Clarence

Over Ther Top

2009-11-15T20:38:00.007+10:30

Cheers to all us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Over the Top Meme

Part One - Describe:

Your hair? Mousy, straight and bland.

Your mother? Energetic, conscientious, creative, and probably much better at spelling than I am.

Your father? Chilled out, like a Rastafarian, although he doesn't smoke weed or listen to reggae. He likes to snooze when he's in his office. (Note: this is a one sided view - he does actually work too)

Your favorite food? All of it! I love food - hence the plumpy physique.

Your dream last night? Oh, it was bizarre (aren't they all?) Like a tragic B rate movie about some middle eastern girl growing up in America who was being hunted down by crazed terrorists for god knows why, and all she really wanted to do was be an actress!

Your favorite drink? A cup of tea. With lots of milk and honey. Just leave it on the coffee table. Thanks.

Your dream/goal? Pfft... I'm in between goals at the moment.

The room are you in? It's messy. It's our telly room. With a big flat screen telly, a midget computer that is going to die this year (stragen has decided) and baby's toys scattered all over the carpet. (Which is quite nice carpet, I must add.)

Your hobby? Pfft... I'm in between hobbies at the moment (haven't had time to put pencil to paper).

Your fear?

Your TV? It's big. It's flat screen. It's HD. It's my best friend.

Your Pets? Got eaten by a cat!!

Friends? Hey, they're alright!

Your life? I was going to say 'solitudinous' but I don't think that's an actual word. And it is also not true. These days I very rarely find myself alone and I really would like some alone time... with a glass of wine. And a good book to read.

Your mood? Presently I feel chipper.

If you're missing someone? Do you want me to describe how I am if I'm missing someone? Hmmm... I get a little restless and tend to have trouble focusing.

Your best friend? Also has a 'solitudinous' life. Although I'm not sure if she'd approve of my rubbish vocab.

Part Two - The Where's?

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Putting pencil to paper more often. Having a more 'solitudinous' time.

Where were you last night? At home. Ho hum. And it was a Saturday night too!

Where did you grow up? Tasmania (cold, beautiful), Queensland (hot, stinky), Perthy (meh)

One place that I go to over and over? I wouldn't know, I've never met you, Mr Mystery Stranger who wrote this meme. I however, could go to Munich over and over... Also Fiji, that place was fab!

Your favorite place to eat out? I like most of them, it's very difficult to choose.

Wish list items? Sadly, at present my wish list is all items for my girls. Pretty dresses, pretty cloth nappies, way cool toys, books galore...

Last time you laughed? God, I don't know, I laugh every day. Sometime today.

Last time you cried? Not in a few weeks, at least. I can't remember.

Part Three - The What's?

Something that you aren't? I am not a marine biologist, an accountant, a firefighter or somebody who has dinner parties (I believe they are called socialites).

Last thing you did? Put my kids to bed. Now it's time for a cup of tea.

What are you wearing? Oh blah! Is this the dullest question out there? I'm wearing an old black/red skirt and a green t shirt.

Something you're not wearing? Goggles. Like the type they wore in WWI movies.

Your favorite store? Borders.

Cheerio!

Joey's Artwork

2009-11-15T20:28:00.004+10:30

2009-10-12T13:40:00.004+10:30

Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Magical Mystery Tour Meme

1. Is there anybody you just wish would fall off the planet? Oh yes.

2. How do you flush the toilet in public? The regular way. Is there any other way? This is a strange question. How many different ways can there be for flushing the toilet? Wouldn't you just press the flush?

3. Do you wear your seat belt in the car? Of course.

4. Do you have a crush on someone? No.

5. Name one thing you worry about running out of. Milk. Can't live without it.

6. What famous person do you (or other people) think you resemble? Err, I've had Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Anna Paquin. Not that it's something I've ever cared about much.

7. What is your favourite pizza topping? All of them.

8. Do you crack your knuckles? No.

9. What song do you hate the most? Hate is a strong word. There aren't many I hate these days. Probably because I rarely listen.

10. Did just mentioning that song make it get stuck in your head? No, as I didn't mention a song. I have a Kate Bush song stuck in my head. It's been there all morning. In fact, I think that it is becoming the song I most hate.

11. What are your super powers? Being Forgetful. Avoiding talking on the phone.

12. Peppermint or spearmint? Spearmint. Today it's spearmint, anyway. Tomorrow I might just change my mind.

13. Where are your car keys? I don't know.

14. Last song you listened to? Anne's Song by Faith No More. I'm telling you, I've been listening to the same music since I was fifteen and it just doesn't change. Nothing like a music rut to make one feel old.

15. What's your most annoying habit? I bite my nails.

16. Where did you last go on vacation? Malaysia - same old same old.

17. What is your best physical feature? I don't have a best physical feature anymore. They are all just about the same, my physical features, that is: nothing remarkable.

18. What CD is closest to you right now? What CD? I don't think I even have any around. They are all over there on the bookshelf.

19. What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator? Milk. Cheese. Yogurt. I will always have strong bones.

20. What superstition do you believe/practice? If I give away any baby clothes/nappies I will get pregnant again. It's just bound to happen. When you give babies stuff away you're just tempting fate.

21. What colour are your bed sheets? Faded. I believe they were once yellow.

22. Would you rather be a fish or a bird? Bird. That was easy. And the thought of being underwater makes me feel uneasy. I never did like diving.

23. Last thing you broke? Somebody's heart. ... Just kidding. It was probably a plate (that I broke I mean - I'm not suggesting that somebody's heart was a plate)

24. What are you having to eat tonight? Crummy home-made pasta as cooked by this skip.

25. What colour shirt are you wearing? Oh, it's green and a bit hippy-ish, which is totally not my style. But I'm poor and will wear (almost) anything these days.

26. If you could be doing anything else today, what would you rather be doing? Running away to Texas to be a cowgirl (ignoring the fact that i don't know how to ride a horse).

27. Do security cameras make you nervous? no

28. If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? "Life in Cold Blood" but that's not very original, it's just the title of this David Attenborough DVD I'm watching presently. It's really good, I reccommend it.

29. Last time you went to a cemetery? Long time ago. I'm not big on picnics at the cemetery anymore.

30. Last concert you went to? Was so long ago I can't even remember which one it was.

31. Favourite musician(s)/bands you've seen in concert? The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Although, that's only because I haven't seen any of the more famous Orchestras.

32. Next concert you're planning to attend? ... I'm just not even going to think about it, because I don't know when I will have the money or the free time to go out again. And sadly, if I did have the time and money, I'd still just rather go to the gym.

33. Do you talk to yourself? Yes, but not as much as I sing to myself.

34. Have you ever adopted or purchased a pet? I purchased a pet budgie once.

35. Have you ever been present when an animal is being born? Yes, in grade five ... or was it six? I think it was grade six, the class next to us had pet mice. We watched one giving birth to little kidney bean shaped and sticky looking babies - It was lunchtime and I found it quite off putting.

Birthday Wishlist 2009

2009-10-10T16:49:00.009+10:30

Things I'd like for my birthday:

A quiet cup of tea and a good book to read
A sleep-in (now that's just not going to happen)
T-Shirts or Blouses
A copy of the Yellowstone Documentary DVD
A Sony Walkman - the old fashioned kind, so I can listen to my cassettes again (if they still work...)
Earrings - hoops, the bigger the better!

too small

that's more like it... in fact, I'll take her green hair, too, please...

now that's just too much!

Wow. The Mozipedia, please. I didn't even know it existed.
For somebody to get rid of this giant spider that is crawling up the wall just beside me - Gaahhh!

2009-09-07T15:04:00.002+09:30

For your listening pleasure: Josie reccommends the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra's Baby Elephant Walk. Although, she doesn't recommend watching it. She makes me turn the picture off, because she's scared of the bald guy.

Manic Monday

2009-08-24T09:37:00.002+09:30

What is the first thing you notice about people? Probably their demeanor.

What song always makes you happy when you hear it? Honestly? Dire Strait's Money for Nothing. Ah, nostalgia.

What fashion trend do you just not get? Pretty much anything Lady Gaga is wearing I can guarantee you I won't get it.

In the News

2009-08-24T09:35:00.001+09:30

Australia Surrenders The Ashes - Ha ha! I'm no fan of Cricket. But I always get great pleasure when hearing that Australia has lost.

2009-08-09T12:18:00.001+09:30

Friday Fill-Ins

2009-06-12T13:45:00.004+09:30

And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking very rarely. Daydreaming was more my thing.

2. Fawcett was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you read the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver? I just read it and it was really good. Mind you, probably everybody has read it already.

4. Beer helps me relax, as does solitude - but I don't drink alone...

5. Thanks for the memories, and all the fish.

6. I find public toilets very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to just drawing and watching telly. Tomorrow my plans include cleaning like mad as the mo-in-law is coming at 8pm! And Sunday, I want to enjoy my daughter as she enjoys her time with her grandparents (if that makes sense...)

Manic Monday

2009-06-02T10:37:00.002+09:30

Manic Monday #169

Imagine you're packing a picnic lunch. What would be in your basket? Chicken, Cream Cheese, Avocado, Lettuce and Walnut sandwiches on rye bread; Bananas; Dates; Fruit Juice (I can't drink wine presently); olives; cherry tomatoes; dolmades; watermelon - I could go on, and on, and on...

If your life were a weather vane, which direction would it be pointing right now? Err... South South-East?

What's something that people do in traffic that really annoys you? They don't use the indicator. That seems to be common around here.

Cheers to all us thieves!

2009-05-31T11:47:00.003+09:30

Sunday Stealing: The Monkey's Meme

1. Name one person who made you smile today: Joey did. She's a sweetie.

2. What were you doing at 8am this morning? Having a shower. Is a bit cold today and had trouble getting out. Wasted water. Aren't we supposed to 'Save the River Murray'? Better lift my game...

3. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Playing snow and camping with Joey, on the couch. She's supposed to be sick, although she seems pretty alright at the moment.

4. What is your favorite candy bar? I don't know. I don't really eat candy bars. How grown up and boring.

5. Have you ever been to a strip club? No. How grown up and boring. Mind you, I don't think strip clubs are particularly classy...

6. What was the last thing you had to drink? A nice cup of tea.

7. What was the last thing you ate? Raisin toast.

8. The last sporting event you watched? There was some netball on telly the other day. They don't show women's sport on telly all that much. I'm not much into netball, though, so I didn't really know what was going on. Or even which team was winning...

9. Do you go to church every Sunday? No. We were planning to go this morning, but then Joey told me she had a stomach ache which has now mysteriously disappeared. Hehe. I don't like to force church on my kids, anyway.

10. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza? Oh... they're both good - please don't make me choose! I love chinese food, especially if it's cooked by Ma-Ma.

11. What are you doing tomorrow? We'll see how Joey is. If she is still sick or gets a temperature again we might need to take her to the doctors. In this environment of swine-flu hysteria I have a feeling they want you to report if you have any flu-like symptoms, or something... I dunno. If she's well, she can go to daycare and I'll get on with the lino printing.

12. What do you think of when you hear Australia? When I hear the word Australia? Well. It's my homeland, so I guess there's all that familiarity and the beautiful country side. But I mostly think of those politicians I watch on question time. You know, when Mr Speaker asks a representative to sit down he uses pretty much the same tone of voice that I use when telling off my three year old.

13. Biggest annoyance right now? Not fitting into my nice clothes - but you get that when you're pregnant.

14. Last song listened to? Err... the theme song to the latest X-Men cartoon. My partner likes to watch it every Sunday morning. We don't listen to music much here anymore. That's a bit sad.

15. Do you have a maid service clean your house? I wish! If we had the money it would be great to be able to provide somebody with employment and not have to lift a finger myself. Hehe...

16. Are you jealous of anyone? Can't think of anybody I'm jealous of right at the moment.

17. Is anyone jealous of you? I can't read minds, so I wouldn't know. People don't generally go around admitting they're jealous of you. Perhaps they should, it would clear the air...

18. What do you usually do during the day? Manage a small child. I'm also helping to grow another one, who is due to be born in about ten weeks time.

19. Do you hate anyone that you know right now? The Oompa-Loompa's on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - that is what they're called? I never watched the film all the way through because those little dudes really bugged me. Especially as a kid, they sorta creaped me out.

20. Are you thinking about someone right now? My partner, who wants me to go cut up some salad and butter some bread. Better get to it...

2009-05-15T19:50:00.000+09:30

...pregnant and wishing i could wear all those girly dresses i can't wear at the moment...

Girly Wish by clarence featuring Repetto Shoes

2009-05-12T09:34:00.004+09:30

Manic Monday #167

How old were you when you learned to tie your shoes? Well, I don't remember. But seeing as I had to do special classes for uncoordinated kids, I probably wasn't that young when I learned to tie my shoe laces.

Have you ever snooped in somebody else's medicine cabinet? Nup.

Who do you think you are? Myself. What is this, the third degree? It's the spice girls all over again.

family photos - Stragen's trip abroad

2009-05-05T20:09:00.006+09:30

letterbox

2009-05-03T14:38:00.005+09:30

wordless wednesday

2009-04-29T09:25:00.002+09:30

bland blog with photos

2009-04-24T22:01:00.007+09:30

Aunty Amy came to visit.

We took her to Glenelg, to the beach.

Here she is with Joey, who didn't stay still long enough for me to take a good photo...

So good to have Stragen back home!

New House

2009-04-24T21:55:00.004+09:30

Our fancy new house has a dishwasher. I'm so used to washing dishes in the sink that I just haven't even used it. It has a nice kitchen in general. I like cooking. I like our new kitchen. I wish two things:

That I was good at cooking.
That I was better keeping places clean.

What boringly domestic and possibly backwards and un-liberated like wishes.

wordless wednesday #4

2009-04-08T17:01:00.004+09:30

wordless wednesday #3

2009-04-08T17:00:00.002+09:30

wordless wednesday #2

2009-04-08T16:59:00.002+09:30

not quite so wordless wednesday

2009-04-08T11:58:00.004+09:30

After hearing about so many shootings in the US last week, I then came across this photo on US or Perez Hilton. It's all kinds of wrong. I don't like guns. And here are a few reasons why:

Dad Kills 5 Kids In Latest US Mass Shooting
Disbelief In US Town Rocked By Shooting Massacre
Eight Shot Dead In US Nursing Home Attack

Maybe now's not a good time to be bragging about your day at the shooting range, Kendra.

I Heart This Dress

2009-04-06T13:01:00.002+09:30

From a line by Charlotte Ronson for JC Penney, funnily enough called I Heart Ronson. I know, not the greatest pic - go here to see a bigger pic and details.

Manic Monday

2009-04-06T12:26:00.002+09:30

How often do you change your toothbrush? - Just when it starts to get shaggy, which is quite often. Maybe every couple of months.

What is your favorite item of clothing to shop for? - Gee, do I have to choose? Probably Cons.

Do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)? - What's with this Twitter? I've never got into it. Apparently Lindsay Lohan uses it to air her dirty laundry. Am hot and cold with Farcebook, just deactivated my account again.

Which do you use most often? - Momentarily I use none. It's nice to have a break.

Sunday Stealing

2009-04-05T20:32:00.006+09:30

Cheers to all us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: Our Third Meme About Blogging

1. How did you come up with your blog title OR what does it mean? -Its a nickname.

2. What are your general goals for blogging? -I don't have any these days. This blog is floundering, or going through an in between stage.

3. Do people “in your real life” know that you blog and do they comment on your blog OR is it largely anonymous? - Yes they do know this blog, those 'real' people. They don't comment though, probably because this blog is largely unremarkable.

How often do you post (x per week)? - I do a few weekly memes. And this weekend I've blogged a shitload of photos.

4. How often do you read other blogs (x per week)? - A few times a week.

5. How do you select blogs to read (do you prefer blogs that focus on certain topics or do you choose by tone or…?) - I love blogs by people who seem genuine, intelligent, funny, creative or just plain quirky. So I guess tone is what attracts me.

6. Do you have any plans to copy your blog entries in any other format, or do you think that one day, you’ll just delete it all? - Oh absolutely it will be deleted one day. It's just piffle. But I enjoy it. :)

7. What are the things you like best about blogging? - Expressing myself in a concise and piffling format.

8. What are the things you don’t like about blogging? - What's not to like? I guess I sometimes find 'serious' blogs annoying.

9. How do you handle comments? - I enjoy it when I get them. I screen them, tho. Not many bug me, but if there are any nasty comments I just delete them.

10. Do you have any burning thoughts to share on blog etiquette? - Nup, nothing except: express yourself and enjoy it! But don't hassle out other people's blogs if they're not what you want them to be. Everybody is free to be who they want to be in this (apparently geeky) world of blogging.

11. Any desired blog features? - Clean blogs I like. I guess if there is too much clutter I find it difficult to read, but that may be because I'm dyslexic or just plain slow.

12. Have you suffered blog addiction? - Completely! I love my blogs! ")