So I have a work mate coming over tomorrow to visit. I'm finally making good on an offer I made her AGES ago...I'm teaching her how to sew. Since she knows pretty much absolute zero, we'll be starting completely from scratch but at least she doesn't have anything bad to unlearn.

I'm really curious to see how it goes, especially as there is at least one other person I've also offered sewing lessons to so it will be good to figure out the easiest way to do things. Maybe I should start doing small paid classes in the future? XD

Hope to get some sewing for myself done too. I have a dress i need to finish as well as some other older projects before I move onto other planned items. Thank you again SO much to my lifesaver Wenz who has loaned me a machine to use since mine cacked it.

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Oh look! It's been...*counts on fingers*...only 4 months since I last posted! How's that for constancy?! *pfft!*

Sorry to those I haven't seen much of lately or haven't spoken to much. I've been pretty busy with work and stuff that I've kind of been away from the net a bit more. Amazing, but true. I will catch up with you all soon! Prolly gonna have a new years/Xmas thing at our place again this year.

Most interesting thing to happen lately? New baby! Yup, it was 4 weeks ago now but we got a kitten. She's a little black half Russian Blue named Quorra! She drives her brother nuts.

Otherwise, I've been still working out and watching what I eat. The scale doesn't say I've lost that much but I'm definitely WAY fitter than I was. Run more, faster and further each morning and lifting heavier weights! I feel so proud. The weight is starting to drop a bit and I think that should get faster now. I haven't been this fit in a long time and it's getting better so I just think of that each time I don't want to get up in the morning or when I really want to pig out on candy or something. I can do this!

Have to go to sleep now, though, so I can get up again and run on the treadmill. *lol*. Hope you're all well!

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So I have gone on the treadmill every morning this week for at least 15 minutes, a mix of brisk walking, jogging and running. Crunches too! My iPod music helps so much, especially the times when I manage to almost trance out, stop thinking and just run/jog with the music. Hard to do though.

A friend a work mentioned something called Couch to 5K, a fitness program designed to help you do just that. It uses a 20 minute a day system for 7 weeks so tomorrow I'm going to do up my own slightly altered version to fit in with my everyday exercising. Fingers crossed, I really want this to work since I'm not entirely happy with my look and fitness right now.

Oh yah, and Thursdays are my days off when it comes to food. Because we like to go shopping Thursday nights, I figured it was the best day so I had Thai for lunch and Oportos for dinner. Still healthier than many options but not as low cal/low carb as my usual fare.

I am determined for this to work, yes I am. Just have to keep the motivation up. Cheerleaders anyone? *lol*

Hopefully, by the time the weather starts to get warm (and not so wet!) I will start to see real changes.

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Ok, so this going to be surprising to absolutely no one but it's been 3 months since the last time I posted. So much for attempting to post more regularly. I'm going to blame work. Yep, that's my story. The things is...it's true, mostly. I was covering for someone else who was on leave for several weeks and then I was working to try and keep the contract running well and convince them to make me permanent. THEN the whole contract went a little pear shaped and several people got axed and I got transferred to a different contract in the same company. Yup, had to move to a different desk a whole ten feet away. *lol* Now I'm working on the contract I originally was interviewed for but that they decided not to hire me. It's a funny circle but I'm not complaining, other than the fact that I've spent all these weeks attempting to clean the huge mess left behind by the last girl doing this particular job. I still have no idea what exactly she was thinking when she did some things.

Throw in the fact that Dad was here for several weeks and it's been a bit crazy. Was good to see him and he'll be back for another short visit at the beginning of august before he flies back to canada. Would have been even better if I could have celebrated my precious Canucks winning their first Stanley Cup with him but oh well.

In the middle of all that, my fitness/diet routine kind of skidded a bit. It's hard to watch what you eat when you're eating out with family and trying to show them new things. Plus I've been so busy that I'm too tired to even think of cooking.

Monday, though, I decided it was time to get back on track. I'm watching what I eat again, cutting out as much carbs as possible and I've been getting up a half hour earlier the last two mornings to run on the treadmill. It's hard because it's been so cold but I know it's worth it and once I get into the routine of it, it will get much easier. Plus knowing that it will give me a chance to get fit and healthy and lose some extra kilos all makes it worth my time to keep motivated. I'm going to reach my goal weight this time and keep it there.

So treadmill every morning along with crunches and possibly hand weights (would love a compact weight system for the house but that will have to wait) and cutting down on carbs and no evil food should do the trick. I might allow myself one cheat day on thursdays a week just as reward and because it keeps one from going crazy, but still keep it as healthy as possible. Have things like Thai or Oportos instead of candy and Maccas.

Noticed that now that I'm determined to get fit again, I suddenly have the urge to go ice skating again. It's damn good exercise and I still need to take a friend up on some proper lessons so we'll see how that goes. Sydney Winter Festival is coming up but I don't know if I will skate there, tempted to though. And if to would stall raining then maybe I could go to Parra park for some rollerblading. Been meaning to for a while.

So there we go, there is the update. Oh yah, one last thing. Can't sew atm cause my machine died the day before Sydnova. So I'm doing my tax and probably putting part of it towards a new machine and maybe a new iPod nano too. Fingers crossed for everything! I'm determined to get fit this year, though. *grrrr* I know I'll feel better when I do.

PS I'll say now, pardon any typos. I'm typing this like a madwoman on the iPad so there could be a few, especially thanks to predictive text! XD

Oh and hugs to all I haven't seen in ages! I will climbing out of my hidey hole soon...really!

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You know how there is so much silly you can do on the net to amuse one's self? That's what I was doing tonight.

I love accents, some definitely more than others. Always used to have a weak spot for Aussie accents but I think now that I've lived close to decade here, it's not as strong as it was. *lol* The Scots and the Irish are hilarious to me and they make the best comedians, especially when drunk. I love some of the American accents, especially Texans. Some from outside North America may not hear it but there is a distinctly different sound to the different American accents and especially to the southerners. The Texas sound is a lovely drawl without too much of the yokel twang. Does that make sense to anyone but me?

Anyway, I took an accent test. It's asks you questions on how you says different words, what vowel sounds tend to rhyme etc. I actually did it twice, the first time based on how I sound NOW (which is particularly strong when tired or drunk) and the second based on how I say things when I'm back home for any length of time. Wanted to see if I got different results...and I did! Guess the Yanks I've spoken to lately haven't been sniffing glue when they said they thought I was from the Midwest. *snort*

First result - How I talk NOW:

Western. Like Midland, Western is another accent that people consider neutral. So, you might not actually be from the Western half of the country, but you definitely sound like it.

And if you're not from the West, you are probably one of the following:
(a) A Pittsburgher - the quiz can't tell the difference;
(b) Someone from Canada (probably southern Ontario) who doesn't have a Canadian accent;
(c) Someone from northern New England who doesn't have a New England accent; or
(d) Someone from Texas or the Heartland who was born after 1980. (for the Aussies, Heartland refers to Oklahoma or Kansas etc.)
You are definitely not from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, the Deep South, etc.

I AM from the western part of Canada and I might as well have been born in 1980 for all the difference it makes, so I find this amusing and interesting. However...

Second Result - How I talked at HOME:

Canada. You probably get irritated when British people and Europeans think you're from the States, but over here we wouldn't make a mistake like that.

If you're not Canadian, you're either a Minnesotan, or you're a Westerner who over-thought some of the questions on the quiz.

So I came out Western but had to over think to remember how things used to sound so this is relevant on several levels. *lol* There you go, proof that Australia has changed the way I talk, even if it's too subtle for Aussies (and Kiwis) to notice. :)

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Have to go into the RTA tomorrow and get a new mugshot done. Ick! That's the one thing I hate about license renewals. You'd think that with all the tech at their fingertips now, they'd be able to take a half decent picture but nope. Actually, I think they go out of their way to catch you at the worst possible moment. Trained to, in fact. Evil people. But I like being able to drive on the wrong side of the road so I kind of have to do it.

Meanwhile, I'm attempting to figure out what to do/wear for Syd'geddon. Have a couple ideas but I'm not sure what hits me the most. Probably only going to costume one day, technically, because I do want to get a pic with a guest one of the days. Yep, want to get a pic with Christopher Heyerdahl while wearing my contacts. If you know anything about me, you'll probably know why so I won't go into details. *lol* Besides, he's just awesome! He's half Norwegian, like me, Canadian, like me AND from my neck of the woods too! Oh yah, and an awesome actor, so, you know. :)

This LJ app thing has really made things so much easier. Posting from the iPad was a bit of a pain before, same with checking other posts.

My iPad has reconnected me with my precious country music! I found a free app that is dedicated to just broadcasting country music radio stations from Canada and the US. Have spent the last couple days catching up on Kickin' Country, The Wolf and Cat Country! So nice, like bringing a piece of home to me. :)

It won't come as a surprise to anyone who knows me to hear me say that I love japanese fashion. When I say that, I'm not even referring to the traditional styles, like kimonos and such, even though I do love those too. I mean modern fashion, street fashion. The Japanese have an amazing way with clothes, with adapting them and changing the way they are worn. Their fashion industry and styles actually turn over much faster than that in the western world, with completely new trends coming out constantly. The funny thing is that most of it is them taking what they see in western styles and adapting it to their own tastes. Not just or even mostly modern styles either, but historical stuff too.

I've been a big fan of Lolita fashion for a long time. It appeals to the girly girl in me with the ruffles and bows, pretty socks and petticoats. It's also something I can wear out in the city a lot easier than, say, traditional historical clothing and gowns. The only downside to loli is that a lot of fans of the style here seem to be under the impression that to wear it, you have to follow a long set of rules. I hate rules, especially fashion rules. To me, they're just asking to be broken. And how do they think the Japanese came up with the styles in the first place? By breaking the 'rules' and thinking outside the box. Which is why I do what I like with loli. :)

Another style that has caught my attention, though, is known as Hime gyaru or Hime gal. It shares some similarities to Lolita but without the more child-like aspects and a simpler silhouette. No petticoats here. I've read that it's not unusual for lolis to make the change from one to the other and I can see it being especially easy for those that are brand fanatics, like the Angelic Pretty tribe. Hime is NOT an inexpensive style, but going from AP prices to Hime really wouldn't be a big stretch. Considering that my main issue with brand loli is the same one I'd have with brand Hime gear, if I do try it out I'll be making my own stuff. The chances of the brand stuff fitting me...well, not good.

One thing's for certain, while I love doing the full OTT kit of loli and the look of Hime, I sometimes prefer to just take some of the elements I like and using them my own way or in a more casual style. Some of the 'rule breaking' I'm so fond of, I guess. :)

The biggest problem, aside from my love for blue jeans and cowboy boots, is being able to wear it. I've often worked in a lot of places where this kind of clothing would be too much and I don't have time or an excuse to go into the cbd everyday. Oh well, might try and keep adding bits a pieces I like into my normal wardrobe so I can have a taste of what I like, even if I can't go full out. :)

The fifth annual Lolifest was a very quiet one this year, though I had hoped to make it somewhat bigger. Things just didn't work out quite as I hoped. I intend to plan another event shortly to make up for it; I'm thinking Lolis on Ice. :)

We did have fun, though, and I got to meet some new Sydney lolis who are, more or less, just getting into things. The more, the merrier! We had snacks/lunch at the Lindt Cafe in Darling Harbor followed by karaoke, bubble tea and shopping at Kinokuniya. Didn't take many pictures but got a couple nice ones, so here they are.

( Pics under cut! :) )

Thank you so much to Anna, Casey and Liz, who came out for a lovely day in the city!

Now, to plan some ice skating! :)

(and maybe some future karaoke with friends....XD)

So, last night while I was trying to sleep but flip-flopping like a fish because of the heat, I somehow managed to pull something in my neck. Talented, aren't I? No I can't move much because it hurts too much. Thank goodness for the Internet! *lol* Because I'm stuck here, have my new LJ app and have said I'm going to post more, I not bring you a somewhat random posting.

My mom emailed this to me a while back and I found it amusing so now I'm going to share. Hopefully anyone who knows me gets it and gets the humor as it's intended as well.

Cowboy rules for Canada and USA:

1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.

2. Turn your cap right, your head ain't crooked.

3. Let's get this straight: it's called a 'gravel road.' I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're gonna get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.

4. They are cattle. That's why they smell like cattle. They smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? I-10 & I-40 go east and west, I-17 & I-15 goes north and south. Pick one and go.

5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 Combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year.

6. Every person in the Wild West waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.

7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/doves are comin' in during a hunt, we WILL shoot it outta your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.

8. Yeah. We eat trout, salmon, deer and elk. You really want sushi and caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.

9. The 'Opener' refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of August.

10. We open doors for women. That's applied to all women, regardless of age.

11. No, there's no 'vegetarian special' on the menu. Order steak, or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham and turkey.

12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup! Oh, yeah ... We don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat ... IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!

13. You bring 'Coke' into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice. You bring 'Mary Jane' into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.

14. College and High School Football is as important here as the Giants, the Yankees, the Mets, the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.

15. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards - it spooks the fish.

16. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1! (Admittedly, I'm bad about this one. Don't listen to rap or hip hop but I do like my music LOUD!)

Cheers!