the mysterious blue basket

When you think life's done surprising you, something happens and you realise you're an idiot and that you'll never ever be prepared enough for what's about to happen next.

Today, Jazz was making a lot of noise. Whining and crying and stuff. She usually does that when she wants to pee. When she wants to pee, I usually just let her out and then she comes back when she's done.

Sounds cool, right?

Right.

So I let her out.

THEN IT HAPPENED.

My neighbour was on his way out and had his gate open. My dog bolted out our gate (I thought it was because she really needed to pee) and into their house, after which he closed the gate on her and drove off.

My dog was trapped.

She didn't seem alarmed though, so I sighed and walked over to go ring the bell and ask the leftover neighbours to open the gate for my dog while profusely apologising for her misbehaviour.

I rang the bell.

Neighbour answered.

I said hi, apologised and explained the situation. They were all very understanding and gracious about it and opened the gate for me to get the dog.

The second I stepped into their compound, Jazz started attacking the blue basket in the corner.

I tried grabbing her in the first few seconds, but when I saw that she was using teeth, I backed off.

(You have to remember that if your dog bites a human, any human, you have to have it put down. No two ways about it.)

This is the part where I looked into the basket and was horrified to find that there were THREE LIVE, BLENDING CHICKENS IN THE BASKET.

This is also the part I started freaking out like crazy on the inside.

Now, neighbour man tried stopping the dog too. I was still trying to drag her from the chickens with my leg, but she was a dog on a mission. And she was going to have those chickens whether we liked it or not.

Neighbour man figured he'd meet the problem halfway by removing the chickens from the situation.

But as all perfect scenarios go, by this time, Jazz had her teeth firmly around one of the birds.

OF COURSE.

WHY NOT?

Neighbour man pulled the chicken, and the one that was hanging onto it for dear life, up high above his head.

Then Alex, the superhero, jumped over the fence and grabbed Jazz by the collar and pulled her away.

I think everyone could hear the savage dog growling and crazy chicken screaming.

We apologised time and time over for our dog attacking their chickens.

And they apologised too for having hit our dog in the process of trying to save their chickens.

It was so bizzarre.

Even if you asked me after what happened today, one of the LAST things I'd expect my neighbour to have is a crate of live chickens. That goes on the list right after a fully loaded machine gun and pixie named Matilda.

At first I was kind of peeved at myself for not trying harder to save the chickens and stop the mad dog. But then I got over it.

I'm still not speaking to my dog for another three days, though.

One day for every chicken in that basket.

--

Let's learn something new today:

When your neighbour has a mysterious blue basket out front, it probably contains livestock.

Be wary.

Especially if you own an animal/sibling that may take a hungry liking to said livestock.

Hope you're all well.

:)

let's learn something new today

Beavers are not Canadian.

Beavers can either be Eurasian or North American. But not Canadian.

I'm actually quite upset about this.

Cheryl is too.

We both thought beavers were Canadian and now we have to spend the entire day coming to terms with the fact that they are not.

:( <-- sadface.

--

In other news, Starbucks is playing the song Lady Is A Tramp.

Which is making things only a bit better.

--

In other other news, my Caps Lock key is sticky because I use it too often. Everyone else uses shift and I don't understand.

--

In other other other news, I should get to work.

--

BAI!

"i tried to leave you a surprise."

On why Raelene does not enjoy writing short stories:

"It's because you won't let yourself be ridiculous.

Which is often needed."

--

You can't just love someone when it's convenient, you know? It's always easy when they are feeling fine and making you feel good.

It is when they make you want to punch them in the face that you really are tested.

Because that's when you have to decide if you are willing to go through that for them.

And you will.

If they mean enough to you.

--

Today, I learned that I'm blessed enough to have people in my life who are going to go through that for me.

And that makes me smile.

:)

oscar and the lady in pink

Alo.

I read an amazing book today.

Shaun gave it to me for my birthday. It's not a long book at all, but I was busy with coursework at the time, so I didn't get to sit down with it until today.

And, man oh man is it good.

Explaining how it made me feel is slightly challenging. Mostly because I haven't really decided how it made me feel. Really, I think it was an encouraging take on a not so encouraging situation.

Oscar, the kid, is a real cool guy.

Beautiful story about a boy coming to terms with death and finding a new perspective on life and just being content with being.

:)

It kind of had the same vibe as The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas.

Do take note, though, that the latter is a much sadder story that will make you cry if you have feelings so only go into it with that in mind.

And yes.

If you see the book, get it. Or you can borrow it from me.

But only if you give it back.

Okay.

Yeah.

My knees hurt.

Hope you're well.

:)

hey!

omighash.

It totally works for the phone.

This is blending awesome.

It's like my life is complete.

Okay, no it's not. But it IS pretty cool.

:D

a post from the pad

Alo.

This is a very special post. Mostly because it is going to be generated from the iPad and not Eli. Funny story, I was gonna talk about how it totally owned the iPhone in this area because it could post stuff using the Safari and not the NOW PAID FOR application that's made for the phone.

But alas, it can't manage either.

The way I am putting this up is by using the 'edit HTML' tab at the top. Which kind of defeats the purpose. Because it excludes colour. Which actually kind of defines my blog.

SIGH.

The life is hard...

Haha. I'm kidding. I'm actually quite excited to discover this works. Because that means I can probably manage blogging from the phone again, which makes 'the life' a whole lot more convenient all of a sudden.

-

This happened at dinner:

Dad: Hey. *looks at me expectedly with squinty eyes, mouth hanging open and fish in hand*

Me: *looks back blankly*

Dad: *turns to mahm with same look*

Mahm: *looks back*

*beat*

Me: [to mahm] Look what you married.

--

Haha.

Hope y'all are keeping well.

:)

milkshakes

enough said.

when i'm stressed out

I draw things.

And then I feel a bit better.

iPad: brainstorm fail part two

Okay.

Y'all remember the post I wrote about the iPad being the worst idea for a product name ever?

I still stand by that conclusion.

BUT

I will admit that the actual thing is pretty darn cool.

Dad managed to get a hold of one and it's lying downstairs somewhere on the coffee table. I keep playing bejeweled on it. I must stop. It is eating my life and tricking me into thinking that blowing up shiny rocks is somehow something of an accomplishment.

Bleh. Bejeweled. You LIE!

I KNOW that's only an accomplishment if you do it in REAL LIFE.

And of course everyone (but mahm) kinda fights over it and we all have to take turns like we're in kindergarten again.

Hmph.

And now looking at my phone kind of makes me squint for the first few minutes because I'm used to the bigger screen.

I should name our iPad so we don't have to refer to it as a 'pad' anymore.

OMG.

A PAD.

LET'S CALL IT 'WHISPER'!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

No.

We shall call it Ian and Ian will be ours.

(Ten points if you get the reference.)

Aaaaaaand I'll prolly be back later.

Hope you're all okay.

:)

knackered

"I can't stand it anymore."

"Can't stand what?"

"I can't stand that everyone isn't like you."

--

My day was full of pizza and loud, demanding, sweaty children.

Today was Adam's birthday party. It was intensely hot and gross and stinky. I still had fun though.

By the end of it, I was knackered.

Knackered.

Knickered.

Heh.

This is me not being childish at all.

Okay. If you were wondering, I'm still knackered and about ready to fall into bed and not wake up till next week.

Aaaaah. Wouldn't that be nice?

Kinda.

Okay.

This is not a real post, is it?

BAI.

plain and simple

because I'm too tired to think of anything cleverer than this.

--

Dear you,

Thank you for watching the Hunchback of Notre Dame with me today.

And thank you for tearing up at the end too.

And thank you for the hug.

I really needed the hug.

Love,

me

peanut butter-chocolate chunk banana ice cream

"Hello?"

"Hey. Listen!"

:)

--

Birthday week officially ended today. It was cool. I don't feel different at all. Eighteen. Pfft.

The cool thing about my birthday is that everyone was super conscious of the fact that they had to be nice to me. Haha. Loved it. Did I take advantage of the fact that most of the people I know are decent and followed the rules?

Yeah. Kinda.

:)

Thanks to all of you who made my birthday super cool.

And a nice big sucker punch for Larkin who made me do work during the first half of MY special day.

HWAT. A. TURD.

Cool Hwip.

Only Alex understands that joke. He doesn't read my blog. I don't understand myself sometimes.

--

In other news, Cheryl and I were talking just now (for the first time in AGES, might I add) and we came to the conclusion that school seems pointless and that boys are snail torturers and that these past few days have been kind of sad.

No one told me about the sad part that comes along with leaving for college.

Oh yeah, I decided that I'm going to Knox this year.

I decided on my birthday.

It took me another three days to tell anyone about it.

This week, I've actually been hypersensitive just because the decision took so much out of me. I've been keeping low profile. Partially, I am excited. But I am also sad.

Talking to Cheryl about it was good. Mostly because she's going through it too, I'm sure.

I don't often describe myself as feeling 'sad'. It's usually 'annoyed', 'ticked', 'agitated' etc. But the latter bunch all contain an element of anger.

I don't.

Not now.

I accept it.

And I know I will come to enjoy this decision.

Eventually.

Goodnight.

:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SNA

Gosh.

You people have to stop sharing birthdays. It's almost ridiculous. Almost.

I am aware that it is a giant coinkidink. Which is all I'm going to say about the matter.

TODAY IS (ALSO) SNA'S BIRTHDAY.

Like Fifi's, we didn't get to celebrate yours as much as we would have liked to last year. I can't remember why though. *shrug*

So we hope that this year's big bash made up for it.

And I have to say, I am honoured to have been in attendance of your first bowling game.

AND the mastermind behind your first spare (which was actually a strike). :D

It's been cool knowing you this whole time, man. From the first day of college, on which we literally spent the whole day together, to right now. You've always been the best and most gracious about getting made fun of.

Which deserves much respect, dude.

*chest pound*

Hope you had a great 20th and that you'll be around for a long time more.

So that you can make more brownies for me.

HAHA.

I'm kidding.

Not really.

:D <- stupidface

Love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FIFA

Hello doofufus.

Today's YOUR birthday. Gosh. Six days is NOT ENOUGH for me to gloat about the fact that I am older than you.

You know what's funny?

I always get crapsticks for being younger than the rest of the crew at school and everyone seems to forget that YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN ME.

My mahm says I shouldn't use caps so much because it's unbecoming.

I didn't tell her that you're partly at fault for teaching me how to use it so frequently. OH WELL. She'll read this and then know. Then she can blame you.

*awkward pause*

*pokes boob*

ANYWAY, I hope today was a good day for you. We didn't really get to celebrate properly last year, so I hope this one makes up for it. :)

Happy Happy Birthday. Big, ticklish, armpit hugs.

Much love from your *special* friend.

:D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM

Today is Adam's birthday.

It'll be ages before he would actually bother to come online to read what I write on my blog. I don't know why he would bother. It's not like I say anything about Star Wars or football or whatever other games he plays.

*shrug*

In any case, he turned seven today.

SEVEN.

Seven was the first birthday I celebrated in this country. Eleven years ago. Wow. He has some catching up to do.

HAH.

Happy Birthday, brother. I will be far away soon, but not really.

Your cheeky little face will always be in my prayers.

Love.

cleverbot has ADD

the hand of understanding descends upon you

Alo.

It's been a while, eh?

That's because it was birthday day and then Mariel weekend and then sleepy time.

I am also very tired.

TIRED

TIRED

TIRED

TIRED

And school is boring and makes me feel unproductive.

And blogpress lite for the iPhone doesn't exist anymore, so I can't blog from there anymore which is kinda mighty inconvenient.

I kind of liked blogging from there. It would have also probably meant that I could have blogged this past weekend consistently.

BRAGH.

But yeah.

I'm getting back into the swing of things, I'm sure.

But slowly.

Which is why this post will have no colour.

And I am going to sleep now.

Hope you're well.

:)

chocolate almond tarts

Alex.

Me.

--

*opens box and cuts piece of tart out with fork*

"Open your mouth."

*refuses to* "What's that?"

"Just do it, man."

"Is it clean?!?!"

"Of course it's clean. "

*reluctantly opens mouth and eats it*

"Mmmm. What's this?"

"Chocolate almond tart. Sna made it. From scratch. Impressive, huh?"

*closes box and starts walking away*

*beat*

"WAIT. Come back. I want more!"

--

Well done, Sna.

Thanks very much.

:)

"why didn't you blog yesterday?!"

Way not to stalk, mahm.

But you got attacked by a cockroach, so I consider you already punished.

--

I had a good day today.

AND I studied.

Now isn't that something?

--

Today, I hung out with Adam. A lot. He's kinda normal if you don't treat him like a child.

The trick is to be playful, but still intelligent-ish.

Heh.

While mahm bought groceries in Cold Storage, I wheeled Adam around in a trolley just for him. Of course the first thing we did was head right for the the candy aisle.

We had a short debate about whether we should get the Oreo cakes or cookies. He won. So we got cookies. But I got to change them from the normal ones to DoubleStuf.

I'm all about compromise, people.

Then we rolled around until mahm called us to the cashier, already paying because she had assumed that we were behaving and hadn't put anything else in the cart.

We had to line up behind the lady who was midway through unloading.

There were more things in our cart like Starburst and gloves and instant coffee, so after unloading everything, I went to go put the cart back.

Adam was still in it.

You have to understand that there was a HUUUUUGE stretch of mall between the cashier and the trolley deposit area. So what I did, obviously, was I took a running start and then proceeded to rest my entire bodyweight on the handle of the cart.

We sped all the way along, passing a couple of very amused people.

As I was getting Adam out of the trolley deposit, he exclaimed:

"Hey. The Oreos are here!"

And I was all,

"Crap! D'you think mahm has finished?"

He shrugged at me.

"We have to get it back. Can I leave you here? I wanna run."

He nodded but then tried to get out of the trolley himself. That's when I realised that I had to take him with me. So this is what happened.

"Adam. Hold this. Get back in the trolley. I'm gonna run."

He did as he was told. I took a running start again.

"MAHMMM! MAHMMMMMMMMM!!!!! WE STOLEEEEEEEEE!!!"

And then she took them from us looking mildly embarrassed to be out with hooligans as we slowly rolled back to the deposit area.

I got TWO smiles from the unicef people that were standing there.

It was awesome.

And we didn't steal.

--

Hope you're well.

Bai.

bai.

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where does the good go?

and hang on for dear life.

reginald

Hi blog.

There has been great debate over a certain little man over the past two days. The man in question is Reginald and can be found on the Skype panel of emoticons.

You'll find his particular box is labelled, '(bow)'.

Now, I wouldn't have a problem with this at all, if he were to be bowing, but alas, HE IS NOT.

This is Reginald in a standing position:

And this is Reginald pushing his crotch:

Yes.

Raelene insists that he is bowing. But I know better. This is the argument we had:

raelenetym:22:53:59

(bow)

Amanda Shiew:22:54:15

what is he doing?

Amanda Shiew:22:54:31

it looks like he's pushing down on his crotch at regular intervals

Amanda Shiew:22:54:36

that is odd

raelenetym:22:55:10

AHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA

raelenetym:22:55:13

HE'S BOWING

Amanda Shiew:22:55:22

NO

Amanda Shiew:22:55:29

HE'S CROTCH PUSHING!

raelenetym:22:55:39

AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH

raelenetym:22:55:43

NO HE IS NOTTTT

Amanda Shiew:22:55:45

HE IS

raelenetym:22:55:49

YOU SICK PERVERTTTTT

Amanda Shiew:22:55:54

YOU PUT HIM THERE!

Amanda Shiew:22:55:59

YOU PERVERT!

raelenetym:22:56:12

WELL HE'S BOWING

Amanda Shiew:22:56:19

FINE

raelenetym:22:56:28

YOU'RE THE ONE THINKING THAT HE'S PUSHING HIS CROTCH DOWN AT REGULAR INTERVALS!

Amanda Shiew:22:56:30

"BOWING", WE'LL CALL IT

raelenetym:22:56:37

-.-

Amanda Shiew:22:56:43

HAHAHAHAHAHHA

raelenetym:22:56:59

you know i'll never be able to watch a real person bow without laughing now

raelenetym:22:57:01

-.-

This is what Sna said:

Husna Qureshi:17:00:50

well, I think most people would say he's bowing, but that can also be interpreted as pushing his crotch.

Amanda Shiew:17:01:10

the emoticon title says bow

Amanda Shiew:17:01:15

but i don't believe it

Husna Qureshi:17:01:15

actually, the more i stare at it the more it does look like he's pushing his crotch.

Amanda Shiew:17:01:19

RIGHT?!

Amanda Shiew:17:01:21

okay

Amanda Shiew:17:01:23

this is good

Amanda Shiew:17:01:25

i have proof

I asked Alex,

"Is he bowing or pushing his crotch?"

"Bahaha. He's pushing his crotch!"

And Cheryl:

Amanda Shiew: OH

Amanda Shiew: (bow)

Amanda Shiew: that's reginald

cheryl d'souza: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

Amanda Shiew: does he NOT look like he's pushing his crotch?

cheryl d'souza: yess

cheryl d'souza: i understand now

But Afifah's response takes the cake:

Amanda Shiew: question

Amanda Shiew: (bow)

Amanda Shiew: what is this man doing?

Afifah Darke: looking at his penis

*ahem*

I think we know who won this argument.

Heh.

Hope you're all well.

:)

crazy ever after

"I realise I am really sarcastic with you.

But that's because you're the most sarcastic person I know."

*beat*

"I am NOT sarcastic."

heh. You totally are.

--

I've been drawing.

This feeling is amazing.

--

Hope you're all well.

:)

i know what you did

"I was just calling to say 'thank you' and tell you how much I love you and that I'm sorry for yelling just now."

--

When I was a kid, I used to run around with a propellor stuck to my forehead. It was attached by a suction cup. You know, one of the ones that you lick and stick to the window of cars? The ones you lick to make them stick better.

There was one day on which I wore the propellor for too long and it left a really large, suction cup sized suction bruise in the middle of my forehead.

I got in trouble for that.

I got in trouble for being dumb enough to leave it on that long.

It bothered mahm more than it bothered me. I didn't mind walking around with a purple circle on my forehead. (No, those words don't rhyme. But nice try.) It was mahm that didn't want to be seen with a discoloured child.

Heh.

But I learned something from that.

I learned that actions have consequences.

And that sometimes you have to wear them.

I hope you've all had a great start to the week.

:)

teamwork

hope you had a happy easter.

goodnight.

sometimes

this is me.

ayoup

Today, I

was woken up early to play with fire.

was disruptive in class.

ate Mexican food with friends.

went home and tried on dresses.

had a really cool phonecall.

napped.

showered.

ated a yummo sammich.

and sang for the Good Friday service.

Also, I handed in my second draft of my Larkin themed coursework.

Not having to spend time hunched over Eli doing research today was kind of awesome.

So this is how it must feel to get stuff done on time.

It's nice. :)

Might try it more often.

--

Hope you had a splendid Good Friday.

:)