'Twas quite a few days before Christmas....

.....and a storm was brewing outside. Thunder struck, lightning blazed across the sky and the rain poured on the roof in the middle of the night, and I was watching the same way I did when I was 5. Storms are cool!

A happier blog, I finally let my emotions get the better of me yesterday and cried. I feel better now, amazing what a good cry, good company and a couple of nights boozing will do.

But the one of the cooler things about living here is Christmas.....the festive season has started, and Im quite excited. The first decorations went up today (during one of the periods of non-rain), and from what I saw, there are certainly plenty more to come!

Life's like a box of chocolates......

It's true, you never know what you're going to get.

Not the most cheery of blog entries, so if you want a smile, don't read any further.

A friend of mine from uni lost her life in a car accident on Sunday. I found out on Monday. I haven't had a lot of experiences with death so far in my life, so I was and still am devastated. Although I hadnt seen Rachel for about 4 years, we still kept in contact since uni. Unfortunately because she was based in Australia, I can't attend the funeral. I feel like I haven't said goodbye. Such a waste, but she had made the most of her life. As people have told me, you do start looking at your own life and start putting things in perspective. There are so many things that worry us, yet in the big scheme of things that worry time could be put to so many other uses. Life is too short, and who knows when our time is up.

I thought by writing something, it may help my mind from working overtime. I had my exam tonight. While I hope I did okay, I have information and emotion overload - and at this point Im just glad its over for now.

I've also had insomnia the last couple of days - driving me nuts! The night is so long. Yet I want to sleep when its morning....whats with that??? Any cures?

One of my good buds from Dunedin is moving to Sydney...boo, but another is moving up to Welly...yay! Still no luck on finding a flatmate for my room yet...boo :( Oh and how much does a normal car servicing generally cost??? I feel I got ripped off.

Not much more to say...like I said...not a cheery blog.

Study make my brain mushy.....

Two days until my Physiology exam, on a break from studying as brain mushy, and full of information Im trying to retain until Wednesday night. Physiology is fascinating though, proving that the human body is truly a great machine. I've just finished stuyding muscle action, and realise now how important calcium is to the workings of the body, and how its presence helps muscle contraction.

This may not be my best blog, but for now its my time out, so bare with me.

Things of note:

Trade Me

I love Trade Me. Online auctions are fun. It can be quite addictive so I am glad the site is blocked at school. I've scored a few books, some Seinfeld videos, and the Over the Hedge DVD. I will never pay full price for a book again :) I was actually aiming to sell my own Patricia Cornwell books, but had to be nosey at other ones.

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is great. I scored a couple of videos of past episodes, and have just watched "the contest", where they bet who hold off choking the lizard the longest. Laughs and hilarity a plenty...good times. Really is a programme about nothing, I guess thats what I like about it. Watching some of the conversations they have remind me of conversations I have with Katie and Ange :)

Indian Festival

Went to the Indian festival of lights yesterday. Full of colour, food, and beautiful outfits. Saw Fish and the Upper Hutt College dancers shake their booty on stage to great applause. Well done, all looked awesome. Only point of notice was that they were running at least an hour late, but got to see a fashion parade of drapes, and some more traditional dances from the Lower Hutt Indian Dancing School. This was preceeded by dinner at Tulsi.....Im sure its not as good as it used to be.

Cool Website

Found this one on another blog....quite entertaining. Find your DEAD CELEBRITY SOULMATE!!!! Come on...I know you want to!

http://www.biography.com/home_page/dead_celebrity_soulmate.jsp

Mine was Billy the Kid.

Just to mention, three day weekends rock! Enough blog....back to study!

A selection of pic's from a recent school trip to the zoo...got to love the animals!!! :)

Here's the bookcase Fish!

A few piccys as promised. Going for $50. A few stains but nothing major. The right top corner has frayed a bit. Could do with a paint job, but completely functional as a cabinet/bookcase. Sturdy as!

What I did in my holidays by Cassie (28)

This reminds me of what we used to have to do at primary school. Time has flown by, and now its (I suddenly realise how slack I've been at the whole blog thing).

Cherry Blossom Festival

On the first Saturday we headed up to the festival at the International College. A beautiful day and got my first dose of sunburn for the season. Lots of different cultures - Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Brazilian, Greek, Irish etc. Heaps of fun and lots of different food. Got my nails painted and a henna pattern put on my hand....cool and even a bit girly. Shelley said after I had bought my earrings, it was the most girly she had ever seen me :)

Coolest thing were the drummers. Was just in awe watching!

Financial Disaster

I finally decided to do something about my debt and get help. Its pretty scary when you see everything laid out infront of you and wonder where you went wrong?? Ok maybe it was the car or the big screen tv....Anyway from the Womens expo I had a consultation with a financial planner who is going to put something together for me to help on the road to less debt. Any tips on saving money would be greatly appreciated!!!

Moving to the Hutt!

This should have happened a while ago. In the last two weeks Ive only spent one night in my flat. Anyway moving completely in with Anthony on 18th November. Im excited :) Have a lot to sort out and get rid off. So far have sold my old tv, a couch, my old desktop computer. I still have to sell a fold out couch, an old stereo (cd player not working but attached a dvd player to it which serves as a cd player, a toaster, probably some crockery, and a bookcase. Im sure there will be other things once I do some more sorting. Its a new step, while being engaged before, Ive never actually lived with a boyfriend.

60th Birthday Festival

It all started last Thursday when Ant's Mum's best friend came to visit for her 60th birthday. Little did I know how bigger deal it was going to be, and became a four day festival! A lot of drinking...more by the mature women than me I add. Much respect for their stamina. A big party on Sunday with many people, food, drink and presents. A birthday lunch at Cobar in Eastbourne. Even though it was visited by Prince William....its way over rated. I say go a few doors down to Chocolate Days! A bread roll with butter was $3.50! Anway after the four days I only wanted sleep. All good. Apparently Christmas is big around here too, bring that on!

There are other things to write but actually need to do school work....yucky!