Archive for December, 2008

Year’s end

2008 just seems to have whizzed by. Christmas over again for another year.

No pictures today, as our camera is bung (dropped on its eye by a six-year-old, sigh) and is away, being repaired. I am missing it terribly; it feels strange to not have any Christmas photos. If you want to see part of what my Christmas this year was like, visit the Food Pornographer - the fruit platter was my contribution. Our challenge for Christmas Day was to make it through the three meals we were invited to - breakfast at my parents’, lunch with my in-laws, and dinner at M’s aunt’s. Unfortunately we didn’t do very well - by the time we’d had breakfast and lunch, we were way too full and too tired to contemplate dinner, so we visited but didn’t stay for that meal. Luckily it was quite pleasant weather-wise, with a mild (for December) 26.6°C (79.8°F) maximum on the day.

It’s been extremely hot here in Perth for the last few days. Today’s forecast is for a maximum temperature of 37°C (98.6°F). Yesterday it got up to 39°C (102.2°F). It seems to have taken a while to warm up this summer, but it was bound to happen eventually.

I have yet to prep (read: take out of its wrapper) my 2009 diary. I have kept a paper diary for years. It’s a personal diary - for work I use the Outlook calendar. I like making little handwritten notes about my day, although I don’t necessarily do this every single day. I also use my paper diary to note a book title when I have finished reading it. For the last few years I have been using pocket-sized day-to-a-page Moleskine diaries, however for 2009 I have a large diary. The idea is that I might write more if I have more room. We’ll see.

I hope you’ve all had a good Christmas break - and have a Happy New Year!

Sad list

It’s the time of year for lists, and this one made me think (via Ethan Zuckerman). We who live in peaceful affluent countries are very fortunate indeed: Medecins San Frontieres’ Top Ten Humanitarian Crises of 2008 (and, from the looks of it, ongoing in 2009).

I’m grateful that I can’t even imagine what it must be like:

  1. to live in fear for my life
  2. to worry for the safety of my loved ones
  3. to not know where my next meal is coming from
  4. not to have a roof over my head
  5. to be sick and not have access to medical care.

This is my gratitude list for this week.

Meme

THE 99 THINGS MEME
Also seen at Still Life with Cat and In a garden… somewhere.

Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
This is my third blog, I think.

2. Slept under the stars.
Last time I did this? Fifteen years ago. Should really do this more often.

3. Played in a band.
Nothing cool - was in my school military band. Tenor and side drums.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland/world.
Have never wanted to go. Amusement parks don’t do anything for me.

8. Climbed a mountain.
Do Chinese mountains count? They usually have steps carved into them.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo.
When I was twelve.

11. Bungee jumped.
Would rather go to the dentist.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
Hmmm…

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
I’d love to go to the US, though.

18. Grown your own vegetables.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
Tick. It was bit of an anti-climax, actually.

20. Slept on an overnight train.
The Indian Pacific, from Sydney to Perth. This was a lot less enjoyable than it sounds, as I was a poor student who could only afford an upright seat… I’d love to do it again, but this time in a luxury cabin!

21. Had a pillow fight.
These are over-rated.

22. Hitch hiked.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort.
Never even seen snow.

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon.
Too much like hard work.

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.

31. Hit a home run.
That would mean having to play baseball.

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
China, but only in a generic sense, as I don’t know the exact location my ancestors come from.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language.
Mandarin. Ongoing. Not teaching myself Dutch, as I have been attending classes.

37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
I feel very fortunate!

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
I’d just love to go to Italy.

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.

41. Sung Karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.
Um, wouldn’t this mean a medical emergency of some sort?

47. Had your portrait painted.
I’d love to paint my own portrait…

48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistene chapel in person.
[sic]

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Been to the foot of the Eiffel Tower, but we couldn’t bear the crowds to get to the top.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business.

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia.

60. Served at a soup kitchen.

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood.

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
After visiting Anne Frank House and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe I don’t think I could bear going to an actual concentration camp.

67. Bounced a cheque.
I do have a cheque book but I don’t write that many cheques these days.

68. Flown in a helicopter.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
I don’t remember if I had one!

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten Caviar.

72. Pieced a quilt.

73. Stood in Times Square.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.

77. Broken a bone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
Fun!

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book.

81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
Chicken, as a child. I think it’s a good experience to have, if you’re a meat-eater, to know that that meat came from a once-living creature.

88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous.
Could have gone up and said hello to Michael Stipe, but didn’t.

92. Joined a book club.
Have never wanted to.

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.

98. Owned a cell phone.

99. Been stung by a bee.

You?
Update: Sue, Walt, Isaak