Should I or should I not retire my monroe piercing?

I got it something like 2½ -3 years ago and while I still like it, I don’t know if I *love* it anymore. I sometimes look at myself in the mirror and think, “Why the fuck did I do that?”. My nose piercing is something I’ve had since I was 15 (holy fuck, 7 years?!) so that’s really a part of me, but I don’t know if the monroe is.

So what do you think? Majority rules – if you honestly think I should remove it, say so. If not, then say so. I won’t be offended so please give your honest opinion.

I don’t mean to complain – I love my life right now; I have a great job, a wonderful home, a loving husband and all those things that make life awesome – but I still feel like I’m lacking something.  I don’t like routine, and thus my job tends to get me down.  Not because of the work, but because of the routine I have to go through every day: get up, have breakfast, have a shower, brush teeth, do hair, put on makeup, get ass out the door, then go to work, lunch at 12:00, back to work, go home, eat dinner, browse the net, go to bed.  Rinse and repeat.

I think I’ll feel better about everything once I get my provisional licence (Ps)– I will be able to drive to work and not have to rush my mornings (another thing I hate is rushing and being put on a time limit).  I’m halfway to getting my Ps now – over halfway, in fact – and my dad mentioned to my mum that I’m “driving bloody good”, so to get Dad’s tick of approval means a lot, and gives me that much more confidence. I have to do 50 hours supervised driving, and I’ve got 23hrs 45mins left now.  If I do three hours driving a week, I should be ready by mid-October.  And considering we’re nearly in September already now, that’s not too far to go.

I do worry that I’m going to fail the test, but it’s not so much the failure of the test as losing the money I would have spent to take the test – it’s almost $76 to book and take the test, and if they find something wrong with your vehicle, you automatically fail before you even drive!  Then, you lose that money and have to wait 28 days before you can go again.  So that’s my main concern in this whole ordeal.  Otherwise, I’m pretty confident.  Do need to work on parking though, particularly reverse parking.  I think the odds are in my favour, because I’m older than most people going for their Ps (22 rather than 17 or 18), and chances are I’ll be taking the test in my work clothes, which means I’ll look a little more professional than most.  And while that shouldn’t matter, I think it will play a part in making me appear a responsible, sensible adult (which I like to think I am!).

I’m really looking forward to the freedom driving will give us.  I mean, not having to rely on someone to take us to and from the grocery store will be awesome!

Anyway, there’s my ramble for today, to keep you up-to-date.

So last night, we were invited along to one to the Casino with a group of RSL Club attendees, up to the Casino (about an hour away). We accepted, because we don’t go out very often at all, and thought it’d be a bit of fun for the evening.

It was about 7:30pm when we got up to the Casino, so we figured the first thing we should do is have something to eat, before we got stuck into the drinks (which we’d started on the bus on the way up). So we went to the food court and grabbed some food – I had some grilled salmon with chips, and Michael had a bacon & cheese burger with chips. After that, we headed up to the pokies and tables, and had a bit of a flutter on the machines. Michael won $19 on the 1c machines, and I won a grand $8.00

After this, and after a few more drinks, we headed back downstairs to the lounge, where Mum and I had a Midori Splice cocktail each. Before too long, it was midnight and time to head off – which was an adventure, because we were on a small bus with 20-ish drunk people! It was a good time though, and we got back into town at around 1:30am.

Then there was drama – one of the passengers, an older guy, was getting down off the bus, and during the whole evening, he had been concerned about the steps on and off the bus – we found out later he has two artificial knees. Anyway, we got to the RSL Club (which was the drop-off point) and he stumbled off the bus (just as drunk as the others), and when he got to the bottom, he walked a few steps, turned around, must have become disorientated from the alcohol, and fell to the ground. Behind him was a rendered brick wall. We heard an almighty crack and a scream from his wife. Before I knew it, my Mum was climbing over me, ran off the bus over to him and started to assist him (she is First Aid trained, because of her job). He appeared unconscious, but he was breathing. Michael called an ambulance, and the Paramedics arrived a few minutes later. Dad said it may have been his drunkedness that prevented him from getting really hurt, because he fell limp instead of putting hands out or trying to stop his head or anything.

As they put him up on the stretcher, he started responding and trying to take the neckbrace off, which the Paramedics obviously didn’t let him do. I can only imagine waking up and having something around your neck, though – it must be a pretty ‘WTF’ moment.

So the ambulance took him away to the hospital, and we expect him to be there all night and till at least tomorrow morning. Being an older guy, they might have wanted to check if he had a blood clot or something, or if it was simply losing his balance and the alcohol didn’t help it!

All in all – an interesting evening!!! I hope he’s okay – and if we see him at the RSL Club again, there’ll be an interesting tale to tell him!

I don’t know if a lot of these parents realise how precious their children are, though. A lot of couples have a lot of trouble getting pregnant, and their life dream is to have a child. On the other side of things, there’s people who really don’t want kids, but are the ones who have them.

Our friends are of the first group – they have been trying for a long time now, I think 3-4 years – to have a baby. I don’t know the ins-and-outs of what procedures they’ve had or anything like that, because you don’t like to ask, but I know it’s been a rough road for them.

Last night we got a phone call; my friend’s hubby spoke to Michael (they’re pretty good mates now), and then Michael handed the phone to me saying my friend wanted to speak. She said, “We came over Sunday but you weren’t home, and we were going to come over tonight but you said you were going for a drive so I didn’t know what time you were going to be home, but we have some news that we want to share before I tell everyone at work tomorrow – we’re having a baby!”

I was OVER THE MOON, to say the least. These two people are just the most loving people – they would do absolutely anything for their friends and family, and I can’t think of two people in my everyday life who deserve it more. I went out today and bought her a card and a giftcard for a baby shop (she’s only 15 weeks along, but I figured they’ll obviously need to buy stuff for the baby before it’s born!). We are just so excited for them.

It did make me think though – I’ve been on the contraceptive pill for about 5-6 years now. I think it would be devastating to me to try to avoid getting pregnant for so long, and then when it comes down to us actually trying, I won’t be able to fall pregnant. It’s a real issue that has just come up recently for me, and been accentuated by my friend announcing her pregnancy after so many years, but I guess I should be hopeful – after all, it’s a reality for them now.

I think I’ll just stick with the cats for a while.

I went for 2-hour drive with my Dad tonight, and it was good. I think I’m a lot better from when I first started again in January, and definitely better than when I was learning at 16 years old.

When I moved to Melbourne in 2005, I quit driving because of the ease of access to public transport – it didn’t make sense to have a car and learn to drive in the city. But here where we live now, it’s kind of a necessity to get around and have some freedom. There are buses and cabs, but they cost a fair bit and buses are pretty irregular.

I do panic myself sometimes when I think about going for my provisional licence – it seems a really tough test – but then I think about all the people I know who’ve passed it, and there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to do the same. That said, my driving might be good but I really need to work on parking and reversing, particularly parallel parking. I have a weird issue with cornering too, but I think that’s slowly being ironed out.

Anyone else have issues when learning to drive?

So anyway, I kind of have to be under service to this company because it’s the only one that has decent mobile phone coverage in my state. Which bothers me, because I can’t really turn around and say, “Help me or I’ll change companies”.

I got an automated text message from the company saying I’d gone over my data usage limit on my phone, which I thought was odd but accepted it. Then, when I got another message saying I’d used 134% of my data usage, I started to question it. Why? Because when I changed to the 3GS, it also changed my plan to a $49 Cap Plan, which includes $400 worth of calls & texts, but also 200MB of data (up from the 150MB I was on before). I checked it online, and sure enough, my ‘included’ data was only marked at 154MB.

I tried calling said-company on the phone at work today, but there was a long queue so I left it until tonight when we got home from dinner. I got through pretty much straight away, and explained my problem. The girl on the other end essentially told me to call back when I get my next bill (due to issue in the next day or two) and they could help me then, because they cannot see how much data I’ve used – apparently I’m the only one who can see it.

This, to me, seemed really suspicious – surely the company themselves can see how much data I’ve used?! And besides, I was only asking them to ensure that the included data on my plan was 200MB and not the 150MB I had previously – not to see how much exactly I’ve used. I surrendered, and said I’ll call back when I get the next bill.

My other issue is that with my previous plan, I had a ‘perk’ where I could call a number, which would divert to Michael’s phone, and I could speak to him any time of the day with the first three minutes being free. This was handy for us, because when I call him, it’s normally a short conversation – “Do we need milk?” – and then I have most of my discussions with him when we’re together. Now, it’s been billing me for calls under three minutes.

I don’t know what to do – I guess I’ll just have to wait for this next bill then try again. We’ve had so many problems with them before, but again because they have this monopoly, they’ve got us by the throats. I’ve never been with another phone company – giving them at least 10 years business through prepaid mobiles, mobile contracts, home telephone connections and internet connections. It’d be a shame to have to change, but I’ve just about had enough.

Don’t stray
Don’t ever go away
I should be much too smart for this
You know it gets the better
Of me sometimes
When you and I collide
I fall into an ocean of you
Pull me out in time
Don’t let me drown
Let me down
I say it’s all because of you
And here I go
Losing my control
I’m practising your name
So I can say it to your face it doesn’t seem right
To look you in the eye
And let all the things you mean to me
Come tumbling out my mouth indeed it’s time
Tell you why
I say its infinitely true

Say you’ll stay
Don’t come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Yeah I need to know
All about you

And there’s no cure
And no way to be sure
Why everything’s turned inside out
Instilling so much doubt
It makes me so tired
I feel so uninspired
My head is battling with my heart
My logic has been torn apart
And now
It all turns sour
Come sweeten
My every afternoon

Say you’ll stay
Don’t come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Yeah I need to know
All about you
Say you’ll stay
Don’t come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Yeah I need to know
All about you
It’s all because of you
It’s all because of you

2000
Age 12. In Grade 6, my final year of primary school. I remember I had a major crush on a guy in my class. Getting ready to head off to high school. Killing Heidi were (and still are) my favourite band. Started really getting involved with computers and webdesign.

2001
Age 13. My first year of high school. Felt awkward and out-of-place. Met some beautiful people, and some mean ones too. Discovered my real love for webdesign and got stuck into it. Had many high school crushes. Met my best friend (at the time), Sarah. Started wearing makeup. Achieved high grades and was awarded an Outstanding Academic Achievement award.

2002
Age 14. Barely remember it, but this is the year I started dance classes at school and fell in love with it. Discovered more friends and made my first male best friend. Got my site hosted for the very first time. Started learning how to use FTP. Achieved high grades and was awarded an Outstanding Academic Achievement award.

2003
Age 15. Fell madly in love with a guy I met online, only to be dumped and told he’d been cheating on me. In the interim, fell for another guy online (Michael) and met him in November. Lost the ‘V-Plates’. High school musical production, great fun and awesome experience. Achieved high grades and was awarded an Outstanding Academic Achievement award, along with three subject awards for Social Science, Dance and Media Studies. Passed Learner’s Permit test and started driving lessons with my mum and dad.

2004
Age 16. Final year of high school. Many trips back and forth to Melbourne to see Michael. Entered the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge with my dance class, and came fourth out of about 20 schools. Grades dropped a bit, enough to miss out on the OAA award for the fourth time. Didn’t care; was in love.

2005
Age 17. First year of college (Year 11). Had a ball this year – great classes, more relaxed learning atmosphere. Studied English, Maths, Psychology & Sociology, Environmental Science and Religion & Philosophy. Hated Enviro Science, and quit. Went to Vanuatu in September for Michael’s sister’s wedding. LOVED IT. Decided to move to Melbourne at the end of the year to be with Michael.

2006
Age 18. Living with Michael and his mum & stepdad. Enjoyed it, but a lot of tension at times. Studied Year 12 via distance education but gave up. Started looking for work. Got my first proper job with a government initiative for apprentices. Loved it. Bought Inspirata.org. First nephew arrived, Jonah. Got engaged on New Year’s Eve.

2007
Age 19. Continued working. Moved into our own apartment in April. Enjoyed the freedom but it was expensive. Got our first pet, Layla. Got my first and second tattoos.

2008
Age 20. Got another kitty to keep Layla company, and called him Hendrix. Went to my first arena concert to see Ozzy Osbourne. Came out of the broom closet. By June, decided we’d had enough of paying an exorbatant amount of rent and decided to move back to Tasmania. Got my third (and kind of fourth) tattoos. Packed up and left in August. Moved in with Mum & Dad to get us on our feet. Michael got a job at a printer cartridge store. I continued looking for work.

2009
Age 21. Huge party for my 21st, with friends coming down from Melbourne. Layla passed away. Cried. A lot. Moved into a rental. Bought Terri.nu Had two job interviews in May, and accepted one position as Legal Secretary. Started living a little, since we now had two incomes. Decided to get married with 5 months to plan. Married in November.

2010
Age 22. Managed to hold down my job for 12 months +. Lost a close family member to suicide. Moved out of the rental and bought our own house. Became DIY-lover. Resced Delilah. Continuing to work. Michael’s best mate got married. And … ?

The main thing that I still have to get sorted out is making the comments all pretty, then there’s just a few pages to tidy up and such.

Right now, though, I’m off to bed for some much needed sleep – I haven’t gone to bed before midnight any night this week thanks to our trip to Melbourne, so I need to catch up.

Any hints on what I can do for the comments, please let me know.