More Kewl

For the Kewl Girls

It doesn't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

Cowboy Proverb

Very Kewl

I Am Woman

According to an ad on tv, 63% of women don't have fireworks (keeping in mind younger readers) during love-making. Obviously it then goes on to recommend their product.

What I ask is this, if two-thirds of the population give the same answer, doesn't that make them the majority and therefore the norm? Yes there are layers about ability of partners, and our own psychological issues, the ability to ask for what we want etc, but if 66% are not experiencing fireworks, then why should this be medicalized, why should we feel "bad" or that we are doing something "wrong". And this has nothing to do with me, too crippled at the moment to do anything, it is about the ongoing marketing campaigns to make women feel like we are wrong, or deformed, or lesser in some way.

Aaaargh, womanhood and the perception of men (and women's magazines) of what it should be, and how we should be. Let us be!

Photo: "Ambares Fireworks" by kil1k

Sieze the Day

We only have this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand ... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late.

Marie Beyon Ray

Art: "Spelling" by tralalalla

Most commonly misspelt words

As spellings go, it definitely shouldn't be one of the trickier ones to remember. But "definitely" is the most commonly misspelt word in the English language, according to a study released yesterday, with flummoxed people regularly writing it as "definately".

And although some - wrongly - may call it sacreligious and a shocking inditement on our school system, "sacrilegious" and "indict" are not far behind in the list of words we have trouble spelling, The Daily Mail newspaper in the UK reported.

Six out of 10 people polled in the UK said they were embarrassed by their poor spelling skills, yet the research also found 57 per cent judge other people on their spelling, with 42 per cent admitting they believe people who can’t spell are "thick".

Worryingly, although the words failed to make even the Top 20, 9 per cent thought "mortgage" was spelt "morgauge" and 7 per cent often spell "speech" as "speach".

The Top 10 most commonly misspelt words in the study by http://www.onepoll.com/ were:
1 Definitely (Definately);
2 Sacrilegious (Sacreligious);
3 Indict (Indite);
4 Manoeuvre (Maneouvre);
5 Bureaucracy ( Beaurocracy);
6 Broccoli (Brocolli);
7 Phlegm (Phleghm);
8 Prejudice ( Predjudice);
9 Consensus (Conscensus);
10 Unnecessary (Unecessary).

From: Courier Mail

Photo: "Could you ...." by weare1

Photo Challenge - Town

Yabbie Boys

As I have recently found out, the eastern states version of the yabbie is a small freshwater crayfish (just over an inch) that is primarily used for bait. The Western Australian version is a small freshwater crayfish (maybe 4 + inches) that is a much treasured delicacy.

Over here they pump for yabbies with something that looks like a cross between a big bicycle pump and an icing tool.

This is shot from last Sunday when I was in Moonnee admiring the ripples in the creek bed from the receding water. Not sure who the lads are but aside from being fascinated by the yabbie-ing process, I loved the ripple effects their outlines made in the water.

Hmmm :-)

There can be no happiness if the things we belive in are different from the things we do.

Freya Stark

Art: "Second Helping of Love" by Karin Turner

Photoshop-ing

One of the local electronics stores was opening late last night as a "welcome to the neighborhood" for the government department I work for. Everything in the store was going to be on sale. Aside from a generous promotion, it may also have something to do with us having 300 employees and it is the end of the financial year. Anyway, it was still generous and I was trying to support the intention of the offer.

I have only one thing left on my list of things to buy to prepare for my impending Lentil Club life and that was a copy of Photoshop. It may seem silly as an "essential" but I figure that I will need ways to amuse myself and I love taking photos, and this is something new to learn so, why not.

I went to this store straight after work just to check things out and wow (did you get the hint about what store it was) I got a guy with an attitude. He was in his early twenties and, after ambling over to me, slouched over the displays while asking if I needed help. I picked up the two Photoshop products they had and realised that one was for movies, and the other included movie software. Now I am never going to need that so I asked if I could just get the package for photos separately. He responded that you could at it was about $199, as opposed to the $279 of the combined product. I asked when they were getting more in and he said he didn't know. I asked if he could order one in for me. He answered no. I asked if there was someone I could ring during regular business hours to order one in. He responded "No, head office does all of our ordering and just sends the stuff to us. Then we have to just sell the shit."

That ended that conversation.

I whipped down a couple of doors to the stationery store and picked up a copy of what I wanted for $169.

I have told myself that I won't open my new Photoshop until July 1 (my first day out of work... um I mean "my first day in the Lentil Club") but I am pretty hopeless at not opening presents that are already here.

So all in all, I have a new toy and will post bits if I ever produce anything worth sharing lol.

Photo: "Photoshopping" by Calebow

So True

Don't let the bastards get you down.

General Joseph W Stillwell

Photo: "yes" by porsylin

Welcome to the Lentil Club

The Lentil Club was initiated by Miss A who is now on a fixed income. This is based on the joking premise that on a fixed (or should I say "low" income then all you can afford is lentils). Ironically we both like lentils and enjoy them regularly. Anyway, I get to join the club officially at 5.20 pm in 9 days.

Now there are two ways of focusing on life on a fixed income - you can either focus on what you have, or focus on what you are missing out on. We choose to focus on the positives.


I am already on my budget of $50 per week for food. Admittedly I have stumbled a little this fortnight but once I have my freezer delivered, and with a little planning, I think it will all be fine.

I will have my fixed income but I can still earn a little money (based on my physical state - and if that improves/changes then I can go back to work) so I have also invested a little of my store of lentil funds to purchase a copy of Photoshop with the intention that 1) it will provide a good hobby, and (possibly only) 2) I might be able to use my photos or photographic creations with any written work I produce. Yes I am still focusing on possibly doing a freelance submission here and there.

I also have a craft idea or two that might come to something but I am not looking at these as a career, more pin money.

And I have my beloved study.

Co-incidentally I have two other people that are interested in the Lentil Club.

Welcome to a new philosophy on sucking the proverbial marrow out of life!

Photo Challenge Updates

Another week has come and gone (and is it appropriate to add here that I have only 9 days left at work) and it was great to see all of the photos for last weeks challenge. Please don't forget that if you have a friend or blog-buddy that is making positive comments, then they are welcome to join in the fun - after all fun is what it all about.

Anyway, onto our themes ....

This Friday (19 June): Town

Friday 26 June: Bush

Friday 3 July: Finery

Happy clicking folks :-)

PS: Mr Linky is still down so please make sure you leave a comment somewhere so we can all find your shot.

Yeah! Clap Clap Clap ...

When someone does something good, applaud. You will make two people happy!

Samuel Goldwin

Photo: "aaahhh summer" by *meppol

Sunday Clouds

Click for more detail :-)

Just Do It

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

ee cummings

Photo: "Laughter" by immaRiot3

Can't Wait

Okay I was going to post this when it got here but I am too excited - I have bought a freezer!!!

With my impending change in circumstances (I finish work in 12 days and then I am going to follow my doctors advice and take a couple of years off from formal work to hopefully improve the situation with my back) it seemed like such a good investment to extend my food storage capacity as well as continue to minimise food wastage.

Admittedly I was researching it online and had picked my make and model but was then beginning to think that maybe I should save the cash as a "just in case". That was until I got a catalogue in the mail last Wednesday where they had "my freezer" discounted an extra $50! Sometimes you just get handed a sign.

I am not sure whether they will deliver it this week or next week (depends when it comes into the store) but it is all good.

Dance dance dance

Dive Deep

Dive into the sea of thought, and find there pearls beyond price.

Moses Ibn Ezra

Art: "Pearl's Girl" by $chixOr

Miss Kylie's Favorite Rose

Miss Kylie's Pink Rose

Miss Kylie's Swan River Daisy

Miss Kylie's Yellow Rose

Miss Kylie's Rose

Dear Diary

What a fabulous day!

They were doing emergency work on the local power lines so, knowing I would be without electricity for the day, too off for some fun.

I headed for Coffs where I sat at a beach for a few hours watching the surfers, and the whale on its annual migration northwards. In the winter sun, the changing colors of the water was more prevalent than usual and an added bonus. Although, really, if you see a whale, what more of a bonus could you possibly want without being greedy.

I then went to a local park where I stayed for an hour listening to the local choir of birdlife and watching the interplay of light and shadow from the trees.

My next stop was the Botanic Gardens where I planned to go for a bit of a womble (walking is still out at the moment) but it seemed to be the centre for a local triathalon-type activity - lots of people cycling and running and then heading into the garden. I am not sure my ego was up to wombling around surrounded by a large crowd of ultra fit children to grannies so I headed up to Moonee to check out the Reserve.

The tide was out but there was some great patterns in the river base so that entertained me for some time. (It obviously doesn't take much to amuse me does it.)

Then a great idea hit me - how about going to visit Miss Kylie - okay I was due to go there later but surely she wouldn't mind me lobbing up an hour early? Back into the car and off I went.

Oh what a spot of heaven she lives in. Miss Abbey soon joined us and we were treated to the BEST (and I do mean BEST) vanilla slice with passionfruit icing, as well as choc-caramel slice, served with proper coffee all on the deck overlooking their property. Who needs a cafe when you have Miss K as your friend lol.

There was the usual lots of laughter with "the girls", with Mr Kylie and Junior Kylies also joining in. And there was visit from other Kylie-family. Sigh, how wonderful. A few photos of the garden and then it was time to go home.

What a magnificent day with some of my most favorite people in the world.



Photo: "Dear Diary" by Shalora

Photo Challenge - Domestic

Better late than never lol....

The End of the World Is Nigh

When I was at high school the big threat to our planet was nuclear war. Whether that was real or perceived hardly matters.

Since then we have had the risk of terrorism and climate change.

I am certainly not denying that each of these is a serious issue, which potentially catastrophic consequences for the planet. Nor am I denying that it is the young that will inherit the problems of our present generation.

What I wonder is what sort of world are we projecting? What real hope are we giving?

I reflect upon when I was in high school. The threat of nuclear way was pervasive - it was obviously a focus in history but we also got to study it in English (the nature of propaganda, the effect of war poetry/writings on populations, examples of plays expounding on the theme), in science, in art, in most subjects one way or the other.

Aside from all of the other stuff I had going on at the time (being a teenager with the accompanying hormones affecting my body and mind, a family breakdown and the daily angst of life) I had enculturated with the idea that it was all for nothing and we were all on the brink of dying - does anyone else remember "The Day After" - and there was no future.

Is that what we are also doing to our current young people - selling them the message that government and the people must act now or there is no hope - and then not act? Where is the hope that we are planting in them, not only for a better tomorrow but for an actual tomorrow?

This Week's Photo Challenge

Now that the "Money" theme is out of the way, this week we focus on "Domestic". Ah, where to start on this one, a photo of a domestic, domestic products (cleaning items, kitchen paraphenalia, tea towels), a kitchen, a domesticated animal or a house. So many options! Fortunately there are a few days to narrow it down and find something presentable to submit lol

And don't forget our upcoming themes:
Friday 19 June: "Town"
Friday 26 June: "Bush"

Happy Clicking folks :-)

Some Days ...

... I should probably stay in bed.

I got a needle stick injury this morning - and, contrary to what the guy at the hospital thought, I didn't inject myself with a dirty needle, I just trod on a used one.

Obviously I have rung the hospital to check the protocols - my theory was that I needed to get a blood test and have another in three months - but he insisted I come in to see the doctor.

I did go in but there were so many people in front of me I figured I would just go and see my GP tomorrow. Okay I possibly should have changed my mind when I saw the nurse trying to attract my attention as I left but patience is not one of my strong suits.

Sigh ... no I am not having a panic attack, whatever will be will be but it really isn't a stress I needed at this point of my life. I should have just stayed in bed lol.

In for the Long Term

Passion is the quickest to develop, and the quickest to fade. Intimacy develops more slowly, and commitment more gradually still.

Robert Sternberg

Photo: "Semiternal Spring" by WildRainOfIceAndFire

The World is Changing

Okay I know I am only almost-40 but I keep noticing changes in the world. Forget about things like not locking your house, or when Peters Drumstick hit $1.00 (I mean who would/could pay that much for an icecream!) and the good changes like blogging, but I guess I am talking about what I consider to be "heart and soul" differences.

The latest, I noticed with great sadness, is the new phone book, dropped off last night. Again I have to give one of my early caveats and state that I would only use the paper phone book (maybe) once a year - I have the online version for everyday use - and in saying that I am acknowledging that for many they are outdated and nothing more than a doorstop. Actually, to digress a little, I had confirmation of this when I asked one of my lovelies (when I was working with the lovelies) to look something up and they didn't know what alphabetical order was, the difference between the white and yellow pages - the whole concept was very foreign.

But back to the latest phone book.

I remember when the release of the phone book was a big thing - not just because you got to lookup your own details and check their correctness - but because there was an annual competition to design the cover. Often they were bright and happy pictures done by small children or touristy shots but they were important, they were a part of our community, a part of us.

The latest one just has advertising material without even the pretense of pretending to be anything else. I wonder how many years it has been like this and I didn't notice - or has it been progressive salami-tactics?

Sigh, the world is a changing and sometimes I don't even notice until it is too late.

Fusion Foods

I was reading on of SBS's food blogs Mouthful on Friday, specifically the post on fusion food and I must admit it has touched a nerve with me too.

Now I should probably predicate this rant by saying that if there is some food that you like, then stick with it. As much as I try not to be a food snob I know I am a bit, but I would never dare to tell people not to eat something they find delicious.

But ...

Italian food never includes soy sauce or sweet chilli sauce. Satay Chicken does not got on top of a pizza. Pumpkin is not traditionally used in a stir fry. You can't use seafood extender in Salt and Pepper Squid. When making a coleslaw, don't include sultanas. Tomatoes aren't an essential ingredient in San Choy Bau.

It is not to say that it is physically impossible to use these combinations - just acknowledge that you have created a fusion and possibly moved it so far from the original that it should be called something else.

Photo Challenge - Money

Mr Linky has been having problems so maybe if we just cross-comment with each other so everyone knows who has posted.

Photo Challenge Updates

Many thanks to Miss K from Dreams in Colour for updating our logo. I certainly had no complaints about the last one but can I say that I love this one even more :-)

Anyway, just following on from the "Return of the Challenge" a reminder that this week the theme is "Money". Creativity is your only limit but just a reminder that if you do Photoshop (or similar) please let us know - I for one am trying to learn the limits of the program and it is handy to know that the creativity has been enhanced :-)

Friday 12 June: "Domestic"

Friday 19 June: "Town"

Happy Clicking folks

Hitting the Books

I thought I would ease myself back into study with an introductory unit on writing essays and the like (well it has been a while). That was until I opened the books on the unit I decided to delay Images of Australia 1A.

The unit is looking at how Australians see themselves, how others see us, how and by whom are these images created, the chnages over time, the validity (or otherwise) of a national image and a consideration of those that don't identify the the general images.

I have read through the first module (and all associated readings). I have taken copious notes. My brain cells are tingling with delight at the stimulation.

I couldn't possibly go back now - especially as instructions on essay writing etc, and preferred referencing (Harvard style in this instance) is all included in the study notes of the interesting unit. And I have already bought the reference books for what I shall now refer to as the "boring" unit so I have also had a read/revise this afternoon.

I must admit this has been a very pleasurable way to spend three hours on a Saturday afternoon lol

Photo: "essence of lifelong learning" by likk

Sigh ....

If one is luckly, a solitary fantasy can transform one million realities.

Maya Angelou

Art: "Imagine" by freaky655

Mountain Climbing ... or the Door Theory

Following on from my post ponderings the possibility and challenge of things to come there have been some changes - mainly in me but isn't that always the way.

My job finishes on June 30 and from there my doctor is recommending that I take some time out to give my poor back a chance to heal - or at least stabilise. This means I will be looking at the disability pension for at least two years. It has been really confronting to acknowledge the amount of pain I have been in, and all the subtle changes I have made to my life to both accommodate the circumstances while avoid dealing with the whole situation. I must admit when he made the recommendation an entire weight lifted off my shoulders.

As well as giving me this opportunituy, he is also coming up with a comprehensive plan to improve my quality of life when and where possible. Just fabulous!

So will I be sitting at home feeling sorry for myself - hell no! My study starts on Monday - I have decided to just do one unit this study period - ease myself back into things.

I am also looking at developing my writing and photography skills so that I can rebuild a career that will take me through the next 20 years, no matter how limited my movement is.

So while some doors of opportunities are closing on my present job (which I love so much) as well as dreams of taking my cooking further, I feel a great deal of satisfaction in being open to the possibility of new opportunities and seeing where they will take me.

Photo: "Heaven's Door" by bosniak

The Return of the Photo Challenge

Slackness has meant the Photo Challenge went away but a renweal of enthusiasm has meant that it back - or will be back next Friday 5 June.

For those who have missed to joy of this past-time before, it is an informal photo competition in which we have a theme for the week and we post our photos on or about Friday. There is no winner as such (can I say we are all winners by either playing or viewing - corny I know) just the opportunity to be a bit creative. All are welcome to join in or comment.

The themes were submitted by a couple of dedicated creatives (not me) at the beginning of the year. I post the next three themes each Wednesday (well I try to anyway lol)

So ....

Friday 5 June: Money

Friday 12 June: Domestic

Friday 19 June: Town

Happy clicking ....

Just Imagine

My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It's the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You'll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond 'Z' and start poking around!

Dr Seuss

Art: "Beyond Ourselves" by DusterAmaranth

A Mountain to Climb

There have been changes in Mountaingirl World - the most confronting is that I have a back injury and I suffer from chronic (and, at the moment, worsening) pain. Ironically this is not a recent injury - over two years now but this is a recent admission that I have a problem.

Co-incidentally I have a new doctor and I think he has given me the confidence to confront that which I have been trying to both deny and hide for so long - from myself as much as the rest of my world.

In the long run I know the timing will be good but it has come with the double whammy of the further realisation that when my present job finishes in 6 weeks there are effectively no other jobs that I can physically manage to do. I will have started uni by then - and from the head up things are still ticking along but movement from there down is very limited - and still very painful.

So my options for keeping the roof over the head and putting food on the table are very,very limited. I have asvings but that isn't goign to be a long-term option.

I do have one idea and although it sound ridiculous, it might genuinely be my only option - to go back to writing. Now writing books doesn't pay (or at least not in Australia) so I am thinking about a little lifestyle column or article in a couple of newspapers. I don't need to make big dollars, just top up my disability payment (sheesh I actually said that out loud).

I have worked out I can write on two main subjects food (history, seasons, recipes, cooking, general conversation on the subject), life moments/amusing anecdotes/people but also a myriad of others (like books, or art, or shopping, or life in a small town, or eco topics or ...) that will just take a little research (as opposed to effectively off the top of my head or observational comments).

Now the only things harder than getting paid for being published is finding an agent (especially as all of the advice I have received is to not send your work to one but to wait for them to find you) - and I am thinking I probably need both. Meanwhile I am researching newspapers and magazines around the English speaking world and ....

Okay I know that from so many perspectives this is not a practical idea - especially given my time frame to get started - but if someone can come up with something else that will pay about AU$500 per fortnight but doesn't involve me moving, lifting, standing or walking and is something can do from a suitable location (no I am not moving to Sydney) then I am well and truly open to other ideas.

Oh and if you know an agent who is looking for a new writer to represent lol

Photo: "Challenge" by Paulo Cassasco

Just Say "No"

Go WA dance, dance, dance:-)

Photo: "Sunshine" by xuvi

Mine or Yours?

My definition of stealing is: to take something that is not yours, without permission. I am sure that dictionaries - both regular and legal - may offer something different, or comprehensive, but I am going on my own definition for today.

On Saturday while sitting on the sofa I watched, with my jaw dropped, a young woman lean over from my neighbors mail box and steal one of my last azaleas. Admittedly it took her a couple of minutes but I was in too much shock to actual move or call out to her.

I then spent the next 15 minutes angry at it all. Okay I hadn't taken the photos of the flower that I wanted to - I was waiting for the golden light of afternoon to come across - but life goes on. I also knew that if she had've just knocked on the door and asked I would have taken the secateurs and cut the flower for her. So what was I most upset about?

As it was she and another friend, with large bunches of flowers came by the house again. This time I took advantage of the opportunity to let her know that I had seen her steal the flower and next time she should ask rather than just take. Both of them appeared stunned at the thought (was it because they were flowers in a garden rather than rings in a jewellers) but were polite enough to listen to me.

And in many ways that ended that. Except I still can't work out what offended me .... after all it was just a flower.



Photo: "Stealing" by cilium

He's A Bloke, He's An Aussie

I went out to a club last night (no not the dancing kind - this is the restaurant and bar type of venue). Now there is a protocol when coming into these venues which I wasn't entirely sure I knew about so I admit I was a little nervous.

To explain that, if you live more than 5 km away from the venue then you need to sign in as a guest. Simple really but I wasn't sure whether it was 5 or 50 (and as I fit into the 50 km range would I have to join?) or whether those friends that I was meeting had to verify for me (and they weren't there at that moment). Okay it wasn't hard but I had questions.

Anyway, behind me in the queue were a couple of "traditional" 20-something Aussie blokes happily interjecting the "F" word a couple of times in each sentence and talking a little rough. I should immediately clarify that they weren't aggressive or rude in any way - they were just having a regular little conversation between themselves in the traditional Aussie way.

When my turn came at the front of the queue I indicated that they should go first as I needed to talk to the staff member on reception to find out what I needed to do. That person became immediately available and 10 seconds later I was organised.

Once I got upstairs to the restaurant I realised I had left my camera in the reception area. I quickly made my way back and the security officer indicated that he had noticed it and put it away behind the reception desk. My two Aussie blokes were still there and they made a general comment along the lines of "leaving already?" and I laughed and indicated I was just getting my camera. At that stage I rolled my eyes and in mock self-deprecation added "that you just can't some people anywhere".

Oh the change that came over these two "roughies"! Their faces looked concerned and one immediately added that he didn't want to hear me speaking about myself like that and the other concluded that I should never put myself down.

What was that about books and covers lol? Many thanks guys :-)


Photo: "C'mon Aussie, C'mon" by gamebreaker

Crock and Roll

Winter has arrived - well some days anyway -so I have begun revelling in the joy of my crockpot.

Not only is there the seasonal novelty of hearty stews, big flavors and general comfort cooking but there is the joy of being able to throw everything in and come back 5 - 8 hours later to find it all fall-apart moist and delicious (well it is almost that simple).

Add to that the fluffy sheets and electric blanket are on the bed(although I have only had to turn it onto level 1 so far) and my feet are permanently covered by socks now and you just gotta know I have a smile on my face :-)

Smile :-)

The gods too are fond of a joke.

Aristotle

Photo: "Funny Guy" by sesjuzs

For the Soul

Worries go down better with soup than without.

Jewish proverb

Photo: "Hioppie Soup" by Tannbanan

Sigh ....

Sometimes the cure for restlessness is rest.

Colleen Wainwright

Photo: "The Travel of a Marble" by meeresmurmel

Just Do It

If you cannot lift the load off another's back, do not walk away. Try to lighten it.

Frank Tyger

Art: "Souffle d'hiver" by Carole Felmy