It only got worse

I think I have just come out of the worst flu I've ever had.

There was a time like 5 years ago when the infamous 'flu of death' went through our house - it only struck one person at a time, and all you did for 3 days straight was sweat, shower, sleep and sweat.

Tuesday I was feeling pretty bad, right? I then developed a massive headache and then slept for 14 house straight, then wasped around the house all Wednesday. Went to The Huns parents for Family Tea, felt okay and then got up on Thursday and went to work.

Buh-bow.

It was so draining. I was tired, coughing, blowing my nose and getting hot and cold sweats. I left work at 2:30 and slept for three hours then woke up with ANOTHER migraine. I managed to sleep most of it off, but then spent all Friday coughing and blowing my nose and feeling worse. It was around this point that I wondered if I would never feel better - which of course made me feel worse (and yes, I worked half of one day the week after I interviewed for a promotion... nice work, me).

Anyways, I think all the extra nose blowing helped out and I perked up enough to actually be sociable with The Hun. Saturday I went back to the DFO with mumsy and played out a kitchenware version of Pretty Woman with her - the kitchen is being renovated and she'd never furnished a kitchen with proper stuff from the get go... it was SO much fun! Saturday night I hit the movies with gf1 and gf2 for gf2's birthday because my illness lamed me out of cocktails and dinner - which we'll be doing next weekend.

Today I went to a bbq for The Huns touch team and then cleaned my room - I have some EXCITING PLANS for it, hopefully this week.

Anyways - the whole point of this was to say.... NEXT POST = 600th POST!

Down and Out

Oh you guys, seriously. I am UNDER the WEATHER.

That sore throat from my interview day just kept getting worse and worst.

Saturday morning it was killing me to swallow, Saturday lunchtime I lost my voice, Saturday afternoon I thought I was going to pass out, Saturday night I was freezing.

Sunday I was croaky and snotty and sore headed all day, and Monday was much of the same but with a foul dip in the middle of the afternoon.

So that should be enough, right?

NO.

Today I've felt my worst - like five days later!! How rude!!! It's all up in my head. I have a certificate to also have tomorrow off, and Thursday if I need it, but I'm out of drugs and the doctor was not my usual one, so I think she thought I was a junkie as I kept saying I was out of pseudoephedrine and needed the real stuff, not the fake stuff.

Damn.

Here are some dotpoints for you:

• We passed the one month engaged mark - it has been a fantastic month for the both of us! What a difference one moment can make in one persons attitude, affecting all facets of life.

• I'm really loving Antique Roadshow. I thought I was set in my ways, clicking on to the news as soon as I got home, all grown up like. But no, now I'm a nanna. I just love hearing the stories the oldies tell about these things they've picked up along the way, and their unadultered shock and delight when they get the value explained to them! It's so lovely.

• We finally found some of the Woollies home brand garlice bread that is vegan. Oh man. I tell you -it is DIVINE.
  

• We took Pounder to his behaviourial class on the weekend, and it was great. I have definitely found what I want my 'next' career to be - they really knew their stuff! We learnt a whole lot about the theory of different behaviours and conditions and drivers in dogs, as well as some methods and solutions to try to remedy these. The Sunday we brought our pets along and Pounder was very well behaved, other than his new habit of grinding his teeth - odd. We got some one-on-one time with one of the trainers to get an idea of what we can do to help his walking, his spinning and his anxiety, and we've noticed a little difference in him already.

• Getting close to the 600th post, and I have a pretty good idea of what's to come - excited?
  

I - day

Today was my interview.

Today was also the day I woke up with a sore throat as part of my first cold of the year. NOICE TIMING.

I'm unsure about how it went - in retrospect, I could have answered at least one of the questions better, but I focused on my body language, tried to stay cool and made use of the opportunity to make a statement at the end to talk up what I could bring to the team if I were chosen.

Something that did go well was my brand new chemist strength deodorant! I had to go see the doctor last week for a pill renewal (and managed to get onto the one that also improves your skin) and decided I was tired of always being so self concious about my stank, so picked up some super-super-super strength stuff. I tell you - this stuff is AMAZING. Not one damp/stanky spot on my shirt all day! My poor stockinged feet were another story.

So again, I'm not sure how I went... Chances are that most of the other applicants were more qualified, but I've received some really good feedback today (that I can't really elaborate on!). It would be great if I got it, but if I don't then it's also fine - I will be travelling soon, I've been promised more development, and my interests have been noted by other senior members so I'll be sure to be able to get involved in the areas I'm more intrested in shortly!

Will keep you updated... now I'm off to bed to hopefully get better before a weekend of dog-behavioural-training for crazy Mr Pounder.

Yay/AGH/Woah

So - remember this post? I got a call last week saying that I had been shortlisted and they wanted to phone interview me. And they did. And I had NO idea how it went, but it seems it went well because I got told yesterday that I have an interview - this Friday morning. EEP!

Positives:

• If I do get it, it's a promotion. It's the area I want to be in, I will be able to actually 'do' something, rather than giving other people the tools to 'do' something.

• If I don't get it, my boss has said I will get more training so that I can eventually get into the same area.

• If I don't get it, I will get feedback on what I need to do better next time.

• If I don't get it, it's not like I'm unhappy where I am anyway.

Negatives:

• If I do get it, it's scary. It's harder. It's all new and a change from what I've done here for the past five years. And I'm hearing a lot of things from my big boss that indicates she doesn't believe I can do it, damn self doubt.

• If I don't get it I will have to keep working with someone who perhaps didn't believe I could do it anyway. Damn self doubt AND shame.

Unsure:

• I bought a belt to go outside my shirt and I'm not the kind of girl who accessorises so I'm not going to know if it looks dumb. For example, it doesn't seem to have a second loop on it (to catch the end) so should I buy a different one? I don't know how high to wear it. I don't know if it's even one you're supposed to wear on the outside (EDIT: Retried my shirt on and it doesn't need an outside belt. Problem solved!).

• I've always been a fan of the 'rock up and see how you go' style of interviewing, but all signs seem to point to this being one where I have a fair chunk of reading to do beforehand.
  

Bring on Friday lunchtime, I say.

DFO Opening

The long-awaited Canberra DFO opened earlier this week - I was very lucky to get a pass in the mail (they sent out only 3000 invites for the opening night) and rocked up with middle bro, eldest bro and eldest bro's gf at 5:30 and found a spot in the line closer to the door with magf (who got a pass at the last minute after gf1 dropped out). They opened the doors early to try to manage the crowds, and quickly realised that people weren't going to stay in their orderly line as people started surging up the stairs (the security guard got a big cheer when he arrived). One of my workmates was out in line and she wasn't in there until 6:30pm.

But.

I. LOVED. IT.

It's a real shame the food court was blocked off (they held some VIP thing in there) so there was NO food - they had 3000 Canberrans in there from 6pm - 9pm, it would have been a guaranteed money maker for them!

But I still managed to buy:

• Table 8 work pants ($40)
• Table 8 work shoes ($20)
• 6 x Cotton On singlets ($36)
• 2 x Converse Singlets ($30 from $80)
• Jag Jumper ($25)
• 6 x over-door hooks ($7 - and crazilly they don't let you close the door when they're on... how ridiculous!)
• 3 x work shirts from Jacqui E ($93)
  
• Fila shoes ($60 from $120)

The great thing about it was that it had current styles in mostly decent sizes - the Brand Depot we have here is totally useless. I will definitely go back again - in fact, I'll be taking middle bro out to buy him an outfit for the engagement party! He has done an AMAZING job dropping close to 50kg now and he is keeping me motivated for my workouts too, so I wanted to give him something for that.

And perhaps I'll run into Mick there again (how random was that, Mick?!).

Shoe and other photos coming shortly!

Fian-say #2

Um yeah, wedding - obsessed much?

• We're thinking September/October next year for the big event. I mentioned to The Hun last night that we could probably do it in February if we wanted, and he retorted that with the current wedding blitzkrieg I've got going, then yeah, it could totally happen. I think we'll stick with later in the year though.

• I was so stoked to get the ring back - as soon as she put it down on the counter it was right back on the finger. "Oh, you're right to just wear it then?" Um yes. Yes I am.

• My folder has come in handy - that's for sure. I've drafter and re-drafted and final-drafted the engagement party list, made myself a spreadsheet and checked and re-checked and final-checked. I enjoy very few administrative things, but I HEART making spreadsheets.

• Youngest bro was a great help and a good sport to come along to look at paper with me on the weekend. He helpded me work out how to make them and which paper I liked best - so he can take a lot of credit for the invites I am making this weekend. The 70-something invites I am making this weekend.

• We haven't officially worked out the bridal party yet either - poor ol The Hun has two groups of very close friends, 3 or 4 on each side. So I've selected who my three would be... if I can't have more than three, I'll definitely be asking my 'fourth' to get involved in as much as they like - I just wish I could tell them!

• I have picked out colours and a theme though. How exciting! I can't wait to start shopping!!

• I've also been building up a playlist of songs on my iPod that I love, to use at the engagement party and at the wedding. I am spending a lot of time looking goofy over the top of my screen as I listen to lyrics and wonder whether or not it can be used.

• Things got a little more real and grounded last night as I was drafting the invites - I wanted to set up an email address to manage the RSVP's and stuff and I finally settled on HisSurname.MySurname.Wedding@gmail.com. Woah. I just... woah. It finally seemed real. How exciting!!!
  

Crossed paths

Life is full of them!

The Hun and I lived in two adjoining suburbs.

We went to the same primary school, same high school and same college.

The girl he was dating in year eight is (now) one of my best friends - our friendship started that same year.

The girl he dated after her lived in my first group house with me.

His younger sister was in the same grade as middle bro.

His dad went to the same gym as middle bro.

His mum works at a uni, as does my mum.

His dads cousin appears to have worked with my Pa...

So on and so on, until the weirder ones:

He is exactly eight days younger than me.

His mum is exactly eight days younger than mine.

Both were married in the same year, less than six months apart. In the SAME church.

Folks - I think we've found our wedding venue.

Putting myself through the wringer again

I applied for another job this week.

A promotion, so that it doesn't look AS bad if I get it and leave the team when we're short staffed and reaaaaaally busy.

Each time my big boss stands up to talk to me, I'm sure she sees the flicker of panic crossing my face in an oh-my-gawd-she-knows kinda way.

Chances are slim, but I guess I had nothing to lose. Well, except my bosses respect.
*sigh*

Does it ever get any easier?!

Fian-say #1

I figured there is likely to be a lot of wedding-type chat, so I'd call them all the same thing. And I'd like to point out that's efficient, not lazy.

• The ring is getting resized at the moment. I took it in the day after I got it to get it resized (because I can shake it off my hand) but the guy spent so long stroking my fingers and 'hmmm'ing that I got anxious and sweaty and my hands got puffy, making the ring a better fit. The lady who served me yesterday resisted the urge to fondle my fingers (and resisted the urge to chuckle when I said 'I do' as she tried on a better fitting ring). I get it back Friday.

• To deal with the ring-less-ness I dropped $50 at Officeworks. I'm such a woman. I got a pink binder, some pretty seperators, some plastic sleeves, some new pens, some plastic sleeve envelope things, a lecture pad thing that clips into the folder and 2009 planner for my organiser.

• There has already been some dramas with the families. Greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

PS - Still v excited!