thursday.

i’ve been slacking off.  i know.  it’s been a horrible week and my manager was down from sydney on tuesday and wednesday so that means no goofing off (not like i had time to).  i was so over it all i faked a migraine and went home early…at 4.30pm (which is my usual home time). 

i actually have nothing to say.  i just wanted to say hi and acknowledge my crapness for not updating regularly like a good blogger.  work has been sucking the life out of me.  as soon as i walk into the doors in the mornings i’m fatigued.  by mid morning i want to cry.  by early afternoon i’m ready to pick a fight with anyone who tries to give me extra work.  by 4pm i’m ready to give up but i have to force myself to put my head down and work to inch closer to the end.  then i go home,  sleep, and wake up and it starts all over again.  when will this project end?

but that’s just work.  things are good otherwise.  i’m still reading one book a week or thereabouts.  the weather is getting nicer and that means i can walk home in the evenings.  halloween is coming up which isn’t a big deal here in australia but i’ll make some treats for people anyway.   i’ll make cupcakes with black icing so everyone in the office will walk around with black teeth and tongues.  hee hee.

Risky business

yesterday,  the brit and i played a game of Risk with the Kiwi and Andrew.  i thought my experience of playing Lego Battles on Nintendo DS would be to my advantage but i still lost.  i abandoned my usual tactic of keeping Siam as my base (a tactic that is often ridiculed by the others) and decided to concentrate on africa.  another tactic that i used was pouting to put off anyone from wanting to attack my countries.  it only worked with the Brit – i even got him to make me a sandwich!  andrew proved to be way too bloodthirsty and power hungry and my armies eventually crumbled.  i demand a rematch. 

hey, i finally downloaded some pictures from our holiday.  a whopping four…which is all we took really because  we’re crap –   you can say it loud and clear,  we know it.

on our way to the baseball game

oooh, baseball.  about as mind numbing to watch as cricket.  at least i was drunk.

and this is what made me drunk.  they’re really good but you can really only carry one of these around if you’re a girl.

me, the Brit and birth control my niece and nephew

weighing in

dude,  all of our luggage is overweight.  how the hell did that happen?  we’ve had to borrow two suitcases from my parents.  too much shopping.  what’s worse is that we have a 7 hour layover in LA so we’re going shopping in beverly hills (rodeo drive baby!). 

i am so not ready for 24 hours on a plane.  

melbourne here we come!  see you soon.

one more day!

this is our last full day in america before flying back to oz tomorrow afternoon.  i am faced with the horrific task of trying to pack everything so it all fits and is underweight.

the weekend at my sister’s house was lots of fun.  three days with my parents is a little rough but i got through the other side okay.  the Brit and I wanted to take the kids on a shopping spree at Toys R Us and i envisioned the doors of the store being flung open and the kiddies just running around like crazy picking out anything and everything.  it was quite the opposite.  they were waaaay too polite and concerned about the prices to be blood related to me.  they finally picked out some toys and then we went to Gap kids and my sister picked up the slack by picking out a new wardrobe for both of them (yep, we’re definitely related).  the kids are so cute and we had such a good time with them but it’s also such good birth control.  the kids only have two types of speaking voices – loud and louder.  my sister tried to tell them to use their “inside voices” but that made them yell louder.  poor thing.  they are good kids though.  i’ve seen a few episodes of Supernanny and my sister’s kids are absolute angels.

we got back last night and then the Brit and i caught up with two of my friends for some drinks and food.  i had such a good night last night.  it was karaoke night at the bar we went to so that provided endless entertainment for us.  we had to go when some drunk chick started to butcher my favourite Go-Go’s song.

this holiday has flown by but i am relieved to be going back to Oz tomorrow.  I could do with more time off from work though…  

everyday is like friday!

but today is friday for real ( i think).  the Brit and I went to a Detroit Tigers baseball game yesterday.  it was a lovely day and i love going to the ball park.  i had a massively alcoholic girlie drink and didn’t feel right for a long while after gulping it down.  we left at the top of the eighth inning and went to another pub and then another one after that.  i stuck to water the whole night (damn orange girlie drink!!) so i was just really sleepy when we got home.  the Brit had a keg of guinness so he was feeling happy.  it was a really good day.  i love my friends here so much.  i took some pictures which i will post soon.

today we are going to the supermarket.  i have been asked to prepare a lasagna to take up to my sister’s house so we need to buy some ingredients.  i also need to pick up some spray cheese and baconnaise for the peeps back home.  i also need to renew my drivers license.  my picture is going to look so good since i didn’t shower this morning and my hair looks all funky because i slept on it funny.  oh well, not like i use it now anyway.  i just like having a current one.  i haven’t driven in three years.  it’s so good.

i heard from my team back in melbourne and they say that it’s not the douchebag i’m thinking of who got the job over me.  but we’ll see.  they think i’m not going to return to work now so they’re freaking out a bit and want to make sure that i do plan on coming back. 

btw,  i found the CD set of my dreams.  monsters of rock.  four CDs of whitesnake, poison and every cheezy glam rock band from the 80’s.  it’ll be the best workout CD ever!  the Brit thinks of i’m nuts but i can only really listen to cheesy music when i work out.  i’m trying to send out subliminal messages to the Brit to buy it for me.  it’s not available in stores and if he acts now,  i think i may get a 5th CD for free!  ah, the poor Brit.  the only consolation is that i keep my workout CDs separate from the “normal” ones so no one will have to know my dark secrets.

what day is it again?

i’m well and truly in holiday mode.  i’ve lost track of the days…and i don’t really care.  my friend is on his way over to scoop us up and take us out.  not sure what we’ll get up to but it will probably involve the city,  the ghetto, and dodging potholes to get there.  i hope it involves food – i’m starving.

i had a pity party for myself yesterday at the mall in the burberry store which was quickly ended when i bought a new jacket so all is well.  i decided the work peeps can go f*ck themselves and i don’t care anymore.  i may sound like a petulant child about the whole thing but i never claimed to be an adult. 

i just reminded the Brit to bring the camera so i may even have some pictures of our adventure.  we brought the camera to take pictures at the wedding but typically,  it stayed forgotten about in the Brit’s bag.  we’re good like that.

and here’s a little secret…i’m actually getting antsy to get back to australia. not sure what it is.  i mean, i’m loving the fact that i’ve eaten taco bell twice,  that there’s 3 Targets within 5 minutes from my parents’ house and i can get a decent hamburger (hmm, notice all of my winning points have to do with eating and shopping).  i don’t know what it is.  this happened the last time too.  uh oh, i may actually be considering australia my home.  at least the healthcare is better .

a new day.

i spent last night being sniffy and feeling sorry for myself.  i milked the Brit for all the sympathy he has.  my eyes are all red and puffy this morning.  i feel okay though.

the Brit and I had a long talk last night about the job. in fact, there was a moment when we were in atlanta and we were talking about how i would get offered the job and how i would refuse it.  i dunno, i just have a sense of entitlement.

ah well, it’s not in my nature to stay down for long.  it’s a new day after all and if anything, this whole experience is my impetus to get my ass in gear and apply for my permanent residency and get off my work visa.  i swear i’m going to do it this time.  it should take six weeks to come through and then i can look for a new job.  ’nuff said.

last night i realised that my mother is trying to kill me.  she slips oyster sauce in everything – and then mentions that it’s her “special” ingredient after i’ve had my second serving.  i have a rash.  it looks like i have some horrible skin condition like the mange or scavies.  thanks mom! 

today we are going shopping (shocking!).  i am in “buy everything” mode so it’ll be interesting to see how much we pay in excess baggage/weight at the airport.  it’s still pretty hot here but not as bad as atlanta.  i may venture outdoors today and get some sun so when i come back,  it will actually look like i went on holiday.

tomorrow we are going out with my friends.  probably tour the detroit ghetto once again.  we took the Brit to the best soul food/bbq restaurant ever in the heart of the ghetto last week.  he loved it.  we pointed out hookers and homeless people along the way.  i miss living in a real city sometimes. 

on friday, it’s the weekend with the kiddies.  my sister lives in the middle of nowhere. i’m assuming she has the internet (the world wide web, as she calls it) because she harrasses me every day about becoming her friend on facebook.  i’ll be able to post about giving my niece and nephews chocolate and coca cola right before bed time and teaching them how to make instruments from my sister’s pots and pans.  ah, the joys of being the cool auntie. 

yet another job update.

so i sent the boss man and email to tell him about my lovely holiday, check on things there and non-chalantly ask him if he made a decision about the job…like it was an afterthought.  i read my email to the Brit before hitting the send button to make sure that none of the signs of stress, desparation and psycho-ness are evident.   i also forwarded my parents’ number because my mobile is acting funny.

three hours later,  i’m checking my mail and lo and behold,  an email from the man himself!  “great to hear from you!  glad to hear you’re having a nice holiday…blah blah blah.”  he ends his email by saying that the HR lady has been trying to call me but she will try me at my parents’ house.  but not a sausage about whether i have the job or not.  my fears have not been eased one bit.  now i have to wait…again.  something i’m not good at.

i will keep myself occupied by buying pressies for my coworkers.  i bought two really cute bags for the two girls i work with but i love them so much i may keep them for myself and try to find something else for them.  it’s looking like everyone will be getting something from the motown museum.

housekeeping:
kiwi:  if i don’t hear anything soon,  yes, please go to my work with a golf club and get me some answers

bloggy twin:  sorry i got you sick!  whatever you do,  don’t take flu tablets and drink wine at the same time.  you will regret it.  sending you “feel good” vibes now as i type this.

bloke from the east:  “breaking bad” -  i’ve written it down on my shopping list.  we are shopping again tomorrow… because there is nothing to do here.  they just started showing it in oz but the Brit insists we start from the beginning.

 

hotlanta

we’re here in atlanta and now the Brit is sick but not as bad as me.  we both made it out to the pre-wedding dinner last night but are worse today.  we stayed in bed all day, ordered room service and now we are venturing around the hotel which is quite posh.  it’s sooo hot and humid here.  it’s really gross standing outside for even a minute.  it’s great because i’m already sweaty with a fever.  i’m looking really good.

i still haven’t heard anything about the job and the work week is now over in melbourne.  i’m seriously discouraged.  the brit will forever remain optimistic until i get something concrete telling me otherwise.  he’s so good.

i’ve been on the lookout for the real housewives of atlanta…but they all kinda look like that in this hotel.  i feel out of place not wearing something sparkly or uber revealing.

okay.  gots to go and hunt down some cold and flu tablets.  just wanted to say hi.

wtf?!

no word on the job yet.  they said the would make their decision by early this week and it’s thursday in oz already.  seriously,  does it take that long to draft my offer letter?  ha!  now i’m really antsy and i just want to know either way.  this is cruel and unusual punishment and while i’m enjoying my holiday,  this is always looming at the back of my mind.  not very nice.  to be honest,  i’m not feeling very optimistic now.

had a marathon shopping day and i think i’ve bought enough stuff to clothe a small country so i’m done.  it’s a good thing there isn’t enough time for us to shop in atlanta or else we’d be in trouble.

my parents decided to treat us out to dinner at the japanese all-you-can-eat buffet.  mmm, sushi.    great news for everyone not allergic to fish and seafood.  my parents are still in denial and decided that i can’t be their child.  my mother tried to get me to eat lobster to see what would happen and my dad got me a salmon roll.  i was soo grouchy.  the only things i could really eat was the steak and the strange asian desserts.

i got a manicure today and i was talking to the gal and she asked me where i was living.  i said australia and she said that she knew i wasn’t from around here.  she says that i have an australian accent.  seriously,  wtf?  i wanted to tell her that i was actually born and raised just a few minutes away but that would mean engaging her in a conversation about my life.  not interested.  the nail polish couldn’t dry quick enough.

we’re off to atlanta tomorrow.  i am horribly sick with a fever and really bad cough.  i’m trying to hide it from my parents by taking lots of tylenol and coughing violently in another room.  if my parents knew how sick i was, they wouldn’t let me on that plane.  i’m trying hard to not act sick.  mind over matter.

the Brit and i decided to try to pack all of our crap in one bag for atlanta.  brilliant idea.  not.  the brit decided to take as many shoes and outfits as me.  he’s such a girl.  miraculously,  we managed to get it to fit though i have to shove a pair of heels in my carry on.  i saw the Brit pack a jumper and i looked at him like “do you know how hot it’s going to be down there?”  i couldn’t say anything though because i packed 7 dresses.

we’re back from atlanta next tuesday at about 10am.  there will probably be some radio silence from me till then as there are loads of wedding activities planned so i don’t foresee time to blog.  with me being sick,  we’re going to play it by ear -  i may spend quite a bit of time in the hotel room.  you never know – i may feel better tomorrow.  i’ll talk to you all soon.