. . . Well, I will be in about a year's time, anyway.

Here's the breaking news: The Great US tour of '08 is beginning in Hawaii!

Hawaii -> San Francisco -> Los Angeles -> Anaheim -> Las Vegas -> Cortez -> Alberquerque -> Amarillo -> Dallas -> Memphis -> New Orleans -> Pensacola -> Orlando -> St. Augustine -> Savannah -> Raleigh -> Washington DC -> New York.

Can someone tell me how I'll be able to wait an entire year for this?

My stat links have been going haywire over the last few weeks, and so I've only just noticed that I was tagged by the lovely Erin. What better way to start the holidays than a meme full of positivity? Am not quite up to writing ten cheery statements this evening, but I'll tweak it around a little and make it fit into my strange mood.

1. I can . . . hold a conversation, keep a secret, use patience; be a friend.


2. I feel . . . lucky, adventurous, impatient; happy and sad all at once.


3. I give . . . good hugs, free advice, nice smiles; myself up to change.


4. I think . . . crazy thoughts, I'm broad-minded, in the future; all the time.


5. I am . . . a pretty nice individual, a friend, a daughter, a partner; me.

And because I'm feeling creative, I can also respond light-heartedly to the above answers. Tongue in cheek, yes, but in all honesty? Completely true also.

1. I can . . . procrastinate with the best of 'em, easily eat my entire pantry should I get too close to it, and almost hear my bed calling me.


2. I feel . . . completely uninspired to exercise this week, jealous because I am feeling lonesome, and a trifle stale when it comes to blogging.


3. I give . . . too much thought to what I would like be doing, and not enough to what I should be doing, and also good death stares. It's a talent.


4. I think . . . it might be nice to make pancakes for breakfast tomorrow, that my car desperately needs a wash, and that all foods should be fat-free.


5. I am . . . in my pj's before 8.30pm on a Saturday night, in dire need of a hairbrush, excited about my USA tour and really missing Jason right now.

.. because I just booked another holiday; The great American tour of '08!

[Be warned, this post will probably contain a crapload of exclamation marks.]

This is the tentative plan; for August-September of next year.

Flying to San Francisco, spending 2 days there avoiding as many hills as possible. Then heading from San Francisco to LA, where I can stumble around looking awestruck like a typical tourist. Next it's onwards to Anaheim, DISNEYLAND AHOY!

The Grand Southern Contiki tour starts in Anaheim and goes for 24 days, finishing in New York City. Yes, you should click here and check out where it goes. (And if there's a free day in your town and you're crazy enough to give me your email address, I foresee stalkage in the near future!)

I'm then planning on spending about a week in New York (again with the tourist stuff) including a one day trip to Niagara Falls because dude, I can't go that close to them without cruising on the Maid of the Mist and getting soaked. And after that, it's back to London.

If things go to plan (aka I save my arse off and get around to paying this all off, pronto) I might even go to Hawaii for a few days before starting in San Fran, because squee! Hawaii! Woo!

I know, it's early. But I'm foreward planning because of the move to England, and because the summer tours tend to book out fairly quickly. I'm crazy excited though. Check out the tour and tell me your thoughts!

Mum and I had a girly night and saw Hairspray at the movies, and I have to say; I loved it! Has made me want to go dancing around my house, and invest in one of those nifty dancing skirts. And on this note, I'm going to bed!

"You can't stop my happiness, 'cuz I like the way I am. And you just can't stop my knife and fork when I see a Christmas ham! And if you don't like the way I look, then I just don't give a damn!"

Phwoar.

My UK Working Holiday Visa arrived on my doorstep today. I'm really going.

That is all.

[OMG!]

Do you remember my complaints about having dodgy skin all of a sudden, posted a few days ago? All day yesterday my face was very red. Last night after watching Idol, my face had turned itchy; I had to fight the urge to scratch off my cheeks all the way home. As for today at school, the skin felt so tight and dry and inflamed that I ended up using an ice pack to numb it. And an anti-histimine tablet. And an Elizabethan collar. Not quite on the last one, although I might as well have -  nothing that I was doing seemed to help the skin reaction.

My usual doctor was booked out this afternoon, so I headed to the closest medical centre to get some sort of diagnosis. I figured I might be allergic to something, but he decided I have something called Slap Cheek syndrome. Caused by the human strain of Parvovirus. Yes, just like the animals get. The perks of working with kidlets, I guess, but feel free to make fun of me now. My piss weak immune system and I can take it. [Sniffle.]

And get this; the doctor at the medical centre? He told me to GOOGLE slap cheek disease. Now I've always joked bout my relationship with Dr Google (who is friendly and helpful and always gives me options without having to wait in line, if only he gave out medical certificates though . . .)  but to be told by an actual doctor to look up my own skin condition? Priceless!

Looks like I'll stick with my usual lack of a skin care regime, as it could be that my spots were just caused by this virus. Now if I could just refrain from scratching off the top layer of my face, I'd feel much, much better.

That had to be the fastest weekend in the history of the world.  Seriously.

I'm heading out straight after school finishes today to see my lovely band-stalking friend Julie, who's up visiting from Melbourne. And then we are heading into the city to go and see the Australian Idol verdict show; possibly the most stretched out hour in Australian television history, but as long as sexy trumpet crooner Carl stays in? I'll be a happy camper!

Look for us on telly! I'll be the one with a paper bag over her head because of all her pimples, so I'll be easy to spot. I'll even draw on a smily face.

For the most part of my teenage years, I've had fairly good skin. I wouldn't say it was fantastic or blemish-free or anything, but it certainly wasn't bad. I think I've been lucky, that I don't have to do much to it. As the years went on, I experimented with cleansers and all the rest of it, but I really don't have much of a skin regime happening currently.

Apparently my face has decided that it's time I started one.

Over the last few days, my face has completely broken out. As in, if I counted the spots on my face right now, I'd run out out of fingers to count on. (I refuse to count the spots because it is far too depressing.) It's been such a long time since I've had pimples, I don't even remember the best way to treat them or cover them up, sans putting a paper bag over my head.

Care to help a cluelessly spotty girl out? What can I do? What products do you use? Do I have to go and buy the Clean & Clear stuff that twelve year olds use, or is there a wonder product that actually works on clearing up lumps and bumps for adults? Can I get it in Australia? And most importantly, can I afford it on my holyshitIneedtosaveatleast$6500notincludingspendingmoney budget for the US '08 tour that we worked out details for yesterday? (More to come on that later.)

Help!

I think a dozen long stemmed red roses with Lindt chocolates definitely beat a photo slideshow as an anniversary present, right?

You did good, Jase. You did good.

I'm off to spend a day planning my USA '08 travelling trip (hooray!) with a friend, and then we're going to brave the Saturday shopping centres and hopefully see a movie. Should be a good start to the weekend . . . if I can get off my arse and exercise before I go.

I can't believe that five years has passed from the time that Jason and I first met.

We have done so much together across the years, and there are still so many things that we have yet to do. It's kind of exciting, actually, but also a little scary.

For the first time in five years, I'll be spending our anniversary alone. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't lonely; even though I think I have coped remarkably well so far under the circumstances, some days it really does get overwhelming. I miss him. Lots.

But then I think of Jase all those miles away and I feel comforted, because in three short months, the wait will be over. The thought of getting off the plane and seeing him waiting there makes it worthwhile. (Hopefully he'll be waiting with chocolates.)

Plus, for the first time in five years we'll be moving in together, just him & I.

For lack of a better gift, I decided to put together just a little something to celebrate our last five years. And what better way to celebrate than with dorky (and possibly drunken) picture slideshows? Photographs speak louder than words ...

Happy Anniversary, Jase. I love you! (Psst, please let the video load before viewing.)