Paradoxical

As of today, I've finally recovered from my seasonal-change cold. High five! Breathing feels so good.

Last weekend was taken up with my godson's 1st birthday party - how I miss the days of family lunches for baby b-days! The peer pressure my friends face when it comes to throwing their kids a party is ridiculous. Would that I could rest on my child-free laurels but instead I somehow volunteered to host the godson's party at my house and so ended up with 20 sugared-up kids making a mess all over my back lawn.

Everyone had a blast, though, so worth it. I did spend most of Sunday sleeping... at least until hubby decided that popping all the leftover balloons would be a good idea.

In fact, I've spent most of the week sleeping... as well as reading (finally finished Maplecroft, and got seven books for my birthday so devoured those too) and writing. Yep, I'm 27k into my effort for this year's NaNoWriMo and determined to finish on time, especially after bombing out with 2k to go last year.

Picked up the Passenger album Whispers II for some chill music to help calm my brain because I write more easily when I'm relaxed. I guess that's why some people drink or smoke pot. I can do neither - but then I have other tricks, like the music!

Hmm, so.  Updates.

Worked from 7.30am to 6pm today, which is nothing compared to my S.O. who left at 2.30am and still isn't home (and it's currently 8.15pm).

Going to a wedding on Saturday & have been manipulated into making 3x trifles for the reception dinner.  Bought some lovely big crystal bowls for displaying them and then had an aunty ring me to make sure that my bowls would match the rest of the serving-ware...  Honestly, when you're attempting to match bowls, you're taking things a bit seriously.  Especially considering that this wedding has kinda been thrown together over the last couple of months.  Still, it'll be nice to catch up with everyone, and the bride & groom deserve a nice day.

Got my exam results back, and it was a very good pass mark, so I'm happy about that.  Doing two papers this semester, which doesn't seem like a lot until you realise that I'm working 45 hours a week at one job & helping my partner run a business & doing most of the chores at home.  Makes for a busy week.

Heading to Rotovegas on Easter weekend (4 days off, woo) to spend some time with Mum & my lil brother.  I'm very excited about this, mostly because it means I can finally box up all my Dick Francis, Patricia Cornwell & Lee Child books and bring 'em home.

Speaking of home, my partner and I are currently looking for a new place to rent.  This one is okay, but it's kinda small and _old_ - now that we have a fair bit of extra income, we're looking to upsize.  But OMIGAWDZ is it hard to find a place that fits my S.O.'s demands...  Must be newish, 4 bedrooms, with a garage & backyard, no shared driveway, close to the motorway, close to a bus stop, close to my work, etc etc.  I think I've found one place that might be worth looking at (out of about 100 local places for rent), but co-ordinating our schedules to actually go and inspect it is gonna be a mission.

Today was clear and cold; summer is definitely heading out.  That's fine with me, as it means I get to start wearing jackets & scarves.  I love my winter wardrobe.

I got the job.  O_O

In other news, my friend just had a baby.  WHAT A GOOD DAY!

I have read:

• The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (for the third time, before the movie is released here)
• Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (rec'd by Mum & much enjoyed)
• A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick (I bought if for Mum on her b-day but hadn't read it myself)
• Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, and Spellbinder by L.J. Smith (first 3 of her Night World series for YA - As a teen, I loved her stuff)
• The Taking of Pelham One Two Three by John Godey (first time, in prep for the latest movie release)
• Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey (for the hundredth time, although it's been several years since I last picked them up)
• The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (after reading a post by the author on her LJ)
• A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (recommended in the same thread as The Demon's Lexicon)
• Storm Front by Jim Butcher
• A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

I have loved:

• Ladies, Please (Carry On Being Awesome)
• SurveyFail hilarity
• bechdel_test

I have listened to:

• The Wailin' Jennys - The Parting Glass
• Tahuna Breaks - black brown & white (new album)

And the rest of my free time has been spent playing WoW (my latest warlock is nearly 62 & the DK is 73).  Yay!

So, 5 things I'm grateful for on this Friday are:

1. Tax refunds & being able to claim them online with minimal effort
2. Warmer days as Spring approaches, and cheaper power bills
3. Free medical care in NZ; M had knee surgery last week & is on a lot of drugs, all paid for by ACC
4. Heroes Season 3 and Outrageous Fortune Season 6
5. B cooking all our meals this week, because I've been otherwise occupied

Favourite series include:

Patricia Cornwell; Scarpetta seriesI also like fanfic, mostly in the following fandoms:

I had a job interview this morning, and it went really, really well.  Both interviewers were easy to talk to and I felt very relaxed.  Plus, I actually had answers for all their questions, so the prep I did last night obviously helped.  I can totally see myself working and fitting in well there!  But, you know, even if I don't make the short list for this job, it's reassuring to know that I still interview well.  I was on a high when I got home!

Also, my wonderful FIL-to-be gave me a ride to & from the interview, so I didn't even have to bother with the bus (he was headed that way anyway, but it's still really awesome of him to detour for me)!

I can't wait til the boys get home: they've been in Wellington for the last few days, working.  It's a long, wet and slightly treacherous eight-hour journey home for them today, so I'm a little nervous about it.

In a couple more hours I leave for Rotorua, yay!  

It's Mothers Day on Sunday, so I'm going to see my mum.  Now that I live in Auckland, it feels like I hardly every get to see her, because the 3 hour drive (one way) is just long enough that it requires planning and prep time, and thus she rarely bothers to make the trip.  But I love going there, whenever I can spare the time.  Living in Rotovegas sucks; visiting it is awesome.  It's a lovely town, even if it is a tourist trap.

HOWEVER!  In order to make the trip this time, I had to go and buy some winter clothes.  Mountainous Rotorua is MUCH colder than sea-level Auckland, and while Mum is getting a heat pump installed, that won't happen until NEXT week... and she's already gotten rid of her fireplace!  :(

So yeah, I'll be out of town for a bit, and I'm leaving the laptop at home.  Have fun, y'all, and I'll catch up with ya on Wednesday.