February 27, 2005
Anatomy of a Surprise Party
McG wouldn't let me go camping this weekend, so instead, I thought I'd throw him a (last minute) Bikkuri (it's japanese for "SURPRISE!") Birthday Party at our local bar.....
It started on Tuesday when I emailed McG's friends to alert them to upcoming birthday drinks but provided no details due to dastardly disorganisation. Talked to our local bar on Wednesday and confirmed venue + time by Thursday.
The biggest problem with organising these things, in fact any party, is that people just don't RSVP. I don't know why that is and it shits me no end. There were a few tentative "should be able to come but have something else on but don't know what's happening there either"s. I think people must live in a perpetual state of not knowing where their next meal is coming from, just in case Nigella Lawson pops in for a cup of tea and a nice sit-down.
[contemplation: I'm now resigned to the fact that some friends don't respond to invites but it took me a long while to realise that just because they were vague, didn't mean they cared for us any less than our "reliable" friends. In fact, we had the same problem with RSVPs for our wedding. Our frikkin' wedding, and my own brother couldn't be arsed RSVPing. When I asked my mum and dad whether bro+partner+offspring were actually coming (after countless emails and phone calls to aforementioned sibling), they acted like I was the one who was crazy. "Well, of course they're coming dear. He's your brother." YES! Correct! My brother, so perhaps he could pick up the damn phone for 5 minutes, or flip me an email to confirm his attendance. Pfrttht, family.]
Anyway, it was also going to be a bikkuri for me, too as I had no clue who would actually show up.
Can I smell cake?
Planned a secret squirrel plan of attack for getting the cake to our local bar by 3pm, (the time they open) without McG knowing.
We went off house-hunting in the moring, returned home by 2pm and had to leave again for an auction at 4pm. In that 2 hour gap, I went "grocery shopping", picked up Birthday Cheesecake and passed by the bar around 3.25. Closed. A little sign out the front stated they wouldn't open until 4pm that day. Fuckit. Had to put Cheesecake in the boot while we went to the auction, a great house that McG was very proud to put in an opening bid for. The place was passed in, but all I could think about was Cheesecake melting in the back of the car.
Drove home, accidentally "left my purse in the car", went out to get it and decided to "buy a magazine" up the road. Grabbed the cake from the boot and started to hot-foot it to the bar (about a 3 minute walk). I had walked only a few steps when McG, bless him, came outside to see where I'd gotten to. I was on the other side of the road and luckily behind another car. I dropped the cheesecake and stood there, frozen, waiting for him to see me. He didn't.
Ran to the bar, dropped off Cheesecake and bought crap magazine. Crisis averted.
Had a nana nap with McG, and at around 5pm my phone rang. McG was asleep so I left the room to take the call. It was one of the guests - "You can't talk can you? What's going on tonight?" asks he. I thought it would be OK as McG was in the bedroom, but just as I blurted out the details, who should appear in the kitchen, but Husband who heard everything. Shit fuck fuckityfuckfuck.
Ah, the best laid plans. If I'd have been bright I would have had a continuity plan for such a crisis, but alas, did not. So the puppy was out of the kennel and happily chomping on (not-so) Secret Squirrel.
But suddenly I went from being annoying Wife who buys crap magazines & watches too much crap reality TV to "BEST WIFE IN THE WORLD!" I was happy with that.
As it turned out, 14 of our good buddies came at pretty short notice to show Husband a good time. Some who said they "probably couldn't" come, showed up and others who were dead certs, didn't. It didn't matter. Husband was happy, stuffed full of birthday cheesecake (which remained a surprise until its appearance), flanked by good friends and beer, and seeing both that giddy smile on his face & the friends that put it there, was the best. Good party.
February 25, 2005
Things you can do with birthday candles
It was D's birthday yesterday and McGs on Monday. I gave him men's Body Shop products. So he can primp and preen to his heart's delight. Just don't call him a metrosexual or he'll get very cross.
February 21, 2005
Grape Grazing on Saturday
Not too feral. Enough said.
More Grape Grazing photos here...
February 19, 2005
Nuns in Fitzroy
Had my first belly-dancing class last Thursday. I used to do bellydancing back in 'Nam - only for a couple of terms, but I loved it. True to the spirit that is Kinki, however, I got bored soon enough and wandered onto something else.
Am determined to give it a good go this time. First off, it's extremely sensual. Even the hoofiest heathens can look graceful in a bling-bling skirt tied low on the hips and a vague attempt at a shimmie. It's fantastic for the tightening of one's butt and tum-tum and it's an awesome cardio workout - you're completely knackered by the end of the hour, and don't even notice the time go by (quite contrare to 5 minutes of aerobics which feels like an eternity).
And it's a non-threatening, accepting environment - we even had a guy in our class in Brissie all those years ago. That was pretty funny, actually. Guys can't shimmie. They. just can't (prove me wrong, it's happened before)...
February 18, 2005
February 16, 2005
February 14, 2005
The easiest money I've ever made...
No, no, no I didn't go into St Kilda on the weekend for the hinky business, not at all. Rather, I popped into my local branch of The Bank last week, which ahem, just happens to be in my building and asked for a cool few hundred thou to purchase a home. Just like that.
I was expecting to have to produce 10 forms of id, my last few years salary slips and to have to prove I wasn't $10,000 in debt. What I wasn't expecting was for the mortgage dude to ring me up the next day and say, "You're pre-approved". We-we-we're what? It was frightening how frikkin' easy it was. And I'd just popped in to get an idea of what the Bank was offering. OK. The staff discount was v. appealing, but hell, I'm easy pleased.
No doubt our weekends will now be filled with house-hunting. Shoot me now.
In other news, our irrepressible and frustratingly good-looking friends, The Davies have pooped out (sorry, that was meant to be popped) a baby girl at Midday today. Hurrah! A Valentines Baby. Of course, I fucked up and failed to ask the name and weight (although I did get the time) of the prodigal spawn. And I call myself a good friend.
And because today is THE Day of (hideouslycommercialised & greedilyguiltcrammed) LOVE, I leave you with a photo of my Husband and I the day we first met, June 20, 1999 (about half an hour after I asked him, "You're not a fucking Pisces are you?). Yes, Husband is usually blonde and no, I'm not holding a cigarette...
February 13, 2005
St Kilda Festival 2005
More photos of the St Kilda Festival
February 12, 2005
February 10, 2005
a conundrum
i seem to get along famously with feisty greek-australian women. i don't know what that says about my personality.
February 08, 2005
February 07, 2005
Dave Matthews Band!
Slap my porkchops and call me cupid! We're going! March 21st. Palais Theatre. 7.30pm. Melbourne. First gig for DMB ever in Australia. Got seats in the nefarious arse-end of the theatre, but hell! we're seeing the Man (b.y.o binoculars)! Huzzah!
February 05, 2005
Pinched from Pinku
She didn't send it to me, but dammit, I love these things (oh, and had to make a few enhancements)...
Grooming products
Shampoo: Kerastase
Moisturizer: Olay - Complete Defense Daily UV moisturizer (SPF 30)
Perfume: Miracle Intense by Lancome, Flower by Kenzo and Byzance by Rochas.
Razor: girlie disposables
Toothpaste: whatever's on special
Beauty product: Body Shop Body Butter - coconut, mango or passionfruit.
Electronics
Cell phone: Nokia somethingorother
Stereo: in the loungeroom
TV: Life's Good Flatscreen
Computer: Shitbox Toshiba laptop that just decides to. turn. off. whenever. it feels.
Home Sheets: Black 100% cotton
Coffee Maker: Stovetop Bialetti percolator. Perfect for those decadent mornings around a campfire.
Car: 2002 Daewoo Nubira
Stationary: My name is Kinki McG and I am a pen thief.
Beverages
Bottled water: Mt Franklin
Coffee: Soy latte. Love Hudsons for takeout java. Genovese too.
Tea: Twinings Irish Breakfast
Vodka: Don't drink it.
Beer: Coopers Vintage and Kirin Ichiban.
Wine: 1998 Leasingham Shiraz, Bianchet Verduzzo Gold
Clothes
Jeans: Levis. Although I can never find jeans to fit me (big arse and little waist)
T shirt: "I heart New York"
Dresses: Very Very and Cooper Street
Briefcase: None, but lots of handbags. Current fave is black, red and white retro floppy bag by Catherine Manuell.
Sneakers: Asics
Watch: None
Favorite Places
Great Wall of China; Tokyo in cherry blossom or maple tree season; Jasper, Vancouver & Halifax in Canada; anywhere in snow; North Queensland beaches; Home.
Necessary Extravagance
Travel, good camera equipment, decent wine & coffee, pretty shoes & earrings.
February 03, 2005
Did you bring your winter woolies?
It's summer here in Melbourne!
