Mid.Week.

 ~
His back is hunched with the music of the ages,
His fingers dance, like spiders over a web,
Weaving the notes into a melody so gossamer-fine,
That it falls from the stage and over us all
~

Another atrocious effort in terms of every-day-blogging.

Over the last few days, I've been grateful for a very, very impressive piano recital, as pictured, some very deep conversations about the past and the future, mushrooms, a nostalgic playlist, understanding math and chemistry, and just, people. People that I appreciate and enjoy being around. Right now there aren't many, but grass people? I love you dearly.

Goodnight, all. The due-on-Monday Chemistry calls to me.
Lise xx

" Life is there to be lived, and anyone who doesn't live it is missing somethin'."

Quote of the day from Grandad Mal, almost 70. A lovely gathering was had today for his 70th birthday, and this was what he said to me as we all got in the cars to leave after packing up and locking up the venue.

Today I was grateful for the people in my life. For my wacky family [planking in the park?!], and the people that I count as my true friends, as well as for the generally nice people who are sharing the world with us, even the ones I don't know very well. As I grow up, I'm finally coming to realise that you don't need to be liked by everyone, you don't need to be friends with people who anger you or are careless with your trust, and it doesn't matter if you can count your best friends on one page, one hand or one finger. The ones who you truly trust and love are worth so, so much more than the ones you smile awkwardly at in the hallways. I'm learning and working on this, and it brings me joy to be around just the people who really do care and who I really do care about. I'm lucky to have some amazing people in my life and I hope you all know how much I love you.

This has turned into a bit of a ramble.

I was also grateful today for the kindness and generosity of strangers. I am an entrant in the Maize Queen Quest this year and part of that is that we have to sell Art Union tickets. My uncle works away, in a mine and offered to take a book of tickets with him to sell to his workmates. I appreciated the offer but didn't expect much, as these men didn't know me and the prize is $2000 to spend on the Tablelands, a way away from where they are. But when the tickets and money from that book were returned to me today, there was almost $40 more than there should have been in the bag and my uncle explained to me that they'd all thrown in a little extra when they bought their tickets. I felt so very grateful for these men's generosity, and ended up writing out extra tickets for all of them :)

So, I had a very grateful day. A nice start to the week.

I love and appreciate you all. I really, really do.
I can't express it through these simple letters on your screen, but you're wonderful.
Lise xx

Some Inconvenient Weather.

Grateful for a somewhat epic weekend at Rere's, staying over Friday night :) Supposed to be filming for her Film TV and New Media assigment, but very few of the outdoors shots got done due to the drizzly weather. Grateful, however, for all the fun in between. For an awful lot of coffee and pancakes of a rubbery consistency that were nonetheless delightful with jam, dressing up as a cheerful corpse, photos, tomato sauce in the hair, a froggy not-really-rescue, big shirts, ridiculous breakfast serenades about nothing in particular, hoodies, a bus trip, standing under a coat in the rain, sitting on the fence, tying our sleeves together, Charlie the all-knowing dog, and many other bizarre and fantastic things. Rere, Jarrah and Becca, you are all such very rad people and I am so immensely grateful for each of you :)
All my love,
Lise xx

Hello, Thursday.

Grateful for a comforting cup of tea, a teary night at dancing, a silly and drizzly lunch time and the excitement and adventure of setting up my Biology experiments, which generally involved climbing through paddocks and under fences, unlocking and relocking seven gates and generally becoming damp and disgruntled. Grateful, so grateful, for 'Warren the Wonderful' and all his help with my setting up and finding equipment. As well as for his lovely conversation :)

Grateful for Internet-bought dresses for the Maize Queen Quest which arrived in the mail today! Only minor alterations needed, veryvery pleased :) also for a lift to dancing from Miss Annie in her little red car! Nice to chat with her and Helen :)

Looking forward to filming and chilling this weekend with Rere, Becca and Jarrah, as well as Grandad Mal's 70th birthday party :) 

Much love, so much love. For all of you, really, truly.
Lise xx

Birthday :)

Happy Birthday, Mum :)

Grateful for another chilly day of QCS practice tests, or rather, grateful that they're over. Grateful for a family gathering for the birthday and an afternoon nap.

Night! Sorry its short tonight.
Lise xx

I Know Some Crazy Ladies...

Grateful for silliness and strawberries and mathematical success.

A very long and draining day in the hall for our practice QCS test. Not too bad, but not the best fun I've had :)

A wonderful, random, silly time with Remy, Jordan, Talia and Grace at the studio tonight. Must be their post-ballet exam stress being released, or something ;) lots of fun, anyway :)

Best be off to bed. Mamma's birthday tomorrow!
Lots of love.
Lise xx

A different perspective.

We all need one sometimes. Sometimes it comes from other people - they are better at telling you when you're wrong than you'll ever be, so listen sometimes. We all need occasional constructive criticism to try and be better people, and I'm grateful for the people who are brave enough to give it.

Grateful, too, for a [very long] afternoon nap, curled up in the sun, a fairly successful day at school, an English lesson of sitting in the sun and chatting and discussing the Maize Queen Quest with two other entrants and not reading Othello. :) The usual hilarious and inappropriate banter in Ancient History, a lunch time shaking test tubes in the lab and the other eating rice snacks in the sun. All in all, an easy going and pleasant day. I hope yours was as relaxed a Monday as mine was :)

All my love, you pretty people.
Lise xx