As if there was a doubt

I normally don't ever blog/email/Facebook on a Saturday night for fear that people will think I'm sad but tonight I don't care. And here's why:

1. I'm packing because I leave for the Carolinas tomorrow so it's not sad to be in tonight.

2. This post will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am sad.

I ironed the clothes mountain today.

Here it be. And that's not a mini laundry basket, just so as you know.

So like I said, this had most of the clothes I brought home from CHW in August and most everything I've worn since:

24 pairs of socks*

26 pairs of knickers*

5 pairs of jammies

38 t shirts/tops/shirts/vest tops

5 pairs of trousers

1 skirt

1 pair of shorts (it had been summer)

7 hoodies

*Please be aware these items have been on a cycle since I got back from CHW, and I have not just worn 26 pairs of knickers in over two months. That's gross.

Told you I'm sad, I counted. What else makes me sad, my wardrobes (yes, plural) don't look particularly lacking.

In other news today, 18th October is a day that will be remembered, by me anyway, as the day I went back to having a fringe. Around about 15 years ago I grew it out, and except for that disaster of a haircut before ICYC in Befast I've never had one since. But today I took the head staggers, as it were, and as Dyanne was cutting away I decided to go back. Dyanne convinced me that with modern technology (GHDs) and a thicker fringe my big old cow lick could be covered up. 

Right now I really like it! I keep raising my eye brows because it feels weird to be able to move my hair. And when I look in the mirror I hardly recognise myself. But I'm also slightly nervous because Dyanne dried it and she's, you know, a professional, and I'm, you know, me. Plus I'm about to travel to a land where GHDs aren't welcome and use a crappy travel hair dryer. Good luck everybody.

Photos no doubt will follow, but I'll maybe wait until I'm somewhere exciting. Oh I can't wait. Free refills, Wal-Mart, the Lake, Fuji Apple Salad, the wedding. I don't know what I'm more excited about!

You would think I'm never on the computer

Back again. I know, this is getting ridonkulous. But I'm a busy girl. 'Busy doing what?' I hear you wonder. Well I shall tell you:

1. YF Weekend

It seemed like I had just the place after CHW and I was back again, although there was about 2 months in between. Of course it could be that the ironing from CHW was (and is!) still waiting to be done. Oh I've done washing since, it's just been added to the pile. Hopefully this weekend I'll get round to it. Although I said that last weekend. And a few before that too.

It may have been two months ago, but it looks like it's still recovering from the mud.

Anyway, the weekend was good and all. Although it's a very different event when you are actually in charge of something as opposed to just having a little bit of responsibility. With the number growth, we ended taking away 30 which was great. Not so good was the tiny room we were in, because when we booked it we thought it'd be similar numbers to last year. It did slightly affect what we did, but it was all ok.

My favourite thing we did, actually I have two, was the Sunday Service where each group contributes a song, a thought - something God has been saying to someone/the group, and bible verse etc. It was brilliant to actually hear and see the growth in some people over the weekend and see some of our group raising their hands in worship for the first time. One of the guys made a photo montage video doings and that was brilliant too, kind of showed the journey we'd all been on over 36 hours or whatever it was.

My other favourite part, less holy, was the group games we had late night on Saturday night. We had various rounds to compete in, all taken from TV shows. So we had to sell a product (Dragon's Den), perform a song (X Factor), hummed tunes (Never Mind the Buzzcocks) and Played our Cards Right, complete with massive playing cards Brucie style. 

In the Dragon's Den game our group was given a polly pocket (the stationery product, not the doll). From that we created the Carpel Diem ('Sieze the hand, sieze the day') Mitten Master 4000 and a brilliant infomercial complete with demos as to all the things it can do, such as shield you from chemical attacks, protect your hand from spillages and showed how people don't even know you're wearing it! Even though I say it myself we were brilliant!!

But my personal favourite was the X Factor game. We were given a nursery rhyme and had to sing it to a different tune or in a different style. Ours was 'The Grand Old Duke of York' and the tune we decided on, no scratch that, the tune we kicked ass with was '500 Miles' by the Proclaimers, complete with second verse and repeat choruses (chorusi?) with the boys singing 'Up, up, up' and girls echoing (although with different words) 'down, down, down'. I'm telling you it was an Ivor Novello award winning song.

iPod in, blue sky, and beautiful surroundings. Does it get better?

2. School

Quite dull this so it'll be short. Finally learning the names and actually beginning to like the students. But driving is getting beyond annoying now.

3. Sox

The parents have left me again holding the cat as it were as they're off enjoying all the treats that Italy has to offer. Sox and I now get on quite well. He's reasonably easy to get out in the morning, not like Tigger who'd make you chase her through the house. But one of the plusses Tigger has was the silent meow, where she'd open her mouth and nothing would come out. Not like Sox who, I promise you, meows every other second at his worse. This has resulted in me sounding like my dad 'aww shut up cat!'. Said with love, of course.

4. Cobbling/Bespoke shoemaking

I know, who knew I had the skills? Well let me explain, I got my wedding shoes the other day from the mighty New Look. Excellent and match my outfit perfectly. All except they have bows on them. I don't do bows. So I had a look at them to make sure I could get them off in order to put something else on, and so I did.

They went from this:

Barf-o-rama

To this:

Jimmy Choo has been on the phone.

A new record low

I really don't think I've only blogged three times in a month anytime since I started. It really does make me think about knocking the whole thing on the head.

Anyway, the reason is I've been busy. I leave the house at 7.00am and all of last week wasn't home anytime before 8.00pm, mostly around 10.00pm. It wrecks and by that time, all humour has been lost from my day. But this week I am trying to make sure I am home at some sort of colour of time. Not to blog or anything (I think I've probably lost my readership now) but so as I keep sane.

So I have been busy with school. Yawn, fairly boring stuff really. I actually can't think of any funny stories to tell you in that area. Hmmm...nope. But it does amaze me how my winging ability has improved. I can stand in front of a class and have absolutely no recollection what the last thing I did was and still teach a lesson. Yes, I didn't say it was a good lesson, but a lesson all the same. One of my friends in Singapore used to talk about DHP (Door Handle Preparation). I'm not brave enough for this yet - you put your hand on the door handle and you can't open the until you know what you're going to do with the class.

The other thing keeping me busy is YF. We seem to have recovered from the lean years of late and have just about tripled in number. It's still early days and I imagine the numbers might drop off soon but at the minute we're getting 30-35 every Sunday! A-maz-ing. I know, I know, it's not about the numbers but it doesn't half help with the atmosphere and energy. This weekend we've got our weekend away and I cannot wait! It is going to rock! Nevermind that half of us will potentially be sleeping on the floor because we last year we booked an optimistic 15.

My computer is away getting fixed at the minute so alas I can't show you any photos of the Volunteer dinner, or the completed decking. I wonder which one you're more sad about missing out on?!

My guess is the decking.

Someone once said I reminded them of Tina Fey...I think it was the name and the fact I wear glasses

So Tony Blair was on 'The Daily Show' last night, well Thursday night in the US. There's another example for politicians who go on that show, never try to be funnier than Jon Stewart because you won't be and then you'll look stupid. But it was an interesting interview and once Tony got passed trying to be funny then he answered things quite well, and Jon Stewart actually seemed to admire the fact he was prepared to go on the show.

In other US political news, I watched the programme earlier this week about how the US election is like the last series of 'The West Wing', a Democratic canditate from a minority group versus a Republican candidate who is fairly moderate. If you didn't see it you can read it about it here. It went on the show how Hollywood portrays US politics and Presidents. All very interesting, for a person like me anyway. In case you're interested they said it usually comes down to either the idealistic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington type who's going to shake up Washington, or the all-American action hero type a la 'Air Force One'/'Independence Day'. Again they compared that to this election, Obama the idealist v. McCain the hero.

But my favourite TV political news was that Tina Fey was back on Saturday Night Live. Watch her impression of Sarah Palin. I have loved the comedy genius that is Tina Fey for a while now, but I think it just reached new heights.

How good is that weird Alaskan accent?!

I'm not not blogging

It's just that I haven't blogged. My life has been reasonably dull of late, I know, more than usual and I lost my zing for blogging. But Stella got her groove back and so I'm going to try. 

I shall start by showing you photos of Project Decking.

Ok so we missed the actual before shot so this is us, well Dad digging one of the 12, yes, count them twelve foundation holes. Little did we know this was on the only day of summer.

Check out our lone, some might say white trash, patio chair. It's all about to change as we get some class. No, really a wobbly clothes dryer that can't stand straight isn't the class I'm talking about.

Unfortunately my camera broke and my new one hadn't arrived for most of the during shots, so we skip ahead to the frame being there. I'd like to say that the photo isn't staged but sawing just isn't one of my strengths.

This sadly means that you don't get to see one of my favourite parts of the process, trying to get the posts straight and vertical (on both sides I might add). Any belief that they are not is merely bad cameraship on my part.

Da-dah! Well nearly. There's a railing on the short side and trellis on the long side. And some sort of steps and flower arrangement combo to stop would be toddlers (and let's face it Tinas) falling off the drop at the bottom. Also missing is the aforementioned classy garden furniture.

Too bad summer's over eh?