This is the downside of school holidays.

Wait.. There is a downside? Who knew? I think there is, anyway. Since I started teaching at the beginning of this year, I always looked forward to the holidays. Two weeks between terms sounds like such a long time, after all.

(A brief pause here for any non-Australian oh-so-faithful readers: The NSW school terms are NOT like yours! Our school year begins in late January, and consists of four 10-12 week terms (the 12 week ones should DIE). Between each term, there is a two week holiday. At the end of the year, there is a 4-5 week one. Yep yep! I hope that makes this all seem a bit less confusing now.)

But no-one tells you that two weeks goes by so damn fast. I usually spend the first weekend of the holidays pretending that I am actually NOT on holidays, since weekends aren't classed as holidays anyway. At least in my mind, they're not. Then I heartily decide to do all my next-term programming in the first week and get it all over with. And then all those aspirations fly out the window as I embrace NOTHING-NESS! Because it's holidays! And that's what you are supposed to do in holidays! Nothing!

But in the same breath, I have a lot that I do need to do, not even including school stuff. I need to visit my nan at some point, catch up with friends who I have completely slacked off on visiting (Congratulations Dee and Steve on baby Sofia!), go and get my eyes tested so I can someday think about Laser Surgery, wash the damn car, take the rabbits to the vet. They all sound like petty, trivial little things but they all add up.

What does this all mean?

It means that just like last holidays, I will end up doing no school planning whatsoever in the first week (it's Thursday already, for crying out loud!) and then will make plans to do it all in the second week.

My predictions? I'll end up doing in next weekend. On the day before school. Fabulous.

Oh, and if anyone is clever enough to help with with one quick question before I scamper off; I pay for Typepad monthly, but I happen to be lacking in computer skills AND common sense (lucky me!). Is there anyway I can change my URL in my Typepad package, or am I stuck with the Typepad part forever?

As I was lying in bed cursing my ER DVD (which started to freeze and then skip all on its own, bastard!) I found myself thinking of a way to spruce up this blog a bit. Except, I'm ALSO lacking in the "sprucing up" department. Any help will be welcomed and your troubles will be rewarded in, um, virtual chocolate.

-points- It's HER fault that I'm going to do this survey. Because I am bored and because if I play any more of the Sims tonight, my eyes may bulge out of my head and bounce across the room.

Calm yourself down, ladies and gents (?), here is a wonderfully exciting and brilliant survey all about me. And of course you can go and read Julia's entry here.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
Just before 7am, thinking that Mum and I were going to be heading to the Zoo. Er, turned out she was sick (or WAS she?) so I stayed in bed until about 8.30am. Holidays are love.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds, please. Pretty, pretty! Who's buying?

3. What was the last film you saw at the movies?
Let's see. The last film I saw was Munich, but that wasn't at the movies. And before that? Geez. That's testing me. Hrmm. Crap! I have absolutely no idea.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
ER at the moment. If I ever end up in hospital for whatever reason, please let me have George Clooney. With or without grey hair, I don't even mind.

5 What did you have for breakfast?
NutraGrain. Iron (Wo)Man Food. Haha.

6. What is your middle name(S)
Marie. Or Maree. Apparently it was "supposed" to be spelt with the "ee" but the nurse at the hospital stuffed it. So damn it, just call me Marie. Haha. Hey Julia, if we combined our middle names we would be Marie Claire! Haha! Get it? Moving right along..

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Thai. Oh man. Thai! I wanted Thai today! Chicken Stirfry with Cashews! Boiled Rice! That yummy coconut curry! Therefore, the answer is most definitely Thai.

8. What foods do you dislike?
Tomato (bleh) and strawberries (seedy bits, ew) and most vegetables (I swear, I'm 22 and not 2) and seafood. Keep the fishies away.

9. What is your favorite crisp flavor?
I'm boring and therefore I like plain.

10. What is your favourite CD at the moment?
Aly is technological and doesn't listen to CDs that much anymore. -strokes Ipod- But, I think I'd be saying Panic! At the Disco. End teenybopper moment.

11. What type of car do you drive?
A BEAUTIFUL SHINY SILVER ONE (complete with window ship and passenger door dent - fuckers!)

13. What characteristics do you despise?
Idiotic-ness (including drivers), Racism and Brown-nosers.

14. Favourite item of clothing?
At the moment? MY SEXY RUNNERS. Which I am still yet to find a picture of; I promise I'll steal a camera and photograph them soon!

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Europe, again. (Ditto that - TAKE ME BACK.)

16. Favourite brand of clothing?
Colorado or Crossroads. Colorado - when I'm on a specials hunt. Crossroads - when I'm poor. (which is basically any other day.)

17. Where would you like to retire to?
Somewhere that is near nature. Nature is good. I am not too fussy where. Got quite a while to think up a retirement location.

18. Favourite time of the day?
When I'm just about to fall asleep. Bliss in a bedframe.

19. What was your most memorable birthday?
Probably.. gosh, I don't know. Birthdays aren't all that memorable really (that happens when you have no life and your friends are few and far between) but every one that I've spent with Jason.

20. Where were you born?
In an Auburn hospital.

21. Which sport do you watch?
I'll watch me some Rugby. Next year when the season starts over, that is. And damnit Penrith, GET IN THE TOP 8 THIS TIME!

22. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?
Least expect? Um. Jason, because he stinks. And any of the lurkers that only find my blog through random Google searches looking for "Cheap and lovely whores" or "Lyrics to Black Fingernails Red Whine" (!). Come on you lot, fill the damn survey in!

23. Who do you expect to send it back first?
Haha. YOU! Yes, YOU! -nudges comment button-

24. What fabric detergent do you use?
Whatever happens to be on the washing machine whenever I happen to be doing washing.

25. Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi, if I'm drinking fizz. But if it's frozen, it's got to be Coke. Booby lids optional.

26. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I think I'm more of a morning person. Actually, can that. Can I be a "just before bedtime" person? That means, I'll probably be grouchy all the time.

27. What is your shoe size?
About a 9, depending on the shoe. Just ask my new sexy joggers. "Yes, she's a nine. And would you all just piss off and leave me alone to bask in my sexiness? Mmk, thanks."

28. Do you have any pets?
Yes. And I'd gladly have another if anyone would be so kind as to buy me one of these cute little suckers, I'd have another. Or three.

30. What did you want to be when you were little?
A veterinarian. Is it weird that I sort of still wish that, even though I know it'll never happen. Instead, I shall just look after a menagerie of animals myself.

31. When is your birthday?
July 31st. I'm the world's most un-Leo-Leo.

**********FAVOURITES****************

Shampoo? I use Schwartzkopf (did I spell that right? It's late.) and it smells like yummy.. things, for lack of a better words.

Soap? Body Shop stuff, or Radox Coconut Wash.

Summer/Winter? Winter. Summer makes me go blotchy and reminds me that I shouldn't go out in public. Kidding, sort of! Winter is just nicer and easier to deal with.

Marmite? Marmite? What the?

****RIGHT NOW*****************

Wearing? A black summer nightgown thingy. I think I just aged about 40 years typing that in. Ho hum.

Eating? Nothing. I did eat chicken earlier. Because I missed out on Line Dancing and dinner because of my stupid sore arm muscle.

Drinking? Nada. Zilch. Didly squat.

Thinking about? Sleeping. And tossing and turning. And waking up. And then sleeping some more. Have I mentioned that I adore school holidays?

Listening to: The fan swooshing around and making me tired. Snore.

Book: Atonement by Ian McEwan. I forgot all about it, to be quite honest. I got to a point where the book got boring, but once I forced myself to read it again it started getting better. Interesting read.

*********THE LAST 24 HOURS**************

Cried: No; although I was close when I accidently sent my Sims alter-ego on fire and ended up killing her.

Met someone new? Not really.

Cleaned your room? No, but I need to. Again.

Drove a car? I rode in one, but my baby stayed firmly in the driveway today (because I am cheap and cannot afford petrol.)

How many hours sleep? Not sure. About enough?

*************DO YOU BELIEVE IN* *************

God? Yessir.

Yourself? Yessir.

Santa Claus? Um. I'll say YES because that way he might visit me this year when he's visiting my classroom kidlets. Hoorah! Santa! Are you listening? I want me one of those damn dogs! Or three!

Destiny/Fate? Absolutely. Works in mysterious ways.

Ghosts? The scaredy-cat in me says yes. Eep.

**********FRIENDS AND LIFE**********

Who have you known the longest of your friends? You know, I'm going to be a complete sap and say MY MUM. Well, she IS a friend. No mum, I don't want anything. Except maybe one of those pups...

Who do you go to for advice? Jase or Jen.

When
do you cry the most? I can cry at the drop of a hat. Sad commercials, happy commercials, dairy commercials (no joke), movies, tv shows (I got sappy in ER today for apparently no reason), when my babies die (still missing you, Penny) and, well, basically I can cry all the time.

########

And since that is a crappy way to end off a survey, I shall instead entertain you with tapdancing.

-TAPDANCES-

Have a good night, folks, and don't forget to fill this out in your own blog/in the comments section to make an Aly near you happy TODAY!

I've been looking forward to working out in my new running shoes.

So much so that I wore them in around the house all afternoon yesterday - and I was wearing a skirt. Loser? Indeed.

So why this morning have I awoken with a very, very sore right arm? I think it's just the bicep muscle, probably from doing the hand weights while doing cardio yesterday, but geez it hurts. I'm not letting it stop me though. I shall be visiting the gym again this afternoon. I'm determined by next month to at LEAST have my measurements down by a teeny bit. That would be nice. Considering I have thighs large enough to devour a whole cheesecake by themselves (or something.)

And in other news, I am proud to announce that I have finally remembered how to play The Sims. Not the newer spiffier version (nay, I am too poor to have bought that after purchasing the pretty shoes) but the old version, and all the expansion packs. Can someone please tell me why the dogs and cats are able to open doors BY THEMSELVES PLEASE? This gives me the creeps.

Oh, yes, I have named my family very appopriately. I say family, although that family is actually just one skinny blonde lady (called Aly, clever chook I am!). At the moment she is living by herself, and is surrounded by dozens of the forementioned cats and dogs. Perhaps this is my subconscious mind's way of telling me what my future will look like?

Oh well. At least I look hot in short shorts in THIS future.

So, after the handy-dandy shopping list was made, I trotted off to the shops this morning.

Here is my day so far in Fabulous/Pitiful format. Enjoy! P.S. Desiree, I'm in Australia. The reason I'm looking for summer clothes is because our seasons are opposite to yours - we're in Spring at the moment.

Fabulous.
Being measured at the gym this morning and having a smaller waist and hips than mum. Why is this so fabulous? Because she has lost lots of weight lately and it's nice to know I still have a waist in there somewhere.

Pitiful.
The fact that I am only slightly better measurement-wise than my mother, considering SHE GAVE BIRTH TO TWO CHILDREN AND IS OVER 40. -cough-

***

Fabulous.

Finding a super duper parking space on the perfect level of the shopping centre which was RIGHT near the door. And no-one opened any car doors on my baby, either. Score!

Pitiful.
Shopping. Alone. With no friends. And watching school holiday kids roaming the mall in herds. Be afraid, be very afraid.

***

Fabulous.
Seeing an absolutely stunning ring in the jewellery store that was 40% off, white gold and very, very sparkly. In love!

Pitiful.
The fact that I stood outside the store considering actually buying a ring for myself. Lame!

***

Fabulous.
I found and purchased my expensive Nike joggers. Hoorah! And they had my size, and didn't set off alarms when I tried them on!

Pitiful.
They still cost me $230. Which I willingly handed over. Gulp.

***

Fabulous.
Buying a Boost smoothie and realising there was a 10% off promotion on footwear at Rebel Sport. Heading to Rebel Sport, giving puppy eyes, being given back $23 on sexy joggers.

Pitiful.
I still bought shoes that cost over $200. Omg.

***

Fabulous.
Finding some gorgeous clothes at Colorado which were beautiful colours, beautiful styles and just downright gorgeous.

Pitiful.
Trying them on and none of them fitting. Damnit.

***

Fabulous.
Buying the old version of the Sims including all of the expansion packs for $30. I forsee lots of computer bludging time this school holidays.

Pitiful.
Being excited over a computer game.

***
The verdict? Shopping sucks, the clothes suck, people suck, but I am going to play The Sims wearing my sexy, expensive joggers. Go me!

Since I won't be heading out to the shops until after Wednesday (pay day!) I figured I'd make myself a list, so that I know what I want.

Handy-dandy, yes?

Let's just jump straight into it.

1. New Running Shoes. (I already know which shoes I want. The trouble will be finding them again. I tried them on at Rebel Sport when I was with Kirby, but freaked out at the cost and haven't managed to find them since. All I know is that they are Nike Airwind/Tailwind ((? I forget)) and they are white and blue and look like my old shoes. And that they had an alarm on them, which I set off by putting them on, so made people look at me like I was a criminal.)

2. Bras. (Lots of them. Including at least one sports bra. I'm tired of being whacked in the face ((or nearly, anyway)) while I'm doing the bouncing cardio stuff at the gym. Plus, my favourite Bonds classic bras that I owned in about five different colours, have all died at the same time, leaving me with about three. Three is not enough! Must bra shop. Even though bra shopping has to be the most boring and expensive necessity ever.)

3. Summer Clothes. (I know I sound like every typical woman that says "I have nothing to wear!" whenever there is a season change, but I'm completely truthful here. I have plenty of nice winter clothes, yet barely any summer clothes. I need at LEAST tops, but some more 3/4 pants and skirts as well. Then I'll be fine.)

4. Christmas Gifts. (Must start looking. Christmas is in 12-12 weeks or some crazy figure like that. And weeks go fast!!! Add the fact that buying gifts gets harder every year, and that my last day of school is on the 21st of December ((!!!!)) and basically, I have to start doing my shopping NOW.)

5. A Digital Camera. (Well, I need to start price hunting anyway, even if I don't buy this now. I can claim this as a tax deduction for when I use it in class, so I just need a cheap, easy to use, click a button and maybe see a screen kind of digital camera. How fun!)

6. Books. (Because I've read every damn book in this household about a thousand times.)

7. A Spanador. (A WHAT? I hear you say. Spanadors are the result of crossing a Labrador with a Cocker Spaniel to produce a pet that is generally smaller than a Labrador with a friendly temperament and
easy to train. Coat is easy to maintain and is gold or black in colour. ((Thankyou Google.)) They are so gorgeous, they have the face of a lab, their beautiful nature, just with cuter ears. I WANT ONE. Hint. To anyone who is reading. I WANT THIS DOG. OR BOTH. PRONTO! STAT!

After a fairly long 11 week term, my break has finally arrived!

Two weeks always disappears before it begins, but I'm not one to complain. That's the perks of working as a teacher; we get the holidays when the kids do. And thankfully, next term is only a 10 week one (that ends three days before Christmas, how bad is that?) so I'm sure it will fly by.

I know that people think teaching is an easy job, that I shouldn't complain about the workload and the stress that comes home with me - well, I'd love for them to work just one day in my shoes. How would they deal with the ongoing questions, the patience, the amount of things that have to be taught in the shortest possible time frame? The extra curricular stuff, too. Coaching sports teams, Having reading groups two mornings a week, staff meetings, staff development, PROGRAMMING.

Boo to people who think my holidays are all just play. Sure, I'll relax, I'll take it easy. But still.

I have the whole damn term to plan for. 10 weeks of teaching time. Not to mention planning for the end of year concert, an excursion, oh, and the small thing called END OF YEAR REPORTS. No stress there.

AND, I have to start my Teachers Accreditation piece of crap. It's a new scheme for beginning teachers (they claim that all teachers will have to do it eventually, yeah, right, we'll see about that) - where you have to do an accreditation portfolio and response sheet to be a qualified teacher. I have five years to do it, since I'm not permanent, which is nice. But get this. You have to pay "the institute" $80-$100 a year, whether or not you complete it.

Yes. That's right.

I'm paying those guys money, just so I can get my accreditation. Do you stop paying after you've got your puny little card? Hell, no. It's ongoing. Forever and ever.

I'm doing the work, yet I'm paying other people for it. What the hell? I'm in the wrong career for ripping off people. Perhaps I should consider a change. Blech.

Have I mentioned that if you don't pay on a yearly basis, you can't teach at all?

Nice.

But I digress. It's school holidays, and I'm planning on going to the gym every morning during the week, and Saturday too. Because I'm motivated like that, ya'll. And because I'm enjoying it. (!) Insane.

I hope everyone is enjoying a happy and safe weekend.

Perfect for a (not so) lazy Saturday morning. Well, darn, it's now afternoon since I forgot to do this before. Ho-Hum.

I am currently;

SINGING
Well, I have been singing to SingStar (since we have discovered that even though we blew up the MAIN television we can still use MY television, aint that wonderful?) but since I got sick of hearing myself through the microphone, I'm currently HEARING mum singing along to "Suspicious Minds". I rather like that on MOST of the songs I've tried today, I'm a SingStar. Too much time perhaps?

Er, I'm also enjoying a teenybopper moment or three, with Panic! At the Disco. Yeah, I know. You don't need to say anything to that one. And on a NON-teenybopper note, I'm getting down to the Scissor Sisters. I still take credit for discovering "Laura" a billion years ago, so nyer.

WATCHING
I'm mid-way through Season 4 of ER at the moment. Yes, Yes, I have the world's biggest "to-watch" DVD list. I'll get there. I have two weeks of nothingness ahead of me! NOTHINGNESS! This is another joy of being a school teacher. Holidays, I love thee!

READING
I have Anna Karenina sitting on a shelf, which I have just started but can't seem to find the time to sit down and decipher properly. It's not one of those books which I can cruise through, which I tend to do with most of my reading. I'm a speedy chook. That book? Makes me read things twice. Damn fine print messin' with my eyes.

I also am about to start re-reading my Clan of the Cave Bear and Outlander series again, just because I can. Possibly Harry Potter again too. From the beginning, since I have a weird obsession with not being able to just start reading any book from a series. Nope, I have to go right back to the beginning.

CREATING
Um. Muscles? And a teaching programme for next term? And an interesting blog? Or not?

ENJOYING
Listening to John Mayer's new album; Continuum. He's wonderful; that voice can serenade me anytime, anywhere. I'm still beyond pissed off about missing his concert next month. Can someone please organise me a private concert? Okay, thanks.

EATING
Spinach and Ricotta Tortelloni. From Lite and Easy. Sadly, it left much to be desired, and I am craving something NICER now. Damnit.

DRINKING
Pepsi. Someone left it in the fridge and I had a weird craving so I have now drunk it all. Water to wash it down with, promise.

ANTICIPATING
Results after going to the gym six days in a row. Go me! Now, where is that flat tummy? And why have I still got the hugest ass around?

Also. School holidays. 'Nuff said.

THINKING
I'm thinking about taking a nice long spa bath. With a book; one of the ones I talked about before will do fine.

I'm thinking about the $230 pair of Nike runners I saw last weekend and the fact that now I CAN'T stop thinking about them and should have bought them. I need to plan a shopping trip.

I'm thinking that if I can save my hiney off, I can have my car paid off by its one year anniversary next May. Won't that be nice!

LOVING
Jason. As always. He is funny and he makes me smile. And I see him tonight. That is good!

This blog, because it keeps me occupied and I find it amazing that I meet new people through it all the time and NEW PEOPLE ARE GOOD! Hi new people!

Isn't it funny when something just pops right into your mind after reading a prompt?

This week, I'm going to keep it short, sweet and completely unoriginal. Well, original in that I thought of it and that it means alot to me, but unoriginal in that I didn't actually write it. If only I could lay claim to such brilliance but alas! I cannot.

Here are the lyrics from one of my favourite bands (from a couple of years ago, but I still love the old stuff now) - Taxiride. The song? Is called SKIN.

It could have beenThe smell of your skin.An innocence I've never seen,Find myself reaching for you.I couldn't ask for anymore,Feels like I've met you once before;You've opened the door to a brand new me..

Some things are meant to be.Now you've shown me the way,Got me thinking that maybe..Something just keeps telling me,If I gave you my word;Some things are meant to be.

A message left on your machine,Now I'm waiting for the phone to ring.It's in the way you look at me;I'm trying so hard to believe that..

Some things are meant to be.Now you've shown me the way,Got me thinking that maybe..Something just keeps telling me,If I gave you my word;Some things are meant to be.It could have been,The smell of your skin..

Some things are meant to be.Now you've shown me the way,Got me thinking that maybe..Something just keeps telling me,If I gave you my word;Some things are meant to be.If I gave you my wordSome things are meant to be.

It's one of those songs that is hauntingly beautiful, and absolutely perfect live. It's amazing and classic and I still feel it rings true to me right now.

Enjoy other scribblings (most likely more indepth than my own!) right here; http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/

My faith in online DVD stores is restored! Restored, I tell you!

Anyone remember my my slightly peeved rant about my locked Gilmore Girls DVD?

I arrived home from the gym today, hot, sweaty and slightly sore (Why does the shin bone in just ONE leg hurt like hell? Someone please explain?) when mum passed me a note. She had taken a message for me from EzyDVD, who had called to talk to me about the comment I had recieved on the forementioned blog post;

Hi Aly,

I found your site from your blog about Gilmore Girls
DVD (cool site btw). I am the General Mgr of EzyDVD - sounds like we
did a good job messin' you around with the red tag security device -
not sure how or why this happened but please accept our apologies for
this oversight. If you let me know your ezydvd user ID by email I will
ensure that we provide you something to even the ledger. Hope your
Gilmore Girl DVD's all arrived in tact, and you had a good viewing
session.

Cynic that I am, I thought it was a fake email. -cough- So, I emailed the support to query it. As you do.

Turns out that YES. That email WAS genuine! And I feel like a complete dork! Hoorah! Perhaps I should go and edit the cranky old post? Hrm.

The lovely folks at EzyDVD credited $20 off my next purchase - which happens to be CSI Season 4, which I have on pre-order. THANKYOU EZYDVD. You have made my evening! Now go and buy from them. Pronto! I'll even give you the link! Aren't I wonderful? www.ezydvd.com.au

Now. On to my next purchase.... Shall I go for Season 5 of Gilmore Girls, or more ER? I foresee lots of television in my future...