Carla Gypsygirl's Blurty

Looking out

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I really love this picture. I took this photo about two weeks ago at Sydney's Rozelle Markets. Usually, I would be a bit more modest about a photo that I had taken myself, but with this picture, I feel like I didn't really have to do anything to make it look good. The masks were just lying there in the boxes, looking cool. I felt as though I was stealing when I took this photo! Lots of people are selling masks at Sydney markets at the moment. I quite like masks, they are so theatrical and glamorous. I used to carry a cloth mask around in my bag, just in case I needed to put on a disguise and rescue someone, like a superhero would.

So, two weeks ago, I started my new job as a receptionist. I have never been a receptionist before, and have been fascinated by the social nuances that revolve around the role. You get to learn everyone's secrets, because you open their mail and transfer their calls. Also, people often think that you are not doing anything, so they come over and tell you all about their lives. One of the girls at work said that she views receptionists and hairdressers as people she can confide in. I've noticed that a lot of the blokes also seem to think that I am just there for eye candy. That's not to say that I think I'm hot, because I don't. I have just noticed that a lot of the older men seem to treat me like a little plaything. Not only do they look at me in a sleazy way, they also like to call me 'darl' and 'sweetie'. This really annoys me. I hate it when people don't take me seriously. That's a yucky thing about reception and admin work...people are always under the impression that you don't have much work to do, so they give you MORE work, and because I am at the bottom of the work food chain, I can't delegate the work to anyone else!

But it is also really nice to be working again, and not slopping around feeling sad for myself. I like going off to the office every day and typing things. Because I work in the foyer area, it means that I have the nicest and biggest desk, with a really nice view from the window. And I don't have to share my space with anyone! I have realised, in fact, that the company I work for is actually very nice, and that the management treat us well. The following things helped me to come to this conclusion:

1. There are very delicious chocolate biscuits in the fridge, and there are cream-filled biscuits in the biscuit jar. This indicates to me that the bosses are very generous and nice. Other places I have worked for have had crappy Morning Coffee biscuits, or whitener instead of milk. Poor morning tea snacks such as those indicate that the employer is stingy.
2. There is a dishwasher in the kitchen. I like this, because most people at work don't wash their dishes or cutlery properly. I had a particularly bad experience once at my old job, when, after eating a fruit salad, I noticed that the fork I had been using had a bit of dried crud from someone else's meal.
3. The nice biscuits and dishwasher and are housed in a small eating area, with a table with nice condiments on it. This means that the bosses don't expect you to work through your lunch, and also, I don't have to put up with yucky food smells while I work.
4. When it is someone's birthday, they get an expensive, gourmet cake to share with everyone. This contrasts to one of my previous jobs, where the important people would get nice cakes, and everyone else would get some factory-made, gelatinous slop from The Cheesecake Shop.

I realise, of course, that all of these symbols revolve around food. But a girl who eats well, works well...I think so, anyway.

Actually, quite a few exciting things have been happening. In brief:

> I got an invitation to the cast and crew screening of the movie I filmed ! I can't believe they finished it so quickly. I even managed to smuggle a second invitation for Geoff. I am excited to see the movie, but also nervous. My own expectations are higher, because I became so emotionally involved in the story and experience. And, of course, what if my scenes all get cut out?
> I finished reading the final Harry Potter book. I felt like a bit of a dunce, because so many children finished reading the book in one weekend, and it took me a week and a half. I was so paranoid that I would find out what happens in the end. Whenever anyone mentioned Harry Potter, I would run away, stick my fingers in my ears and start singing to myself. One of my friends told me that she had finished the book, and I screamed, "Don't look at me, don't look at me! I don't want to see your facial expression- then I will know what happened!" Miraculously, everything that happened in the book was a surprise for me, and I finished reading the series feeling quite fulfilled, content and whimsical. I enjoyed it very much. I think I took the Harry Potter series for granted...I thought that it would never end. But I like the ending that J.K. gave to Harry, so all up, I am a happy reader.
> I got my eyelashes permed last night. One of my friends asked me, "Is this some weird, Asian girl thing?" And unfortunately, I must say yes. Most Asian people have stick-straight eyelashes, and many people have asked me, "How can you see, with such straight eyelashes?" So last night, I lay down in a Korean beauty salon and had my eyelashes Scotchtaped to my eyelids. Chemicals were then dripped over my lashes, and I lay still for half an hour. I expected to open my eyes and realise that I had blinded myself for the sake of beauty. But no, when the lady handed me a diamante-studded hand mirror, I saw that my eyelashes looked twice as long. I don't know if I will do it all the time, but it sure beats pinching my eyelids with a metal eyelash curler every day. Plus, it's nice to get some beauty stuff tested out before my wedding. I guess everyone has their own beauty hang-ups- like their skin, or their ears, or their legs, etc. It's funny, because when most people tell me their physical insecurities, I have usually never noticed them in the first place. Most people hadn't noticed my eyelashes were straight to begin with, too.

Take care, loyal readers! Until next time!

Carla