Azure's Tapestry

Mango Lassi

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:40:55 GMT

So simple and so delicious!

Ingredients (serves 6)

500ml milk
250g honey-flavoured yoghurt
500g mango, chopped (Fresh, tinned or frozen)

Method

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend well to combine. Serve.

Birthday Meme

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:11:22 GMT

Look up your birthday in Wikipedia. Pick 4 events, 3 births, 2 deaths, and 1 holiday.

Events
1900 - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid commit their first robbery together.
1940 - Witold Pilecki is voluntarily captured and sent to Auschwitz in order to smuggle out information and start a resistance
1952 - The U.S. bars Charlie Chaplin from reentering the country after a trip to England.
1957 - First U.S. underground nuclear bomb test.

Births
86 - Antoninus Pius, Roman Emperor (d. 161)
1803 - Maria Anna of Savoy, Empress of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia (d. 1884)
1911 - Sir William Golding, English writer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1993)
1940 - Bill Medley, American singer and songwriter (The Righteous Brothers)

Deaths
1692 - Giles Corey, American farmer killed in the Salem Witch Trials
2003 - Slim Dusty, Australian singer (b. 1927)

Holidays
International Talk Like a Pirate Day. YAaarrrrhhh!

Life and work...

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:13:56 GMT

Life has become a lot more tiring for me..

At the beginning of the month I stepped into a new role at work. I have been promoted after only working at Murdoch Uni for 9 months into the Analyst Lead position which means I have Minions.. err.. normal Analysts under me which I have to assist in coordinating along with the other Incident Management Analyst Lead.

Last week and this week have been eye opening for me as I have started doing other duties which are quite different to what I used to do before the promotion. I'm not feeling as productive as my concept of productivity has been to answer a lot of phone calls, resolve or log a lot of emails or to close a lot of open calls/incidents.

Now I have been either chairing our daily meeting (last week) or doing minutes (This week) or writing emails on methodologies on how we do certain tasks as well as following up on various actions from various meetings.

I sound like I'm whining. Bad me!

On an alternative side I finally got my position description as well as my new pay scale and while the position description and essential skills scares and amuses dortamur considering one or two of the required criteria I don't actually qualify for. The pay scale is a definite wootage with my annual pay increasing by at least 10k a year.

Anyway.. Off to have dinner and watch some TV with the family.

Take care and loves ya all!

Me me me me me

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:02:04 GMT

What type of Fae are you?

Swancon - Day 1

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:45:35 GMT

Four thirty and the phones stopped ringing. It had been an exhausting week at work with moments of exhilaration and job satisfaction. After some phonecalls from dortamur about cakes and actual street directions it was decided that James and I, along with a colleague Georgia would make our own way to the hotel.

Swancon is a Science Fiction, Fantasy Convention with literary bent. This year it has a strong academic stream. This years convention will be my 11th ... 9 more till I can earn my 20'th Con badge.

So, the three of us caught the train into the city, then walked northwards two blocks to the All Seasons Hotel in Northbridge. All the while, Dortamur was phoning me up clarifying directions and such. We still arrived there before him and signed in, managing to, by pure fluke to get there just as rewnad was booking in. Dortamur finally arrived after I had signed in and headed up to the room.

Settling in on the first evening is an interesting event. Much time is spent hanging around in the foyer, watching people arriving. Many old familiar faces in the crowd and sadly not many new ones. Finally the opening ceremony happened and after that it was dinner time. So down to the local Indian restaurant for yummy spicy food and loud conversation.

The later part of the evening was catching up with the Settler 'Usual Suspects' crowd. Watching a game and chatting and catching up. While I'm not a part of their close group, I do like to think that I am a familiar acquaintance to them and hopefully enjoyable when I'm around.

Sleep claimed me.. and I let it.

Ackage and Creativity

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:23:18 GMT

Ack!!

I really should post more.. It was a goal of mine which seemed to have slipped to the by lines. I never intended to be a daily poster, or even twice a day, but once a week was what I was aiming for. Sadly my creative juices dried up as my slackness kicked in. Science needs to create a pill to pop that cures slackness, really, it does. Imagine the productivity of the whole world if people were cured of slackness. *sighs wistfully*

So, I haven't taken my medicine for this evening so if I ramble a bit, its my hormones rioting.. honest!

My week.. fortnight... month so far.. Let me check how long its been since I last posted... AUGUST?! ACK and double Ack! Lots of ackage! Anyway, my months since my last post have been quite interesting.

August: August was the month of my Mum's birthday which included a long overdue phone call to her which lasted for multiple hours. I love my Mum. I'm also glad that she lives in another state. All in all it was quite a quiet month. I worked and played the general stuff. I think I even took my medicine with some regularity... Yay me!

September: This month was fun.. and busy.. and well.. and a lot of things really.

A hospital visit for my Husband (Trev, aka dortamur) for a check up which caused no end of initial stress then subsequent relief. After that there were quite a few factors that summed up to a hectic later half of the month.

a) Organisation to buy a brand new spanking (The spanking bit was for me) car.. A nice sparkle gray (The colour IS important you know ;) Honda Civic VTi-L with a few extras
b) My birthday was on Wed 19th, with a friends dinner on Sat 22nd.
c) Trev was booked in for work to go to a conference in Melbourne leaving on Sunday 23rd.

Around the 12th we put the paperwork in for the car. Trev and I had decided, now that I have a job and we are bringing in some more income, that we can afford a new car. Our old one, of 15 years was Trev's 1st ever car.. Hell, his only car even. Its done him good and we are proud, but its time for a new shiny one. So the paperwork was signed.. Yay!

Once the stress of all the decision making was done Trev turned his attention to the upcoming trip to Melbourne. A conference from Monday to Wednesday was what work was sending him for.. but he had intentions on staying later to visit the large family thats over there. There was also organisation for him to visit his long time friend.. He's only ever met her twice in his life, but they are pretty close from many letter writing stints when they were younger. I talk about my second bridesmaid, Susan. This woman is quite special to me too.. But thats a story for another time.. if people want to hear it. Anyway, she lives in Sydney and was organising to fly to Melbourne to meet up with Trev to catch up on life and things.

On top of all that Trev was organising my birthday dinner out with friends... Getting people to respond within a time frame is like herding cats, but he, the elite cat herder did it. Then there was the restaurant choice and co-ordinating everything. Did I mention I love my husbands organisational ability.. while rare, it is pretty cool when seen in action.

While things were busy it wasn't a bad thing... but a few days before my birthday that we received word that Trev's Grandfather (Age mid 90's) had taken a turn for the worse. So for the next few days we were glum and waiting for the expected. On top of that was the guilt for occasionally thinking 'Hurry up'. Add to that Trev's stress of his duties to work, as any funeral, would be during his conference... as well as his own personal guilt in possibly having to miss catching up with his long long time friend who was flying to Melbourne (And had already booked tickets) to catch up with him.

He actually died on my birthday, 11pm in the evening. I'm not all that fussed about this fact though people like giving me the 'On you birthday.. that makes it especially bad' look. My thoughts are that death is death.. It doesn't make it any worse than what it already is for it to have happened on my birthday... doesn't make it any better either frankly.

The death of Trev's Grandfather hit me harder than I ever expected. He died late Wednesday evening (Around 11pm I think) so we didn't hear about it till the morning after, before work. With work looming it was bottled up for later on sometime. Thursday is Piano night and after work we went down to Trev's parents place for a 'Happy Birthday' Tamara dinner with Mum 'n' Dad In Law as well as some normality of James' (My son) piano lesson. As it turned out the lesson didn't really happen but the evening gave Trev and his Dad a chance to talk about their Grandfather/Fathers passing.

It wasn't until five minutes after we had left for the trip home (roughly 1/2 an hour drive) that the tears started. I was quite confused as to were they came from. I only ever had one Grandfather throughout my life and he died around 11 or 12 years back and while I had known Trev's Grandfather.. I never really knew him that well. Even so, he has this beautiful smile and cheerful twinkle in his eye that Trev seemed to have inherited and knowing him for the last ten odd years had endeared him to me.

As soon as we got home and I had stepped through the front door.. I dropped the leftover cake, purse and a book on the nearest surface and bolted with a 'Going for a walk' yelled over my shoulder. Trev managed to get out 'Can I come with...' before the door slammed. It has been many many years since I needed to run from something, and this was something that was impossible to flee from.

So I fled my Husband and Son and Home for the isolation of the nearby oval covered by darkness and shadows. It was a gloomy night and it was perfect for my mood. I ran (at an unfit slow walking pace) all the way there where I sobbed my heart out trying to figure out why it was so. In the end Trev appeared out of the darkness and saved me.. I would have stayed there all night otherwise, rain and cold be damned, and I was lead back to the warmth of my home.

Dammit.. getting all poetic now, I've figured out that I tend to do that when I'm excessively emotional, it keeps my distances from myself.

So, Trev's trip to Melbourne was cancelled and the next week was the funeral. A somber morning affair with the mass being said in pre-Vatican II Latin style, which was strange cause Trev's Grandfather was quite active in the normal Catholic Church (normal means modern English masses). I nearly lost it at the graveside but managed to keep it mostly in.. It was at the wake spanned two houses on opposite sides of the river and lasted well into the evening that I sniffled the most. Talking with other family members about this aged man who made a subtle impact in my life and listened to a letter written by a Grandson who couldn't make it over were heart wrenching moments. But all in all, it was a healing day, for myself and for Trev and I am glad that I had a chance to be there.

*peers upwards* Wow.. I've waffled a bit haven't I.. perhaps I needed to get it all out... Well, its late now so I'll sign off and make another vow to write more... Perhaps I can waffle about some random thing sometimes.. Its quite hard to do, but perhaps....

The Mighty Vikings!

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:58:36 GMT

With my dear Brother-in-Law now back from his Honeymoon, it means that his webcomic (The Mighty Vikings - Go have a peek) will now start up again. *wild cheering from the peanut gallery*

As a celebration, and urging from my dear husband, dortamur I have crafted up a RSS Syndicated feed for anyone on LJ who is interested. Just point your LJ to http://syndicated.livejournal.com/mightyvikings/ and add his feed to your friends list... From there on out, all you need to do is enjoy!

All work and no play makes Azure....

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:53:58 GMT

*mutters and murmurs*

Go Crazy?

Don't mind if I do!!

Its a Thursday evening and I just managed to settle down in front of my PC about 1/2 an hour ago. This week has been long and interesting.

I officially started work Thursday last week *bounces and cheers*, doing the last two days of the week. This week starts my work-week proper with my three day a week shift being from Tuesday to Thursday. This means I get a long weekend, and I get to be up at work for the Badminton night. All I need are some clothes I feel comfortable enough in to leap around after a feathered shuttle.

Anyway, tomorrow is supposed to be my day off.. but I volunteered to come in anyway because the Service Desk is low on numbers and the lost battle today against the emails and phones, means that its a harder cleanup job tomorrow. So I offered, and it was accepted. Its lucky that the job still has novelty value cause of the learning curve I'm still on. *grins*

Windy nights...

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:30:44 GMT

Mini-tornado causes havoc in Western Australia
ENTIRE airconditioning units where ripped off roofs after a mini-tornado hit Rockingham in Western Australia.

About 3000 people were left without power last night when the mini-tornado hit the WA coast packing winds of up to 110km/h about 7.45pm (WST).

The tornado knocked out the electricity supply to homes in Waikiki and Port Kennedy near Rockingham, about 50km south of Perth, but a Western Power spokeswoman said this morning power had been restored.

State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers responded to 100 callouts overnight, with 32 reports of major roof damage.

"In some cases whole airconditioning units were ripped off roofs leaving big holes in the roof and the units down the road," a Fire and Emergency Services Authority spokeswoman said.

And here I was... just a mere few kilometres away from Waikiki and Port Kennedy mentioning to dortamur as the winds howled and buffeted up against the house. 'That feels like gale force winds'. HA!! I was proven right! ^_^

Fictional Potter

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:03:16 GMT

Its been a long time in the waiting for a lot of people in the world. Media hype, massive millions of dollars spent on security, mass speculation and quite a few people laughing on their way to the bank. While I wasn't there from the ground level when J. K. Rowling first published her book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone I did pick it up for a gander when all the media started to pay attention to it. News articles praising Rowling for her ability to get kids who didn't like reading before, to read. The first book was a good read and I must admit that I was hooked. So I read the next four books, buying the box set of them and all was good in the world. It was about then that the first movie came out... which drew more people into the admired world of Harry Potter. Then the fifth, then sixth book was released, and them too found their way onto my bookshelf.

It was between the 6th and the last that I discovered fan fiction. Don't get me wrong, I knew fan fiction and had read it well before this point, but not Harry Potter fan fiction. I found a site or two, and started to read. There is some quite good stories out there covering a whole range of themes from within Rowlings world. Many of them worshipping or focusing on a variety of non canon relationships.. Harry/Hermione, Draco/Hermione, Draco/Ginny, Snape/Hermione etc. There were even Slash relationships. Then there were the stories set in different eras... Stories about the Marauders, the Founders, Grindewalde, Post-Hogwarts, the Next Generation of Hogwarters etc... The sheer number of fan fiction based on Harry Potter is quite staggering so this source of entertainment kept me happy between the books.

Now the last book has been released and the story of Harry Potter, Hogwarts and Voldemort. Yes, I pre-ordered the book, a good three months in advance (I was in the shop and decided why not). Yes, I even talked dortamur into driving up to Freo on Saturday morning just to pick up the book on the day of its release (Yesterday). And yes.. I finished it.. coincidently enough, I read the last page at midnight on the dot.

It was a good read and now, that I've finished it, I am quite looking forward to the whole new range of fan fiction that will come out. I am also hoping that somewhere down the track that Rowling will write more in her universe. Whether it be a story about the Founders, the Marauders, or some other people in the rich world that she has created.

LOLCats

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:56:50 GMT

After seeing spaetlese being the Sad Cookie Cat, I had to try my hand at the test... so here we are.

My score on The Which Lolcat Are You? Test: Lion Warning Cat
(68 % Affection, 74 % Excitability , 13 % Hunger)

You are the good Samaritan of the lolcat world. Protecting others from danger by shouting observations and guidance in cases of imminent threat, you believe in the well-being of everyone.

Link: The Which Lolcat Are You? Test

User Icons

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:13:02 GMT

I've been busy this evening, going through my image archive and gimping up some nice User Icons for me to use. All of the images are drawn by ursulav (I hope she doesn't mind!). Anyway, drop me a reply if your interested in getting your hands on a zip of them.. Just below are a few examples of what I have done.

Man Crushes...

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 05:57:35 GMT

I found this article linked through AppleGeeks, and thought I would link it for friends to read as its quite interesting.. Summer sizzles for Man Crushes

Book Quote Meme

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:18:27 GMT

Here is a Book Meme that I found that was interesting...

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4-7 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest (unless it's too troublesome to reach and is really heavy. Then go back to step 1).

"Can a man be a friend to him whose wife he covets? Dantès was so large-hearted that he called them all his friends. Poor Edmond!"
"Do you know in what way Fernand wronged Dantès?"
"No one better than I."
"Will you not tell me?"
"What good would that do?"
"Then you would prefer me to give these men who, you say, are false and faithless friends, a reward intended for faithful friendship?"
"You are right," said Caderousse. "Besides, what would poor Edmond's legacy be to them now? No more than a drop of water in the mighty ocean!"

From The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Just say... I do!

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:20:31 GMT

The weekend just past has to have been the most emotional and enjoyable I have had in a long time. For those not in the know, on Saturday (On the 7th of the 7th, Oh-7), Andy, my brother (in-law) and good friend got married to Ellora, a stunning, beautiful woman who I can now happily call my sister. I was honoured in being a part of the bridal party, as a bridesmaid. There were four of us (as pictured to the left there) Nattie (Sister to the Groom, and my Sister-in-law), spaetlese, Emily and myself. As a note, our lovely bouquets were made by the brilliantly creative linstar!

The wedding ceremony was lovely, with me starting to cry when Ellora started walking down the isle.. and when her veil was lifted... and when the vows were said... and the signing of the papers... Hell, I think I nearly cried (quietly that is), almost all the way through. The photos afterwards were great, and the reception was the icing on the wonderful cake. All the speeches were brilliant and well said. I was quite exhausted by the end of it all, and it took me a good hour to get to sleep once I got home... I kept thinking that I still had my shoes on in the bed cause my feet were hurting so much.. ^_^;; Over all it was one of the best weddings (Of course, no wedding has ever exceeded my own in that category ^_- ) I had ever been to, but I am emotionally biased due to the closeness of the wedded couple. *grins*

Its too early!!

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:43:47 GMT

So I woke up at 5.45 this morning.. ugh. Damn cat.. I swear he's waking me up earlier and earlier. I wish he would at least wait till the main morning alarm. But no, instead it has to be a good twenty minutes earlier. He has this little trick, where he wanders around the bedroom, and bats and pats at all the plastic and paper bags in the room, anything that makes an annoying rustling noise. People tell me I should just ignore him and keep sleeping.. Impossible I tell you!

Anyway, so now James (my son) is now up and getting ready for school... he has to leave at 7am to catch his bus... he will arrive at school about a quarter past 8. Today is the last day of 2nd term so he now has 2 weeks ahead of him of holiday bliss that starts off with a bang of a wedding. I know he is looking forward to the relaxing two weeks ahead.

Hmmm.. porridge..Thats what James is having for breakfast. Actually, it sounds like a great idea...

Cheers!

A meme for distraction

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:28:37 GMT

I saw this meme on a couple of my friends sites, so I thought, it was time I did one of these blasted things. I hope you all find it interesting...

1. What time is it? 12.25am O.o

2. What is you full name? Tamara Louise Phillips

3. What are you most afraid of? What gives me nightmares... I think its loosing James, my son and/or Trevor (Husband)

4. What is the most recent movie you have seen in the cinema? Pirates 3

5. Have you ever seen a ghost? No. Not quite sure if I want to either.

6. Where were you born? Perth, Western Australia

7. Ever been to Alaska? Nope.. Not sure if I want to.. too cold... BRRR!

8. Ever been toilet papering? Can't say that I have.

9. Loved someone so much it made you cry? Yes.

10. Ever been is a serious car accident? Not a serious one, no.

11. Do you plan to have children? I already want one, but Trev and I have been trying for the last 9-10 years for more... God willing, perhaps one day we will have one (or more).

12. Favourite day of the week? Saturday or perhaps Sunday.

13. Favourite restaurant? The Steel Tree, just 200m down the road..

14. Favourite Flower? Not sure I have one.. Perhaps the Geralton Wax flower...

15. Favourite colour? Turquoise

16. Favourite sport to watch? No one sport in general.. Does the Olympics or Commonwealth games count?

17. Favourite drink? Margarita preferabally frozen.

18. Favourite fast food restaurant? Chooks or Subway

19. What colour is your bedroom carpet? Cream

20. How many times did you fail your drivers test? Haven't taken it yet... One day I will.

21. Before this one, from whom did you get your last email? Trevor Phillips

22. What do you do when you are bored? I read, either fanfics, novels.. or web code.. or watch DVD's

23. Bedtime? Usually around midnight.. But sometimes it can extend later.. or begin earlier.

24. Who will respond to this meme the quickest? Not sure.

25. Who is the person who sent this to you? I saw it on both dalekboy and spaetlese journal.

26. Who is the least likely to respond? Again, not overly sure.

27. Who is the person that you are most curious to see their answers? Anyones!

28. Ford or Holden? No preference.

29. What are you doing right now? Contemplating sleep

30. How many pets do you have? One cat; Skitters

31. Which came first the chicken or the egg? The chicken

32. What would you like to accomplish before you die? I want to have a long and fun life with a loving family and great friends.

33. How many people are you sending this to? To who ever reads my journal.

Devious Frogs

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 14:11:27 GMT

Here is something I found on deviant ART that I thought that my Brother-in-Law would love! Ninja Frogs!! I found it while going through Ursulav's gallery, looking for images to turn into userpics and I just couldn't resist posting about it. Enjoy!

Socks for Thoughts

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:44:22 GMT

Now that I've started using my LJ, I thought it would be good if I post an occasional ramble about something not relating to my current activities. This is my first, and hopefully not my last.

Anyway, my topic for today is my Userpic. Isn't it cute! Many, many years ago, as I was idly snooping through the net I stumbled across it. It was love at first sight. Its cheeky drawing style soon made it my unofficial logo. Of course, way back then, I never knew who the fantastic artist of this delightful image was.

One day, rummaging through Deviant Art I caught sight of my beloved icon. Low and behold, Ursulav was its wonderful creator. Not only has she done the creative Sock Puppet, but many other charismatic characters have been immortalized by her. Elemental mice, a variety of rare frogs, sarcastic hampsters are the just mentioning a small range.. I won't start on the fruit and other creatures of her imagination.

So, cheers to Ursula Vernon for her wonderful art. Perhaps one day I will get the chance to hang her work up on my walls.

A Beginning...

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 06:33:00 GMT

Last week I was standing at the proverbial crossroads that life occasionally delivers us to. So I'm standing there, looking down the various paths I could go. So I decide and instead of the old tried and true path of my life, one that means I keep on being the stay at home Housewife and lazy overweight mother, I am now walking down an old road I once used as a short cut. Basically, what it means in a non metaphoric sense is that I've got myself a job!

As of next week I will be a part time employee of Murdoch University! This is a good thing, honestly!

Anyway, with this new job it means I will be earning an income, which means I, and Trev of course, will be able to afford the small luxuries of life. As well as paying of the money owing for various things to friends, and it also means we can pay off the Home Loan, and James school fees so much quicker! *swoons*

It also means that I will be having to work 24 hours in a week (Thats 3 days a week basically). On top of that it means I will have to get over my social fears, and I will also be moving around a lot more. All these things are good! Truly! Exercise, or at least all the extra movement will help with my weight loss, which means that I will be so much closer to getting pregnant.

With this new path in life I'm going to endeavour to post on here more regularly. I know no one reads it (That may be because I've never posted anything here before...), but its a worthy cause.. and a place to put my thoughts and feelings. Getting it all out into a visual medium (I can't really say 'out on paper' can I) is a good and healthy thing.

Cheers!