Cupid's a Bitch and it turns out so am I

Here's a random assortment of snaps I took this afternoon for my #100happydays project. It's been a crappy day and to be honest not much was making me happy but good old Queen Wharf is always good for a bit of down town cool :)

Of course today is February 14... AKA the day people who aren't in a relationship or the subject of unrequited love tend to want to drink.. a lot. I've never really thought about Valentines day very much. It's kind of a dumb idea but then I started seeing SO.MANY.PEOPLE celebrating it. The amount of red roses roaming around Auckland this afternoon! SERIOUSLY!!! OMG. The patients were wishing me a Happy Valentines with sparkles in their eyes and I just wanted to go 'pft What EVER' at them. Even on Face book I had to see my friends having my fave John Legend song dedicated to them.... GRRRR

HAHAHAHAHA Seriously I was noticing love everywhere and it was depressing. Of course the thing is that I'm actually very happy for people. I think its so sweet and really great that people are happily in love and enjoying celebrating that fact because it's worth celebrating. It's special and fabulous and more power to em and long may it last but please... cut it out with the John Legend and roses in public! BAH HUMBUG ;-)

xo

Fancy-schmancy shopping!

Today, for the first time in my life I made a purchase at Smith + Caughey's on Queen street. It's the kind of store that really makes you wish hard you were made of money. I was salivating my way through the beauty department let me tell you.

This is my new boyfriend and my bit on the side. Sorry Mr-Mr I have found L.O.V.E in the schmancy tea isle. There is a serious addiction forming here! This stuff is divine and I want to go back and try the choco-coconut flavour and pumpkin spice. Just have to get rich LOL

I do have to say that the mannequins below really put me off. How creepy are they! OMGawsh and they're kind of offensive. Why on earth would you display clothing presumably for human women on mannequins shaped like aliens? I will never understand high fashion if that's what this could be described as.

xo

Ef you A.T Transport

In Auckland we have ONE public transport provider. There is, for those of us with no car, ONE option to get where we want to go. This post will be a VERY negative ode to that one option. A.T Transport oh how I hate you.

Just to set the scene this #firstworlddrama (LOL) all revolves around how ridiculously hard it is to use the fare card that we have. The company that we have no choice but to use have policies and procedures and ... it has to be said people who are all set up to make EVERYTHING as hard and insulting and frustrating as possible.

On Tuesday last week I got on my bus at 6.18 am. Said 'Good morning' to the bus driver and he greeted me with "Where's your ID"? ... I was so confused and just said "excuse me?" ... and that's when it got ugly. I understand that technically he is entitled to ask for ID given that I am using a tertiary discount but I have used the card 4 times a day for up to 7 days a week for a year and never once been asked for ID. He said I came up as a child the day before but he waited to ask me about it till then. ...

Then later that delightful morning I was on my second bus but the tag machine on the bus wasn't working and I was unable to tag off which meant an automatic $5.00 penalty. Obviously this is not my fault so I tweeted about it and asked how I was to go about getting a refund. WELL.... apparently it takes 48-72 hours for the records to update so they can see IF there is an unwarranted charge. If there is they will then send the claim to their disputes department to be looked at and then I might get my money back...  It took about 4 phone calls to get that information and as I have mentioned 168 hours later I still have no refund.

To add to that the frustration hit boil over this morning. I managed to drop my hop card between bus one and bus two. I've recently put money on the card so I was really upset! SO two more calls and apparently the money is secure and the penalty has been noted but not sent on to the disputes department. 

THEN this afternoon I went to replace the card as.. you know.. I wanted to get home and then I get informed that I cant use the balance for 24hours. At the transit centre there are a number of offices. The HOP "customer service" centre wont sell hop cards or put money on them. Apparently , despite the presence of eftpos terminals and posters regarding payment "they are not a retailer"...  ASSHOLES. So I stood in several lines and spent more money and ARGH I JUST WANT TO PUNCH SOMETHING.

apparently if you're AT Transport and you're the only player in the game you don't have to provide anyway for your customers to let you know about your huge gaping failures. So I cant use my hop card till tomorrow morning well after I will arrive at my destination. I cant have my tertiary discount till probably Monday and I've been charged a fee because their machines don't work. There's only one thing to say really isn't there...

FUCK YOU AND YOUR FUCKING HOP CARD AT TRANSPORT 

Gone Girl

This book is not new but I just finished it tonight. I wont write much about it because the power of it lays in not knowing. I have never read a book with characters that I disliked as much as this. I have never read a book with an ending so unexpected and unusual...

This was a horrible book and I couldn't stop reading it once I actually got into it. I ... just.. ARGH!!! what to say about this book. I applaud Gillian Flynn for her superbly planned out and creepily imagined book. I do have to wonder about the state of her mind if she could create that person! 

Woooo! 8/10 sort of .. I mean it deserves that but ..I just don't know...

An interesting day!!!

Here I am this afternoon on my walk, totally styled by mother nature! (..and some box vodka it must be said). This weather we're having is awesome, jasmine on the air & sunshine on my shoulders, but it's also a little scary. The wind is just intense. I am surrounded by giant trees and I keep waiting for them to come through my bedroom ceiling! Though I think I have already established what a big baby I am :)

So, to the ranty part of this post...this morning I woke up to a text message that I didn't quite know what to do with featuring a dudes junk. As a single girl in the city I've received many such text messages and usually have no problem knowing what to do with them. When this happens I usually show everybody I can get to look at it, laugh my head off, delete it and forget about it. They usually come from people who I've not even met. The difference is that this 'art' comes courtesy of someone I do know. This 'junk' is not news to me. I mean.. how to be delicate ?? been there done that so why the pic?? It's so unlike this person. He doesn't need to do that and he's never done it before. I'm gonna go with a ton of alcohol being the culprit but it still annoys me. 

Message to all men out there... Put it away. Do not photograph it. Anybody who wants to see it will let you know, they don't want to be taken by surprise when they open their text messages in the morning. Keep it classy people. Please.

x

I'm astounded by the lunacy

Today I skipped a couple of lectures to spend the day in the public Library working on my Social Studies essay. I know! I know! never going to do well if I skip classes but ... well ... I still feel like I got hit by a truck AND I was super productive so .. yeah what eves :-P

On my way down to the bus I thought I might try to spend my bookshop gift card. WOAH!! I still have the card because everything is so damn expensive that I couldn't find anything worth parting with the possibility of the card. How is it possible that a YA novel can cost $22??? I mean they were even asking that for a copy of "Diary of a wimpy kid" .. not that I would ever buy that crap but still... that one is for little kids. SERIOUSLY? $22 for a tiny little childrens book? ARE YOU KIDDING Whitcouls ?? It really explains why nobody buys books anymore and bookshops are closing down left and right. It's really sad but I guess it means that Libraries will be able to pick up some extra business and people will continue to knock down the door of big book sales. 

SAD :(

The second rant of the day is going out to television in New Zealand. It's beyond pathetic the amount of cheap and nasty reality shows we have. Tonight I saw a teaser for possibly the worst one EVER.. " Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners". Yep it looks like they're sending in the O.C.D people to sort out the hoarders. There are no words! 

I guess it's a good advert for bookshops... oh.. well .. hopefully the Libraries are profiting from whatever the hell our excuse from television is called. 

OK breathing through it

Being Zen

LOLOL

:)

It's raining it's pouring...

It's been a little while since I've written a post actually about anything. My problem is that .. actually there is so much to write about! I've been reading and trying new things and enjoying what the lovely Auckland has to offer and at the same time going to university, doing assignments and being present with the kids in the school I'm doing my practicum in.  

I went to the film festival and saw some great documentaries in some of my favorite cinemas in the city. I cant help but take a ton of pictures when I'm in the Civic. It's just so beautiful :) The festival was really cool and I'm already looking forward to next year!

I've been spending so much time in the Library and feeling really inspired by books. After my aunts funeral my uncle sent me a book voucher to say thanks for giving a eulogy. While that in itself was all sorts of awkward I do love having a book voucher to spend. It's almost a responsibility LOL. I never waste a book voucher. It requires research and consideration and I will definitely make sure I get the right book with it. Actually this lead to a cool little encounter. I was chatting with the sales assistant in the shop on one of my intel gathering trips and she said to me ".. can I just ask.. are you a nerdfighter??" LOVE IT :) she was the first person I've ever met who knew what that meant. AWESOME 

I ended up working in a pub to get one of my assignments finished hahaha. I am so classy sometimes but seriously that place was super conducive to working and I only had one beer to keep my wedges company so no harm no foul ... right?

My friend and I tried out Ugly Bagels at the city works depot. Absolutely worth all the hype. Not great for sitting and enjoying but that's just because they're so busy and I guess they cant be blamed for that :)  The Karma Cola was such a novelty. I still have the bottle to use as a vase because I just love the design. Of course the cola was also nice.

I'd love to write about things like the New Zealand edition of Iheart radio, or meeting a boy on the perfect end of the spectrum who is just very sadly not ready to be with anybody :( - or how one guy actually called me scary last night!! SERIOUSLY hahahahahhaahahahaha  I could write about university and how I have major struggles with not going postal on most of the student body who will just NOT SHUT UP when in lectures... or the way that our current weather is freakin me out man!  or even how I am so tempted to vote for Dave in our local body elections. He is NOT the right person for the job but he's such a local personality and at least I see him every day and he knows how to spell some really hard words .. (hehehe) The problem is that none of these directions are really how this blog was intended to go. I will have to think a bit about it because I actually like writing about that sort of stuff.

This weekend I am doing awesome stuff!! Tomorrow night I'm going to my friends ukulele concert. I'm very excited about that. on Sunday I'm painting faces at the Story Lines festival. YAY meeeeee :) So hopefully I will be more in the mood to write about those experiences. 

Well happy weekend!

:)

Apparently you cant go back..

I've been thinking a bit lately about people that I used to know.... well two or three of them specifically. I am such a nosy nelly that I just want to know what happened to them. I want to know what their life is like and that they are doing stuff that makes them happy. I'm just interested I guess. There are very few people that I've lost contact with and never want to hear from again. I am certainly not one for grudges and I guess if people get in my life it's because I like them and if I like them I will always like them despite life happening :)

It's such a bummer that my inquiries have come to nil :( I have sent emails and asked mutual friends and know absolutely nothing more than I did before I started. I guess one of them is a guy I used to ... well.. know? Hahahaha so I was probably reaching there but STILL???? There is nothing so frustrating as failing to have your curiosity satisfied!!!

:P

The construction next door forced me from my house!

This morning I was rudely torn from my dream ( dramatic much? LOL) by a group of young men in black hoodies! Nope not marauding criminals but BUILDERS!! First they're 'chatting' with each other outside my window and then the concrete grinder/skill saw starts. I was moved to google 'construction laws in residential areas' but sadly they where within them. So in a somewhat less than perky mood I went into the city to get my Library books and generally just ... not be at home listening to machinery.

'Have a nice day' is from cafe 'Federal and Wolfe'. I've heard about the place on random web sites ect and all to rave reviews. I don't know if it was the builders fault ( ie I just wasn't in the mood) but I wasn't blown away. Must also admit I didn't sample the menu just having a coffee and banana bread while I read some of my hilarious book. I found both to be good but not exceptional. The service again was fine but if anything slightly dismissive. Perhaps I'm not the customer they're after?? I don't know. Wouldn't want to project. It was  trying a little hard and not really getting there for my taste but then all the willing punters cant be wrong. It's obviously to some peoples taste. Perhaps on another day when I can stop for lunch or something.....

The Crown has become one of my fave places in downtown. I've actually only been twice but it's a really good place to go for a civilised and not pretentious glass of wine or beer after uni. Occasionally I get off my first bus and just feel like having a drink before I get on the second one to go home. The Crown is all warm and cozy inside with plenty of tables. It's the perfect mix of people and doesn't make a song and dance about how 'cool' it is. I think that being slightly out of the Britomart precinct is maybe a good thing. It's hard to find a place that I can head to alone and feel comfortable but this is it for sure. 

Wow. Could I be more Blonde! BLAH

Reality is a BITCH!!! 

I've had a good introduction to the realities of teacher life over the last week or so and I sit here on a Tuesday night absolutely shattered at 7pm. This is particularly sad as I've only had a mild dose of reality. I think I prefer my naive, princess alternate universe hahaha :P

I need to think a bit before I speak I think. Today I agreed to go to the 48 hour film fest final. Well .. jumped at the offer is probably more apt but post purchasing of tickets I realised that I will have 4.5 hours to kill between school and doors opening. BUGGER. On top of that I wont get home till almost midnight which is so far past bed time!

AND 

I'm going to the 'Ballet Revelucion' on Friday night which is a dance group from Havana who are in Auckland for a week. The night is a birthday gift from my mother and I've been looking forward to it for months!.  On Saturday I'm heading away for the weekend....  

Yep Monday is gonna be AWESOME

One of these days I will learn to use my head and sacrifice some of the things I want for that bitch REALITY

Not negative but not sunshine either

I'm sitting on my couch right now and my brain is swimming with so many thoughts, none of which particularly make me happy. I feel like it would be awesome if I had a life manager to be honest who could just tell me what to do and the how and when to do it. *sigh*

For some reason this practicum is not gelling well for me. I don't quite know what the issue is but I honestly feel like it's me. I come away each day feeling like I am in need of remedial instruction. Actually, to be really honest I come away each day feeling dumber than a door knob. I'm not at all. I am in fact pretty intelligent. I am really beginning to fear that I am just not cut out to be a teacher ..... as much as I.... really am cut out to be a teacher. 

It doesn't make sense at all. The only way I can really think of it is that I am cut out to be a Children's Librarian. The same sort of 'hanging out with the fun kids' bit but without all the boring and painful pedagogy. I do know that if I am not engaged in something I find it really hard to learn it and I am yet to find something at university that I feel engaged with. 

I am poorer than I have ever been and it sucks so badly. Of course I don't count when it really comes to 'poor' because I have my family behind me and they will always support me if I need it. This month I cant pay the water bill... of $20! OMG. This is perhaps the hardest thing to adjust to after coming from a well paying job. It's so stressful that it clouds everything I do. Upside = a good chance to loose some weight if I cant afford food!

Speaking of food... sort of.. I splurged $4.50 tonight and got myself a 'Georgie Pie' Pie from McDonald's. There was a lot of hype and hope involved BUT ... honestly kind of a let down. I think it's the fake cheese that the memories are attached to. Sooooo classy LOL

Tomorrow is my 3rd date with Ryan :) yay. He's gonna make me dinner and then we're gonna watch a movie on his schmancy a.v system. I think it's the fact that date one we played pool and date two we went to the 48 hour film fest that has gotten us to date 3. LOL. He's got a fab handle on what makes great dates. He argues like a mofo, smokes, is not clean shaven .... and is younger than me BUT I think he's cool. I guess I shouldn't hold the beard against him as it really does suit him and he probably would look strange without it. So anyway, there's that.

I am supposed to be teaching math tomorrow and to be honest I don't know my times tables. So much stress involved. GRRRS

I guess the moral of the story is... regardless of how crap you feel GO TO YOGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep. Today I called an old man a jerk.

Yep. So much for keeping it classy. Today I was sitting in my favourite cafe at the bottom of town just about to tuck into my post math test treat and I get engulfed in clouds of smoke.

It's one of my major bug-bears with people. If you want to smoke that's your decision by MY decision is not to SO don't be so selfish as to negate my choice by blowing your disgusting second hand poison all over me. Just THINK for a second about where you sit and where you blow that crud. 

I am certainly not very proud of the fact that I made a big deal about picking up my things ... including a full coffee and moving out of my awesome armchair in the sun to the other side of the open space at a table in the shade and called the man a jerk as I passed. He was being a BIG JERK but I wasn't particularly grown up or classy either. I think I made other people a little uncomfortable so how embarrassing is that! UGH

Number one cafe on Queen street is awesome. I love the staff there and the coffee rocks and the music is generally outstanding. I would love to pinch their Ipods! BUT they have no alternative to sit apart from the smokers and this is such a pain in the ass. It happens ALL THE TIME so perhaps I need to find a new fave place to enjoy my caffeine for every body's sake. *SAD FACE*

Or you know ... find out where they sell those mythical chill pills.