November 2001

29 - No, I'm not dead
24 - Another day, another failed clomid cycle
16 - A win or two
15 - Congratulations
14 - Elevator Music
13 - Ovulation Day
10 - Bitter and Twisted
09 - Getting past the Door Bitch
06 - We interrupt this study session
04 - Don't give up on me

Dressed to impress - Wayne Cooper eat your heart out!

A $1 x 5 Day

Friday, 30 November 2001

I'm wearing a black skirt with three box pleats. I bought it and doctored the inside of the pleats. They're lined with shiny black satin now, so when I walk you get hints of shimmer. I also took the hem up a good 5 inches. It's so cool. I feel like I could be a catwalk model in this little number,... it's like something Wayne Cooper would cook up. I'm proud of myself. Yeah.

So I need an excuse to wear this skirt. So we're going into the Casino to partake of one of their silly little under-publicised public transport deals. If you travel to the Casino via public transport, and you join membership rewards  (which is free) you can buy a dinner deal for $10.00. The dinner deal includes a two course meal, 5 x $1 coins for the pokies (or to put back in your purse and be on your way) and a free bus/train ticket for next time. Pretty cool, huh?

So it's a bit of a scam,... we take the train to work so we've got the ticket anyway. But, they've got us suckered. Mr D. is a blackjack legend,... I just muck about on the 1c pokie machines. Unfortunately they're the hardest ones to get a seat at. Everyone wants to play the 1c machines. It's risk management.

I better go now. I've got a skirt to show off.

Web: destinationdigest.tripod.com
Mail: destinationdigest@lycos.com
About:  Mrs Destination

By the way, the contents of this site is © Mrs Destination 2001, Alright?

You're vaulting with Aussie pole vaulter, Dmitri Markov.

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No, I'm not dead

A $17.00 x 8 (minus tax) Day

Thursday, 29 November 2001

I thought I'd better write seeing as some of you are getting concerned for my wellbeing. Yes, I'm still alive. Yes, I'm still at that yukky temp assignment. They've asked me to stay until 21 December.

Bugger.

I was soooo looking forward to a couple of weeks off. But now it's all work, work, work and Christmas shopping in my lunch breaks. Mr D. and I will be spending the two weeks of his holidays (ie. 21 December onwards) patching up the cracks in our house and repainting it. We want to put it on the market as soon as we can, and we've come to the conclusion that it would be impossible to sell with the subsidence cracking in its current state.

Maybe, some time in January (after all the spak-filling and painting's done) I'll get a few days to sleep in and relax before it all starts again.

Uni results are out on 7 December. I can only wonder how I went. I have to do my re-enrolment forms for USQ pretty soon. I don't even know what I did with them!

It's late. I'm tired. Getting up early and rushing off to the city is knocking me about. I'm out of shape. I've gone soft,... Not that I *ever* was very good at mornings,.... [sigh]

About the fertility,...Yes, I ovulated. No, I didn't get pregnant. It looks like I'll be having this cycle off and then I'll be going on the clomid again next cycle.

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Another day, another failed Clomid cycle,...

An I want my money back Day

Saturday, 24 November 2001

My joy at finishing my last exam on Tuesday was short lived because I began a temp assignment on Wednesday. Urk. I shouldn't complain, the money's good,... but I am incredibly glad it's only a two week assignment.

It's been a crap week one way and another. The only highlight was on Tuesday night. As a way of celebrating the end of semester, we went out in search of venues with Carlton Draught on tap. Yes, we know they're everywhere in Melbourne, but Brisbane has no taste in beer. So, after about four pubs and no luck, we decided to drink at the Jubillee. Talk about a blast from the past,... this was my old watering hole in my Queensland Transport days. I went on a great nostalgia trip, telling Mr Destination about an office Christmas party when some guy from School Transport stripped down to his underpants and jumped into a huge esky full of icy water. He was hardly drunk and we couldn't work out why he did it. I guess it was a hot day.

It was good to know that the Jube hasn't changed a bit in five years. We drank Guinness out the back and played a game of pool with a half broken pool cue.

After that, we wandered down the street towards Asia House, the best Chinese Restaurant known to man, and what do you know? We passed a new place called "The Virginian", very American, very big. But it had a sign out the front listing all the beers they have on tap and what do you know? They have Carlton Draught. And not only that, they were showing the Australia / Uruguay World Cup Qualifier live on the big screen. It was very tempting to go in there and drink all night, but it was a school night.

So we had a wonderful feed at Asia House and then went home. I was adventurous and had things off the menu that I'd never tried before. This is very unlike me,... I usually have the same thing every time. So I had Short noodle soup, followed by diced fillet steak with black pepper. Mmmmm.

I managed to endure the first three days of my temp assignment and now I have a weekend to relax after the past couple of weeks of running. I slept in till lunch time today.

It also looks like my last cycle of Clomid failed. [sigh] I can now add more wishful pregnancy tests to the collection. I wonder if, like tears, God stores up all my failed pregnancy tests in heaven? [sigh] Anyway, I know he stores up all the preg-test associated tears in heaven. Which is just as well, cause I cry a lot every time I get another negative.

I have to ring my specialist for more instructions on Monday. I'll probably end up going on another cycle of Clomid with a higher dose.

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A win or two,...

A $49.95 Day

Friday, 16 November 2001

Hmmm. Yesterday's entry reminds me of those sitcom episodes where they reminisce and rehash the best bits of old stories. I don't know if yesterday's links were the best bits of Destination Digest,... but they're certainly up there. I've had some choice rants in my time too, but I didn't have time to hunt through the vault for those. You'll have to check 'em out yourself some time.

Anyway, back to my wins. Yeah,... you win some, you lose some, huh? I am so annoyed with plus size boutiques for not giving us cuddly bears something funkadelic to wear. I mean, in comparison to those skinny-mini shops, we are forced to wear elasticised plain polyester tents. Forgive me if I'm not overly thrilled. I am, after all, only slightly in the plus size bracket and the memories of normal shops are still there hanging in my wardrobe. I can't bear to give them to the Salvos.

So, in another fit of disgust, I went to Lincraft to look through pattern books. Whilst browsing through the plus size section of the pattern books, I was equally disgusted. I flipped to the front of the book in a fit of rage and realised something amazing. Simplicity and Butterick do almost all their normal patterns in my size. This came as a surprise to me because I thought they'd be split up in the same way that dress shops are,... but no. They're all available in sizes 18+ up to around 24. Granted the plus size section does bigger sizes than that,... but I don't need them anyway.

I'm so happy because this means that if I see a nice dress or something in one of the pattern books, I can make it for myself. Sewing clothes for myself is a good thing, although it is a bit of a hassle. As long as I stick to the easy patterns I'm fine.

Having said that, I'd still like to see one of Australia's really good designers do a fashion range in the 18 - 24 size range.

I challenge the Australian Fashion Industry to make us cuddly bears look funky and cool!

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Congratulations

A $1,000 Day

Thursday, 15 November 2001

Some time in the past 24 hours Destination Digest had its thousandth visitor. Whoever you were,... thank you so very much. I have finally made it into four figures. I almost look popular now. I admit, I will never attain the epic proportions of Uncle Bob and his Army, or the cool profitability of Disgruntled Housewife. But hopefully, in some small way, I've made a difference in your life.

Perhaps you would never have known what a 'sarnie' is, unless you had read my entry on 17 May. Or maybe you've never popped bubble wrap on the web? Well, you should read my 21 June entry. And did you ever go to a funky Brisbane dress-code-free club called "Mass" back in the early 90's? Read all about it here. Perhaps you never read all about my medical condition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in my 22 April entry (a.k.a the what-Jesus-has-done-in-my-life entry).

See,... there is so much to learn here at Destination Digest. Thanks for dropping by. (-:

PS: Did you listen to my Fonzie sound wave on 15 September?

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Elevator Music

A $1,000,000 Day

Wednesday, 14 November 2001

This little entry is just a little something that someone e-mailed me. It should keep you amused while you're waiting for me to finish studying for this silly psychology exam.

TO WOMEN EVERYWHERE FROM A MAN WHO'S HAD ENOUGH: 

• If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We refuse to answer.

• Learn to work the toilet seat. If it's up, put it down.

• If you won't dress like a Victoria's secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

• Birthdays, Valentines, and anniversaries are not quests to see if we can find the perfect present yet again!  

• If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

• Sometimes, we're not thinking about you. Live with it. 

• Don't ask us what were thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as navel lint, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks. 

• Sunday=sports. It's like a full moon or the changing tides. Let it be. 

• Shopping is not a sport, and no, we're never  going to think of it that way.

• When you have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really, you have enough clothes. You have too many shoes.

• Crying is blackmail.

• Ask for what you want. Let's be clear on this one:  subtle hints don't work. Strong hints don't work. Really obvious hints don't work. Just say it! 

• No. We don't know what day it is. We never will.

• Mark anniversaries on the calendar.

• Peeing standing up is more difficult. We're bound to miss sometimes.

• Most guys own three pairs of shoes-what makes you think we'd be any good at choosing whicn pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?

• Yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers to  almost every question.

• Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriend is for.

• A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor. 

• Foreign films are for foreigners.

• Check your oil.

• It is neither in your best interest nor ours to take the quiz together. No, it doesn't matter which  quiz. 

• Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. All comments become null and void after 7 days.

• If something we said can be interpreted in two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

• You can either tell us to do something or tell us how to do something but not both.  

• Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

• All men only see in 16 colours. Peach is a fruit, not a colour. 

• Beer is as exciting for us as handbags are for  you.

• If we ask what's wrong and you say "nothing",We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you're lying, but it's just not worth the hassle.

• What the hell is a doily?

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Ovulation Day

A $1,000,000 Day

Tuesday, 13 November 2001

I've been out on a library adventure because I've got the car at home today. Cooleo. I jump out of the car and am outside bringing in the washing when Mr Destination comes out to greet me. He says there's a message from my doctor on the machine.

It says:

"I've received the results of your serum progesterone test. Yes, you have ovulated. Everything looks good. If you don't have a period in a week, take a pregnancy test"

Do you know this is quite possibly the first cycle in my entire life that I have ovulated? There are twelve year olds out there getting pregnant, and I am just having my first ovulatory cycle. Yes, I know, I know,... it's a medical condition. But that still doesn't make me feel less inadequate.

Nonetheless, I am stoked. Stoked, I tell ya!

Phwoar. I ovulated. This will be something to tell the grandkids.

Happy Ovulation Day.

I think you should all have eggs for dinner on 13 November every year, to celebrate the day that Mrs Destination found out that she ovulated. 

That's half-way there. Sheesh! You can't get pregnant without ovulating. Trust me on that one.

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Bitter and Twisted

Give me my money back

Saturday, 10 November 2001

I'm bitter and twisted for two reasons tonight. Firstly, I was all set to watch 'The Nation Dumps' with Roy and HG on Channel 7 when all our 'Election Fever' party participants insisted on watching the very boring, very proper Ray Martin version on Channel 9 with the sound down while we watched Jay & Silent Bob on the computer. Secondly, John Howard has been returned to rule our wide-brown land for another three years. @#$%.

I think Beazley was right when he said "A vote for Howard is a vote for Costello". I can not stand the thought of Peter Costello ruling Australia.

So here I sit, at1:20am, bitter and twisted about a frikkin' consumption tax that I had no part in voting for,... and the prospect of a government that treats boat people like common criminals.

The Howard Government's treatment of boat people makes me embarrassed to be Australian. I am aware that the boat people problem is increasing at a phenomenal rate, from one or two boats a year in 1993, to one or two boats a week in 2001. We could blame Indonesia for their plethora of 'people smugglers'... or we could look at the bigger picture. The vast increase in people seeking asylum in Australia must mean that there are serious problems in their countries of origin. A responsible Australian Government would take these people into our country, attempt to integrate them into our lifestyle and make diplomatic efforts to solve problems in their homes.

I've criticised America in the past for it's "interfering" nature. I've bagged the way they get involved in other people's business. But, I think that a little diplomatic involvement in the boat people's lost homes could help improve the unbearable environment that has forced people to spend their life savings on a boat trip to Australia. We could take a little example from USA in terms of diplomatic "interference" in other countries' business.

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Getting past the Door Bitch

Another $9.95 day

Friday, 9 November 2001

I haven’t written much for a while. I’ve been dealing with distraction again. Life will disappear before my eyes if I’m not careful. The latest Queensland Writers Centre newsletter has had timely coverage of information for late starting writers. Isn’t it ironic that I now consider myself a late starter? I’ve known all along that I was meant to write… I feel like I’ve been robbed. Satan’s robbed me of the best years of my life and I bet he’s proud about it too.

I feel similar about childbirth. I’ve been robbed of at least 3 or 4 years with my children. That is time I will never receive with my kids…

I think of that scripture about the Lord restoring the years the locusts have eaten and it breaks my heart. How can I believe that? Is it possible to have time restored? Perhaps it gets added to the end of your life?

My logical mind just can not see how miracles can possibly occur. I know they do occur. I’m not denying that I’ve seen God work miraculously. It’s just that at this time in my life, in my circumstances, I’m struggling to see where and how things can change. I want to hold on to scriptures. I really want to cover myself with them, like blankets, but how? How on earth can I do that? I feel like there’s nothing to hold onto but words… and those words don’t seem to be enough.

Back on planet Earth…

You only need to survive life one second at a time. You only need to make it through this moment. Words are enough for the present. The future is not in your hands, neither is the past. Get it through your THICK FUCKING SKULL!!!!

And get on with it and become a writer. You’ve got work to do.

Motivation is low. It should be high but it isn’t. I know what my story is, but how do I tell it? The answer floating around my mind is “One word at a time”.

I know, I know. I read hundreds of things and think, “I could do better than that!” So why don’t I? I haven’t even been able to write in my online journal or reply to millions of emails lately.

One step forward
two steps backward
I won’t wrestle
you won't talk back
three deep breaths
I’m still alive and brilliant
alive and brilliant
alive and brilliant
Deb Conway

I try and find some comfort in the fact that some of Australia’s best writers didn’t get published until their sixties eg. Elizabeth Jolley, Margaret Scott. Even Peter Carey didn’t get published until his forties.

It’s not comforting. It pisses me off to think that I might have to wait another 10 years. I know it’s up to me to make it happen,… but I feel so fucking helpless. The writing industry is so foreign to me, and the few people I do know in it are so pretentious, they’re embarrassing! I can’t stand to be associated with them.

One of them got hold of the microphone at an industry session at the Writer’s Festival and I was just cringing. I was thinking, “I don’t know you, lady. I so don’t know you!” I can’t believe I bought a copy of her book and got her to sign it for my sister.

So how do I crack into this industry? Well, first, I need to come up with at least three decent chapters of my first book. I need three squeaky clean, high-fibre, refreshing, funky supermodel chapters. Then, I need an equally thrilling book proposal.

Then… [sigh] I need the hide of an elephant and the poetry of Shakespeare for all those important phone calls to receptionists of publishing houses. All the while, I’ll be reminding myself that I used to be a receptionist, and I too, wielded this kind of power over people seeking King Gee Workwear.

Receptionists are very powerful individuals.

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We interrupt this study session,...

A $9.95 day

Wednesday, 6 November 2001

We interrupt today's wonderful psychology study session to bring you the following blurb.

I stopped work for a Beauty and the Beast lunch break. It was a great show today, there was a lawyer having a screaming hissyfit, and then Lisa Wilkinson started crying. It was about as exciting as my day gets,... fully worth $9.95.

Anyway, the purpose of interrupting today's very rewarding study schedule, was for me to have a rant. 

Yesterday, I decided to have a day off between exams. I went into the city and hit the shops. It was great,... until I started looking into the plus size boutiques. 

Not that these stores actively design for bigger women, but whoever it is that designs the clothes in the plus size boutiques must think we all want to dress in tents!

Sheesh.

There is an abundance of tunic style tops that touch the shoulders and then hang like a couple of curtains from the boobs. Skirts are elasticised, knee-length and straight in boring black, navy and pastels. Pants are elasticised in regular and capri lengths in fabrics only your grandma would be happy with.

I went looking for something a little younger, and something that would show a little bit of my body in a flattering way. Is that so hard?

I think these designers are convinced that we want to hide ourselves behind huge pastel coloured sheets. The concept that we might actually want to reveal, some cleavage, legs, or heaven forbid, our waist is absolutely foreign to all of these designers.

Check out the Charlie Brown shows from the Australian Fashion week, and you'll see Elle McFeast in all her cuddly glory showing off boobs, butt and back in a slinkly backless black dress.

I'm bitter. I'm twisted. I think I should write into Stan and the Beauties and see what they've got to say about plus size fashions!

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Don't give up on me

An "I want my money back" day

Sunday, 4 November 2001

I've been studying longer than I care to remember today. I just jumped on the computer to download some old exam papers to make sure I haven't missed something important.

Don't give up on this here sexy web-site. I'll be back and posting profusely tomorrow. Then I'll probably slow down in the lead up to the 20th of November. That's when my last exam is. So just hang in there baby,...

I can't wait for this all to be over. I can't wait for this all to be over. I can't wait for this all to be over. I can't wait for this all to be over. I can't wait for this all to be over. I can't wait for this all to be over. I can't wait for this all to be over.

[sigh]

On the upside, I have an in-depth understanding of the recent Asian economic crisis, and a pretty good background to Australia's boat people crisis. Stay tuned for more rants on fashion and boat people.

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