My Gentle Life

Hair and other deeply superficial issues

2007-11-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

I've cut my hair off short. OK it wasn't THAT long to start with, but now its an ultra-short bob ie. to the bottom of my ears. Still coming to terms with it. Its ONLY hair, but somehow the style of one's hair seems critical to expressing who you are - at least, who you are this month. On the topic of appearances, I read a great quote - 'Fashion is what is available, style is what you choose'. And apparently I have chosen to have short hair again...though I think the hairdresser chose it actually as I don't remember asking for it to be THIS short. Still, since it costs so bloody much to get it done due the thick and unruly nature of my hair, at least it means a few extra weeks between cuts.

Apples with Adds!

2007-10-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Even the fruit has adds! I noticed that the apples have a much larger than usual sticker stuck to them - and its because each apple has an add for one of the Spiderman movies on it! I'm not sure whether to be amused or horrified. Those marketers are getting more cunning by the day! It really is an evil art!

My rapper name

2007-10-10T18:30:00.001-07:00

I've just had the disturbing realisation that if I was a rapper I would be H Hump. Better not give up my day job!

Going Green

2007-10-10T17:44:00.001-07:00

I've decided to join the Australian Green Party. Basically they are for -

Ecological Sustainability
Social & Economic Justice
Peace and Non Violence
Grassroots Democracy

How can you argue with that? Choosing between John Howard (Prime Minister) and Kevin Rudd (Leader of the Opposition ie. alternative Prime Minister) is like choosing between Coke and Pepsi! I don't want either!

I am reluctant to join any political party, but I do believe that there is truth in the saying 'if you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem'.

I am not a radical...in fact I'd say I'm very consertive - I want to conserve our environment and conditions for Australian workers and family life. The current government doesn't support any of these...selling off the environment and implementing policies which mean parents have to work long hours under diminishing conditions. And Labor are barely any different - supporting the Tasmanian pulp mill, not defending refugees in Australia when the Liberals scapegoat them. All in all both the major parties are disgraceful, hence my decision to try and support the alternative. www.greens.org.au

Idle Time

2007-10-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

I've been rereading a book that I discovered earlier this year called How to be free by Tom Hodgkinson (there is also a website called The Idler www.idler.co.uk) which I think is fantastic. To quote the website - 'How To Be Free takes an anarchic approach to the everyday barriers that come between us and our dreams'. That makes it sound a bit like a wanky self-help book, which it definately is not - its more an exploration of how to unshackle our hearts and minds from the restrictions that 'modern' living seems to place on us - or more to the point, we place on ourselves. Basically its about living well, which is what my blog is about too.

Today I've woken up with a cold so I'm rather pleased to say that I am spending the day at home surfing the net and sipping Earl Grey tea. The most glorious thing in the world - guilt free idle time!

2007-10-03T03:56:00.000-07:00

We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake...by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep.

That's Thoreau of course in Walden. He goes on to talk about the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour and of course explains that he went to the woods because he wished to live 'deliberately'...to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.

This is what my blog is about...my attempt to not live with such hurry and waste of life...while meanwhile being a working mother, wife, daughter, friend, voter etc etc.