Banana Bangs: June 2011

Jun 28, 2011

First Day Back!

Yesterday was my first day back at TC. It was so nice to see everyone again, sit in my old desk, and even though it's a boring job my colleagues are awesome and it's nice to know I'm at least getting paid to be bored.

I wore black bermuda shorts, forest green tank top, white cotton quarter-sleeve blazer, stud earrings and my cork and gold sandals.

Nothing else is very new and exciting, just having appointments at the doctor's, eye doctor's, throat specialist's, pedicure, and hair stylist. Canada Day celebrations are this Friday (as is my lovely man's 25th) and I'm pretty excited to get shitty at The Roomies!

Today I went to the gym and did "Core and Stretch", the group fitness classes are pretty fun, keeps things from being boring. Now I'm attempting to cook! In the kitchen! Broccoli and sweet potato patties are in the oven as we speak - they smell delicious but don't look quite like I imagined ... and I'm nervous because whenever I try something without a recipe it usually turns out quite badly. We'll see in 25 minutes!

Also heading up to R's cottage next weekend :) Summer has begun!

Jun 26, 2011

Honey, lemon brown-sugar

I'm hoooome!! But first, my last day in Melbourne was (quite fittingly) spent on a wine tour of 4 different wineries in the Yarra Valley. It was amazing, the wines were delicious and plentiful, and the salmon lunch was gorgeous. And then after a crazy flight from Melbourne to Sydney, a night at the apartment and some whiskey with R, I fell asleep and set my alarm for 5am to catch a cab to the airport for my massive flight home. M called me from Hawaii a couple times before I caught my flight which was nice since he wasn't there to see me off. By 7:30 am I was shooting vodka in the duty-free, then I popped some rx sleeping pills and hopped on my flight to Vancouver. It was a massive 14 hours, especially since my window seat was almost hijacked from me, and then I got to sit beside this demon child who kicked me the entire ride. Oh and by the way the 3 sleeping pills did not work .. Lame. Then I crashed in the Vancouver airport for an hour or so while waiting during a massive layover for my next flight. After another 7 or 8 hours I finally arrived at the Ottawa airport to my parents all smiley and excited to see me. And then we dog-piled at the bottom of the escalator and blocked everyone else from getting off. So cute :)

DIdn't sleep my first night home, and by 10am KP and I were drinking wine in our jammies. We did some errands all day, me skulking around Orleans because later that night all the girls went to B-ways for dinner and I rocked up and surprised them. Most of them freaked out and were super excited and made a massive riot, which was awesome and so funny. Then H and I went back to The Roomies and surprised L and A, and later in the evening G. H and I stayed up all night long and watched the sunrise in bed. Perfect night back.

This week I haven't slept much, am still getting used to Canada time, and have been busy cleaning, unpacking and catching up with people.

Although I did a massive purge and got rid of three black garbage bags full of clothes, shoes and purses. It was so painful but had to be done. The girls are all mad that I didn't give them all the clothes, which I know I should have done but I knew if I'd kept the clothes in the house I'd have ended up slowly moving them, piece by piece, back into my closet.

And after living half a year with only a few bits of clothing, I've become accustomed to it, and my room and the massive amount of stuff in it is so overwhelming to me. I'm still slowly trying to get rid of things, and try not to buy too many new things. I keep thinking of trying to move all the crap back to Aus so I'm being as picky as I can with all my things, which has been ridiculously difficult for me since I'm such a pack-rat.

Home home home. More later :)

Oh, and starting work tomorrow!!!!

Jun 15, 2011

For K and S

What Every Military Guy Should Know About His Girl

1.) If she wasn't emotional before, that is all about to change.

2.) You getting a higher rank could just mean an automatic free lay.

3.) Get her a pair of dog tags, ASAP, This is crucial, she will never take them off.

4.) Most of the time, you losing reception during training is your fault. (Though, she will eventually understand)

5.) Most of the time, everything is your fault. (This especially goes for when she is pregnant)

6.) She WILL start talking like your guys and you talk, including using your last names.

7.) Her patriotism could out-do most of your men... she will be proud... VERY proud.

8.) Be Ready: your car will end up with a yellow ribbon magnet or an "I LOVE MY _____" sticker eventually.

(if you have seperate cars, hers will DEFINITLY have these)

9.) She will most likely need a pair of dog tags to hang from the car's rear view mirror. (see 3)

10.) Every week she'll have "another song" that makes her think of you when you're away.

(And she'll cry to it, even when you're in the same room)

11.) If youre married, she may know the base better than you do... Don't take it personal.

12.) You will catch her comparing your relationship with "other couples" in the military constantly.

13.) She'll make 5 million friends online, and talk to you about them all the time because her "old friends just don't understand" like they do.

14.) Don't be shocked when she just drops civilian chicks out of her life like flies.

(she mostly does this when they complain to her)

15.) DO NOT if you love her, say anything about you not wanting to make her wait for you...

(TRUST me men, YOU ARE WORTH every breath to these women, or they wouldn't be here)

16.) Most women actually do LOVE it when you are sweaty and dirty, even the girlie girls. it's sexy as hell.

17.) Only bring up the field once, say it clear, and don't bring it up again. We will remember the time, the dates, like stone inside our mind.

Don't remind us.

18.) You ARE our hero. That isn't us being cute, it's us swelling with pride, feeling like a princess everytime we glance over and you're standing there.

19.) Don't worry about waking her up when you get a chance to call, trust me, she's NOT sleeping.

If she is, she's been waiting for you to call all night, and fell asleep next to the phone.

20.) Leave at least 3 of your shirts for her... she'll wear them all the time and if she doesnt wear them out she WILL wear them to sleep.

21.) No matter what she was like before, she is tough & harder than a rock now. She can handle anything, she will get through it, tears or no tears.

22.) Dont be discouraged or taken back from her strength. It comes with the territory. When in your arms, she's still your queen, soft and sweet.

23.) Your kids might see mommy as the one in charge for a while, it's okay, they WILL respect you, just give it time.

24.) EVERYTHING in her life will be complicated, so she might not always get the simple things you say to her.

25.) Tag Chasers are her WORST enemy, she CAN and WILL spot these girls... random profain comments may come out of your little queens' mouth... its okay, shes protecting her best asset...you.

26.) She will spend hours to look good on cam & pics for you, this is just a pasttime until you get home, be prepared for messy ponytails and comfy pants when you finally do get home.

27.) Her favorite sentences from you start with "when i get home" or "when i get out".

Lastly guys,

28.) No matter how much she's changed, never forget that you mean the world to her, she loves you more than anything, and you will ALWAYS be her hero..whether you think you are one or not

This isn't mine, I just "stumbled" across it online and thought it was adorable and funny and kind of relates, M gave me his dog tags and I often get told how I'm more patirotic than most other Aussies when people come in my room and see the giant flag, and realize that all of my little things like lighters, hats, even a beer holder have Aussie flags and Navy details. It also reminds me of my fav big cousin and military wife KP, who has been so amazing and gone through everything with her amazing hubby S. She's always been such a support to me, and is the most understanding and least judgmental person ever. Can't waittttt for visits!!!

I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Wow, As I pack all my things to begin my giant move out of the place that has been my home for the past 4 months, I have been finding all sorts of little scraps of paper, reminders, ticket stubs, souvenirs and mementos. I'm just taking things out of my wallet like my old phone, bank, MAD and internet cards and I found a scrap of paper that I'd written down my address, postal code and important phone numbers in case I needed them (it took me a little while to get it all memorized), and I was going to throw it out but I looked at the back and I had a list of things to talk to my doctor about when I had an appointment a few weeks ago. It said "migraines, eyesight, prescriptions" and then in M's writing it said "blacking out ... boy not happy".

Just made me tear up because it's going to be so long before I see his writing again. I mean I will see his typing and hear him on the phone, but it's not the same.

Anyways, I had such an awesome night, A and I went to Glen Waverly and had some dinner at Airstream or something, they had lovely cocktails and food, well we can't quite call it dinner because I had a bloody mary, A had a Bailey's and kahlua drink, then we got a pot of wedges, and brushetta, and a Mars Bar thickshake. Sooo indulgent and such fabulous company. Then We walked around the Glen for a while, went to some stores and had life chats. Such a wonderful night, can't beleive it will be so long before I see A again! I wish I'd met her sooner and had more time to spend with her :)

And last night W and I had a serious d&M (deep and meaningful), watched chick flicks and made friendship bracelets. That girl is a kindred soul. Such love to the friends I have made and will miss so very much.

Jun 12, 2011

Randomized Control Trials

Eek! So I'm in the middle of a take-home exam right now! It seems relatively easy and isn't worth too much, but I know I should be (not blogging) and writing it anyways. I have 24 hours to do it. La la la.

It's mostly just bioethics concepts, and we have to write definitions and explain and throw in some trials and everything. It's too bad that I suck at bioethics so much, because I really do find it interesting. I just hate the philosophizing part where we make up these ridiculously intricate scenarios that will never happen and be like "does he deserve it now?" I don't see how it has a whole lot to do with health and stuff. But I am super interested in the issues that we have discussed, and learning about the case trials. Like I am writing about the AZT/Nevirapine Trials that happened in Uganda, involving pregnant women who were HIV+. Very interesting stuff and really important issues. So that's the kind of thing that interests me and that I want to learn more about, but I don't really see how the discussion eventually gets turned around to: these researchers should have at least brought them mosquito netting to help prevent Malaria is some of the participants weren't going to get the drug and only received a placebo. Like .. yes I understand, it's the whole issue of the benefits to burden ratio, but really, can we just refrain from making up scenarios and focus on the facts of what actually happened and how we correct it?

Arghh I don't know.

On the plus side, I'm leaving Monash in a week, heading to Sydney! Super excited, I will be sad to leave my lovely school, and the amazing times I have had living in good ol' Deakin, but I am excited that this chapter is coming to an end, and I can move on to a new one! I'm just totally jealous of W, who is travelling to New Zealand and Thailand after she finishes her exams at Monash! I want to go frollick with elephants and learn to shear sheep! But I think those might be trips for another time, as I am low on the cash-flow, and the flight to Thailand and back is not what you'd call cheap.

But it's still kind of fun tearing apart my room :)

Jun 11, 2011

All Tomorrow's Parties

torn down posters

cranberry lip gloss

bellbottoms

chai tea

tortoise shell

hair cut

plane ticket

plaid

red wine

Jun 9, 2011

Milk and Honey

Waiting all day, sometimes all week for a 3 minute long phone call.

Jun 6, 2011

Sportsgirl & Bardot

Went on a giant thrift shop today :) Hit Savers and Scavenger. It was soooo good, fuck I've seriously missed second-hand shopping!!! And to top it off Savers had a 50% off day today!

K and LL and I drove there, had some lunch at a pub (I had a lovely foccacia sandwhich with pesto, black olives, eggplant and roasted red peppers), LL had a t-bone steak and K had cheesy garlic bread. Delish!

Then we hit Savers! I bought some amazing stuff :) Got an emerald green maxi dress ($8), a blue and grey tye-dye silk tank top with knotted shoulders ($3), a blue plaid cotton sweater with wooden buttons ($4), a pin-striped button-down Bardot tube-top dress ($3), a red and orange linen scarf ($5), a grey Sportsgirl floor-length skirt ($10), and a blue backless parachute tank top with white lacey trim ($3).

Actually I got the grey skirt from Scavengers, and also got a vintage possum-fur "willie warmer" for D ... use your imagination as to what that is. But don't worry it wasn't used.

After an eventful drive home I came back to discover my beloved W has pneumonia! Poor thing, what else can go wrong with that one. So sending my love to her.

Now just watching the new episode of "In Their Footsteps", and finishing up my essay for tomorrow.

Jun 5, 2011

I Love you Girl-M

This is to my bestie Girl-M, the one who has been there for years :) The Charlotte to my Carrie. We've had our fair share of skype sessions while I've been away but all I want is sushi, strawberry wine, The Wackness and life chats about boys, high school and The Epic Philo List.

Oh and also burning oven-pizzas .. and soup, don't mention the soup.

Drinking at 14, doing each others hair and makeup, making jello shots, being retards, running around in bikini's all summer, pool-hopping, casually getting trashed on Monday's, going to my brother's hockey games together, VANKLEEK HILL, cruising around the Whoreleans bumpin shitty hip hop. So many more.

So many good times, and so many more to come baby!

Don't ever forget me.

Soul Meets Body

Last night D took us out to Red Spice Road in the city for her 21st birthday dinner. It was really lovely, the food was great and it was a nice time out. Afterwards we went to Charlton's, a seedy karaoke bar in Chinatown, and it was pretty fun but things got messy, as they do, and the night ended on a shaky note.

But on the plus side I wore my awesome platforms out! They were sooo painful but totally cute :)

Today didn't do much except hit the gym, felt like such a champ running my ass off, then the boys came up and forced me to do this painful ab exercise with them. Bastards.

Kind of just laid low today, did some groceries, ruined all my hard work by mawing the fuck down on doughnuts, and watched movies. Also did a bit of essay work. Since it's due in less than 24 hours and is worth 60% I figured I should probably get on it. Will hopefully finish it tomorrow.

Missing M like crazy :( haven't heard from him in 2 days, internet hasn't been good on the boat. Soon though, I've been promised a phone call from Pearl Harbour, so I'm excited for that.

God I'm so ready for this school year to be done. After this stupid essay, I've got one more exam, that will be an essay, I think I'll have 24 hours to write it as a take-home. So I just want the time to pass quickly so I can get it over with and just not bother with school anymore. Well, not with this school, I deffo need to figure out the details of my thesis. Ahh!!