| 2:54p |
Getting Serious
Oh readers, so much to tell, so much to tell!
First off: I, Carla Gypsygirl, WAS ON THE RADIO on Sunday night. Oh my. I went on as a favour for my radio-producer friend (who is different from my record producing friends like Tommy Mottola and LA Reid...har har, I wish), but it ended rather disastrously. Of course, I had the last laugh. Well, not really, but I did laugh a lot at the end. I will post a transcript of my brief radio appearance very soon. You know the whole 15 minutes of fame thing? Well, do you think that that is a definite amount? Because the couple of minutes that I was on the radio were not the minutes I would like to be remembered by.
Okay, I'm into week three now of being unemployed. But this is The Week That I Get Serious. I mean, hello, I have begun to learn Adobe InDesign- how much more serious could you GET? For those not versed in the intriguing world of design software, InDesign is a glorious (so I am told) program where you can design multi-page things, like magazines and brochures. When I was at uni, I had my heart set on becoming an illustrator. So, of course, I eschewed learning many a good design program while I instead spent my time up to my elbows in paint, bits of cardboard, photography chemicals, etc. Hence my current position: busting to become a Serious Designer, but without Serious Design Program Knowledge. Anyway (don't fall asleep now!), learning InDesign so far has been good. It's a little strange being all by myself with only a textbook and monitor for company, but at the same time, it's a lot better than the computer lessons I had at uni. Seriously, I would often wish that I had brought a pillow into class, because the desk can be very uncomfortable to sleep on.
How can one sum up the previous two weeks? I experienced many alternating emotions. The top few were panic, complacency, laziness and plain old weirdness. Mostly, however, I just made food. I went mental in the kitchen. I made three batches of chocolate fudge, two batches of toffee (one that became a disgusting, stinking burnt lump, and one that was so delicious that we licked the utensils), one gourmet orange and hazelnut cake, one humungous batch of hazelnut cookies (I made, like, eighty biscuits all up, AND I iced them!) and one roast. Why this sudden onslaught of delicious cookery? Well, back in the day when I was a high-flying design grub, I hardly ever had the time to make anything yummy because I was always on the bus, at work or sleeping. When my mum asked me if I got annoyed at being in the kitchen for so long, I cheerfully replied, "No way! It is SO much better than spending time with my ex-boss!"
Most notable, however, was the production of ONE HUNDRED (okay, about eighty) cups of jelly, complete with plastic spoons set into them. My little brother Zac provided wonderful assistance. You see, at my church, after the evening service, we have supper. Supper used to consist of a few mangy biscuits and maybe some cake, if we were lucky. Then one night, the minister got up in front of the church and said, "Look, we need to talk about supper. It's not very good. No-one stays for it. Either we make it better, eat at home, or we get rid of it all together. What do you guys think?" Hands shot up, suggestions were made, and then somehow (no-one remembers where from) a fabulous idea arose. A supper competition! Each Bible study group will compete in a competition to make the most delicious, exciting, wonderful supper ever ever ever in the whole entire world. The prize? Glory, happy churchgoers and a shiny trophy.
Last week was my Bible study group's turn. We decided that our theme would be an Unbirthday Party, just like the Mad Hatter's in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I decided that jelly in cups were appropriate party food. Carly made rocky road and Cheezels, Tanya bought those cute Wizz Fizz marshmallows in icecream cones, Jamie and Tim brought cake and BALLOONS. We spent the beginning of the evening service hiding away, blowing up balloons. The balloons had "Happy Birthday" written on them, and Carly got busy writing "UN" in front of the word "Birthday". Finally, after much nervous waiting, our time for announcing the supper had arrived. Note, of course, that no-one ever really announces supper. That's just weird. But it was a special time. So after the final song, Carly and I marched down the centre fo the church. We were carrying balloons and we were wearing sparkly party hats. I grabbed the microphone and shouted, "Hello!" The congregation said hello back to me, which I always find weird. Then I blew my little party whistle. It was one of those whistles that have paper that scrolls out when you blow it. Then I said this:
"On behalf of our Bible study, which meets at Chris and Katrina's place, I would like to welcome you all to our UNBIRTHDAY PARTY! The theme of our supper is an Unbirthday Party- it's everyone's birthday! So eat our food and have fun, yaaaaaaaaaay!"
And then, to my horror, the piano player started to play some chords. He smiled at me encouragingly. So I was forced to sing a spontaneous Happy Birthday to everyone. Fortunately, the congregation sang along with me. Of course, you know I exaggerate when I say "with horror"- I was secretly stoked! So, after that, my Bible study group and I handed around food on platters and smiled a lot. It was so much fun. I even saw the trophy- it's a little wooden plaque with a picture of a waiter on it. There a smaller gold plaques glued on it. And I tell you, this year, my Bible study group's name is going to be on it. IT IS! And if it isn't, well, I'll kidnap the trophy for a ransom of chocolate!
Until later, my friends! I have lots of jelly cups left over, so drop by and eat one if you wish...
Love,
Carla Gypsygirl xxx |