Friday with Future In-Laws

I got my salsa dvd! I can't wait to start! The end is bad quality, though. I wonder if it's the DVD or our dodgy DVD player. Need to try it in another one.

Last night went well. Dinner was really nice. My parents weren't used to such large portions and so much seafood but it all turned out ok. They talked a lot. Especially my Mum. I never realised how social and outgoing she was. Especially lately, I started noticing that she just makes conversation with anybody. People in the shops, on an escalator, on a plane etc. I don't remember her being like that before.

Our parents will never be friends but I know that they always be able to get along. That's all we can really ask for. We're both very lucky that neither of our parents have any issues and are easy-going.

After my parents and brother left, I stayed with David and we watched Prime. It was a refreshing romantic comedy. Not your typical Hollywood one. It was a realistic (as much as you can be in a film) story. A rare enjoyment. The only thing that that was a bit weird was the main actor looked too much like my brother.

Real Life Better than Fiction

I'm in love with Latin music. I've been listening to POBian radio and all they play is Latin stuff. They also play POBian songs mixed with Latin ones. The rhythm is so catchy.

I would've loved to pick a Latin style of song for our first dance but we couldn't find anything appropriate. I really wanted something upbeat but most love songs are slow or sad sounding (if you don't understand the lyrics).

I saw Front Up today and I remembered how captivating that show was. For anyone who never heard of it, there's one guy who walks around Australian cities and starts talking to random people about their lives. It's amazing how much interesting information he gets out of them. One of my favourite documentaries. My other favourite is the 7 Up series and Promises.

Everyone at work has been so wonderful. I've had about five people come up to me and say how sad they are to see me go. I've never felt more appreciated in any other workplace. I really hope people like me at my next job. There's so much bureaucracy in government. So many procedures and processes to make everything 'fair'. They just take lengthy amounts of time 'causing me to leave this job even though everybody is happy with me and I'm happy to be there.

One woman said to me, "It'll be good for you to get out of this retirement village". She didn't understand that I didn't mind. Even the 63 year old next to me is great for a chat. Who knows how the 'young' people are going to be at my next job.

I'm trying to look it at it as a new adventure. I just hope I can get maternity leave when I want to. My probationary period is a year! Never heard of any that long. Not that they can fire me if I get pregnant but still. And I don't want to be like, "Oh, it was an accident" and look like some naive young girl.

The wedding invitations are taking me much longer than planned. I created such a huge job for myself. David offered to help but I'd rather do it myself and not have anyone to blame if something's not perfect. I feel like a one-woman factory. I did the first part. The next involves pasting in all the details and adding decorations.

On Saturday, David and I are going to look for our furniture. I'm so happy we like the same stuff. Last weekend, we had the same opinion about everything we saw. Now that we know what's around, we'll be more goal-orientated.

Claudia is also looking for a place to buy. April and I were surprised that she wasn't moving in with Mike. April said that Claudia told her that they never discussed their future. I (and April) could never be like that. I have to know every detail of where the relationship is going. Don't want to be getting any nasty surprises several years down the track.

So happy with my life right now. I have everything I could possibly want. Never thought I'd be so lucky. Enjoying every moment. Who knows how long it'll last.

Magic

I have traded my Saturday night and Sunday with David for Harry Potter.

It was my goal to complete the book this weekend before I'm exposed to people spoilng it for me. Unfortunately, I've realised that this challenge was a bit unrealistic as I'm not even half way through. To be honest I've started a little later than planned and did manage to go shopping in the morning.

I got a trendy dress which will look great with my boots. I was a bit indecisive about buying it as it will make me stand out at work. (The majority of my workmates are at least 40 years old and choose conservative comfort over fashion).

I've decided I'm only young once and will regret if I don't take advantage of my youth to be able to wear odd-looking dresses that are in fashion.

Oh, almost forgot. On Friday, David and I put a deposit for our new home!!! We both couldn't quite believe it. I felt weird giving most of my savings away. We celebrated by going to see Harry Potter. I found the movie a bit odd as it reminded me of some arty film with horror aspects, like the eerie music and lighting. Not quite as scary as I imagined when I was reading the book.

My brother bought himself a laptop. We are now chatting to each other on the internet, even though he's in the next room. Weird, the future of technology.

Ok, time to go back and read some more of my magical Harry Potter book.

Date with My Future Husband

Last night I saw the type of film I've been craving to see for years.

I Do - how to get married and stay single.

It's a French romantic comedy. It was everything the genre is supposed to be. And with a French flavour.

Light, sweet, witty, funny, authentic and happy. I left the cinema with a huge smile on my face. David enjoyed it just as much.

It was the first night in ages we went out 'properly'. It was just so good. Reminded me of the first days we went out. Freezing out in the cold but staying up all night anyway. Before we started going to each other's houses. The first couple of months. The memories...

Last night, we saw the movie, walked a lot, had some tea and light dessert. Then caught the train back to my house. I guess you could call it 'a date'. Only much better.

It was freezing when we got to my house. Wished I could fall asleep in my personal heater's arms but didn't want to risk my parents walking in on such a sight.

Looked for apartments in the morning and found one!!! I didn't really expect to since we still have some time till the wedding. I'm going to check it out one more time tomorrow and then make an offer. The only thing is that we still haven't got a loan pre-approval. We were going to go to the bank next weekend. Will go to a broker tomorrow so he can speed up the process.

Our only issue now is that since David started a new job and my job is a contract, we might not even get the loan. Anyway, hopefully it'll be ok.

The other thing is that we want to offer a little less than what they're asking for but since the unit is pretty much worth the price, I hope there won't be anybody ready to pay the full price. Then we'll miss out and that would be a pity 'cause it's pretty much everything we've been looking for. The biggest bonus is that it's minutes from the train station. David and I can both imagine living there.

Hope everything turns out for the best.

That Box in the Living Room

Is it me or has TV become extremely boring?

I remember only a few years ago, there were several shows I used to watch regularly and now I don't watch anything. There's just nothing good on. It's all the same - cops, doctors, over-dramatised stories. There's nothing genuine, intriguing, sincere... original.

Television in POB was quite different. I'm not going to say it was full of great shows but it didn't follow the same stale format every week. They don't stretch out shows over weeks, they show all episodes daily with a visible end in sight. They also don't just limit their repertoire to one language. I switched on one night and there was a concert in a different language. And it was excellent! Not some wannabe singers but professional ones with education and real talent that they've mastered over the years. And it was so majestic - the stage, the lighting.

The truth is that if they showed something like that here in prime time, no one would watch it. Does that mean that the people here just want the same bland entertainment that doesn't offer much for the brain?

I wonder if people assume that intellectual entertainment is unenjoyable. To me, it's completely the opposite. It's so much more interesting to have your mind opened to something better than the average.

I know most of you probably won't understand what I'm saying because you've grown up in a society where this sort of weekly entertainment is all that you know. Oh well. My blog is for my ramblings.

Basically, I'm annoyed that I can't finish watching a TV show that I started watching there.

Miss USA

I saw Miss USA and it made me wonder what it's like to look so beautiful to so many people...

Every Cell

I feel so empty without my POBian TV show...

I watched the bit where he recites her diary back to her. He found her in a cafe.

Kate: Leave. Go, leave me alone.
(He stays.)
K: Then I will leave.
(She gets up but he grabs her)
K: Let go of me.
Andrew: Two minutes. Two minutes.
K: There's nothing to talk about
A: Listen, please, I ask you.
K: Don't you dare boss me around. You're not my boss and I'm not the Kate who would hang off your every word
A: You love me.
K: No! Where did you get that from?
A: You don't believe what you say
K: You know, Andrew, I don't have any feelings for you. Not love, not hate.
A: Yes...
K: Nothing!
A: Yes, there's no hate, thank God! But love...
K (laughing): Love? I don't care, don't you see?
A: You can't not care. I don't understand why you're saying that. I don't understand why these games.. You'll be with me anyway.
K: No
A: Yes
K: No
A: Yes, we'll start from scratch, as if nothing happened
K: No
A: Yes!
K: Two minutes passed. I'm leaving.
(She gets up. He goes after her.)
A: I hear Kate, Katie and fly to him. I see his smile and the whole world turns upside down.
K: Wha... what?
A: I love him with every cell... I breathe him. I... live only the thought of him
K (choking on her words): How could you?
A: When he's not near, when I don't hear his voice, the whole day lived was a waste for me
K: You... you read my diary?
A: Yes. Yes, I know that wasn't right. I had to do it so I could be sure that you still loved me. Forgive me. When I read your thoughts, I worried for that each day. Sorry. Sorry. Understand, I had to do it
K: It's mean... I hope this is your last mean thing. Good-bye.
A: Kate, I can't be without you!
K: Yes, you can

In the Mind of a Person in Love

I'm up to the last episode of my POBian TV show. It's the best love story, ever. I just can't believe I'm up to the end now. 200 episodes.

The premise seems so simple - girl falls in love with her boss, boss tricks her into believing he loves her, the trick backfires and he really falls in love with her, girl finds out he tricked her and can't forgive him, boss proves he really loves her, they get married and live happily ever after.

Sounds like some typical soap-opera. Only the events and the characters are so life-like that it's hard to believe that the whole thing isn't real.

There's this bit where he reads her diary and then recites it back to her in a desperate bid to show her that he knows she still loves him. Seeing the growing discomfort in her face made me feel like for that moment I was her and could feel every emotion she was going through. That's how good the actor is.

Only a truly great show/movie can transport you into someone else's mind.

Seeing the deep love the two characters have for each other makes me miss David more than anything. I imagine us being the two main characters in a TV show and that it was fate that brought us together, like no matter what, we were always going to be together. And as you know, I don't even believe in that stuff.

Seeing the main characters prepare for their wedding made me think about mine. I mean, with all the organising and planning, the anticipation of what is going to happen at the end of the year has gone. It's become a normal part of my life. I have to stop myself to reflect on the fact that what I've dreamed of for so long is going to come true. Really, it already has.

I'm the luckiest person to have found my dream guy already. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy. I think of something he did or said and I can't help but smile. My heart is now full.

A Modern Fairytale

I feel overwhelmed. There's so much to do. So many stories and I can't put anything into words.

I'm getting to the end of my POBian TV series and everything the main character is going through just heightens all my emotions.

She started off as a shy girl with no life and is now a confident woman who becomes the president of the company. All she has to do now is sort out her love life. But she's almost there.

The show's opening song changed from one about loneliness and inner-love to a self-affirming one about opening up to people and showing everyone who you really are.

It's a modern fairytale and I love good endings.

Maybe I can write about my life when I'm a little calmer.

Actually, I might as well tell you that David and I are speaking with mortgage lender this week and seeing a possible wedding venue. Soooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!

About Dreams

"You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it."

Watched Pursuit of Happyness yesterday and the above quote really got me thinking.

Ever since I can remember I always had the same dream. (You know, show business). My parents knew it but they always told me that my dream was not practical. Since I was highly influenced by my parents and very sensible, deep down I was too scared to take any risks to make my dream a reality.

Yes I've tried (probably not hard enough) and the result of my dream not coming to fruition was proof to me that my dream was unreachable. It was just not realistic.

Another major obstacle for me is thinking I'm not good enough. You see all these people who are so sure of themselves when they don't even realise they're nowhere near who they think they are. I never want to be one of those people. I want to be realistic about my abilities. Maybe my realism stops me from doing things. I wish I could think "Just cause other people can't do it, doesn't mean I can't either".

You can think I'm just full of excuses for my lack of motivation and persistence. You might even be right. Of course I want things to come easier. Maybe it gets to a point where you have to decide how much you really want your dream because if you really really want it, you would do anything. Maybe I just don't want it hard enough.

Last week I decided to live by a new rule - "Never say no to anything" (please no smart-arse comments about this). Life is too short, I'm going to take up every single opportunity. You never know where it might lead me. If I can't work in movies, I will make my life a movie.

Daytime TV Escapism

I watched 7th Heaven today and felt all warm and fuzzy inside. I can't believe that show is still on. The kids have grown so much!

Here is how I remembered the youngest daughter:



Here is what she looks like now:



Firstly, she looks like she's adopted and secondly, that show is quite addictive. Right now the middle boy is about to get married, and the middle girl already has a kid.

All of them get married young. They haven't even finished college.

Like April would say, this type of TV show is escapism. It's almost like leaving your life and being invisible in someone else's large family.

In TV shows like that, everything seems to be going on in very small confines, creating a geographical intimacy, something that's quite difficult to recreate in real life.

It's fun to imagine being part of that family. Who would I be? Another sister or someone who happens to live there by other circumstances? I always imagined myself to be Lucy - the middle over-emotional but fiery child.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next instalment in that family's saga.

Being home is proving to be great, something I haven't had in a while. Unfortunately time is flying fast and before I know it, I'll have to be at work again.

Lily and Marshall

Did I say just how much I love How I Met Your Mother?

And did I say how much David loves it too? We both watch it with great enjoyment.

A while ago I asked my brother (who also likes it) who his favourite character was and he immediately replied, "Ted," because he could relate to the nice sweet guy who wanted to meet 'the one'. A little later I asked April (who also watches the show) the same question. She replied, "Ted" for the reason of wanting to find 'the one'.

Personally I liked Marshall because he reminded me of David, the really intelligent guy who's a kid at heart.

Last night I asked David who his favourite character was and he said, "Lily because she reminds me of you".

I think we're becoming more perfect for each other with every second.

Happy

I haven't been in love with a TV show for a long time. How I Met Your Mother doesn't count.

My new show is POBian. My Mum's friend gave us DVDs of the whole serial.

At first I thought I only liked it because it showed modern POB but now I just love the characters and storylines and the subtle humour typical of POB. (I hate shows that scream out every joke, "Look, this is funny!" which is pretty much every American show.)

This show is actually a POBian version of another country's popular show, but it's very culturally POBian.

It's about a young unattractive woman who's always been sheltered from everything and even though she's smart and kind, she's lonely. However, her intelligence and innocence and goodwill slowly starts to win people over.

The show has all the feel-good themes - friendship, family, love. It also shows sadness, frustration, unfairness and the monotony that a person can live in. Best of all, it doesn't rely on cliche plots. Romantic tension is dealt with in a realistic way and doesn't overpower the storyline.

It's also unpredictable. For example, a beauty makeover of the main character done to impress the man she likes didn't make him even bat an eyelash because in real life, unattractive people don't become beautiful just by changing their hairstyle and adding make-up.

Also, even though the main character is obviously far from a stereotypical beauty, I can't help but notice how pretty she is just because of her personality. The credit for this of course should be given to the actress who plays her. She's just so real, it's hard to believe that the character isn't a living person. (The character actually looks SO much like Nadine, it's really freaky.)

Having the whole series on DVDs is also great because I don't have to wait a week between each episode.

I had a look at the website of the American version of the series and judging by the description, they changed the plot completely to make it superficial and hollywood-like. Typical.

So I'll be enjoying my new favourite show now.

The Screen Dream

I have been having - let's call them 'urges' - since I was a kid. Sometimes they subside and other times they blow up so much that there's nothing else I can think about.

I have depressed this feeling for a while now and today it has come back.

The urge to write a film/TV show/play. (What did you think?)

At work, I manically looked through all the websites on film making, script writing and participating in other people's projects.

I have tons of ideas swimming in my head, none of which I'm happy with. All of which I have no confidence in ever being produced. I guess that inevitable knowledge that it will never come to fruition is what makes me lose my motivation very quickly.

Yet, I still can't help but want to work in film/TV. Looking through different websites reminded me that I'd have to work for free, which lots of these people do, before I even have a chance of working on a professional production.

The problem is that I can't afford to work for free. I don't have time to take off work to shoot short films. I wish I did but I just don't.

I was thinking how I should just write something that I would want to watch. A story I would be interested in. Maybe that would hold my interest to finish a script. And then I can try taking the next steps. Only my unstoppable consequence-thinking brain already knows that if I write something I like, it would be personal and I don't have the guts to show my personal writing to anyone (other than anonymously, of course). Actually that's probably why I stuck with blogging for so long. I write what I like, get to share it with the public and still remain anonymous.

Having April for support in the script writing process was so great because we bounced ideas off each other, provided encouragment and just had fun. Now that she's not interested anymore, there's no one else who can motivate me to keep going.

On the weekend, David actually suggested we buy a camera and make little films together. I was very surprised 'cause I didn't expect him to be into that sort of thing. He even said, "It could be our first purchase together". So I did some research on video cameras and told him the prices. He said it was too expensive for him to get right now. Anyway, he's right. We wouldn't have much time to make movies with him busy juggling studying, volunteering and work.

Maybe I should just write something anyway. Just for the fun of it.

On a bit of a different note, got an email from Amelia today and I swear her life is like a story. She makes the most ordinary things seem exciting. I was actually thinking how if my friends were TV shows, she'd be a quirky soap-opera - dramatic and full of twists and turns. On the other hand, April would be a very long-running show that I'd always like to curl up in front of, even if it's the same thing a lot of the time. David would be an entertaining sitcom that always leaves you wanting more. And as for me... well you decide.

I wonder if everyone has dreams of what they wish they could do. Sing, act, write a novel? For me, the two dreams that I've had since I was about 6 were:
1. Be in movies/TV/theatre (preferably directing/writing)
2. Dance in shows

I blame the first dream on my mother because she took me to the theatre when I was probably only 4 years old and I fell in love with drama ever since. And I blame the second dream on my primary school teacher who got me involved in semi-professional musicals. The music, the nightly rehearsals and the beautiful costumes got to me and never let go.

Do you have dreams that you've had since you were a kid? Did you achieve them?

The Cure for Crying

The Cure for Crying

Who knew Australian Idol was educational?

They've answered a question I've always had!

How to stop yourself from crying - tickle the roof of your mouth with your tongue.

It actually works! Amazing. Wish I knew this a lot sooner!

Amelie Works at the Watchstand

I met real-life Amelie today. She sold me a watch and fixed the band to fit my wrist. She was so much like her that I just wanted to keep talking to her. She looked like her, she had the same mannerisms, the same warm voice and expression, her dress, her sweetness, everything. I could just imagine her in her little apartment in Paris. It was surreal.

Movie Game

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Then pick one of your favorite quotes from each movie.
3. Post the quotes in your journal.
4. Have readers guess what the movie is.

Quote 1 - guessed by Jen
"I like to look for things no one else catches. I hate the way drivers never look at the road in old movies."

Quote 2 - guessed by Jen
"Or have you ever, like, seen somebody and you knew that if only that person really knew you, they would... Well, they would, of course, dump the perfect model that they were with and, and realise that you were the one that they wanted to just grow old with. Have you ever fallen in love somebody you haven't even talked to?"

Quote 3 - guessed by Mick
"Destiny is something we've invented because we can't stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental"

Quote 4 - guessed by Jen
"The only thing worse than smug married couple; lots of smug married couples."

Quote 5 - guessed by Mick
"Ma, Dad is so stubborn. What he says goes. 'Ah, the man is the head of the house!'"
"Let me tell you something. The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants. "

Quote 6 - guessed by Jen
Boy: Can I put Cameron back on the list if he promises not to eat?
Dad:You know, that's not a bad idea. Who else can we ask not to eat? My parents and your mother.
Daughter: Why don't we just charge people? That way we can make money on the wedding?

Quote 7 - guessed by Mick
"Have you found Jesus yet?
"I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir"

Quote 8 - guessed by Mick
"Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in. "

Quote 9 - guessed by Kath
"My parents want to invite you over for tea on Sunday."
"I don't like tea."
"You don't have to drink tea"
"I don't like parents."

Quote 10
"You must write from the depths of your soul!"

[Hint: "I'm ugly and awkward and I always say the wrong things. I fly around throwing away perfectly good marriage proposals. I love our home, but I'm just so fitful and I can't stand being here! I'm sorry, I'm sorry... There's just something really wrong with me. I want to change, but I - I can't. And I just know I'll never fit in anywhere."]

Not sure if these are my favourite but they are what came to mind.

The Hidden Truth Uncovered

I had my suspicions for a while but now I am certain. I'm even embarrassed to write this but David is a closet Big Brother fan.

I believed him when he agreed with me it was complete rubbish. I didn't even question his words. I had no reason to.

Then the clues slowly started appearing. He'd mention he caught a bit of it. I understood that to mean that he just switched on the TV and it was on. Then he'd slip some names of the housemates. That caught my guard. I asked him if he watched it. He denied everything, just said he saw 'a bit'. I let it go. Why get paranoid about nothing?

This Friday, while I was having dinner with him and his sister and the TV was on Big Brother, David was staring at the screen and asking his sister who got nominated, by names! He even menioned why he thought some were nominated.

He had an opinion on the show! He watched it! I looked him in the eye and told him that I knew. He tried to deny it again but then he realised there was no point. He couldn't fool me any longer.

He started to explain, to excuse his trashy show viewing but I wouldn't have any of it. I told him to stop and let me watch the rest of the episode in peace.

Unexpected

Remember the first movie I helped out on?! It won the Audience Choice Award! I can't believe it!

More than a Girlfriend

Don't know if you remember but I think I've mentioned how there was an ad for young writers with interesting backgrounds to contribute to a TV show about Australian youth. Since I thought it was a great opportunity to get some of April and my TV show storylines, I called them up.

I got invited to their workshops but I couldn't go because I was working last week. However, I got a summary email of what went on. They got the writers to write a scene which would show who they are. Like, where would you be seen, with who, what would you be doing? That sort of stuff.

That got me thinking, what would I write? What scene would show what sort of person I am? The majority of my time I spend with David but have I just become a girlfriend? Is that who I am right now?

There is definitely more to me than just that. If I could have more than one scene, here are what they would be:

- April and I chatting online/phone or sitting in a train laughing so much our stomachs hurt
- David and I at a Latin club, salsa dancing
- me looking for work/temping at yet another company
- having lunch with my girlfriends (and maybe some of the boyfriends)
- blogging
- talking with my family in the kitchen
- hanging out with David (at home, at the beach, in the city)

What scenes would describe your life?