Coffee Up!

Things have returned to normal in the house of never-ending-hot-drinks. There is coffee in the coffee pot, there are 3-5 different types of tea to choose from and there is also a hot-chocolate option.......YAY!!

My geeky plan to stay on top of all my paperwork at uni is slowley crumbling to dust! Following prac there is now a huge amount of extra stuff to do on top of all the assignments coming up - EEEK!!! I thought it would be different the second degree around but apparently I was wrong!
To make matters worse I am home sick today!!
Super Immuno Girl met her waterloo not with hep B or tetanus or any of the things she was vaccinated against - NO - it was the common cold. Like a pebble in the shoe, like a pea in the bed (I can't think of any other dodgey analogies?!).
The most common thing in the world brought her to her knees. (Dramatic isn't it?)
Well, at least I can work on assignments at home and not feel too guilty about missing class!
And speaking of prac........(hey, it's a segway even if it is dodgey!!)

OT is Great!!!!! I love it!! There is so much to do and people to meet. I enjoyed doing home visits and talking with elderly patients. It was awesome! I got to wander 'round RPA hospital and read some pretty heavy "researchy" type stuff on the brain.
I have also discovered that, even when I finish uni the paperwork will not be over! For every action you take (seeing, meeting, treating patients) there is an equal (and usually greater) rection in the form of piles of paperwork! I'll be writing reports for the rest of my life - AAAHHH!!!

I was asked yesterday how OT compares to doing a music degree. That is a very interesting question. It's hard to compare the two (science and arts I mean.) but I guess the main difference is that I can do assignments at home in privacy without having a concert hall full of people writing comments on me!!

There's something refreshing about being known as "Bec, that chick from the wheelchair class" as opposed to "Bec, clarinet player who muffed up that technical passage in the 1st movement of the Mozart clarinet concerto" (issues here maybe???)

Ah, the joys of anonymity!

My Favourite Things

A tragedgy has happened in the house of never ending hot drinks.

The coffee supply has run out!

I hope and trust that the enormity of this crisis is recognised by my friends one and all as I sit here in my weakened state, contemplating the possibility of - gasp! - instant coffee. *wail*
This is one thing (among quite a few things) that I am starting to miss about work (coffee never runs out at work - the caffiene fairies replenish the stocks before that happens)

I never thought I would miss work at all but there are definately perks to joining the rat race. (Let's face it, they have to provide ample compensation for spending time more time with random work colleagues than you do with your own family!)

So here are; "My Favourite Things": A comprehensive (though not exhaustive list) of the perks of working life.

- Please note this is not a whinging session, merely a nostalgic trek through pleasant times.....

Cakes in the morning,
and on people's birthdays,
Bright coloured pencils,
and neat looking pen trays,
Lunches at Starkey's, the lunches I eat!
These are a few of my favourite things.

Trips in the work car,
to pick up nice treats,
Nice bags and hats,
to wear up the street,
Golden brown coffee beans, roasted and fine,
Making esesspresso, oh what a great time!

When the job sucks,
When my back hurts,
When the Boss makes me sad,
I simply walk up to the coffee machine,
and then I don't feel so bad.

The Adventures Of Imuno Girl

I have spent a day 'on the edge'. Exciting things have happened.
Today I got vaccinated and I bought my very first 'OT' text book!!!!
Admittedly this doesn't bear much simlarity to "adventure".
Hopefully I'll get a life between now and the next time I post........

Exposition of a Weekend (and other unrelated material)

I have a globe. A reminder of stationery shopping gone berserk. Not that I dislike globes, I got this one because I like to know where everything is in relation to everything else......(I think it's called geography.)
But I sat down at the computer today and thought, "wow, I have a globe. That's really the most useless item of stationery I have bought."
(I have no segway so it's now time for a rather abrupt subject change)

Well, it's Friday, "fun" - day or "Thank God It's Finally Arrived" - day.
Whichever catergory you fall into you are probably planning your night of fun. Friday night's are great because no matter how wrecked you are the next day you still have the extra day up your sleeve to recover. ( Please note, I shan't be too wrecked this week - not having any social engagments and all)

Saturday tends to be a "dead - zone", the world is a haze of fatigue and bewilderment and yet there is that vague sensation that you ought to be making the most of that "Free" time. Cramming in bungy-jumping, surfing, rock climbing, parachuting, helping rebuild orphanges in Mexico and Russia, solving global warming, and training for the next olympics on the off chance your assitance is needed.
However strong this sensation feels, that "black hole" of numbness results in the intake of much caffeinated beverages, staring out windows, wondering why nobody calls to invite you out and realising that the phone works both ways (but really you couldn't be bothered to make the effort).

Something happens between Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday, the "day of hope and anticipation". This day is bittersweet. Out of your comatose state you are ready to enjoy the benefits of being relaxed but this blissful state is undermined by thought of Monday (otherwise known as "BITE ME" - day)

And so the cycle goes on.......

Confessions of a Mature Age Student

It has been a while since I last posted. My apologies for this. And I have to confess that while Buffy has been a major player in my absence from the computer it has not been the whole reason!
This week has been quite a momentous occasion as I had my first two days of OT at Comberland Campus!!!!
It has been a whirlwind of classes, faces and getting lost (I am still trying to find my way around the campus) but slowley I am learning how things work and I have made a least one good friend!
I am amazed at how many mature age students are doing the course and I don't feel like the only grandma sitting in the front row, doing each homework task as it is given and asking "if there is any thing else we can do?".I have been asked several times if I have done a course previously to this one, which got me a little worried about wether I was wearing "Mum" clothes or someting but apparently it's because I look "more confident - less insecure" and in some cases (get this) "a lot wiser". *sigh* Just wait when they find out how wise I really am! (please note the sarcasm in tone here)
It was great to get along to the christian group and find more friends there which was great as I am still feeling a little friend-less. It's great to have gotten past alot of the introductory material and now to be getting into the 'meaty' bits of what I came for - the quest for knowledge - (insert some grandiose music here)
So far I love OT and was a little too excited in our first tutorial when we got to practise moving patients in and out of bed manually and also using a hoist - hoists are way cool!! (yes, the geekiness has only gotten worse!)
The only hard bit is the 8am starts, I have to get up earlier than I did when I was working full time, however I do have a very light week from wednesday on which means more time for - homework!!!! (and also fun!) so if you're in my area or you just want me to write you a really long email let me know. I think you all have either my email, phone number or both.
More to come from student central soon!

Return of the Geek

The title suggests a vague horror movie situation.
The reality it much worse, it has finally happened.
I have entered to realms of geek-dom. I am turning into a nerd. I have started studying already! Uni doesn't start for another three weeks and I have begun to hit the books.
They should never have forced me to buy those tutorial papers and recommended readings. It was all "their" fault - really! Yeah - that's it. It's not me, it's "them". With their books and their words and their "learning".
I think I have managed to freak out the new flat mate that has just moved in.....
I guess that was bound to happen eventually anyway so better to be up front about weirdness I guess.
Between wierdness, Buffy and study it feels just like old times - *sigh*

Buffy Connections

Reliving the Buffy legend - *sigh*
After finishing season seven last year with little miss, therre has now been a long enough gap to start the journey again.
The journey began at the the dvd store as I perused the collection for hire. So much Buffy! And so much Angel too! I am pretty hardcore but I thought that the new release 3 day hire was a little too hardcore - even for me. Buffy is good but working and watching in three days not so good. Luckly the early seasons were for hire for the week. I was set.

As i selected the first couple of discs from season two I got this odd feeling that someone was behind me and was trying to see the dvd's as well.
I turned and there was a high school girl standing behind me. The was a moment of solidarity between us as we recognised a like-minded fan.
I asked her where she was up to and then had a short discussion about which season was best.

It reminded me of me in high school - extremely egocentric I know!
It specifically reminded me of the time little star and I were looking for autumn leaves on the road outside my house one cold afternoon after school. Rugged in our coats and winter uniforms and giggling about how strange it would look to on coming traffic we were enjoying the moment of exploring the world around and finding beauty in it.
This guy (about 24) came walking past. We looked up sheepishly, feeling a little
self-concious (as yr 8 girls do)and instead of turning a blind eye or laughing at us that moment of understanding happened. "Ah" he said "The search for the perfect leaf!" We smiled as he walked on amazed that someone had completely understood what we were doing!

Of course it seems a little dramatic for something so common but I love those moments!
The thought that for one little while you and another person totally understand each other, it's so different from the world of mis-understanding I seem to live in.

well, life has been one Buffy and Angel tornado this week!
But the journey has started!

Do or Die

Back fresh from the joy and excitment of enrolement - now getting slightly stressed about money for study.....please pray that the applications I have put in will be successful and that there would be money so that my studies don't suffer as I'm working my butt off to make ends meet.....onto other matters.....

I was having my lunch break and as I flicked through an old note book to write a reminder, I saw a list that I made early last year.
It was a list of things I wanted to do before I die.
I thought alot of these thing looked fairly acheivable in the foreseeable future and therefore I would run out pretty quickly so I wondered - what would other people put down? What should I add to my list?

Here are just a few examples of what I have already....

See a shooting star - (belive it or not I haven't seen one yet!)
Visit the Eiffel Tower/Paris
Have an adventure
Solve a mystery
Write something significant
Save someone (intentionally ambiguous)
Have a conversation with someone famous
Go white water rafting

From The New Resident OT!

It has been a long while hasn't it??
During this long break the TC has been axed and Bec has returned to Sydney!!
The exciting news from me.......I am returning to Uni to study Occupational Therapy!!
Enrolement happened today and I am now officially a student of Sydney Uni again!
Studying at Scumbo Cumbo.....this mean my speling will have to iprove - right?
Jokes aside, I am very much looking forward to studying again and am probably a little too excited about the prospect of doing anatomy! (woohoo)
I promise those sceptics among you who have given me recent grief concerning the frequency of my posts, that I will be posting again now that internet is readily available!

The TC - season 3

Due to the TC budget being low the same opening montage as previous episodes is in use (kind of like grey water use because of the drought)

The scene opens with a stark backdrop of dry and parched landscape.
Retro theme music.....maybe something to do with lazy summer days....(anyone who comes up with a winning summer song for this segment gets....the glory of being chosen)

Fade to Sunday morning and Bec is getting ready for church. (Dilemma of Christmas day dress solved as there is no church on Christmas day - just christmas eve.)
Bec - clad in green dress - sets off to church. Perhaps the colour green is in rememberance of that beautiful colour which seems to be conspicously lacking in the environment of drought. In her attempt to compensate Bec looks festive and seasonal (watch this new fad take off with all the young teen girls!!)

Church begins and the singing is loud.

Fade to Christmas morning.

Long slow shot of rain (a true christmas present) let's just keep that shot going for another thrity seconds...........

Camera sweeps over lovely Chirstmas spread and a long table ready for the families to take their place. Everyone talks of the rain, the food, and afterward how much they all want to sleep having eaten so much on a rainy day.
Insert reflective song here - maybe an old fashioned Sinatra...something Christmas-like.
With festivities over the camera flicks to bedtime.

Another year. Another meal.

More to come from the TC soon.

Stationary Heaven

How good is stationary?
(That was meant to be rhetorical.)
I have this little pang of excitment everytime I have new and exciting ways of colour coding, sorting and filing.
Using a new pen....well, there's nothing like it and highlighting - don't even get me started!!
It's better than shopping for confectionary, the goodies are way better!
Actually I used get confused between confectionary and stationary - let's face it they do sound the same.....

My Desk Planner and Me

I have a desk planner at work. I have put a cross through every month that is now over and am currently crossing off the days until I am free again......
The thing is that if I take out weekends I have only 8 days left!
Then it will be time for the TC!!!!
I think this maybe the third season?
More to come soon.....

Beckoning

Getting bible study prepared - this song has been rattling around my head as I think of the glory of God, how we have fallen short of it and how God has called us back into relationship with Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I think of my own tearful prayer years ago when I decided to take this "church stuff" seriously.

I have never looked back since.

Shaking like a leaf
Afraid to lift my eyes
Afraid of all your glory
Ashamed of all my pride
Then you call me in
To your holy place
And I fall down, down on my face

And I beckon you for mercy
And I beckon you forgive everything that I've ever done

And I tremble
And I tremble

I am just a man (girl)
Showered in your grace
Your the holy God
Your glory fills this place

And I beckon you for mercy
And I beckon you to forgive everything that I've ever done

And I tremble
And I tremble
- Audio Adrenaline

Procrastination

I am writing a bible study for next week. Which is why I am currently posting on my blog.....?!?
This does not bode well for future study next year.....I have also discovered that there is a calendar on my email account and I can now transfer all the information from my hardcopy diary to my virtual diary.....YAY!!!
Anyhoo...We are studying "Desiring God" by John Piper and I have chapter 2 - Conversion.
Something so basic has suddenly become very complex.
*sigh*

I am slisdexic

I hvae been raeding prevuios psots and raelised that I hvae spleling issues!
Sorry! Wlil fix comenmts berfoe I psot!

The $1000 Oppertunity

As I logged into my email this morning, I noticed the news on Yahoo.
Oprah was giving away $1000 to "help a stranger".
I started thinking of what I would do with that money if I had it to help someone. The more I thought about it the more I realised that money really is just money and is never a long term solution. No doubt I could help anyone by giving them a cool experience or buying material goods that would make life a little easier for someone in need. But I found myslef thinking that this wasn't a life changing thing. If I was going to do something so selfless it would have to be worth more than a day's pr even a week's happiness. And then it hit me - I don't need $1000 to help anyone, I don't need money at all. The help I can give people here and now is free and life changing.
Sharing the gospel costs nothing except my effort to tell it, an encouraging word requires no bank cheques and being there in tough times for people does not drain my account.

The TC Returns

Survey is still going but all I seem to have discovered is that people are quite reluctant to share a happy thought!
Interesting......
Exams seem to be over and everyone is leaving and I will soon be - gasp - alone.
It's getting to that time of year when "The TC" starts.
(That's "Tamworth Country", my version of the hit TV show....you can guess which one i mean)
Lots of drama is planned for this years series. All of it will be sqaushed into a week and a bit so be prepared for anything!
A new sountrack of the newest artists out has been arranged - starting careers for those lucky enough to be selected.
New fashions - I'm thinking sunscreen stain meets new top - mango meets face - OH the possiblilties!
Add to this mix
* Intrigue (who in the Tamworth Country is invovled in a government cover up of the UFO that crashes in epsiode 1?)
* Action (high speed tractor chases take to the back creek and beyond)
* Drama (Will she? wont she? - Wear a dress to church on Christmas day)
Yes folks all the fun and games starts this summer! Coming to a blog near you.....!

Little Moments In Time

So the masses are bored? Well, I thought that with all the crazy conversation going on that I was hardly needed to liven up the atmosphere!

I have been living the lifestyle of a grown-up 23 year old! Working.....and that's pretty much it so far.
OK, new thoughts.....

I'm doing a survey.

What was/is the happiest/most beautiful moment of your life?

You know those moments that really stick with you and you think "WOW, I will remember that moment for the rest of my life!"
I thought about this question the other night and was surprised to find that it wasn't the big stuff that meant alot.
It was little moments that seemed insignificant that meant alot. Sitting under the stars with friends and chatting, phone calls with loved ones, laughing til I cried outside the school gym after sport one day, gaining wisdom from older and wiser christians while doing the dishes at their house, watching my Mum make scones.
It goes to show that often it's the every day things that make a difference.
I was just curious to know wether other people had thoughts on this?

Birthday Thoughts

Hey All!!
It has been 23 years since I first joined the human race. 10 years since I first received Christ as my saviour. 1 year since I finished uni. 2-ish weeks since I posted on my blog and 2 hours since I was happily asleep.
I am a little worried that, as I checked my email this morning, I had a Birthday Alarm in there to remind me that it was my Birthday. Not only would I be a bit sad if I didn't remember when my own birthday was, the alarm came a day too late!
If I ever had amnesia I would be completely stuffed. That extra day matters alot!

I was asked alot "What are you doing tonight? Partying? Clubbing? Getting drunk?"
My reply of dinner out with friends seemed pretty tame and once again Bec felt like a strange person from another planet.
I finished work and my phone rang, it was an old friend from school. As I got in the door it rang again, it was my Mum. While I talked to Mum, 2 more messages came.
I had dinner with Pumpkin Head and Little Miss.
My phone rang again.
As I lay down to go to sleep I thought about the day.
What meant more to me than clubs, alcohol, loud sounds and glittering lights, was the time I spent with my friends and family. The time I spent remebering old times, creating new memories and fellowshiping.
God has been so good, and I don't feel so strange or boring anymore.

Am I Strange?

Pondering the possiblilty that I am strange......
It was brought to my attention at work today that I am strange. Apparently there is something wrong with me, as was so delicately pointed out to me by my friendly work colleagues.
I am the only girl at work who thinks that Jon Bon Jovi is unattractive and reminds me of a horse.
I know I have offended many by saying this but I cannot help but tell the truth and the truth often hurts.
Surley there has to be someone out there who agrees with me? I am not alone on this one?
I guess the point is that I am never and will never be a "joiner".
As I pondered where this aspect of my personality was developed my mother called me and proceeded to turn on the new lawn mower she had bought so I could have a listen.....perhaps this condition is hereditory??