Things that are annoying me

1. Rent inspections. On the one hand they suck - I really don’t like having people wandering through “my” house, looking in my pantry and oven to make sure they are clean. It’s really aggravating to have to clean when I don’t really feel like it - which was especially true over the weekend being sick. On the other hand, having inspections every 3 months means the house is kept relatively clean I guess. But still, very annoying.

2. Writers who constantly brag on Twitter about how much work they’re getting done. Gee I’d love to be one of those writers who gets up at 5am each day and starts tapping away on the novel but I’m definitely not. I’ve written about 1500 words on my current project and I feel guilty for each day that goes by that I don’t add to it.

3. Channel 9 completely failed yesterday afternoon. I’d given myself 2 hours off cleaning so I could watch a favourite movie “On Moonlight Bay” and I’d watched about an hour of it and all of a sudden it switches to some damn footy show! No explanation just - gone! Really, really annoying.

4. No offense to anyone but all this conjecture about what killed Michael Jackson is also extremely annoying. No-one knows for sure as all the toxicology reports haven’t come back and even when an official cause of death is released what good will that do for anyone? Him dying is big news - I understand that. But this constant media barrage is not good. It’s like the coverage we received after 9/11 - constant and unrelenting (of course the two events are poles, poles apart). This is part of the reason why studying journalism just doesn’t appeal to me anymore. Parts of the profession seem so intrusive and unseemly.

5. Coughing in the supermarket. I was up at the shops this morning and I had the audacity to cough a few times while waiting in the checkout. If they could have, I’m sure the customers standing nearby would have wrestled me to the ground, stuck a hepa filter over my head and doused me in a mist of Glen-20. Coughing isn’t a crime people. H1N1 has got people jumpy that’s for sure. (Actually another interesting thing happened at the shops this morning. We were all waiting around at the checkouts, they had about 2 or 3 open and there were about 12 people waiting, carts full. Another checkout opened and a young couple made a move over to it with the man streaking ahead to beat anyone else. There was a woman in the checkout next door who moved across to the newly opened one - she got behind the man, but the man’s wife (who was wheeling the trolley) cut in front of the woman who in turn started a big ruckus about karma and what goes around comes around etc. Sometimes you have to just let it go - especially when the jilted woman could’ve just gone through the 12 items or less aisle.)

Things that are inspiring me

New nail polish. Love the bright pink colour. It’s by Sally Hansen - Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Fuchsia Pink.

Being Human - a show about a vampire, werewolf and ghost all living in the same house. We watched the pilot last week and I loved it. Can’t wait to watch some more episodes this week.

*Sigh* If only I could knit! I could knit this crabby thing!

I seriously love this idea that I saw on Design Sponge a few weeks ago. As an anniversary present Grace of Poetic Home made her husband this great gift of typed up library-esque cards with important dates in their relationship. This appeals to me on many different levels - I love the typed cards - they remind me of my old typewriter. I also like the idea of chronicling important dates and things that happen. Would be great to look back on as time goes by.

A part of my routine for finding inspiration is trawling through images on Tumblr or Visualize. These images sometimes help if I’ve got a bit of writer’s block going on. I found the image above and it’s helped me to get some clarity for a new story idea. I find that I’m really responsive to visual cues - I tend to suck if someone gives me a verbal or written writer’s prompt but if you give me a photo - no problems. I’m no brain surgeon but I believe this may work in the same way that I’m more inclined to remember what a person looks like rather than their name. Something to ponder.

Have a good Monday!

Rain from the office window from Krissy on Vimeo.

It’s been raining for the last few hours which is fine with me. I’m inside, rugged up, with a dog at my feet. Unfortunately I’m sick….again. That’s the third time this year. I’m not sure what is going on with my immune system but it really sucks.

I had to sell my Nikon D70s last year. I really miss it. Especially when there are thunderstorms around.

These pics were taken on Jan 20, 2007. It was a beautiful, big storm and Tony and I sat down by the river and took these photos. A great memory.

I’m a big fan of poetry. Back in the day I used to consider myself quite the poet - I’d carry around hard cover journals filled with melanchology and late teenager angst in ode form. Of course, looking back on these now I cringe and I would never, ever, ever disclose their location lest someone may coming looking for them when I become a famous, well paid author ( ).

Anyway, if I could write really exceptional poetry I’d love them to be wrapped in some of these gorgeous covers that were designed for Faber & Faber’s 80th Birthday celebrations. Senior Designer Miriam Rosenbloom and the Faber & Faber team commissioned the works of several talented illustrators to create the covers. Really unique and striking don’t you think?

My favourite is the Ted Hughes volume, illustrated by Mark Hearld.

(via Design Sponge)

Some nice rain around today. Of course I would like it if it just set in for a couple of days - Vancouver style - but alas it isn’t to be.

I love my iPhone. Seriously. And hand in hand with that love comes my obsession with new and wonderful iPhone apps. Here are some of the apps I’m loving at the moment.

OzWeather
One of the most used apps on my iPhone, this is really handy. It gives you a seven day forecast, updated observations and radar loops. OzWeather is perfect for all the junior weather watchers out there. ($2.49)

Instapaper
I often get sidetracked by reading links within articles or blog posts - and sometimes I just don’t have the time to read them thoroughly so I have save them to my Instapaper account to read later. The free app works great and integrates with a web version. (free)

Amateur Surgeon
I love playing games on my iPhone and this is one of my faves. You play a dodgy looking Amateur Surgeon who uses tools like pizza cutters, a vacuum, corkscrew and a lighter to perform major surgery on some unsuspecting patients. Great fun. ($3.99)

Shazam
Ever heard a song on the radio and wished you knew who was singing it or its name? Shazam can identify music by just holding your phone towards the source and clicking “Tag”. It works great and has managed to identify all the songs I’ve asked it to. (free)

Gratitude Journal
Sometimes, you just need to identify all the good things that happen in life - especially when there is so much bad stuff being thrown at us during the day. Gratitude Journal is perfect for storing all the nice stuff. ($1.19)

What are your favourite iPhone apps? Please share!

Are you an iPhone app builder? Would you like me to review your product? Send me an email (tooaskew at gmail) or leave a comment!

We had some lovely storms roll through last night. Ferocious storms. Infact, there was one particularly loud thunderclap that had me cowering under a doona. It scared the bejeezus out of me. Probably didn’t help that I had the windows of the loungeroom wide open

Mum took these photos on Monday morning. They have a great view of the hills from their balcony - unlike us - we have a view of our neighbours tin shed. Boo!

I’ve been sick for the last few days with a cold/flu and incredibly sore back and even though I should be in bed I’m in the office this morning just sorting some things out. Luckily for me, my bed is about 15 steps away from where I’m sitting so if I need to I can rush back to the safety and comfort of my doona.

Just thought I’d share some of the things I have in my office at the moment. Enjoy!

{the fairy wand that I got as a part of my birthday party flair. It’s now stuck to my office door}

{piggy eraser from smiggle, my favourite nailpolish Rimmel 60 Seconds “Deliciously Dark”, assorted face creams and all my ‘good’ pens }

{a steaming hot cup of milo to help soothe my sore throat}

{my tiara (also birthday flair) and my notebooks. pink one is a smiggle diary, brown one is o-check from notemaker.com.au and the black one is another o-check. It’s hardcover and I use it to write bits and pieces for my novel(s)}