Really?

I started blogging about the weather! I mean, really? I feel like I’m turning into my parents! Luckily, I stopped myself.

Anyway, to continue…

Language is an interesting thing. I had not thought there were great differences between the land of Oz and the US, yet nuances in our language keep cropping up.

When I was there last I guess I paid more attention to it, and latched onto the phrase “real quick”, in the sense “let me just get that from you, real quick” being used as a general-purpose end to a statement, serving no great purpose.

On my return I noticed us using some terns that were pointed out were also used a great deal in Southern USA, with “reckon” being #1 on the hit list. I’d never paid it much heed before, but I noticed how often it gets used here and even in the UK.

The little differences.

To blog or not to blog?

I first started blogging because I wanted to participate in something Sam enjoyed. I read her posts, how her content was organised, and I read other blogs to get the idea. I’m not a writer by trade like some, with no great flair for the written word. I doubt I have a huge following given my past blogging performance, or the content. Would I read my blog? Probably not.

Lots of things have happened since my last post. I met someone very special. Someone who helped turn the light back on where once there was just darkness. Someone who is now my fiancé, and who will be my wife on the 15th May.

Thinking back it seems so crazy that I’ve come this far. I can remember what I felt like during those dark times. There are still things I avoid lest it all come flooding back, and occasionally It still does, but it doesn’t incapacitate me for hours like it once did. I’m supposed to be able to think about the happy times, the fun times. Nope. Still not. Perhaps in time.

So yes, back to the title question. Should I continue to blog?

I guess time will tell.

lost for a year

A year has passed.

I didn’t want to mark the day or do anything like that. I know what the day was, as do most people who cared for or new Sam in some way. The pain hasn’t lessened, but it has become easier to deal with and to accept.

A good friend who helped me through all this asked me if I had any special plans for the day. We went out to the cemetery and said hello, and put some purple flowers in place. I’ve never felt she was there though, so the same flowers in a vase at home would have much the same effect. If anything, that would be the “special” thing we do… or rather will do.

The days leading up to the date are the hardest. It all ran though my head, “a year ago we were doing this, or a year ago we was doing that”. I almost remember hour for hour the week prior to it all. I knew what we did at home, what I did at work. Afterwards the date it’s just a blur.

Recently I’ve been given a reason to smile again, but I do occasionally drop back into what Sam referred to as a blue funk.

It’s only natural.

Has it been that long?

It’s been quite a time since my last post here. There is a reason, and anyone who wants to read about it can do it. I’m not going to summarise as I’m not keen on recounting the story in vivid detail.

That’s about all I’ll post for the time being. I’ll post something more when I feel a bit more up to drawing the creative juices out.

Heavy road users

While I’m on the subject of other road users I have to have a slight rant.  I have a strong dislike for trucks. 

There’s a number of very valid reasons for this, some being they are large and slow and obstruct traffic flow and view of traffic ahead, to the matter of the trucks laden with soil and gravel that seems to be not staying in the truck but spraying all over me as I ride a few cars back.  I’ve heard of enough horror stories of trucks transporting cows/sheep to keep far away from those ones — I don’t need a second shower in the morning.

Now, I know there are reasons they are on the road — providing transport for goods etc.  But I’m sure the roads would be a much more pleasant place if they kept to the left-hand lane like they’re supposed to.

Driving Miss Daisy

Last weekend we were driving home and had just crossed into an area classed as a “school zone”.  For those unfamiliar, a school zone in Victoria has a speed limit of 40km/hr during school hours.  We were behind a car, meandering along at around 40km/hr — when a slight toot was applied to the horn (as opposed to my normal bitch-slap) the driver gesticulated madly toward the sign.  Either he had issues remembering the day of the week, or school hours were now on a weekend, or during the driving test no one explained the exceptions there are to this sign.  Either way I found it amusing, and Sam was just sitting dumbfounded wondering what I was chuckling about.

Sanity?

Does this story mean there actually is sanity in the Pentagon? This doesn’t mean that the Iran guff won’t still go ahead. There have indeed been other leaders throughout history that have not taken notice of their most experienced generals. Then of course there’s always the yes-men who will massage their leaders’ ego.

What will the history books say about the GWB reign?

Crazy

I’d read the rumours of the US planning to strike Iran before and even though I’d thought perhaps it may be possible I never thought they would go ahead with it. Even though the reasons might be valid, won’t the public realise we’ve heard the rhetoric all before?

The US Vice Pres, Dick Cheney, is down here doing god-knows-what (drumming up support with our lapdog PM) and it has been reported in the news today of a hint at a strike on Iran.

We all know how GWB likes the pre-emptive kind, especially when there is oil to be gained, and money to be made for US companies during the “rebuilding”. There has certainly been no benefit for our involvement in the war, so why did we follow?

I remember the streets of Melbourne during the protest on the Iraq war. I was moved by the amount of everyday people in the crowd. I also remember thinking that this, if not anything, should invoke change. Unfortunately I was wrong. It was not an election year.

Will congress, and the rest of world opinion actually allow them to continue with this madness?

Did they not learn anything with Iraq?

Just the good ole boys…

I found this interesting anti-war blog entry showing some mistreatment of native Iraqi’s.

I accept these may be extreme times and it may be a difficult situation for the troops, but you’d expect more professional behaviour considering some of the previous exploits to hit the news such as the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.

What’s even more ridiculous is these guys choose to display their mental prowess to the world by uploading their movies to youtube.

Priorities?

It’s interesting to note that Bill Clinton can be impeached for “inappropriate behaviour” with an intern, but GWB can win an election by using the legal system, install draconian laws violating US citizens, lie to the US Congress and the people and then lead their country (and some of the other countries that desire US approval) into to a war they are finding it difficult to extricate themselves from.

Polls this week indicate GWB has an approval rating of less than Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal. Perhaps it’s time to abdicate the throne?