Happy Mondays

My blog WILL NOT be about the band with the same name. It's actually, literally descriptive of my current mood...even though it's Monday.

To be fair, this Monday didn't become happy all by itself...it's actually Sunday's fault, and more correctly, it's God's doing.

I'll explain, if you'd like. Firstly, I finished watching the Firefly series on Saturday, including the Serenity movie. I quite enjoyed it, seeing as it was my kind of thing (sci-fi, action, space travel, creepy storylines etc.) But the one thing that made me smile with my heart and not just my lips, is a piece of dialogue that got worked into the script in such a subtle and non-intrusive way, that it could easily have been missed. I'll set the scene for you:

Mal (the captain of the Firefly Class spaceship serenity) accepts a "job" in protecting a bunch of ladies from a control-freak chauvinist. Mal's crew consists of quite a few interesting people, including Shepherd Book, a preacher man. In their preparation to protect the ladies, the following dialogue happens:

Shepherd: "Captain, I'm pretty good with a hammer"

Mal: "You are?"

Shepherd: "Yes, I've been following in the footsteps of a Carpenter for quite some time now."

I paused the DVD and just reveled in it for a while.

And yesterday we danced to "Happy Day" by Tim Hughes. It's impossible to dance to that song and NOT smile. The choreography was simple, but it contained so much jumping and hopping that I was completely knackered afterwards, but it was immensely injoyable.

So...this morning while I was driving to work, I just loved my day, my life and what was happening in it, to it and with me. I'm really looking forward to this year and all it's potential.

Ta-ta!

My 2010

I keep telling people that I am very excited about this coming year. I truly believe that this year is the year in which I restore my previous financial independence and start building a life for me back in my home country.

Thinking about how we are all told (either at the beginning of a year, or at your birthday) that the ones you love hope good fortune will find you (with variations on the theme, of course), I decided that I am not going to sit on my well rounded arse and wait for good fortune to find me...I'm going to go out there and find it first!

That's why I made a list of all the things I want to do, learn and achieve this year.

And the things that are happening in my life are confirming my suspicions. This is my year...for sure!

Firstly, I agreed to teach a Hip-Hop class on a Monday night at our church's dance school. This "one class a week" now seems to be turning into two classes a week. This of course means more students and a more reliable extra income for me (which brings me closer to realizing my dreams and aspirations for this year).

I have also decided to, with renewed motivation, start looking for a new job, and what do you know! A friend of mine told me of a job-opening at the company she works for and it's right up my ally: Receptionist for the marketing department! And it's about 15 minutes drive from where I live.

So, say your prayers people...I'm truly and totally trusting God for this position.

Well...We'll speak again soon, but for now I actually have to carry on with my work at my current job.

Love you all!!!

Embarrassing Moment... # 2

So, who's up for hearing another Wanda Embarrassing Moment? I can see hands shooting up everywhere, and I even hear someone screaming; "Me, me!!"

Okay, here goes:

I'm pretty sure it was within my first week in High School and we were on our way from one class to the next (In South African Schools we file out of class single file and walk in an orderly manner, in line, to our next class in grade 8 and 9, because the whole class attends exactly the same classes for those two years). I was going down a flight of stairs, my school uniform's skirt hanging just below my knees (yes, very dorky, I know!!) and I was carrying a pretty big book bag...those ones with the seven different dividers.

So, there I was, looking totally geeky, strolling down, in line, one step at a time; and I honestly thought that my next step would be solid ground, no more stairs, but alas...it wasn't meant to be. I misjudged my step and went flying through the air, landing on all fours, bookcase flying out the hallway door.

And the best thing about this whole scenario? The seniors were on the other side of the staircase on their way up to their next class!! As I looked up from my very uncomfortable position on the floor, I found myself in front of one of the handsome young boys in the senior class.

Totally embarrassing...and everyone was laughing.

What else could I do? I got up, dusted myself off, nursed a bruised knee and carried on to my next class.

The end.

A List Of New Things

Some of you might know this already, but I'm saying it again mainly to explain my post. I decided a couple of years ago that I would like to learn something new each year. Yesterday I started wondering exactly how many new things I've learnt since then, and even before then.

Here's my list (working backwards because it's easier):

2010 I'm planning on studying part time: Proofreading & Copy Editing.

2009 I taught dances to young kids. Have always only worked with teenagers. I also River Rafted for the first time, on the Orange River.

2008 I was trained and operated as a Ropes Facilitator at a Summer Camp in America. First time doing ropes, first time in America, so pretty much first time doing quite a lot of things

2007 I was trained as a Sound Technician Assistant at Hillsong in London

2005/2006 I did a part-time course and received a Legal Secretarial Qualification.

2003/2004 I worked at a Wine Museum and learnt how to taste wine.

2003 (April) I went overseas for the first time and for 5 years I learnt about new cultures...too much to mention in one post!

2001/2002 I started working in an office for the first time after my studies. PA, Office Manger, Receptionist, Invoicing Clerk, it was all completely new to me.

1998-2000 I studied Dance, Drama, and Music at an Arts College

1997 I did Volunteer Evangelism for a year in schools

And that's pretty much it, at the moment...in a nutshell of course. Looking back at this, I love the fact that this shows how much one can grow as a human, and it motivates me to do it again and again!

I'll leave you with a great quote: "You can choose to live in a place of fear, or you can believe in the best version of yourself." Mac Taylor - CSI New York.

Embarrassing Moment... # 1

Quite randomly, I remembered one of my countless embarrassing moments. I decided to share it with the world.

We all know the painful scenario in a movie, when the geeky girl/guy is staring it his/her heartthrob (usually the most popular girl/guy in school) and the object of their affection seems to be waving at them, so obviously they wave back, thinking fate has finally smiled on them, only to realise that they weren't the intended recipient of the friendliness. And we all feel sorry for them...or we find it extremely hilarious?

Well, here's my story. It is customary for the grade 11's (standard 9's) to organize the Matric Farewell (senior dance) at the end of the year. In 1995 I was part of the committee organizing this event, and also doubled as a waitress for the evening. I honestly wasn't accustomed to the whole waitressing thing, so I didn't know the etiquette (maybe this is why I vowed never to be a waitress!), so when one of the seniors waved me over to ask for more drinks...I just waved back! I had NO idea! Only afterwards did I realize what had happened, and by that time it was too late to be embarrassed.

I can't even remember who the senior was...and to be honest, it doesn't really matter. Point is, I truly, in all senses of the word, was a geek in school...no jokes.

And I think I still am...but more on that subject some other time.

I hope this made all of you feel more capable!