Bowery Mural

Quote me this

Monday 28 February 2011

Quotes. I've found a few recently that I wanted to share with you.






"I've never known anyone who actually believe that I was enough until I met you. And then you made me believe it too." 
Jamie Randall, Love and Other Drugs

"You may not be here with me... But thoughts of you are always in my heart... I Miss You!"
Anon

Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. A "you can do it" when things are tough."
Richard M. De Vos

"Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses."
Dorothy Parker

"Dreamers can find their way by moonlight and their only punishment is that they see the dawn before the rest of the world."
Oscar Wilde

And to follow on from a great weekend spent with new friends i dedicate this one to you. Each and every one of you...


"Each friend represents in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
Anais Nin


What are your favourite quotes? Post them in a comment below. Let's share.

Angela xx

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Thursday Three - 3 things you want to do before you die!

Thursday 24 February 2011

Not trying to be morbid or saying I'm going to die anytime soon but you know... Three things you must do before you die.

ONE
I've always wanted to do a bungee jump. Don't know why. It just appeals to the crazy inner self that definitely hides in the deep bowles of my being approximately 342 days of the year. Have any of you done one before? or any other craziness along these lines? I'd love to hear your story.

TWO
Own my own home. Most of you reading this will probably be living in your own home by now but not me. So one day, I will own and perhaps even build, my own home. Watch out world because it will be spectacular!

THREE
Find the other half of me. I know he's out there somewhere. Someone to share laughs, dreams, thoughts and ice-cream with. Simple. If you know where he's hiding, let me know.

I have no other owrds to describe these three things. A short but sweet Thursday Three.

Angela xx

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You Don't Ask, You Don't Get

Sunday 20 February 2011

I'm not one for asking for help from people. I've just never been easy with that initial conversation with someone. "can you help me?". I think it's because I think they will be too busy or just won't want to help me. I've always been like this. It's also partly that I have this weird thing (is it a Scottish thing?) that asking for help is like a sign of defeat. Stupid stupid I know. I'm also not great at shouting about my achievements (that might be another blog post soon). So I had an idea that I would list a few things that i'd quite like your help with blogosphere friends! Is that okay?

I saw a post a few months ago by other bloggers along the same lines. I wonder if they had success? I'm not just asking for your help, I'm going to list things that I'm pretty good at and might be able to help you out with, an exchange of helpfulness, maybe.

This here blog
I'd like someone to help me make it better. A re-design perhaps? Just a few ideas i have about how I want it to look and i'd like to learn how to make it better. I discovered there were other new fonts in the Design template area so I don't know if you've noticed but the blog title and some other titles have changed. You never noticed? shame on you. So if you want to help me out a little please do let me know.

Along the same lines as above. I have ideas that I'd like to talk over with someone who might give me good advice. I'd like to get my own domain and figure out how that all works and then put my ideas into practice on the world wide web.

Cinema Buddies
I usually fly solo at the cinema, which is fine, but every now and again a cinema buddy would be good. Let me know if you'd be up for that. A bite to eat beforehand then flopping out watching a good (or bad) movie. Aces.

A Brother - biologically impossible I know
I've always wanted a brother. I only have one sister you see. But I always wanted a brother. I've no idea why, maybe its because I think he could save me but now i'd just like to get a boy (brother's) opinion and guidance in life. There are rules to this brotherhood though. You must provide 1 birthday and 1 Christmas card per year and at least a couple of emails. In return you will have me! I'm a great sister. I'll give you a run to the pub, i'll watch football with you, heck I'll even come to the pictures with you. I'll give you girl advice (although you may not need it!). I'll be a listening ear, a personal shopper and I'll send you the bestest birthday cards ever!

Photos of me
I'd love someone to take good photos of me. Nothing fancy. You can use my camera but i'd quite like good pictures. That is all.

Photoshop
Does anyone by any chance have a spare copy of Photoshop I could use? Or the use of their 'puter with it on. This is a very long shot, I know. I'd like to zhoosh up some of my photos, that is all. OR is there some sort of free Photoshop type programme I can download. Do you know this? tell me.

....

In return I can offer you a myriad of skills and knowledge, but here are a few.... A friendly ear to listen. I'll listen to anything. Listening is a good skill of mine. Pour your heart out, talk to me about you, how's your work going, anything, I'll listen. Organisation - need something organised then i'm here to help out. My speciality is attention to the tiniest of details. Cute and quirky sewing is a favourite pass time of mine. Need a sampler cross-stitched for a new baby or a wedding gift, or a Twitter name badge! gimme a shout. I've a vast dvd collection, i'll loan you some (lame, ha!). I'm open to negotiation too (up to a point).

If you can help me out at all i'd really really appreciate it. And i'd be eternally grateful.

Angela x

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Thursday Three - Favourite Blogs

Thursday 17 February 2011

Waaaaahh! Why did I have to suggest this topic? I have more than three favourite blogs that i read regularly. So I'll recap on blogs that i've already mentioned here before but add in three of my favourite new blogs that have been recent discoveries of mine.That okay? Good!

Recaps:.....

PTC's outdoor blog has long been one of my first stops of a morning. All things outdoors; gear, wonderful pictures, great words and best of all, by my friend. Lately I've been feeling guilty though as I've not been into the great outdoors for months. But spring is nearly here. We'll get out on the bikes soon.

Pacing The Panic Room. Another favourite of mine. Written by Ryan and featuring his fantastical photos and great stories of family life and being a photographer. Awesome. I urge you to click on over once, if only to see the gorgeous little Tessa Tangerine.

Three new discoveries

Rock n Roll Bride
Wowsers!! I just love this blog. Written by the lovely pink-haired lady called Kat. You might guess it's about weddings. Rock n Roll weddings. Lovely quirky weddings. The kinds of weddings i'd like if I were to be married. Dresses, cakes, competitions, handmade goodies and best of all great photos of cool couples. A must-see for the girlies.

The Daybook
Just discovered this blog the other day via a link on Pinterest and already I'm in love with it. Written by Sidney who looks to be one very cool young lady. Her fashion style is fantastic. I wish I could have her style. Who knows I may pick up a few tip along the way. This may be one for the girlies too. Sorry guys! Oh, but her husband does post on it every now and again i gather so maybe you too can pick up some tips. I don't know why i like it because I've never been that into fashion or personal style, maybe its her big friendly smile that draws you in. Whatever it is I like it.

Oh goodness me i can't decide between these two so i'm adding them both in. I've followed them on Twitter for a little while now too and i just love these ladies' blogs.

Life as an Artistpreneur
and
And Kathleen

Mostly I look at the pictures but i love to read how other people spend their days whilst working for themselves. I like that these are two women who are fairly successful and yet not showy or anything like that. They seem very lovely.

I've just realised that the new blogs i've chosen are blogs written by women. Sassy classy and successful women. Is this my subconscious kicking in and looking for tips? Hope so!
I hope you all take a little trip over and check out these blogs. My descriptions are very sparse but you'll get a better idea if you click on over and visit them. Go now!

Angela x

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Future

Monday 14 February 2011

In exactly three weeks time I will be 34. Yes thirty four years of age. I spent my thirty third birthday on my own shopping in Glasgow. Then I came home, had a visit from my sister and the nephews and went to spin class. It was a Saturday last year. It's a Sunday this year. The day of the week when no-one wants to do anything. I'll most likely spend this birthday on my own again then at home with mum and dad because I don't seem to matter to people that much. Sure I get cards, my parents give me money which is always appreciated but I never really celebrate my birthday. My little cousins birthday is on 16th March and this year we've decided to go out for a nice meal in the weekend between our two birthdays. That's at least something to look forward to. But I never really have a celebration. I never had an 18th nor a 21st party. I had a small gathering in the house for my 30th and a small gathering in our office too, organised by Linda. Both were great. But you know, every once in a while I'd like folk to sit up and take notice. Is it too much to ask?

I sit here in my bedroom of the house where I've lived all of my life. My mum is down the stairs sleeping on the couch and my dad is reading the Sunday papers sitting on the floor. This is the usual Sunday afternoon scene. Yes, I still live at home with my parents at the age of 33. It's really none of your business why this has come to be the case. Some people know, most people don't. It just the way it is.

I wonder if this is how the rest of my life is going to pan out? Am i destined to live in the same house, in fact the same bedroom, that i have lived since i was a child. Whatever will become of me? These are the kinds of questions I ask myself regularly, ever more regularly the older i get. I scare myself.
.....

I was washing my hands in the toilet at work today and was thinking about people and what the might be doing for Valentine's day and stuff. Then I thought that maybe I'll never meet someone. It hit me like a two pound hammer blow, right between the eyes, maybe this is it for me. Do you think it is? If so I'm scared. People aren't getting any younger. What will happen when they're gone. There i'll be, alone, sitting here, still writing this blog. Oh what joy that will be. What complete and utter joy. I can't wait.

I can. I'm not settling for that you see. I'm not. I'm worth ten thousand of that No, ten billion! (this is me trying to be positive). It's not working is it?
I've had enough. And to cap it all off, the fucking stupid car has broke again!!! Front coil spring of suspension, snapped, pinged, made a few strange crunchy noises. Fucking shite Ford. I won;t buy another one.

Goodnight.
Sorry.
This post is rubbish.
Forgive me.

Angela x

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It's a Love Thing


So today is the day when the unimaginative buy tacky pinky red toned cards and give them to the one they love. Or the one they're seeing on the side. Or the one they crave but could never let them know. Or to wee brothers and sisters. Or to themselves(!).

You shouldn't have to need one specific date to show your loved one how much they mean to you. Every day should be a day filled with love if you are in a loving relationship. If its not, get the hell outta there.

I don't have a special one to share my love with, so I'm sharing it all with you.



Angela x

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Thursday Three

Saturday 12 February 2011

Three of your best traits. I don't know why I chose this as a topic. I find it so difficult o pat myself on the back and say good things about me. I know they are in me but the actual saying of it is not something that comes very natural to me. So I turned to Twitter for help - again. I came up with number 1 myself. The rest were suggestions...

1)
Loyalty. If you're lucky enough to have me as your friend then I will be loyal to you forever. Sometimes this loyalty goes unnoticed and is undeserved to a few people. It can mean that I can get very upset if you do something to hurt me but more often than not, I'll still be loyal. I will stick by you through thick and thin.

2)
Sensitivity/shyness. I would've said this was a bad trait because I am sensitive and get hurt quite often. But at the same time it makes me aware of other peoples feelings and making sure they are ok. I once saw shy people being described as selfish. Obviously it was by some social butterfly who thinks nothing of going in a room and commanding its attention and who does not clam up and have sweaty hands at the thought of venturing outside their comfort zone. Sorry I'd rather hang on the outer fringes than be then centre of attention. That way I can observe the situation.

3)
Passionate. I may not always show this side of me. Perhaps I unwittingly do after all someone else suggested this one. But I am passionate. About a number of different things. I show it in a funny way thought. I tend to rant on about it. For example at work, when i see processes not being done effectively or efficiently I usually have a rant about to to poor Linda and i realise its because i care and am passionate about my work and doing the best for the students who to me are the bread and butter of the University and why we are there. In case you hadn't noticed too I am passionate about Twitter. For no other reason than it has brought really special people into my life. People I chat to behind the scenes, people who I share the Thursday Three blogging with and other people who I have become quite attached too simply by conversing with via Twitter.

Jees this was a tough topic.
Angela xx

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Poetry Corner

Thursday 10 February 2011

I found this poem in the comment section of a very heartfelt blog post froma girl who's blog I started reading today. I liked it.

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.


Angela xx
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Thursday Three

Thursday 3 February 2011

Today's topic is Top Three iPhone/iPad Apps. Not having an iPad myself (well not one that I'm allowed to tell you about!...) mine will be about iPhone Apps. For the sake of variety I'll leave Twitter off this list.

Uno-1
Instagram
I love this little camera app and use it almost daily. You can follow folk and hav followers much in the same was as Twitter. It allows you to link to Twitter and Facebook so that your photos can be posted there too (of course you can opt out of that just before you post). You can take a photo or upload one from your camerarool and new filters seem to be getting added frequently. Quite often I'll share my Instagram photos on Twitter or Facebook but sometimes i don't and keep little hidden gems purely on there for the people that follow me to see. I love getting an insight into peoples lives through there photos. Some are really arty taken and some are nothing more than a snapshot but all mean something to the person who posted them. My favourite filters used to be X-Pro II and Lomo-Fi but there are lots more now and it depends on the photo. You can add locations to your picture and descriptions and you can comment on them and 'Like' them. The Instagram icon on the second page of my iPhone is one of the first places I head when I pick it up.  The download is free, if you haven't got it do it now.




Due-2
Bejewelled 2
I play this game every day at some point. I've been on an 'endless' game on it since i downloaded it in Oct 2009 which sees me on something like 29million point and on level 197! On the other hand, in the 'action' game I can't seem to get past level 9. The further up the levels you get, the faster the game seems to run. Sometimes I'm just way too slow and it's giving me the old 'Time Up' sign before I know it. Any enjoyable game, give it a go!




Tre-3
Chambers Thesaurus and Concise English Dictionary
These might seem like strange choices but not mbeing that great with words and stuff, these area a godsend to me. If someone tweets something with a word I'm not quite sure of i can click on it and see what they're talking about. Similarly if i want to say something and don't quite have the confidence to say i'll have a little check of the dictionary just to make sure it's the right thing that I want to say. For example, I wanted to tweet something and include the word 'surreptitiously'. I had a inkling about what it meant but wasn't quite 100% confident to hit the send button before having a quick check. Of course I was right but these apps are my safety blanket, just to make sure.

Angela xx

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Thursday Three: the topics

Wednesday 2 February 2011

We, as in those of us who take part in the weekly Thursday Three blog posting session, have struggled to come up with topics lately so i thought i'd be the one to decide on topics for the next few weeks. Then one of you lot can come up with a few too. Fairs fair afterall! So here are my suggestions...

Thursday 3rd February - Three favourite iPhone/iPad apps (seeing as they're all the rage right now)
Thursday 10th February - Three of your best traits
Thursday 17th February - Three favourite blogs
Thursday 24th February - Three things you want to do before you die! (It's not as morbid as it sounds).

After that its up to you guys to suggest topics. Are you in? let me know.

Angela xx