Just another suburban Saturday...

Around 100,000 litres of oil from the cyclone-stricken Pacific Adventurer have washed up on the shores of Moreton and Bribie island and parts of the Sunshine Coast.

The areas have been declared disaster zones and state and federal authorities are responding, while the maritime watchdog is investigating the spill.

Charges may be laid over what Premier Anna Bligh says could be "the worst environmental disaster Queensland has ever seen".

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25179213-952,00.html

What an environmental nightmare. It’s a disaster on so many levels – but I had a WTF moment when a news reader reporting this on the TV news asked the question ….“But how will this affect Easter prawn (shrimp) supplies?” Yes - let’s all forget about saving the waterways, the sea life, the beaches and tourism – what will people eat at Easter for god sake???? Hmmm…I often believe people care more about their stomach than the world at large.

Australia needs to stop thinking of New Zealand as the "cousin at the party who's got the short trousers" and treat their neighbour more seriously, a leading historian says.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5389034

Why do people – academics especially – have to over analyse everything? Yes, yes, they probably have stuff all to do and have to justify their existence or whatever grant they are on – but the fact is – ask any Aussie - we consider New Zealanders mates. This is a bond that was forged over hundreds of years and solidified in WW1 with the ANZACs (Australian New Zealand Army Corp) in places like Gallipoli. It is a bond that can never be broken. If you cannot be Aussie then be a Kiwi. And the thing with Aussies is if we like you then we will take the piss* and tease the hell out of you. If we don’t then we’re just polite. The Aussie-Kiwi bond of friendship is so solid between our two countries that no other country could step in and take its place. And duh, of course large countries with small populations, isolated as we are, will look North for trade and to make alliances….hello…no brainer alert.

John Curtin – a very smart Aussie Prime Minister during WW2 – realized the value of an alliance with the USA. Before, our ties had always been with Blighty. I forever admire John Curtin. Why? Because in WW2 when the Japanese army was in Papua New Guinea and knocking on our door to invade, he basically told the wanker war machine in Britain – who considered Oz expendable - to bugger off - that Australia would not be sending more troops to the middle east but bringing our men back home to defend Australia in PNG. That was a huge call to make back then. Up until then we had never told the likes of Winnie Churchill to bugger off – officially that is - before but after the horrendous debacle in Gallipoli (read Gallipoli by Les Carlyon) we suspected Britain could not organize a piss up in a brewery at that time.

Anyway – back to the topic…Kiwis are our cousins. We love ‘em and we tease each other. Maybe this academic should look at another question like where does the other sock go in the washing.

*Piss off – please leave me alone now
Taking the piss - teasing
Pissed – can mean both drunk and angry
Blighty - Britain

Remember to check out the contest below – still time to enter and as always I am agog at the amount of entries – thank you…

www.amarindajones.com
Go Ahead : Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Urban Goth…

Currently, I look like Morticia Adams. I couldn’t find time to go to the hairdresser to have my normal red streaks so I thought – 'bugger it – I’ll whack a packet colour through my hair until next month.' The colour I chose – copper brown. The colour result – dark-oh-my-god-what-the-hell-have-you-done-brown? Lovely. It will eventually fade of course but the looks I have been getting are priceless. I have the whole gothic deal going on at the moment. And, you know, the thing is this is probably the closest I have ever been to my natural colour – which I suspect – going by my eyebrows is dark brown. I say suspect because I can’t exactly remember as I have been dying my hair various colours since Billy was a pup (that’s a long time in Aussie speak).

The comments have been – "wow – those are nice earrings" (translation = what the hell has she done to her hair?) to “trying something new?” To which I like to look vague as if I don’t understand what they mean and then they become uncertain as to whether what they think has changed has really changed or not. One must have some fun in life. So, the moral of the story? Obvious – no matter how rushed you are do not believe the colour on the side of the box and if you wear black with dark hair then you will look more scary than normal – bonus.

Dear Friend, (PRIVATE/CONFIDENTIAL).I am Mr Peter Nouri bank manager of B.O.A Bank in Burkina faso.I would like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of 14,000,000 M Dollars. I will like you to stand as the next of kin to my late Descease customer Mr.Sheu Yuan-dong whose account is presently dormant for claim. urgent

The B.O.A Bank in Burkina Faso seems to be very, very busy at the moment. I get a lot of these and frankly I wasn’t aware I could be related to so many people. As far as I know, there no Shen’s in the Jones family. But we’re a dodgy lot. And is Mr Shen dead or just ill? And what’s an M dollar? Is it ‘M’ as in Monopoly dollars? Can I buy a couple of hotels in Mayfair and still have change to buy an electric company? And where the hell is Burkina Faso – yes - Africa but where? Have a burning desire to know? Click here. It states in this article they started out as hunter gatherers…seems nothing much as changed.

Contest – see wonky picture on blog below… The deal – very, very hard question…go to www.amarindajones.com and tell me the name of one the other Janet books listed there – then email me on amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au. The first 2 correct answers drawn at random will win the prize. The contest closes Monday 16th March at midnight – cause it always sounds more dramatic – EST USA time. Go for it.

www.amarindajones.com
Go Ahead : Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Pushing Fate

Pushing Fate - by moi

Ainslie Croft is a dreamer. The problem is her dreams aren’t pleasant. Ghosts haunt her asking for help. When she crashes into a dream where one man is running from her and another towards her, Ainslie knows her life is about to change forever. But can she overcome the emotional and physical scars to let anyone into her life?

Ramsay Balfour is a man on a mission. He has to find an evil necromancer and destroy his power. Ramsay also plans to seduce Ainslie back into the land of the living by teaching her how to love again.

I have a book released today – Pushing Fate at Cerridwen Press. Yes, you can click on the cover to buy. What’s that you say? You’re not Janet Davies. I am too. I am both Janet and Amarinda but people tend to know me more as Amarinda. We’re one and the same. There is no difference. One of us writes mainstream romance and the other erotica. If I am in trouble I blame one or the other. It’s very handy at times. It’s not me – it’s her – she’s the bad one. You’re never alone when you have a pen name…

So - Pushing Fate – we do it everyday by taking a chance, a risk – we tempt fate to take us on and do its worst. I wrote this book based on a dream – ah, dreams – useful things those. I was going to write it as a new age spiritual thing but I discovered I don’t have a spiritual bone in my body – just the usual jaded ones I’ve had for years so I went with what I knew.

There is a contest…and I took a photo – see below - sure it’s wonky but at 4am in the morning the world is wonky. Shut up and tell you what and how you could win? Sure.

The stuff – bought on my travels in Melbourne, Australia - 1 XL T-shirt, a pop up snow globe (I love these), a boxing kangaroo pen, a kangaroo road sign to confuse people especially if you aren’t an Aussie, an Amarinda cap, a pen set that has – wait for it - souvenir nail clippers – laughed my arse off when I saw those - and a packet of Tim Tams. Why? Because you need something delicious to eat when you read the e-book copy of Pushing Fate you may win.

The contest – very, very hard question…go to www.amarindajones.com and tell me the name of one of the other Janet books listed there – then email me on amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au. The first 2 correct answers drawn at random will win the prize. The contest closes Monday 16th March at midnight – cause it always sounds more dramatic – EST USA time. Go for it.

www.amarindajones.com
Go Ahead : Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

You and me against the world…

“Miranda…”
“It’s Amarinda.
“And what a lovely name for a lovely lady. What I’m trying to make you understand is I’m not doing this job to make my boss or the company money, I’m doing this job for great people like you who want a good, honest deal. I’m fighting on your side against my boss. This is all about what you want Amanda.”
“I see Bert.” (translation = you are full of crap)
“It’s Brett.”
“Oh really? You look like a Bert.”
“My friend, you can call me anything you like because it’s you and me against them.”
“Uh huh…” Pardon me while I laugh my arse off.

So I have been torturing, er…I mean - negotiating with car salesman. I’m upgrading Ida, my car. I’ve had her for 6 years and it’s time to move her on to calmer pastures as she is just about to pass her warranty period. I did explain this to her. She said nothing. I feel Ida’s silence means she understands and agrees with me. We’re very sympatico – it’s almost like a Zen type relationship we have. The car is calm and I’m not – very yin-yang. Anyway – enter the Bert’s- er – Brett’s of the world. Lordy they be full of crap. The expression ‘don’t pee on my head and tell me it’s raining’ came to mind a lot listening to Bert/Brett. What is it with car salesman? Lone woman comes into a dealership. He makes a judgment. Average, by herself and probably knows stuff all about cars so I’ll flatter her some and tell her a load of bollocks to make her buy. Yeah, I’m average to look at – it works in my favour – ever notice that people like Bert/Brett never expect the average people to arc up and turn on them? So, I listened to him crap on, worked out by his body language and the careless info he slipped that - A – they were desperate for sales and - B – Ida was a damn good car as a resale. Then I told him what I wanted – “And no, this is not a you and me thing – it’s all about me. I’m not here to piss around Bert.”

Did I go with Bert/Brett? Oh hell no. I’m not leaving Ida with him. I used what Bert/Brett had said and made a better deal with the next car salesman. It made me wonder – do the Bert/Brett’s go home and think – ‘bloody hell I talked some rot today’ or are they like that in real life? Quiet scary. But then so am I when I want something. Do I feel bad Bert/Brett lost a sale? No - that’s life and I know he will sucker someone else without being sorry for the tactics he uses. Life is a game – we all know that – play it whatever way you have to.

The new car – it’s going to be a purple-blue colour…the name – unknown as yet. It arrives in a week. Then I will look the car in the headlights and a name will come to me. Thankfully I have managed to un-stick the Best of Chris Isaak CD from the CD player…whew…well who knew you had to use a pin number to re-set up the radio/CD after the battery was replaced? Oh sure, there’s a car manual but no one reads those...

Just a reminder…I have a contest coming up tomorrow – Thursday 12th March. What’s up from grabs? Check it out tomorrow…I’ll have taken the picture by then….

www.amarindajones.com
Go Ahead : Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Well, bloody hell…

Last night on Channel 7 Mr Rudd dropped the word "shit" as he spoke to sacked Pacific Brands workers about the Government's decision to spend billions stimulating the economy.

"People have to understand that, because there's going to be the usual political shit storm, sorry, political storm, over that," he said.

His comments were applauded by the audience.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5377728

Does the opposition party in Australia think the Prime Minister swore to appeal to people who are losing their jobs and will lose their jobs? Of course they do. They’re only pissed they didn’t think of it before Kevin did. The thing with Kevin, as with all good pollies (politicians) – be they Barack or…um…well, I’m sure there are others – they appeal to the masses – the everyday people who think ‘well, he’s a good bloke, I think I’ll vote for him.” They have street credibility – they reckon they could have a beer and a chin-wag with them (chat). That’s the name of the political game – balance that with good advisors and a family pet dog and the required cute kids and bingo – you have a leader. Did Kevin say ‘shit’ to appeal to voters? Maybe he did. What’s wrong with speaking to appeal to his audience? Doesn’t everyone judge who their listeners are and speak accordingly?

Swearing is now so much a part of the general everyday vernacular whether anyone likes it or not. People swear. And no, swearing is not pleasant to hear but it happens because people are human and in a dismal economic period with people facing ruin and hardship a skilled leader is hardly going to pat them on the head and say ‘Never mind old fellow, begging is a noble profession – I’m sure I read something in the bible about the meek inheriting the earth – after I'm finished with it of course - now here’s a fiver – smile for the camera with me - and now be on your way as I am off to a corporate lunch with the hoi polloi who just fired your blue collar arse.’ So Kevin swore. Stone the bloody crows. Let’s impeach him for saying shit. It’s the least of our problems. The thing is times are tough and we are indeed embroiled in a shit storm. Tell it like it is and worry about who scored what points later when the economy is better…that’s pretty much a bloody no brainer to me.

This story was immediately followed by…

Man wrestles kangaroo in Canberra home

"My initial thought when I was half awake was: it's a lunatic ninja coming through the window," Mr Ettlin said on Monday.
"It seems about as likely as a kangaroo breaking in."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5378019

Look – if you haven’t been to Oz you really need to book a ticket and come on down under – it’s all happening here – though I would advise against wrestling ninja kangaroos as they will tear your hide off and if they come through the window make sure you wearing more than your undies.

www.amarindajones.com
Go Ahead : Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Just plain wrong...

A senior Vatican cleric has defended the excommunication of the mother and doctors of a nine-year-old girl who had an abortion in Brazil after being raped.

He also said the accused stepfather would not be expelled from the church. Although the man allegedly committed "a heinous crime ... the abortion - the elimination of an innocent life - was more serious".
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5375029

OMG…this is a nine year old girl who could have died giving birth to these twins and all this church can say is she should have taken her chances that she or the babies would have lived. And what about her innocence? And why wasn’t the rapist – a criminal - expelled from the church? Absolute frigging disgusting. Men in frocks making the rules when they have no concept of the real world? Condemning a nine year old for having another chance at life? For a mother to want more for daughter? For doctors to care? Great little world they’ve got going there. You know I’m not religious but my understanding of faith and humanity is somewhat different to this skewed version. Rape is rape and no matter what any church or any state says it’s never going to change nor can it ever be acceptable and pedophiles should be shot. Good on the mother. She has more sense and strength of character than any do-gooder who can quote a passage in a book and to validate hypocrisy. It’s just disgusting what some people think they can justify. It just makes me so angry and sad that this child is denied her faith and innocence and being punished for being helpless.

www.amarindajones.com

Go Ahead : Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Navel gazing…

So, I was talking to a friend today and we were discussing those times in your life when you just want to be quiet and reflect on your thoughts and not deal with other people intruding. You know those times…call it ‘me’ time…call it whatever you like. It’s a time when you want to not think about anyone else’s problems but what’s on your mind, in your heart, in your soul – where you want to go, be and feel. I think it’s an essential need of all humans to say to people “piss off and leave me alone – I am going to stare at my navel for as long as I have to and no you can’t join in. This is about me – not you. I deserve time alone.”

But then what do you do with people who won’t back off? The ones that keep asking if you’re all right? That’s nice they care. It’s good to have people like that in your life. But what if they keeping asking and each time they are a little more pissy that you won’t tell them anything? What do you do? Break your retreat to soothe them – and in affect stuffing up the reason you wanted to be quiet? Ask them to respect your silence and that you just need time to do whatever you have to? And what if they won’t? Can you tell them to back off without it being a drama? I suspect not.

So why can’t we let people be do you think? Is it something in us that makes us want to know everything about a person because we have a need to tell all about ourselves? Maybe we get so caught up in our own lives that we forget to respect the needs of others even though they keep telling us over and over they’re fine. And yes, you’re right, some people aren’t fine. We all know of someone who was so not fine that they made terrible, irrevocable choices. It’s a hell of a balancing act isn’t it? Be there to listen but don’t smother the person who asks for a couple of hours quiet time. How do you know when someone’s fine but not fine? Well, you don’t do you? I think you have to trust your judgment and hope for the best - be there when they call, drop the odd email to see if they want to talk but basically understand there are times people need to be quiet.

Just pondering on individuality and respect.…

www.amarindajones.com
Go Ahead : Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?