Worth the Weight?

I've put on a little holiday weight, which would be fine if the holiday wasn't a working holiday expected to last over a year.

Before

After

I've now completed my American cultural experience of putting on the pounds and I'm ready to lose it (my temper and the flab). Were all those free cupcakes and DFEM occasions worth the weight? They were pretty delicious, but fitting into all your clothes is also nice. I'd like to be able to wear all of my clothes again, rather than just going through a rotation of two fat dresses, a pair of stretchy shorts and a couple of shirts. 

I get the whole, your appearance does not reflect your heart, but I'd prefer it if my outside didn't reflect my heart's desire for cupcakes. 

Here I introduce you again to my old roommate Anna. We're helping each other through this weight loss journey one thigh jiggling step at a time. 

We're both a little ashamed to say we've stacked on the weight. We know we're not on the edge of obesity, but we're driving towards it slowly and it's time to hit the break. 

Now I'm going to answer a question traditionally kept secret by women. How much do I weigh? 63.4kg. That's 10kg more than 18 months ago. The goal is to lose those pesky 10kg, but first I'm trying to take it back to 59.9kg by the end of August. I'm taking small metaphorical steps, but much faster literal treadmill steps. 

Of course I'll keep you updated... but only when I see fit. 

Let's Be Real

There's a saying, "If friends were flowers I'd pick you", but as a Pizza Planetear I like to say, "If friends were pizzas falling out of four constantly moving ovens, I'd catch you." I've definitely caught some good ones. 

In this latest instalment of "Clary Farewells Another Friend" we have Rangi. She's back in New Zealand right now, but while she was here she made the TSPP ride (please note it's not actually a ride) worth it. 

We laughed about things that made sense to nobody else, or even ourselves at times. 

We celebrated her birthday. 

We dined out, usually at Splitsville because cast member discounts and the College Program F bus takes you there. 

She listened to music and obsessed about shoes. 

I forced, I mean she willingly, went to the Frozen Singalong and The Voyage of the Little Mermaid because you have to do everything at least once. 

She may have slightly regretted catching me as a friend at this point. Rangi, Kyra and I were all fake cousins that day thanks to our family reunion buttons. 

And then we went to the airport at 5am last Saturday. Another friend farewelled. Thanks Mike for the lift and the photo. (He tells me he's going to read this blog, but we'll see if he mentions his mention). 

Every time a friend leaves I seem to collect something of theirs. No, I don't pull out locks of their hair (that they know of). Here's what I collected from Rangi's Vista Way apartment. 

Thanks boo. Every time I wash a tray or restock the condiment bar I'll think of you.

As difficult as it is to say goodbye, I hope I keep catching friends. 

Welcome Home?

In my last post (which I'm sure you've all read several times) I farewelled my old apartment. Don't worry I'm not homeless, I have been relocated to Patterson. It doesn't feel like home. Right now it's just a place I live. (My phone totally autocorrected "live" to "love". At least my phone is optimistic about my living arrangements.)

Let me give you the grand tour of my 5 people, 2 bedroom apartment. 

First we have the lounge room. In the far corner of the lounge is where I do most of my blogging. Usually in my pyjamas and often while eating a muesli bar (also known as a granola bar, for my American readers).

Next I welcome my readers into the kitchen. For those unfamiliar with the function of kitchens, food preparation and storage occurs here. Some call it the heart of the home. 

Now we have what might be considered the appendix of the home. I could happily live my life without a dining room, but a small part of me would feel a little empty inside. 

Please try to stay with the group as the tour continues into the bedroom. To the left we have a single bed and a bunk bed. Yes, I'm in the room with three people. That bottom bunk is mine. 

In the bedroom there is also a chest of drawers

and my pin board.  

Our tour will now move onto the bathroom spacious enough to house both a toilet and a shower/bath. 

Finally, we conclude with the basin, which is located outside the spacious bathroom because someone, most likely Dopey, thought it would be a wise decision. 

22103 was just a place I lived until it became a home I loved. Maybe some day soon Patterson will feel like home too.

Roomie introductions will come later. In the meantime, here's a photo of some birds out the front of Patterson. 

To My Beloved

Dear 22103,

I couldn't have made it through the first part of my College Program without you. You gave me shelter, places to sit and to stare. A table for pancakes that we liked to share. 

The enthusiasm of your microwave was touching, but a little too much. Popcorn isn't supposed to be that charred.

Sometimes I wondered if you wanted me around when you tried to stab me with wire protruding from your lounge. But I kept coming back because it was my favourite place to snack.

Thank you for letting us pass all inspections and even giving us a single White Glove Award. I'll never forget the day Taylor and I were sure our cleaning standards were not up to par. Gladly mistaken, we were. You never faltered and we thank you for giving us more than a passing grade and some free snacks we neglected to claim. 

Thank you for some of the best housemates; for those crazy, beautiful souls.  

You let us leave, knowing we would always return. 

It was with a heavy heart the goodbyes began, but not before some pranks and a few parting shots. 

Taylor copped a bucket of water and ice, not once, but twice. 

Then nothing was safe from the cling of clear wrap. 

Memories and shots were shared one night before a sleepover with us all on the lounge room floor. 

Goodbye to my humble abode, farewell to my 22103 Ohana and home. xoxo