A revelation

One of the ways I am messed up is my pure and undying faith that I will mess up. 
(headspace TMI follows)

Fire at Betty's Bay

A well-written, understated journal of the fire this weekend. 

http://breachofpremise.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/fire-in-bettys-bay/

Dazed in the cinders. Thank cookies!

The Overberg firefighters are awesome.  Totally awesome.  I just had to say that.

So, it’s been an interesting week.  A lightning strike in the mountains set off a wildfire and we got the news that it was headed towards my parents’ and uncle’s homes on Thursday.  My folks headed that way, I babysat the dog, and we waited.  On Friday the firefighters arrived and started backburning in our area, and by early Saturday morning – I mean not-time-to-go-sleep-yet early – they were off evacuation alert.  The fire got to the fence of the house on the other side of my uncle’s – it was that close.


In the meantime, there was this suddenly-trivial thing in the background.  Called exams.  Wrote statistics this morning, which actually went ok, all things considered.  It’s not like I could focus that well on anything until I got the news on Saturday evening.


All’s well that ends well.  On to Evolution!

Sunday Snippet: 22 Ways To Avoid Bladder/Kidney Infections

I’ve noticed that there is a fair amount of practical ignorance around cystitis, urinary tract and kidney infections and other similar problems. This is just a list of small but common-sense defences. It’s a reminder for me, too (even after 15 years’ practise, I forget sometimes). I hope they help you.

I appear to be nuts

The SU chamber choir is auditioning.  They will be doing 'orrible 'orrible stuff like Beethoven's Choral Fantasia, and the J.S. Bach motet Jesu, Meine Freude (which I've did in the Bach Choir some years ago).  And I went, ooh shiny, and seriously considered it.  For more than five seconds.

Cheesum tie me up and flog me, already.  If not seriously emotionally disturbed I must be masochistic.  What part of hearing impaired do you not understand you cottage-cheese-for-brains lilyliver?

Moon

Even under this grey sky

Or behind clouds like sour milk in tea

It is good to see the floating moon

   and the serenity she brings.

My Lady, thank you.

I wish I was on yonder hill

Practical Brother's emergency has left me a little off-kilter, especially as I'm not quite 100% myself.  Also found myself counseling a couple of friends, and not being used to it and tired to boot… well.  I'm feeling particularly lonely today.

Although I share a house, and with family, it's not the same.  The family culture is pretty stiff-upper-lip and I always feel a little… disconnected.  Although there's never any doubt that we love each other.  There's just such a strong resistance to showing it.

And I really, really miss my man.  We're celebrating 12 years together this year, and having to spend the last 2 of them so far apart really sucks toxic pond slime.  It's a physical ache as well, for the countless tiny gestures that build our lives together.  Brushing his shoulder as I go past him.  Spontaneous hugs.  The sight of those awesome arms which are equally delicious hugging me or working on the latest machine or making something magic in the kitchen.  The way I feel my face light up when he walks into the room.  The way he can come up with a chirp that surprises me into a bark/cackle of laughter - and that he can still do that, 12 years on. His support and encouragement, and his need for my support and encouragement.  The way our strengths and weaknesses just… slot into each other, that we complement each other so wonderfully.  Just being so easy with each other.  And trust. 

I see it with Practical Brother and his girlfriend and boy I am jealous.

I love being at university again, and it's good being so close to my family again, and I'm deeply grateful that I had the opportunity, even though it meant moving away, and it's good being so close to my family again.  But, even so.  Lonely.