Rubbish

It's hard rubbish season in my neighbourhood. I find this time of year fascinating. You get to compare your rubbish with others. There is this moment where people put their lives on the lawn in front of their house and you can see what is going on in their lives.

Many people have thrown out baby gear. I think that accounts for the many screams of delight I hear from very, very young people in the neighbourhood.

I have, so far, put out my lounge and two arm chairs. I still have an old clothes airer, cat scratching post, garden trimmer, bits of wood and old roll of carpet to go out. I might have another look through the house and garage and be able to add to this collection.

My neighbours have put a few things out and I have discovered that they have good rubbish this year. I had good rubbish last year.

Good rubbish is basically stuff you don't want and you put out but is snaffled up by another before it has time to set on the lawn.

I feel slightly unloved as my lounge and two chairs are still there. Last year all my hard rubbish was gone within 12 hours of going out.

On my walk this morning I saw many people picking through the remains of peoples lives and walking off with their bounty. Personally I picked up a piece of dowel that is part of the hi-tech security system I have here.

My friend I walk with is eyeing off a slide. Hopefully it will still be there this afternoon when her husband comes home from work. He can then put it in the back of their car and take it home for their babe.

one word

Yesterday I had a freaky moment. I was reading kit-kat's blog and she mentioned me at the bottom of her one word list. Here I was reading quite happily and thinking "This looks like a challenge. I think I might have to try it." Suddenly I saw my name. I had to do then - I was mentioned.

So here it is, my ONE WORD answers to the following questions.....


1. Where is your cell phone? Handbag
2. Where is your significant other? nonexistent
3. Hair color? brown
4. Your mother? living
5. Your father? deceased
6. Your favorite thing? bed
7. Your dream last night? unknown
8. Dream/Goal? happiness
9. The room you're in? lounge
10. Your hobby? postcrossing
11. Your fear? deafness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? elsewhere
13. Where were you last night? friends
14. What you're not? unknotted
15. Muffins? banana!
16. One of your wish list items? house
17. Where you grew up? Hawthorn
18. The last thing you did? drove
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? old
21. Your pet? sleeping
22. Your computer? Mac
23. Your life? good
24. Your mood? relaxed
25. Missing someone? yes
27. Something you're not wearing? perfume
28. Favorite store? bargain
29. Your summer? coming
30. Love someone? no
31. Your favorite color? Purple
32. When is the last time you laughed? dinner
33. Last time you cried? Wednesday
34. Who will copy this? everyone


If you want to have a go feel free.

Interim furniture

Yesterday CD's wife asked me why I didn't keep at least one arm chair to sit on until my new furniture arrives.

Good question really. I have no furniture in the room that I can be comfortable on. But I decided that when you have the assistance on hand to move heavy stuff, you do it. This means that you look back in amusement later.

CD's wife did suggest I use a blow up mattress for the time being. I was going to follow on with this idea, but decided that the idea of the cat padding down with her claws was a little too much for me to deal with. I might have had to deal with a deflating couch and an uncomfortable cat, and me for that matter.

I now will describe the 'new' couch I have constructed.

Take one sleeping bag and fold it into 3, place on floor. On top of that place a folded queen size doona. Throw over two throw rugs (actually I tucked them in so they keep the doona and sleeping bag in place) then pile up with the floor cushions. (I made covers for two this morning.) Finally elegantly arrange your pillows so you have a semblance of a couch.

I also realised that I have outside chairs sitting in garage at the moment not doing much. They're now my arm chairs. With a pillow behind me it will be awesome.......until the real deal arrives.

Going back to the covers that I made today....I am very proud of myself. These are 50x50x10cm cushions that I purchased and I have made blue covers for them with little bit of edging at the top. I might just add that I have NEVER made a cushion cover in my life. I looked at the idea of it and played with the measurements.......I have had a lot of fun doing it but working out measurements of material at the shop in front of the sales assistant without a calculator is a brain strain when you are on holidays.

I had decided that it would be easy to construct. Cut out two top/bottom and four sides then just sew together. Put a zip in and there you have it.

Let me tell you about reality.

Take a piece of paper and cut out a template to follow. This will ensure that you don't have wonky sides (bad enough with wonky drawers). Ahem. They had wonky sides

I had allowed 2.5 cms seam allowance. Idiot! 1.5 is more than ample. In fact 1 would've been sufficient.

First cushion.

Sew all sides together so they are one continuous band. Insert zip along edge. So far so good - just a lot of seam allowance to deal with!

Instead of completing the bottom start on the top with the piping. It has .5 seam allowance so confuses the hell out of you. Seams are incredibly wonky. Sew top to sides and start to freak out as the corners are not so right angled as you imagine them to be.

Sew bottom to the sides whilst trying deal with the right angle issue, and then realise you have left the zip closed so turning in will be interesting.

Finally turn in the right way and discover artistic folds that have been sewn in. Have a quiet swear then think "it's a new look!"

Attempt to put the 50 cm square cushion through a 40cm zip.

Wipe sweat from the brow. Look back in wonder and start the 2nd cushion which was constructed ever so slightly differently. Still face right angle issues.

Don't trim the corners so end up with chunky buggers which really are comfortable.

Clean up so no-one knows you were sewing.

Catch up

Today I have, with the help of CD - a good friend, moved the couch and two chairs onto the nature strip for hard rubbish collection, and moved the massive cabinet to the garage awaiting my phone call to a charity to pick it up.

My loungeroom is now massive. I am sitting at the dining table looking at the space that is here. I am a little freaked by the space that is here.

I have had a mild moment of panic when I wondered if the new couch and chairs that I have paid for, wont turn up. It has been two weeks since I purchased them so anywhere between now and another 4 weeks and I should have a lounge suite back in here.

Yesterday my neighbour (one of the nicer ones, not one of the bogans from out the back) and I started demolishing the ivy that has attached itself to the palm tree out the back. We filled 360 litres of garden waste bin and we haven't even made an impact. Why am I bothering? Well the ivy has grown so high on the palm that it looks like it is going to kill it and then the tree will fall.

After our 'successful' attempt at ivy removal, I came in and rang the real estate agent that I am renting from. I explained to them that the ivy is prolific and that some of the trunks at the bottom are the size of my wrist. Granted I have small, delicate wrists, but this is massive. They have told me that they will ring a tree removalist or someone of that calibre. I will let you know how we get on.

On other news I am trying to work out how to set up my surround sound system. I have no idea. I have followed the instructions - plugged in speakers, attempted to attach the tv and the dvd player. I don't think I have been too successful. I have two speakers working and that is it. I should have 5.1 working. I have at least set up and programmed the tuner. Go me! I have radio.

Again, I will let you know how I get on. When I have the 5 speakers and subwoofer working I will be dancing. One issue - I have put the manual down somewhere and I can't find it.......AARGH!

Oh - it's Grand Final day today. Woopteedo is my answer to that. I used to think I was into football. I was wrong. I can't be bothered. I know my neighbours out the back are so I will go out today and watch the final (so I know what people are talking about) with some friends. Glorification of sporting heroes, as I might have mentioned before, annoys me.

An awesome prize

A little while ago I won a competition run by Vanessa. She sent me Quirkyalone: a manifesto for uncompromising romantics a book by Sasha Cagen.

I have just finished reading it this week and would like to report about it. I hope you don't mind.

I related to many parts of the book. I am a quirkyalone and I am very proud to be one.

I wish there was another name I could call myself as I find having to explain what it means tiresome. But I will quote from the book (page 5)

"Quirky is human. It's real. It's unintentional difference, being distinctive without artifice........ "Quirky is about being yourself, but it's not aggressive and it should not harm others."

(page 6) Alone should be seen "as a declaration of independence, a willingness to step out from the crowd to follow one;s own instincts."

"Putting quirky together with alone implies the ability to enjoy one's aloneness, whether one is single or not."

What I particularly liked about this book is that it put into words everything that I feel about my life. I am single and I am proud of it. I am not opposed to relationships, or set ups, blind dates, online dating etc. What I am opposed to is the idea that you HAVE to be in a relationship because everyone expects it. I am opposed to the idea of 'settling'.

I have many friends and family who are in fantastic relationships, long and short term. That's what I would like for myself but not at any cost. For too long I have struggled with this whole idea that I needed to be in a relationship to be complete. Many times I have found myself arching in aggression when I have been accused of being too picky etc. Now I might respond differently.

I have realised that I am uncompromising and that I am one unique individual.

I always knew this but I have never really acknowledged it.

Thank you Vanessa for allowing me the time and space to remind myself of who I am.

Furniture together

I've just put together the two units I purchased.

The low line tv unit took 6 hours and intense concentration and still I have slightly wonky drawers.

AARGH!

The display unit took 2.5 hours this morning. No wonky drawers!

I am so proud of myself. I have a blistered hand but the units look great.

I am just starting to take the stuff down from the old unit which will be put into the garage on Saturday morning. At this stage I am surrounded by furniture. I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

This afternoon I will purchase the surround sound unit that I have promised myself. I am not going to spend a huge amount of money on it as I can't afford to do that and save for my own property.

Speaking of which I am very excited that by April next year I will have 10% saved. Woo Hoo! I am starting to look at auctions and properties. It is quite daunting going to auctions hence my turning up to a few. I am starting to get a good idea of what bang you can get for your dollar. I am trying, like many in the world, to work out if our market is back on the increase or will further decrease. There are so many conflicting views out it is enough to make your head spin.

I contemplated moving but if I am planning on moving into my own property that won't be happening - I can't believe the cost just to move from one place to another..........Ridiculous. I love this saving idea.......

Enjoy your day.

an update

I'm currently sitting in the office at work 'supervising' my final year student complete one of his school assessed assignments.  We got the times wrong between us and he turned up half an hour earlier than I thought we had agreed on.

He's a bit like that.  Always slightly misinterprets what I have intended.  Makes for interesting teaching when you have a student that takes the path slightly less traveled, particularly when he is the only one doing the subject and the only voice of reason might be your own.  There are those moments when you think that YOU are the one going a little crazy.

I have made sure he is prepared to do this work this time round.  Last semester when he attempted to do the work we went on a merry goose chase.  It was fun - in a macabre sort of way.  When you have to cross mark with teachers and their students from other schools it makes for interesting conversation.  Some of the comments that he has written and the language he has used has raised more than one eyebrow.  He is a very bright boy but don't give him the opportunity to develop his own train of thought.  Rocky roads lie ahead.  

I wish I had taught him last year.  He thought that it would be easy to pick up this subject this year without prior knowledge.  That would be equivalent to attempting English Literature without ever reading a book.  But if I had taught him last year he would have the language and I would know how he scoots of on the path less traveled and could have brow beaten him into submission......insert evil laugh here!

On other news, spent the night in Warragul with friends and it was really great.

My massage was fabulous although I didn't sleep too well has the muscles were in a high state of flux.  Tonight should be a good night for sleeping.

Purchased a tv unit and a cabinet.  Need to put them together and I will get my new stereo system very soon.  Cant wait to get home to actually play with my new furniture.  HURRY UP AND WRITE BOY!

My first blogmeet

I've had a lovely couple of days since I last blogged. I haven't really had a sleep in yet but I'm working towards that. If you think that I get up at 6 - 6.30 each and every morning then 7.30 is a sleep in.

Friday night I went out with a group of people I had never met before. It was an entertaining night. This social group is different from the other that I belong to. I was the youngest by about 10 years which was interesting. The people are lovely and they were a lot of fun. I probably will go off with them again - they said they young ones there as well.

Saturday I did very little - lovely.

Sunday booked my trip to Margaret River. Lovely.

Monday - Purchased more furniture which I have to put together now. A low line tv unit and a matching display cabinet. All I need now is the surround sound system and I will be very happy.

The more important thing happened was that I went to my first blog meet. Frogdancer and I went to the airport to meet Laura. I am so pleased that Melbourne turned on the weather. It rained so hard as we drove there - I have never concentrated so hard as I drove.

I had such a lovely time but it is surreal meeting someone that you know from what they write about themselves.

As both these lovely ladies stated there is no need for "what do you do?" or "Where do you live?" or even "Are you married? Do you have children?" You know these answers already.

I think one of the best things for me was taking photos of the two ladies looking at the quilt that Frogdancer made using material that Laura so lovingly provided. These two ladies have a great deal in common - both are very generous with their time and both are quite crafty.

I arrived empty handed - or as we say in my family 'gorilla armed'. Frogdancer had beautiful presents - which I would love to tell you about but can't as these are the special gifts she has made for her surprise give away. Laura had a couple of bracelets and a beautiful broach. I was a little overwhelmed at the generosity of both of them.

I enjoyed my first blogmeet - something I would love to do again.

We took lots of photos but that is quite hard to achieve when you have decided to go into anonymity. We worked it out though. Check both their blogs to see the photos.........

Now to my massage.

i'm there

I have attempted to write this post numerous times today.

First time the internet surrounding blogger would not talk nicely to my computer. As a result my computer refused to work with my post. It talked to every other site I went to.

The second time I didn't have enough battery on my laptop and the computer just quietly went to sleep and I had to wait until I got home.

Obviously, according to my computer, I had to think about my post a little longer.

So I made it through the last day of term. This has been one LONG term. It was the same length as last term but just seemed longer.

During this term I acted as the head of department for 4 weeks, I prepared 600+ kids to sing together, suffered a number of colds, had 3 parent teacher interviews and LOTS of correction. I am ready for a sleep in. I am ready for a night of no correction, no performances and no preparation.

My holidays will be something like this.
- Sleep in,
- reading,
- sewing,
- music practice,
- catching up with friends,
- catching up with family,
- doing my tax return,
- rearranging my lounge room,
- pricing and purchasing more furniture,
- working with my final year student,
- some knitting,
- going to the cinema,
- going out for dinner,
- the theatre,
- live music,
- relaxing,
- lots of walks,
- sorting out the summer holidays,
- blobbing
- pajama day
- and meeting laura.

sounds busy and fun.

the night before end of term

Third and final night of parent teacher interviews.  A BIG sleep in tomorrow morning for a late start......and then as it is the end of term an early finish.

Times are 10 am start.  2.30 finish.   30 minutes recess (break) and then about an hour for lunch.  This means I will be teaching for all of 3 hours.  6 periods in 3 hours.  With the juniors it will be: get them in; shut them up; mark the roll; a little bit of work (who am I trying to kid) and then dismiss them with a "happy holidays!".  My year 11/12 in the afternoon is a double and it should be ok - I might actually get some work done with them, but I seriously doubt it!

I have very few parents to see this afternoon.  I hid my sheet.  I only drew it out when I needed to, ie when the kids asked me if I had any times left.  I would cringe and then draw it out slowly.  Oh well.  I have 1 interview this afternoon!  After the tea break I have 15 over 1 1/2 hours.  

Once upon a time I used to be very enthusiastic about my interviews.  Now I'm there - that should be enough. This is a terrible way of being as I am sitting next to an intern.  These are her first rounds and she is gushing with enthusiasm.  I am being put to shame.  

I think I will survive.  Just.

UPCOMING RANT!

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

I'm about to have a rant.

You have been warned so turn away now if you are not interested in the ravings of a woman from Australia.

I cannot stand the fact that sport is mentioned in every situation.

I think I finally cracked it when we had at least 5 mentions of the footy finals and the fact that one particular team lost. This was in our staff meeting. Call me old fashioned but I was under the impression that staff meetings were meant to be professional. Grrrr!

I can put up with the occasional mention in announcements, banter in the staff room and general conversations. Where I personally get peeved is at school assemblies (although there is some attempt at humour) and in meetings.

I hate this sport stuff.

Why not talk the same way about art? Music? Theatre?

Ok. I think I am over it! I know it wasn't that big but I had to say something.........I do feel better now.

spring decorating

I went shopping yesterday. I now own - but it is not in my place yet - a new 3-seater chair, 2 tub chairs and 4 suede dining chairs. They're arriving in 2 -6 weeks. In that time I will get the old lounge suite out of the way.

My old lounge has been with me for a good 15 years. My mum purchased it when I first moved out of home to Tasmania and into my first Unit. It was over 5 years old, maybe closer to 10, when I got it. It wasn't bad - but it was never brilliant.

One housemate I had got excited one day and did a Tom Cruise, although we didn't know at the time it would be done by him on International television. As a result of the excited jumping the frame was broken. It had a beautiful dip halfway along the couch. My back never thought it was beautiful. I have put up with it for too long and yesterday I did something about it.

As a result I have decided to revamp my entire living space. I have a HUGE and very unattractive wall unit. It is 6 feet tall and looks like it is from the 1970s (but actually 1980s). It dominates the room and I have to decorate around it. So with my new lounge etc coming, I want a new TV cabinet and a couple of smaller display cupboards which I should be able to maneuver around the room. I am going to move the dining table into the lounge area (it is big enough) with the suede chairs. The old kitchen table is coming back to the kitchen.

I have other plans too but I wont document them yet.......they are under construction.

it's all done

After the fun of yesterday, today was BUSY.

I find Friday is the hardest day on my schedule. I have all times on - there is no time for preparation or anything else for that manner.

Today was a little more than that. Head of Department absent with the lurgy I so kindly shared with the rest of the department. I also had two assessments - one at recess and one at lunch.

I found time to write up the report for my student teacher and speak to her uni adviser. I then spent 1 1/2 hours discussing the report with her. Why? Well I was close to failing her - not for the way she presented in class but because I didn't think she was ready to face the realities of the teaching profession.

When I spoke to the supervisor I had decided that I needed to say that she was not ready for the professional world of teaching due to her extreme lack of confidence and over emotional responses to those around her. Based on what I had seen and described the supervisor was in agreement with me. The girl pulled out one of THE BEST classes I have seen in a long time.

It was not the most riveting lessons - discussion on the compositional devices used in three pieces from West Side Story - but the kids talked and talked and talked on topic! I sat there with this inane grin on my face. I was so proud. Eventually I got back to the supervisor and I said "this is new! I'm not sure where she came from, but I'm glad she came. I am so excited about what I am seeing."

After the class, and the supervisor had gone, we discussed what happened - as two professionals. The change I have seen in this girl is amazing. Yes there is still room to grow but I saw enough in the last 24 hours to know that she is on the right track. I talked through my fears for her and what I thought she should do. She listened and then responded - including (with my permission) reflecting on what I, as her supervisor, could do better.

In amongst all this I was preparing kids for a performance on Sunday. Some of my kiddies are playing for 1 1/2 hours at a Festival. It's really exciting. This is another opportunity for the public to see the kids the way I get to see them.

I'm tired - but happy. It's been a good end to the week.

today was fun

I have one of those days that have been unique.

I have a new friend sitting near me at my desk. The woman I normally back onto is on long service leave and her replacement is a first year out "crazy" teacher. She is awesome. Today we had a stupid conversation about 'bad' fashion and I was encouraged, and I don't need much, to tuck my long pants into my nylon knee-high stockings. It was such a bad look but such a good laugh.

I wandered around the staffroom and only a few people noticed that I had this awful mess below my knees and they were not sure where to look...... Frogdancer was particularly concerned that I had fat calves and that I was making a bad fashion statement. Thanks for that.

I had lots of fun with the kids too - although my pants weren't tucked into my stockings. We laughed, we joked, there were a few well-chosen hard-spoken words.....when there was inappropriate behaviour, and there was creativity and decision making.

I LOVE MY JOB! Now to work on the rest of my life - home, love, exercise.......

back into the routine.

Back to work today and I am now exhausted.

We had parent teacher interviews again tonight but this time years 9 and 10. The year 10's I teach are doing a year 11 subject so they are 'serious' interviews. The parents are expecting so much from their cherubs - and who can blame them as they are talented. My job is to have sorted out what makes them good performers and what they need to improve.

Year 9 interviews are so much more relaxed. Your child is doing well - talks a bit too much but generally good. He/she might need to consider focusing on reading music so they can extend themselves further. Generally that is it done.

I had my four year 10 interviews and they were all pretty exhausting. The first - a talented musician but not committed to ensembles or his written work. The second - a very 'pitchy' singer who has improved heaps and written work doing well; last interviews I suggested not to do the final year subject next year. Third was a young man who is talented but he has attitude. Finally a young lady who is fantastic as a performer, not bad with her written work but she does not have the confidence in written work. These interviews took me out of it.

The interview, if you can call it that, which exhausted me the most was with my student teacher. She finishes at the end of this week and I have found the emotional roller coaster that she is taken me on tiring. We have gone through the highs of great teaching, super confidence etc to the lows of no confidence in her abilities. When I say 'lows' I mean low.

I told her what I was concerned about with her entering teaching - the emotional roller coaster. I couched it from the point of view "What would you say to a student who aimed so high, tried really hard to make that height and then was so upset thinking they had failed, crashed and burned emotionally?" She went through many answers and I agreed with her on many of her points. She didn't show that she knew I was asking about her. I told her that she should listen to what she had said and take it on herself. She seemed stunned. I think it was a good lesson for her.

A university supervisor is coming to see her on Friday afternoon, her final lesson for the week and round. We are talking through the issue of what to present her supervisor and what will work with my curriculum. I can see the need she has to 'impress' the university, but I will be discussing that with the university lady. I also have explained to her that the university people understand that there will also be a 'finality' to her teaching when she has been with this class for 5 weeks and this is her last time with them. They will understand that there is a need to have assessment as part of the course. We have compromised and planned something interesting.

The above 3 paragraphs took me 10 minutes to write but in action it took 2 - 3 hours during the day and a number of emails starting yesterday.

I'm watching So You Think You Can Dance (American). I think it is the final so the dancing is pretty amazing. I love it! I know who won (and I agree with the quality of dancing of the winner) but I love it!

As soon as it is over I'm off to sleep.

Tuesday

It's very exciting - I have been clearing my nose for 24 hours and there is no let up in sight! I just thought you should all know. (well we have slowed now!) I haven't taken any herbal or other sinus medications. The doctor I saw yesterday told me that he thinks it is better if you allow your sinuses to go nuts. (my words not his) Those of you who suggested a neti pot - thank you, you all freaked me out. I might invest in one for the future. Inhalations have been my go today.

I am sitting here doing my tax - should've done it earlier but, meh! I've got until October 31 so if I do it now I will be laughing.

I spent just under 2 hours on the phone to apple help today. Reason? I can't log onto itunes - which is where I buy music from. Anyone got another site that might be a little better but still as safe? The issue that I have is that the connections are not right - I keep getting rejected. I am almost over that.....the guys at apple aren't. I had beautiful comments coming back to me like "that's an unusual situation", or "I wasn't expecting that" (bodes well.....) and my personal favourite for the day "I am at the end of my professional expertise and I don't think I can help you." Thanks for the honesty sir! I have an idea of what it is that I need to do....but don't have the expertise to do it. I will chat to techs at work tomorrow.

I'm off to work tomorrow and I am almost excited. I have gone a little stir crazy here today....

Last night I watched Boston Legal - which I don't normally catch as it is after my bedtime and I don't have a recorder. I will invest in one I think. I have forgotton how much I love that show.

a positive spin.

I'm home again with this blasted cold thing. It is driving me insane. I am off to the doctor today - in about half an hour. I know that he will probably say that there is nothing he can do but I want to know why I have 3 1/2 weeks of these bloody symptoms. I am so frustrated.

I have also made a decision that my blogging will now be upbeat meaning that I will blog if I go out and about - meeting new people etc. I will also blog about positive things in my world. I might blog about my thought processes (aka yesterday what price fame) but I will try to put a positive spin on these things.

I don't think I am a negative thinker but I want to focus on the positive at all times. I am going to look for the silver lining.

Good luck to me! The rest of you, enjoy the ride. It should be fun!

update at 12.34. Been to the doctor and he said more rest so he has given me tomorrow off as well. Inhalations are also on the doctors menu.

What price fame?

Last night at Frogdancer's party I had a few interesting discussions with people I had not met before, and some with people that I have met. One thing I notice is that if you are at a party with people you work with the topic of conversation often ends up about the work place. I try to avoid it but I fail miserably with it......especially when I haven't been out for about 3 weekends. Seem to have forgotton social etiquette. Not after sympathy - statement of fact.

But this was not what I wanted to mention. One topic of conversation ended up on 'make me a supermodel', 'idol' etc. Someone mentioned that the contestants were asked to do ridiculous things. This was countered by another that the contestants were learning how to conform. I have been thinking about this ever since.

My thoughts have developed the concept to 'what is fame?' My basic answer is that fame is the glorification of someone who fits our concept of normality to a high level. Most people that are worshipped fit the ideal sensationally well. They fit into the 'right' idea.

There are those that make a statement and forge a new concept of the acceptable - and these leaders are my heroes in popular culture. I think of people like Alice Cooper - he developed the idea of the out of control metal/hard rock artist beautifully. Many have followed in his wake.

But if this is not your idea of brilliance I think of Jean Shrimpton - the English Supermodel of the 1960s, who turned up to the Melbourne Cup (1965) without hat, gloves or stockings! Shock. Horror. Gasp. She caused waves of excitement and even hit the front page of the newspapers. I thank her for what she did - she broke the conventions.

So what do the tabloids love more than someone who conforms with the image? Someone who doesn't. Obvious isn't it. We love the scandal of someone breaking all the rules - particularly when they have been following the rules for so long. My belief is that these people always had a rebellious streak in them but were convinced to 'hide' that streak so they could get to the top of public conscientious. The other thought I have is that they grew up in the public eye and have never really let loose, as most teenagers do, so when they do they have money, fame and the photographers to catch it all. It is entertainment! But it is also development of the person's spirit.

What I am not sure of is who develops the 'norm' that we hold everyone up to. Is it imposed or is developed at the ground roots?

Watching shows like 'make me a supermodel' etc, I realise that the norm is developed in a competitive way. "We would like you to drop your personality so that we can impose a generic personality on you. The more you are willing to conform, the more you will impress me (a judge)." The judges are elder folk who have 'made' it in the industry and hold up these ideals of normality for all to rise to. The contestants are, generally, young (in age or spirit) and desperately want to excel. They ingest what is being told/asked of them and then allow that new concept to come out in their chosen avenue of expression. Sometimes the new persona fits well and these people are embraced. Some try and fail. We love the journey of self discovery that they go on. Ultimately we love their downfall.

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the chance to 'discover' new talent. The talent show has it's place - but the way it is undertaken makes me worry about self expression. As a performing arts teacher I worry about what sort of society my students are entering into. This is an internal battle that I have. Just thought that I would share it with you.

Cooking up a storm

Its Frogdancer's birthday today and she is having a party.

The invitation was to bring a bag of chips to share (own drinks etc) and then we'll get pizza for dinner.

I think I've outdone myself. I've made hummus. It tastes so good. A friend of mine gave me a tin of chick peas and three tins of butter beans. I still don't know why but she decided I needed to have them. Still thinking of what to make with the butter beans but the hummus is awesome.

I've got mini choc chip, choc-fudge muffins in the oven at the moment. They will soon be covered in choc frosting. It's a chocolate explosion in your mouth.

I have to thank taste.com.au as it is my most favourite recipe place. You can type in a tricky ingredient and suddenly all these recipes come back to you.

Nose, nose, jolly red nose

I have a tap instead of a nose.

I am halfway through my second box of tissues in two days. It is quite disconcerting. I woke up this morning and spent the first half an hour sneezing, sniffing and nose emptying. Throughout the day I have undertaken the same activities on many occasions. I am very frustrated. I can breath but it is only after a sneeze or two.

I have this issue with pseudoephedrine which I have mentioned. I don't mind trying to figure out how to stop my nose running - but I just wish it would join me in the effort.

Now to try an turn off the tap.

20

Just catching up with my online reading and bayjb quoted 16.

I am quoting 20.

This is the number of five year olds I could take on in a fight!


20

Enough said really.

Things that made me laugh today

• discussion on my breakfast radio that was about irrelevant facts that you might know - such as the fact that cockroaches live for three days after losing their heads. I haven't looked this up but I was laughing as this was the first thing I heard as the radio turned on beside my head.

• a student's face on discovering that I do respond to a nickname. He called out a name I have had since I first started teaching and I just responded with a 'yep'. He gave a double-take.

• my student teacher's face as I told her about some of my interviews last night. Her particular favourite (as is mine) was the interview with a girl who has a social learning difficulty. She over acts when singing and there is no subtly in her actions. Love songs take on a whole new meaning. How do you tell someone who cries at any criticism, that they need to tone it down? Last night I couldn't. I worked on the other aspect - learning dynamic control! SHE SINGS LOUDLY AND PROUDLY and you had better get out of her way!

• kids having bizarre topic conversations with me while they were lining up in the canteen line.

• my home-group male captain trying to argue with me about his role.......he is learning.

• frogdancer's son at his singing lesson tonight. This was laugh out loud stuff tonight. We are working which words to emphasize. The song "Something" - George Harrison, the words "you're asking me will my love grow". The word on highest note 'love'. A humorous conversation about asking questions and emphasizing the second last word. (his suggestion "do you want to go out WITH me?") We also discussed and enacted bad accents in songs......

I enjoyed all of the above even if it doesn't translate well......

Interviews

Senior school interviews tonight - which I am halfway through. I find it interesting at this level what the parents expect from you the teacher and from their kids.....I just had a mum come in and start the interview with "my daughter doesn't think you like her". My instant reaction was "it's her attitude I don't like, she's lovely." Once we got past that introduction we got down to the bones of the why and how.

Essentially the daughter is dealing with half truths. She doesn't attempt the set work and then wonders why she doesn't understand it! She performs brilliantly but doesn't do any theory! Annoying. Frustrating as well. I think she was trying to be funny - but it didn't quite work.

All the other interviews were challenging with me having to think of the "right way" of saying how the kids could improve their mark. I only had one that was easy - maybe I haven't been as focused in the past.......

But it is halftime now - pizza for dinner (yum yum). Maybe a glass of wine and back for 11 more 5 minute interviews over 2 hours! What joy.

Added at 9.22pm after I got home:

The second half was easier than the first! My hardest interview during the second half was discussing how a student should develop soft volume in their singing. This child reacts badly to criticism. Actually this particular child has a social difficulty; lovely child but struggles with social settings, reading and understanding.

I had my easiest interview in the second half - a boy who just breathes music. He has to work on his analysis of music but the performance area is beautiful.

A sleep in tomorrow morning! Yay!

Back to it

It was funny going to school today having not been there on Friday after the concert. A lot of people didn't realise that I was unwell when I was walking precariously across the stage. They just thought that I was struggling in my shoes!

I have had the weirdest experience with my band kids today. I have lost all of my conductor scores! How do conduct a band with no music? I still have no idea! To add pressure I had a student teacher watching me! (not mine she belongs to the instrumental manager and another classroom teacher) This student teacher is in the army most of the time and is part of the army band program...........I am a singer with lots of (70+) ratty year 8 kids.

I am good at my job but this was funny. I handed out new music which I hadn't prepared as I didn't go to work on Friday to collect the scores. The kids played reasonably well and played up extraordinarily well.

My student teacher was doing really well but had an emotional setback today. She almost cried but I was firm with her. She was planning for her year 10 class for the head of music and didn't think she had anything......

I went through what she had and it seemed fine then she said I don't have the music for them to listen to. I asked her what her options at this stage were. We discussed going home to get them and I also threw some other ideas in such as rhythmic dictation, chordal work etc. I then created an idea for a practical lesson without instruments. She wasn't sure about doing this as it seemed a little naff. We talked through how to present the lesson and she kept telling me she was not sure. I finally told her to make a decision. Either present the lesson she had prepared - going home to get her music or using other songs, or go with something else. Whatever she decided to do, she needed to do it confidently. Her reply "I can't make a decision!" As if I hadn't noticed.....

I talked through this outburst with the head of music and we decided that we should call the university. Not that she is danger of failing - when she is with the kids, she is fantastic. Her content has improved greatly. Her presence has improved amazingly! What I am concerned about is her emotional and mental state away from the classroom. I rang the uni. I feel awful - as though I have dobbed her in, but I feel that I needed to flag her with them. I think there might be something going on underneath that I don't have the capacity to deal with.