Life Lessons

I am in the place that makes me happy.  Gerroa.  I haven't ventured here for a while. Life got busy.  Doing stuff.  

I was chatting to a "Gerroa" friend.  And believe me.  You tend to separate your every day life from your "holiday" life.  And I was brutally honest with him.  I am saddened by the lack of, well anything, from people I thought were my friends.  Let me explain...  I think I give a lot.  And I don't expect much in return.  I am a happy person.  I go out of my way to make sure my friends are ok.  But this last 6 months have taught me a lot.  I've learned that people don't like it when the naturally happy person they have always taken for granted becomes, well, a bit sad.

I can count on one hand the people who have kept in contact.  I can count on the one hand the people who have said "are you okay?".

I know people have lives. Busy lives.  But I wonder when people became, detached.

And I am not talking about my "social media" friends.  I am talking about people who have been a part of my life for many years. Every week.  Face to face.

In my life, at present, there is Lily and I.  Lily is a cat, for those who didn't know.  Sometimes I don't venture outside my house for 4 days on end.  And no one knows.  How did I become this person? 

I have come to realise that a lot of my friends are actually not my friends. They added a thin layer of veneer to an empty life.  Thanks for that.

I know I will be okay. I know I will get by.  I know that just because people don't contact you doesn't mean they don't care.  But at the moment I really just want to walk away from my life and be somewhere else.  Not here.

But I do know that one day it will be better.  Just not today and not tomorrow. But one day.

Dear Real Estate Property Managers

Dear Real Estate Property Managers

And I use the term property manager loosely.

Thank you for your arrogance, your obnoxious behaviour and your inability to return phone calls. 

Thank you for running late to open houses, which are open for 10 brief minutes per place, 15 if you get a property manager with some sense of a conscience, and thank you your inability to apologise for keeping people waiting.

Thank you for treating people who need to rent, for one reason or another, as another number on your database. 

 

Thank you for looking down your nose at us all with an air of unbelievable arrogance.

Thank you for making the last two weeks of my life even more stressful than it already is.  Your lack of customer service is amazing (and your One Direction copycat hair cuts and crap hipster suits are even more amazing.  Amazingly awful).

After I do find somewhere to live I hope I never come across any of you again.  You hope to “grow up” to be a sales professional in your industry, based on what I have seen I wouldn’t deal with the majority of you. 

I know it is a sellers’ market.  I know rental properties are few and people seeking a home are a plenty.  But the bubble will probably burst.  And I hope you’re caught dead smack in the middle of it and have to learn some humanity.  I hope to run into your again if that day ever comes.  As a buyer.

My Heart Broke a Little More Today...

My heart broke a little bit more today.  And the world seems a little colder than it did yesterday..  And the day before…

After the events of yesterday in Sydney, that not only affected my home state but the whole of Australia, my heart broke.  It broke for the obvious reasons surrounding the siege and the outcome but it also broke because of some of the “jokes” people, some who exist in my social media world, were making with no regard for anyone but themselves (and entertaining their "audiences".  I am amazed at the amount of people who commented on inappropriate posts!!!).

I am not going to call out what was said and by who – to be honest I am too disgusted.  Why draw even more attention to a small group of people who do not deserve the recognition. 

I went through a flurry of emotions after reading some of the comments they had written.  From shock (that I could know people who though it was ok to be that crass), sadness (someone could find what they said funny), shame (how did I not know they were like this?), disgust (for lack of empathy).  The list goes on.

And now the tough question is do I severe ties?  I think so…  So if you ever stumble across this blog and know you made an inappropriate comment on a social media page about the siege in Sydney yesterday, where two innocent people died, and you then check and realise we are no longer friends…  You were one of those I decided to un-invite out of my life.

I feel sorry for you.  For the fact you feel the need to inappropriately joke about something so devastating.  You are not welcome in my world.

White Ribbon Day 2014

If you know me you know I am very passionate about this topic.  So passionate about it I have written about it a few times in this blog and let me assure you, writing about it and putting it out there for people to read was not an easy decision.  I was ashamed (and quite honestly still am in some ways) and worried people would judge me, think me weak and would go down the path of "she should have just left".  So the day I chose to publish my story for the world to read I was wracked with terror.  I shouldn't have been; there was nothing but support.

Starting back in October 2012, this is my story:  It Can Happen to Anyone

And again on White Ribbon Day last year:  White Ribbon Day 2013

And as a reminder...

EVERY week, on average, one Australian woman is killed by a current or former partner. 
              
More than 27,000 domestic violence assaults were reported to police last year in NSW alone, averaging 74 assaults in the state per day, and it’s the reason behind more than 30 per cent of all homicide cases in New South Wales.

One in three women in Australia has experienced some sort of violence since the age of 15, around 3.91 million, and indigenous women are 35 times more likely to be affected.

One in five Australian women has been stalked.

These numbers should horrify you.  They sure horrify me.

Philadephia - Random "Facts" & Thoughts

• I will never get used to the toilets in the US (random, but true and the reason I make this comment is it is almost like they were built on the basis that no American is over 5 ft - the toilets are tiny)
• We were bought Philly pretzels for breakfast this morning as we had to start super early as we are way behind the agenda – and they were revolting.  As an FYI in case you are ever in Philly and anyone offers you one…  I was encouraged to put mustard on it – which I did, which increased the revoltingness by about 10x
• I ordered salmon for dinner last night with steamed vegetables – and forgot to ask for everything on the side (you laugh at the American movies when this happens - example Steve Martin in L.A. Story - remember when a coffee was ordered - here's the clip.  It seemed extraordinary to me at the time, now it makes sense:  LA Story - Ordering Coffee LA Style).  Any who I digress..  My healthy dinner came out covered in BBQ and chipotle sauce on the salmon and a litre of butter on the vegies - destroying my healthy dinner...
• I went running this morning at 5am – very crisp but nice.  In Australia we see dead kangaroos, possums and stuff (well, actually where I live I do not see dead anything except for the odd family pet who ventured onto the road) BUT here there are dead deers just randomly on the side of the road – they are HUGE – and it is kinda sad
• I told someone I was going to NY for the weekend and all they could talk about is Ebola – sigh, I think there is more chance of being mugged, stabbed or kidnapped by the Russian mafia and used in a prostitution ring (I have had Law & Order SVU on most of the time I have been here, thus my creativity/imagination) before I catch Ebola. 
•  I think I am managing 3 hours sleep a night.  While I don’t have jet lag as such, sleeping is near impossible due to my body clock – so by Friday I will be super grumpy (perhaps meaning anyone who tries to mug me may decide not to once they get “the look”?)

Steer clear of these...  But I guess my dislike of Philly pretzels is only
equivalent to their dislike of vegemite...


Streets of Philadelphia Day 2

I wondered if you would surface jetlag.  And you did.  36 hours after I get here.  Thank you.  You didn't disappoint.  Tossing and turning till 4.30am is always a treat.

On the upside - my hair is doing great guns over here - no humidity!  Who knew you could achieve straight hair so easily..

And so Sunday in Philadelphia begins..

Streets of Philadelphia

I'm in Philadelphia.  It took nearly 30 hours and 3 flights to get here but I am here.  I was worried about the jet lag but luckily I travelled Premium Economy (not quite business class but let me tell you, it is a far cry from economy) and got here after midnight so went straight to bed AND I woke up okay..

I'm here from work with all the other talent acquisition leads from round the world, which is exciting as I've only ever spoken to most of these people a few times a week for the past few years.  I'm appreciative I have a job that allows me to travel and see parts of the world I wouldn't normally see (China being point and case, I would never choose to go there).  To be honest I probably wouldn't have made it to Philadelphia if it wasn't for work but I'm glad I am here.

It is a pretty city.  It is currently autumn (or fall if you are American) and it is what I remember autumn in Tasmania to be.  The oak trees have leaves that are hues of orange and yellow and they crumble under your feet when you tread on them.  I saw a squirrel while I was out for a walk (cute little critters).  The air is crisp, the sky is blue and it has a kind of small town feel about it.

Tomorrow I get to go to King of Prussia - a huge shopping centre, so I have been told AND the best part is I get 3 days in NYC on the way home, which I am very excited about.  Me in a very big city fending for myself and trying to blend in with the crowd..

I was sitting in my hotel room this afternoon just as Australia woke up, looking through Facebook and considered what life would be like if I lived here.  I saw posts from my friends who are enjoying the weekend and the sunshine.  I realised if I was to come and work in the US I'd miss everyone terribly.  Is it a reality?  Maybe...  Is it something I want?  Perhaps..  I guess I'll find out as time goes on.  For now I will enjoy my week here and enjoy my days in NYC.  And wait to see if I end up here one day.