Longtime blog followers may remember the cruise I went on 2 years ago.  Last minute, spontaneous – it felt right.  I didn’t even KNOW about the cruise until two days before it began.  And I had to postpone my departure to Sydney for an extra week to go. It is no stretch to say it was really, really, really, really a completely unexpected turn of my heart.

And THIS (on the cruise) is where I met him.

Fast forward to a few blog posts ago.  Turning my life upside down – or right side up.  Following my heart brought me back to my best friend, it gave me the balance I was seeking, the inner peace I had lost.  And it reminded me that I am surrounded by so much love!!!  Aaaannnd that same weekend – at the MMA fight – I met him again.  The boy in the picture above or below.  ;)

Or rather I should say, he made it a point to come over and ask me if I remembered him.  (:  Of COURSE I did.  This boy isn’t really the forgettable type. (plus he can dance!!)

But then October started and I had a lot of focusing-on-self to do (which I did btw!!  I successfully did all of that stuff for the whole month!!!  YAY!!!) and so I didn’t see him again.  Well not right off anyway.  He was patient.  And when we finally DID go on a date (which I didn’t actually realize was a date – HAHA!) we hit it off.

He makes me laugh.  And he makes the world seem brighter.  And so we saw each other again.  And again.  And again.  And it’s crazy and ridiculous and amazing and beautiful that I feel the way I do about him.

We spent Thanksgiving with his family.  We dropped the L word… and I know that’s insane!!  Like seriously – I know!!!  But I also know I’ve never said it more sincerely.  I both respected and admired him BEFORE we ever decided to “date”.  And I went into this seeing both the good and not-as-good parts.  But I love it all.  All of him.

And yeah… he loves all of me!  And accepts me, skeletons and scars included.  It’s crazy and ridiculous and amazing and unbelievable that he feels the same way about me.  HAHA!  Especially since he’s LEAVING in a couple of weeks to go live in another country.  (karma sucks eh?)

But we’ve decided to throw caution to the wind.  Love is love and it feels right.

Am I a little scared?  Sure … but not really.  The odds are a bit against us.  But ultimately we’d rather have a short-lived, amazing, life-changing love that has the potential to be more than short-lived than deal with an eternal “what if?”  And so we continue.

And…for as long as our hearts guide us, we’ll walk into the unknown together, hearts smiling and inexplicably tied to one another.

I’m not going to lie – I think I have this online dating thing about figured out.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  I’m kidding – kind of.  Ok the fact of it is – that I had no intention of pursuing online dating AT ALL but then I met some dudes who seemed to be pretty cool and as I engaged in contact with them I realized there were similarities in relationship patterns.  It’s quite fascinating!!!

Oh and watch for my upcoming book “Online Dating for the Dense.”  HAHAHAHAHA – just kidding – for real this time – well 90% for real.  I think I COULD prolly write a book on my studies but we’ll save that for another post.

Step Seven – A pretty big deal

Step seven is a pretty crucial step in online dating.  Yeah – that’s right – it’s a pretty big deal.  No more hiding behind words – the dude you’re talking to will now be able to HEAR you laughing at him, HEAR the cynicism in your voice, HEAR excitement – whatever – he can HEAR it.  And omgosh – don’t let me forget – umm – say hello to AWKWARD PAUSES.  (though nothing is worse than an awkward pause on skype – but that’s like level NINE so we’ll discuss that another day.)  So yeah – voice calls – a pretty big deal.

Timing is Key – calling too soon

WHY??  It’s just a phone call!!  Well because you need to make sure the timing is right.  Accurate voice call timing is crucial. Too soon and you may find yourself ending the phone call being like, “Umm alright -so yeah …” and you feel like you SHOULD say, “Talk to you soon” but you know you’re NEVER going to talk to him again so it’s a bit awkward.  PLUS if he’s all like, “This was great – I’m so glad we talked” blah blah blah – well – you feel even MORE awkward when you realize you don’t want to talk to him again.

Timing is Key – waiting too long

And then you have the other side of the fence – waiting too long before the voice call.  When this happens – you’ve been instant messaging so long that you already have an idea of how you think the other person sounds – or reacts – or just IS.  You THINK  you have an idea of their personality and then because of course you’re wrong – when you hear their voice you’re like, “omgosh – you sound like a nasal-y star trek geek who probably studies vulcan in your time off.”  WHAT DO YOU DO THEN??  Here you had these great expectations and then you talk to him and you have a mini online dating crisis.  Is this guy his voice??  Or is he his words??

Phone Calls – Golden!!

ANYWAY – if you’ve already made it through the first six steps of online dating and are prepared to take it to the next level – it’s a good sign.  Buuuutttttt – BEWARE.  Voice calls are not all they’re cracked up to be.  (haha especially if your voice cracks while talking.)  HOWEVER it’s not all gloom and doom.  Sometimes you talk to someone on the phone and are pleasantly surprised.  Suddenly you’re like, “Omgosh – I could totally see myself talking to you on a continual basis – you’re fun!”  And THAT is pretty dang cool.

Oh wait – let’s not get too excited yet.  Let’s be real – if you feel that it went SO AWESOME there’s a good chance he thought YOU sounded like a 16 year old girl who giggles too much.

Yeah – such is my life.  I bet you can’t WAIT to read about Webcams.  ;)

ANYWHO – Tonight I watched the sun set …

It was pretty.  :)

And because I heart me some seagulls :)  Here are a few of them:

(I hope you love these pics ScoMan.)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  ”ALOUD?”  hahahahaha!  ok I’m mostly done laughing – we can move on.  :)

For a graduation gift to myself (WAHOO!!!  Did I tell you all that I’m about to graduate with my second post-graduate degree and my first masters?? YAY!!) I decided to give myself a DSLR.  AAANNNNDDDD what could be better timing for a new dinosaur (yeah – dinosaur – especially when compared with my ultracompact!!) than an unexpected trip across the continent??  I agree – no better timing.   So thanks to a little shipping help from M&D I got my camera in time to rock and roll!!!

(oh btw – Dad informed me today that if I’m bugged by the size of my new camera he’d be MORE than happy to take it off my hands.  lol)

First Self Portrait taken with new Camera
(oh come on now – did you expect anything besides a self portrait?? let’s be real.)

Want to know the best part of having a great camera?  Less post-production!!!  It’s not that I don’t love photoshop – but photoshop takes time – and having a camera that requires no photoshopping?? That’s pretty dang sweet.  :)

Second Self Portrait taken with new camera

I’ll try to get a smiling one tomorrow (haha! ok I’m done giving time frames – it’s not going to happen tomorrow.  Let’s say instead – I’ll try to get a smiling one at some point in the future.)

So yeah – anyway – I think my new camera and I are going to be besties.  I’ve already decided she’s a girl.  And a dinosaur.  So now she just needs a name.  Maybe something fierce – after all I’m quite sure she’s probably a Bad A Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Yup Yup.  Ooh – could Yup Yup be a name?

Hmmm…

P.S. – Scoman pointed out that I also quit my horoscope project after a week.  LOL – I laughed so hard when I read that.  It’s true!!!  I did!!!  HOWEVER in my defense – I’ve done it for the last few days.  I sent an apology to CC+4 because of my horoscope, I was more demanding on an icrush’s time because of my horoscope, and yeah – fun times.  ;)

p.p.s. – yes mom – that DID say I sent an apology to CC+4.  And yes I know – you think it’s HIM who owes ME one.  lol oxoxox

Perth

First off – here’s a map of Australia so you know where I’m going.  Basically I’m flying from one side of the continent to the other (wahoo!)  I added little hearts to make it easier to see.  :)

I have to be honest – I really struggled to find pics of Perth to show!!  BUT THAT’S OK!!!  Because it just means I’ll have a challenge ahead of me – to take cool Perth photos.  YAY!  But here is the classic Perth shot just to give you an idea of the city I’m about to visit.

With a population of about 1.6 million, it’s bigger than the actual CITY of Salt Lake where I’m from – but smaller than the 2.6 million living in the Wasatch Front (which is what most people think of when they refer to Salt Lake City.)

Aerial view of Perth:

COOL FACT:

Perth is set on Swan River – named after the famous black swans which are native to Australia.   And here are two pictures that I took of black swans myself (wahoo!) omgosh – they are the coolest thing.  BREATHTAKING!!!

Did you know there are SEVENTY train stations in Perth??  That’s a lot!!!

Anyway – while we are there, we will be focusing on the historical districts (did you know Perth was founded in 1829 by Captain Stirling?) So that will be pretty freaking cool.  Oh and lil fact for mom and dad – there’s like a whole 5,000 momos living there.  :)

And this little “gem” (does anyone else think the back lit clock is a little weird??) is Perth’s Town Hall – it was originally built in 1867 but I’m guessing the back lit clock part was added later (roll my eyes.)  Most of the parks were created/established around that same time.  You can take virtual tours of the parks HERE but I’m not going to fool you – it’s a little disappointing.  I hope the parks are cooler in person because the virtual tours leave much to the wanting.  (cough – LAME – they need me to redesign their virtual tours!!)

Ok really that’s about all there is to be said about Perth I think … but tomorrow I’ll post about Geraldton – our second stop on our adventure!!!

Song of the day – Hysteric by Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  (mom you should like this one) :)

There are a few ways into my heart

Music is definitely one of them.  My family and dogs are another.  Imagination is the third.  And the last?  Probably humor.  I LOVE to laugh!!!

OH BUT HERE IS MY BIG NEWS!!!!!  :)  :)  :)

I’ve decided that this upcoming Valentine’s Day is going to be a VERY special day.  I have plans ALREADY!!!  I’m so excited!!!!  I’ve been thinking about it for days.  Want to know who my Valentine is this year?

Yes, it’s true.  I have a Valentine and she LOVES me.  She told me so.  Of course I need to get permission from her parental units ;) but if everything goes according to my new plan – I should be set to babysit.  AND GUESS WHAT??  I’ve already decided that no matter what boyz are in my life for Valentines – if he can’t make room for this little girl in our V-Day plans then he isn’t the guy for me.  :)

I love being an aunt.  Love, love, la-UVVVV it!!!!  My two nieces and one nephew mean the world to me.  They’re always in my heart and never far from my mind.  Whenever I’m a little down and out – I watch videos of them and it makes me smile – EVERY time.  Hearts, love, adoration. I am very, very, VERY lucky that my brothers’ children are in my life.

Anyway … I found this song over at GoldenBloggen – a kickin’ music blog.  I fell in love with it …. Glory Box by Portishead (and mom you might actually like this song despite the band name sounding a little scary. oxoxox  but you’ll like the next one even better – I think…)

And I love this one EVEN MORE!!!!  Seriously I heart The XX – HEART THEM!!!!!

Epinephrine – a hormone triggered during the Fight-or-Flight-Response to a threat.  Adrenaline – another name for Epinephrine.

Elevated heart rate, clear mind, every muscle is ready.  It only takes a few words.

Words.

Part of the beauty of psychology is its revealing nature.  Eventually, the cracks in one’s bullet proof vest are discovered.  Hidden secrets, suppressed trauma can only stay protected for so long – and once a bullet makes it past our shields and armor, its full-on psychological warfare.

A few words and your mind and/or body experience danger.  It’s a trigger.  Your trigger.  You control it as best you can.  You wear your armor. Your walls are thick but sometimes you are caught off guard.  And then you realize you can’t escape your past.

Once a victim, always in fear.

Here’s a little taste of what I’m enjoying down here.  :)  Oh and go leave a comment on my photoblog to be entered into a drawing to win an 8×10 of one of the pics!!  :)

“OOH!” I exclaimed to my flatmate Sam.  ”Look he killed himself.”
Sam looked at me quizzically.  ”Daisy he’s just floating – trapped in a box.”
“Oh.”

When we ran into a bunch of nooses (Sculpture by the Sea 2009 is finally here!) Sam only saw rope.
Hmmm …. They sure were KNOTTED like nooses!!!

And THEN we ran into this guy.  And I was really digging him.
He’s cute – unexpected – unobtrusive.
Even though he is ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF!!!
Umm hello??  Those are some dangerous rocks to almost be jumping off!!
Though strangely Sam only saw a man gazing at the vast ocean

I wasn’t a big fan of this one.  Never have been into dead zombies charging from hell to kill people.
Would you ever guess that Sam kind of liked it??  He saw a pretty pony!

And last but not least – DEMONS (and no I did NOT adjust the color of this picture!!)

Yeah – DEMONS.  And they were perched next to a tree filled with massive blair witch project wanna bee creepy tree things.
Sam says they were just beehives – next to garden sprites.

And you what I say to that??

WHATEVER!!

Except I can’t help but thinking … maybe I need some sleep.

It’s like I’m on the Bachelor AND the Bachelorette at the SAME TIME!!!!

And that about sums it up.  Do I need to say more?  Probably not.  But I will anyway.  :)

I’ve been looking into online dating as part of my studies on network society and digital culture (it’s what I’m getting my Master’s in) OMGOSH!!!  It’s like WORSE than real dating and I hate real dating.   So there you have it.  Sure you get anonymity (KIND OF) and you can share feelings without the physical stuff getting in the way (KIND OF) but seriously – at least if you start dating a dude in REAL LIFE you can be fairly certain that if you’re talking everyday and seeing each other every week – he PROLLY doesn’t have time and isn’t doing that with anyone else.

But in the DIGITAL WORLD??

Watch out!  You can have 15 concurrent emotional email affairs going AT ONCE!!! You think you’re getting close to someone – but they’re just feeding the same lines to you and to every other girl they think is hot or decent- depending on the dude.  NOT COOL!

Oh AAANNNDDD people only post their top pics of themselves – I think there should be a rule that you must post a MINIMUM of like 30 pics.  3 pics?  6 pics?  10 pics?  You can’t get an idea of what a person looks like from that.

OH AND BIG NEWS – DAISY CHANGED HER RELATIONSHIP STATUS ON FB!!!!

As of today I am OFFICIALLY listed as IN A RELATIONSHIP on Facebook.  I know Mom – this is going to come as a bit of a shock to you considering we talked last night and I told you I wasn’t dating anyone – HOWEVER – I decided to make my commitment to my dogs OFFICIAL.  Oh yes.  I’m in an open relationship with Duchess and Chloe.  They even have their own facebook profile!

Don’t act surprised.

And just be glad Lily Chocolate Cupcake doesn’t have one – cuz guess what??  That snobby kitty has come crawling back (and of course I took her right back in!!! Aw – I LOVE my little Lily Chocolate Cupcake!!! – but not as much as Duchess and Chloe.)

Here’s 2 pictures:

Oh and CC+4 befriended Duchess and Chloe on Facebook.  I don’t know why.  Maybe it was auto-generated??  But he left them a comment on their page – it’s really cute of him.  But I can’t be thinking things like that.  Stupid boyz.

I’ve always known I like doubles – I mean I did adopt TWO cats.  Then later when I was ready for more responsibility I adopted TWO dogs.  I usually get dumped by two people at once (or TWICE) I double recipes almost all of the time.  I sleep on a double bed (only in AUS though) and yeah – I accidentally bought the same pair of jeans twice as well.  I thought they were different.  They weren’t.

I blame the throat infection which I’ve had twice in a row for my latest mind voids.

Wait … you’ve had a throat infection twice in a row??  But doesn’t that just mean you’ve had it for a really long time?

NOPE.

Apparently I had like a strep throat infection and then WHILE I was recovering from my throat infection I got a throat VIRAL infection – leaving me sick with a husky voice TWICE!!!   I have to sleep twice as much.  I do homework 2222 times more slowly (which is twice of what would be twice the numeral two – oh forget it) and I am twice as lethargic as I would be on an ordinary lazy day (hence why I am NOT going to delete the doubles right now.)

Here’s the pics I uploaded TWICE – but lucky you – I’ve decided to only upload them ONCE to the blog.  Oh and you can click on them if you want to see the full deal:

Oh and I know this is probably Too Much Info!!  But I’ve been losing hair like TWICE as much since I got sick – maybe it was the antibiotics?? I don’t know but seriously GROSS!!!  Like for real – I have long hair – we all know that stray strands of hair found here or there are one of the inconveniences of having – well – of having hair in general.  Long hair makes it a little bit more noticeable.  It’s part of life.  But seriously – SO MUCH of my hair has been falling out I ALMOST took a picture to gross you all out.  I can just imagine – you’d be like SSSSIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCKKKKKK.  And I’d be like – yeah – tell me about it.  My shower complains every day.

Ok since I’m TWICE as rottenly delightful as ever – I’ll stop here.  Have a WONDERFUL whatever day you are on – I’ll be on Wednesday – maybe Thursday – or actually just if you’re not in Australia – just add a day – it’s easiest that way.  And don’t worry – the world isn’t going to end tomorrow because I’m living tomorrow and yeah – the world is still around.  :)

Pretty peaches and tangerines!  Night all!