No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (25-27/30)

More evidence that spring has sprung.

Did you know that I learned colors by eating Froot Loops when I was young? Walked down memory lane yesterday by buying one of  those 6 pack tiny boxes of cereal. Way too much sugar and very artificial - don't think I'll be eating it anytime soon again.

And finally - finally - after procrastinating for ages and ages and ages I have managed to put up black and white prints of Milton in my surgery. Looks good, even if I do say so myself.

3 more days to go...I can do this!!

Maintenance

In many ways we strive to get to our vision of a perfect life, or as close as we can get to it.

For me that means perfectly organized everything and meaningful and fulfilling relationships.

The thing is, I think it's fairly simple when you're still on the road towards those goals. It's easy to clean out the closet and do a massive makeover. Easy to start a conversation and make a new friend.

What's difficult is keeping that closet in perfect condition once it's organized and keeping in touch with that friend. It takes constant ongoing attention.

Remember that.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (50/50)

I was in Mansfield, which is the gateway to Mount Buller a couple of months ago and we went to The Deck for lunch.

Can you believe we actually had roti in Mansfield? And it was a pretty good representation of it as well! Everything was really good there and reasonably priced. Will definitely head back again when the weather gets warmer. I imagine it to be a lovely place to eat on a nice spring day.

And so here I am at 50 out of 50 new restaurants! There's actually more to come so I'll continue posting and see how many places I actually go to.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (24/30)

This is my cotton roll dispenser in my surgery. The cotton rolls are packed in and you open the drawer at the bottom with tweezers and take the cotton rolls out.

I love it. So much so, it practically makes my day.

It's the little things that make me continue on in dentistry.

When you need advice about plumbing, ask a plumber.

When you need advice about your taxes, ask an accountant.

Don't go to a person who doesn't know how to save and ask for financial advice.

Don't ask an unfit person how to establish a good exercise routine.

Silly Dental Girl.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (23/30)

My toothbrush is connected via Bluetooth to this device that tells me how long I've been brushing for, warns me if I'm brushing too hard and various other gimmicky functions.

Why do I have it? Because I get an industry discount and getting a new toothbrush gave me a weird sense of excitement.

You Let Drama Rule Your Life

Signs

• You talk and complain about your daily problems
• You ask for advice and reassurance for most things
• You crave attention
• You wear your heart on your sleeve
• You make big issues out of small things

What To Do

• Learn how to solve your own problems instead of depending on people to help solve them for you
• What is the current problem?
• What options do I have to resolve it?
• Which option feels the most comfortable?
• Make the decision.
• How did it go and how do I feel?
• Don't ask for advice
• Make small decisions privately - take charge of your own life
• Stop complaining - listen to others more instead
• Spend more time alone - build a sense of independence
• Create a positive mindset. When something happens:
• What is the situation?
• What am I thinking?
• How do I feel?
• Are these thoughts true?
• How can I view it differently?
• What advice would I give myself?

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (14-22/30)

Sorry I dropped off the face of the earth for 9 days. That's the nature of my life - all sorts of things happen during the weekend and sometimes I take all week to recover from all the excitement.

Clockwise from top left.

• Vanilla slice in Mansfield - ridiculously tall. Very hard to eat.
• Eat, Pray, Love - have been meaning to read it for a long while, seeing that it was a bestseller and all. Could not finish it - too airy fairy for my taste.
• The full moon.
• The finished product of my week of stressing out in the kitchen - 80 cupcakes and a wedding cake.
• Indo-mee - Love it.
• Smith's Thinly Cut Sweet Chilli Chips - I could eat bags of these indefinitely.
• Went shopping and ended up buying more sweaters. My mission is to get a spectrum of them.
• Vintage cars.
• Coffee with a friend who, in response to my complaints about the complications of my life gave me this piece of sage advise.

Dental Girl - calm the ^#&$ down!!

Thank you - I needed that.

Plans

Where has 2010 gone to? One minute I'm celebrating my 25th birthday and the next September is almost over and the last 3 months of the year which usually just whizzes past because one is already mentally preparing for 2011 is coming up.

2010 to me has been full of decisions. Hefty decisions. For good or for bad, I've made up my mind.

I've been looking into courses that I can do when I head back to Melbourne. Thinking of ikebana. Maybe obedience and agility training for Milton. More cake decorating. Maybe a chocolate making course. Woodworking.

I love free time.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (49/50)

I was in Echuca a couple of months ago and we headed to their award winning fish and chip shop - Fish In A Flash.

It is so greasy and good! 

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (48/50)

Tatura Hot Bread. I am devoting a whole post to it because their vanilla slice is absolutely to die for.

Yes, we make detours to Tatura just to get these amazing slices of goodness. Love it. If you are ever in the region, this is a must go!

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (47/50)

I love my meat (doubt I could ever go vegetarian) but a few weeks ago I headed to Vegie Hut in Box Hill for the full fake meat experience.

The food was inexpensive and the variety of soy based meats was pretty impressive. I personally ordered sweet and sour pork and they got the texture pretty right there. 

Only problem with vegetarian meat is that there's always this aftertaste that I don't particularly like.

Real meat for me.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (13/30)

Wedding cake preview.

No. 82 - Run 5km

Anyone who knows me fairly well would know that my fitness level is at 0 on the scale of 0-100.

Anyway, I've decided that this is the year I will somehow get myself to run 5km. Have semi-started training now that the weather is warming up a little.

Am currently at the grand total of 250m before I have to slow down to a brisk walk. I kid you not I really am that unfit.

Will post periodically as I hit my milestones.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (46/50)

Mart 130 is a breakfast place right on the tram tracks next to Albert Park. We headed over there a few weeks ago for breakfast and bumped into my ex-housemate from Singapore! What are the odds of that?

It's a very popular breakfast place so we had to wait to get a table. Food was good - pretty standard breakfast stuff. 

Would probably not be dying to go back there anytime soon, but not adverse to it either.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (12/30)

Undecorated cupcakes, ready to be dressed.

Lists

Things To Be Done In The Immediate Future

• Bake wedding cake
• Do grocery shopping
• Hang up pictures in surgery
• Clean up desk surface

Things I Should Be Doing

• Eat more fruit and vegetables
• Try out new recipes more often
• Exercise
• Make sure I don't forget to eat lunch
• Try to wake up early instead of concluding there's no reason to get up so why bother
• Stop complaining

Sentimental Motivational Rubbish

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back. 

My housemate abhors sentimental motivation quotes that she feels is just plain cliche, cheesy and frankly, can't believe there are people out there who enjoy reading them.

I'm guilty as charged.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (11/30)

It pains me to say this but the Benalla KFC is the worst KFC branch I ever had the misfortune to come across.

They're slow, they tend to not get the order right and the Original Recipe Chicken sometimes seems to be more oil than actual chicken.

Every time I go there I vow it's the last time I am going to patronize them and yet I still go back there because the truth is I do enjoy my Wicked Wings.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (10/30)

Every minute, every second, every hour of the day

Iyiyi

Every hour of the day

Iyiyi

Everytime that I'm away

Iyiyi

Missing you, missing you

Every moment that is stolen, it can never be replaced

Iyiyi

Even if it's for a day

Iyiyi

I'm a text you up to say

Iyiyi

Missing you, missing you

Bendigo, Part 2

We decided to go horse riding and try our hand at pottery when we were in Bendigo. 

Here we are with our horses. Mine was called Troy and he didn't really seem to want to be there. He kept wanting to stop to eat grass and refused to trot when he was told to. 

The last time I went horse riding was about 6 years ago so I have to say I had a pretty good time. It's not something one does every day.

We also tried out hand at pottery. I was very pleased with the bowl that I produced - we have sent them off to get glazed and we'll receive them in about 3-4 weeks. Can't wait!

I wouldn't have minded getting more proficient at pottery making. I guess the problem with these hobbies is... what does one do with the end products? The older I get, the less desire I have to have lots of things - probably because I keep moving so often.

Thus ended our adventures in Bendigo.

No. 73 - Get To Know 5 New People

I am pleased to announce that I have managed to get to know 5 new people.

Crossing that off the list.

Bendigo, Part 1

We've talked about visiting Bendigo for a long time and we finally got round to it last weekend.

Drove down to it on a bright and sunny Saturday morning and headed straight to the farmer's market, where we had a hard time deciding what to have for lunch. Finally settled on a gourmet version of a sausage sizzle and a pie.

Had a walk around the gardens and the spring flowers were out! Pretty, aren't they? 

Also visited the Chinese museum, which told the history of the Chinese who came over to Bendigo during the gold rush. Had the opportunity to feed koi in the pond that they had built too. Those fish were so used to being fed by tourists - the moment we approached they swam up to receive their free meal.

Overall, I thought that Bendigo was a pleasant regional centre, with a lot more character than say... Shepparton or Wangaratta. Kinda reminded me a little of Albury. But when all's said and done, I still like Benalla the most.

Part 2 to follow.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (9/30)

Sugar flowers drying, awaiting their future on wedding cupcakes.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (8/30)

I love driving past fields of canola at this time of the year when they're in full bloom.

It's like a field of gold.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (7/30)

We went to Bendigo over the weekend and stopped by Tatura to get some vanilla slice. A sudden urge came upon us to buy a couple of scratchies to try our luck.

No luck.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (6/30)

What is it like to be a dog, I wonder? 

I think Milton's main hardship in life is the fact that he has to stay at home alone when we're away at work. Other than that, I think his life is pretty cushy.

He doesn't have to do anything but come when he's called and the occasional trick or two.

Lucky little thing.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (45/50)

Last weekend I went to see The Nutcracker at the Palais at St Kilda. For our pre-theatre meal, we decided to go to Slow Down!, which was right across the road from it.

The food definitely exceeded my expectations. I didn't take any photos though because I forgot to. The experience was rather memorable - the waiter we had was quite the bumbler.

To be honest, I'm not sure if he was bumbling on purpose or he was naturally uncoordinated and unsure about the menu and how the place ran. Here's a few things he did:

• When he handed us the menus - "Uhm...yeah I'm sorry but we only have 2 menus. I think." There were 3 of us.
• When it came to explaining the pre-theatre menu - "So for the entree we have gnocchi and the main we have lamb". Co-worker comes up and says... "No.... for the entree we have calamari or soup, and for the main it's either lamb or gnocchi."
• When it came to dessert, he almost dropped it.

The list goes on.

Food however, was excellent. Highly recommended. So was the ballet.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (5/30)

I have a habit of buying USB keys and losing them 2 weeks later. 

It doesn't matter how careful I am with them - they somehow just seem to walk away.

Here's my newest one which will no doubt join the rest of my family of USB keys who have abandoned me.

Self Reflection

I realize with horror that I have somehow managed to slip into my old bad habit of whinging, whining and not appreciating what I have and constantly worrying about problems that to be honest, sometimes don't even really exist.

So today, I am reminding myself to:

• Have faith in myself
• Have faith in others
• Accept things that I cannot change with a positive attitude

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (4/30)

I was first introduced to Anne Shirley when I was about 11. For those who don't know the Anne of Green Gables series, it's a story about a young orphaned girl who gets adopted and follows her through her life stages and ends with her youngest daughter's adventures.

In a way, I grew up with this series. I probably re-read it every year. When I was 11, I related to Anne in the first book. As I went through uni, I related to Anne in Anne Of The Island. 

Now that I've started working, I'm seeing parallels of my life and hers in Anne of Windy Poplars.

Yes, I am currently re-reading it again.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (44/50)

About 3 weeks ago I headed down to Melbourne and ended up eating at Donovans at St Kilda.

I didn't take photos of the actual restaurant but it is a lovely rustic looking place right on the beach with views straight out onto the bay. Very picturesque setting.

The food was equally good. Can't actually remember exactly what we had but I remember the mains were duck and lamb. 

It wasn't exactly the cheapest meal, but it was worth it. The view is enough to win me over.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (3/30)

Took Milton out for a ultra short walk (probably 50m) and came across this ornamental pear tree in full bloom. 

The whole tree was abuzz with bees, glorying in the spring weather.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (2/30)

I have been asked to bake a wedding cake and this is part of the project. Looking forward to the end result.

The Great 2010 Flood

Throughout last week we were told that there was a possibility that Benalla was going to get flooded and we should take whatever precautions necessary.

So I pranced off happily to Melbourne to see the ballet and left the house to the elements.

Right after ballet I get a text message from the SES telling us that we should evacuate from our homes.

That got me nervous. Anyway, I got home and our house was fine - but the low lying areas near the Benalla lake was not.

Thanks to everyone who messaged me to make sure that I was okay. I feel very loved.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (1/30)

I've been putting off this item on my 101 list because I figured that my life isn't that exciting that I can churn out 30 exciting photos in 30 boring days.

Housemate pointed out that I could take photos of mundane things too and talk about it. Which is what I've decided to do.

I've been wearing contact lenses since I was about 14. I remember when I first wanted to switch from glasses to contact lenses I had to beg my parents to let me do it. It was seen as a risky thing to do - what if you get an eye infection and end up blind? Because you know, that's what happened to so-and-so's daughter.

Anyway, I finally wore my parents down with my perpetual whining and got my way in the end. 10 years on, I went to the local chemist and realized that Renu's contact lens solution now comes in clear bottles.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. I can see the froth, and I don't like seeing froth much.

White Nights

People often comment that a career in dentistry is awesome and I'm so lucky to have a job with such flexible hours and pays well.

That's all true - but it is also true that it's an extremely stressful job. After all, dental treatment is expensive. Which means patients expect a near if not absolutely perfect job.

As a result, every few weeks I get a white night due to dentistry related worries. To be fair, perhaps to a certain extent it's my personality that makes it harder.

I dislike not delivering a perfect result, even when I know it was impossible anyway.

I take it pretty hard when a patient doesn't like me. Even if it's through no fault of my own and they're just being unreasonable, I still feel bad about it.

Am I happy here?

I am not unhappy, but I wouldn't say I'm happy either. I do it because it's what I have been trained to do, and it has bought me the lifestyle that I live now. And occasionally I still get some pleasure out of it. But most of the time I'm stressed due to the amount of responsibility I have to bear.

So this is what real life as an adult is like. Sometimes I feel like I'm just struggling to keep my head above water. Cannot imagine what it's like for people who have children.

Spring

The air is getting warmer, the days longer and brighter - spring is definitely on its way!

Looking forward to the next 4 months, which promises to be one of the most significant and exciting periods in my life. In a good way. I hope.

Day Off

The nurses have gone off to Bendigo for their first aid course which means I get a 4 day week today!

I fully intend to:

• bank in a cheque that I've been hanging onto for the past 3 months because I keep forgetting I have it
• test bake a batch of cakes for a friend's wedding that is less than 3 weeks away why am I such a procrastinator??
• take Milton out for a nice walk - it's raining, poor dog is just going to have to go without
• continue purging contents of house

Like The Driven Snow

When I was young my favourite colour was baby blue. I wanted baby blue everything.

Now, my favourite colour is definitely white.

I'm not sure what it is. Probably because white just seems so clean and untouched. Perfect. Unblemished. Bright. Pure.

I could fill my world with white everything.