You're in Clare Country!

End of blogging drought

Dear Diary,

Wow, it has been a while since my last blog entry!  My self-imposed hiatus was due to my inability to access the Internet at home (until now) since we moved house & work being especially demanding these past 3 weeks.  But I'm back & lots has happened.  Rather than strain the reader's eyes with drawn-out tales of our escapades, I have detailed them in bullet-points for your convenience.  I may elaborate on individual events at a later date.  Since my last blog entry (6th June 2007) the following has played out in the lives of Captain Booger Features, Ravi & I (in no order of chronology nor importance):

• We've become Balmain-ites, moving house a few weeks ago.  We love our new place.  There's a pool upstairs.  Pictures forthcoming.  Our cleaner has also moved with us!
• Ravi has resumed riding on his motorbike again.
• Captain Booger Features celebrated Holy Communion last week.
• Farewell dinner for Irene & Brian before they moved to Canada.
• We were robbed!  Thank God for insurance - everything was replaced.  Special place in hell for thieving bastards!
• Celebrated Thuy's birthday last Sunday - quite a feat in itself since Tweety usually celebrates her birthdays overseas.
• Tony Blair left No. 10 Downing Street.  Replaced by Gordon Brown.  (1 out, 2 more to go.)
• My workload is more manageable after my boss assigned me an analyst (who shall be known as "Young Paduan" in future blog entries)
• Paris Hilton started & finished her prison sentence (with a lot of drama in-between).
• Have already filled half the cast for "The Divine Plan".  More auditions to come but it's very exciting as more people get involved in this production.
• Ravi, Tung & I had Thai massages.  (Are they supposed to hurt?)
• To Captain Booger Features' horror, he is finding himself falling 'in like' with a pretty classmate called Samira.  He is starting to find out that girls can be quite strange & illogical at times.  He insists he doesn't like her despite mentioning her name in nearly every conversation.
• Ravi & Kylie challenged each other in a cook-off.  Kylie bested Ravi (although it took a score of 3 decimal points to decide the winner) - which makes me the loser of the loser (having lost the previous cook-off with Ravi...don't get me started on Ravi's billety rice!).
• Is it just me or does the Australian media seemed a bit obsessed about the endeavour to refloat the Pasha Bulker?  It's just a big ol' boat for heaven's sakes!
• Poker resumed after a long break.  Details of the game here.
• Ravi & I attended Ravi's 15-year high school reunion.  It was fun & interesting to observe the different personalities in the room - who were the loud kids in the class, the shy kids, the smart kids, etc.

I think that about covers it.  Going to sleep now . . . .

Picture originally uploaded by jenophoto.

I remember Elaine

      A very important anniversary passed last Friday.  The 4th May, 2007 marked the 16th death anniversary of Elaine, one of my closest friends during my formative years.  16 years ago, Elaine was hit by a speeding car in front of her house.  5 days later she failed all 7 brain tests and was formally declared brain dead.  Her family made the painful decision to turn off her life support.  I stayed by her bedside every day in hospital until her life support was switched off.  She was 19 years old.

She was the first person within my inner circle who died.  Our parents were close friends and we played together since we were toddlers.  She was young, pretty, smart, compassionate, funny - and she died.  It didn't hit me straight away that I would never see her again.  I nearly lost it on the podium when I did her eulogy at her funeral.  I dreamt of her often straight after she passed.  But while I was my age at the time (1991), she wasn't 19 years old in my dreams.  She looked about 10 years old, in pig tails and '80s fashions.  I'd dream about her riding her bicycle in her backyard, chatting to me, etc.  I knew my last dream of her would be the last.  It was like her saying goodbye.  We were in a rolling green paddock, leaning on a wooden fence.  While I faced one way, she sat on the fence facing the other way.  I could hear the sound of galloping hooves behind me.  I asked her, "What does it look like?"  She replied, "It's beautiful.  I can't describe it.  It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."  I don't know why in my dream I just didn't turn around and see it for myself but it didn't feel right for me to turn around.  Were we talking about heaven?  I don't know.  But I never forgot that dream or the look on her 10-year-old face as she gazed upon the unseen view and tried to describe its beauty.

First Real Christmas Tree!

Growing up, my parents were big fans of the big, white, plastic Christmas tree.  We would fish the box out of the garage, assemble the tree together, adorn it with all the Christmas baubles & tinsel, take family photos, then after Christmas we would disassemble it, pack it in the box and store it in the garage for another 11 months.  As each year passed, the tree would become just a little bit more sparse as we lost plastic fronds every time we assembled & disassembled the tree.

Then when I moved out of home 3 years ago I bought a real but small 1-metre potted Christmas tree.  The tree still lives (despite NSW's drying weather) & takes pride of place in the downstairs living area, decorated in all things Christmas.  However, we also now have a real 2-metre pine Christmas tree (apparently plucked from a forest in Melbourne) which stands adorned & surrounded by presents in the second-floor playroom (pictured).  I love it!  I love the fact that Ravi & Captain Booger Features helped me decorate it as well!  The captain made many of the decorations he put on the tree himself (Christmas star, bells, etc.) & the 2 wooden deer standing under the tree (almost covered by the presents) was Ravi's touch.  Almost immediately the house was drunk with the smell of pine.....

I'm on to you, you Anglicans!

    Last Sunday Captain Booger Features was invited by his best friend Ben to attend a puppet show at Ben's local Anglican church.  Although I was a little sceptical at attending, the 'Anglican' in Ravi was eager for me to see how Anglicans 'do it.'  I approached the front steps of the church with dread, fully expecting to be subjected to subtle yet aggressive methods of recruitment into their religion.  The puppet show (pictured) was okay - their methods of portraying the nativity story in a cool & humourous fashion did much to sway the kids onside (they are obviously following the Gospel of McDonalds: the kids McHappy meal!) but I remained stoic in my Catholic leanings. 

Then they presented all the kids with balloons & presents.  These presents came in the form of books.  With flashes of Nazi Youth documentaries playing out in my mind, I was surprised to observe the books were actually normal secular kids books.  But then we were all invited to refreshments after the puppet show.  This is where I was certain they'd be serving cocktails of cordial with mind-altering drugs, but the only mind-altering drug in there was sugar.  Ravi & I weren't alone for long.  The puppet master approached us for a chat.  In what resembled a World Wrestling Federation bout, he was tagged by a director of their community help centre who took over the reins, making sure we were never left alone while he went to chat to other unsuspecting non-Anglican citizens.  After a short time, the director was tagged by another director (of another department), and soon enough a Meatloaf-lookalike (singer, not the food) came over & introduced himself as Father Jeff. 

It was a fun afternoon meeting new people in the neighbourhood & despite their religious predilections I had a great time finding out more about the village I live in (as well as the help available for people less fortunate).  I am also happy to report that I came out still a Catholic (although Ravi is working on it)....

Henry is with the Big Cheese in the sky

Last night when Ravi & I picked up Captain Booger Features from my parents place (he had spent the weekend there while Ravi & I were at the Hunter Valley), I had to break the bad news to him - that Henry had died over the weekend.  Henry hadn't been looking too well in the last couple of days but I was still surprised at seeing his stiff riga mortis body at the bottom of the cage on Sunday night.  Captain Booger Features had a bit of a cry but then he was fine, asking questions about how it happened & if George (his other mouse) was okay.  Just before the captain went to bed, we said a little prayer for Henry, hoping he was now happy, eating the big cheese in the sky.  Captain Booger Features understands the concept of death because my parents beloved dog Ebony passed away when the captain was 4 years old.  When I told the captain Ebony had gone to Heaven, he initially asked, "But I can still play with her, right?"  After a number of attempts at emphasising that we wouldn't see her again (except in our mind's eye through our memories), realisation dawned on him through a cascade of tears.

But here is my eulogy for Henry:

"O Henry, you were not long in our home
but fond memories of you abound.
Always first to the food bowl.
The telltale squeak of the exercise wheel
revealed your passion for fitness (while George lazily looked on).
Adventure was your middle name, exploring different elevations,
racing through blue tunnels, burrowing in the little red car for quick zz's.
We'll miss you, Henry (the first)."

Picture of a pet cemetery originally uploaded by Two Ghosts of the Presidio.

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter with family & friends!  Being the most important date on the Catholic calendar, & being a Catholic myself, I decided to attend Easter Sunday morning mass at St. Brendans Church.  Captain Booger Features came as did Ravi (very surprised seeing as he is an unbaptised Anglican).  Upon approach to the church I turned to Captain Booger Features & said, "No shenanigans, okay?" Then I turned to Ravi & said the same thing.  I didn't trust Ravi's smile.  St. Brendans is a cosy church.  It emits a friendly, warm vibe.  The church was packed full of people - families, old people. children.  We couldn't get a seat so we stood in the back along with all the other latecomers.  I was a little rusty on the responses but I remembered when I had to stand, sit & kneel.  It was kinda nostalgic attending mass after such a long hiatus.  I was reminded of long ago Sundays, wearing pretty dresses & seeing my friends at church as our parents attended & lunched afterwards.  I also remembered all the Jesus movies I had seen as a child, which helped me focus on why we were here in the first place.  Could I give up my life for strangers?  Could I commit the greatest act of love for people who probably would not appreciate my sacrifice?  Whatever the answer, the least I could do is share my chocolate eggs & be nicer to Ravi.  Armed with this newfound enlightenment, I turned my attention back to the mass.

When the first collection basket came round, I got Captain Booger Features to pop a few coins (as is customary) in the basket.  I was surprised to see Ravi put in a $5 note!  First thing I thought was, I wonder what horrible thing he did during the week to warrant a note deposit??  The second time the collection plate came round, I again got the captain to put a few coins in the basket.  Upon seeing Ravi's worried expression, I told him he didn't have to give money every single time.  He was relieved since the smallest thing he had in his wallet was a $20 note!  ("Can you get change out of the basket?").  Mass followed the same routine - the readings, gospel, homily (which I believe should be replaced by Q&A - I always have questions!), Eucharist, closing prayers.  There were only 2 incidents which went against the norm.  One was when an old man hissed, "Can you shut that f***ing baby up!" when a baby's cries got too much for him (rough neighbourhood is Annandale!).  Another time (but much more annoying) was when the choir finished the last hymn as everyone filed out of the church.  I clapped, acknowledging their efforts at providing music to the celebration.  Another lady joined my clapping.  I looked at Ravi, fully expecting him to back me up.  He laughed (rather loudly too!).  The other lady quickly stopped clapping upon realising it was only the two of us sticking our necks out.  I gave Ravi a mighty smack on the shoulder for having loyalty issues again!  Ravi said, "They were crap!  I'm not gonna clap for them if they're crap!"  Idiot!  (So ended my goal to be nicer to Ravi.)

Picture originally uploaded by ke dy.