What Couldn't YOU Live Without ?

Okay, this is meant to be a bit of fun people, so let’s set aside the obvious – oxygen, food and water…and, for the sake of making it interesting, let’s also agree to put our spouses, kids and furry kids to one side as well….

Apart from those essentials, what couldn't YOU live without … or put another, less-dramatic way…. What, if it was taken away forever, what would you miss desperately and be thoroughly miserable without ?? (hmmm, wasn’t meant to be this complicated….)

For me it is quite simple – my book and CD collections. I spend an exorbitant amount on both; to me, too many books and too many CDs is never, EVER enough. I don’t watch television at all and am not much of a movie fan, but I can lose myself for hours, for days, in my books and my music. Whilst I love my 80GB ipod, I just can’t get past the joy I get from actually buying and owning the actual CD; yes, they all end up on my ipod, and no, I can’t remember the last time I actually played a CD all the way through (give me ipod on continuous shuffle baby !), but I’ve just got to have them. I also can't remember the last time I actually went shopping without buying at least one book. I am rapidly running out of space to put them all, and so I'm prone to stacking them two and three deep in my bookshelves (which drives Tex spare !), and I have far less time in any one lifetime to ever get to read them all...

Oh, and I seriously hate anybody else messing with my collections - when I came home from work one day and found Tex had re-arranged all my books, according to author and (hell, get me some oxygen) had even regaled some of them to the garage (breathe, breathe....) well, it was almost grounds for a divorce. Or, to find that Zach has taken one of my CDs from it's rightful place and then left it in his room, or (yikes !) left it in his room without putting it back in it's cover....well, let's just say it's never too late to put kids to work in coal mines.

Thankfully, I have my own boy-free sanctuary in our home where only me and my cats are allowed to enter (Tex and Zach by invitation only !!), where I can light my candles and oil burners and sit and read or listen to music – ahhhh, it’s so wonderfully serene (or it would be if Tex didn't play his electric guitar with the amp turned up to 11....but, that'll probably be on his list :)



So…what couldn't you live without ?

How Much is Enough ?

Money that is....

I've got money invested in stock and in property, and after 25 years in the same company, considerable investment in personal superannuation - and so with all the volatility around the world in these markets, I've been asking myself this question: How much money is enough ? That is, how much money do I really need when I retire, to live the lifestyle that will make me happy....as opposed to what my financial advisor tells me I will need or what societal norms and expectations tell me I should ?

And while I'm at, what is it about money that causes otherwise sensible people to completely lose their heads ? I've seen couples who are passionately in love break up under financial stress; I have friends whose kids are starting out twenty years behind their peers because of huge credit card debts they accumulated in their teens (WTF ??); I work with executives who earn six-figure incomes and yet who can't save a cent; and I know poor retirees who have lost their live savings through various schemes and scams.

I've seen seriously rich people who are seriously miserable, and less well-off people who seem to have found the magical elixir of happiness.

So, how much is enough ? More than any other, this question gets to the heart of the balance between money and the things we want to achieve and enjoy in life. Life's busy and getting increasingly busier. Few people make the time to stop and think: Why have I been working so hard ? What have I been spending my money on ? Does this make me happy ? How much money do I really need ? And, most important of all - Have I really got the balance right ?

I've not got the answers, but I think it's time I grew up and started to search for them.

The Downside to Jetsetting

Hmmm, yes folks there is a serious downside to jetsetting and today I've discovered - yet again - what that is.... I've been diagnosed with a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) for the second time in 8 months. The first time I had this condition was after 23hours of flying to get to our South American destination in May last year. After experiencing extreme pain in my left calf, I presented to a Peruvian hospital, where the provisional diagnosis was DVT or Phlebitis (they did not do any scans to check) and I was given anti-coagulant medication, taken off my Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and sent on my way with strong painkillers. The language barrier didn't do much to help the Doctor or me, but with the help of a bi-lingual ward clerk, I was advised to check in with my GP upon returning to Australia. So, Tex and I proceeded to go ahead as planned and trek to Machu Picchu. There was pain, but that's what painkillers were for and to be honest, both legs were so sore after the end of each day, I didn't give much more thought to the matter.

When I developed the same symptoms yesterday, I immediately knew what it was. Despite two Doctors telling me that it was merely a soft tissue injury, I demanded to be sent for an ultrasound - at least the second Doctor had the good grace to be embarrassed when presented with the Radiologist's report that said DVT :) The third Doctor I was shunted off to is quite convinced that the first episode was a DVT as well, as it was in almost the same area and the symptoms were identical.

The Good News - I didn't suffer a pulmonary embolism or stroke on the trek up to Machu Picchu last year (the Doctor said more my good fortune than anything else) and because I was diagnosed properly this time, the risk is very low of it happening now. I've been given some stunning white compression bandages to wear, an anti-clotting medication called Clexane which I get to self-inject into my stomach twice a day, and Warfarin to thin my blood (which I will have to take for the next 6 months at least) So, within a few weeks, all will be well.

The Not-so-Good-News - Apart from having to cope with the 'yuk' factor associated with injecting myself and the un-unsexy factor of the compression bandages, I am not to undertake any activities which involve unnecessary risk while taking these medications, because of excessive bleeding and slow clotting that occurs - immediately stopping riding my motorbike was the first order I was given (WTF ????) and I need to carry bandaids and bandages wherever I go in the event I cut myself as even a small cut will take ages to stop bleeding.

Now, the most hideous part ...the fact that because of the risk factors involved, I will never be able to take HRT again - now those ladies who are taking this gear will know what I mean when I say this is the news that makes jumping out planes without a 'chute seem appealing :) Seriously, I have tried the natural plant oestrogen's, and other alternatives including acupuncture, even bloody reiki - I still suffered enormously from the worst symptoms of menopause (yeah, I know ... sorry boys, too much information).

And the worst of the not-so-good news is that Tex is somewhere holed up in the wilds of Tasmania for the next three weeks, uncontactable for the most part, other than the occasional phone call from a pay phone (our mobile phone provider obviously got lost when he visited Tasmania to install towers - there is very little coverage). Whilst Tex is probably not going to miss seeing me inject myself, or dressing up in the Nanna Stockings, or for that matter, the hissy fits that may kick in when my HRT wears off tomorrow - I will miss his support, his company and even his bloody awful crap jokes ... all of which help to keep me grounded :)

I'm quite certain I'm being a precious drama queen, and that things will look and feel much better tomorrow, but right now I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself and wish more than ever that chocolate was on my freaky eating plan :)

What's Your Favourite Holiday Memory ?

Tex and I have had some truly memorable holidays over the past few years, having been fortunate enough to travel variously to France, mainland USA, India, Hawaii, South Africa, Indonesia and Fiji but none has been more enjoyable - or demanding - as our 2007 trip to South America where, amongst other things, we trekked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We do a lot of bushwalking in the Blue Mountains around our home, but this trek was incredibly taxing, not only because it was undertaken at high altitude, but the track was rocky and uneven and consistently steep :) But, the view at sunrise after three really difficult days trekking was a sight that will take some matching:





We have a sponsor child (named Junior) in Cusco, Peru so took the opportunity to visit him and his family during this trip as well. A highlight of this part of the trip was surprising Junior and his classmates at his school.



At this stage, Junior goes to school in the local village, but next year when he starts high school, he will have to walk two hours there and two hours back - then he'll have to help his dad on their farm when he gets home in the afternoon.



Watching talented Peruvian women dye, spin and weave alpaca wool into amazing, brightly coloured garmants, in a small village outside Cusco, was another highlight :)



Our trip was completed with a few days charging down the Amazon River, and staying in an eco-hut in the middle of the rainforest, with monkeys, macaws, cayman and tarantulas screeching, creeping and crawling all around us ! There was no electricity and lots of scary moments for this arachnophobic - but we did manage to catch a pirahna (even though it was only a few inches long - check out the teeth though :)



We are currently planning our holiday to Ireland in May this year, so that may eventually top my list. But for now, our adventures in Peru have given me my favourite holiday memories :)

Just Sickening ....

Not that there was ever any doubt, but this latest offering proves that there are no limits to the depths that these twisted, loathsome scum will plumb. Not content with the vilification of the gay community, this intolerant group of cretins have launched an attack on an actor who merely played the role of a gay man in a movie:

Anti-gay religious leader Fred Phelps has launched a scathing attack on Heath Ledger, saying his death was "the best thing that ever happened" to his family. The radical Kansas-based church plans to picket Ledger's memorial service which will be held in Los Angeles. Phelps, the 78-year-old pastor of the homosexual hate group from the US known as the Westboro Baptist Church also hit out against Australia, calling it "the land of sodom".

I am both sickened and saddened by this whole issue: I'm sickened by the bigotry, hatred and intolerance that evil people in this world put out there in the name of "religion" ....and I'm desperately sad for Heath Ledger's parents who are over here on the other side of the world, struggling to make sense of their son's death, who will read garbage like this. I'm sad for his young daughter Matilda who will grow up without ever knowing her father. I'm sad for the films that will never be made that would have further showcased this actors enormous talent.

There's no doubt: we live in a seriously fucked up world people....

How to Fake It (a Good Work Ethic) !

In the spirit of further exploring the path to mediocrity at work, here are some tips to help fake a good work ethic:

Keyword: Reports - get some of these. There's bound to be old ones in a filing cabinet somewhere. Toss several across your desk in a can't-contain-the-madness kind of way, including one right in front of you with a highlighter pen resting on top. Highlight purposefully whenever supervisors are hovering. Meanwhile, is too much Minesweeper ever enough ?

Tell your mother to call you whenever she has something to report about the neighbours. Tell her in advance not to worry when you answer your calls with, "Barry, you're killin' me with these margins" and "Hey, I never signed off on that !"

Try to pass out each night with your face planted in a hessian pillow. It creates permanent weight-of-the-world furrows in your brow :)

Occasionally it's a good idea to arrive at work early, but there's little point if no-one knows about it. Be sure to send a number of emails to your staff or your supervisor the minute you walk in the door. If you are stuck for something to write, try mentioning that the security guy for the building doesn't appear to arrive to start work until 0630h.

Turn up at least 30 minutes late for after-work drinks. This shows you must be really busy while also ensuring the first shout isn't yours.

Develop a code system for your post-it notes. Write "Haircut Friday" as "cross reference cost flow data 09/716" and "Remember Mum's birthday" as "Don't forget, stat's review Monday - full system back-up ! Delta Force 101 !!"

Request a new ergonomically designed mouse for your computer on the basis that the old one is giving you RSI. Behold the mountains of paperwork headed your way from the HR, OH&S and Tech Support departments. You'll also have to get medical officers reports to justify your request. The entire process should take you about four months and while it won't exactly be fun, it sure isn't productive enough to be anything like hard work.

Move into Middle Management.....


"I have long been of the opinion if work were such a splendid thing, the rich would have kept more of it for themselves"
Bruce Grocott (1940- )

Happy Australia Day !

Celebrating Mediocrity in a World that Tries Too Bloody Hard !

Okay, I'm at day 7 of a new job - same organisation though and I've decided that I am not even going to try and compete with my peers - No, I am going to pursue a life more ordinary :-) Embrace mediocrity and celebrate my inner-"whatver dude".

These little gems form part of my new philosophy and will help those of you out there who would like to follow me and take your first mediocre steps towards a blissfully more ordinary life (in fact, why don't you group e-mail this list to ten people you couldn't be bothered contacting personally ?)

Work: Karma does not exist in the workplace. If you give a talentless, manipulative, grossly unfair boss enough rope, he'll simply hang more people.

Delegate: Remember, a job worth doing is worth contracting out.

Good Health: Given that most serious health crises happen to people when they least expect them, it's good practice to imagine the worst. So yes, it's probably a tumour.

Achievement: If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try .... something else. Or don't. Whatever.

Jetsetting: Don't be conned by airline advertising (the likes of which QANTAS employ) that boasts a crash-free safety record. It just means they're due.

Parenting: It's best to view parenting like a sort of long-term lay-by plan that takes so long to pay of, you forget why you wanted it in the first place. Having said that, there is nothing in life more rewarding and satisfying as a child's unconditional love. It's just such a shame it doesn't last beyond the move to solids.

Hard Work: Make hay while the supervisor is watching.

Exercise: Everyone knows that a healthy body equals a healthy mind, and vice-versa. Watch as many yoga and exercise videos as you can. Personally, I like to put them on while I am ironing.

Love: Pick someone. Make it work. End of story.

Challenge: As Nike says - just do it. Unless of course you don't really want to.

Enlightenment: Buy every self-help book available. Pile them on top of each other and place a nice piece of polished Tasmanian Oak on the top. Wa-lah ! Coffee table.


"Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best"
(Sir Max Beerbohm (1872-1956)

What Colour Crayon Are You ??

I'm a bit over myself and my soul-searching posts at the moment, so here's a frivilous one to kick start the week :-)

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Daring to be Myself

Today I will dare to be myself. I may be tempted to put a smile on my face even though I am angry, just in order to please another person. When turning down an invitation, I may want to make excuses so that nobody will get hurt feelings. I may be inclined to cancel plans that I care about, without protest, because a loved one prefers to stay at home and I don't want to make waves. I may give the best chop to my son and keep the burned one for myself. These may be perfectly acceptable choices, and I may opt for any or all of them.

But today I will be honest with myself as I do so - I will not pretend to feel what I do not feel or to want what I do not want. I have a right to want what I want and to feel the way I feel. I may not choose to act on those feelings or desires, but I won't hide them from myself. They are part of me.

"This above all: to thine own self be true".
William Shakespeare