disOrientation!

Today was my first day as an Educator with Alzheimer's Australia.  Now I've nothing but admiration for the way they did our orientation today (there is another new Educator that has started with me), but there's something about orientation that is just so overwhelming.  My new workplace occupies 4 buildings on two sites in metropolitan Melbourne (they have country sites too apparently).  There are about 75 staff, of whom I think we were introduced to at least half, and hundreds of volunteers (there were only a couple of them around today, thank goodness!!)

We were taken on a comprehensive tour, and then shuffled about between various staff to be introduced to the various aspects of the organisation.  Now this is far superior to being stuck in a stuffy room all day listening to dull presentations (I've had too many orientation days like that) where the highlight of the day is fire and emergency training becaucause you get to use a fire extinguisher!

Still, it didn't prevent me feeling like I was suffering information overload by lunchtime!  It didn't help that I tossed and turned through a sweltering night last night (the temperature barely dipped below 30 degrees!).  Tonight promises better as the cool change has swept in.

Today felt good though, despite the information overload!  The staff seems lovely and helpful, and I just got a good vibe about the place.  Plus we have three more days of exclusive orientation and most of the rest of this month is orientation, really, as we look in and the assist with education sessions.  I think my first session as a facilitator is in early February.  I think it helps that the year hasn't really got into full swing as yet, and everyone is nice and relaxed after the Christmas break.  Many people only returned to work this week.

Well, I sure need my beauty sleep and my brain needs unwinding, so I'll sign off for today.  See you soon! Tschuss xo

Beginning

Next Tuesday I start a new job, in a new field and I'm both excited and a little nervous.  No bad thing I'm sure as it will give me the edge I need to put all my energy in the right place as I start and attempt to make a good impression!

I'm hoping that this will be a good year and it has begun well... though its only the second week of January, so there are another 11.5 months to go, and just as well.

Half-way through the year I turn 30, so not only is it a new decade as we go into the "teens" but I leave my topsy-turvey 20s behind too.  I didn't want to turn 30 last year, but on reflection I'll be glad to leave my 20s behind.  Just like the "roaring 20s" almost 100 years ago, mine seemed to be between two wars as well!  Life can be like that at times I guess, and I think I had a delayed adolescence as well.  I didn't have the chance to be rebelious and naughty in my teens, so keep it all up for my 20s.  At least I can say I've learned a lot... let's just hope I remember my lessons!!

Well, I just wanted to check in, 'cause I know I've been too quiet for a long while and you'll all have given up on me!  I'll make no committment to blog more regularly, though I will try.  For the next few weeks at least I'll be pouring myself wholeheartedly into my new job.  I'm to be an Educator with Alzheimers Australia.  It should be interesting if nothing else!

I hope that you enjoyed the festive season too... I spent lovely times with friends and family and tasting new experiences...  How about you? 

Ciao for now, see you again soon....

Tapping today....

Tap, tap tapping.... to be precise.

Not only on my key pad... though it taps a quietly rhythmic tune.... tap, tap, tap-tap-tap

No, and I'm not a "so you think you can dance" kind of tap-dancing gal either... I just love music, and I've been skipping my "Song of the week!" a lot lately.

So... just for a change.... Prior to trying to regain a routine....  I thought I'd share with you a few songs I love to dance too.  I might even let you in on what kind of dance I do, or even share a "gold" Joce making herself look silly moment... read on to find out!

Tap one: No, not the hot-water tap, though music in the shower is good...  First it needs a beat.  Drums, bass guitar, thumping keys... check?

Tap two: Chords... or is it cords??  The intro... those telling couple of chords or notes that tell you to get off ur butt (or put aside that job)... the next few moments are dedicated to...

Tap three: Tapping!  Do you sit and tap you foot?  Do you slap your knee?  Do you click your fingers, or even clap your hands?  You do!  That's tapping part one....

Tap four:  Another use for joints... Neck? (No, I'm not a headbanger generally)....  Shoulders, elbows or wrists? (Well if your clapping or clicking you're in already)... mmm What about your back, hips, knees, ankles?  Many would say this is where the music ends and the dancing begins..?!  Tee, hee... I "won" an award as a primary schooler for my "groovy hips"!!

Tap five: hopefully no one is watching by this point... is there a partner to hand?  A towel, broom, mop, vacuum hose... or even a mirror... The chorus, or the riff is especially important...

And you bow... or give yourself a round of applause... and and encore?  Gotta love the CD player.  Though like the old LPs it can skip a little is you get too enthusiastic!!

What do you like tap, tap, tapping to??  Or more appropriately... what CAN'T you help tap, tap, tapping along to.  The best thing about doing it alone... no one laughs at your daggy moves!

Here's a few songs I enjoy tapping to:

• OK Go's - Oh, lately it's so quiet...
• Spearhead's - Stay Human (All the freaky people make the beauty of the world)
• The Cat Empire's - The Rhythm
• The Sleepy Jackson's - Good Dancers 

Too much thinking!  The CD player is prepped and the volume is... loud enough!  So it's tap, tap, tap-tap-tap till next time. Tshuss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjNCSw41QSA&feature=related  (Sleepy Jackson)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb8MvKvPVYw  (Spearhead)

There's a great clip of The Cat Empire and OK Go's iconic routine of tredmills you can search and view at youtube as well... have fun... dance like no one is watching!!

Five Words... and a few more

One of my favourite bloggers did this... so I asked them to send me five words too:

1. Fragrance - Breathe in - sun ripened peaches, fresh air dried laundry (especially wool wash), and my favourite frangrance of all: Australian Rain (see water) - Breathe out.
2. Compassion - To wear my heart on my sleeve, and to never forget why I am here or where I am either.  To remember how blessed I am and how that blessing can be shared.
3. Home - I am a South-eastern Australian, I was born here, I live here now, I feel like I belong here (most days).  However, Home IS where my Heart longs to be... and so I won't get home for a good while yet I hope.  I have a home, but I am also homeless, I am on a journey destination known... route less clear!
4. Goals - In Australian Rules Football = AFL = Footy! - There are four goalposts - 2 short ones on the outside and 2 long ones inside (in a straight line).  "Kick it straight" = 6 points (a goal) "anything that is outside including any post" = 1 point (a behind, don't ask!).  My goals are much like Aussie Rules Footy: If they're aimed straight they produce blessing, any other goals less so... oh and if you kick it wide - it's "out on the full" and possession goes to the opposing side.  I could say so, so much more about goals, with more analogies of various ball games... Aim for the stars, if you fall flat the view is still interesting?!?!  Goalsetting God's way is fraught with difficulty.
5. Water - my country is among the driest on earth and has been so for a long, long time... only now are we realising what a precious resource water is.  Humans are 75% or so water.  Melbourne (city) water tastes the best in the world - really, it does.  Grass goes from vivid green & flowering, though yellowing to brown and patchy, through to dead and dusty.  Humans and other living things complete this cycle much, much more quickly and fatally.  And yet, one of my old, old (97) patients suffered hyponatremia last summer, she recovered and was sent back to her own home to live independently!  Lastly, I love the taste of water, the smell of expectant and recently fallen rain (it has something to do with the dryness of Australian air, I'm told, as well as Australian plants, I'm sure.  It's always my top-missed fragrance when I am O/S)  The feel of cold water running down from lips to stomach (on a hot day) and also the warmth of a hot beverage warming from lips to gut.  I am so, so fortunate to have grown up in a place where water is what it is (and is cared for).  Now it is also treasured and that is good too.

I see a picture (sorry I can't find one, so you'll have to go with me here.....)

It's a beautiful Melbourne (note 1 Melbourne is situated at the top of a natural bay of sea water and fed by springs and a river from the hills that surround it, many, many years ago it would have looked a lot more like a wetland, than it does today!) It is a beautiful "Melbourne" day and I'm here beside the Yarra River (note 2 It's well known for flowing slowly with a colour closer to brown/grey than blue or green) alongside the free gas BBQs.  All my family is here with me (Roger, Gaynor, Tim, Amy, Glenda, Tom + any others too).  We're having a BBQ/picnic... I have so, so many good memories attached to this place, I could stay here for ages (note 3 the Yarra and parklands beside it host a wide variety of interesting things to see and do).... but now it's your turn.  Read the instructions and then give it a go.  I'd like to hear about what you "see"....

Find a comfortable place to sit.  Minimise distractions, like music, telephones, TVs, etc.  Take a deep breath in and breath out slowly.  Close your eyes.  Breath in - Picture green grass and moving water - breath out.  Breath in - what do you see? - Breath out (What do you hear, smell, etc repeat as required and until you have a vivid picture).  Breath in - are you alone or with others? - out, in - if yes, who? (if no, what's there with you?) - out, in - what are you doing? - out, in - stay here for a little while, take it in, enjoy it - all the while breathing in and out slowly with your eyes closed.  Now it's time to pack up:  Keep breathing slowly but as you feel comfortable open your eyes and return to your chair in the room you started. (Insert smile)

That cycle should take a minimum of two minutes and a maximum of 10.  Feel free to return here any time you need to.  I'd also like to hear if it worked, and what you saw, but only as you're comfortable......

Hope... and piece... and prayers... please!!!!

I'm sorry I've not been blogging much lately...

1. Too busy doing "people" in real life!!!
2. Moping
3. Thing I want to write about but can't yet
4. Moping
5. Too busy & tired to think straight...

That's about enough excuses.... I'm a little grief-stricken at the moment... so my head & emotions have got me in a spin...

STILL (and here's that peace I been longing for....)

It's good to remember the Hope we have.  It's good to remember our Faithful Father... It's good to be thankful... and I am, for so, so much...

BUT...

no, Still.... 

I'm trying not to yes, but... It's a recipe for an unquiet mind, restless soul and lack of peace

I want the peace that passes understanding....

not a little piece of the peace ;)

Michael Card wrote a beautiful song about Hope too... it's my song for today... I'll get back to the song of the week soon.

Please pray for us all (Ridleys)... we need prayers too.

I'm so thankful to my Faithful God & more especially thankful for the faithful saints he's given us all.  Prayer is such a wonderful, wonderful thing...

isn't it?

It's not Wednesday but... I still sing!

Sorry for not posting sooner folks... I've been a little out of sorts this week (All that goes up, must come down.... sort of thing)  Added to that, the fact that I haven't had all that much time to spend online.  

It was my wonderful Mum's birthday on Monday, and the first we've been able to celebrate in her presence for three years!  It actually made it almost more difficult... no dispatching "interflora" this year... I had to choose a card.  I chose the one that made me smile the widest.  I think it went down well enough.  I was the only child who managed to give Mum a wrapped present too; so I think that earn't at least one brownie point!!  The card... and my "two bobs" about Mum in today's post will just be "I love you!"  Hopefully some new photos to come in the not too distant future....  Here's an "old" one:

Now, back to "song of the week"... The other reason I haven't been spending time online this week is because we "opened" up the storage that Mum & Dad (and then me) put away in 2006.  It was actually delivered to my sister's house on Mum's birthday... so I guess that could also be counted as a present??  I was a little disappointed to discover that I didn't put any boxes into storage... but then again, if I haven't needed it for the last 3 years... I can continue living without it, can't I?  (Most times my head says, rather resignedly I admit, yes - I can!  The heart is catching up....)

And so to the song I sang most heartily as we unpacked... (we were at my sister's place and she has an ipod deck... and mutiple ipod's as Mum & Dad each have one)  Mum requested The Seeker's (a huge Aussie band from the 60s) and I followed that up by requesting Michael Card's album Poiema.  I love most of the tracks on this album, it has a real celtic feel to it with the music as well.  Still, in thinking about the stuff we don't need... the following song spoke to me most clearly

"Things We Leave Behind"

There sits Simon, so foolishly wise
proudly he's tending his nets
Then Jesus calls, the boats drift away
and all that he owns he forgets
But more than the nets he abandoned that day,
he found that his pride was soon drifting away, and
It's hard to imagine the freedom we find
from the things we leave behind

Matthew was mindful of taking the tax,
and pressing the people to pay
Hearing the call, he responded in faith
and followed the Light and The Way
Leaving the people so puzzled he found,
the greed in his heart was no longer around and
It's hard to imagine the freedom we find
from the things we leave behind

Every heart needs to be set free,
from posessions that hold it so tight
'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own,
It's the power to do what is right
With Jesus, our only posession,
then giving becomes our delight, and
We can't imagine the freedom we find
from the things we leave behind

We show a love for the world in our lives
by worshipping goods we posess
Jesus said "lay all your treasures aside, and
love God above all the rest
'Cause when we say 'no' to the things of the world
we open our hearts to the love of the Lord and
its hard to imagine the freedom we find
from the things we leave behind 

Oh, and it's hard to imagine the freedom we find
from the things we leave behind

(If you want to hear this song... look it up on YouTube... there's a live version of Michael doing it for his "Scribbling in the Sand" project a few years back... enjoy!)

And just imagine the freedom you'd find... from the the things you leave behind...?

P.S. I'm off on family holidays from the 14th to the 31st... so I'm not sure if I'll get to post much in that time... if I don't, rest assured I'll make it up to you all after the 1st!

....on Job... or why "ignorance is bliss"

I'm not asleep... I'm watching the "Hottest 100 of all time 2009 top 50 video clips" on RAGE... keeping an eye on the Cricket, doing housework, chatting to friends on skype, texting, calling, leaving messages... 

all I really need is to talk to someone... so I've been avoiding talking to the only one who really hears all day!

Why?

So that gets me to thinking about Job, and suffering... again.  I do not like bad news, and along with much good stuff of late... there's definately been some bad stuff.  It's not that I can't get through it.. I even chose not to strangle the woman who (upon giving me bad news) remarked... "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" (If I could only tell you what HASN'T KILLED ME in the last 12 years, or so....) NOT HELPFUL, but thank you. :P

I want to be a child... angry, wingeing, crying, worrying, moping, wishing, dreaming, playing...

As an adult I know that most of the first things are conterproductive... but do I care? Not in the slightest.  I feel pain, and God is strong enough to handle this initial response of mine.  It's not new, we've been here before and I'm sure we'll come right back here again, and again...

Until I really learn the truth of 1 Peter 5:7 

I only know this verse because we sing it regularly in church!

Cast your burdens upon Jesus for he cares for you.

Still... when you think about it... Ignorance is bliss.... if I didn't know what I do... it wouldn't hurt nearly as much as it will!!!  And I come full circle again.... must be time for bed.

Please pray for my Dad, Mum, me and my family.  I want us to treasure these few weeks together for all they're worth... not worrying about what we cannot change... preparing ourselves well for what may come... but leaving the rest to our Father.  He's never failed me yet! (after all) <><