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Post #9: Puppies! (Part one of a zillion)

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Welcome to the ninth post of the Great Writing Challenge of 2012.
Five days a week for six months, I will be given a topic to write about. The stipulation: it must be 250 words (or more), and positive in tone.
If you would like to suggest topics for me to write about, please email me at TheRebeccaProject [at] gmail [dot] com.

Post #9: Puppies! (Post 1 of a zillion)

Today, I spent a lovely day hiking the hills in Marin with Mary and puppies Patrick and Charlie. It was a beautifully clear day, and surprisingly warm: amazing weather for winter. There were numerous times on the trail where it as not marked, or poorly marked. So what did we do? We pulled out the iPhone and Google Mapped it. For most of the walk, we could see the city, and the top of the Golden Gate, so we were not super worried. But it just made me think about how we rely and turn to technology, instead of going to visit the Visitors’ Centre to pick ourselves up a map.

So anyhoo, Patrick and Charlie were very well-behaved (hurrah for nice puppies!), and both Mary and myself oogled every dog that walked past us on the trail… which leads me to today’s topic: Puppies!

At dinner the other day, my friend, Carolyn, told me how she found her three-legged cat, Lord Nelson, on Petfinder.com. Agh! How could I not have known this site existed?! My puppy brain even sent my colleague last week the link to Howie D, a dachshund in Fremont seeking adoption, instead of the intended link to a Lexis Nexis search. Really, Bec?

I am pining for a puppy with such increasing ferocity, it’s quite alarming. However, in our current living situation, a puppy is a no-go. And I know that. The American even wrote a song about it (which,obviously, is my favourite song he has ever written):

“Puppy sale / Why do you look at me that way when you know / There is nothing I can do for you now / You’ll just have to wait a little while longer / And then maybe we can see…
It doesn’t mean I don’t feel the same as you / It’s just that I don’t think the time is cool / But if there’s a way someday I swear / that’s what we’re gonna do.”

—  ‘Puppy Sale’, by The Dhalies

I have very specific rules about what I deem appropriate behaviour for puppies. And it’s unrealistic. The American knows that and rolls with the punches. Me? Absolutely not. I realise when/if we adopt a puppy, there’s bound to be some compromises, a lot of cleaning up and I’ll need to learn infinite patience. But I cannot and will not have the dog in bed. Couch? Fine. But the dog will know that I am the one in charge and I am impervious to cute puppy eyes. I’m an Ice Queen. And I can imagine the American to spoil the puppy rotten when I’m at work, letting it have the run of the house. Sigh.

When I say I want a puppy, I really just want this one.

But the funny thing is that I don’t have the time, apartment or the ability to commit long-term to a puppy. It’s a 15 year commitment, and we can’t commit to what we’re having for breakfast. So what I am really seeking is a timeshare. We can share holiday houses, cars, all sorts of things, but where’s the startup providing timeshare puppies? Get on it, SF!

Post #8: BART

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Welcome to the eighth post of the Great Writing Challenge of 2012.
Five days a week for six months, I will be given a topic to write about. The stipulation: it must be 250 words (or more), and positive in tone.
If you would like to suggest topics for me to write about, please email me at TheRebeccaProject [at] gmail [dot] com.

Post #8: BART

BART trains are cool. They look like portals from the future, prepared to take you back with them. Even the horns sound digital. Harrison Ford caught one in Blade Runner. Or maybe I just made that up. But he totally would have.

Each day, I ride the futuristic cars to work and back. BART is my preferred form of public transport, and mostly an enjoyable experience. The system is known for its large, comfy seats, and has a completely different feel from the hard plastic seats on trains in New York and London.

I am a creature of habit and each day, I make a beeline for my preferred seat: the reverse-riding left hand side at the very end of the carriage. I’ll take the right hand side, should the left be occupied. Failing that, the middle of the car with my back facing the person behind me works almost as well. I would rather stand for the duration of my trip should the only seats available be the four closest to the doors. There’s no rhyme or reason for it.

If both seats at the end of the carriage are open, I’ll pick the one with the newer cushions. I like a new, firm cushion over a saggy old one any day. And I pay no attention to the multiple stories each year that remind me that scientists find unknown bacteria on BART seats every day. Have you seen what goes on in the micro world on your very own keyboard? Nevertheless, a perky cushion is key to a comfy ride.

If you get a seat on BART, you are actually sitting a lot further away from other travelers (generally speaking) than on any of the other trains I’ve ridden around the world. I appreciate people not piling on top of me, or reading my book over my shoulder.

Whilst BART suffers significantly in the lack of complexity (44 stations in the Bay Area, compared with over 200 stations in Sydney’s CityRail network), it still makes my life possible to exist without a car. It gets me where I need to be, with a minimum of fuss. I can appreciate that.

Post #7: University at 17?

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Welcome to the seventh post of the Great Writing Challenge of 2012.
Five days a week for six months, I will be given a topic to write about. The stipulation: it must be 250 words (or more), and positive in tone.
Thanks to Maia for the topic suggestion. If you would like to suggest topics for me to write about, please email me at TheRebeccaProject [at] gmail [dot] com.

Post #7: University at 17?

I was 17 in my final year of high school, and took to telling those who asked me what I was planning to do with the rest of my life that I was looking forward to becoming an astrophysicist. They’d reply with an exaggerated “ooooh!”, raise their eyebrows and change the subject. Most were probably conscious of the fact that they had no idea just what an astrophysicist does, so they thought it best to seem impressed and move on.

Truth is, I never knew what I wanted to do. I just told people that so they’d stop asking me. My mind changed more frequently than the weather: a physiotherapist, a marine scientist, actor, FBI agent (“oh, hello, Agent Mulder”)…. My sister, on the other hand, was far more practical about the matter:
“On Mondays and Tuesdays, I’m going to be a lolly shop owner. Wednesdays and Thursdays, I’m going to be a lawyer. And on Fridays and Saturdays, I’m going to be a teacher.”
The girl had it worked out from birth.

How the university admission system works in Australia

In the months leading up to our final exams, we had submit our top ten courses from any of the universities in Australia to the Universities Admission Center. We finished our exams mid-November, and results (where they rank you against your peers) were posted just before Christmas. We had maybe a week to consider our options and rework our top 10 courses in order, before the phone lines closed and our lives were forever set in stone. The Sydney Morning Herald published the first round of offers. I always thought it fitting to discover your fate in the SMH, in sections that buffer the pages marking life’s defining moments: the birth, marriage and death announcements.

In the US

In the US, they do things very differently. There’s SATs to sit (it’s generally encouraged to do that when you’re in Year 11), and an application package you complete and send to each of the schools you wish to apply to. They usually include application forms, one or two essays, and evidence of extra-curricular activities. So that means that around the same time each year, there’s kids of a certain age DESPERATELY seeking volunteer work (and the cynical part of me is never terribly inclined to accept their offers for a month of Friday afternoons’ efforts).

I have only just decided what I want to do with my life in my 30s, so how can we expect 16 and 17-year-olds to make important decisions that will determine the rest of their life?

Both systems place an emphasis on having teens make life changing decisions at an age when they should be working crappy jobs and out exploring the world. I really enjoyed uni, learning heaps and meeting some great people. But could the time I invested at uni in my late teens and early 20s have been much better spent elsewhere, learning important life skills and traveling? Since turning 30 myself, I have really started to see the merit in the American’s insistence that formal study should come in your late 20s and early 30s. I am much more focused and prepared to meet the challenges of rigorous study at this point in my life than ever before.

So what of an alternative to this well-trodden path for young whippersnappers? The American and I have spoken at length about the pros and cons of national service for school leavers. It doesn’t have to be military in nature, but could be the answer to a good all-round education. A good mix of community and environmental service with some formal education classes and life-skills-type training skills (think survival camp and practical applications like learning how to make a fire) could be really benefit. In a two or three year paid program, they would learn practical, technical and life skills. Maybe how to be a leader, and operate in a team. CPR. Reading and interpreting the great novels. Foundations of good relationships. Cooking nutritious meals. Fighting fires. Caring for the elderly. Drawing. Growing plants and identifying fauna. Snorkeling. Problem solving. Cleaning up shorelines. Fitness.

My views alternate frequently on this. It’s just an idea, an alternative to those who feel like square pegs in round holes. Perhaps the solution is more about changing attitudes. Where I’m from, an alternative to going from school straight to uni was Not An Option, so maybe the emphasis should be on offering the adolescent the best solution that fits their temperament and needs, rather than pushing them in a direction that makes the school that “succeeded” in getting you to a particular university sound good.

What do you think?
Do you think you would have responded better to living first then attacking formal learning later in life?
Or did you buck the trend entirely?

Post #6: Packing Light

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Welcome to the sixth post of the Great Writing Challenge of 2012.
Five days a week for six months, I will be given a topic to write about. The stipulation: it must be 250 words (or more), and positive in tone.
If you would like to suggest topics for me to write about, please email me at TheRebeccaProject [at] gmail [dot] com.

Post #6: Packing lightly

On Twitter this afternoon, I heard all my favorite bloggers discuss what they are packing for Alt Summit in Sat Lake City. Truth is, I’m super jealous. Maybe I should add Alt Summit to my Life List? I’m sure Maggie Mason would approve.

I love hearing about what people deem important to pack. To some, it’s mundane and they want to head straight for the photos, but I think there’s a real art to packing light. Maggie Mason sometimes posts about what she packs for a trip away, and it’s amazing how she can fit everything into an overnight bag (see HERE and HERE. This woman knows how to pack).

So whilst I may not be heading to SLC tonight for Alt Summit, I did just return from jetting around Europe for Christmas. For our recent two week trip to not-so-sunny Europe, I packed [prepare to be amazed!]:

  • Three t-shirts: all of them black. Super practical for multiple days usage.
  • Three pairs of socks: one to sleep in, one to walk in and a long pair when it was really cold
  • Seven pairs of undies (Mum, you’ll be pleased to know that I do not scrimp on the underwear!)
  • One bra, one sports bra
  • Long sleeved workout top
  • Zip up fleece
  • Double-layered beanie (trust me – this baby was key!)
  • Gloves
  • Jeans
  • Scarf
  • Thongs for the shower
  • Down-filled jacket (so warm!)
  • Embroidered eye mask (and you thought packing light meant no frills!)
  • A book: I finished The Devil in the White City about a day into the trip and had to lug the thing around. I think this is why the modern world has kindles. I dug the book, nevertheless.
  • A full sized towel
  • TSA approved travel-sized toiletries case
  • Hiking shoes

Here’s what my half of the packing looked like:

Practicing what I preach: packing light.

I only pack items things that either have dual purposes (ie singlets can be worn to bed as well as another layer under t-shirts) or things that are practical. And as an additional challenge, I must wear everything that I pack at least once on the trip. They have to earn their keep!
The American and I combined (including the weight of the pack) for a grand total of 9.9kg / 21.8 lb, which was a great effort.

When I left Sydney in 2006, bound for a new life in Ireland an beyond, I really struggled with the packing. But the issue really wasn’t about the packing per se, but the Big Question:

How do I fit my life in one suitcase?

And the best answer to that is that your life is not about ‘Stuff’. The too-cool-for-school t-shirts will come and go. You should be living your life, growing and learning, not accumulating stuff. Since then, all of my the new adventures have only had one shared bag, and I’m a happier and more grounded person for it.

And no, I didn’t take any makeup. Two weeks of fresh faced me.

Well, I lie. I did take lip balm. Does that count?

Post #5: The Gym

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Welcome to the fifth post of the Great Writing Challenge of 2012.
Five days a week for six months, I will be given a topic to write about. The stipulation: it must be 250 words (or more), and positive in tone.
If you would like to suggest topics for me to write about, please email me at TheRebeccaProject [at] gmail [dot] com.

Post #5: The Gym

With the new year, brings a renewed vigor for trying to achieve a balanced life. This is something I usually attempt most years, but I’ve usually failed before the first week is through. But not this year! 2012 is the year of Doing, and here are seven things that are helping me get on the right track:

  1. Ask the tough questions.
    First thing I did was address the problems (eg “I feel gross. And I’m not happy with the way I look” etc). I followed up these problems with why questioning. (eg “I don’t look great because I eat ridiculous amounts of chocolate each night.”). It’s important to be truthful – you’ll only be cheating yourself.
  2. So what are you going to do about it?
    Marry the issues you have with practical solutions. You have a bad knee? Try the elliptical machine instead of the treadmill. Don’t really like the gym? Classes like body pump or signing up for a team sport are alternatives.
  3. Make your goals achievable.
    Set goals that are realistic but take some work to achieve. The more specific they are, the better. “Get fit” is too vague. By specifying goals that are firm (such as “I want to enter the 5km fun run in May”), you have both a time frame and a finish line.
  4. Buddy up.
    Working out with a friend or family member can go a long way to keep you accountable. And breaking a date with someone else is harder than just with yourself. For me, a gym buddy is essential, because I struggle just     getting there.
  5. Create a new playlist.
    I get sick of my workout playlist very easily, so I am always trying to mix it up by adding new songs and new mixes. There are many new songs out there you haven’t even heard of. Ask your friends for suggestions, or visit sites like Pandora internet radio for ideas to keep the energy up.
    I must confess, Kylie is making a     bigcomeback on my playlist at the moment.  I never thought I see the day!
  6. Be prepared.
    Food is such an important part of this whole effort. By being prepared, and having your kitchen stocked with the right kind of food, there’s less impetus to duck out to the corner store and buy snacks. I take food such as oatmeal, bread, nuts, joghurt and baby carrots to work, so I’m not swiping handfuls of Craig’s endless supply of Peanut M&Ms (and it really is endless, because I know where he keeps the refill packs…).
  7. Rewards for success are important.
    Reward yourself for attaining your goal! And then set yourself another.

What is something that has worked for you? Have you stuck with it?

Post #4: Reality Television

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Welcome to the fourth post of the Great Writing Challenge of 2012.
Five days a week for six months, I will be given a topic to write about. The stipulation: it must be 250 words (or more), and positive in tone.
If you would like to suggest topics for me to write about, please email me at therebeccaproject [at] gmail [dot] com.

Post #4: Reality Television

I must confess: I love Reality TV. Well, most of it. There’s some that I will never like (read: Jersey Shore), and some that is just lame (anything to do with tattoos/towing cars/hunting for antiques). But there are some shows that I absolutely love. Well, enough to set a series recording on my DVR.

One of my favorite shows is Project Runway. I seriously love that show, and it’s because these people have talent. They can construct an entire outfit, sometimes two, in a day. Having taken about a week solid to construct a sack dress recently, I could not be more impressed. The show does not reward mediocrity.

Fashion isn’t really my thing, and I’m not going to be a designer. Yet I find myself drawn to the aspirational aspect of the show. If you have talent, dedication, creative flair, superb time management skills, are assertive, good at mediation and a competent leader, you’ll go far in Project Runway. The winner is generally all of those things and more, which is so much more rewarding than watching the Snookis or J-Wowws of the world.

But they make me think more about how I project myself when I step out the door in the morning. Perhaps not necessarily what Heidi Klum had in mind, but hey.

Now putting together an outfit and when I go shopping for clothes, I follow some of the rules I have learned from Project Runway: construction, fabric, fit, and presentation. I have stopped buying the wrong things for my shape, and for my size, and I’m phasing them out of my wardrobe. I only buy what I love, and accentuate my perfections. I am trying to be the best I can be, and also have that show on the exterior.

And I have Project Runway to thank for my education in such matters I had previously dismissed as flighty nonsense. I get it, Nina. I don’t like having big pockets, either, now that I know they emphasize the width of my hips.