Peeling Back the Layers

I've been tagged with quite a few memes over the past couple of weeks and as usual, time has been enemy mine so, I thought for the next few Mondays, given my affection for alliteration, I'l post a Monday meme, peel back a few layers, remove some of the fuzziness and clear a few things up about me!

Fun with Photoshop!

The first is Five Words - designed to help you get to know someone or confuse the pookanooie out of you. Rowe at Societe Amore gave me five words to explore . . she's a relatively new blogger to me but as a fellow Aussie, I was drawn. I don't have many Aussies in the Baino Blogroll . . .she picked some doozies actually and this was a bit of a challenge.

So here goes with the five words.

FASHION
I'm not a fan. I like to look smart but I'm no trendsetter and my comfiest fashion items are a pair of black yoga pants and a T shirt and of course the ubiquitous pair of Havianas. I wear corporate suits and shirts to work so getting 'loose' on the weekend is a joy.

Perhaps if I was a size six, had more money than sense or an iota of an idea how to accessorise, I might be a fashion plate but for now . . comfort wins.

Interestingly I had a chat with Heather over at Hokgardner who's children go to school in civilian gear. Out here schoolchildren wear uniforms. They're well priced, good quality and reduce the amount of fashion oriented competition in schools. At least that's our take on it. In the US however, uniforms are considered to stifle creativity. I dunno, I'd rather have kids in school uniform and not distracted by who's wearing the latest gear.

RELIGION
Oooh . . .fwoaaar! I told you she was a n00b. I don't have a spiritual bone in my body except for the awe and amazement I have for the natural world but religion? Nope. Mind you I'm not one of these atheists that has turned my disbelief into a religion either. Each to their own I say. If it's your cup of tea fine but having been brought up a confirmed Anglican with a Welsh Evangelist mother, a Catholic Husband, two children who went through the Catholic education system,and the usual dabbles in Buddhism and whimsy, I think I've seen both sides of the fence. I find organised religion divisive, political, contentious and destructive. I dwell in the Church of life and I like it there.

ADVENTURE
I'm also not your bungy jumping, heli-skiing, fast car dangerwoman. Sadly, I'm very dull and generally play it safe. I don't even jay walk! Despite that, life has been a huge adventure and hopefully will continue to be so. I have not lived a charmed life . . but then I have. Every time I lament the loss of friends and family, my financial situation, the fact that I feel like I'm treading water and going nowhere . . whenever I have those moments of self-indulgent self-pity and absorption, my daughter is the voice of reason and tells me to look at my experiences as an adventure that some will never have and to be grateful for the ride because I'm so much better off than so many others. I hate it when she's right! Let's face it, I've moved continents, been to 11 schools and 2 states, raised two pretty awesome kids on my own. I can ride a horse, ride a bike, fix stuff, sew stuff, cook stuff. I've travelled large, met people from all races and creeds and am planning the next big trip so . . maybe I'm a little more adventurous than some.


HAPPINESS
I am happy. Well most of the time. When I'm not happy. I'm very unhappy. I would like more 'joy' but yes, when I think about it, we try too hard to chase happiness. It's constantly punctuated with loss and sadness, pain and remorse, difficulty and obstacles. However, those moments in our lives, make the snippets of happiness that we experience more memorable and important. I'm happy that I'm healthy, alive, employed. I'm happy I've experienced people, marriage, childbirth (well the bit afterwards not during). I'm happy that I have a large family. I'm happy that I have been loved, cuddled and adored. I'm happy that I've had opportunities of birth that others are denied: education, health care, running water and parents who imparted their gentleness and wisdom.

I'm not seeking any high point of earthly bliss or material gain. I just want a comfortable life and a little cash in my pocket. Money will not make me happy but it will help me dispense with most of the things which make me unhappy.

MEN
Can't live with 'em . . .can't kill 'em. Simple creatures really. You just have to let them think it was all their idea and they're very clever to have come up with it. Massage their egos and they'll massage your back.

I like men, I love men of course I do! I'm not sure I want to live with one again but I enjoy their company. I'm an outrageous flirt which simply doesn't work with women and I often feel more comfortable standing around the barbie talking about lawn mowers and leaf blowers than handbags and hair do's. I do look around me though and see many women who 'settle' for a man because they need one in their lives. I don't unless it's to take out the garbage or mow the lawn. They're handy for changing light bulbs and carrying eskys.

One thing I don't understand is why so many hot men are gay! I've wasted good chat time on lovely looking men with interesting conversation only to have their 'boyfriend' turn up and ask to be taken home! These days, the men in my life are all either related, married to my friends, a very long way away or are far too young to be contemplated as anything other than 'friends'. And you all know who you are!

Did I do OK? I only managed this because the man of my house, being the one with the shortest working hours, has made a fabulous spaghetti bolognaise for dinner and I haven't had to cook after sitting in a car for almost 90 minutes on what should be a 20 minute drive!

No tags from me because I couldn't possibly single any of you out but feel free to have a go at this one and let me know so I can give you five words to ponder! Email me if you're interested and I'll try my best to throw you a challenge!