A Stepping Stone

I was reading Mamamia this afternoon and Brendan Maclean wrote about being a stepping stone to his ex-boyfriend's future. I loved this:

We guide people, change their lives for better or for worse and even if we don’t know it at the time they do the same to us. And if sharing your experience has improved life for someone else, inspired them or made becoming the person they want to be a little easier than damn it, you should be proud. After all someone was your stepping stone once, someone helped you along the way, someone gave you part of their story to tell.

Go here to read the whole article.

Singledom by Alison Berge

I am currently skimming Berge's Singledom: It's normal, so relax and came across this quote:

I want to be naked with my partner, but if they don’t remember the difference between me and a porn star, they might as well put their own dick in their eye.

Well said.

Some things

Something thoughtful

A few weeks before that, a man who works at school, and is a little off the wall, came to visit and present me with these. He said, "I have something beautiful for you."

Karli circa 2009 & Karli circa 2010

The second one is incredibly similar to my Year 9 school photo

Something to think about:

Something that made me laugh

Something bittersweet

Beautiful scenes from Hervey Bay on the day the Brisbane region was inundated by flood waters

Something that doesn't happen often

Two weeks ago my dad came to visit. He had a new, surprise tattoo. He bought me my first OPI nail polish:

We went to watch the Broncos play:

This was my second Broncos game for the year. The first one saw me watch one of my "Be My Boyfriend" crushes play:

Oh yeah, our tickets were about 150 metres above playing level. Needless to say, it wasn't quite the romantic encounter I'd imagined.

An Update

A shout out to Carole King, my Joni Mitchell, who gave me a title for this post.

I've just moved my laptop out to the deck. The view from this deck is the first thing that made me fall in love with my house.

The day I first came to look at it...

Today, from my seat at our table.

Sometimes I wish I worked from home and could sit out in the middle of the 'bush/rainforest' to write all day. Then I turn on the TV and realise my one true love is bad day time TV and would be a TERRIBLE from home worker.

This week I began holidays. As someone who works in the Independent/Catholic schools sector, my holidays begin about a week before my State school comrades. Believe me, after a killer 11 week term, I am so thankful for the extra week. Monday and Tuesday saw me complete my first Masters assignment; a 2000 word essay on leadership and management theories. It was actually quite interesting once I got into the reading but that has definitely been the most difficult thing so far, just finding time to get the reading done.

On Wednesday I set off to UQ to hand in my first assessment. I had to navigate the library and the printers. I've found my best line to get people to help is, "I'm sorry but I'm an external student and..." So far I've been really impressed with all the staff I've come in contact with. Only 19 months and that Masters shall be mine.

Yesterday I spent the day with my friend Sarah and her little baby girl Eden who is 2 months old today:

Later today I will get to hang out with my friend Amy and then tomorrow I'm off to a conference for teachers wanting to, at some point, get into leadership positions. It sounds like a really valuable and practical conference (organised by women) so hopefully it will be worthwhile.

Sunday morning, bright and early, I plan on packing my Yaris and heading four hours North to go home for a rest.

How are you? Rested?

Happiness is a Fish Taco

Sometimes all it takes to make you feel like yourself is a clean room and a delicious meal.

Tatiana at Love, Life Lace posted this recipe the other day and after eating the most amazing fish tacos at Splendour in the Grass last year, I knew I had to give them a go.

Guacamole & Lime Crema

Pico de gallo

Salted cabbage

Beer battered Snapper

The final product

As amazing as these were, I could barely get through one. I am already looking forward to having the leftovers for dinner tonight. I put everything out on the table on the deck to eat and looked out over the valley we live on top of. It is the most beautiful day.

P.S. Apologies for my absence. All I can say is this term has been a real killer.