So it's been awhile

Up and Coming:

• Karen and the dating scene.... the good, the bad and the over analysing

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• Me and my Growl(er)
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• Swine Flu all the cool kids are doing it

Several nights of pain: The Plight of Wisdom Teeth

It started Wednesday evening: a major toothache of death occurred which resulted in a very unrested Karen, I tried a cocktail of Nurofen and Panadol to help numb the throbbing pain with no prevail. So in the morning at the sound of my alarm going off with me still in agony... the call we all love to do at 7:30am, the ‘i can’t come into work’ call (at my receptionist job) with the dismay of my boss, which muttered that ‘they will manage’ (in a not so convincing manner ). I contacted my friend to find out her dentist (Dr L. Ross Jackson) as my last visit to my dentist got me brushed off as a ‘worry-wart’ regarding my wisdom teeth growing weird. I managed to get an appointment due to a cancellation at 9:30am ... it was 9am so I jumped out of bed, and got changed so fast I forgot to put on a bra!

I managed to get there on time, a mircle, and Dr Jackson said I needed surgery that day (as it was that bad), he ended up giving up his lunch hour and going over time to remove two of my wisdom teeth (both on the right side).

What was wrong: My lower right side wisdom tooth was growing horizontal (I kid you not) and was impacting on my molar causing much pain and aguish. He ended up cutting away my gum on the lower right side so he could cut the tooth in half and then pull the roots out! I ended up getting six stitches :(. Then my top right side wisdom tooth was growing towards my cheek, so that was removed too.

Next Week: my stitches will be removed and other two wisdom teeth will be removed (on the left side) just to be safe as one looks like It could become infected if left alone and it is also angularly impacting another tooth... The wonders of having a small mouth...

The (Predicted) Cost: $1,675 Dollars! $550 for my right side bottom wisdom tooth, $100 for each top wisdom teeth, $200 for my left side bottom wisdom tooth, $775 restoration of impacted teeth and xrays!

This Resulted In; Very poor Karen, Stressed (1. loss of money – savings and work hours, 2. Getting even further behind in uni work!), Moody (to unsuspecting boyfriend), Inability to Eat, Sleepy and Nauseous (both due to drugs) (Also got behind in her blog...)

Bye Bye Travel Savings of $600, Hello $1,000 + Overdraft/Dept

ANZAC DAY

It is officially ANZAC day in New Zealand. Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand military forces in World War One. On the 25 April every year is the national holiday to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Though I believe that it should also be remembered for not just the people who fought and died on the ANZAC side but all the victims of World War One; the soldiers on both sides, nurses, doctors, contentious objectors, and the civilians – women, men, and children. I remember a book which was read to me as a child of the ANZAC story, I one part it talked about Christmas day when all the solders on both sides put down their guns and ended up playing soccer/football in the snow... It has always stuck with me that they were all people they all had families who loved them and miss/ed them dearly. Least We Forget.

In light of it being ANZAC day I thought perhaps I practice my baking skills today and make ANZAC Cookies :)

The classic ‘Edmonds ANZAC Cookies’ recipe has always been the best version in my opinion

125g flour
1 cup coconut
100g butter
1/2 teaspoon Bicarb of Soda 150g sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon golden syrup
2 tablespoons boiling water

1. Mix together flour, sugar, coconut and rolled oats. Melt butter and golden syrup.
2. Dissolve Bicarb soda in the boiling water and add to the butter and golden syrup.
3. Make a well in the centre of flour, stir in the liquid.
4. Place in spoonfuls on a greased tray.
5. Bake 15-20 mins at 180 degrees Celsius.
6. Let them cool
7. Then Eat!!!! :)

"Books may well be the only true magic." Alice Hoffman

Books

"For books are more than books. They are the life, the very heart and core of ages past, the reason why men lived and worked and died, the essence and quintessence of their lives."

Amy Lowell

My Ideal Dream Home would be filled with books, a library on the stairs/walls/what have you, even at the cost of a bedroom all four walls being top to bottom of books (colour quordinated would be highly desirable, because its one of my obsessions).

Dream Stair Bookcase

Dream Wall Bookcase

I often have a love affair with books, though the books I read do vary depending on the season. In the winter I often curl up with an intense, philosophical or ethical book while in the summer the trashy novel or horror that are effortlessly addictive for sunning. Spring and autumn tend to be cook book novels, murder mysteries or biographies, don’t ask me why lol.

Going down memory lane;

Childhood highlights include Narnia series by CS Lewis (sitting class the teacher would read a chapter to us every Friday, with us sitting at our desk facing down so we could picture the story... fond memories).

Animal Farm by George Orwell was given to me by my mother, it really did make me think of the complicities of behaviour and the power relations at a young age.

Christopher Pike series... yes I believe I read them all (a guilty pleasure at a young age).

And of course Ronald Dahl books such as The Witches, Matilda and The BFG are very much a part of my childhood.

Teenage years includes Sophie’s World an amazing book, must be read (can get a bit loaded for some in the middle when it come up to the religion section,) highly recommend it for adults as well.

For people who enjoy dark humour Tim Burton’s The melancholy death of oyster by and other short stories... always made me smile, and still does.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, 1984 by George Orwell and Lord of the flies by William Goldingare all very intense book and reflect diverse ways of looking at life/society and left you without knowing if there was (the gratification of) a happy ending, a real sense of unknown the reader is left in... refreshed, sometimes frustrated, but a greater sense of enlightenment.

And of course the Harry Potter Series (for my fluffy, teenage angst, and semi fantasy world which would happily read for fun). Also Lemony Snicket’s Series of unfortunate events for a little bit more quirky and dark light reading (the endings of each book did get a bit repetitive... always unfortunate).

Books that have made me cry

Little women by Louisa May Alcott (I think we all know when)

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell ... one word (Ginger)

And... the (original) little mermaid, which I read as a small child and was so upset as the little mermaid basically committed suicide as the prince married another woman (she then apparently turned into an angel of sorts and dances along the sea foam)... not the Disney version obliviously.

To be read...

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

The Claude Monet Exprience

This week I went to the Claude Monet (1840-1926) Exhibit at Te Papa, which was an amazing experience. There is something truly beautiful that Monet has captured landscapes in his paintings. These two paintings of winter in argenteuil 1873/4 at the exhibition remind me of the winter to come in New Zealand soon, a sea of snow covering all buildings (in the South Island) and waves of wind fighting with umbrellas. While these painting looking amazing doesn't give the real articles Justice. The exhibition was a great mix of his (monet's) art work as well as various other artists whom he had worked with or was inspired by.








Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 – 1858) probably the most notable in my books, he was one of Monet's major influences. Hiroshige was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, and one of the last great artists in that tradition as well. His works also have influenced Van Gogh. One of the examples present at the exhibition was of Hiroshige and Monets Water Lilly bridge paintings, both stunning pieces of art.

Saelee Oh... Oh So Sweet

Who I like right now is Saelee Oh,
she has a beautiful way of portraying
art that reflects a sense of child like
innocence to it, a mythological feel
too. Sweet and anamorphic animals,
anthropomorphic plants & vegetables,the
thought between love letters, & women
delicately portrayed with out objectifying
them ...

I just adore her work.

If you like to look at more of her stuff she has a blog http://saeleeoh.blogspot.com/

Is Acid The Energy Drink With Less Calories?

Yesterday was a rather good/interesting day for me: First, it was the last day I was stuck out in the hole formally known as Petone (where the internet was not present). Secondly, I try acid for the first time (yes I know here come the lectures on taking care of ones body... rah rah rahhhh but it was quite interesting).

The story begins on ‘Good Friday’: After a relaxed evening at work (Waitessing) of non-fuck-ups and minimal customers, me and “C” (after some negotiation) went to one of my Otago Boys’ Places (with the fro) to let off some steam, as the start of university holidays call for celebration! Naturally drinking games and ‘Guitar( or the whole band) Hero’ were an eventful part of the party scene, then the mention of acid came up in conversation. I unsurprisingly was curious to say the least and decided to try out this frontier when my Otago boy offered me some acid. As any lady would agree... it would be rude to refuse so I had a mere quarter of an acid tab (didn’t want to take to much too soon... one has to be careful of course) to try this unchartered territory.

The experience: It wasn’t too strong the effects of acid, a nice semi drunk feeling went over me and my brain seemed rather energised... which was great until I went to bed and tried to sleep... TRIED is the word to note as every time I closed my eyes I couldn’t rest my brain, though eventually I did manage to “hit the hay” after a while. No psychedelic colours, no giant spiders (my ex-had that happen to once) just felt like I had drunk alcohol with an amazing energy drink which made me very alert... Maybe Acid Is The Energy Drink for the Sugar conscious :) as im sure there are no calories in acid surely.

Today started at the ridiculous time of 7am... which is pretty hard when you don’t get to hit the hay until 2am earliest. I had recovered from my new experience and boringly travelled back and forth ferrying my stuff to its rightful place WELLINGTON (I heart WGTN). I then had the great joy of going to work (waitressing again!). Tonight was crazy due to no surcharges and the need for people to spend some money rather than time (eating out rather than cooking) was supa crazy, but i survived and got a wee tip $20 from one overly table... which is pretty good as New Zealand doesn’t do the compulsory tipping thing like other countries. So bozey fun was in order after work with crew before heading off to an old mate of mine Hamish’s back from Auckland... but a lot of boze later resulted in me walking home instead... on crazy nite is surely more than enough? Rite?

Quote of the day: “Of course drugs are fun. And that's what's so stupid about anti-drug campaigns: they don't admit that. I can't say I feel particularly scarred or lessened by my experimentation with drugs. They've gotten a very bad name.” By Anjelica Huston

Ok Will Sleep Now