An animal lovers delight - 31st October 2012

Oh so cute

I feel about animals the way most women feel about children. This divine little image sent me into a gooing garing frenzy today. I'm choosing to believe that the killer whale is trying to kiss the pola bear, not eat it. Tell me this isn't cuter than a baby! 

I spoke too soon - 30th October 2012

Is this real?

I spoke to soon. Yesterday I was lauding the value of the internet and its ability to increase your intelligence. And then, today, the smart dumb balance in the world was restored. Social media sites have been awash all day with dramatic photos of ‘Superstorm Sandy’ battering NYC. Some are brilliant, and others are clearly good Photoshop jobs. The remainder – it’s hard to tell. Where did you fall in the smart dumb balance today. Were you fooled?

The pic above caused a split in our office. Some were convinced, others not so much. Proof appeared a few hours later with the slightly enhanced version of the original below. I love it!  

While I can’t stop laughing, I am also questioning the validity of all that ‘knowledge’ I gained yesterday. Shit, have I been duped?

Surely, this isn't real

In the wise words of Michelangelo - 29th October 2012

What the hell did we do before the internet? Oh that's right, in my case I use to spend hours in the parliamentary library researching through newspaper archives and hard copy reports. Now everything we need is at the touch of a button. Today, thanks to the internet, I became a little smarter. In just an hour I gained a wealth of knowledge on a topic I now need to become a master in. It's quite incredible when you stop and think about the impact the internet has on our lives. I always say it's a bad day if you don't learn something. By all measures, it has been a very good day.  

Raspberry beret - 28th October 2012

Hilarious picture of Prince

Music has been the theme of my day. It started at 12.20am this morning when I knew I should be sleeping, but couldn't drag myself away from the 80's Party Mix on MAX TV. Raspberry Beret, need I say more. The theme continued in a shop this afternoon when a sales assistance broke into a rather badly choreographed set of dance moves as my credit card was processing. To me he looked ridiculous, but the look on his face said he was in his happy place. That's what music does, it takes you to your happy place. I may not appreciate the bags under my eyes from lack of sleep, but I am grateful for the smile music gave my soul today.   

Barack Obama on a bus - 27th October 2012

Barack found in the middle of Kenya

This time four years ago we saw Barack Obama on the back of a bus...in Kenya. The proud African nation was gripped with US election fever and we were immersed in the travel experience of a lifetime. How can those glorious days be a whole presidential campaign ago? Tell me where, where has the time gone?

The constant media coverage of the upcoming US election is making me nostalgic for those glory days. At the time I knew our trip – from the top to bottom of Africa's east coast – would be an incredible experience. What I didn’t know is that is would change my view of the world, alter who I am and awaken a restlessness in me that I haven’t been able to settle. Africa changed my world.

Every time I've seen Barack this week, my mind goes back to Africa. For that I am incredibly grateful. It’s been a timely reminder to focus on the plans I set at the end of that trip. It is time to kick a few of them into action.

As a side note, I wish it could be mandated that people must travel the world before they can settle down and make grown up decisions. Decisions are better made with perspective that you can’t get in your own backyard.

My little butterfly - 26th October 2012

My little butterfly

Today I have something big to be truly grateful for. Everything is right in the world again and I can breath. For the past few days I’ve been holding my breath as my beautiful little niece quickly went from having a cold to lying in hospital with pneumonia. She has been a vey sick little girl and the reality of this has frightened me to my core. I'm only her aunty, so I can’t begin to image how her mum (my sister) has felt, but she is one of the most important things in my world. A life without her in it is something I cannot contemplate. Today, after many prays and tears (ours not hers) she has improved enough to go home. There are not enough words to express how grateful I am. My world also has a little more perspective today. Big kisses to my princess with the butterfly face.

Fortune cookies - 25th October 2012

Yummy food but weird fortunes at China Lane

What is with fortune cookies containing messages that make little sense? When I bite into my cookie, I want to read something deep and insightful, or be told I am about to win the Lotto. I'm not looking for confusion or bad news. Tonight a friend received this gem: "Friends come and go but enemies accumulate". A bit dark for a fortune cookie! One fortune did draw a laugh from the table: "You will be in good hands tonight".
Speaking of good hands, that is exactly what I was in tonight. A dinner with good friends I haven't seen for a while was never going to disappoint. Here's to a fantastic evening with yummy food at China Lane.