just a short time ago yes? (Yes I KNOW last year was 2007... that just
demonstrates how short 2007 seemed... - and why am I even explaining
that?) Last year was a bit of a hoot... well perhaps hoot isn't the
right word - it was at times interesting, at times sad, at times
hilarious, and at times frustrating as hell.
Last year I: Had many Awards Shows; became a Razzie-Award voting Member;
rejoined the AFI; Travelled interstate to 6 Major cities, worked on 11
major events; spent over 2 months away from Sydney; got back into really
going out places and saw some great acts; lost 2 people I knew well;
missed someone who was away working more than I was; got dumped; met
some awesome people; got into microblogging; deflected the slings and
arrows; got my past 3 years taxes done; changed housemates a couple of
times; helped change the country's political direction (allegedly);
fixed my credit rating; lost track of my reputation's shenanigans (but
laughed at the absurdity of what it had allegedly been up to); finished
APEC (now in my top 3 jobs ever); started widening my more regular
social circle; started work at Sydney Uni; had 50+ through the place at
Boxing Day; spent awesome New Year's Eve with special people; and made
some lifestyle choices which I am very happy with.
Dec 25 - Xmas Day: was spent (as I normally do) with Xmas movies and the
kitties and with a later champagne-fuelled visit from Bec;
Dec 26 - Boxing Day: 8 bottles of champagne, 8 bowls of punch-of-doom, 6
of spirits, a side of lamb, beef, chicken, vegetarian food, 1 ham, 2
chickens, 1 spa, intoxicants, 50+ people, 24+ hours, FTW!;
Dec 27 - er... MORE Boxing Day (see above) - 1 phone which became wet =
not so good - guests who tidy the place up = awesome;
Dec 28 - Recovery (kinda);
Dec 29 - Assemblage 23, at the Gaelic, with Jared and Barbara;
Dec 30 - Recovery (again, kinda). Day spent lounging about with kitties,
Kate & Barbara;
Dec 31 - NYE - Surprise visit to Sydney by Lisa, the Cahill Expressway
with Lisa, Imogene and Michelle (lost the last 2 just before midnight),
fireworks of awesome (it's great to pop someone's NYE fireworks cherry
with an awesome view), many 'Happy New Year!' Texts along with many
missed or failed ones (due to network congestion and spa-ified phone),
Black Cherry and the inherent good fun there, post-club Spa-goodness
with Lisa, Miss Kate, Brian, Leeanne, Dom, Kate, and Bec.
Jan 1 - NYD - Continuation of the post-club Spa-frivolity, thence
(finally) to sleep (though it was hot and muggy and so sleep was broken
badly).
So, all-in-all it was a non-working busy yet oddly relaxing week/end.
Almost time to get back into the Events In Sydney postings for the Year,
updating my calendar, and (overall) getting back into the swing of
things.
There are many things happening this coming year, some which should be
good, some which will be interesting, and some which will try my
patience (in a broadening outlook and expanding experience kinda way).
Finally, to finish off:
I took this meme from Ms Servalan... interesting yes... however it
disturbs me somewhat. In the past couple of years I keep running into a
thing called 'privilege' whether it's male-defined,
economically-defined, race-defined or whatever. Perhaps I am taking the
terminology/issue a little incorrectly, but to me bringing some of the
inherent issues contained in such 'descriptions to the fore is a good
thing. However, whenever I see/hear the term being used, it seems that
it is being used to instil a sense of guilt to those who are reading
such lists/issues. Cat-amongst-pigeons time: I don't. I don't feel
guilty about being who/what I am at all (including the inherent
WASP-iness). Why? Because I believe that I haven't done anything within
those issues to warrant any guilt. Just being who I am (be it
male/Euro-decent/WASP etc...) doesn't automatically make me a candidate
for feeling guilty about things done by others of the same
descriptor-boxes. I mean that's just the same sort of epithet-profiling
as calling someone a [insert racial/sexist slur of your choice here].
This list definitely looks at 1st world upbringing and to be honest most
I can say I didn't have, which in the (sometimes rhetoric-fuelled)
debates on privilege makes me amused at how 'good' I've had it. In black
& white I didn't have it THAT good, but I wasn't left wanting either, so
I'm not sure where it fits in, nor why these mems or discussions leave
me feeling as thugh I should feel guilty for something...
Still, the list is here along with appropriate nods to the creator:
From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and
privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen,
Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State
University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you
PLEASE acknowledge their copyright. Ms Servalan amended this list
slightly for an Australian audience. If you are in the US, use
badgerbag's original list.
Bold the true statements.
1. Father went to university
2. Father finished university
3. Mother went to university
4. Mother finished university
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
(my Grandfather was allegedly the dean Of Engineering at Edinburgh
University in Soctland)
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
(I take this to mean 'class' as in social class)
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
(I seem to recall a lot of books but I never numbered them. My childhood
home was my Grandmother's house)
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons (outside of school) of any kind before you turned 18
(Does being in a Police Boys Band, and in a Children's Theatre [both
heavily Government subsidised] count?)
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons (outside of school) before you
turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed
positively
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your university
costs (costs after scholarships)
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
(A church-based one when I was pretty young and that was 4 times)
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
(I believe so, though anecdotal evidence says not all)
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single family house
(My Grandmother's house for a time, after that when made to move, no)
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left
home
25. You had your own room as a child
(Yes, but not always)
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in any higher level Year 11 or Year 12 course with a
view to entering University
28. Had your own TV in your room in High School
29. Owned a mutual fund or superannuation fund in High School or College
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
(My Grandmother did this, yes)
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family
(We had a kerosene heater so we knew how much that cost)
--
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