More content
Okay, so, wow, my last update was way back at the beginning of the year. Since then, Alan's son Joe has moved into our sleepout, and more days than not, his girlfriend Heaven lives with us as well. Not best pleased about this, but he's Alan's boy, and while Joe's an aggravation, I understand not kicking him to the curb when we can offer him temporary shelter. The problem is that Joe is lazy and has little motivation to get a job, which he needs to afford a flat.
I feel slightly hypocritical to critisize his laziness in job-hunting, since I have been pretty slack myself in the months since we've moved here. The difference is that Alan's salary is able to support both of us and thus, while I would like a job for my own spending money and to help cover some of the bills, it is not exactly urgent that I be working. Joe, on the otherhand, has to pay board because of the extra food costs feeding him and his girlfriend. I could go on with my complaints about them, but perhaps I shall save my rant for later.
One nice thing about living where we are is that we now see Chris and Tarns (and the grandkids) more often. The twins are as cute as ever, although Isabella is definitely my favourite. Danielle has a tendency to cling to her nana (Tarn's mum Lisa) and cry if anyone else tries to hold her. Sadly, Lisa's husband Danny (Danielle's namesake) passed away from a heart attack at the end of May. He had lung cancer and was very ill, but while not unexpected, it's still sad for Tarn's and her family. Apparently his ghost likes to haunt their new home a bit and switch the tv channel to the crime channel all the time.
Speaking of cancer, my grandpa (dad's dad) has all sorts of cancer through his body, and is not doing so well. I've had a bit of pressure from Dad and Iain to find a way to see him and grandma before it's too late, since I haven't seen them since 1993. One thing that stops me is that my US passport is expired and NZ one is missing, and so I have the cost of replacing those, plus air fares... Naturally if I take a trip to the US mum will expect me to stop in WA for part of the trip, so that's an extra cost to work out. Currently I don't have the funds, and while Iain has offered to help, I'm still a very independent girl.
My other problem with this is that, while they may be my grandparents, they are rather Christian goody-goods and I do not feel I have a lot in common with them. Naturally I will hear the same encouragements about finishing my degree and being the last of nine grandchildren to do this, that, or the other thing. There's also the fact they refer to Alan as my 'friend' rather than boyfriend or partner, which, little thing though it is, makes me want to grind my teeth a little.
In November it will be two years for Alan and I, which is rather cool. He says if we make three years he will seriously consider making it legal. Which is sweet. I love him dearly.
As some of you commented in my last entry, yes, my 24th birthday was just a couple of weeks ago. I got most of my presents early, in a couple sweet parcels from my mum, and then what Alan bought me. He promised me two things: a particular lego set, and rack of lamb. Plus something else unspecified. In the end that unspecified gift turned out to be a set of earrings and necklace that are tear-drop rubies. :D Very pretty and nice and totally unexpected. Plus the lego, one of the new pirate sets, and then on my birthday we went to a restaurant where I had rack of lamb.
I haven't got it yet, but Joe and Heaven asked what they could get me for my birthday and I requested the book Pride & Prejudice and Zombies. Ever since I saw it advertised in the Warehouse mailer I've wanted it for the sheer crackiness of it. I think it could be all kinds of awesome.
Wiki- According to Grahame-Smith, the original text of the novel was well-suited for use as a zombie horror story:
“You have this fiercely independent heroine, you have this dashing heroic gentleman, you have a militia camped out for seemingly no reason whatsoever nearby, and people are always walking here and there and taking carriage rides here and there,” he said. “It was just ripe for gore and senseless violence. From my perspective anyway."
One of my motivations to get a job, actually, is that I've put on a bit of weight in the time I've been with Alan. I'm not fat, or any such thing, but I've gone from a size 10 to a size 12-14, and 34-D to 34/36-DD depending on style. It's not that I want to lose a lot of weight, but I'd like to be a comfortable size 12 instead of an uncomfortable 12/borderline 14. Also I just wanna be more fit so that if/when the zombies arrive I'm not so out of shape that they can catch me.
In another week and a half I'm going to to Hamilton to hopefully be present for the birth of pandoras_evil_t's parasite. Provided the baby's on time. Anyhow, here's hoping that doesn't imbue me with either the strong desire to copy, or the strong desire to never do the baby-making thing. Should be fun, eh? :D
Fin.
I feel slightly hypocritical to critisize his laziness in job-hunting, since I have been pretty slack myself in the months since we've moved here. The difference is that Alan's salary is able to support both of us and thus, while I would like a job for my own spending money and to help cover some of the bills, it is not exactly urgent that I be working. Joe, on the otherhand, has to pay board because of the extra food costs feeding him and his girlfriend. I could go on with my complaints about them, but perhaps I shall save my rant for later.
One nice thing about living where we are is that we now see Chris and Tarns (and the grandkids) more often. The twins are as cute as ever, although Isabella is definitely my favourite. Danielle has a tendency to cling to her nana (Tarn's mum Lisa) and cry if anyone else tries to hold her. Sadly, Lisa's husband Danny (Danielle's namesake) passed away from a heart attack at the end of May. He had lung cancer and was very ill, but while not unexpected, it's still sad for Tarn's and her family. Apparently his ghost likes to haunt their new home a bit and switch the tv channel to the crime channel all the time.
Speaking of cancer, my grandpa (dad's dad) has all sorts of cancer through his body, and is not doing so well. I've had a bit of pressure from Dad and Iain to find a way to see him and grandma before it's too late, since I haven't seen them since 1993. One thing that stops me is that my US passport is expired and NZ one is missing, and so I have the cost of replacing those, plus air fares... Naturally if I take a trip to the US mum will expect me to stop in WA for part of the trip, so that's an extra cost to work out. Currently I don't have the funds, and while Iain has offered to help, I'm still a very independent girl.
My other problem with this is that, while they may be my grandparents, they are rather Christian goody-goods and I do not feel I have a lot in common with them. Naturally I will hear the same encouragements about finishing my degree and being the last of nine grandchildren to do this, that, or the other thing. There's also the fact they refer to Alan as my 'friend' rather than boyfriend or partner, which, little thing though it is, makes me want to grind my teeth a little.
In November it will be two years for Alan and I, which is rather cool. He says if we make three years he will seriously consider making it legal. Which is sweet. I love him dearly.
As some of you commented in my last entry, yes, my 24th birthday was just a couple of weeks ago. I got most of my presents early, in a couple sweet parcels from my mum, and then what Alan bought me. He promised me two things: a particular lego set, and rack of lamb. Plus something else unspecified. In the end that unspecified gift turned out to be a set of earrings and necklace that are tear-drop rubies. :D Very pretty and nice and totally unexpected. Plus the lego, one of the new pirate sets, and then on my birthday we went to a restaurant where I had rack of lamb.
I haven't got it yet, but Joe and Heaven asked what they could get me for my birthday and I requested the book Pride & Prejudice and Zombies. Ever since I saw it advertised in the Warehouse mailer I've wanted it for the sheer crackiness of it. I think it could be all kinds of awesome.
Wiki- According to Grahame-Smith, the original text of the novel was well-suited for use as a zombie horror story:
“You have this fiercely independent heroine, you have this dashing heroic gentleman, you have a militia camped out for seemingly no reason whatsoever nearby, and people are always walking here and there and taking carriage rides here and there,” he said. “It was just ripe for gore and senseless violence. From my perspective anyway."
One of my motivations to get a job, actually, is that I've put on a bit of weight in the time I've been with Alan. I'm not fat, or any such thing, but I've gone from a size 10 to a size 12-14, and 34-D to 34/36-DD depending on style. It's not that I want to lose a lot of weight, but I'd like to be a comfortable size 12 instead of an uncomfortable 12/borderline 14. Also I just wanna be more fit so that if/when the zombies arrive I'm not so out of shape that they can catch me.
In another week and a half I'm going to to Hamilton to hopefully be present for the birth of pandoras_evil_t's parasite. Provided the baby's on time. Anyhow, here's hoping that doesn't imbue me with either the strong desire to copy, or the strong desire to never do the baby-making thing. Should be fun, eh? :D
Fin.