Women's Lib

I don't think I believe in Woman's Liberation.

I'd make a terrible suffragette! (Or PolSci student!)

Maybe it's just me, but I actually don't really like my job all that much (surprise surprise!) and (if I was married...) would much rather stay home and keep house.

Is that really so bad???

I was reading a (very, very old) magazine article about how more and more women are giving up their careers and keeping house. Apparently these women throw the same amount of devotion that they give to their job into their housekeeping. The analysts say that it's all swings and roundabouts. It's a generational thing apparently - the generation previously (or maybe even previously previously!) were all fired up about women being able to be equal in the workforce.

Now were are (mainly) and we just don't really care anymore.

Funny, isn't it? I still believe in equality. I just think that if it were up to me I'd choose to do that. That and maybe paint on the side - just because I can.

But hey, maybe that's just because stationary really isn't that exciting.

Oh yeah...

As of now, comments are moderated. Simply because people are too scared to leave their names here but think that it's okay to leave lame insulting attempts at humor here.

So yeah, suck it up and grow some balls, if you want to talk smack then at least do me the courtesy of not hiding behind something as lame as "Anonymous"

Thanks ;)

Over and Out

Tonight was the last night of term for Arts School!! Crazy how we've already been through TWO (that's right, not one but TWO) terms!!! So...we had a performance tonight.

And we ROCKED!!!

Seriously, we were awesome. AND despite the cold hands and nerves and whatnot - it was pretty fun.

So, we get a wee break and then it's back to the grind :)

Nacho Nights!!!

Mel had set up the table VERY nicely for us :)

Bread...

Yummy dip :)

Balls :)

Izook's name tag :) Spelt correctly too!

Jen + Me :)

Mmm...wine :)

Monkey Bay sav...my favorite wine EVER ;)

Couple 1

Couple 2 (except Mel looks scary there!)

Couple 3 ;)

Tea...yummy!!!

Cheesecake!!! Yummy!!!

Yes, I realise there are no nachos at nacho night. But that is the name we call our wee couples' nights. So there! And usually we DO have nachos, this time Mel wanted to make a roast - and we let her. Muhaha.

This actually wasn't a particularly exciting entry!!! Gah :P

Changes...

I thought it was time for a new look.

Also...for those graphically minded amongst you, I've started another journal just for resources I've made.

Izook and I have been working on getting our own little webdesign business off the ground for awhile now. We've had a couple of jobs, but we're both so busy we haven't managed to get the actual business webpage live. An offshoot of this is that I want to run my own gallery with photography (for sale) as well as free-for-all resources AND exclusive member only resources.

http://piratepup.livejournal.com

This is just a bit of a teaser/a way to garner some interest so that I can actually get design/graphic minded people to come and download resources. So if you're interested, check it out! There's not a HUGE deal there at the moment, just a couple of icon texture packs. But hopefully I'll have some brush sets, gradients etc etc coming at ya soon!

There's also a handy link in the links bar. (Yes, I am so, so smart! Lol.)

And when the real website is up and running I'll let you know too...cuz I'm nice that way.

Food glorious food

Us having tea at Willowbank

The rellies have gone. Well, actually, one relative and one friend of relative. But that's okay...in the long run we are all one big happy family.

Anyway, in the two weeks (or so) they have been here I have taken a crapload of photos.

Mussels = entree = YUMMY!!!

We went to Willowbank as a sort of "farewell tea" last night. I'd never been there before. As part of the meal you get to go on a night tour of parts of the park and take a look at some of the native (and not so native) wildlife.

Mmm...dessert :)

The lovely ladies paid for us all - which (as I've had a look at prices for the meal/tour on the website) was VERY nice considering the price!!!

The food was REALLY good. Plus, there were deer right outside the window where we were sitting.

See? Cute little deer!

Crapness of the pictures is due to the fact that they wouldn't stay still and that there was reflection off the glass. Silly deer!!! They are also really greedy! When the got fed they kept shoving each other out of the way in order to get closer to the food!!!

Kai moana... :) Yummy!

We had a seafood platter as a starter and being the seafood loving yet deprived person that I am...I really enjoyed it. There were also oysters there...I don't like oysters. But I managed to convince Isaac to eat at least half of one. (Hence picture in previous post)

Dessert! Pav and chocolate cake. Yummy!

There was also a REALLY nice fruit salad there. Normally I don't even like fruit salads, but this was GOOD.

Yes, I know I only have pictures of the entrees and dessert. This is not at ALL intentional. The mains were REALLY good as well. It was roast beef and lamb and hangi-cooked pork. YUMMY!!!!

Candles!

Romantic! Even with parents and extended family! Haha. Actually, I really liked the candle holders. They were carved into stone and had a koru on the outside in green. Very cool!

Taking you videoing me.

The tour was also very cool. All native wildlife. Unfortunately, because it was dark most of the photos didn't turn out very well. But I have the memories. (cue sympathetic sigh!)

Kea...the parrots that try to destroy your cars :)

Kunekune!

That's a baby one, the grown up one was hiding from the cold. It did get up and walk around a little before that though and it was HUGE. But the little baby was so cute!!!

Two swans and their baby :)
Pukeko!!!

I tried taking photos/video of the kiwi - I mean, what kind of person wouldn't??? But because you can't use flash photography AT ALL with them all the photos turned out somewhat dark and fuzzy. Lol. I don't think you can actually see the kiwi in there.

Still it was pretty cool to walk amongst them - so to speak!

Fun times!

I hear they made it home safely. 40kg of luggage (each!) included - which is a relief!! (Haha!)

Flash!

A real post soon...I promise :)
abi-j.deviantart.com

Cold :P

It's been a busy week despite NOT being at work. Lol. In three days we managed to canvass a large portion of the South Island with my cousin, Amandia and her friend, Joanne. It's been fun - if not COLD. We have had some stunning scenery though - it's like NZ is putting on a show!

Isaac's been a legend - I didn't think I was quite ready to brave the icy roads for 6hours of driving so he did it all. (I did offer a couple of times on the way back...)

It was pretty awesome to see though. I get inspired every time we go down south - which is not THAT often to be fair. But I always end up with new ideas and a crapload of photographs. Although I must say I haven't quite gone as far as my dear cousin, who at last count had over 600 photos on her digital camera.


It was much fun as far as road trips go - although our inability to get a fire started on the first night did cause some initial concerns - especially given Wanaka's frosty mornings! (Unlike here where it is currently...RAINING.)


Plus it was good to catch up and hang out and show them my side of the world. (So to speak!) That and they paid for us to go Shotover Jet-ing. (J/k...it would still be fun even if they hadn't done that - they certainly didn't need to!)

They're here till Thursday - though I only have till Monday off work (whoops!). But still. It'll be fun times.

Palestine and Israel

We had this really interesting speaker at church last night. He was a Palestinian christian living in Bethlehem. It was great, he was really funnyn and REALLY well educated. He basically gave us the entire backstory to the Palestine/Israel conflict - which is great for an uneducated person like me! - and talked about how it's not about who should get the land but that we should learn to love people on both sides of the fence.

Which is true because that's totally what Jesus talked about. You know, he loved the sinners and the prostitutes and the tax collectors. Not just because they were Jews either! He had no time for the self-righteous people of the day.

And to be fair I don't either.

Both the Israelis and the Palestinians have committed wrongs in this war. I don't think there's actually any point in playing "the blame game" it's gone on too long and every thing's so tangled up that it would be impossible to really make any sense of blaming anyone.

But the truth is we don't really hear about the Palestinian side of the story. All we hear is what the western media drip feeds us about how Israel is oppressed. The heavily biased western media I might add.

Israel has performed it's fair share of injustices but in the west we tend to herald them as God's chosen people and thus it is their right to have this land that they took by force anyway. And I'm not saying that they're NOT God's chosen people - the bible clearly states that they are. But the bible also says that we are ALL God's people; Jews AND Gentiles.

Let's face it, all of us who are NOT jews are Gentiles.

I just can't reconcile a LOVING God, a God who loves the WHOLE world (John 3:16!!!) and a just and fair God with what is going on with the Middle East. I don't reconcile that idea with us supporting the "relocation" of people from their homes into refugee camps.

We have a new covenant. It was written in Jesus' blood. It's not about land it's about loving other's as you would love yourself. It's about loving other's as Jesus would.

It just reminds me of the old testemant and how time and time again God warned the Israelites and he called them a "stiff-necked people" and how they were always proud and how he always had to take them down a peg or two.

I'm not anti-Israel. But I refuse to be anti-Palestine. Those people have as much of a right to be there as the Israelis do. I don't understand why they couldn't intergrate in the first place - because they sure as heck can't intergrate now. But I don't understand why they won't leave it alone either. They have their land, why should they continue to try and push their authority over the Palestinians?

I don't get it.

Hmm..

Sometimes I think I like to borrow trouble. Maybe it's a sign of how insecure I can be. Who knows, really...I think as human beings we can all be in a bit of a mess.

I'm probably just overtired and cold. I hate how it's always dark when I get up now that winter's really here. It makes me want to leave bed even less. I'd honestly marry my bed if I could.

And if that wouldn't be immensely weird!!!

The sky this morning...

I thought it looked pretty. Now, if only it weren't so damned cold!!! Oh well, no work for over a week - I can' t be unhappy with that now can I???

Eww...our window is somewhat filthy!!!

Ugh...people

I don't know why stupid people exist.

OR why the call us at work right at the end of the day, thus inundating us with their stupidness and making us want to shoot ourselves...

Seriously.

I had this woman ring who obviously couldn't understand what I was saying. She needed everything told to her 3 times and she STILL didn't get it. I was about to ask her to learn to, firstly, READ and secondly to ring back when she was going to be less stupid.

HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO ORDER A BROWN PAPER BAG AND ARRANGE A RETURN???

After all...if this kid can do THIS:

Queen's Birthday

I enjoy the fact that the Queen has a birthday in June. It just means a holiday for us - which I appreciate. Basically, I'm being paid to be at work now. YES!

I bet you it's not actually the Queen's birthday - just some obligatory term for us needing a holiday in June. But I'm not going to complain.

It has been the weekend for birthdays though. On Friday Mel and I headed to the Dux for a couple of drinks in celebration of Soraya's birthday - even though it wasn't till Saturday. But it was fun times! There were quite a few of us and Raya was getting quite happy on wine so it was pretty entertaining.

I'd also invited myself over to Mel's for tea earlier - but that's a whole nother story! Lol. I'm so rude sometimes...

When we got there she was considering making self saucing pudding!! Luckily we talked her out of it!!!! Crazy woman! But I love her, she's awesome!

AND...yesterday was Wolf's birthday. His parents had RUDELY (j/k it was a completely legitimate reason...) gone to Rotorua so we shouted him lunch after church. Complete with birthday cake!! (Yes, we are "o" for orsome...) And candles!! And after 545 Lou and Mel were going to shout him tea but (for some reason) we all ended up back at the flat with four pizzas and wedges. (Mmm...home made wedges...) And also a tub of "deep blue sea" ice cream - an intriguing "tropical flavored ice cream with lemon sorbet and fish shaped jellies". And yes, more cake because we didn't finish it all at lunchtime.

Fun times...we are such children sometimes. We all sat there in the dark giggling because we were pretending to hide while Wolf was in the loo...

Haha...

I'm so glad I don't have to go to work today. It's *FREAKING* freezing. My hands are cold because they are outside of my blanket. And firefox tells me that it's -2 degrees at the moment.

Brrrr....

I don't know what I'm doing today - I think the two student flatmates are studying and the other flatmate will probably go to her family's. Isaac is also studying. Students are boring when you're not one of them... We've officially been in the flat a year today though!!! Crazy isn't it??? Who would have thought we'd last this long!!! :)

And when the smoke clears...

Awwww...