curieux?

dabria — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:05:04 GMT

My Grandma just died and I'm half a world away. It's looking like I may not be able to get home. I wish I had money coming out of my ears like some people - it doesn't seem fair that some people can just book a flight whenever they might need one and I really have to get home and I have nothing and I can do nothing. Ugh. Any prayers/good thoughts would be appreciated.

Week one..!

dabria — Sun, 22 May 2011 03:48:41 GMT

This has been a great week. I know people talk about the 'honeymoon period' but I've never experienced it until now. I know I'm in danger of sounding like a loved up sap, so I won't gush too much, but I do really like him and I just want to be with him all the time. Which isn't so great when you think about the fact that I'm leaving in a week. Oh well, absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that. That's what my brother told me anyway. We've been out for a few drinks by ourselves this week, and he made me dinner at home at my dad's house when everyone was away. We also went out partying last night a bit which was good fun too. I really like spending time with him and he's pretty much my best friend over here, which is cool. People keep telling us that we act like we've been together a lot longer than a week, that we seem so comfortable with each other, that we act like best friends. It's nice to hear.

Did I mention I'm loving this? It's very nice. :D

A little elaboration...

dabria — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:59:46 GMT

So yes, I have a boyfriend. And you have no idea how weird it is to say/write that. It's been years, people. YEARS. We're talking...oh man, maybe 11 years? And really, when you're 14 or 15, it really doesn't count. This is the first time I've gone out with someone with the view to some sort of grown up relationship. AND THAT IS TERRIFYING AND AMAZING AND AH.

It's all very new and I'm not sure what's going to happen but I'm actually enjoying just going with the flow. Being over here has mellowed me a bit I think (not that I was ridiculously uptight to begin with but I did have certain ideas about how things should be.) and I'm happy to see where this goes, in it's own time.

So here are the particulars. His name is Stuart, Stu to everyone really, and he's 25 years old. He's from Ruislip in London, England, so his voice/accent is fabulous. Random thing I learned over here - I am most attracted to English accents. Good to know. Anyway, he was in the corporate world of Thames Water in London, high stress, high paid job. He gave it up to come traveling with his girlfriend at the time with the plan to finish up here in NZ as his dad lives here. Him and the girlfriend broke up, obviously, and she went home and burned all his stuff in the house they shared. Lovely girl. He's now living in Paihia doing a Dive internship to become a Dive Master, with the view to becoming an Dive instructor.

He moved into the hostel I live in at the end of March and we clicked immediately. I felt very safe around him as he had a girlfriend that he met in Auckland and I love being friends with guys who have girlfriends. It takes away all the awkwardness. Anyway, after a week or two here, he told me he was calling it off with Becky. They'd only been together a few weeks and he felt bad as he was planning to stay here then travel and she had two kids so wasn't in a place to do that. He didn't want to string her along so they talked and decided to call it a day. They stayed friends and she's been to visit a few times and she's brilliant. If it weren't for obvious reasons, I'd say he should have stuck with her! I love her and was very worried she'd be hurt and/or pissed off about me and him but she was amazing. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

So he told the guys at the hostel that he liked me, but I freaked out a bit and said I just wanted to be friends. I've never had a boyfriend and the thought of it was freaking me out a bit. We kept hanging out though and got pretty close and I thought it might be going somewhere and I was alternately freaked out and excited. Then one of the girls in the hostel told me that he had told her he liked her and I got a bit hurt. I overreacted a bit and didn't talk to him for two days. We eventually talked and again, decided to just be friends. This is becoming a theme, I know.

So we kept going as friends and this past week I ended up meeting this guy and then him turning out to be an asshole. I was gutted and ended up talking to Stu about it - he was great about it and comforted me a lot. Which I then felt bad about because I didn't know if he still liked me or not. Turns out he did! So anyway, we ended up getting pretty close, sitting together on the couch, cuddling, that sort of thing so I figured we should talk about things. We did, for about four hours the other night, we talked about everything, the whole no-sex thing, the faith thing, where we were both wanting to go in life (BIG things, SCARY things!!). We decided that even though we both figured that we'd be going out if we were at home, right now it wasn't the right time to act on it and we left it at that. I think we both felt crap about it but we thought it was more sensible this way, especially with me leaving in two weeks for three months.

Until, that is, the next day, when it became extremely obvious that neither of us was happy with just being friends anymore, especially since having that mammoth talk about everything, which ultimately just brought us closer. We decided to give it a go anyway and to hell with consequences! Defining it hasn't made it any less complicated but we're just going to go with the flow. We both don't have any interest in meeting anyone else while I'm away for three months so we're going to try and see if it works out. Long distance. Never thought I would try that, but we'll see how it goes.

So that is the story, the abridged version, would you believe? I'm sure there will be more to come soon. Right now I'm just ridiculously happy and enjoying the moment! Fun fun fun.

Oh, did I mention; I HAVE A FREAKING BOYFRIEND. That's all!

Well, look at that...

dabria — Sun, 15 May 2011 06:20:00 GMT

I have a boyfriend. Holy cow.

That's all for the moment. Thought you should know.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Ah boys.

dabria — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:47:57 GMT

This is a first; posting from my itouch. Interesting, though slightly irritating as it's not as fast, obviously. I don't particularly like writing on this thing but I'm bored just now and not that tired so here I am.

Found out a guy here at the hostel liked me, thought it over, didn't know what to do about it and couldn't decide if I liked him or not. Ended up not having to make a decision about it as I found out he'd also been texting one of the other girls here at the hostel telling her he really liked her too. Talked it over with him tonight, told him he'd confused and hurt me a bit and that we were only ever going to be friends. He said he still really liked me but he respected that I wasn't looking for a relationship. He's an ass but ultimately, he lives here so I'm not going to hate him. I don't want it to be awkward and holding grudges is not my style. It's just cemented my belief that boys are idiots.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

dabria — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:03:40 GMT

It has been a loooong time since I've written here. Things are very different now, I'm still in New Zealand, but I'm not technically staying with Dad anymore. I moved out after Elena and I had a bit of row - I think we both need our own space and things get a bit crazy in the house. That's a whole different story and I'm sure I'll rant about it another time, but suffice to say that I needed a bit of a break. So I moved into Dad's backpackers instead, which is super amazing and awesome and the best thing I've done since moving here. There are tons of people my age, my friends live here and I'm meeting lots of new people. There is always someone to talk to, there is always something to do and there is a pool. It's generally a completely different way of life than I'm used to, and I'm loving it. Drinking more than I have before, not getting smashed, just going out more than I did in Ireland, and also smoking a bit too. Roll-you-own cigarettes too - I'm just so arty and pretentious, right? In all seriousness, it's because it's cheaper and it's definitely a social thing here. I fully expect to not smoke when I go home, if only because it's so much more expensive there.

In other news, I work in a chocolate and fudge shop, and no, before you ask, I am not involved in the packing side of the fudge. Like I've never heard that joke before. I also just got a job on one of the tour boats, taking pictures of people and dolphins all day - I can't wait! I start next week with a bit of training and then I'll be out on my own. I get a flash new camera to use and a mac computer to edit on. Love it!

That's all the news just now, just thought it had been a while since I even looked here, so figured, why not update? And now that is done, I shall bid you adieu.

dabria — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 05:51:50 GMT

I'M GETTING A KITTY!

But I need your help - I need a name. I want a nautical name, something boaty or piratey or something. I don't know if I'm getting a boy or girl yet, but I'm getting it tomorrow, so I need names soon! Thanks so much for your help!

Boat.

dabria — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:36:31 GMT

It's been so long since I've updated, but things have been a bit mental and whenever I felt like writing I tended to write an email to friends back home rather than update here. I get more response that way and I've needed to feel connected to people these past few weeks. I'm still at Dad's, of course, and Anna has finally headed home to Auckland. It's meant that there has been quite a few lonely days for me up here on my own, though I have met a few people now and had a few good days. I've got one job and I've applied for another, on a boat, so I hope I get that. I need to start blogging more so that I have a record of my trip here, but I guess I'm not too worried about getting starting quickly since I'm here for so long. As it is, I already don't feel like continuing this, so I'll leave it and perhaps update again tomorrow.

Busy busy busy!

dabria — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 01:04:25 GMT

I've gotten so busy this week - the reality of moving to New Zealand has finally hit, I think, and there is just so much to do! I've packed up most of my room, and packed my bag for New Zealand. However, it's 7kgs too heavy and as it's €11 per KG excess baggage, I need to cut down on some things. I don't know what yet, but I'll figure it out. I've been particularly ruthless so far, so I'm not sure exactly what to leave behind, but I'm not worried. Worst comes to the worst, I'll cut it down a bit and just pay the excess. I don't want to pay more than €50 though.

It's hitting me that I'm actually going too - at odd moments. When I'm sitting on my own, or when I'm cooking dinner, or when I'm thinking of what to do with the odd bits and bobs that I need to get rid of, or give to someone or something. I'll miss everyone, of course, but I'm so excited about going that it's kind of eclipsing that. I am really worried about when I get there though - the last time Anna lived at home so I could hang out with her, and while that was a bit lame as she was my little sister, she was pretty much the only friend I had on the trip, other than Jonny and Bina, who I only got to see three times. So I'm hoping I'll make more friends this time, especially as Anna doesn't live at home anymore. Which is a shame, as she's 20 now, so not just my teenage sister but an actual adult who I can hang out with. (I use the term 'adult' loosely, Anna is a mess, most of the time, and not very grown up at all. I'm sure there will be MUCH more about her when I'm over there. She's already annoyed because I won't ditch my dad the first day I'm there and stay with her instead in Auckland - 3 hours from my Dad. Not to mention I'll be jetlagged. Ugh.)

Anyway, very excited, super busy, but wanted to update so I actually have a chance at remembering this mental time. More later (and by later, I mean next week, when I'm in England and actually will have nothing to do!)

A few things..

dabria — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:26:20 GMT

A couple of things on my mind that I want to get down. Firstly, I am ridiculously excited about going to New Zealand. It's like my world has suddenly opened up and I'm not restricted or hampered by anything anymore. I've felt very bound in the lasgt four years, doing this degree, and I can finally get out and experience things for myself, as a grown up. It might sound stupid, but I really just can't wait - who knows what will happen over the year, where I'll end up going, who I'll end up meeting. It's all up in the air and it's exciting the pants off of me!

Secondly, I'm already planning another trip for when I get back (not immediately, of course, and the 'planning' is happening mostly in my head). I would love to go to America next, spend some time with various people there. I was telling two friends this yesterday, and when I mentioned that I hoped to spend some time in Wisconsin, with katu and then hopefully some time in Florida with Jamie (somethingpirate ), (along with visiting other people too in Ohio and Oklahoma) they both were quite skeptical and weirded out. This is mostly because I met Katu and Jamie on the internet. Now, Katu I've actually met, 'in real life' as they say, so that's not so weird, but they were all advising me to either skip Florida or maybe only go for a day or two, 'in case they end up being 50 year old weirdos'. It really annoyed me! There is this stigma attached to meeting people online and it pisses me off. I've met tons of people online, a few of which I've met up with and they've all been lovely. I think I'm old enough to know when I'm talking to a real person and not a persona someone is trying to pull off. It just pisses me off when people are so closed minded.

Anyways, that's my rant over. In other news, I think my visa arrived, but the bloody postman didn't ring up to the apartment so the package is waiting for me at the post office. If I had of known this yesterday I could have picked it up but now I have to wait until Monday. How annoying. Here's hoping it was approved though!

I'll do the meme thing later, I'm too tired to write out all my beliefs in detail just now.

This weekend, in great detail. Fake!meme win.

dabria — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 22:15:40 GMT

This weekend has been so busy! My grandparents and my parents are over for my graduation, which was yesterday, and I was at a wedding on Friday. My legs hurt so bad from wearing heels two days in a row (I'm so not a girly girl) but other than that, it's been a great weekend.

Friday was cool, I chilled in the morning, cleaning the house a little and getting ready for the wedding. Mags picked me up and we headed to the church. The service was nice, if a little traditional for my tastes but it was very Susan, and as it was her wedding, I guess that's a good thing! She's one of my oldest friends in Ireland, we met when I was going my first gap year with the church after school, and we were ridiculously close for a long time. Probably unhealthily, overly interdependantly close, but it was ok for a time! It was weird seeing her get married. She's another in a long list of my close friends to get married in the past few years and it's very odd to think we're old enough and grown up enough to do that!

We went to grab a coffee before the reception and ended up eating there too. The dinner wasn't until 6pm and the ceremony was at 1:30pm and none of us had lunch so we were starving. We headed to Nosh'n'coffee, a lovely little place, and hung out there in all our fine wedding clothes. Then we headed to Druids Glen Resort, which was were the reception was being held, and had a cup of tea and waited on the meal to start. The meal was lovely, I was sitting with Jo and Keith, who didn't stop flirting until his date got there - fun, harmless stuff. They've known each other for years and he used to have a thing for her, so it was quite amusing watching the banter. Jo and I used to hang out a lot, along with Susan, but she went to college in Scotland then went travelling for a year so this summer I've been getting to know her again, almost, and hanging out with her again. It's been nice. So we spent the night hanging out, dancing, flirting with boys (we were two of only 6 single girls at the whole thing) and just generally having fun! I ended up staying MUCH later than I planned, missing my ride home and drinking more than I had planned. I ended up staying at Jo's and doing the walk of shame home in the dress the next morning. Well, walk of shame was really the lift home of shame, but it was in Jo's Mum's little convertible so it wasn't really shameful at all. It was quite exciting though.

The next day was my graduation day, and I was pretty hung over. I popped some asprin throughout the day and still had a brilliant day. Mum and Dave came to get ready at the house (they were staying at friends of theirs until then) and then my grandparents came over at about 12 too. They're staying at a hotel near here, so it's handy enough for them. Got ready (wearing the same dress as the night before - I know, I'm gross, but it's a hot dress) and headed out at 1pm for the grad.

The graduation itself was a lot of fun - I was pretty excited despite being tired with a sore feet and a sore head! Got robed up, took pictures on my own and with the family and then had a video interview that was planned by the college a few months ago. I totally forgot about it until I was asked to come and film it so it was a bit off the cuff but I think I did ok. Then I graduated, which was great, got my cert and took more group photos, then had nibbles. After that, a few of my friends came back to my apartment for more nibbles and to hang out until I went for a family dinner. We went to Siam Thai, which was recommended to me but I'd never been before, and it was brilliant. Really nice food, really nice atmosphere and good service.

Today my grandparents came over again this morning and we hung out until about 1pm at the house. Mum and Dave went to visit a friend of hers (more on that topic later, it's frustrating me right now) and me and my grandparents went up to Skerries to visit Ardgillan Castle. We found the entrance, and the car park but I think we parked in the wrong one, because we couldn't find the castle at all! My grandmother can't walk very far so when we'd walked for about ten minutes we decided to give up and go to my friends house instead for tea and scones. Emily and Norman live in Skerries with their baby, who I look after on Wednesday mornings, and it was lovely to see them and hang out for a bit. Then we came back here and we had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel they're staying at. I'm now very full, almost uncomfortably so, but it was a lovely meal and really nice to hang out with them for the day. I'll miss them when I'm in NZ. I'll update more about them later, there's lots to say there that I want to get off my chest and down 'on paper' as it were.

That's a VERY long update for me, and it's not even anything to do with a meme*! Wonder of wonders! I think I'll leave it at that.

*The meme will be resumed on Tuesday, once the family have all gone.

Day four - sort of - in great detail!

dabria — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:16:46 GMT

So I'm technically two days behind now, I should be on day six and I'm only doing day four. But I wrote day four for two days ago, so technically I'm only missing yesterdays and todays. I do plan to write them up tonight, but I want to post this first. So this is day four, from Tuesday.

So what did I eat? I was in work at 10am, so as usual, I stayed in bed as late as possible and so missed breakfast. However, I got to work early so I went into the supermarket next door and I bought a cake. Facebook had informed me that it was a co-worker of mine, Sharon's birthday, so I also picked up some candles and some writing icing to write happy birthday on the cake. It was a carrot and orange Tesco Finest cake, and it looked lovely. Anyway, I proceeded to go to work, go out the back and write 'Happy Birthday Sharon' on this cake. I then told Mags that it was Sharon's birthday.

Mags: "No it's not"
Me: "Yes it is! Facebook told me."
Mags: "Her birthday was in July"
Me: "But I got her a cake! And facebook says it is!"
Mags: "It's definitely not. But cake is always good!"

So I told Sharon, we all had a laugh and she went on facebook to figure out what was going on. Her daughters had hacked her account and she had tons of messages saying Happy birthday - quite amusing. The cake was lovely too.

For lunch I had Cheerios, a bag of Velvet Crunch Sour Cream and Onion (kind-of-healthy crisps) and bag of M&M's crispy, I think. I always eat Cheerios in work as they are cheap and quick and it means I don't have to go into the shop on my break. I only get half an hour. I also drank about three cups of tea while at work.

After work I headed to Jack's house and got a chinese 3-in-1 on the way there. A 3-in-1 is chips (fries, but chunkier), fried rice and curry sauce. It's lovely! I put it in my bag to eat when I got to Jack's house. Only when I got there, the curry sauce had leaked, tearing the paper bag it was in, and getting curry sauce on the inside of my bag. Luckily not on any of my clothes though. I also got prawn crackers, because you can't get chinese without getting prawn crackers.

I then made my way to Emily's house, where I was staying the night. I drank more tea and ate a penguin biscuit slowly. It melted on my fingers and I got to lick the chocolate off - love it.

I'll hopefully get day five and day six up tonight, but then I think I need to take three days off. Tomorrow I've got a wedding all day and Saturday is my Graduation, and the family are also all over visiting from England. I'm sure I'll have plenty to update about when they're gone!

Extreme Makeover

dabria — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:39:39 GMT

Man, I love Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I think I must have watched about six episodes of it in the last three days and it just gets me every time. I think there is something very heartwarming about seeing people help other people just to be nice. It gives me faith in humanity.

Stuck in my own skin.

dabria — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:48:31 GMT

I feel so pent up tonight and I don't know why. I decided at 9:30pm that I wanted to go to the beach, so I dragged my housemate out of her bed and we went to the beach. She is always up for an adventure and I never normally want to leave the house after I've gotten cosy in my tracksuit bottoms, but tonight I just had to get out. We went to the beach, which we have discovered is only a 5 minute drive from the house, and we walked along it for the best part of half an hour. Sometimes talking, sometimes not. It was really nice, the sea was so loud and it was so dark with only the lights along the train track and from houses in the hills overlooking the beach.

I'm back in the house now and I still feel pent up. I still want to punch a punching bag or kick something or, I don't know, something. I almost understand why people cut themselves, if it would leave me feeling less stuck inside my own skin. Of course, that statement is insensitive to all those who have struggled with that, and I am not going to cut myself, but the example came to mind, so there it is.

I think perhaps I should just go and sleep and hope I'm not feeling like this tomorrow. Avoidance, anyone? I'm too tired to deal with the muddle inside my head, so I'm going to try and leave it for a little while longer.

Changing Plans

dabria — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:28:26 GMT

Sometimes it's funny how the mind works. Six months ago I was all set to join the Navy - I was excited about the prospects, ready to move country and looking forward to the training. Fast forward a few more months, and I'm just a little apprehensive about it all. I put it down to not wanting to leave friends in Ireland - it is my home after all. A few months more and I'm set on NOT going to the Navy, not moving country and instead going to New Zealand for a year. Talk about changeable. The thing is, I don't like change all that much! I don't like not having a plan and the thought that I'm going to have to go through all this indecision again when I return from New Zealand is not a nice thought. However, I'm happy to go with it for the moment and let the future worry about itself.

I did have a little cry over everything I'm not going to be doing by not joining the Navy. Part of me really was very excited about it and now that part of me is very sad I'm not going to be doing it. But it's not for me, I think, so it's best I figured that out now than half way through training. And now who knows what the future will bring?! Maybe this time next year I'll be married with a kid on the way. Wouldn't that be a laugh!

PotC

dabria — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:04:03 GMT

I had forgotten just how much I love PotC. It really is just a fantastic movie. I'd also underestimated just how much of the script I actually remembered. Like, all of it. I love it. It makes me want to get drunk on the beach with a strangely attractive man.

Hello...hello...hello...hello...?

dabria — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:23:17 GMT

Why is livejounal SO DEAD lately? Seriously, did RL eat everyone? I used to have to catch up on my friends page every so often, as I never had time to read everything. Now I'm lucky if there's a new post every couple of days. Might have to go join some more comms or something.

dabria — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:29:18 GMT

What if I go to New Zealand and fall in love with a New Zealand man and then have to make the agonising decision on whether to stay or come home? I don't want to live in New Zealand. What if he won't come back with me? What if I get a broken heart?!

This is why I shouldn't be allowed to watch romance movies.

80's classic movies.

dabria — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:21:58 GMT

I just watched The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink for the first time. I've been told time and time again to watch them both, as they are classics, but I've never gotten around to it until today. I was in an 80's classic movie mood so I stuck The Breakfast Club on first, not expecting the overwhelming emotion and depth of the film. I really, really liked it a lot. It was fabulously shot, the script was brilliant and the whole thing just worked together. Pretty In Pink was very similar to a lot of 80's conflict-romance movies, but it wasn't any less because of that. Molly Ringwald is great in both and I think both movies are now near the top of my favourite movie lists. So much so that I would watch them again very soon. Classic movies are like that - you can watch them over and over. Grease, Dirty Dancing, they are just timeless and I love them. Even if they do make me nostalgic.

New Zealand

dabria — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:05:15 GMT

I'm going to New Zealand. I'm actually, 100%, booked-my-flights, got-my-insurance, going. I leave here on the 2nd of November and get into Auckland on the 4th. Soooo much travelling, but so worth it. Now I just have to pack! And try and save some money to pay this flight off!

dabria — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:18:13 GMT

I'm actually going to New Zealand. I spoke to Dad, and Mum and my grandparents and they are all in favour of me going. My Mum didn't even mind, as I've always talked about travelling and she is just happy I'm going over near my Dad and not somewhere random on my own. She also gave me her credit card to book my visa package on (which is more expensive than it would normally be because I've already had the one that I want and it's a once in a lifetime thing). ANYWAY, I'm actually going.

WWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

dabria — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:09:19 GMT

So I'm thinking I might go to New Zealand for a bit. Dad's there, the family are there, my sister is going off the rails and my step mum became a Christian. I would love to see them all - it's been four years, after all, and I won't get this kind of chance again. Right now I'm no responsibility, so husband or kids, no career. I have nothing tying me down, so there is no reason for me not to jet half way across the world and spend a few months in sunny NZ. I've looked into visas and jobs, applied for both, talked to me Dad, who said he'll employ me in his motels until I find something else, and looked at flights. The only thing that was a potential stumbling block to this plan was my inability to pay for such an expensive flight on my measly wages. Dad said he would help if he had the money but he doesn't, so I thought about getting a credit card. However, my friend Jude has said I might be able to get it on her card and pay her back what I can each month. Which basically means there is nothing standing in my way at all.

Except I have to tell my Mum I won't be around for Christmas again. Ah.

Oh well, I'm hoping she'll be ok with it, if a little upset. I don't have much stuff left over here anymore, so I'm thinking I can go to Mum's the week before I go to NZ and take the stuff I won't need over with me then. Then I can come back here, stay with friends, and take the rest of my stuff to NZ. Dad has a room for me in his house to make my own and I could potentially stay a year. How exciting! Randomly, it's cheaper to go from Dublin than from London, even though the Dublin flights stop in London first. Weird. But I don't mind!

New Zealand! Wow!

dabria — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:30:59 GMT

So I'm all settled into my new apartment. I may have mentioned this before, but I thought I would reiterate it here. I'm currently sitting at my lovely dining table with my new housemate, Simone (pronounced sih-MOH-nay), who is from Italy. He's a lovely guy, though I don't know him well at all yet, but he seems nice enough. Odd, to be living with someone I don't know, but it's going well so far. He's a professional, works with Dell, and has two kids back in Italy, so he's not some young, mental lad who drinks every night. He's mature and seems pretty level headed. He's from Rome.

I have two days off work in a row, which is nice. I used to get days like this and try to go over to England, but right now there seems to have been so much going on lately, that it's nice to take these two days to relax and catch up with people. I feel a bit grown up in this apartment and I'm starting to re-evaluate where my life is going. I'm not sure if the navy is for me after all, I'm just having a few doubts, and I've put my application on hold. Officially, this is because of the shin splints, but it gives me a good excuse to rethink some things and see what it is that I want to do with my life, exactly.

If I don't join the Navy, I think I might work for a year, and then travel. Head to New Zealand for six months or so, then maybe to the states. Just take a year out and work and travel and see where life takes me. I can always work on a boat that's NOT a navy boat - that would fulfil at least some dreams. And as everyone tells me - I can always just take a tour to Antarctica - I don't necessarily have to work there. I'll get this all figured out eventually, but I'm not too concerned about it for now. I would just very much like a decent job for the moment so I could start paying back some of the money I owe to various family members who helped me through college.

I think that is pretty much all that is happening in Kirsty-land at the moment. LJ seems to have dwindled lately - there are only five or six people who still post on my friends page and of them, only one or two are in any way regular. I know I'm also not the most regular at posting, so I apologise to anyone who does actually read these! I kind of wish there was LJ chat or something so I could talk to some of you in real time, as I am rarely on AIM or anything anymore.

That is enough for the reminiscing for the moment, I am tired and I have a good book to read (The Wheel of Time series - anyone read them?) so I am going to retire for the evening. Good night all!

dabria — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:05:41 GMT

I am finally moved into my new place. We don't technically have internet but I'm hacking one of my unsuspecting neighbour's at the moment.

In other news my fitness test for the navy is supposed to be in a week, but I've got shin splints and can hardly walk, let alone run, so I think I'll have to postpone it. Again. This is rather discouraging and is actually getting me down quite a bit. It seems every time I try to get fitter, I do some damage to myself. It's crap.

Nothing more to report really.

The Benefit of Good Make-up

dabria — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:09:39 GMT

I got some new make up today, "Hello Flawless!" powder foundation in Shell, from Benefit. My Grandparents treated me to it (it's £24.50) because I mentioned that I was planning to buy it soon at an airport, because it's cheaper! I absolutely adore Benefit make up, I have a few pieces now and I haven't ever had a bad experience with it. It's expensive for me, though it's not extortionate as make up goes, but I generally save up and buy one item at a time. I've already got CORALista blush, which I got a year ago and it's still going strong, and that's with me using it practically every day. I know make up is supposed to have a use by, and it's generally less than a year after buying it, but I don't find this any different for being over a year old. I won't throw anything out if it's still as good as it was a year ago! I also have the Benetint Pocket Pal which is great, though I don't use it as much as the other things I have. It makes a great lip stain when I go out though and it only needs one, maybe two, reapplications through the night.

My three newest, other than the foundation today, are my BadGal Pencil, Eye Bright Pencil and a concealer pencil that I can't find on the website for some reason. They are all worth £20/€25 but I got them all free with Glamour magazine for a fabulous €3 each! I was well chuffed. I also have the Big Beautiful Eye Pallete, which was my first Benefit buy, and one of the best I have. It includes the Boi-ing concealer in No.2, which I love and will probably be my next buy.

I'm not generally 'into' make up, as some girls are. I mean I won't splash over £100 at a time, but I do see the sense in spending a little more money and getting make up that is decent and is going to last a long time. And not only that lasts a long time but it also stays on the face for a decent length of time too. I got sick of putting on make up and going out and having it practically disappear after a few hours. Benefit make up doesn't do that, which is brilliant. I also love the packaging, which has nothing to do with the make up, but it looks cool!

Anyway, that's a much more informative post than I was planning to make, and no one will probably read it anyway! But if you do, go buy some Benefit make up. And buy it at an airport, because it's actually 22% cheaper!