn’t too bad either .

In fact, this was quite nice. Mmm…

Now, if you’ll excuse me- I’ll get on with my Monday. Oh Monday… I hate you… Monday.

The goodbyes (or not ‘exactly’ that)

They are going off- away to Pakistan from Melbourne- may be for good or maybe not. They were the closest family we had here.

Well.. we were always on our own and so were they… but despite that….

And the little girl in the photo? She grew up plenty in the last two years, like I did in Iraq and Shaam did in Italy in our own times. She was so little when she first came in!

Just as I know that Iraq will always have a place close to my heart no matter what and that Italy will be the same for Shaam- I know Australia will hold a place in hers.

I was never good at expressing stuffs, but I do wish that things were different and, since they are not, that it all works out wonderfully in the end.

Walking towards summer once again

It was the shortest day of the year in Southern Hemisphere two days back, 22nd of June, as you (should) know- we have it downside up here in this BIG BEAUTIFUL island called Australia.

And as Mark had pointed out that day-

‘We are now again walking back to Summer’.

Yea; and I think it’s pretty cool that we are!

How ‘tropical’ of me :)

Ahh… sunny and bright in Melbourne.

It’s a very pretty sight to behold from the comforts of your cosy home with the room heater on and a warm cat sleeping on your lap. It’s the kind of day when your inner child goes:

‘Sunny and bright! Woohoo!!! GOOD HAIR DAY!!! Yaay SUN!!!!’

Try going out though and it’s a completely different story altogether, except for the ‘hair’ part, my hair is made of win when it’s sunny. In other words, for me- ‘Sunny days= PRETTY HAIR!’ Heehee… there are days, I get a ‘kick’ out of bragging- as you can see

I digress, what I meant to say is that- outside it’s 7.5C now- sunny and bright (and cold), true; better than overcast (and cold), very true- but rather more in the line of… one would expect a sunny day to be… err… warmer?

Just sayin’.

Not complaining. After all, I am home with the room heater on and a warm cat sleeping on my lap!

The girl in black and red

Black fishnet stockings, black mini skirt, black leather jacket; topped up with the brightest red lipstick, nails matching the colour of lips. Sad eyes, very sad. She seemed angry with the whole world messing with her. Not much different from how some teenagers are, you see.

This is the girl who sat by my side on the tram the other day.

Did I say that she looked sad? Hmm. She was very young: 14/ 15. I thought she looked way too sad for her age. But then, I am probably getting it all wrong and generalizing in plenty- there must be many sad 14 year olds in this world.

She was trying to make a statement, perhaps? It was lost on me, the statement. She was half my age after all. Am I getting too old to understand people half my age?

I must be, but she reminded me of someone and all the way through to Collins I tried desperately to figure out who she reminded me of.

And then, I knew.

She reminded me of myself a few years ago- sans the severe coal and blood.

My inner rebel was always very subdued after all.

The weekend is over

As all things- good and bad- come to an end, this did too. I am back to Melbourne from the wonderful Otway. True, this was a long weekend- but are they ever long enough?

I had taken a day off today. I did nothing fruitful really, other than bringing the kitten back home from his cat boarding- that is. That’s a major thing that needed to be done, so the day was not entirely wasted- I guess.

Well… the kitten has not left my lap since then. The long complaining meows are still coming my way every time he wakes up from his brief cat naps and looks at me, ‘MEEEEOWWW’…

He is probably just trying to get even with me for disappearing for days… he is complaining a lot; telling me off frequently… and then he would put his front two paws on my shoulders purr really hard and sleep on my chest. I guess he missed me a bit

So yea- as I was saying- the weekend is over. The next long weekend will not be before November. That’s MONTHS away. This would probably convince the kitten that life is again back to normal. In time.

And it is, from tomorrow. That is when I get back to work. I can already tell what a long day tomorrow would be!