January Week 2

Thursday 8/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,
I will be very brief as I am exhausted. Just a couple of things before I go to bed. Just now I got a blog where I will be posting a strictly edited version of what I write - I think it will help me keep on track with writing every day. I'll explain more tomorrow.
Also I just had a chat to Scott for the first time in ages (he's in the States with Amber). Good stuff :). More tomorrow.
Desperately need sleep

Laurey xoxo
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Friday 9/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,
So to elaborate on last night...Yesterday I got a blog. I am using it to publish edited versions of what I write - maybe people will know me a bit better because of it. We'll see how it goes :)
As I also mentioned yesterday, I had a good chat to Scotty for the first time in ages, I think for the first time since he has been in the States. He and Amb are getting married soon. Sadly I won't be able to make it in person due to being stone-broke, but I've promised them that I will be there in spirit, which of course I will!
Okay - 2am. I should SO be asleep now! Nighty night.
Laurey xoxo
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Saturday 10/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,
Today I got a new pen pal. Her name is Fatima, and she is from Brazil. We met via Pemberley.com, an online community of Jane Austen fans. She is a lot like me...romantic, loves to read, all that jazz. This is exciting - I am looking forward to getting to know her. She is the third of six children from a homeschooling family. I hope we will become good friends. She writes in English very well. Unfortunately in Brazil they speak Portugese, not Spanish, so she may not be able to help me learn, which is a shame.
Also I have decided that Mondays will be the day that Pieces of Me gets updated. My goal is to update regularly for this year and see what opportunities that will bring for next year. I will need to get a new journal (kinda soon...you are almost full to bursting!) When I do manage to fill you up, you can go in my glory box for safekeeping. You can hang around for when my girls are teens.
Oh, I also printed my quilt photos for a scrapbook, so maybe in a few days I can start on that too.
Well I am off to sleep so I will catch you later. Night!
Laurey xoxo
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Sunday 11/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,
Recently I have been listening to 'Don't Cry Out Loud' from The Boy From Oz a lot. It's been really hitting home with me because lately I've been feeling a lot like I just want a good cry and then I'll feel better, but I can't figure out why and the tears won't come. It's very strange. Yep, this means more lyrics!

Don't Cry Out Loud - Peter Allen

Baby cried the day the circus came to town

'Cause she didn't want parades just passing by her.

So she painted on a smile and took up for some clown

While she danced without a net up on the wire.

I know a lot about her, 'cause, you see

Baby is an awful lot like me...

We don't cry out loud,

We keep it inside,

We've learned how to hide our feelings.

Fly high and proud

And if you should fall
Remember, you almost had it all.

Baby saw that when they pulled that big top down,

They'd left behind her dreams among the litter.

And the different kind of love she thought she'd found

Was nothing more than sawdust and some glitter.

But Baby can't be broken, 'cause, you see,

She had the finest teacher, that was me, I told her

Don't cry out loud,

Just keep it inside,

Learn how to hide your feelings.

Fly high and proud

And if you should fall,

Remember you almost had it all.

Don't cry out loud

Just keep it inside,

Oh and learn how to hide your feelings

Fly high and proud

And if you should fall,

Remember you almost made it

Don't cry out loud

Just keep it inside

Learn how to hide your feelings

Fly high and proud

And if you should fall,

Remember you almost had it all.

I think this is quite a sad song but I can really relate to the whole keeping guard up thing. Hopefully it will get better soon. I think I'll have a sleepover with Stanley my birthday bear. Well I am gonna hit the hay coz i'm going back to school tomorrow yay! Goodnight love xoxo

Laurey xoxo

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Monday 12/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,

Well I ended up NOT going back to school today they're renovating and so playgroup was called off and they forgot to tell me - aargh! Frustrated! Oh well, at least I got my room clean! And I started my craft scrapbook, too, which is fun! I have done a title page, and a page for Sarah's blanket. Tomorrow I'll try and get some of Shaun's quilt spread done. I need to keep going on my runner too.

I am starting TAFE again next Monday, and I will be absolutely working my butt off! I will be very tired and all, but I will do everything I can to keep my promise of writing to you each night. Emily gets to come down for my birthday for a week - yay! By then I will have finished my first placement...busy busy!

Well I am a little sleepy and I need to get up earlyish and put some washing on. Talk tomorrow.

Laurey xoxo

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Tuesday 13/1/09 - Krauses

Dear Diary,

Girlie is sleeping here next to me tonight, so I shall have to be quick.

Today Leah came over which was interesting. And Em's parents are letting her come for a week yay! So hopefully we can sort that very soon.

I am also sorting out my work placement tomorrow and (hopefully!) getting Diary Vol. 2 - I'll just get a boring one and cover it with awesome paper.

Well I had better get this light off so miss Tea can sleep. Nighty night!

Laurey xoxo

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Wednesday 14/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,

Work placement is all organised - yayness! Mel, JP, Doo, and I popped out this morning and I got TWO boring notebooks for really cheap, so they are both covered prettily now :D. I put my goal list in the front of the one I plan on using first. It's pink this time, instead of purple. There's a purple one, too, but I thought some variety might be nice.

While we were out today, I also got a really pretty scarf. It's huge and has butterflies made out of flowers on it. It's luverly!

Em is going to start staying at Mel's in my off weeks. I think she'll enjoy it.

I don't know why I'm feeling insecure a lot lately...I shall have to talk to someone.

Well goodnight. I am falling asleep into my pen.

Laurey xoxo

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Thursday 15/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,

I have 3 more days of freedom left until I lose my social life/free time/sleep. I start TAFE again on Monday...I have 4 weeks of written work, then two weeks' placement, and then I get my early Easter holiday! Millie and I set dates today - she is coming from the 1st to the 8th and my party is on the 7th. It's very exciting! I am asking everyone to bring their favourite teacup. We don't have a lot so I thought that would be a fun idea. I'm looking forward to seeing Em, I miss her a lot.

Also it was Bek's 21st today. I wrote on her facebook wall but it's not the same as her being here. I would love her to be here for my birthday, but I somehow doubt that. Well I will have everyone else...I miss my Bekky though.

So far my guest list is:

• Emily
• Sarah
• Anna
• Mum
• Emma
• Mel Mowday
• Laura Mowday
• Mel Krause (and maybe Girlie)
• Claire
• Chloe
• Kelsey
• Chey

Plus me equals 14! Wow. Good thing they're bringing their own cups! I'll add in more details as more stuff is planned.
I need to go to bed - it's a late one tomorrow! Night!
Laurey xoxo

Hello world! (A brief introduction to my blog)

Hello all! It's good to be here.
Just thought I'd give you a heads up of what will be happening here.One of my goals that I set myself for 2009 (a new year's resolution, if you like) is to write in my journal every day, which so far I have been faithful at doing. I don't know how many of you are interested in what goes on inside my head - if nobody is I'm not worried - but I thought cyberspace would be a cool place to put my edited journal entries.
I say edited because obviously there's stuff that I don't want the whole world to be seeing...however some stuff I am happy to share, and I hope that you will get to know me better through these pieces of me.
I said before that I write every day; this will not mean that I post every day. I may post all my writing once a week, maybe every couple of days, it will just depend on what's going on in my world, stuff which you will probably know about from reading anyway.
Feel free to drop me a line if there's anything that you have read here and liked, disliked, agreed with, disagreed with, whatever...I'd love to hear from you!

Carpe diem!

Laurey Kate xoxo

January Week 1

PLEASE NOTE: Where deemed necessary, some names have been blocked out for privacy reasons.

Thursday 1/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,
Well another year has come and gone, and here we are in 2009. I like the start of a new year - looking ahead I can see a whole year with no mistakes in it; a year when, maybe, I can help the world become a better place. This year will be full of hard work, lots of fun, weddings, babies, quilts, scrapbooks, family, friends, driving, horses, dancing, and so much more! It really excites me that so much is happening.
Camp finished today. It was a very small camp, but possibly the best so far. I had so much fun, it was awesome! The classes were fantastic. The theme was spiritual disciplines, and I learned so much. I went on the best ride ever too! Even though my legs are a bit sore, it was well worth it!
I've decided to ask Nan if she knows the people who own the paddock down the road, and see if they need someone to exercise the horses down there. They never get out and it's so sad to just watch them standing there doing nothing.
Superhero night was fun :D I got all dolled up as the most awesome superwoman, Jean Grey of 'X-Men' fame - very cool. Dale Gray had the Wolverine thing going on. I think for most of last night we referred to each other as Logan & Jean rather than Dale & Laura. I still think the real Logan is sexier, but Dale did a pretty good job.
Hannah's sister Leah was there...She has a vendetta against rangas for some unknown reason...She is here for a whole month!...
Chapel party went OFF and Dorian taught me to salsa! It's so fun!

Oh well, must sleep. G'night!
Laurey xoxo
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Friday 2/1/09 - Krauses

Dear Diary,
Just a quick note before bed. Wow! Haven't I filled up this little book so much in the 22 months (exactly!) that I have had you! We've been through 2 birthdays, 2 Christmases, shows, boys, cars, the whole lot. Here's to way more good times ahead!
So I FINALLY found 'The Drover's Ballad' on youtube tonight http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1FScyt9Ub2Y, along with lyrics. (This is from the movie 'Australia', one of my favourites, released in November, starring Nicole Kidman and...Hugh Jackman.) Omigosh such a cry song. When I have access to complete lyrics again or I can remember them, I will pop them in here. It is a beautiful song written by Elton John specifically for this movie, relating to Hugh's cahracter, the Drover. Ah well, you will get it soon enough.
I have to go to sleep now, coz I'm working tomorrow. Goodnight, dear.
Laurey xoxo
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WARNING: THIS JOURNAL ENTRY CONTAINS 'AUSTRALIA' SPOILERS

Saturday 3/1/09 - Home
Dear Diary,
Here they are as promised: the lyrics to 'The Drover's Ballad' by Sir Elton John. I'll comment at the end of it.

The Drover's Ballad - Sir Elton John

From the sunburnt plains of far-off north Australia

Came a fella born to ride the wide brown land.

Oh he grew up running wild,

But soon by all was styled

As the country's greatest ever droving man.

Oh his legend rode the winds from Broome to Darwin,

They loved and loathed him right from end to end.

When the Drover gave his heart

To a girl whose skin was dark,

From that day on he was no white man's friend.

So goes the Drover's story, You'll hear it near and far,

And in the end, it's all he'll ever own.

It says the outcast is a free man if he sleeps under the stars,

Makes the blanket of the southern skies his home.

Then they called him up to fight for Mother England

In a far-off war that spilled his brother's blood.

Inside the jaws of hell

Where both his brothers fell,

He just watched his faith in man die in the mud.

There was no hero's welcome for the Drover,

Just a country that had turned its back on him.

When he came home from the war

His sick wife they would not cure -

They let her die for the colour of her skin.

So goes the Drover's story, you'll hear it near and far,

And in the end it's all he'll ever own.

It says the outcast is a free man if he sleeps under the stars,

Makes the blanket of the southern skies his home.

The Drover is a man of constant shadows,

Haunted by his pain, his past and name.

For every mile he rides,

What he cannot hide

Is the longing in his heart to love again.

So goes the Drover's story, you'll hear it near and far,

And in the end it's all he'll ever own.

It says the outcast is a free man if he sleeps under the stars,

Makes the blanket of the southern skies his home.

Makes the blanket of the southern skies his home.

His home...

I think this is a beautiful song. It tells the story of the Drover, a white man who marries an Aboriginal woman and becomes an outcast because of his marriage. He then goes to war, leaving her behind. In his absence, she contract tuberculosis. When he returns, they seek medical help, but the hospitals refuse to treat her because of her ethnicity, and so she dies. He becomes a very troubled and private person, but the one thing that can crack his tough exterior is love.

I especially like the part that says 'The outcast is a free man if he sleeps under the stars, [and] makes the blanket of the southern skies his home.' I think what this means is that, regardless of what others think of you (outcast), you can be whatever you want to be (free man) if you are prepared to work for it (sleep under stars, make skies home). This is so true, not only of the Drover, but even in real life this is the case. If you are a loser, but you have a goal, and you reach that goal through hard work, you will have a lot more respect than a popular person whose dreams were met the minute they were thought of.

Well I am off to bed now. Goodnight.

Laurey xoxo

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Sunday 4/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,

Well I am playing counsellor again - aargh! This time it involves C***, S******, and long distance relationships. Seriously, can't they figure out their own problems? How can 17 & 18 year olds expect me to fix the world at 15? I just don't get it. I'm still trying to fix my world and recover from shattered dreams. I can't be picking up the pieces of everyone else's lives. They are perfectly capable of doing it themselves. I just think C is avoiding responsibility. I tell you, it absolutely drives me mental sometimes (like now - she's still texting me and it's 1am). Sorry for ranting, love, but I know you will always listen patiently. I try to be patient with her, I really do, but sometimes she just doesn't get it! AARGH!!!! Gosh how I hate it when she does this to me. If it wasn't 1am I would be freaking out to Mel, dear thing. I will be tomorrow, however, as I will to Mum. I try and tell C no, but she just doesn't get it. Like I don't already have enough on my plate.

Well I am exhausted now. Goodnight, dear.

Laurey xoxo

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Monday 5/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,

I am writing by the light of my phone haha! I added a new goal to my list last night - Journal every day. If I can succeed at this (or close to succeed) I think I would like to copy out this year's diary when I have daughters so that, when they turn sixteen, I can give a copy to them so that they understand I can relate to them, and so if, for example, they're having a bad day they can find where I was having a bad day too...By this point they would all have journals, as well...

It's so amazing that I don't even know my children yet, don't know when I will meet them or who with, but I love them so much already!

I am reading 'Marley and Me' by John Grogan at the moment - I am enjoying it so far. When I'm done either Mum & us girls or maybe even the whole family will go see it. I also want to read and watch 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I am also reading 'Emma' by Jane Austen - it's stressful but fun.

Well it's a quarter to midnight so I'll turn in. Goodnight

Laurey xoxo

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Tuesday 6/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,

Well I am over halfway through 'Marley and Me'. It is a very good book - I think one day I shall buy my own copy. I have also found an e-text http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/Fitzgerald/jazz/benjamin/benjamin1.htm of 'Benjamin Button' so I will read the first page before I go to sleep.

I had an absolutely lovely morning with Mum today. I started making a table runner on Sunday - it is now fully pieced and the top has 8 applique hearts. Mum and I sat and watched Serendipity togetherthis morning and I applied two of the hearts, so now there are only three left! I think this is the fastest quilt top I have ever made! It's lovely - all different purple fabrics. Fingers crossed that I will finish the top tomorrow, and then I can start quilting yay!

I have finally put the piccies of my last two quilts on facebook, and one of these days I'll print them off and make a scrapbook of all my projects.

Well it is v. late, so I am off to read and sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Laurey xoxo

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Wednesday 7/1/09 - Home

Dear Diary,

Well I managed to read all of 'Benjamin Button' last night - Fitzgerald published it in a short story collection so I read it in about half an hour. I have a strange feeling that the movie will be a rather differrent, Hollywoodised version, sadly. I hate it when Hollywood kills good books like that (like in 59 when Anne Frank was American - aargh!). Well I won't judge until I watch it.

And Hannah has finally set a date for the formal - Saturday March 28! YAY!!! This is so exciting! Well when I find out more info you will definitely know.

Hasta luega!

Laurey xoxo