What a busy weekend. I spent all day Saturday in a small room with 6 other people, learning how to use InDesign. It is pretty fun, and capable of so many things. The course was hard work though, because it moved so slowly (well, for my liking), e.g. spending 5 minutes going over how to open a new file, plus all the times we had to stop because two people in the class didn't know how to 'click and drag' a file. Oy.
There is a programme on TV3 at the moment called "The Perfect Age", which pits four different age groups against each other to find the 'perfect' age for doing things, e.g. making money, using technology (GPS navigation, text messages), creative arts. The groups are 'The Millennials", "Generation X", "Baby Boomers" and "The Silent Generation". Being born in 1984, this makes me a 'millennial'. Apparently, we are selfish, demanding of answers, intolerant, "what's in it for me" people, who use technology with no qualms, because that is what we have grown up with. I agree with the technology part, because I spent most of the course on Saturday working out how to do things before the instructor had even introduced the next topic - with a little logical thinking, most programmes aren't too hard to use. And it sure did fill in time while the tutor went over how to 'click and drag' files. There was a lady there, probably in her early 30's I guess, a "Generation X" member. She was terribly demanding of the tutor, and due to her lack of computer skills (one of the non-clicker-and-draggers), couldn't keep up with where we were on the screen. Thus, she would call out to the instructor something like, "My screen doesn't appear to have that option!" The instructor was very patient (probably gets this all the time with Community Education) and showed her that she was looking on the wrong menu. I tried really hard not to roll my eyes, but I was getting quite annoyed at the way she constantly blamed the computer for not having all the 'correct options', instead of realising the problem was that she couldn't keep up.
But that's probably just me being intolerant, right?
***
Jeremy and I went for a huge walk yesterday. We started from our house in Melrose, walked down the hill and through Kilbirnie, under the airport runway, through Strathmore, into Miramar and out the other side, until we were almost in... well, it was the back of Miramar I guess. Had lunch at Edwards Jones (and discovered a brilliant-looking pizza place, must try sometime), then walked all the way back! We estimated it was about a 6 km round-trip. Took about an hour each way, not counting lunch and a coffee. It was a good chance to talk properly about things, amidst admiring the nice houses: we had watched "Do The Right Thing" by Spike Lee the night before, and there are many interesting issues to discuss with that one! I had studied it in Film Studies in my first year but I wanted to hear what Jeremy thought of it. I definitely recommend the movie. Strangely, the video shop had classed it as "comedy". I don't think they had watched it before assigning that category.. Anyway, a good film for discussing stereotypes and race/ethnicity issues.
We walked back home via Lyall Bay, and the Warehouse: Jeremy wanted to buy a soccer ball so we can play at the park near our house. Visiting the Warehouse made me feel a bit sad. Their current promotion is Father's Day, with the slogan:
"You've got the Dad. We've got the present."
Sorry, don't have the Dad. I guess they don't have a present for me.
***
I promised Jeremy I would do work at Uni today, so I'd better keep my promise. Put some washing on, do the dishes, wrap up warmly, and scoot to the grad labs - the attraction of free printing is very strong.. Talking of promises, Jeremy and I are devising a new 'fitness' programme for ourselves. It involves less ginger crunch (found a good recipe recently which equals dangerous), and more playing soccer or walking around Wellington. It is staying light until 6pm now, and only going to get later, so we'll be able to do more after dinner, instead of curling up next to the heater and eating comfort food.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
the llama wedding photo
From this....
To this...
(made by my sister)
Thanks, Bex. It made me laugh very much.
***
My favourite websites are, at this moment, anything that will help me make dinner. Here are some links to my three favourites:
http://www.ecook.co.nz
http://www.cuisine.co.nz
http://www.taste.co.nz
The reason that I love them is that on each site, you can enter up to four ingredients, and it will give you recipes that include those items. Great for times when all you have is celery, eggs, yoghurt, and caster sugar. Anyway, this is a sort of lead-in, because I found the following recipe on the Cuisine site:
http://www.cuisine.co.nz/index.cfm?pageId=3167 - Poussins with 40 Cloves of Garlic
Yes, the recipe actually calls for 40 cloves of garlic. It would take about one hundred years to peel them all!
And talking of chicken, last weekend I made a roast, complete with all the vegetables, and stuffing, and etc. I wanted to try it out before we invite anyone over for said meal, and it worked perfectly. It was really quite yum. And Jeremy 'carved up' the carving. The best part was feeling good that I could make such a meal, the worst part was having to touch the chicken, and stuff its 'cavity'. Blurgh. As many people know, especially Mark and Sarah, after the 'Fish at the Big Thumb Restaurant' incident, I hate having to look at/touch meat which looks is still in its original state. As in, dead, but not cooked/cut up. I keep considering giving up meat altogether, as I am not really a fan of its taste anyway, but the only thing that is stopping me is the thing about iron.
***
Anyway, that's all. I just wanted to post those pictures.
To this...
(made by my sister)
Thanks, Bex. It made me laugh very much.
***
My favourite websites are, at this moment, anything that will help me make dinner. Here are some links to my three favourites:
http://www.ecook.co.nz
http://www.cuisine.co.nz
http://www.taste.co.nz
The reason that I love them is that on each site, you can enter up to four ingredients, and it will give you recipes that include those items. Great for times when all you have is celery, eggs, yoghurt, and caster sugar. Anyway, this is a sort of lead-in, because I found the following recipe on the Cuisine site:
http://www.cuisine.co.nz/index.cfm?pageId=3167 - Poussins with 40 Cloves of Garlic
Yes, the recipe actually calls for 40 cloves of garlic. It would take about one hundred years to peel them all!
And talking of chicken, last weekend I made a roast, complete with all the vegetables, and stuffing, and etc. I wanted to try it out before we invite anyone over for said meal, and it worked perfectly. It was really quite yum. And Jeremy 'carved up' the carving. The best part was feeling good that I could make such a meal, the worst part was having to touch the chicken, and stuff its 'cavity'. Blurgh. As many people know, especially Mark and Sarah, after the 'Fish at the Big Thumb Restaurant' incident, I hate having to look at/touch meat which looks is still in its original state. As in, dead, but not cooked/cut up. I keep considering giving up meat altogether, as I am not really a fan of its taste anyway, but the only thing that is stopping me is the thing about iron.
***
Anyway, that's all. I just wanted to post those pictures.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
bullet points
- I have been feeling: homesick, exhausted, rundown, bored, and lonely. And I definitely want this winter to be over. I am so tired of wearing 6 layers of clothing.
- University holidays at the moment, which doesn't really mean all that much, just 6 hours a week that I don't have to go to class. But I shall be spending some of tonight, most of tomorrow, and a good portion of next week at University, trying to write the big assignment due on the first day back (4th Sept). It involves a lot of web-based research, and then lots of writing. But it isn't too conceptual this time, just lots of factual research. Which is a nice change.
- I started to re-organise the pantry this morning. It really did need it. I do a lot of baking, so I like the ingredients to be close at hand, but when we moved in, there were so many other things to do that organising a pantry was pretty well down the list. So I am doing something productive, just not in the way my lecturer may prefer..
- We had A.J. and Kate over for dinner on Tuesday night. I made a pumpkin and chicken curry (which was nicer than it sounds), and chocolate cake and fruit salad and icecream for dessert. We had lots of laughs and fun, and talked about ugly babies, among other things.
- I'm going to finish said fruit salad for lunch. Which is now.
Friday, August 18, 2006
the moon is made of honey
I finally remembered to upload the photos from our honeymoon. There aren't many, because we decided to enjoy the scenery instead of getting caught up behind the camera all the time. We have lots of fun memories stored in our head, like getting stuck behind a huge flock of sheep who were being herded down the road.
And also, I keep forgetting to put this link in. Here are our wedding photos, in case I forgot to e-mail anyone:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhbennett/sets/72157594193618006/
Feel free to pass that link to anyone who may be interested!
*******
The day after the wedding. Photo taken from the roof of the house where we stayed, on the South coast of Wellington.
Our steadfast companion for the holiday - a FunCargo that we affectionately named "Barry". It was really short, but had a very high roof. I think we laughed all the way from Hokitika airport until we got to HariHari (where we were staying), about a 50 minute drive!
Franz Josef Glacier.
It felt like it was 2 degrees, and the wind was gusting at about 200km/h. Hence Jeremy's slightly pained look.
Hannah trying to look happy. Note the 5 jumpers, scarf, hat, and mittens.
Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier. Unfortunately the photo is too dark to see Jeremy, but you can see how beautiful the lake is. A nice walk from the carpark to that viewing jetty.
Apparently it was a nice drive between the glaciers, but I fell asleep, so I wouldn't know..
Fox Glacier. We couldn't get very close without having to do an hour's walk, and it was getting late. So picture is taken from a carpark.
This is at Hokitika Gorge. Can you tell that I'm trying really hard not to freak out? The swingbridge was moving in the wind, and there is a swift-moving river about 100m underneath...
We spent our last afternoon walking around the beach. We played petanque in the sand. And I won.
And I saw my old science teacher, of all people!
And also, I keep forgetting to put this link in. Here are our wedding photos, in case I forgot to e-mail anyone:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhbennett/sets/72157594193618006/
Feel free to pass that link to anyone who may be interested!
*******
The day after the wedding. Photo taken from the roof of the house where we stayed, on the South coast of Wellington.
Our steadfast companion for the holiday - a FunCargo that we affectionately named "Barry". It was really short, but had a very high roof. I think we laughed all the way from Hokitika airport until we got to HariHari (where we were staying), about a 50 minute drive!
Franz Josef Glacier.
It felt like it was 2 degrees, and the wind was gusting at about 200km/h. Hence Jeremy's slightly pained look.
Hannah trying to look happy. Note the 5 jumpers, scarf, hat, and mittens.
Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier. Unfortunately the photo is too dark to see Jeremy, but you can see how beautiful the lake is. A nice walk from the carpark to that viewing jetty.
Apparently it was a nice drive between the glaciers, but I fell asleep, so I wouldn't know..
Fox Glacier. We couldn't get very close without having to do an hour's walk, and it was getting late. So picture is taken from a carpark.
This is at Hokitika Gorge. Can you tell that I'm trying really hard not to freak out? The swingbridge was moving in the wind, and there is a swift-moving river about 100m underneath...
We spent our last afternoon walking around the beach. We played petanque in the sand. And I won.
And I saw my old science teacher, of all people!
Monday, August 14, 2006
procrasti-blog
Well, today I'm going to enrol in a nightschool class for the first time. Actually, I did some after-school classes when I was younger (cooking, pottery, calligraphy), but I've always wanted to go to nightschool. I remember when my Mum went to classes to learn how to use Microsoft Word, back when we had Windows 3.1 and everything was just a bit foreign. But my class is computer-related too. I want to learn how to use Adobe InDesign, because that is the primary tool for publishers who are making books. And by that statement, here I am admitting my plans for next year: I want to do a Diploma in Publishing, at Whitireia Polytechnic. (The course details are here: http://www.whitireia.ac.nz/programme.php?key=26&career_id=Publisher )I'd never thought about studying at a polytechnic before, but Whitireia is the only place that offers this course. And getting some practical experience will be beneficial, instead of just reading books. Which, ultimately, is what I'd like to do for a job. No, let's be more specific. I want to correct spelling and grammar mistakes, and read manuscripts, and do typesetting, and just generally be involved with the production of books. This course offers experience throughout the whole process, from manuscript assessment to typesetting to cover design to marketing/distribution. Only stumbling block? I have to make a shortlist, then pass an interview. And the thought of that seems really quite frightening. I'm terrified of rejection (who isn't?), and it seems like I'm putting all my hope into this one course. If I don't get in, then what am I going to do?? And how will I feel? Still, there are other ways into the publishing industry - I just want this to be the way I get in. Therefore (heading back to the nightschool topic), I'm trying to show initiative, and do something that will help my application.
So that's number one on my list of Things To Do Today. I also have to call Philips to discuss some problems with our DVD player, go to Uni and do some photocopying/finish my readings for class/go to class. Oh, and that pesky essay is demanding attention also. Jeremy makes dinner on Monday nights, so I can do work at Uni after my class, and come home to something-that-is-always-yum.
But at the moment, I'm looking at 'holiday homes to rent' sites. Jeremy and I are planning to go away for a weekend, either to the Wairarapa, or further afield, perhaps Hawkes Bay or even Taranaki. I haven't been to the East Coast for years, so it would be a nice trip.
Talking of trips, Jeremy and I went for a daytrip on Saturday, through the Wairarapa to Masterton. When we woke up at 7am, I said, "Let's go to Masterton". Jeremy said, "Why would you want to do that?" I (having never been there) said, "I've never been there. And it's such a nice day. And I'm getting claustrophobic here in Wellington." So, we went. Masterton wasn't actually that bad, in fact it was quite warm and pleasant. We had lunch, then drove back through Carterton (for some reason I thought Carterton was on the coast, but I was getting it confused with Castlepoint) and Greytown, stopping to buy fruit, vegetables, 'real fruit icecream' (H: tamarillo; J: Milo), and one chocolate each from the Schoc Chocolates shop. They are expensive, about $2.50 each, but despite our tight budget we allowed ourselves a treat. I had a 'boysenberry whisky truffle' and J had a coffee truffle. They were delicious. We nibbled at them later that night over a game of Scrabble.
Before I met Jeremy, I'd played one game of Scrabble in living memory, with Nick and his father and his father's partner. However, Jeremy used to play lots with his grandfather, and also with his aunts and uncles, so I always claim a distinct disadvantage. However, we played on Saturday night, and Jeremy totally won, although he graciously decided not to add up the scores. I challenged him to a rematch on Sunday afternoon, and this time we added up the scores - and I won! By about 30 points! Okay, so it was probably a fluke. But it gave me some confidence, and we are hopefully going to play more regularly, so I can improve my skills. And at least now I know some of the rules- Jeremy did neglect to fill me in on a couple..
Okay. This has been a procrasti-blog; I should get on the scooter and scoot to University. Yikes, I've had a few run-ins with rude motorists lately. You try to help the environment by driving a moped instead of a motorcar, and all you get is people trying to cut you off, honking at you, overtaking you when you are doing 50km/h and in the middle of the lane anyway!!
So that's number one on my list of Things To Do Today. I also have to call Philips to discuss some problems with our DVD player, go to Uni and do some photocopying/finish my readings for class/go to class. Oh, and that pesky essay is demanding attention also. Jeremy makes dinner on Monday nights, so I can do work at Uni after my class, and come home to something-that-is-always-yum.
But at the moment, I'm looking at 'holiday homes to rent' sites. Jeremy and I are planning to go away for a weekend, either to the Wairarapa, or further afield, perhaps Hawkes Bay or even Taranaki. I haven't been to the East Coast for years, so it would be a nice trip.
Talking of trips, Jeremy and I went for a daytrip on Saturday, through the Wairarapa to Masterton. When we woke up at 7am, I said, "Let's go to Masterton". Jeremy said, "Why would you want to do that?" I (having never been there) said, "I've never been there. And it's such a nice day. And I'm getting claustrophobic here in Wellington." So, we went. Masterton wasn't actually that bad, in fact it was quite warm and pleasant. We had lunch, then drove back through Carterton (for some reason I thought Carterton was on the coast, but I was getting it confused with Castlepoint) and Greytown, stopping to buy fruit, vegetables, 'real fruit icecream' (H: tamarillo; J: Milo), and one chocolate each from the Schoc Chocolates shop. They are expensive, about $2.50 each, but despite our tight budget we allowed ourselves a treat. I had a 'boysenberry whisky truffle' and J had a coffee truffle. They were delicious. We nibbled at them later that night over a game of Scrabble.
Before I met Jeremy, I'd played one game of Scrabble in living memory, with Nick and his father and his father's partner. However, Jeremy used to play lots with his grandfather, and also with his aunts and uncles, so I always claim a distinct disadvantage. However, we played on Saturday night, and Jeremy totally won, although he graciously decided not to add up the scores. I challenged him to a rematch on Sunday afternoon, and this time we added up the scores - and I won! By about 30 points! Okay, so it was probably a fluke. But it gave me some confidence, and we are hopefully going to play more regularly, so I can improve my skills. And at least now I know some of the rules- Jeremy did neglect to fill me in on a couple..
Okay. This has been a procrasti-blog; I should get on the scooter and scoot to University. Yikes, I've had a few run-ins with rude motorists lately. You try to help the environment by driving a moped instead of a motorcar, and all you get is people trying to cut you off, honking at you, overtaking you when you are doing 50km/h and in the middle of the lane anyway!!
Friday, August 11, 2006
a fond farewell
Last farewells: a shared meal, a goodbye hug. A 'travel safely' said to replace what I really wanted to say - the true thoughts: awkward things like 'I'll really miss you two' and 'I'm so proud of you both'. Our acquaintance hasn't been relatively long, and shyness all round means that friendships are only just forming, but those are the thoughts that have been running through my head. Writing the card was tough, as there is a fine line between sincerity and being cloying. The goodbye present was the 'tuwhare' CD, which we both love to listen to, and hope they can enjoy as well: an abstract piece of home, something to carry them back from their Boston apartment to their former house in Kelburn, remember the light of the sun back here, the hills and the harbour, and feel closer.
Sitting here in the post-grad lab at Uni, I feel a bit weepy at the thought of the goodbye. I have leaky tearducts especially at moments like these. I had a wee cry last night, when I was alone in my wakefulness, and the room was quiet.
Sitting here in the post-grad lab at Uni, I feel a bit weepy at the thought of the goodbye. I have leaky tearducts especially at moments like these. I had a wee cry last night, when I was alone in my wakefulness, and the room was quiet.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
mish-mash of thoughts
I'm quite bad at constructing logical narratives, so I'm just going to keep jumping around, and hope that my readers stay with me.
So. The saga of sleep continues. On Monday night, I was awake from 3:00 - 4:30am, but not due to bad dreams. I woke up many other times, consecutively 'too hot', followed by 'too cold' an hour later. I think we have too many blankets on our bed (5!). Jeremy woke up at 4:00am, also too hot, and he kept me company for a few minutes. It was nice to have the solitude broken a little. Last night was just broken sleep, until 5:30am when Jeremy got up to get ready to catch the plane (see below).
I have been meaning to write about the weekend just past, as it was really quite fun.
Saturday: both woke up at 6:45am, without an alarm, so decided to get up and go the farmers market at Moore Wilson's in Porirua. Jeremy had to go to work quickly, so I got some breakfast from New World and we got to the market around 9am. It sure was delicious! We taste-tested just about everything on offer, and Jeremy also ate some grilled meats. We bought a new type of pesto ('Asian Mint', which means mint, coriander, lime, cashew nuts, and etc), and some fresh-pressed apple juice from a boutique orchard in Greytown - it is refreshingly natural, with no added sugars or preservatives. We also got some fish from Pacific Catch, and on the way back to the car Jeremy went back to the markets to buy me some daffodils. I was happy.
We decided to continue our spree, and buy some clothes. We stopped off on the way home at Dressmart in Tawa, where Jeremy got a pair of shoes, some socks, and two really swish merino jerseys (only $29 each!). And I bought apples and half a pumpkin from the vegetable market in the carpark. We had lunch at home, by which time Jeremy was feeling sufficiently guilty enough to offer to buy me some clothes too (he may tell that story a little differently...), so we went into the central city, where I got two dresses and a new white t-shirt (my other two were going slightly greyish, ugh). Neither of us have bought new things for a long time, being on a tight budget, but Jeremy got a nice payment from the RNZAF for all the practices for the rugby performance and the recent weekend tour, so we decided to have some treats.
Dinner was fresh hoki with the new pesto, and dessert was cocktails at Jeremy's aunts (my aunt-in-law?) house; a welcome-home party for her husband (uncle-in-law?). That was very fun indeed, as it included wearing a nice dress and my red shoes from the wedding.
Sunday: accidental sleep in. We had intended to go to church, but Jeremy got up and made coffee without waking me up, and I didn't surface until 9:30am. Oops. So Jeremy also made me brunch (I am very well looked after on weekends), and I went to the Hospice for my fortnightly duty. We did some chores in the afternoon (ho hum), and then went to the "Farewell to Mark and Sarah from Jeremy's extended family" dinner at Kazu. It was very good food (endame, sushi, and kushiage), but took about one hundred years to get to our table. Hence, many pots of green tea were drunk.
Another farewell dinner for above on Thursday evening, which will also be fun. Jeremy and I are planning to buy a little present, which hopefully they will like. It will be the last time we will see them until June next year. I know we are both going to miss them. I really liked having them over for dinner last week, it was nice and relaxed and Jeremy and I both enjoyed having extended conversation with them.
The wonders of e-mail and digital cameras shall hopefully make the distance seem less.
And on a different topic, here is a link to one of my favourite websites. And before anyone remarks, I found this site independent of Jeremy. :
http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html
Probably only interesting for people in Wellington; I'm sure I wouldn't have been interested when I was living in Auckland. But it is fun to check it after you feel an earthquake, and see where it measured on the Richter scale.
I happen to quite like earthquakes, even the big scary ones. Perhaps they are still a novelty? Something interesting always seems to happen when an earthquake strikes, like all my books and cds rattling, or doors opening by themselves... But my favourite memory has to be the time there was a big "bang" sort of earthquake, like the earth shifting really rapidly and violently beneath you, lasting about one second. I was hanging out with my then-flatmate Ben, who got totally freaked out, and somehow managed to leap under the dining table. Apparently this is possible.
Jeremy has been working at the Auckland branch of the company today, so I have to pick him up from the airport in a few hours. How jet-set! I shall make something warm and filling for our tea, a red curry perhaps, with aforementioned half a pumpkin. I made a 'pumpkin and potato red curry' when Mark and Sarah came over for dinner, which was... interesting. But everyone was very polite about it! However, I think I might try something different tonight.
Anyway, I should go and continue being a housewife. It's a big shambles here right now, because last night we finally picked up the chest of drawers that Jeremy's parents are kindly lending us, and thus I have unpacked the jumpers and things that were still in boxes, onto the floor. They are yet to make it into the actual drawers. But when this is all sorted, everything will look really tidy and orderly. Just the way I like it!
So. The saga of sleep continues. On Monday night, I was awake from 3:00 - 4:30am, but not due to bad dreams. I woke up many other times, consecutively 'too hot', followed by 'too cold' an hour later. I think we have too many blankets on our bed (5!). Jeremy woke up at 4:00am, also too hot, and he kept me company for a few minutes. It was nice to have the solitude broken a little. Last night was just broken sleep, until 5:30am when Jeremy got up to get ready to catch the plane (see below).
I have been meaning to write about the weekend just past, as it was really quite fun.
Saturday: both woke up at 6:45am, without an alarm, so decided to get up and go the farmers market at Moore Wilson's in Porirua. Jeremy had to go to work quickly, so I got some breakfast from New World and we got to the market around 9am. It sure was delicious! We taste-tested just about everything on offer, and Jeremy also ate some grilled meats. We bought a new type of pesto ('Asian Mint', which means mint, coriander, lime, cashew nuts, and etc), and some fresh-pressed apple juice from a boutique orchard in Greytown - it is refreshingly natural, with no added sugars or preservatives. We also got some fish from Pacific Catch, and on the way back to the car Jeremy went back to the markets to buy me some daffodils. I was happy.
We decided to continue our spree, and buy some clothes. We stopped off on the way home at Dressmart in Tawa, where Jeremy got a pair of shoes, some socks, and two really swish merino jerseys (only $29 each!). And I bought apples and half a pumpkin from the vegetable market in the carpark. We had lunch at home, by which time Jeremy was feeling sufficiently guilty enough to offer to buy me some clothes too (he may tell that story a little differently...), so we went into the central city, where I got two dresses and a new white t-shirt (my other two were going slightly greyish, ugh). Neither of us have bought new things for a long time, being on a tight budget, but Jeremy got a nice payment from the RNZAF for all the practices for the rugby performance and the recent weekend tour, so we decided to have some treats.
Dinner was fresh hoki with the new pesto, and dessert was cocktails at Jeremy's aunts (my aunt-in-law?) house; a welcome-home party for her husband (uncle-in-law?). That was very fun indeed, as it included wearing a nice dress and my red shoes from the wedding.
Sunday: accidental sleep in. We had intended to go to church, but Jeremy got up and made coffee without waking me up, and I didn't surface until 9:30am. Oops. So Jeremy also made me brunch (I am very well looked after on weekends), and I went to the Hospice for my fortnightly duty. We did some chores in the afternoon (ho hum), and then went to the "Farewell to Mark and Sarah from Jeremy's extended family" dinner at Kazu. It was very good food (endame, sushi, and kushiage), but took about one hundred years to get to our table. Hence, many pots of green tea were drunk.
Another farewell dinner for above on Thursday evening, which will also be fun. Jeremy and I are planning to buy a little present, which hopefully they will like. It will be the last time we will see them until June next year. I know we are both going to miss them. I really liked having them over for dinner last week, it was nice and relaxed and Jeremy and I both enjoyed having extended conversation with them.
The wonders of e-mail and digital cameras shall hopefully make the distance seem less.
And on a different topic, here is a link to one of my favourite websites. And before anyone remarks, I found this site independent of Jeremy. :
http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html
Probably only interesting for people in Wellington; I'm sure I wouldn't have been interested when I was living in Auckland. But it is fun to check it after you feel an earthquake, and see where it measured on the Richter scale.
I happen to quite like earthquakes, even the big scary ones. Perhaps they are still a novelty? Something interesting always seems to happen when an earthquake strikes, like all my books and cds rattling, or doors opening by themselves... But my favourite memory has to be the time there was a big "bang" sort of earthquake, like the earth shifting really rapidly and violently beneath you, lasting about one second. I was hanging out with my then-flatmate Ben, who got totally freaked out, and somehow managed to leap under the dining table. Apparently this is possible.
Jeremy has been working at the Auckland branch of the company today, so I have to pick him up from the airport in a few hours. How jet-set! I shall make something warm and filling for our tea, a red curry perhaps, with aforementioned half a pumpkin. I made a 'pumpkin and potato red curry' when Mark and Sarah came over for dinner, which was... interesting. But everyone was very polite about it! However, I think I might try something different tonight.
Anyway, I should go and continue being a housewife. It's a big shambles here right now, because last night we finally picked up the chest of drawers that Jeremy's parents are kindly lending us, and thus I have unpacked the jumpers and things that were still in boxes, onto the floor. They are yet to make it into the actual drawers. But when this is all sorted, everything will look really tidy and orderly. Just the way I like it!
Monday, August 07, 2006
I just posted in here earlier this afternoon, but will write more because I am at a loose end until my bus comes in 45 minutes. My research for an essay on the KJB is dependent on some resources at home, so that is put aside for now; my Coleridge essay is very difficult to research, and here's why:
The first part of the assignment is to find 15 scholarly peer-reviewed articles, published in 1996 or later. Now, I'm sure there is a rationale behind this, like appreciating current critical attitudes. Unfortunately, Coleridge lived from 1772 until 1834, so there is hundreds of years of criticism on his work. I am researching one of his more obscure poems, "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison", and I can only find about 8 articles written since 1996 that specifically mention this poem by name. I found about 20 more written from roughly 1930 until 1990, but that is of no help. However, I will make a definitive list of what I have found, and make an appointment with my lecturer to plead my case. Perhaps there is a secret cache of Coleridge criticism, and she is waiting for me to visit her office, where there is a treasure map (yellowed with age and burned around the edges) that will lead me to a place marked with an 'x'. Upon digging several feet down, I will find a big book of articles written just about this poem, and in the last ten years. Right - I'll put making that appointment on my list of Things To Do This Week.
***
Another topic currently on my mind is my recent name-change. I have only been a "Bennett" for about six weeks, but I am finding it difficult to adjust to - which is nothing to do with the quality of the name of course, just that I'm not used to it yet.
I have a new driver's licence now, am in the process of applying for a new passport ($150!!), and slowly changing things like bank accounts, library cards, power/phone accounts, and so on. I decided not to change my name with Studylink, because I want my degree to state my maiden name. If I change my name with Studylink but not the University, things are just going to get really confusing, and I'm quite convinced that I'll stop getting my money. So, I'll change my name officially with IRD once I graduate and my student loan has been transferred.
However, all practicalities aside, I find it quite difficult to remember that I have a different surname, as my previous name has been with me for a lot longer (stating the obvious here), and I guess that somewhere inside I feel like I have given up part of my identity. I wasn't forced to change my name, and it was a conscious decision I made, and I don't judge anyone for their decision either way. It just feels strange. Like a game; some ''make believe' game to play. But perhaps it is like a new t-shirt, or a new house - inevitably strange initially, but after awhile, you can hardly recall what it was like before it was part of your life.
And don't get me started about being a "Mrs" - that is just a bit too far out of my scope at the moment, and I shall have to keep ruminating that one over for a long while yet.
***
On the subject of ruminating... I have been having really awful sleep lately, or rather, an awful lack of sleep. When I finally manage to drift off, I am plagued by terrible nightmares.
Ever since my Dad died three years ago, I have had recurring nightmares, usually set in the same place, but always always the same scenario - I am running around, trying to find someone or something, but there are too many obstacles in my way, or uncooperative people, or some circumstance that prevents me achieving this goal, and there is always someone chasing me, too. I wake up exhausted and upset.
However, some of the dreams have taken on a more sinister notion. Of course, there were the 'stressed about the wedding' dreams earlier this year, which involved Jeremy thinking I looked ugly, or invitations not being sent out, etc. But the majority of dreams I have had since roughly late last year have been about family members being in car crashes, or hurt in some way; me being chased by someone wanting to murder me; intruders in my house; my house being filled with people and it catches on fire but I can't get anyone out of harm's way; people drowning; Jeremy being lost and I'm unable to rescue him... I won't go on.
I'm really confused as to why these dreams keep coming back (again, often I am in the same place, this one particular room or house or courtyard; nowhere that I've been in waking life). And it makes for very unsettled sleep - I often wake up at 2am, stay awake until 3am too scared to go back to sleep; wake up again at 4am, stay awake until around 5am, ditto; awake again at 6:30am when Jeremy gets up for work. And even worse is the fact that Jeremy usually falls asleep really quickly, so I've been spending a lot of time by myself, staring at the ceiling, watching the room almost imperceptibly get lighter as dawns nears. To add insult to injury, I really struggle to wake myself up from these dreams, but according to Jeremy, I start moving around and my breathing changes; sometimes I kick him (accidently, of course), and he wakes up, realises I'm having a nightmare, and then wakes me up. I am upset at the dream I just had, but I get even more upset that I've interrupted Jeremy's sleep again. So neither of us have restful sleep. And the cycle goes on and on.
It's affecting my life because I am not good at sleep-deprivation (except when there are essays to be handed in), and I get snappy with Jeremy, who doesn't deserve it, or makes me over-react to the most minor issues (like wet bathmats not hung up; clothes left on the floor; dishes not being done). So I publicly apologise to my dear husband for that. Although he knows already, I want to thank him for his patience and understanding, especially when all this sleep-deprivation is compounded by PMS and it culminates in slammed doors or huffy silences or cold shoulders. I hope this passes soon, Jeremy, and may the good times continue to outweigh the testing...
So, plan of action? Well, I have some herbal sleeping tablets I take occasionally. They don't solve the dreams issue, but usually I feel a bit more rested upon waking. Maybe I need to get back into counselling. It's worked before.
***
Off I go into the oppressive clouds, to get the bus, and then to struggle home in the southerly wind and rain, to Jeremy, who is making dinner tonight, hurrah...
The first part of the assignment is to find 15 scholarly peer-reviewed articles, published in 1996 or later. Now, I'm sure there is a rationale behind this, like appreciating current critical attitudes. Unfortunately, Coleridge lived from 1772 until 1834, so there is hundreds of years of criticism on his work. I am researching one of his more obscure poems, "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison", and I can only find about 8 articles written since 1996 that specifically mention this poem by name. I found about 20 more written from roughly 1930 until 1990, but that is of no help. However, I will make a definitive list of what I have found, and make an appointment with my lecturer to plead my case. Perhaps there is a secret cache of Coleridge criticism, and she is waiting for me to visit her office, where there is a treasure map (yellowed with age and burned around the edges) that will lead me to a place marked with an 'x'. Upon digging several feet down, I will find a big book of articles written just about this poem, and in the last ten years. Right - I'll put making that appointment on my list of Things To Do This Week.
***
Another topic currently on my mind is my recent name-change. I have only been a "Bennett" for about six weeks, but I am finding it difficult to adjust to - which is nothing to do with the quality of the name of course, just that I'm not used to it yet.
I have a new driver's licence now, am in the process of applying for a new passport ($150!!), and slowly changing things like bank accounts, library cards, power/phone accounts, and so on. I decided not to change my name with Studylink, because I want my degree to state my maiden name. If I change my name with Studylink but not the University, things are just going to get really confusing, and I'm quite convinced that I'll stop getting my money. So, I'll change my name officially with IRD once I graduate and my student loan has been transferred.
However, all practicalities aside, I find it quite difficult to remember that I have a different surname, as my previous name has been with me for a lot longer (stating the obvious here), and I guess that somewhere inside I feel like I have given up part of my identity. I wasn't forced to change my name, and it was a conscious decision I made, and I don't judge anyone for their decision either way. It just feels strange. Like a game; some ''make believe' game to play. But perhaps it is like a new t-shirt, or a new house - inevitably strange initially, but after awhile, you can hardly recall what it was like before it was part of your life.
And don't get me started about being a "Mrs" - that is just a bit too far out of my scope at the moment, and I shall have to keep ruminating that one over for a long while yet.
***
On the subject of ruminating... I have been having really awful sleep lately, or rather, an awful lack of sleep. When I finally manage to drift off, I am plagued by terrible nightmares.
Ever since my Dad died three years ago, I have had recurring nightmares, usually set in the same place, but always always the same scenario - I am running around, trying to find someone or something, but there are too many obstacles in my way, or uncooperative people, or some circumstance that prevents me achieving this goal, and there is always someone chasing me, too. I wake up exhausted and upset.
However, some of the dreams have taken on a more sinister notion. Of course, there were the 'stressed about the wedding' dreams earlier this year, which involved Jeremy thinking I looked ugly, or invitations not being sent out, etc. But the majority of dreams I have had since roughly late last year have been about family members being in car crashes, or hurt in some way; me being chased by someone wanting to murder me; intruders in my house; my house being filled with people and it catches on fire but I can't get anyone out of harm's way; people drowning; Jeremy being lost and I'm unable to rescue him... I won't go on.
I'm really confused as to why these dreams keep coming back (again, often I am in the same place, this one particular room or house or courtyard; nowhere that I've been in waking life). And it makes for very unsettled sleep - I often wake up at 2am, stay awake until 3am too scared to go back to sleep; wake up again at 4am, stay awake until around 5am, ditto; awake again at 6:30am when Jeremy gets up for work. And even worse is the fact that Jeremy usually falls asleep really quickly, so I've been spending a lot of time by myself, staring at the ceiling, watching the room almost imperceptibly get lighter as dawns nears. To add insult to injury, I really struggle to wake myself up from these dreams, but according to Jeremy, I start moving around and my breathing changes; sometimes I kick him (accidently, of course), and he wakes up, realises I'm having a nightmare, and then wakes me up. I am upset at the dream I just had, but I get even more upset that I've interrupted Jeremy's sleep again. So neither of us have restful sleep. And the cycle goes on and on.
It's affecting my life because I am not good at sleep-deprivation (except when there are essays to be handed in), and I get snappy with Jeremy, who doesn't deserve it, or makes me over-react to the most minor issues (like wet bathmats not hung up; clothes left on the floor; dishes not being done). So I publicly apologise to my dear husband for that. Although he knows already, I want to thank him for his patience and understanding, especially when all this sleep-deprivation is compounded by PMS and it culminates in slammed doors or huffy silences or cold shoulders. I hope this passes soon, Jeremy, and may the good times continue to outweigh the testing...
So, plan of action? Well, I have some herbal sleeping tablets I take occasionally. They don't solve the dreams issue, but usually I feel a bit more rested upon waking. Maybe I need to get back into counselling. It's worked before.
***
Off I go into the oppressive clouds, to get the bus, and then to struggle home in the southerly wind and rain, to Jeremy, who is making dinner tonight, hurrah...
the joke has come upon me
Another busy week is beginning, and I have yet again only done about 1/4 of the readings assigned for my Romanticism paper. I have, at least, read the two epic poems ('Tintern Abbey' by Wordsworth and 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Coleridge) that we are discussing in class, and a smattering of the others..
I am currently doubting my suitability for this post-graduate stuff. I have felt my priorities shift since being married (weekends = Jeremy time, and there is a never-ending stream of housework to be done), but surely I am mature enough to plan my time? I'm just feeling dejected (however, this is the perfect mood for reading Coleridge).
Maybe I should quit and go work as a receptionist somewhere. There, that's how I'm feeling - four consecutive years at Uni is making me feel jaded. And I am a teensy bit jealous of Mark and Sarah, who are moving to Boston this weekend, where they will be doing so many fun things (as well as their theses), and creating a new life, and meeting lots of exciting people - I'm really looking forward to travelling with Jeremy, at some as-yet-undetermined time. Or I'd settle for just moving somewhere else, as an extended holiday in Europe seems a bit beyond reach at this time; Auckland, Melbourne, ??
Or perhaps my current mood is due to this endless winter; just when I thought it was getting a bit spring-y, today it is pouring with rain, foggy, windy, and 11 degrees.
Still, I'll keep going to classes, and writing those essays. I managed to get up the courage to collect my last two essays from the first semester, both with A- grades. If I keep this up, I'm looking at first-class Honours... but somehow I'm not sure that I deserve it.
But amongst all this, there is one bright note - my new ipod is lots of fun to use, and I like creating my own world for bus rides (50 minutes to get to Uni); finding the right music for my mood each morning, and making new playlists. Today is a mixture of the quiet Yeah Yeah Yeah songs, some Carpenters, Neil Young, and a bit of Belle and Sebastian.
I am currently doubting my suitability for this post-graduate stuff. I have felt my priorities shift since being married (weekends = Jeremy time, and there is a never-ending stream of housework to be done), but surely I am mature enough to plan my time? I'm just feeling dejected (however, this is the perfect mood for reading Coleridge).
Maybe I should quit and go work as a receptionist somewhere. There, that's how I'm feeling - four consecutive years at Uni is making me feel jaded. And I am a teensy bit jealous of Mark and Sarah, who are moving to Boston this weekend, where they will be doing so many fun things (as well as their theses), and creating a new life, and meeting lots of exciting people - I'm really looking forward to travelling with Jeremy, at some as-yet-undetermined time. Or I'd settle for just moving somewhere else, as an extended holiday in Europe seems a bit beyond reach at this time; Auckland, Melbourne, ??
Or perhaps my current mood is due to this endless winter; just when I thought it was getting a bit spring-y, today it is pouring with rain, foggy, windy, and 11 degrees.
Still, I'll keep going to classes, and writing those essays. I managed to get up the courage to collect my last two essays from the first semester, both with A- grades. If I keep this up, I'm looking at first-class Honours... but somehow I'm not sure that I deserve it.
But amongst all this, there is one bright note - my new ipod is lots of fun to use, and I like creating my own world for bus rides (50 minutes to get to Uni); finding the right music for my mood each morning, and making new playlists. Today is a mixture of the quiet Yeah Yeah Yeah songs, some Carpenters, Neil Young, and a bit of Belle and Sebastian.
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