27 Today

Today with much trepidation I turned 27.. leaving the era of "mid-twenties" behind and officially entering my "late-twenties".

I feel that a lady of my age, should perhaps be a little less excited about my birthday.  But this morning at 6 am I was awake and knocking on my parents door (that's right.. 27, single and living with my parents) to see what presents awaited me.

The sad thing is as you get older, the less fuss is made, when really I think more fuss should be made. I mean, I have survived 27 years in this dangerous world. A ten year old has only made ten.  Surely I have more reason to celebrate than them?

An entitlement to celebrate myself and the year that has been I think is completely valid.

So today I celebrate that since I turned 26 I have:

• Left my crappy supermarket job and got a real job
• Erased my debt with UK credit card providers, Australian credit card providers and Bank of Daddy
• Been on 4 dates
• Kissed only 3 boys
• Resolved to stop allowing unworthy gentleman access to my lady parts (and hence have gone through many packets of batteries)
• Completed half of a diploma in journalism and feature writing
• Almost decided on what I want to do with my life
• Put on 7 kilos and lost 4 (3 to go! Woo!)
• Attended 1 High School Reunion
• Battled with a stubborn case of adult acne
• Got my very first family dog.. in fact my very first family pet ever
• Have welcomed 4 friends babies into the world
• Seen 6 of my lovely friends deal with nasty break-ups
• Have been on 3 awesome trips – Bundaberg, Sydney & Byron
• Watched many, many hours of The Tudors, Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory and Modern Family
• Spent countless hours daydreaming about the men of The Tudors and Gossip Girl (Chuck Bass, if you're reading.. feel free to have your way with me)

So as I prepare for a lovely home-cooked birthday dinner with traditional birthday trifle I’m thinking, despite first appearances, I’ve actually done alright for myself this year.

Recovery

I went out last night. It was one of my very best friends birthdays so we went out to celebrate.

The problem is with these sorts of occasions is that there is the expectation of having a good time and that puts all sorts pressure on you.

Don’t get me wrong, I had fun, I think.  I’m not sure I remember.  But I had a high expectation was not fulfilled.

I’m also disappointed in my behaviour last night. Most of it is blacked out.  I don’t remember how I got home.

I’m looking forward to next weekend and the possibility of a DVD marathon with the birthday girl.  I think these days thats’ my sort of night out. 

Sometimes I think that perhaps I am too old for this.

A Family Affair

Today is my mothers birthday.

Please do not mistake me, I love my mother. What I dislike is having to pretend that I enjoy doing family things. Lunch was, delightful. Going to 5 different shops in search of a bedspread (not sheet sets, a bedspread) is not.

It is highly important in these sorts of situations to give the correct opinion.  The wrong opinion will draw out this shopping expedition for another 3 hours longer than necessary. Unfortunately in this circumstance I also have to feign having an interest in bedspreads. 

Lord give me strength.

2000 – 2009: A Decade In Review

Today is the 2nd of January 2010.  The second day of the year and the second day of the new decade.

The “Noughties” was a decade of change for me.

2000: Year 12, don’t work as hard as I should have but received good grades nonetheless. Am awkward looking, all legs, ass and arms as boobs have not yet arrived.  Awful fashion sense.  Very sad to leave school.

2001: Started university.  Studying (to my dismay) business, when would have rather been studying at NIDA or similar.  Think about leaving but decide to stick it out as was the easy thing to do.  Hoped to make lots of new friends at university, but found that it was as cliquey as High School.

2002: Year two of university.  Change my major from Tourism (pft.. what a joke) to International Business.  Decide that I want to travel. Obtain drivers license and first car – a 1987 Toyota Cressida with blue velour interior. Pa dies. 

2003: Final year of university.  Finish degree successfully, but having not tried nearly as hard as I should have.  Finally hook up with boy I had had crush on for year.  Boobs arrive. 

2004: Embark on a camping trip of Europe and see things I have dreamed about seeing all my life. Travel to Dublin, France, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Corfu, Germany, Liechtenstein. Set out on my new life in London but quickly find that it was more expensive that I thought and had no chance of getting a decent job.  Return home with tail between legs.  Get job in Real Estate.  Turn 21.

2005: A bleak year where I realise coming home from London was stupidest thing I had ever done.  Despise my job.  Take up Latin Dancing and quickly become very good at it. See Meat Loaf in concert. 

2006: Have nervous breakdown and run away from Sunshine Coast.  Arrive Terminal 1 Heathrow 19th June.  Bum around for awhile.  Go to Prague, Liverpool. Live in a hostel. Have heaps of fun drinking.  Hook up with lots of boys.  First cold Christmas. Work in a bookstore.

2007: Meet THE-Ex and start a disastrous 2 year love affair destined to end in tears.  Travel to Amsterdam, Dublin, Croatia.  Get a job in television.  Meet some of the best friends I have ever had. Spend Christmas in Scottish Highlands alone as THE-Ex was off cheating on me on a ski trip. 

2008: Move out of hostel into The Vale.  Ditch THE-Ex.  Meet the loveliest boy in the world, who I treated terribly.  Travel to Turkey, Oktoberfest, Copenhagen, Sweden, La Tomatina Festival and all around the UK.  Meet some more of the best friends I have ever had.  Do good in career. Start seeing THE-Ex again.  Leave London in a blaze of glory to return home.  Turn 25. Job prospects look bleak.  Very depressed end to the year.  But best New Years Eve ever.

2009: Go to Perth, have heart broken by THE-Ex again.  Spend a miserable 6 months on the dole due to the Global Financial Crisis.  Granny dies. Get job in supermarket.  Meet some friends at job, but find my soul slowly dying from mindless, monotonous job.  Turn 26.  Pleasant Christmas & New Years. Finally get a career job to start on January 4th. 

So that’s my decade in review.  Bring on the next decade, which there still seems to be much debate as to what we are calling it.  The teens? The tens?  I hope someone decides soon. 

365 Days – 365 Posts. The S.L.O.Ginger Project!

Today I went and saw ‘Julie & Julia’; a fabulous movie about a chef and a blogger. A friend recommended it to me and said she knew I would want to blog about it afterwards.  Well, she was correct.

Once again I have come across something that inspires the creative bones in my body.  It reminded me that I want to be a writer.  One day, before I leave this world, I want to walk into a bookstore and see upon a shelf a book with my name on it.  I don’t care if it’s not a bestseller, or if nobody reads it.  But I want to write it so bad.

This dream of mine is one that is fleeting.  I can’t seem to stick to it, or dedicate the time to it.  I get inspiration for blogs all the time whilst driving or in my mundane job but never get the patience to sit down with my laptop and do it.

Last Monday I turned 26. An age where I thought I would have accomplished so much more in my life.  25 was an extremely mediocre year for me and I am determined that 26 will be spectacular. So here is my project…

Every day from now until my 27th birthday I am going to post at my blog that has been neglected for so long.  I am going to build my readership and improve my writing.  And that is not all… I’m going to take control of my life and be open to new opportunities.

Stay tuned my (few) faithful followers, it’s going to be an entertaining year!

All Grown Up With No Place To Go

Something happened the other day.  It was the point in my life where I think I officially became a grown up (there is a substantial difference from being an adult and being a grown up I think)
My 26th Birthday is approaching, and my Mother asked me what I wanted for my birthday.  Usually the answer to this question is something along the lines of Puppy, Trampoline, Shoes, DVD’s, CD’s, Stereo, iPod etc. Fun stuff. Stuff that you can play with. 
My response this year was Shampoo.  I no longer have the urge to put in orders with Santa for fun stuff, just items that are essentials so I don’t have to buy them for myself. 
When did this happen? When did I become all dull?  Should I accept that the carefree fun of youth is well and truly behind me? Or should I go and drink goon and play ping pong with my teenage friends? 
But perhaps I am stressing prematurely.  I was shopping in the toy section of Target for my 3 year old Nephews birthday and was awestruck by "The Wizard of Oz” Barbie Dolls.  Please feel free to present me with one on my birthday.  Many Thanks.