jessikast

Hee, Whaddya Want From Me just came onto C4. I am always amazed when things I've seen on the internet turn up in Real Life. Oh, Adam Lambert, you do emo so prettily.

The guy I've been dating sent me a link to Star Trek LOLcats

To whit:



I may have squeed A LOT. The little kitten can't change the laws of physics! Awww! (There is also a picture of a kitten with a bat'leth. Heee!)

My parents are heading off today to Antarctica, for their second attempt at actually getting there. I hope they do! And also take many pictures.

I am spending the weekend sanding (I bought lots of sandpaper. The varnish remaining on my front door doesn't stand a CHANCE.)

( Cut for weight and girly stuff )

You or anyone you know looking for a flat?

My house is awesome and I am awesome and living with me would be awesome.

Listing on TradeMe




A friend or a friend-of-a-friend is obviously my preference when it comes to finding a flatmate, so keep me in mind if you hear of someone looking. :-)

I am exhausted (again) and I have a whole extra day of all these moving shenanigans to go through.

But! Moving today went painlessly, with the moving guy turning up on time and only taking an hour all-up, which is excellent.

I have my bedroom unpacked and also my study/library. Both rooms seem bigger with furniture in, especially my bedroom. I can easily upgrade to a queen-size bed with no sacrifice of space, hurrah!

My study is so awesome! It looks out to green trees and it kind of makes me want to take up writing novels, because it seems like the kind of room in which such endeavours should take place. I have almost all my books unpacked with shelf space to spare, but I haven't unpacked any ornaments or action figures yet, so I suspect another set of shelves will need to be purchased. What a chore.

I have beautiful new whiteware, and am *this close* to buying a new lounge suit and a big new bookshelf - I mean, it's all going on the mortgage anyway!

Deja Vu has, after several hours confinement, proven she knows where the litter box is, and is now on her second round of the house: the first was to see if there were any threats or evil hidden kitties, and now she is marking things as hers and, awww, has just settled down in the middle of the living room floor and half closed her eyes in that contented cat way.

My shower is teeny but has a higher head than  my old one and also better water pressure. I can live with this!

I think I also achieved manhood today, when I was standing at the bbq  with my father, beers in hand,  and he finished instructing me in the ways of grills and sausages, and handed me the tongs.

Telecom did their job in the timeframe promised, and I have broadband at a speed comparable to the highest speeds I received at my old place.

I still have a bunch of cleaning and unpacking and odd-jobs to do, but I got a ton of help today from Mum and Dad and laputain, and all in all it's been a pretty good day. I <3 my little house the more I'm in it, and the more of my belongings I unpack.

And now since it's all of a sudden nearly 11pm, I am going to go and try out my first night here. Hurrah!

(P.S. I love all the birds around here. I hope I don't end up hating being woken by a dawn chorus!)

Gaaaah. Two beers and half an hour of sitting down doing NOTHING and I'm starting to relax a wee bit.

But, omfg, what a DAY.

The gist of it comes down to: settlement went through, we picked up keys, I am now a HOMEOWNER and I also owe SO MUCH MONEY, ahahaha jesus.

Mum and Dad have come up to Auckland to help me pack and move. Packing has been going sporadically, but the majority of my furniture and books and things are good to go, and anything left over will fit in the back of the car.

We started today by trekking out to the Warehouse in New Lynn where Dad bought me a little outdoor table and chair set (hurrah January sale savings) and while we were there we got the call that we could pick up the keys.

So we did!

And it wasn't just two keys like I thought it would be (front door and under the house) it was a giant huge keyring, which turns out to be three front door keys and one under-the-house key and about a gazillion keys for the locks on the french doors and sash windows.

We grabbed some food from a French deli and took it around there for the Inaugural Lunch, during which  time I had a lot of fun figuring out which keys did what and measuring things and generally running around having a brilliant time thinking of ALL THE THINGS I CAN DO now that I can. And no one can stop me! (Except maybe the bank, because they own my soul and also don't want the house to lose value.)

From there we went to buy whiteware, and since Hill & Stewart are closing down we got such an excellent deal from them, including free delivery and installation. So, at some point tomorrow morning I will proudly own shiny new whiteware. My own fridge! Clean and new! And able to chill my vast quantities of diet coke! (And also milk and vegetables and stuff, I hear people like those.)

After that, Dad and I went to the new place to start trimming back the over-grown plants in the garden and I MADE A TREE BRANCH COME DOWN, BOOYAH. I had a SAW. I felt so mighty! I also shed blood when I had to deflect the basketball hoop falling down from hitting Dad's car, so I think I've made a sacrifice to appease the spirit of the new place.

Then: back to the old place, met my friend who was taking away the books she had been storing at mine, she gave me peanut butter cake and it was excelletn; the real estate agent turned up to give me a gift basket; Dad hared off and it turned out he was buying me a bbq (awesome!) and then had gone back to set it up, so Mum and I followed with a load more stuff and we pottered around while Dad tried to set up the bbq. (He ran into problems. I solved them by reading the instructions, Revolutionary!) We got takeaways for dinner and had the First Dinner sitting around the outdoor table and then we went hunting for a new set of sofas. (And failed.)

Also:
- We met one of my neighbours, doing up the house in front of mine. They have a dog who is lovely and who is going to be disappointed when I fix the hole in my fence which lets her in to poo on my lawn.
- Between throwing out old clothes and buying a clothes rack for my jackets, my new half-the-size wardrobe isn't that bad. Except for my shoes, I have NO IDEA what I'll do with them.
- My kitchen has so little storage, I'm going to need to get creative. And by "get creative" I mean "get more shelves".
- I have so many shows I'm not caught up on yet.
- Does anyone know anything about plants? Because I have no idea of what is in the garden, beyond "it's kind of green".

I am so tired, and it's not even been proper moving day yet. But it is going to be SO EXCELLENT when I'm all moved in and settled. Photos and details for any potential flatmates forthcoming.

I'm working my way through my secondary closet at the moment - the clothes and shoes that I keep because of nostalgia or because They Might Fit Again One Day! or because I'm going to get around to repairing.

And since most of these things haven't been touched in four years...well. I am trying to be ruthless.

(I have a small pile of fairly good quality clothes up for grabs now, which I can't be arsed putting on Trade Me so if you want them they're yours: a very good denim jacket, which is both slightly too small for me in the upper arms, and is also ENTIRELY the wrong shape, I don't know, maybe I was majorly more slim-hipped when I was sixteen, or maybe I just didn't know better. But it cuts me off around my hips and whoa, unflattering. It's XL, only it's European XL, so size 14, maybe? Also a satin shirt, same fitting, and some skirts.)

But the SHOES. I am loathe to throw away shoes that are Still Good, even though they don't fit me any more. Except for the one awesomely ugly pair from the very early 2000s, which I kind of want to keep for when the 90s and 2000s revival parties start.

But! My hiking boots! Barely worn, such good Kathmandu quality, and yet I can feel the end pressing on my toes, and that's before I put on huge-ass tramping socks.

And my doc martens! I've kept these in the "to be repaired" pile for years, since they outers are in outstanding shape, it's just that the sole on the inside has somehow chipped away at the toe. And yet, putting them on I find that these, too, are slightly too short. My feet have grown slightly since I was fifteen! How surprising!

But, man, I'm torn about throwing out the docs. They're the only wearable part of my school uniform left (excepting my tie, which is brought out for Suit Up! events, and has been used for other, nefarious, purposes. Um.) And the outsides are in SUCH GOOD CONDITION. And I wore them pretty continuously for about six years so,  you know, major nostalgia.

Does anyone else still have the shoes or boots they wore in high school? Am I the only one being ridiculously pack-rattish?

(And don't even get me started on my old ball shoes. THEY ARE SILVER. I MAY ONE DAY REQUIRE SILVER BALL SHOES AGAIN. YOU NEVER KNOW.)

ETA: Ahah, oops, no, ball shoes prove to be about half a size too small, like I can barely do up the extremely strappy straps, and my heel hangs a little bit off the back. BUT, I may one day need silver ball shoes for an event at which I am sitting down a lot and won't need to dance!

I also find that the CAT sport sandals which I purchased about six months after the ball shoes fit perfectly. Which is interesting in a kind of archaeological way, since it proves that my feet went through their last probably growth spurt sometime between November 2000 and May 2001.

I wonder if my old ball dress still fits?

ETA2: The answer is yes. Unflatteringly, but yes. Which is quite impressive since it was made-to-measure when I was 16. Although the pretty draped Grecian neckline is no longer draped due to my boobs being larger, and I don't think I can get away without a bra any more. :-(

I kind of missed making a big "2009 Retrospective" post, or New Year's resolutions, or marking the change of the year in any other way than taking off on the Road Trip of Epic Awesome.

I think 2009 can be summed up like so:

January - September: Some stuff happens. I am generally content, and don't get around to doing anything I'd planned to.

October - December: End nigh-on-seven-years relationship, get kicked out of rental, get un-kicked out of rental, get made co-supervisor of my shift at the SPCA, go on holiday, BUY A HOUSE.

I think I have life planning issues.

I don't have major goals for 2010 at the moment. I'm still wanting to go back to studying, but since I'm not 100% sure what I want to do and it's enrollment season now and I'm a wee bit busy, I suspect that that any return to studies won't be considered for a few months yet.

I want to nest, in a major way. I'm hoping to declutter a lot of my stuff and set up a really nice home and also learn how to garden and do DIY stuff. (I mentioned to Dad that I wanted a pink toolbelt and those cute tools with the flowered handles, and he said he'd disown me.)

(He also expects that I already have a tool belt, many tools and also big boots and dungarees.)

(I have tools and big boots. I may yet consider dungarees. They seem practical!)

I want to keep on with Weight Watchers, because last year I lost just about 20kg, and I'm feeling awesome about it. Like, I have more to go (although I don't think I'm ever destined to be a skinny wee thing, because BOOBS AND BUTT <333) but I feel like what I see in the mirror is what I expect myself to look like. Also, my clothes fit better. My favourite jeans are about 3kg away from fitting again BUT I WILL HAVE YOU AGAIN, MY LOVES.

Also, I'm fitter. Dear god, am I fitter. I mean, learning how to jog more is as much a goal now as weight loss, but I went for a jog yesterday and (gasp) IT FELT REALLY GOOD. Like, I have NEVER felt that before, ever. Okay, so I still don't get the endorphin/runner's high thing, but getting out there and feeling my legs working was just kind of awesome. And maybe it was the break over Xmas, but I really noticed how much fitter I've become. When I first started, it was a real effort to get to 2 mintues jogging at a time, grimacing and clenching my fists and probably looking like a huffing, puffing n00b. And now - well, I still huff and puff and go red and wow is it ever unattractive, but - I can do it! Several times! And I don't need a whole minute to get my breath back! And when I get home, I don't immediately collapse in a sweating heap while my legs weep with pain! Lack of pain is good!

I want to have a string of passionate flings with gorgeous people. And I also want to have nights in with me and my cat and the TV.

I want to read more fiction. This will involve paying my library fines, oops?

I want to learn how to barbeque. This will involve acquiring a barbeque. Life is hard!

I want to get involved with learning some kind of language again. Or some kind of vaguely creative hobby.

But before ANY OF THIS, I need to move. In a week and a half. My to-do  list is EPIC, y'all. And it has words on it like MORTGAGE and LAWYER and INSURANCE.

I think that 2010 is going to be the Year I Grow Up (But Hopefully Not Too Much.)

In general, the vibe I get from everyone is that 2010 is a year they're looking forward to, and it all seems really positive and awesome. I AM TOTALLY ON THE BANDWAGON, WHEE!

Gaaahhhh, packing.

*headdesk*

I have spend all today working my way through my To Do list (sub sections: 'to pack' and 'to clean') and I think I'm there. I have packed my contact lenses and glasses, various clothes, Christmas presents and chargers for my phone, camera and iPod. I figure anything I've forgotten I can buy without much hassle, so it's not worth fretting.

(This won't actually stop me fretting, but it's nice to know that I have the option.)

And I've got a friend coming to housesit for me, so I'm also seeing all these things that need cleaning. Again, I'm trying to tell myself that if they're horrible and scungy, I won't actually be here to see her reaction, so I can pretend everything's fine.

(And yes, Zanne, we'll need to purchase something to make the ipod connect to the car - I have a tape deck adaptor, but I think they stopped selling cards which could play tapes about a decade ago.)

I have decided not to bring my laptop on holiday with me - the idea of relying on the security of locking it in a car gives me hives: been there, done that, DID NOT END WELL - so I'll be checking my email and lj where I can, but I'll probably mostly be off the grid until I'm back in January.

Now all I need to go is get to the airport on time, and I'll be happy. Whee!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

Despite the fact that I've been up late the last few night writing and editing my Yuletide story (and then last night was Yuletide Madness, which...yeah...it's not called madness for nothing. ZANNE ENCOURAGED ME,) - well, I still was excited enough because it's CHRISTMAS to wake up early, even though I don't need to be out the door for ages yet.

(I am going to go and spend my morning picking up the poop of poor homeless puppies.)

(Someone bring me to my senses if I decide a puppy would be an awesome Christmas present for myself.)

Our offer on the house has gone unconditional, which means IT'S ALL DONE. Wheeee!

Settlement date is Jan 22nd, so I'll be moving on the 23rd. My parents are coming up to help me move and buy whiteware. (OOOH, HOMEWARES. Seriously, all I'll need for birthdays and christmases from now on are Mitre 10 and Briscoes vouchers. The builders report was overall fine, but there are a few little jobs that will need doing, which made my Dad laugh and laugh and say "Did you have a good weekend, or are you a homeowner now?")

Damnit, now I really want to bring home a puppy.

Christmas shopping done today: about half, including Secret Santa for work tomorrow. (I almost forgot, I'm such a bad person. Still need to get some cat food to add to the office cat's stocking, which is hung over the fireplace with care.)

Things bought for myself: minimal. Only a new pair of cropped jeans (half-price!) and a headband and a cute cardboard model animal calendar from  Smiggle.

Things I would have bought for myself and man, I was tempted: the Star Trek movie DVD! The Boosh book! EVERYTHING IN SMIGGLE EVER. Omfg, I love that shop. They have electric erasers.

Just ponder that for a moment. Not electric pencil sharpeners, which I can kind of understand.

No, this is what happens when someone has looked at an eraser and wondered if it could be made a little more sonic electric.

It's both the most useless and most wonderful thing I've ever seen.

And now I'd really better get to sleep, so I don't do what I did today, which was wake up at 7.30am. (For most people, this is a perfectly reasonable time to wake up. For me, it is the time I'm meant to be at my desk. I was at work by 8am and stayed late to made up for it, but jesus. Fail. So much fail.)
 

On the downside, it's probably not a good idea to go to the 9.45pm showing of a three-hour-long movie on a work night.

On the upside, Avatar is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. The epic plot has a couple of plot holes and a leeeeetle racefail, but generally? I enjoyed it lots. I saw the 3-D Imax version, and the special effects are seamless and detailed and very pretty, and the 3D stuff isn't used for shock value (nothing RUSHING OFF THE SCREEN OMFG) but it gives the movie and scenery depth.

But. It's way past time for sleep!