Halloween 2005

I've just noticed that I can add these in a text post rather than taking a HUGE photo - per page. This way is much better. I can explain them, now, too ... ooooh! smart girl! This is a pretty cool wig!

Permanence

What is permanent. I can change my name, my address, my "profile"... hell, I can even change my looks (from clothing to body parts). Somehow, I'm supposed to conjure up loyalties for companies that could sack me, lovers that most likely leave and family that may or may not be there for me. Maybe this is more a question of consistency/constants. hmmmm....

Adam / Seb

I'm a very proud aunt... Adam Cian was born in April 2004. His mom and dad are dear friends of mine. This photo was from Christmas '04... generally, he likes to wear bright clothing. Gabriel Sebastian aka "Seb" or "the Kid" was born May 2004. His mom is my sister. His dad is a newfie - enough said. (last Christmas, too)... he doesn't enjoy wearing antlers but he's a good sport. ----------------------------------------------

Seb can take some mildly unflattering photos. Cute with a high "regret" factor. Not this one----> in particular but... these ones... eep!

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Christmas (daddy's girl) 

Oz in May 

Tim Tam initiation 

Oz_May 05 

Oz - from May 2005 (part 1)

One of the many kangaroos that I did NOT see in the front yard of my hosts' home.

Their cul de sac has a little park - with a HUGE spider web made of rope . Early morning I could be found by the inhabitants, wearing my pj's and draped in a bright yellow blanket. Is it really a wonder that they viewed me so strangely!?!

i left the Tdot on a Sunday afternoon, headed to L.A. (5.5 hour flight). I had a layover before leaving for Sydney but not long enough to leave the airport. This next leg of the journey was a 17 hour flight... a VERY long time to sit - don't ever go economy class for long journeys like this... unless you have an aisle seat and can walk, frequently. i asked for the window and regret it, still. *sniffle*

my day in Sydney was spent trying to get a tattoo. this was an unsuccessful adventure - searching for Sanskrit text. as a Christian, I was lacking in the comparison to my persistence and pursuit of another's Holy Script *hmmm*

here're some other sights i beheld:

what time is it?

good LORD! it's October, already! i swear i was 25, just yesterday... quoting Sex in the City "f*ck i'm old!" and now, i'm only days away from my 28th birthday... **insert song and dance** thankfully, 40 (or 50) is the new 30, so i've got loads of time to live. i used to think i'd die young - hoped i was special enough for God to take me early. **insert smack to the head** i was at a funeral on Saturday and the mourning family was content... their son lived his life fully... heeding his motto "Carpe Diem". when he died there were no regrets - save not wanting him dead. my friend pointed how uncommon this is. we all hope to say the same... throughout the service i was pondering the self-absorbed notion of what my funeral would be like. this family, in particular, was Irish and in true fashion celebrated his LIFE. i'd like that... for my life to be an example. asking my family what they would say are my best and worst traits... i fully anticipated what my "worst" traits were - *ahem*. however, i was taken aback by what was considered my best. i have spent so long trying to fix myself... it brought tears to my eyes that my perception of another's view of me could be so harsh. love is described as many things - all pervasive and Strong. how could i doubt its goodness, as well. i'm taking away from this life thing something good. and it's time i focused on it, too!

Nerd / Stud

a moment of "sharing" has revolutionized my outlook on relationships - friends, lovers, whatever! my attempts are akin to building a jigsaw puzzle - border first. i throw out the easy stuff, first... divorce, children, death and "would you still love me if i became a paraplegic?". for preparing men for marriage i score HIGH... but not any fruits i can enjoy - they marry (soon) after we break up. in years past this could have spurned an embittered rant... but not now. married people consistently share their "wish" to be single. *contented sigh* besides raising a few eyebrows and sounding "interior" alarms (run away, run away...) my intense and gruelling approach to love has been a one- sided attempt to avoid pain. how ridiculous and familiar i must seem. in gentleness and kindness, a dear friend explained the need to start by building a corner - creating a picture... not resembling a jigsaw puzzle of borders and such, at all! this mini portrait may only ever be a sketch or small snapshot. hopefully, it was an enjoyable experience. in moving on i can decide to replicate the illustration or create something wholly different or retain elements... whatever! God was Creator first and has consistently revealed Himself as Love. how much MORE in life-long relationships should this be exemplified (and worked at)?!! This makes me wonder about God - is he a nerd or a stud? i prefer a quality nerd, anyday... however, that would make him a stud, in my eyes. *ahem* such depth ;o)