GET TO THE CHOPPER

OMG I actually saw Arnold Schwarzenegger!  Actually, not even 10m away.  In the flesh.  He's in Australia doing, well I don't really know, but he came to a gym in the western suburbs to give a talk. It was a kind of, well, inspirational.  I was surprisingly in awe of Arnie, standing there, chatting away about his life.  I kept having to remind myself to listen to what he was saying because I kept getting distracted by the fact that it was Arnie!!!

We know how to welcome them in the West!

Anyway, so Arnie came to a gym near me, which is apparently the largest gym in the Southern hemisphere.  Go figure.

We only bought general admin tickets, because while I'm a huge fan, I'm not quite a VIP-$700-ticket fan.

There were about 1000 peeps in the crowd, but even then we were only 10m away from the Governator.  I took my super duper zoom lens with me, and got a few snaps of his royal Schwarzenegger-ness.

It was kind of funny to watch all the cameras and phones come out when Arnie first appeared.  I'm not making fun - I was one of them!

So I mentioned the talk was inspirational.  He gave a talk about his 5 steps to sucess, which weren't mind shatteringly novel, but coming from such an impressive figure, I found his words to be particularly weighty.  Here are his 5 steps to success, with some of the messages that particularly struck in my mind, albeit paraphrased below.

Arnie's 5 steps to success

1. Have a vision

If you don't have a vision with yourself you will just be floating.  With every rep I did, every set, I was thinking about lifting a trophy.

2. Think big

You can't fail from aiming high.  Even if you fail, as long as you get up that's not a failure. 

3. Ignore the naysayers

They told me not to be an actor because I had too many muscles, they said I looked like a monster.  They said I had a crazy accent, but it made me the perfect terminator because I sounded like a robot.

4. Work your ass off

You sleep for 6 hours, what are you going to do with the other 18 hours of your day?  Oh you want to sleep for 8 hours?  Well I sleep faster than you.

That's Danny Green there interviewing Arnie, for all you boxing aficionados. 

5. Give back

Give back to those less fortunate, share your success and it will make you happier.

Happily, he also spoke about his movies and answered some questions.  I took a short video of him talking about the formulation of his most famous line.  Danny Green was so cute totally fanboying over Arnie, describing to him his favourite scene from Commando.  (You can also hear me laugh when Danny Green says "let off some steam Bennett")

He also gave a shorter version of his steps to success:

1. have 20 inch biceps
2. have a charming Austrian accent
3. be able to kill a predator with your bare hands

Someone had an Arnie doll! 

I found him charming, very articulate, engagingly funny and really inspirational.  Arnie was extremely down to Earth, ready to make fun of himself, his 'crazy accent' and his ridiculous last name, 'what is it, Schnitzel?'  He also spoke about the importance of being happy, and only doing things which make you happy.   I'm already feeling more positive and enthused about changes I can make to contribute to my own success!

Do you have a favourite Arnie movie?  I'm a huge fan of Last Action Hero and Total Recall.  I feel an Arnie-a-thon coming on!

~Tan

P.s.  my friend showed me this video recently, and it needs to be included with this post!

What happened in March

I wanted to post this a bit more proximate to the end of the Month, but whatevs, here's my March in review:

Smashed out another two Fun Runs, 8km and 5km respectively.

Crocheted through the heat wave (it's like I keep telling you, because I'm so hard core), and shared lots of projects in progress and finished with you

Visited the Organ Pipes National Park.

Watched a bunch of movies.

Celebrated the birthdays of two sisters with a scrumptious high tea and pedicures!

Received some lovely postcards, and even started making my own!

Got totally addicted to Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.

Showed off my expanding tureen collection.

Was giften Herman the German Friendship Cake starter. 

Started my 365 project on instagram.  (Which I appreciate, I have repeated most here!)

Bought The Kitten an ENORMOUS cat tree, second hand from eBay, because previous kitty only had 3 legs and couldn't climb it!  Awwww!

Did you get up to anything awesome last month?

~Tan

five random things

I was tagged by Tecrin (aka Stefanie ;)) to tell you five random things about myself.

one

I'm totally addicted to TV.  I love TV shows so much guys, I'm addicted but really don't care.  My fave shows, in no particular order and including old and new include Bones, The Walking Dead, Rules of Engagement, How I Met Your Mother, Comic Book Men, Highway Patrol (or any show where a camera follows the cops and they pull over hoons and muzzas), Young Justice, Adventure Time, The Big Bang Theory, Burn Notice, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, Breaking Bad, 1600 Penn, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Misfits, Sherlock... I'm sure I'm forgetting heaps. 

I hate reality TV though.  That stupid thing they do where they make you wait to see if the judges liked your singing or your fruit tart or whatever until after the commercial.  Ugh life is too short. 

What's your favourite show?  Do you have any recommendations for me?

two

I get stressed out about not being able to craft as much as I like, which is dumb because craft is how I relax.  So it's a bit "Arrrgghhh I want to relax more!!"  OMG when Easter was coming up, I made myself a list of all the things I want to do... I was so upset because I didn't have time for all of them!  Wahhhhh!

three

I was named after a rag doll my Dad found on the road.  My parents didn't know what to name me, and Dad found this doll with 'Tanya' on it, and wah-lah, I had a name. 

four

This year my really big goal is to run a half marathon.  Thats 21kms, or 13.1 miles for those of you not on the metric system.  Last month I broke the 10km barrier for the first time ever.  I'm the fittest I've ever been in my life, and when I think that just 6 months ago I couldn't run even 1km I am really really proud of myself and looking forward to seeing how far I can actually go.  Maybe a whole marathon in 2014??

five

I don't believe in marraige.  I think the whole thing is a sham.  Weddings, engagements, ugh.  I am dumbfounded that people can get so obsessed over invitations, name cards, flowers.  I think the amount of time, effort and money that goes into these affairs is a joke.  I could care less about the jewellery you are choosing, and I think it's outrageous that you spent that much on a dress you are going to wear once.  I don't care that your engagement ring is bigger than hers.  Your invitations are nice, but do you realise they are going to end up in the bin?  I don't think marriage means you are going to spend the rest of your life with someone.  Aren't we all adults?  Surely you and your partner have discussed your future intentions with each other, and are mature enough to agree to be monogamous?  I abhore that the guy is expected to ask the girl, seriously?  I think it's super dumb that you act surprised, that you didn't expect it.  I've probably offended you all.  I'm not even sorry, I think it's so pointless.  Spend that money on property, or a holiday. 

That being said, I'm totally into hearing what you are doing in organising your wedding.  It's kind of like watching a train wreck. </rant>

Tagging the following people for five random things :)

1. Theo from ArcaneKnits
2. Lisa from Tea and Craft
3. Nicky from D'Nali (Intertwined: Craft & Life)
4. Ivy from Pumpkin Spins
5. Hazel from Hazel's Crochet

~Tan

Shut up brain

I could not sleep last night.  Despite turning in before 11 (very respectable I thought) I was still wide awake at 12.30.  Too many thoughts going through my head, including everything from current knitting and crochet projects to a planning a high tea. 

I thought getting that info out of my brain might help.  I remembered a tool a colleague likes to use at work, and thought it might help me in my hour of need.

Mind mapping.  Have you ever done this? 

I turned my phone on (I have it off during the night because I know how tempting it can be to play with it, but this was an emergency) and downloaded SimpleMind.

The results!

Did it work?  Kind of.  While I was happy to get a lot of this stuff down, then I was stuck thinking what other things I could add!  A bit of a vicious cycle.

Do you mind map?  I think I might do so more often, it's actually very satisfying to see all my thoughts in one place and coloured prettily.  I can definitely recommend the app I used, very intuititve and fun to do!

What happened in February

So, I was inspired by this post about journalling one's life so one does not forget how awesome they are.  I think I am awesome, so want to reiterate that point here.  I get obsessed with this lil blog o mine about having pictures with everything... I wish I could be more minimalist like Alexandra, but then again, that's just one of the things that makes me awesome!  So, what happened in February?

I participated in, and completed my first and second fun runs!

I spent a weekend detoxing with Health in Motion Fitness (seriously, click on that link just to look at Heather.  wowser).  I haven't blogged about it (trying to forget it lol) but it involved apple cider vinegar, spirulina and a whole lotta exercise.  I certainly learnt a lot, and am trying to implement more healthy options into my life, with varying levels of success.  

I watched a bunch of movies.

I finished this, this and this.  Also been working on this and this.

I had a week off work and did awesome things, like visit Hanging Rock and actually climb the rock (which is not that big a feat, it's an 1800m round trip).  I've been to the market that was held there, which was ok, but never actually did the touristy thing of just visiting before.  We visited on a fairly miserable rainy day, but the mistiness added to the supposed mysteriousness.  oOOoooooOOOo

Was at work late enough one night to witness a gorgeous sunset from the window. (Working late?  look on the bright side!)

I met my friend's kitten (finally).  (Not as cute as The Kitten, obv)

I showed you some of the cool postcards I've recently received on Postcrossing.

Attempted to get my green thumb on by making a little succulent garden.

What awesome stuff did you get up to last month?

~Tan

Naff said

I'm not fashionable, or cool.  Never have been, and I never will be.  Most might consider my taste in household goods as a bit naff.  But I wear the label proudly, because who wants to be like anyone else?

My latest naffy obsession is vegetable shaped soup tureens.   Since Christmas I have managed to acquire these two.

I know you're jealous, you can admit it. 

Do you have any of these?  Have you seen them before?  I think they are just amazing.  I nabbed the cauliflower one from the Women's Auxiliary shop down at the Hastings RSL, and the other was found in a Hastings op shop by A's mother.  The cauli is a little more detailed and refined, but the aubergine is just as charming.

I am working on expanding my collection, and hope to add at least a pumpkin and a corn tureen.  Stay tuned!

Speaking of naff, I picked this little souvenir up at David Campbell's performance last night.

Wash me up before you go go?  Oh my sides have actually split!

It's a souvenir tour tea towel!  Yes, a TEA TOWEL!!  I have never seen such merchandise ever sold at any other concert.  I had to have one.  And, most awesomely, Mr Campbell was graciously signing stuff after the show, and yes, that is his signature there.

It seems that much of Mr Campbell's audience were grannies, and then there was me.  All I have to say to that is, My Grandmotherly Ways indeed....