eclectic passion

In work today, L had me doing different tasks to normal and said that in the next few weeks, she’s going to teach me more stuff. I love learning and working in the credit union, it’s the best work experience I’ve ever had :)

Watching the last episodes (for now! There’ll be a new series out hopefully sometime this year) of an internet series (episodes on youtube) called ‘Awkward Black Girl.’ I can’t emphasise enough how awesome this show is, ok there’s quite a lot of cursing so be warned, but the show’s just such a breath of fresh air and subverts all the stereotypes, I only discovered it last week and already I’ve watched every single episode of the first and second series. Link to the first episode here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIVa9lxkbus

Also pretty cool is a youtube channel called ‘iamOTHER’- it has episodes of Awkward Black Girl and another great show called Stereotypes- however this is more interviewing real life people and asking their opinions and in which ways they do and do not conform to stereotypes- it’s really mind expanding!

If you are not offended by a little cursing I’m sure you’ll love Awkward Black Girl, IMHO it’s the new ‘Scrubs.’ :)

Today being warm enough for me to be able to go to work without a coat

Had a long, interesting conversation with L.A at work about the former Soviet Union (she’s from Belarus) and travelling- it’s the first time I’ve really opened up to her and I felt it broke the ice quite a bit (not that there was that much ice to begin with…lol… but it’s always nice to break what ice does exist!)

Rice, chips and beans in sweet and sour sauce for tea- delish :)

10 days til our Norway cruise (which stops in Ireland on the way) :D

I was ok at putting them in, but not good at taking them out. The mistake I made last time was telling all my friends and family that I was trying them out, it put a kind of subconscious pressure on me. So this time, well I might be telling 43ters, but I’m not gonna go around telling people who know me.

While I don’t hate my glasses (I’ve worn them pretty much my whole life) and would probably still wear them a bit, it would be lovely to be able to have a choice between glasses and contacts, especially for going out somewhere. Plus, most eye makeup doesn’t show up well under glasses I find, I have quite big eyes so if I wore contacts I’d experiment much more with makeup that accentuates them :)

I felt like I was guaranteed to fail, and as each grading lasts 3+ hours (because they always have a long training session beforehand) I felt it wasn’t worth the effort if I knew I was gonna fail. I’d rather wait til I get really good at it (here’s hoping I ever get really good at it lol.) A little disappointing that I won’t be getting it soon, but I think I made the right decision…I feel a lot more relaxed now :)

‘Life is an act of God. Wherever anyone lives or loves, God is acting. That act deserves not to be relegated to fine print, but splashed across the masthead of our lives in bold headlines.’ – Vishal Ponnappa

“By deliberately changing the internal image of reality, people can change the world.”

- Willis Harman

to give one of my books, the one that I felt (and still feel) unable to read because of it’s gory nature in places, away. I’m learning to just avoid the stuff that doesn’t benefit me mentally, and seeing as this is fiction, it’s hardly morally vital that I read it. I’m going to stick to books within my comfort zone, that uplift and inspire me…there are so many books in the world, so why force yourself to read one that makes you depressed?

and I’m feeling really apprehensive about it. It’s hard being the only non black-belt- but-one in a class full of Dan grades, there’s a lot to live up to! However I have been practising and going to extra training, and that’s all I can do under the circumstances. Please wish me luck :)

It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. —Dale Carnegie

so so SO true! I can’t emphasise it enough!

I’ve now been single for 4 years and 2 months, unless you count one fling that I had about two years ago. (so I guess really only ‘single’ single about 2 years, but not in a serious relationship for 4 years.) My relationship CV definitely needs upgrading! But I don’t want to settle for just anyone, they’ve got to have a great personality and there has to be real chemistry between us (there was a guy last year who I really liked the personality of and I tried to convince myself I fancied him, but I just didn’t)- someone I would be proud for my parents and friends to meet as well :)

They were giving out flyers at the credit union and on reading one of them, I saw that it said you had to be a member to have a loan. From what I had been taught, I knew this wasn’t the case. I inquired about it and apparently they’d made a mistake- I was the first to notice :)

- Playing pool with my father in our local pub. I’m definitely improving! Though it didn’t help him that he potted the black on his first go in one of the games lmao :P

11/05/13

- Finding out that I will possibly be able to get a lift to the karate club this week for extra training- this should mean that I am able to do my grading (for my red belt) this month :D

12/05/13

- Visiting my aunty M with Mum, had a good chat with her and it’s always nice to catch up with her. Her cat, D is adorable, the sweetest-natured cat I’ve met in my life :)(and the oldest-she’s 20 years old!)
- Visiting my uncle J- feels good to be busy and again he’s always great to catch up with.
- Rhubarb crumble in the evening- yum :)
- Another episode of The Voice UK on tonight- sure helps break up what for me is usually the most boring day of the week. I’ve been out and about and it’s been fun!

It’s so nice to finally have it, and the librarian said it was one of the funniest books she’s read in her life, although she says it naturally has a few dark moments. I’m not touching it at the moment, I’m leaving it to read on my holiday to Norway, which I will be going to in roughly 3 weeks. Woo!

‘The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.’ -Leo Tolstoy

Today I initiated a conversation with D- who I’ve barely said more than a few words in the past- and got to know a bit more about her. I’m pleased I had the confidence to do this :)

This was a typical chick lit novel (not meant in a derogative sense)- it was interesting, had many plot twists and had a lovely warm (if slightly incredible) ending. Would I read more books by this author? Quite possibly!

to ‘wear skirts and dresses more, period.’ (which I have been doing)

Today in karate I felt like I’d improved a lot, I was hitting better and making contact :) The instructor S seemed to think so too, he’s a lot better than A, who just seems to (unintentionally) knock my confidence. What’s more, they’re entering me for my red belt which I will sit in the next few weeks. So excited! :)

29/04/13

- Having something new to read (went to the library), lately I LOVE reading!
- Playing pool with my Dad in the local pub. I also made a little bit more effort with my appearance than I normally do when playing pool and as a result felt much more confident. The games were really close, I did some awesome pots (for once haha…usually I have the co-ordination skills of a drunken wasp!) and I ended up winning 3-2. It was also nice to go to a local, but not our usual pub for a change, a change of scene and all that.
- Dad offering to do the washing up so I didn’t have to do it tonight :)
- A delicious evening spent watching TV- Mike & Molly, Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Crew and Snog Marry Avoid? I’m not usually a TV junkie except on a Monday

30/04/13
- C turning up to work today- despite the fact that he said originally he wasn’t gonna come in til next week. It was nice to have some company after S had left…
- Chicken kiev for tea- yummy!
- My new pearl earrings…I absolutely love pearls! They’re proper silver too, so they shouldn’t hurt my ears :)
- The book I got from the library (The Men I Loved by Adele Parks)- it’s really good, if you like chick lit. I’m on chapter 13 already and I only got it yesterday! (unusual for me.)
It’s strange that the books I’ve been picking up lately I can relate to a lot- despite not knowing they contained certain topics when I selected them.

I’ve read several Jodi Picoult books which covered issues such as adoption and the supernatural (I have an interest in the afterlife/near death experiences) a book by Lorrie Moore about adoption, and this current book by Adele Parks which is about a woman who doesn’t want children of her own when her partner does (again, I can so relate, this happened in my last relationship.)Though unlike her I feel a desire to adopt one day…not for a long while though!