1. Survived Christmas with family
2. Survived the three hour round trip on wet roads with potentially sozzled fellow motorists
3. No child drowned on my watch in my parent's pool
4. Tried on wedding dress (mother made me bring a whole lot of crap home from her place) and it fits! After eleven years and two babies I can fit into a dress that required a corset when I was 25.
Ahem. Did feel somewhat kooky wearing a wedding dress on my own on Christmas night... But we won't dwell on that weirdness. Anyway, everyone, merry christmas. I'm off duty now in more ways than one.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Oooh er
Things your countrified kids will say from the train on the way to the big city:
-Look at all that rubbish!
-Why is that man wearing a funny hat? (a Sikh fellow in a turban)
-What's this sticky stuff down the seat? (someone's old, disgusting chewing gum)
-We live a long way from everything!
-Will we ever get there?
-Please stand clear, doors closing!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Nom do nom
Top ten reasons for keeping your name when you marry:
10. Because he wouldn't think of changing his name, would he?
9. Because this ain't the 1950s
8. You think your marriage status is your own business, why signal it?
7. Old school friends and ex-boyfriends will be easily able to find you on Facebook
6. You can hold your head high when you meet with your old uni girlfriends from the women's room
5. You will confuse and confound bureaucrats (my friend had a heated argument with a post office lacky, of all people, who said she was "unfeminine" for not changing her name to her husband's).
4. You know John Howard would think it unAustralian.
3. Your in-laws will hate it.
2. You won't have the annoying and boring task of changing all your ID back if (when?) you separate.
1. You will always feel like yourself, no matter the roadblocks that mar your smoothish journey through life.
10. Because he wouldn't think of changing his name, would he?
9. Because this ain't the 1950s
8. You think your marriage status is your own business, why signal it?
7. Old school friends and ex-boyfriends will be easily able to find you on Facebook
6. You can hold your head high when you meet with your old uni girlfriends from the women's room
5. You will confuse and confound bureaucrats (my friend had a heated argument with a post office lacky, of all people, who said she was "unfeminine" for not changing her name to her husband's).
4. You know John Howard would think it unAustralian.
3. Your in-laws will hate it.
2. You won't have the annoying and boring task of changing all your ID back if (when?) you separate.
1. You will always feel like yourself, no matter the roadblocks that mar your smoothish journey through life.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Not nice
This story, "Can 'Nice Girls' Negotiate?", reminded me of a particularly nasty period in my career. It's kind of a tangent, but stay with me.
Going back a few years, I was editing a magazine at a major publisher when the powers that be decided to shut the shop on the title. Okay, this happens all the time in magazine publishing we hear you say, what's the story?
Well, the editorial director at the company offered me a job at another magazine in the same department. This is where things get going. The editors at the other magazine flat out refused to have me on the magazine. I know! Can you believe it? Apparently I was too bossy and opinionated.
Ahem. Let's recap. I was the editor, which kind of involved being bossy and opinionated. I mean, that is what they pay us to to do, after all. We have strong ideas on how the magazine should be run and tell the assorted folk who work on the magazine what to do so the damn thing gets to newsstand on time and keep people reading it.
Anyway, long story short, I stuck around for a while getting paid to go shopping and waiting for the squabbling to stop. In the meantime I was offered another job more suited to my skills at the same rate. Cut to two weeks later: new job and hefty redundancy payout that I used to pay the stamp duty on my first house.
I think there are a few morals to this story, not least the fact that women are judged more harshly if that take a stand at work, but I will let you draw your own conclusions. At the time I thought it was a win for my determination to not be walked all over.
Alternatively, sometimes it, literally, pays to be the person people don't like.
Going back a few years, I was editing a magazine at a major publisher when the powers that be decided to shut the shop on the title. Okay, this happens all the time in magazine publishing we hear you say, what's the story?
Well, the editorial director at the company offered me a job at another magazine in the same department. This is where things get going. The editors at the other magazine flat out refused to have me on the magazine. I know! Can you believe it? Apparently I was too bossy and opinionated.
Ahem. Let's recap. I was the editor, which kind of involved being bossy and opinionated. I mean, that is what they pay us to to do, after all. We have strong ideas on how the magazine should be run and tell the assorted folk who work on the magazine what to do so the damn thing gets to newsstand on time and keep people reading it.
Anyway, long story short, I stuck around for a while getting paid to go shopping and waiting for the squabbling to stop. In the meantime I was offered another job more suited to my skills at the same rate. Cut to two weeks later: new job and hefty redundancy payout that I used to pay the stamp duty on my first house.
I think there are a few morals to this story, not least the fact that women are judged more harshly if that take a stand at work, but I will let you draw your own conclusions. At the time I thought it was a win for my determination to not be walked all over.
Alternatively, sometimes it, literally, pays to be the person people don't like.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Don't drive angry*
Things that are bothering me today:
1. digital editions of magazines: how hard is to get them to work? How can you get away with charging $US5? (Inc, I am looking at you)
2. my marriage counsellor (when I was married). I don't know why I thought of you while I was doing the school run this morning but you suck for your crap advice and for asking when my baby was due (when I wasn't pregnant, but hey I had just had a baby so you know the abs were not exactly rock hard, not that you can use that as an excuse). Talk about a bad example of how to communicate!
3. Telstra. Why does my phone not work? Again? And, if you send a tech to fix it, please send the cute one you sent last time.
Things that make me smile today:
1. I'm not in Sydney. At Christmas shopping time. I give thanks every day.
2. Christmas party Friday. Hello workmates! Looking forward to seeing you all! Yes I do exist!
3. Swamp wallabies and roos sunning and variously doing roo-like things. I am so happy I didn't hit you although next time you might want to judge your road-crossing a little better. For my part, I will try not to be such a lead foot.
*yes this is a reference to Groundhog Day. What's wrong with that?
1. digital editions of magazines: how hard is to get them to work? How can you get away with charging $US5? (Inc, I am looking at you)
2. my marriage counsellor (when I was married). I don't know why I thought of you while I was doing the school run this morning but you suck for your crap advice and for asking when my baby was due (when I wasn't pregnant, but hey I had just had a baby so you know the abs were not exactly rock hard, not that you can use that as an excuse). Talk about a bad example of how to communicate!
3. Telstra. Why does my phone not work? Again? And, if you send a tech to fix it, please send the cute one you sent last time.
Things that make me smile today:
1. I'm not in Sydney. At Christmas shopping time. I give thanks every day.
2. Christmas party Friday. Hello workmates! Looking forward to seeing you all! Yes I do exist!
3. Swamp wallabies and roos sunning and variously doing roo-like things. I am so happy I didn't hit you although next time you might want to judge your road-crossing a little better. For my part, I will try not to be such a lead foot.
*yes this is a reference to Groundhog Day. What's wrong with that?
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