028: 14 Things to Change in 2014

I can't believe that 2014 is upon us already. I am never ready for the new year to roll in - it takes me eight months or so to get used to any new year, and then it just swaps, just like that.

This year in particular, the change from December to January has been hard because although I plan for the coming year to be better than the last, I know that it is going to be difficult. 2013 was easily the best year I ever had. 2013 was the year of travel, the year of exploration and growth. To think that this time last year, Katie was a timid little Aussie girl who could barely hold a conversation with a stranger let alone live with a bunch of them on the other side of the world. I love that I have changed, but I know that there is always room for something else to change.

Rather than creating a whole new list of thing I want to do, I though I might just take the opportunity to my list of things to do from last year.

Now added the list of things Katie must do when she gets a free moment include

      92. Buy Organic - feel the difference
      93. Create the perfect Study
      94. New House, New Adventure
      95. The Perfect pair of shorts
      96. Plan (and go on if possible) exchange meet up
      97. Complete 50/50 challenge
      98. Buy a New Laptop
      99. Make a Difference
     100. Look after me
     101. Weekly visit to Grandparents
     102. Keep on top of uni work
     103. Renew Passport (with good reason)
     104. Start reviewing books
     105. Wash car
     106. Accept that I will only get 10% of this list finished

There, more goals, lets see what 2014 has in store for me this year.

  Kathleen x

027: The Many Tears Shed Thanks to John Green

My little sister was given a book for Christmas. She read it in the back seat of my car as we drove to Christmas lunch. By the time we arrived at my grandparents, she was balling her eyes out.

I did what any compassionate and caring older sister would do. I stole the book off her.

That evening, I was crying too.

We read John Greens "The Fault In Our Stars" and he deserved every tear shed.

Following the relationship of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Walters, two cancer patients, Green creates a love story that made me laugh, cry but also think.

I had not previously read anything by Green and was sorely disappointed that I was unable to fall in love with his writing when I was a teenager, sadly, he will have to have my love as a young adult. I am very picky when it comes to giving affection to writers as I often find more faults than virtues, but Green writing was near perfect - aside from taking a while to adapt to a female narrators voice, but I am willing to over look this as the single fault. His writing is smart and quite literary but it was the right combination of laughs and tears. I highly, highly recommend his writing, although I know I am not the only one.

  Kathleen x

026: I don't want to be a Grinch

I can't believe how fast this year has gone. Christmas is just upon us and the world is going crazy.

For the third year in a row, I have had the unfortunate position of working in retail over Christmas. Which means that I get to witness the absolute worst of the Christmas season. People running madly around shopping centres, stalking out car parks, wresting over the perfect gift and the absolute rudeness that the season seems to encourage.

Christmas shopping becomes such a chore that basic manner are thrown out the window. Snapping at strangers and unreasonable demands become commonplace across December, and I find it disgusting.Too many times I have taken refuge in the staff room for a brief second to ensure that the rudeness of my customers doesn't rub off on me. Thankfully I work with a wonderful team, and mostly we can laugh it off and if not, have someone to whine to.

I love Christmas. I have my tree up every year on December first and enjoy the thrill of finding someone the perfect gift. I love having the day when I get to see my entire family, seated around the same table sharing food and remembering the reasons why we celebrate. Hopefully by next Christmas that can be my sole purpose for celebrating, and not just rejoicing that I have the day off.

  Kathleen x

025: Successful Day if I do say so myself

It might only be early afternoon and I may have slept in until 10.30, but still I have managed to get some every exciting things done.

1. Finally completed the whole beginners lap on my 5K running challange (it has taken several attempts, for the first one, read here.)

2. Admitted to the government where I live. (I'm not on the run or anything, but the shire was chasing me down having a different address to the my registered vote, but I'm all legal now)

3. Tried (and failed) to roast pumpkin seeds. Mmmm, charcoal

Signed up for the 50/50 Challenge. To read fifty book and watch fifty new movies in a year. I just hope they let me go 'til November next year and not January. For more info on a very exciting idea, see here

4. Had lunch. Even small acheivments count, right? 

Gosh, I'm on such a roll, imagine what would have happened if I woke up in the morning, I could have solved world peace by now.  

  Kathleen x

024: When I told work I had plans, I'm not sure this is what they had in mind

I work five to six night a week and usually those precious nights off are when I make plans and reconnect with life outside my work. However, tonight was something different. Tonight, I planned to do nothing. I did get that dreaded call at half past six asking if I could cover a last minute absence, but I couldn't. My nothing-ness was already planned.

House mate had her own work to go to, so I waltzed down to the local to pick up a few essentials. Fixed myself a tasty dinner, poured myself a glass of second cheapest wine in the shop and settled in for a good read.
. 
 I cannot think of a better way to spend my evenings.

  Kathleen x

023: I didn't think I would appreciate it at the time

As it is coming around to the gift giving season, I though I might share with you all the gift that I had to pretend I liked until I actually used it.

Last year for my birthday, my sister bought be "The Book Lovers Journal' a cute little book where I was supposed to write down all the books I'd read and my opinions. I didn't really think much of it at the time. I was part way though my English degree at the time - all the books I read had thousand word essay written in their honour.

But then I needed it

In the early hours of the morning, and I had just finished J.K Rowling's first book for adults "The Casual Vacancy" and found myself clutching the poor book and sobbing into into pages. (spoiler, it has a sad ending) All I wanted to do was call my friends and tell them all they had to read this book. But it was three am, and calls that late are only acceptable if you are drunk or dying. So I just had to write about it.

So for all you people out there who are looking for something for the book lover who doesn't need any more books.  have a look here.

  Kathleen x

022: Apparently I would be dead in a zombie apocalypses

Spring has crept up on me so suddenly that I had almost forgotten my mid year resolution (much the same as New Year Resolutions, but without the hype and expectations) to be fit for summer. So I dusted off my runners and legging - the only time its acceptable to wear leggings in public - and decided to go for a run.

During my last feeble attempt at getting fit, I downloaded a 'Couch to Marathon 5K Running" Ap in the hopes that a little motivaion would help me get there (last time I hadn't even opened it) and decided that this sunny Spring morning would be a good time to try it out.

As it turns out, I'm not even fit enough for the beginners level. I jogged through my warm up, feeling the energy pulse through me - and then he (the little overly American trainer that I had selected) told me to run.

It might have been only for a minute, but I could feel myself dying as I ran. The warm breeze brushing through my hair, the flies hitching a ride on my sweaty back, uncoordinated feet hitting the pavement in some attempt at rhythm. It was the hardest minute of my life.

Clearly its going to take a while before I get to those 5km, but I'm (hopefully) not going to give up yet.

  Kathleen x