31 Days of Difference Concluded

I didn't find this challenge difficult, it was more that I had forgotten to do something different. If the day came to the end and I had not done anything different, I looked back on the events and chose something that could be. Lazy? Smart?

Or perhaps just everyday is different no matter what you do and you only realise it upon careful reflection.

I do like the idea of doing something new/different everyday. Four days after the challenge has ended, I still find myself resisting the urge to order the usual drinks and meals at restaurants. When shopping, I took twice at an item I would not normally purchase and think of the positive aspects of it. The point is not if I buy this object just because I normally wouldn't, but of the fact I'm giving something a second chance to impress me. This is me broadening my familiar horizons.

In the past I could go days and sometimes weeks without a post. Reporting daily on this blog has forced me to write more. I like writing more. I think it will make me smarter.

As I didnt find this challenge difficult or a burden, I believe I am a person open to new concepts and experience. I welcome it with open arms and although I'm not always 100% sure of the 'new' I am curious and wanting to know more. I am an explorer. I am a sponge.

It's been a good 31 days.

Things I learnt in the 31 Days of Difference Challenge:

• You don't need money to change something about your day/do something new
• This challenge is better when you do it with others. You get support, motivation and inspiration. You are less likely to forget about the challenge
• Reflecting on your day after forgetting to do something new; often you have accomplished your daily challenge without even knowing. Upon reflection do you notice things you would not have.
• It feels good to have achieved something new and different.
• Most of what I did 'new' for the day involved food. I love to stuff my face.

Day 29 Strengths

I had my hospital appointment today. They were checking for signs of cancer. The doctor asked me for how long have I noticed this abnormality? I answered 3 years.

3 Years.

Some cancer patients are given 3 years to live. I imagined if I had three years to live after discovering my abnormality. What had I done in that time that was worth while?? Nothing.. The sudden urge to do something reckless hit me. A burst of energy and anxiousness. If i had three years to live what will I do? I won't certainly be scared. To find strength and courage, imagine yourself in a terminal condition.

"All her life, she never saw a dead person.

There was no real sense of life because she had nothing to contrast it with.

Oh, but now there was dying and morse. Weeping and shuddering, terror and remorse.

Now that she knows where we're all going, Marla feels every moment of her life."

-Fight club

Because I'm Random Like That

Scott Hole, from Germany, got me this really cool book when he was in Scandinavia. A book titled 'To Mr. Chen'. An artist photographed all the things he posted through international mail to Mr. Chen in Berlin. These things were not ordinary mail, they were objects such as fruits, mannequin body parts, rubber gloves, ladies shoes (individually posted), ceramic plates, etc. These objects were unpackaged, the stamps were stuck on without regard of wear and tear and the addresses were roughly hand written in texta straight on to the object.

What a kooky art project.

I sent Scott Hole something to thank him for the gift and his presence at my birthday.

Cheesels to post

'Thank you for coming to my party

and for the inspirational present'

Day 24 New Favourite Drink

Fell asleep before 11pm due to last night's lack of sleep. Attended a cocktail training at Match bar. It was a French emphasis today, we learnt about the French history that was relevant to cocktail making, reknown Parisian cocktail bars, the story behind some famous French cocktails. We got to straw taste test them too. Me and cheese, being the cheap asians and alcoholics we are, curved our straws and inserted them diagonally to trap as much alcohol as possible. I was even licking the straw. MY favourite was the

CRITERION RUM SMASH

of the Criterion Bar

45ml Cruzan Aged Rum

30ml Sugar Syrup

15ml Lemon juice

10 Mint leaves

2 Barspoons of diced peaches

I've never tasted anything alcoholically good. I must make this or order it soon asap. I love these Mixxit Cocktail Training classes because they give us a shit load of free stuff:

FREE

Mini 'moleskin' diaries

Pencils

Bartender Training Booklet

Cocktail Recipe Sheet

Wooden Mallet and Sack for crushing ice

Frizbee

Training finished about 4pm and we went to check out the new refit at Jwow. It's so ugly and embarassing. The luxurious, lounge concept Jwow was known to be is now totally gone. That concept was crumpled like a piece of scrap paper, tossed in a bin, doused with petrol, set on fire and then run over with a bulldozer. The bar is all stainless steel. Bar tops, cupboard doors, bar wall, shelves... it feels so cold and industrial. It looks like a Chinese kitchen. And let's not get started on the sperm lights and paper mache cow with paintings of the Beatles on it. In a snakes and ladders game, Jwow has landed on a snake all the way down to the starting line. I feel a tiny bit ashamed to be working there.

Birds Eye Views @ Jwow

I left jwow and went on a shopping mission to buy clothes for tmrw. Bought a new dress and new shoes and wrecked the sales assistant in the process.

Tokito Black Dress

$64 After Myer Discount

The Dangerfield sales assistant, in her New Zealand accent said i was pretty

Cancelled a 6:30pm dinner date with jwowers because I was poor and just wanted to go home. Did a test drive to melbourne airport tmrw via Arundel and Annadale (?) roads, apparently a short cut. It took 11 minutes from home to airport this way. It took 11 minutes from airport to home via Calder freeway and Keilor Park Drive. The freeway is an easier and more speedy drive but i guess I wasnt driving during peak hour. Tmrw I will take the Arundel way. Those roads are so windy its like Tokyo Drift. ________________

I've felt for quite sometime my brain/thoughts arent stimulated. Thats why i give into physical indulgences such as 12hours in bed, trash TV, fatty foods and alcohol. I want to get smarter, I guess thats who I avoid feeling 'wasting away'.

I remember going on the study tour with like/open minded designers. Conversations were intelligent and my opinions were challenged. I was asked to further explain myself, to the depths where I had not considered myself until this time. I had to think quickly but logically. Random mubbling and filler words had no place here. Overuse of the words 'like', 'you know', ' do you know what I meaaan???' and unnecessary swearing degraded the integrity of your opinion. When they cracked jokes, I had to really think about why that would be funny. These people were 2 steps a head of me. I feel I hang around people two steps behind me.

I'm having trouble excelling if my surroundings dont demand me stepping up. I need motivation. I cant do this by myself im not that determine.

Since the beginning, I've argue with vman about the consistency in his stories, the grammar in his language and the certainty of his 'facts'. I want straight forward, organised and unchanging information. He tells stories with missing information, in non chronological order with ambiguous wording and a limited vocabulary. He is biased and often generalises with words like 'all of them', 'all the time', 'never' and 'always'. I was during essay writing to never use such definite words. I get frustrated because we're on two different pages.

Or maybe I'm being too harsh on him.

I just need more stimulation.

Day 21 A New Hair Colour

4am-12pm Sleep then:

Cleaned room, packed some clothes to transport to mums house, made room for spring clothes

Hung out the laundry

Swept and mopped kitchen tiles

Vacuumed the house

Took photos of ebay for sale items

Washed both mine and Ate's cars

Cleaned exterior and interior car windows with glass cleaner

+ applied anti-fog on both cars

My right arm is more muscley than the other.

Dyed my hair to 'burgundy'. The colour on my roots is significantly different to the colour from mid lengths to ends since my bottom hairs were lighter than the top (regrowth). Surprisingly my hair was not so damaged from this chemical change. I'll give it a weeks rest before I redye to bring out the colour, perhaps pack more on the ends for consistent colour.

I like it. It looks nice.

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms. off to rendezvous

Day 10 -15

Excuse my blogging drought, I've been having too much fun. Day 10 Sleep over 'Jen Sato knows nothing about second thoughts'

Marking my territory on 'Fight club'

_________________

Day 11 - New Partner Ethnic thursday wasnt so ethnic, or was it? cuddles Second day in a row that I got up outa bed at exactly 11:22am

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Day 12 - Alcohol douche for men A new alcoholic mixture. dark rum, ginger beer and lime. Assessment: Scullable

Yao made us a beer bong. It looks scary.

Beer Bonging

I got home about 4-5am the next morning and started some online shopping. I bought these babies.

Le Spec $70. They look better in the ads.

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Day 13 - American Honey with Apple Juice is ze BOMB The day of Epic BBQ Birthday Party. What we were all waiting for. I didnt get as smashed as I thought I would which, looking back on it is probably a good thing. I mixed spirits American Honey, Baileys, Chamboard, Gin, Hypnotic, Cognac. I threw up a little after 5 jam donut shots and a gin/lemon juice shot. Most of the food was gone by the end of the night which means I didnt under or over buy. Richie and Janet came down from Sydney, Scott Hole from Germany and Marty from Scotland. I was told by two people that there was a 'good mix' of people. It must be the interstate/national party crowd. Vman bought me an epic ube cake to match. Probably the best one I've ever had, and I know a little thing or two about ube cake since I've had one every birthday since my 18th. or was that my 16th? This cake, according to Vman contained actual crushed taro from St. Albans and Filippino imported ube icecream mixed into the icing. Everyone loved it, and to those who havent see ube cake before were shocked at the purple colour. I need to order this cake for the family party this Saturday. This night I slept in a new bed. Scandalous, apparently.

Gangsta. From James by Cathy

Typography on Ace's birthday card

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Day 14 - The Next Step The next step with my addiction. Indeed the second I've ever had because I'm cautious like that. Mmmmm.. Do not get attached, do not get attached, do not get attached. I accidentally drove on the City Link today. fuck. No e-tag.

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Day 15 - New How I Met Your Mother Toleration Lengths I'm kicking back with the jwow gang James, Yao, Calvin and Mel at Helen's bachelor pad. I downed a cup of mulled wine and chicken/corn soup.

Helen = Mum

The Turkish bread I wolfed down acted like a sponge and I am so bloated. I tasted what a quality kebab should taste like on Sydney Road. I may be the second kebab I've ever had not from a kebab van but from a legit kebab store. I would really like to do a sheesha right now. They're doing How I Met Your Mother marathons again. It has been 3 hours now. My IQ has dropped 50 points. How do people find this tolerable?

Day 9: A New Drive & Musical Artist

I drove over to my parents house to grab a whole bunch of party supplies so I wouldn't need to buy them. I know my mum bulk buys, and stores. I saved me a whole bunch of $$

Stealing.

Two shoe racks = My sneaker collection.

I take photos of my room because I miss it

My bonsai a.k.a. pets. I think one is dying.

Damn they're so hard to look after!

My less than average meal at Ha Long, St. Albans

Note: Do not order BBQ Pork and Rice.

Learnt how to drive to Costco today. Driving back from st. albans I also challenged myself to take the traffic way. This was an attempt to scare myself shitless til I become desensitized to the fear of dying horribly in a car crash.

I bought those big red American house party cups. Man are they expensive. Its like 1.5 hours of Jwow work for 240 plastic cups. I gotta higher my standards.

American Apparel Jacket

Grab Jeans

Creative Recreations

Sough dough bread:

Dave's Birthday Present to me put to good use

It's been a long time since i've listened to soft cock music. At the moment, I'm listening to Jon B. Jon B was triggered when I was listening to 'Real Women' by Jon B and DJ Quik. I really like Jon B's voice and after listening to it on repeat, decided it was worthy to look into more. I have heard the song 'Don't Talk' and that is an awesome song, but most of his other stuff is slow, mellow, lovey dovey.. something you would listening to staring at the stars to (cringe). This music is triggering all sorts of emotions not known to the recent me.

I'm in my bed at the moment, singlet and trackies, new pretty bedsheets and fluffy covers. I'm listening to this soft cock music. I feel at ease. I am in the most comfortable place in the world. I wish I could roll back my ceiling like a convertible car roof top so I can see the night sky.

2pac feat. Jon B - R U Still Down? Prophet Jones - All I Do Jon B - Don't Talk

Jon B - Cool Relax Robin Thicke - Against The World

Day 7: Nepalese Food

for breakfast, Saxon and driving on the freeway like a mad kunt. Oh that high school feeling, all shits and giggles.

Day 3: New Nails, Wound, Stain, Transport

It's only 8:32am (yes I have woken unnaturally early) and already the event of the new and different have occurred.

1. Blue nail polish. This is actually a massive change seeing as I refuse to have anything but white or light silver on my nails. It just looks cleaner and sophisticated. Opening the bathroom cupboard, I instinctively reached for the white nail polish, then stopped when I saw the blue. Okay fuck it. I had a little shock this morning when I woke up. In the dark with this dark colour on, it didnt look like i had any nails!
2. My unnatural awake up time of 7:14am. I got out of bed at 7:52am. Its a glorious 21 degrees today. The sun is out. The sky is blue and in a few hours the clouds will clear. Surely it isnt winter. Bring on a warm spring and an even warmer summer when clothes wont be necessary.

I've got plans today to head into the city. I'm not driving to the station bcoz I'll be drinking. Post office. Bourbon training at Papa Goose, Flinders Lane. Drop off these Nikes to an Ebayer on Franklin Street. Meet up with Phuong, eat at Cafe Vu, Little Collins Street. Cycle around the city and Alexander Gardens with Melbourne City rental bikes. Excite!

My birthday is tomorrow. It's going to be 22 degrees. Let's runamuck

_____________________

It's almost 1 am and I just got home. I have a 2 job interviews tmrw, a 12:30pm with sketchers and a 3pm with Witchery in Crown Casino. I think I will attend the latter. Just like I was decked out in Zara for the Zara interview, I will be decked out in all Witchery. Except perhaps the shoes and of course underwear.

I went on a massive journey today.

Bourbon training and tasting at Papa Goose, Flinders Lane

I ended up getting tipsy half way through the 2 hour training. After it finished, James announced that we were going to a wine tasting at Fed Square. Okay!

Zinc, Federation Square

So here I was in my acid washed jeans, oversized knitted jumper and backpack mingling amongst these wine heads in suits and ties. Again I am out of place. I swish around my wine glass, smell (the way I was taught to at bourbon training - it came in handy), then taste in tiny sips. Pause, and deliver a verdict with adjectives such as 'floral', 'light', 'sweet', 'sharp', 'strong', 'dry'. The portfolio booklet in my hand helped hide my alcohol-blushed face. James said I pulled it off well.

Don Don's

Shit! I spent too much time drinking and giggling i forgot I needed to be somewhere at 5pm! An ebay buyer wants to buy these shoes so I call him up to say I will be late. Oops. I dont know what this guy looks like, all i know is his name, phone number and that he is probably a fobby asian. I stand at Don Don's, he's even later than me!! How will i know its him?? I looked out for lost asians standing around Don Don's and looking at me with questioning faces. I asked one of these randoms:

Me: 'Are you here for shoes??'

Random: 'Sorry?'

Me: 'Are you here for shoooooes??'

Random: 'Ahhh no..'

Ugly ass shoes

Okay so no. Eventually my phone rings, I see a guy infront of me with the phone to his ear. Yep. Him. He had a cute little puppy on his leash that I bent down and pat, so fluffy! This asian fob tried to get away with a $5 discount because I didnt have change for him. Why would you NOT bring the right amount with you?? I told him to follow me to my work and I got change for him.

Fed Square - a 'new' means of transport around Melbourne

Phuong and I utilised our free Melbourne Bike Share Passes courtesy of the State of Design Festival. Riding a bike proved to be challenging as I have not rode a bike in years, literally. I was too scared to ride on the roads, I didnt want to by run over by a truck or screamed at by angry drivers. I rode on the pathway, I would pay a $45 fine! We rode to Alexander Gardens, the NGV International and to the ACCA. I wanted to make a wish in the NGV fountains but I feed most of my coins to the Myki machine. I did have 5c though, I threw it in. That should do it.

The weather was cool but pleasant and the night lights on the trees, buildings and streets were so beautiful. It was really a good feeling to be riding your bike around melbourne. Phuong and I stopped to take photographs here are there. It was our scenic tour of Melbourne on a warm winter's night, and we could go wherever we wanted!

We stopped at a playground, Phuong's newly named 'Bark Park'. We spun each other around the spinning things till we felt we were going to throw up. Phuong fell on the floor and all the bark stuck to her wooly jumper and literally covered her lower back.

'Do I have any bark on me??'

We rode along the South Bank and it was so pretty and peaceful.

Then we got tired and set our minds on some $9 steak with mushroom and chive sauce, chips and salad at Lions Hotel, Melbourne Central. We rode our bikes up Swanston Street and I felt like a celebrity. At the end of the ride, I discovered a cut on my hand, my ring had broken and my calves, thighs, and abs were hurting. Why didnt I stretch?? I also had a new red lipstick stain on my new white jumper, Phuong's kiss mark.

So sad. My ring broke.

Note to self: bike riding is NOT as cruisy as you think it is, its fucking hard work.