Q: How do you define spirituality?

I’m just wondering. Today I was watching a certain talk show hosted by a certain very famous, very wealthy woman and today they (her and a panel) talked about spirituality and its importance in people’s lives. I found it quite interesting because I don’t particularly know where I stand when it comes to spirituality and how it relates to me. I’m still undecided if it is something a person needs in life; if I need it in mine. I don’t really know how I define it yet, so I guess I’m curious as to how my readers do, if at all.

So, in all seriousness, if you would like to answer that question by commenting, it would be wonderful. Alternatively, if you prefer the privacy of emailing me at purple3ivy@gmail.com, go for it. It’s a topic I am genuinely interested in knowing your thoughts on, and a part of my own life that needs exploring, so perhaps this little exercise will provoke some different thought-paths.

This is Chopper, the 10-week-old puppy that my sister and nephew have adopted from the SPCA. He’s basically awesome!

(Video with lyrics—is it ‘lyric’ or ‘lyrics’ when you are meaning the words from one song? I get confused—because I couldn’t find the official video.)

‘Digital Bath’ is from the album White Pony which was a favourite of mine in 2003. The other night I dug out the CD for a listen after not having heard it in some time—I don’t have it on my computer. I’m not very familiar with any other Deftones albums so I can’t say how it compares in that regard but whenever I listen to it I enjoy it just as much as I did at 15.

This particular song is my favourite track from White Pony. It reminds me of a dear friend and I love the lyrics, too. There are songs that will always mean something to you because you passed a milestone listening to it. Well, I literally went through a milestone to this song, so it will always hold significance for me. And I wont be telling anyone what that milestone was.

This past week has been exhausting, though I’ve not actually done that much. I have low iron again, which fortunately is not very low, but low enough to need prescribed iron pills. I’ve always had trouble retaining iron so it’s nothing new to me; it just means I get tired easily and feel a little lethargic when it’s not at a good level.

I’ve also had horrible concentration this week, but I don’t know if that’s related to the lack of iron or not. It’s just a pain because I’m back to studying and I want to be on top of things but I feel like I’m not because I have to to do it such small chunks. It’s good to take breaks, I know, but not to the extent I’ve had to this week! It’s annoying and makes me feel guilty, even though I know I shouldn’t because as long as I get some done, even if it takes me a bit longer than usual, it’s better than nothing. I think it’s also freaking me out because it makes me wonder how on earth I’m going to cope with university when I start.

But, anyway, hopefully I will perk up after some more time on these pills and cut down on coffee and energy drinks which, for the last two weeks, have been my dearest of friends.

Totally unrelated tid-bits:

• My sister and nephew are adopting a 10-week-old puppy from the SPCA. He’s a brindle Staffy cross and unbelievably gorgeous. I’m super-excited because they only live half a kilometre from me so I can steal him for walks and puppy play-time and snuggles! Best. Things. Ever. (That and my kitty-cat snuggles, of course).
• I’m thinking of retiring from The Quilting Bee. I haven’t been very active with the club for over a year and I don’t feel I have the time or inclination/excitement for it that I once had. It’s bittersweet because I’ve met some lovely people through the QBee and have had a wonderful four-and-half years, but I can’t see myself being able to dedicate the time and energy to it now. I don’t think I should be a part of something if I’m not going to put effort into it.

Once again, apologies for the lack of actual posts that contain substance and greatness and all that good stuff one likes to see in a blog. But let’s face it, this just may not be that sort of blog…

1. If your car/bike is wrecked (if your mass transit service goes belly-up), do you know what you would do to replace it, perhaps even have the car or bike you want already picked out?
I would either buy a new one or take public transport.

2. A client/friend gives you a lottery ticket, which wins you a prize worth (after taxes) ten times as much money as you earned/received last year. What will you do with it?
Seeing as how I totally made 1 million dollars last year, I am very stoked by this question! I would use the money to ensure I never have a student loan, to go on a very nice holiday, and because I’m actually kind of nice, I’d probably give some of it to, or a buy a nice gift for, the person who gave me the ticket.

3. Fight or flee?
Right now I’d flee. I’m too tired and lazy to make an effort. However, if I were not in this state, and depending on the situation, I’m likely to fight.

4. Someone performs a random act of kindness that is exactly what you need on a bad day. If you wish to pay them back, would you write a poem, bake, buy something, or what?
I would do something that I know the person would love, be it making them a meal or doing something artsy for them, etc. But we also all know that cupcakes say “thank you” better than most other things!

5. Your manager commands you to pick a charity to contribute to. Do you resist? If not, which charity would be your first choice?
I would choose the SPCA, or a Farm Sanctuary type of local charity. Or something else involving animals, probably. I just don’t care about humans.

(That last part wasn’t true, by the way).

I don’t have anything to write about, so here are two photos I took back in April, 2007 at the Howick Historical Village on one of their “live days”. It’s one of my favourite places (because we all know I was born in the wrong decade, and sometimes even the wrong century!).

Have fun, kids!

My laptop came back today! They had to replace the memory as there was some kind of fault with it. Everything is all fixed and I didn’t lose any of my stuff so I am most pleased.

I’m not doing Teaser Tuesday this week because I haven’t started any new books. I haven’t even finished Tropic of Cancer and I’ve barely touched it in the last two weeks. I just haven’t been in a reading mood, oddly. Have been spending more time staring at the ceiling while listening to music…

Tomorrow I’m not doing anything other than studying. I have a bit of catching up to do and I want to be ahead of schedule instead of behind. I don’t like rushing despite the fact I often end up waiting until the last minute to do/finish things. I work well under pressure, but I can’t help thinking the end results of my labours would be much better if I took some more time to do them.

Two posts in one day, wowee! Jeez-Louise, don’t get excited or anything…

Before I kick off Music Monday today, I just want to give a little shout-out to a friend of mine who’s been feeling a wee bit crummy lately: Darling, I’m sorry we couldn’t have coffee today, but we will sometime soon. I know I haven’t known you for ages, and that I don’t know you as if we’re BFFs or anything, but you clearly rule and I think you need reminding of that fact! Please don’t let this get you down too much — you are a wonderful, intelligent, beautiful, sassy, gorgeous woman who is extremely capable of bouncing back. Much love, babe!

Ok, so, here’s my pick for this week:

I am loving this song at the moment. The whole thing is just upbeat and chirpy and good. The animation work reminds me of the 80s, which is fine even though the 80s is not my favourite decade from the 20th century…
Ladyhawke is actually from New Zealand, though I think she’s currently based in the UK. I saw an interview with her recently and thought she seemed very sweet and awesome, so hurrah for cool people.

Today my mum and I took her cousin, V, into the city to check our the Viaduct (harbor area) and then to have lunch at Char Grill. Happy falafel kebab goodness!

I decided to stay in the city while the others went over to North Shore Hospital to see V’s mother because V goes home tomorrow. I paid a visit to a second-hand store and tried on a couple of things. I didn’t end up getting either, however. Then I went to Lush and had a multiple orgasmic fit over everything they sell. I came home with Herbalism face exfoliator and a bath bubble bar. I almost got a solid perfume to get the free shower bomb if I sent $40 or more, but my card declined. FAIL. Oh well, at least I got a couple of things.

After that I wandered around some more before finally ending up in Real Groovy where I stayed until Mum and V picked me up. They have some great books, one of which was Other People’s Love Letters, an amazing collection of 150 love letters you were never meant to see; some beautiful, some sad. I actually laughed out loud flicking through this book. When I can afford to buy it, I’ll find a copy to get. Great coffee table book.

I really adored being in the city because it’s so busy and full of life. Different, too. Not like my own life right now, which is mainly boring and somewhat aggravating depending on my ability to let things go. Plus the computer/Internet situation is driving me batshit (last I heard my laptop was assigned a technician. I hope said technician can damn well fix the problem).

I was knackered when I got home as I didn’t sleep very well last night. I had an intense bout of “OMG I need to get outta here” yesterday so my head wouldn’t switch off until I drew up a rough plan of exactly how I am going to get myself into a flatting situation. I will continue refining this plan over the next few days so I have a clear mission ahead of me, because I do not want to still be living here this time next year. I would love to move out before university starts, but I don’t know how likely that will be financially, so we’ll see how I go.

All of this stuff was still weighing on me throughout today and I was feeling a little crummy until a few minutes ago. Turns out I won some Jane Austen books from an online competition I entered over at Historical Fiction! WIN! The second cool thing is something I am not 100% sure about, but there was something written that might have been directed at me? Not sure, but if it was, it totally added to my previous WIN!