Ms Fifikins

January

Originally uploaded by fifikins

1. 1st January 1/365, 2. 2nd January 2/365, 3. 3rd January 3/365, 4. 4th January 4/365, 5. 5th January 5/365, 6. 6th January 6/365, 7. 7th January 7/365, 8. 8th January 8/365, 9. 9th January 9/365, 10. 10th January 10/365, 11. 11th January 11/365, 12. 12th January 12/365 Tattoo day!, 13. 13th January 13/365, 14. 14th January 14/365, 15. 15th January 15/365, 16. 16th January 16/365, 17. 17th January 17/365, 18. 18th January 18/365, 19. 19th January 19/365, 20. 20th January 20/365, 21. 21st January 21/365, 22. 22nd January 22/365, 23. 23rd January 23/365, 24. 24th January 24/365, 25. 25th January 25/365, 26. 26th January 26/365, 27. 27th January 27/365, 28. 28th January 28/365, 29. 29th January 29/365, 30. 30th January 30/365, 31. 31st January 31/365

Originally uploaded by fifikins

I have survived January! I signed up for the Twitter365 whereby you are encouraged to take a self-portrait, or at least a photo that represents part of your day each day for 365 days. Some are better than others but I am glad I have kept with it!

Yes, 12 months ago today this baby gestated. Or was born or founds itself a tube to clung to amongst the many other intertubes…

Remember this? Not sure if much has changed. There are some posts I would rather forget about and some I am quite proud of, but my proudest achievement is sticking with it and having a post most weeks. In 12 months I have actually managed 145 posts and 3 pages, inluding this one, this one and this one!

Once upon a time, I had an anonymous blog. My friends had the address and I vented. And times were tough and people did need to be protected. And I did things that only your best friends and total strangers who didn’t have a clue who I was needed to know about. The strange thing is that in having a public blog where I am me, warts and all, has not meant that I have felt the need to hide things. Yes, I am selective about what I post about, but at no time have I felt the need to rant or vent or bitch or complain here.

I suspect it is because of the way I use Plurk and Twitter. There I am able to sprout off in 140 characters, get it out of my system and get on with things. It is more than microblogging. It is being involved in a supportive community.

So what am I going to do to celebrate? I suspect bake a cake! This one looks pretty good! Plus I have lots of carrots in the fridge so if anyone can suggest a different type of carrot cake I would be grateful! Thanks!

Oh and last, but, well, yeah, something about the least, or is that 733t? I am still amazed that people read my crap! And I also must thank the delightful Extremo who set up the blog and helps with technical stuff from time to time.

So it looks like I might be around for a bit more. So there.

It is a standing joke with MIML™ that he mentions a film and asks if I have seen it and then says, ‘no of course you haven’t.’ I am movie challenged. Don’t get me wrong, I love going to the cinema. I love the choc tops and frozen coke and popcorn and… oh and I love watching movies.

I just had a stage in my life where I never got to. My parents weren’t movie goers. I remember seeing The Cat from Outer Space when I was, er well young! I saw Amadeus when I was a teenager because the school string group got to play at the opening at the Croydon Cinemas!

I always believed that I didn’t like action or horror movies, however I can remember watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre about 8 or 9 times when I was 15ish at various Slumber Parties (we all had Slumber Parties and we all got our parents to hire it for us!) and my father hired Taxi Driver when I was 16 which I watched when they weren’t around and loved, and got into serious trouble for watching because it was rated R. Meh!

Then I saw odd movies. Usually chick flicks with girlfriends. Or the boys from Youth Group. I still remember one boy (who I will not name to protect the, er, innocent?) watching Pretty in Pink with me with his hand on my breast throughout.

Then I married and moved to a rural city that not only lacked Myer, but also any cinema. 3 months after major releases they came to us, but I never bothered going. Then another country town with no cinema, but I was closer to Adelaide and when I was pregnant with Imogen I went to the movies each time I went for an ante-natal appointment. The year was 1997 and I saw such all time classics as The Spice Girls Movie.

Then kids and I never got to go to the movies. And I detest watching movies with ads so I never sit down to watch the Sunday Night movies on the telly because I hate the ads.
(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
() Pirates of the Caribbean
() Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
() Neverending Story
() Blazing Saddles
() Airplane
Total: 2

() The Princess Bride
() Anchorman
() Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 5

() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
( X) Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
() American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 6

(X) Harry Potter 1
() Harry Potter 2
() Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 7

(x) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
() Signs
() The Grinch
(X ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30 (Suddenly 30)
() I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 10

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() KING KONG (2003)
Total so far: 13

() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
() Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
() Flubber
Total so far: 13

() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
() Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 13

() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child’s Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
() The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 13 (!)

() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
() Ocean’s Eleven
() Ocean’s Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
() Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
() Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 13 (!)

() Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 15

() Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She’s All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
() Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
() Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
() The Terminator
() The Terminator 2
() The Terminator 3
Total so far: 16

() X-Men
() X-2
() X-3
() Spider-Man
() Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
() Catch Me If You Can
() The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 18

() Swimfan
() Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf’s Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
(X) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 19

() Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
() Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 22

() Baseketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Reject
() Elf
() Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 22

() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
() Monsters Inc.
() Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 23

() High Tension
() Club Dread
() Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
() Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 24

() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 24

() Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
() Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
() Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 26

(x) The Matrix
() The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total so far: 27

So I am trying to justify never having seen any movies. Well I have seen some! The above list  v r yr 86itrcv yivb pi (<- that is MIML™ saying hi!) appeared on Facebook and I did it and I have seen like the fewest number out of like anyone! But then a lot of the movies listed are pretty crappy!

But I have also seen some awesome movies like The African Queen and The Sound of Music and Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Casablanca and ok. I’ll stop here. But seriously, dear readers what movies should I have seen? What am I missing out on? What are your favourite films?

Oh gotta go now- off to see Valkyrie with my eyes closed pretending it is not Tom Cruise. I have seen more movies in the last year than in the 15 before I think. And I have loved most of them!

And whilst you are at it, please tell me if it is movie or film (fil-um) and do you go the theater or the cinema?

That’s all, kthxbai!

I think I can say I have had accounts with all major banks in this country. 2 years ago when my life situation was changing I switched my banking to Citibank. My main reasons for this was they offered fee free accounts (I was paying $5/month plus various transaction fees) and also a Visa Debit Card meaning I could have the convenience of a Visa Card, but no debt.

Although my closest branch is over 1600km away, I figured that I had only been into my other bank’s branch once in the previous few years and I could always use the Post Office to deposit cheques or anything.

Over the last 2 years their internet banking site has improved too. You used to wait until the (online) statement was produced at the end of the month for transaction specifics (instead of ‘ATM withdrawal’ or ‘EFTPOS transaction’) but now that information is pretty instant.

The site  also acts as a branch- you can change your passwords, pins, addresses etc. I have changed my address to indicate my postal address, and changed my password from time to time, but never been near the bit that changes your pin.

So at Woolies last Saturday I go to enter my PIN for an EFTPOS transaction and it comes back as incorrect PIN. So I enter it again. Then I tell myself I must be confused and enter the PIN to an old account. Of course 3 incorrect attempts and the account is frozen. Well almost. Remember that trusty VISA debit… I get them to try the credit account button and behold it asks for a signature.

At home I try and log onto internet banking and am told I am locked out. So I ring the call centre. It is somewhere offshore, but they speak very cultured English and are very polite. Yes, because I entered my PIN incorrectly it freezes all account options. I ask them if my PIN has changed and they say it is the same as the one they sent me 2 years ago unless I have changed it. They suggest I wait and try again at an ATM to access money.

So Monday, I trot along to an ATM (the other great thing about Citibank is you can use any ATM with no charges!) and enter my PIN- incorrect. So I cancel and figure I have $30 in my wallet and I can use VISA debit.

I get home and ring again. They tell me they will have to issue a new PIN if I have forgotten mine. I have not forgotten it. I have the muscle memory of entering it so often! So I agree for them to issue a new one. They tell me it should take about 3 working days.

Today is pay day. I figured I would log onto internet banking to shuffle money around- pay bills, put some in my savings account and double check my budget. Enter my username and password- ‘You must verify yourself, enter your card number, account number and PIN.’ I don’t have a PIN! So I try again. Same thing, so I figure that as I changed my password on the weekend, perhaps it didn’t take so I enter my old PIN. There are no flashing lights, but the effect is the same- ‘Loser! You stuffed uo and have to ring us again’ or words to that effect!

Yet another call. By now I have worked out that if you press any old button you don’t have to go through 27 menus and you get straight to an operator. I am told that I will have no access to my account until I get my PIN and ring them if it hasn’t arrived by next Wednesday. So I did my emotional girly thing and burst into tears. I tell them I was told I would have the PIN in 3 days and I was not told that I would not have access to my account. She is very apologetic. So she bloody well should be! And she seemed astonished when I told her that my closest branch was so far away. I almost demanded an airfare to fly me there. Grrrrrrrr…

They say we live in a cashless society these days. The last few days have made me rethink that. Or perhaps it is just making me realise how those few coffees etc add up.

My saving grace has been that I have the VISA debit facility and can use that to buy groceries, but the inconvenience of it all is so annoying.

And no one can give me an answer as to why my PIN would suddenly not work.

I joined the gym over 6 months ago now. In that time my body shape has changed. According to my measurements I have lost quite a bit from my waist and thunder thighs and managed to gain an extra centimeter in my bust!

But my weight has stayed the same. Actually to be honest, since the week before Christmas I have managed to find 3.5kg. This morning I signed up again to Weight Watchers. I don’t want to focus on numbers or weights as such, but I know I want to be healthier. I need to set a good example to my kids and I really have found the most amazing man and want to be around to spend time with him.

I like being able to track online (even if the stoopid database hadn’t heard of a cross-trainer!) and have thrown a feeler into the online community boards. I am not on a diet, but am making a conscious decision to change my lifestyle. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.

I am not going to name all my posts this year with an ellipsis and actually I should stop using them so much, but meh, it’s my blog and I ellipse if I want to…

I have been reflecting on rites of passage and body changes and permanent markers recently. No doubt this is because of the divorce, but I think it is also part of me wanting to remember this time. The pain that I have been through has led to great happiness as well. I am finding myself being able to live in the present, not dwelling on the past and mistakes and errors and bad things, or worrying about the future and what it will bring, but living the moment.

I do want to have some memories of this time however. Some markers that separate the old me from the new. Not that there really is old and new, but rather a changed me.

Today, I got a tattoo. I found this image on flickr:

and I decided that that was what I wanted tattooed on me. I like the way it is a heart made up of lots of different strings. I will always have love in my life no matter what happens because the love has to come from me to begin with.

Oh and the finished result as of today:

To say I am thrilled is an understatement. I can’t wait for it to heal so I can see the deepness of the colours.

I am sitting in the airport lounge waiting to head back home after the most wonderful weekend! For Christmas I gave MIML™ a red box that contained information about this weekend- a trip to Brisbane for a sushi making course! We have had a ball. Caught up with one of my best friends, riden along the river on a ferry and seen the night lights from the Wheel of Brisbane.

And we have eaten well (well apaprt from McDonalds!) and we can now make sushi. And we browsed Borders and drank brown liquid at Starbucks. And I may or may not have Krispy Kremes in my posession, but they are not for me- MIML™ startrs a new rotation tomorrow and is taking them in to make a good impression! Win!

The company has been excellent and we have laughed and laughed and laughed! Over stupid things. MIML™ is made of awesome and win and I am so glad to have him in my life.

As for Brisvegas… Look it is a lovely city, but perhaps not the one I want to move to. I think Canberra is still first in the running. But they better have good cooking schools there…

Inspired by Andrew Sayer of Kensington Victoria fame, I have decided on my new year’s resolution. Actually this year is going to be awesome- 1080p- total progressive high definition.

And how?

1. Well I am going to keep ip the gym thing. I am going to make sure I go at least 3 times a week.  The aim is body reshaping…
2. Going to finish my thesis. Possibly even working full-time. Yep. Word by word I will finish it if it kills me. WHich it won’t because the year will be awesome. Suppose some people might think my death is awesome…
3. Will bake a cake a month. At least. Coz I really love baking.
4. Hire a movie every fortnight or so and catch up on all those ones I never got to see. The ones MIML™ is always asking if I’ve seen.
5. Try and worry a little less. Coz even though I am the Queen of Worry, I could do it a little less…
6. Travel a bit. Make sure I leave the country at least once.
7. Read more. Like actually finish a book or 6!
8. Make sure I do stuff I haven’t done before- like getting my bike licence last year do stuff like go to a shooting range and actually fire a gun, learn to cook different things and other things I will decide on as the year progresses.
9. er…
10. that’s about it I think!

Will see how I actually go! I have started taking part in the Twitter 360 thing at Flickr… so I will be able to track how I change I suppose…

And, oh could somebody please pass the chocolate?