A Random Game

Detoxinista.com. What a glorious resource.  I gig the innovative recipes and conversational tone. My fave posts are Megan’s What-I-Ate-Wednesday musings, where she shares what she eats in a day with an explanation as to why. As a nutritionist (and curious human), the psychology and sociology of how and why we eat intrigues me.

When I desire easy reading, I suss her blog archives. This morning I stumbled upon this post from several years ago and thought what better way to streamline the FUN than to join in the ’11 Random Things’ Game?

11 Random Things About Myself …

1. I am a chirpy morning person – when all is well and I’m in routine, I waking at sunrise and heading outside for some exercise. The sky at sunrise is magical; vivid pinks, oranges, purples and blues (do I sound like a wanker yet? Don’t answer that). Plus, it’s quiet and I can hear the ocean, which brings back childhood memories of staying at our family shack, where we’d wake to the smell of salt and the sound of waves.

2. I can’t do coffee in the arvo – I am a naturally bright-eyed human. Caffeine and I aren’t the best of bed fellows. I do just fine with cacao. I guess the calming magnesium balances the stimulating caffeine. Give me tea or coffee and I retire to bed only to lie there and resist belting out Adele ballads. “Hello … don’t sleep. I was wondering if you would like to help me count some sheep?” Late-night singing sessions seem to be induced by arvo expresso shots. It’s best for my family’s sanity if I steer clear of stimulating beverages.

Aged 20. Still Cartwheeling. The exact definition of not needing coffee!

3. I am addicted to the Les Mills Classes at my Local Gym – I never felt that gyms were for me. Who wants to work out in a smelly, sweaty environment where trainers bang on about burning calories? Excuse me whilst I swallow past words. My dad got a membership deal last year where a second person could join  for less than $5 a week. He said it was such a bargain that even if I only went once a fortnight it would still be worth it. I advocate not knocking something until you try it. Except oysters, but that’s another matter. Anyhow, I’ve slowly been experimenting with the fitness classes and love the endorphin high. It’s like being a 10-year old all over again. ALL the energy ALL the time? Who knew that was still a thing?

4. I am writing a book – it’s still very much in its infancy, but hopefully (if I stick to my goal of spending at least 2 hours on it each week) in a year or so, it will be ready to pitch to various publishing companies. One of my best friends is being my very honest critic at the moment, and so far the content has been very well-received. I know I’m best known for being the girl that overcame medical disempowerment and mental health issues, all whilst battling a life-threatening liver disease, and this book will dive into this period of my life for sure, though I want it to be a hilarious take on serious topics. There’s humour in healing. Health can be hilarious.

5. I am slightly superstitious – I may own and love a gorgeous black cat; Little Miss Tootsie. I gave up obsessively not stepping on cracks years ago (though the urge still finds me at times). However, I don’t walk under ladders and say touch wood a lot and then proceed to place my hand on the nearest timber object and sometimes – if I’m not looking -almost slap a male in the genital region which is both ironic & hilarious.

My darling girl – no amount of superstition could take my love away

6. I talk with my hands to the point of hazard – Speaking of touching the wrong type of wood. In year 12 psychology I said something worthy of energetic insurance. Without first looking behind me, I spun around to touch the nearest wooden desk. A male classmate walked past at the same time and I was inches away from touching his wood. As it happens, because no wood touching actually occurred, this would become the funniest inside joke that my bestie Sara and I would share to date.

7. I despise steak – I don’t get the hype. It’s heavy, chewy and dense. I’d rather get my protein from peanut butter any day. I do like the smell of it cooking though, especially when fried onions are involved. The only red meats I really enjoy are gelatinous cuts close to the bone, such as ox tail and lamb shank (and even then the really meaty parts of the animal don’t do anything for me). If slow cooking didn’t exist, I’d be a vegetarian (apart from the occasional chicken thigh or melt-in-the-mouth fish fillet).

It’s either slow cooked or no meat at all! 

8. As a kiddlet, I was OBSESSED with the Titanic – After seeing the James Cameron classic for the first time in grade 4, I developed a deep (pardon the pun) fascination with the infamous ship wreck. I read every book and website I could locate on the topic, watched and re-watched all the special features on the Titanic DVD and took great pride in grooming my hair to look like Kate Winslet’s Rose. Then in 2010, Mum and I travelled to Melbourne to visit the Titanic Exhibition at the Museum.

9. As much as I love a good Adelaide meme, I adore our big country town – The Melbourne and Sydney crew take the piss out of our humble city and to be fair, our state government does give them cause … *cough* state wide blackouts *cough*. Jokes aside, the landscape is diverse; beautiful beaches down the road and a short drive to rolling hills and valleys. We are a peaceful part of the country, close to holiday towns for impromptu getaways and nothing is too far. In my experience, a 40 minute drive is ages away. I hear this is a nothing in other capital cities.

And to think that the morning this photo was taken I’d been at the beach – polar opposites only 40 minutes away

10. I always start assignments early – I’ll never be one of those people that belts something out the night before it’s due. I figure the earlier I start, the earlier I finish and can spend more time writing, exploring, cooking or hanging out with mates.

11. I’ve never been overseas – unless the ferry trip to Kangaroo Island counts. I’m still working on attaining the health status worthy of travelling abroad. Currently, my body hates planes, being out of routine for too long and getting overtired – it let’s me know it too, so even trips interstate can be plagued with nausea, colds, constipation, diarrhoea and all-out lethargy. I don’t think I’ll ever be an avid traveller, but I do have two destinations on my bucket list; New York City, for the buzz, bustle, culture and bright lights and Asia; for the waterfalls and coconuts.

  1. What’s the meal you eat most often? My green smoothie at breakfast because I have the same one every morning.
  2. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Love Actually. Honourable mentions going to Morning Glory, Nancy Drew, You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless In Seattle.
  3. What made you want to start a blog? I’d just finished year 12 and was feeling a bit lost. Plus I love a good rant and there was only so much my Facebook friends could put up with.
  4. Do you have any pets? I’m a cooky cat lady. I’ve had Tabby and Tootsie (brother and sister) since they were kittens and I’ve “adopted” my stepdad’s cat Carly as my own.
  5. What’s your favorite workout? Can I have a three-way-tie? Jogging for cardio, CX for core and Yoges for flexibility.
  6. Name one thing on your “bucket list.” To find my soulmate and marry them under a waterfall. Okay that’s two things.
  7. Name one “weird” thing that you do. Just one? I inspect my poo every day, just to make sure everything’s looking formed and healthy … but isn’t that normal?
  8. Your favorite city/place to visit? Malanda in Far North Queensland, Lake Eacham get around me!
  9. Anywhere you still dream of visiting? We’ve covered this; Asia and New York.
  10. Best purchase you’ve ever made? I’d say my Vitamix, but papa bear bought that one for me. I guess my yoga teacher training investment. It was a bloody intense time in my life, but now that I have my certificate, I love earning money doing what I love.
  11. What’s the one thing you would change in the world if you could? Eliminate pollution – off-gassing and landfill be gone! Allergy rates, cancers, autoimmunity and global warming could potentially become history. I have no idea how I’d do this. Thankfully how wasn’t part of the question.

Now I’m passing the questions over to you? Comment below (or on Facebook) with one (or as many as you’d like) random things about YOURself …