sparklers and stuff

i had some frustrations to work off today so i decided to do an extended session at gym. and katy perry's "firework" came on my ipod. i've never really understood the value of power songs. until today. i played that track so incredibly loud. and about 8 times in a row.

there's something really empowering about that song. every time the pre-chorus built up into that big chorus, i increased my speed on the treadmill. i was officially, missioning it.

now, i'm not normally for cheese, but these lyrics are too good to miss. just where i am right now, i have a need to feel empowered. and to take back some strength that i have lost in the last few weeks. so when she sings:

do you know that there's still a chance for you / there's a spark in you

you just gotta ignite the light / and let it shine

just own the night / like the fourth of july

or

if you only knew what the future holds / after a hurricane comes a rainbow

maybe the reason why all the doors are closed / is so you can open one that leads you to the perfect road 
like a lightning bolt / your heart will glow / and when it's time you'll know

when i was in the usa i didn't see the fourth of july fireworks {there was a burn ban in texas due to the severe drought and fire hazard} but i was there for memorial day. and seeing those fireworks was gooseflesh-sublime.

i realised that these words are not just for angst-filled, lost teenagers who cry at katy perry concerts. these lyrics are for me, right now. and not just for 20 mins on the treadmill.

play it loud.

boom! boom! boom! even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.

unemployment benefits

flip. ok. it has been a while since i posted. i think i've been on a hiatus from blogging macdotcoza {more like a hiatus hernia i.e. having severe indigestion from consuming too much life experience and thus feeling incapacitated} but that's another blog post altogether.

so, some of you may know that i gave up my life of corporate ambition, promotion and over the top performance bonuses to pursue a noble quest. sort of. i returned from said noble quest about 2 months ago and have been intent on not returning to my old job {albeit an awesome comfort zone i am super tempted to get back into, but won't}. hence i am unemployed.

it's amazing how creative you can be with your time. honestly. here are some of the benefits to being unemployed. or self-employed...

one. i can go to gym at the least busy time of day. without queuing for a treadmill or bumping into people i know. i always look freaking terrible at gym so am not fond of chatting mid-elliptical revolution.

two. i can watch all the shows on dstv on demand/catch up. i am totally up to date on shows i didn't even know existed.

three. i can meet people for lunch and spend quality time with people who mean a lot to me. i realise how i used to fill my life with people who i lived to please, and whose company i didn't ever really enjoy.

four. i can watch an entire season of F.R.I.E.N.D.S in one day. it is beyond rad. no ad breaks, just bathroom breaks :)

five. i can invest time mentoring someone. our domestic worker's daughter made it into an awesome learnership programme with one of the major banks. i get to help her with computer skills, take her to cool places like salvation cafe where she had her first cappuccino and chat to her about the corporate world. and of course, we also did some shopping for a new work wardrobe. it's very cool. and humbling.

six. i can take as many photos as i like. in perfect, natural daylight. my laptop cannot handle it. i have run out of space on my mac.

seven. i realise how little i need to get by. sheesh, i can waste money. but when it's finite, you become more resourceful, more economical and more creative with how to manage your cash. eat at home, go out for dessert. make a sarmie, don't stop at mcds. make someone's gift, don't default to a gift card. re-use, don't buy more. assess what you want vs. what you need.

in the real world, i probably have 3 weeks left before i run out of savings. but i'm not worried. i know everything will work out awesomely. this is another season. and i get "daily bread", just enough every day to get by. i love how GOD provides to cover what we need.

and, of course, the dstv catch up is a cool bonus.

x

cheese in a can: washington/virginia edition

i had the coolest long weekend with two american sisters, susan and mary {who my parents hosted in 2010 when they came to south africa for bruce and hlomphs' wedding}. we've stayed in touch, and it's been one of my highest priorities to see them while in the usa.

i was not disappointed :) we all met up in virginia and then roadtripped to washington. so here's the cheese in a can summary of the trip:

turbulence and the fear that i would lose my lunch {and dignity} to a brown paper bag.
so much excitement to see susan.
norfolk airport -- that has way too many indoor plants.
awesome shopping and lovely things at forever 21. and {finally} h&m.
guacamole at chilis.
meeting jackie o -- susan's amazing mom.
pancakes a la jackie.
getting an awesome, much needed haircut from sara at super cuts.
picking up mary j at the airport.
finally meeting olivia, the most loveliest baby {and susan's niece} this side of the atlantic.
roadtripping to dc {trying and failing to hold my breath going through the 3 mile undersea tunnel. it was ambitious, i know}.
driving past the pentagon and giant "octopus monument". twice. cause the gps is lame.
amazing hotel {still in virginia though, ten mins from washington}
catching the subway for the first time in the usa. sheesh, it's tough to understand the first time. think i got the hang of it.
dodgy smells in the shadows of the underground.
chinatown. and dinner at nandos. what an awesome surprise. and the food was pretty good too, almost as cool as south africa.
it's c-c-c-cold in washington. brrrr. but a welcome change from the 40 degree heat in texas.
raining in washington. again, a welcome change in weather.
too many giggles with two awesome girls. i swear mary, you crack me up.
breakfast bagels and lattes at starbucks before venturing off on our washington exploratory adventure.
mary not being the best navigator. susan and i firing mary as the navigator.
walking. walking. walking.
the lincoln memorial. really impressive.
the drained reflective pool that's just dirt due to renovations. not too impressive.
loads of asian tourists.
photo bombing asian tourist group photos.
the korean memorial. haunting.
posing by our countries engraved in the marble. fun :)
the einstein memorial and soggy bottoms. and more ridiculous laughter.
the washington monument.
the whitehouse.
super expensive lunch at the museum of american history. 140 south african bucks. sheesh. can you say, rip off in american english?
first lady inaugural dress exhibition.
the ruby slippers from the wizard of oz.
the first muppet puppets.
the first flag -- the star spangled banner. it really gives you goosebumps.
farrah fawcett's famous red swimsuit.
the museum of natural history. so, so, so cool. you can't help but imagine scenes from night at the museum. i would freak out if any of those things came alive at night.
the hope diamond.
a real life mummy. well, a dead one. but a real one.
the capitol.
the smithsonian institute.
back at the hotel and crashing. wow. we must have walked 5 miles.
great italian dinner at piola.
"we're on vacation" susan newman.
late night krispy kremes from safeway pharmacy.
breakfast at brooklyn bagel.
arlington cemetery.
the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
jfk and jackie o's grave site.
so many tombstones. it's quite overwhelming.
the iwa jima memorial {in the rain}.
cracker barrel. and dumplings. meh. not my fave.
sleeping for 3 hours. i am the best back seat driver on any roadtrip -- i sleep most of the way.
more shopping. love these girls :)
krispy kreme hot doughnuts. we made a point of going when the red light was on. and they really do melt in your mouth.
laughing at youtube videos.
virginia beach. it was soul-fulfilling seeing the ocean again.
funny photos with fake shells and neptune statues.
more starbucks.
mexican. surrounded by sailors {virginia has 5 naval bases}.
saying farewell to jackie o.
more shopping. yes yes yes!
"you is kind. you is smart. you is important." {somewhere there is a video, that may make it onto facebook}

trying to cram all my stuff into two carry-on bags. after breaking a sweat, almost pulling my hamstring and bursting several blood vessels i achieved success. {i refuse to pay $25 to check in a bag}.
farewells at norfolk airport. so sad to have to say good bye to my american sisters.
but...already planning future vacations and adventures.
 

x

pecan street festival

twice a year austin hosts the pecan street festival, where they close off the famous sixth street and artists and artisans display their goods. there's music, food, workshops and a diverse range of delightful things. we ventured through the wonderful stalls and came across some incredible artwork.

firstly, a german artist who uses mixed media -- he paints characters in acryllic over real photographs. and he must have about twenty portraits of people from russia to cairo to manhattan. i feel in love with this piece "trento, italy". the perspective is so effective. don't you just feel he's going to walk straight into you? i love his furrowed brow and big moustache :)

then, oh wow, i am obsessed with owls at the moment. and they are everywhere. on prints, pendants, artwork, earrings....everywhere. so this crazy-looking bird caught my eye, "uhu". he has such character. i love how frazzled he looks :)

here's the artist himself, who was so much fun to chat to:

we then had an interesting encounter at "alamosaics". this is amazing -- artwork made from small pieces of wood. the john lennon portrait is a masterpiece. as we walked into the tent, we saw a south african flag! turns out the artist has a cousin who married a guy from pretoria and they were the inspiration for the piece. it was such a cool surprise!

{belated} birthday love

there's nothing quite like getting a parcel from home. it reminds you that even though you are far away, you kind of never really are too far from people who love you. 

so i have some birthday love from johannesburg and cape town, south africa. and the words in the cards were so special. despite the delay in postage, the timing could not have been better than today x

cheese in a can: austin edition

oh my hat! it has been far too long since i added austin to my "cheese in a can" list of observations and experiences. it's a long list, hope you find it an interesting read -- you may have to take a break half way. can you believe i have been in the live music capital of the world for three months? what a ride. i love this city. full of art, music, culture and yes, weirdness. the city's motto is "keep austin weird". and people really, really do.

enjoy :)

giant guitars on the baggage carousel. welcome to austin!
quality time with my mad awesome cousin.
true blood at jo's on sunday nights.
willie nelson blvd.
free itunes downloads from starbucks. i heart freebies.
new music -- cold war kids, motopony, airborne toxic event, boxer rebellion.
taking the bus.
crazies in the bus :(
keep austin weird {word!}

lake travis.
40+ degree heat everyday.
long hot days at the pool.
volunteering.
colleagues who are now dear friends.
info sessions with prospective clients.
butterflies and accelerated heart beats {you may or may not be in on the secret}
press releases.
rain! {for 5 mins}
don't mess with texas.
greyhound. meh.
half a kings of leon gig. so, would that be 500mb?
dallas cowboys stadium. wow.
amazing generosity from strangers who are now friends.
partying on sixth street.
$5 pitchers of alcohol.
international students from paris, copenhagen, turkey, mexico and sydney.
amazing boutiques on 2nd street.

fredericksburg.
blisters :(
sunny, the amazing nigerian cab driver and my new homey.
kabomba -- awesome band who jammed at stubbs.
henry and the invisibles. also at stubbs, a one man band. cool name :)
networking. networking. networking.
whole foods. closest thing to woolworths. ahhh happiness.
starbucks and frapps in the morning. makes up for waking up at 5:30am.
waterloo records -- amazing music store since 1982.
the international food aisle at h.e.b is awesome -- marie biscuits and cadburys.

 such awesome fellowship and soul-refreshing worship and teaching at grace covenant church. it really feels like home, far away from home.
green.
organic.
old classic movies.
hopdoddy {organic} burgers with asal.
packages from home. mama sunshine you bring light into my life.
annie's cafe and free groupons.
art cinemas.
outlet malls -- 60-70% off designer brands. eeeep!
tax free weekend -- yes please!
the coolest skype call to a certain barndance with a front row view :)
austin city limits fest 3 day pass! i have amazing parents.
bon iver tickets!
loving that all the rad bands come to austin, don't have to go anywhere for cool music
drive thru starbucks. drive thru atms. drive thru post office. drive thru laundromat. drive thru pharmacy. sheesh. 

san antonio and the alamo. kind of haunting, really.
"pumped up kicks" -- my song of the summer.
watching world cup rugby at fados.
wishing more than anything to be at the johnston's wedding :(

jadey sending photos of everyone at the reception and making me feel a part of it :)
flags at half mast for 9/11 ten year anniversary
humbled by generous friends. speechlessness.
bon iver!!!!! ahhh, so much of amazingness.
so much birthday love -- too blessed for words.
flowers delivered to the door, all the way from maritzburg. thank you nancy and dean barber :)
birthday dinner at sandra bullock's restaurant. pity she wasn't there ;) but the company was still a-class!
austin city limits: three days of music, flu and oh maybe a billion people.

meeting a professional festival photographer -- and getting to use his super cool lens :) {it was the size of my arm and weighed a ton but so much fun to play around with}
coldplay! eeeeep!
stevie wonder. meh.
fleet foxes. eeeeep!
gillian welch. meh.
cold war kids. eeeep!
so homesick :( and fluish. pity party deluxe.
seeing 6 weeks of planning and team work come together for the 20x20 event. so much fun and so proud my girls narda and asal. go team austin!
publishing clients stories and seeing their gratitude, one client was moved to tears when he read what i wrote. wow. what an honour.
pecan street festival and buying amazing artwork from the artist himself.
more world cup rugby.
editing pics for photo comps. hold thumbs!
bonding with the p'nut {pronounced puh-noot} the audacious {it's a black cat for those who may not be acquainted with his winning personality and loving charm. he sometimes sleeps on my bed}
so grateful for good things happening in the lives of those i love. much to rejoice. 

x

quotable quote

{source}