30.6.06

Next week

Things may be a little quiet from me next week. On Monday I head into Court for my Jury service. If I am selected then there is the possibility that I'll be there all week. If not then I'll be back at work and in front of my computer on Tuesday morning! I hope I am picked, and not just so I get a week off work. It'll be rather interesting. I'll post about the experience when I'm back.

Friend Count

So my friend count is up to 21 now on myspace!! woohoo! Funniest thing is though that I only know 9 of these people! The rest are either bands or singers! All a bit of fun isn't it.

28.6.06

MySpace

The MySpace craze is pretty much sweeping the globe! I'm sure that everyone knows someone who has a 'Space' of their own. I must admit I have one, and I'm slowly learning how to use it and make it look cool. Unlike Blogging, MySpace seems to be mostly about having friends or making them and chatting. There is a place where you can blog or journal though. I'd much rather do that stuff here cause even though there is public access on both I feel a bit more annonomys (sp*) on here.

I'm a bit of a follower and only got one because people were talking about it and I wanted to know what it was all about. Some people on the other hand are making a stand and not joining in just because.

Like with Blogger it took me a while to figure things out, even the simplest things like adding a photo! Today I have just managed to change my background! Its now a pretty beach! I found heaps of cool backgrounds so I'll probably end up changing it every now and again. It's much easier than I thought it would be.

Oops!

Looks like I got a little carried away with the funny quizzes. There were so many different ones. I think I'll post a proper blog at lunch time.

Yokel Name

Your Hillbilly Name Is...
Tammy Lee Duke
Hillbilly Name Generator

Italian Name...

Your Italian Name Is...
Vedette Bruno

Where should I live?

American Cities That Best Fit You::
55% Boston
55% Chicago
55% Washington, DC
50% Atlanta
50% New York City
Which American Cities Best Fit You?

Type of Coffee!

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern
At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent
You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet
Your caffeine addiction level: low
What Kind of Coffee Are You?
Yum I love Frappacinos!!! A Mocha is good.

My 1950's Name

Your 1950s Name is:
Priscilla Veronica

Rejected Crayon Colour

You are
What Rejected Crayon Are You?


So based on what colour undies you've got on this site gives you what rejected crayon colour you are! Just a random thing I found!

27.6.06

Small Things

Sometimes at work everyday feels the same, so sometimes it's the small things that really make a difference. Things like, a sincerely grateful patient. Cute little kids in glasses. Getting funny emails. My favourite patient coming in!!! Which he happened to do yesterday! He is such a nice guy, always in a good mood, always smiling and ready to stop and have a chat. Yesterday he even made fun of me for being cold (yes even inside with 2 heaters going).

I suppose it's one good thing about this job. Heaps of the patients come in so often that you kind of get to know them by name and face and even by voice over the phone.

26.6.06

Thank you!

This is a public thank you to clever Izak! He helped me with the tricky HTML stuff so I could do a few extra things on my blog.
Here's your moment of fame Izak - stand up and take a bow!! :D

Winter Weather

I can't believe how beautiful the weather was over the weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday had clear blue skies, sunshine and not a lot of wind, today is much the same. Sure it's still pretty chilly, but... NO RAIN!! A wonderful thing indeed!
There was only one downfall, this morning my car was covered in a nice layer of ice!! I was madly scraping the ice off and ended up tipping a milk bottle full of hot water over my windows to get it off. There were even little icicles (*sp) all over the roof. The outside temperature switch in my car said it was 2 degrees and that was 8.15am this morning. By the time I was at work the temperature had trebbled!

22.6.06

Weird!

All I'm going to say is that I work with some really really screwy people!! It's been a weird couple of weeks with them!! And a very weird afternoon!

'Only Hope' by Mandy Moore and Switchfoot

There's a song thats inside of my soul.
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again.
I'm awake in the infinite cold,
but you sing to me over and over and over again.


So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray to be only yours.
I pray to be only yours.

I know now you're my only hope.

Sing to me the song of the stars.
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again.
When it feels like my dreams are so far,
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again.


I give you my apathy. I'm giving you all of me.
I want your symphony. Singing in all that I am.
At the top of my lungs, I'm giving it back.


This was one of the main songs in the movie 'A Walk to Remember'. Bex loaned me the DVD and I sat in bed and watched it last night. The song sounded so familiar and it took me a while to figure out where I'd heard it before. I thought at first maybe Sharee had sung it for an item in church, eventually I realised that some people did it in the talent quest at HM Rage. I think they actually won one of the categories. It's such a beautiful song. I replayed the chapter of the movie when Mandy Moore's character sings it like 4 times!!

20.6.06

Interested

I am one of those people that reads random blogs occasionally. Some of them I find really interesting so go back every now and again. I have never commented on any though. I'm interested if there are any readers of my blog. I know it isn't that interesting, but if there is anyone out there leave a comment on this post. You don't even have to put your name to it if you don't want to. I'm just interested!!

The things people come up with....



Tui's witty response to the black outs in Auckland last Monday.

Glory

In Chris' sermon on the end of Romans at InCite a couple of weeks ago he brought up God's glory. One of the discussion questions asked how glory is defined.
In our group we found it easy enough to think of examples of God's glory and what God's glory is greater or more 'glorious' than. But as far as actually defining it.... tricky.

We were text talking about it last night and both resorted to a dictionary...

Glory - Something that brings honour or praise. To be exalted. Splendor. Radiant beauty.

'Radiant beauty', I like that. When I thought about it, I described glory as a presence. Which sounds cheesy, but kinda works.

God's Glory is a demonstration of who He is - by His might, wisdom, holiness, creation, mercy and His grace.

When you put God into the equation the word Glory has quite a strong meaning. When you see it in that context, it is hard to justify using the word glory to describe anything less.

Like Chris said to me when you contrast God's glory with ours ... it certainly puts things into perspective doens't it.

Summer Holiday


Yes, I know both of these photos are rather old and pinched from Elli, but I saw them and was like ahh, what a good time we had over in Aussie! - Couldn't resist posting a couple. It's me and Elli on the WipeOut at Dreamworld and on Broadbeach.

15.6.06

Baby Harkness # 3

Good friends Brendon and Sharee Harkness welcomed their 3rd child Sierra Kate this morning. She came in at 8pd 10oz. I believe all are healthy, despite Sharee having to have an emergancy c-section. Praise God for new life!

14.6.06

Arty Farty




A few of the more 'Arty' photos that I took over Queens Birthday. I was experimenting with my new camera. Saturday was a beautiful clear Waikato day. The setting sun cast gorgeous colours through the autumn leaves. (and onto Elli - who was oblivious to me taking that photo!)

Ascendance of the Fallen

The band coming onstage to play just as it is announced that they have won the Talent Quest!!!! YAY!


The brothers Dan and Antz.

Mike and Cam rocking hard.


Close up!!

HM Rage Photos

My boy Anthony and me. Notice my nice rosey cheeks from the freezing cold.


Don't we look gorg all dolled up for the banquet.


Here is most of the group that we were away with, just before the banquet. Most of us were in costume which was cool. And some of them even got into the finals!! Like my hot pink shoes?!


Elli, Alyssa and I posing in front of one of the vintage cars, loned to camp for the occasion.


Mum and Dad and then Ash, Hannah and Tim on Dad's 60th Birthday. We went up the Sky Tower for dinner.
Fun Sunday afternoon down at Te Atatu Peninsula. It was windy but still really nice down there. Note the Bundaberg on the table.

Perfect view across the harbour to the City.

13.6.06

U2

So after all the hype and excitement of getting tickets to the U2 concert at the start of the year and then finding out it had been postponed, I saw this announcement of sorts on the U2 website today.

09.06.2006
Thanks For Your Patience
We at U2.com would like to thank you for your patience around the recent postponement of the Vertigo Tour dates. As we're sure you can appreciate, changes of this nature generate a great deal of work behind the scenes. We hope to have the situation resolved soon. We apologise for the delay and thank you again for your continued patience.

So hopefully they'll have new tour dates soon!!!

Black Outs

What a busy Monday! On my way to work yesterday all the traffic lights were out - from Pt Chev all the way to Onehunga, not a single set were working. When I got into work the girls were sitting at the desk in darkness. Reports started trickling through that there'd been an issue at the big Otahuhu sub station and the whole city from Manukau to Avondale was without power and it could be 3 hours before it would be restored. We re-scheduled the morning appointments but left the afternoon ones thinking we'd be fine after 12. But no, 1pm rolled around and we were still without power so the boss kindly let us go home. I was so thankful... I never would have guessed just how cold it gets in our building without the heating.

The whole drama was rather third world. It's laughable that the biggest city in the country was virtually crippled all because 1 wire broke and fell in an 'unfortunate' way.

10.6.06

Record Breaker

Wow!! I've set myself a new record!! The last 3 posts have been orginal - no posting forwarded emails or songs, just my own thoughts!
Haha

ps. Elli you should be proud!! :)
Sometimes people make mistakes that aren't funny but still make you laugh - even though you know you shouldn't be laughing. Sometimes though people make mistakes that are just plain funny and you are within your rights to die laughing.

Yesterday I had one of those times where I think I was entitled to laugh.

It was a situation where an email was sent out to a whole group of people. Doesn't sound that funny so far does it. The main body of the email was meant to go out to the people it went to, but it was the extra email at the bottom of the page that was the funny part.

The receivers of this email were treated to corrospondence between the sender and his new secret girlfriend. Not a secret anymore though is it! It was the silly sort of thing you'd expect from this particular individual. Firstly to even have a 'secret' girlfriend and secondly to make such a dumb mistake like send their emails out to so many people.

Because of the nature of my relationship with this guy I felt I could laugh about it. It was really the only thing I could do. If I'm honest with myself though, it was actually a sucky way to find out. Better knowing though, right?

Last Weekend

So apart from the suckyness of getting sick, last weekend at HM Rage was really cool. We all met up at church on Friday night and packed into cars. I had Bex and Elle, Tina and Mina! In full.... Rebekah, Elli, Christina and Romina. We had plenty of lollies so were sorted for the possibility of a long trip down in the traffic. I was so shocked that we just cruised the whole way down. There wasn't a single hold up at all. We met at Matamata McDonalds, some people grabbed a quick feed (I got a quick coffee!!).
After a few hitches when we arrived at Totara, we all got settled.
Everyone joined in for the Soccer and Rugby competitions and we went to the Talent Quest heats to support the people that had entered - Izak and his super movie and the boys band Ascendence of the Fallen and Keirs comedy routine.
The 1920's Gangster themed banquet was really well done. Eveyone looked great all dressed up.
James Rees-Thomas was the speaker from Wellington and he presented the gospel message in a real, relevant and challenging way.
Camps are a great place to get to know each other in a different environment. I think we came away from the weekend as a tighter group. It was great to see the Youth encouraging each other in every area.

Hopefully I'll post some photos from the weekend next week. I have them edited on my laptop - just need to burn them to a disc and bring it in to work.

6.6.06

Sick

Yuck - I hate being sick. My nose is all stuffy and my eyes and sinuses hurt. I could feel myself getting sick for most of last week and the freezing cold over the weekend encouraged it along! Not to mention being in the rain, the lack of sleep and the sharing a small cabin with 13 girls.
So yes in a way it's self inflicted and I shouldn't be complaining. I came to work anyway today. I guess it's hard to justify staying home on the first day for the week, especially when you've had a fun weekend away.

...So I started this post on Tuesday and then had Wed and Thurs off work. I was a complete right off. I just had half a day here yesterday and I'm working 3 hours this morning (Sat). So just taking it easy. My voice is almost(ish) back to normal.

1.6.06

Yes or No

Haha, something fun I thought I'd put up. A small insight into me.

Place an 'x' beside the ones that count. This is for your entire life:
( ) Smoked a cigarette
( ) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car
( ) Stolen a car
(x) Been in love
(x) Been dumped
( ) Shoplifted
( ) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight
( ) Snuck out of your parent's house!
(x) Had feelings (any kind of feelings) for someone who didn't have them back
( ) Been arrested
( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Lied to a friend
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
( ) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with only coins
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
( ) Made a bonfire on the beach
( ) Crashed a party
(x) Gone roller-skating or rollerblading
(x) Ice-skating
(x) Been to New York?

Greys Anatomy

I really love this show. I didn't really watch the first season, but I'm totally hooked on the second. Monday night's episode was like the best TV watching ever. Definately my favourite show on at the moment. It's such a great comedy/drama rolled into one!
George would have to be one of my favourite characters. He's so sweet! And of course least fav would be Addison. The writers do their job well of making her out to be the baddie.
Anyway, just a random post.

Speaking of baddies though, this weekend is HM Rage down at Totara Springs in Matamata. The theme is 1920's Gangster. For the Banquet on Saturday everyone is supposed to dress up in the theme. I was thinking about doing the low waisted dress, feather boa, headband thing but that was going to take too much effort for the amount of time that I have. So, I've decided to go as a gangster chick. I saw a picture on a costume hire website. I found myself a toy gun, white tie and a perfect hat all at the Dollar Shop down the road from work and I have my black pinstripe shorts and a black shirt to wear - I'm all sorted. Should be a good weekend.

Give the Nice Guys a Chance...

Here is something interesting I was emailled this morning, it's something a guy has written to 'girls' in general by the looks. Any guys out there care to comment on what he has to say? If only all guys felt this way...

From a guys point of view:

We don't care if you talk to other guys. We don't care if you're friends with other guys. But when you're sitting next to us, and some random guy walks into the room and you jump up and tackle him, without even introducing us, yeah, it pisses us off. It doesn't help if you sit there and talk to him for ten minutes without even acknowledging the fact that we're still there. …And we don't care if a guy calls you, but at 2 in the morning we do get a little concerned. Nothing is that important at 2 a.m. that it can't wait till the morning.

Also, when we tell you you're pretty/ beautiful/ gorgeous/ cute/ stunning, we freaking mean it. Don't tell us we're wrong. I’ll stop trying to convince you.
Yeah, you can quote me.

Don't be mad when we hold the door open. Take Advantage of the mood I’m in.
LET US PAY FOR YOU! DON'T "FEEL BAD" We enjoy doing it. It's expected. Smile and say "thank you."

(This part is so damn true, but why won't you believe it?) You don't have to get dressed up for us. If we're going out with you in the first place, you don't have to feel the need to wear the shortest skirt you have or put on every kind of makeup you own. We like you for WHO you are and not WHAT you are. Honestly, i think a girl looks more beautiful when she's just in her pj's, not all dolled up.

Don't take everything we say seriously. Sarcasm is a beautiful thing. See the beauty in it. Don't get angry easily.

Stop using magazines/media as your bible. Don't talk about how hot Brad Pitt, or Jesse McCartny is in front of us. It's boring, and we don't care. You have girlfriends for that.

Whatever happened to the word "handsome"/"beautiful" I’d be utterly stunned by a girl who greeted me with "Hey handsome!" instead of "Hey baby/ stud/ cutie/ sexy" or whatever else you can think of on the other hand I’m not saying i wouldn’t like it ether ; )

Girls, I cannot stress this enough: IF YOU AREN'T BEING TREATED RIGHT BY A GUY, DON'T WAIT FOR HIM TO CHANGE. DITCH HIS SORRY, DISGRACE-TO-THE-MALE-POPULATION ASS, AND FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL TREAT YOU WITH UTTER RESPECT… …
Someone who will honor your morals… …
Someone who will make you smile when you're at your lowest… …
Someone who will care for you even when you make mistakes… …
Someone who will love you, no matter how bad you make them feel… …
Someone who will stop what they’re doing just to look you in the eyes... .and say "i love you" ......and ACTUALLY MEAN IT!

Give the nice guys a chance

Quiz Time

Alrighty, I got 42. Do the test and then leave a comment with your score!


Dr Phil's Test: Here you go.
Try this! Below is Dr Phil's test. (Dr. Phil scored 55; he did this test on Oprah - she got a 38.)
Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out! Read on, this is very interesting!

Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate and it only takes 2 minutes.
Don't peek, but begin the test as you scroll down and answer. Answers are for who you are now...... not who you were in the past. Have pen or pencil and paper ready.
This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees. It's only 10 simple questions, so grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers to each question.

Ready?? Begin...

1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon &and early evening
c) late at night

2. You usually walk...
a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly

3. When talking to people you..
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with..
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out or straight
d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...
a) big appreciated laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted......
a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f) white
g) brown or grey

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are..
a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...
a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
d) flying or floating
e) you usually have dreamless sleep
f) your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:
1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and under-standing; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust In your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

Come and Live in New Zealand


Sorry it's not the clearest, but you get the general idea.