Far, Far Away

Today's the day, I'm on my way! Off to the Grand Prix - whoohoo - and then it's school holidays - and as you know, I take a blogging break so I can keep my head out of my phone and on the real life fun. Hello children, I'm Baaack!

So I'll be off until  7th of Oct, with a brief appearance for First of the Month Fiction, which will continue as normal (but this time, with links to full stories, for those interested).

So I've nothing much to say as I'm bursting with excitement, but will leave you with the tune that's earworming in my head, by the wonderful Tape Five (I can recommend both CDs, for those that have taken to The Gatsby lifestyle)

Letting loose around the world, and linking up With Some Grace for FYBF! and with Rhianna for Things I Know.

And as a PS, for all those that have kindly added me to their google circles, if I haven't done it back correctly, it's not intentional - I just have no idea how it works!! Ignore the idiot!

P.P.S I know I'm hanging to get on the plane, I know I'm going to have a great time, and I know I'm going to miss my chicklets and partner (stupid sook, I know that too) and I know I really need some time out - and what a perfect way for me to take it. Just incase I was too tenuous to link up for Things I know.

Censorship, Friendship and Facebook

My partner is participating in an upcoming OS road race, and has joined a Facebook support group with other competitors so they can bounce ideas, stay motivated and organise meet ups before and after the race. They all have the common interest of running, but as they come from around the globe, the cultural differences are beginning to creep in.

One member has gone early and hit Vegas. He posted a photo of himself with this statute on the Strip. He was doing nothing lewd, just standing with the 'most photographed statute in Nevada'.

For those of you familiar with Il Porcellino in Sydney, you'll know why those behinds are shiny...

Anyway, one international member of the group did not like this photo, and reported him to Facebook for pornography. She had been friendly with the guy, but didn't approach him directly, nor did she give him warning of her actions. He found out when he was approached by Facebook.

This raises a number of questions for me:
1. Do you find this image offensive?
2. If you did, would you report is to Facebook?
3. If you would report it to Facebook, why would you not just ask the guy to take it down?

I understand, there is a cultural Australian aspect where we don't dob, we don't rush to authorities etc. We are also a little more laidback in our attitudes to pretty much everything, for the most part. I could even understand reporting it to the art police, but each to his own, I guess.

I also wonder, if that statue is considered pornographic on Facebook, would you also be reported for this one? (ah, yes, that old chestnut - what is art and what is pornography?)

                                                               image from Wikipedia

My other question is, how do you then socialise in person with someone you've reported online?

Would love to hear views on this, or have you ever reported anything you've seen on Facebook?

Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT and Talk to Us Thursday

What I learnt from Turbo

Yesterday we headed off to the screening of Turbo - The kids laughed and laughed, but so did I, at completely different things. As an F1 fan, this was the perfect movie to gear me up for next weekend's trip to the Grand Prix. While the film is Indy-centric (boohiss!), racing is racing and there is a close enough rivalry for me to get the jokes. So here's what I learnt from Turbo:
1. Not all kids movies need to have kids soundtracks. I loved the choice of music in this film. I've had an earworm of Jump Around ever since!
2. Some great attitudes when facing fears 'What happens if you wake up tomorrow and you're powers are gone?' 'Then I'd better make the most of today'
3. Funnniest joke in the film, for a F1 snob (who looks down on the Indy cousin), is the description "left turn, left turn...what happens next? oh, left turn!"
4. Wisdom in the words 'Is this really necessary? No, but it's fun' Maybe it's important to bring fun into all that you have to do...
5. I loved the media savvy Guy Gange, but as a longtime Prost then Alesi fan, I take offense that in US films, the European villain is always French!! They really weren't like that!!
6. I learnt that apparently all racing is good to watch, even if it's inside a snails mind.
7. Sometimes, when people don't support your dreams, it's because they're scared for you, and it may just take time for them to come round to the idea.
8. No dream is too big, and no dreamer too small (this might actually become my new mantra)
9. I liked that it reinforces that being different is ok, and that you don't have to try to fit in with everyone else - that you'll find your tribe eventually.
10. The big question in life, do you want to settle for good enough or crazy awesome?


Linking up with SlapdashMama at the Lounge - and counting down to a crazy awesome weekend!

Things I (don't) know...

A variation on Riddle me this? so I can tenuously do my first ever Things I know....

Ten Things I Don't Know:

1. How does the skeleton grow? It seems to grow from the middle of the bones? And how does the skull get bigger? Then you think of exoskeletons, the animal busts out completely to form a new bigger covering, that just seems much simpler and practical - we wouldn't need bike helmets. (Don't bother telling me to google it, I understand the theory of it, just can't fit it together in my brain).
2. When did we become people that voted for what was best for us personally, not what was best for the less fortunate, both here and around the globe?
3. Why is the music industry so destructive for women? And where are the adults to these young children, demanding control? (And frankly clothes??!! I know I'm old but seriously, the women need to put clothes on and the men just seem totally sleazy, and slightly creepy*).
4. How can three children from the same gene pool and environment be so different in looks and personality? (I'm serious, I really don't understand this - we have 2 that look like one family and one that you would think was from another).
5. Why can kids, who you love so much, drive you more nuts than anyone else on the planet? How can one so young be so adept at pushing your buttons?
6. Why does our hair go grey? What's the point? And why doesn't the fur of animals go grey? Why aren't our dogs grey?
7. Why do I still struggle with school lunches, but not holiday lunches, when off on a day trip?
8. Why are there so many great things on but you only find out about half of them once they're over?
9.Why do some people get upset they weren't invited to something, even though they were away? (yep, I have one of those friends)
10. Why can some animals fend for themselves at an early age, yet human teenagers be so useless round the house?

Do you know the answers? Or feel free to add your own questions.
*Talking to you, Robin Thicke.

I'm in the jetset, baby!

Earlier this year, I wrote a post on Extravagance because I was flying up to Brisbane to see a play. I have upped the ante, and next week I'll be flying to Singapore for the weekend to watch the Grand Prix! I am thrilled as it's my first GP in about ten years, but I'm also bemused at the insanity of it, to go to another country, literally for 2 nights. I've just emailed my hotel make sure they hold my room, as I'm going straight from the airport to the track, and won't be checking in until close to midnight.

Amazingly, thanks to Scoot*, the cost is less than if I went to Melbourne, and Scoots 2am departure time, allows me 3 days but only paying for 2 nights accommodation. Having trawled the net for family accommodation that we can afford for recent trips, I'd forgotten how easy it is to travel solo, not to mention how cheap. Find a room, and click. Booked. No checking how many in a room, costs of extra beds and so on.

I have been madly ebaying away to pay for this adventure, and while I didn't cover the entire cost, I did cover the airfare.

So why did I stop going to grand prixs? Cost mainly, and kids. Couldn't take the kids, and didn't feel I could justify the cost, or the time away from the kids. My question is why? Why do women, and it is predominately women who do this, cut out their interests and passions for the sake of others?

My partner continued his annual boys weekends. I just stopped my weekends away. He didn't ask me to - I did it to myself.

Last year, I went away with a girlfriend for a week. This was a HUGE deal, three years in the making. I'll admit, I struggled a bit, wishing my partner and kids could see all the wonders I was seeing. Realistically, only one of the kids even cared I was gone. And that was only for one day. So did I project the importance onto them? Or was it my need for them?

Anyway, this trip is short enough for me to just enjoy it (I think).

As the footy finals are a painful non event for me this year, I'll be cheering for a win for the Iceman, Kimmi Raikkonen, though a win for Vettel will also suffice.

At any rate, I haven't stopped smiling since this turned up last night!

Did you sacrifice some of your interests for the family? Is it wise? Does it make a difference?

Is there an interest you gave up that you want to reignite?

And the really big question, can I actually do an overseas trip with only hand luggage?

Linking up with EssentiallyJess for IBOT.


*I'm paying, not sponsored, but thanks to their low fares.

Living out loud

I am fully aware of the irony of what I'm about to write, but there is something in the news today got me thinking (and it's something that crops up almost daily).

When something happens, how does the media get access to people's Facebook page status? How do they get their photos? Do they hack in? Does Facebook hand it over? Or do 'friends' pass it on? If we have a personal facebook page, or pinterest/twitter/instagram account, have we really handed over all rights to privacy?

If so, do we need to keep that in mind when we post our kids/thoughts/selves? (Topics of catfishing and facial recognition issues will be saved for another day - it's just too big to even get my head around yet).

Do we need to consider how to keep in touch without sacrificing privacy?

(Obviously, as a blogger, we are sacrificing a certain amount of that privacy. Even then, it can feel at times, you are only talking to one or two people, especially on twitter, but it needs to be noted it is for the whole wide web to see).

I do not know how the media gets it's hands on people's facebook material, but I for one do not want to read the status of a grieving person, or a person in a difficult situation. their message to their friends and loved ones should stay just that.

Of course, the article that prompted this, the woman herself may have released the details in order for the other party to see them, on the chance he was not able to access online.

Which then brings us to the kids. The kids who will grow up with every thought and deed they ever committed following them around for their whole adult life.

I don't have an answer, but it is something quite complex to think about. Mind bogglingly difficult, with what complications and consequences may follow.

It's alien enough to make you think - online, everyone can hear you scream*.

Linking up with some Grace for FYBF.
* (that's a joke for the old people)

The extroverted introvert.

Linking this old post for #IMustConfess.  As an update, we had a 'meet the other parents' cocktail party and my friend pulled out last minute. She said she just wasn't up for it, and then added "but you're really great at that sort of thing". I found this so odd, as I'm really terrible at that sort of thing, and it fills me with self conscious fears of inadequacy, but clearly, I'm becoming so much better at hiding it. So I am at times, an extroverted introvert.

I am, as you've all heard, socially inept, painfully shy, and an undisputed introvert. My partner, on the other hand, is not. He's very confident and at ease socially, anywhere. So what follows came as a big surprise to me, and I'm still puzzling to make some sense of it.

On Saturday night, we headed to the Zombie Prom - a prom night from 1986 where you dress as zombies. With Halloween being my favourite time of year, I already had the outfit of a decaying prom queen, so it was no effort for me.

Due to my covering of wholemeal flour paste (for decaying, flaky skin), I said we would have to walk up the road to the venue, rather than get a taxi. My partner said "I can't walk up King St dressed like this". My response, "It's King St, no one will even look twice". Nope, no go - we had to wait until I was dry and get a taxi.

For those that don't know Sydney, King St is in the very relaxed suburb of Newtown, and pretty much anything goes and no one cares. I have sat in the takeaway in PJ's and no one gave me a second glance.

My question, to myself, but happy for any feedback, is why do I twist myself in anxiety at the prospect of blogger drinks or most social occasions, but can merrily stroll up the street looking like a freak without any sort of issue?

I guess it's to do with no one knowing me, where as meeting people I have to be 'me' and that's putting myself up for judgement (my own judgment, as most people don't think too much about other people they've just met).

Or is my torshlusspanik list beginning to change me? I wouldn't have thought so, but maybe it is. Which is the Whistle a happy tune scenario in the King and I*. Does that really work? Maybe it does....

There is no resolution to this post, just a pondering which I will return to at a later date.
As for the Zombie Prom? For those that missed it, mark the date for next year and sign up to the Vanguard newsletter. It's hilarious. It's like an old school dance (with equally bad music). Ironically, because of the zombie theme, no one gave us a second glace being the oldest people in the place (seriously), and we joined up with some young 20 somethings at the next table (who somehow knew all the words to songs they weren't even alive for, first time round).


*If you are a young person that has not seen the King and I, it's a great film so you should watch it, but the short version of Whistle a Happy Tune is held in the lyrics:
"Make believe you're brave
And the trick will take you far.
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are"