envelopes for sale!

 
Envelopes are now online. I might be able to get some orders printed and mailed before I leave for Brisbane on Saturday — otherwise you’ll have to wait a week. It will be interesting to compare the online marketplace to selling them in tiny shops.

Today has been interesting, mostly because I got to go outside and didn’t feel deathly ill. I ventured out to the hairdresser and look pretty much the same as before, only more rockstar-like. (That’ll shampoo out, of course.) I chickened out on cutting my hair short again because it’s been behaving the last few days.

Later on I met Kate from livebird, who is very nice and not a stalker. Although she probably thinks I’m crazy, now that she’s met me. I also saw the flying tram and was a bit underwhelmed. It’s cute, yes, but the wings look like they’re made of cardboard, not magic. And you can’t get your picture taken inside it. Harumph.

When I got home I found an e-mail from Sara, one of my fellow finalists in the Sassiest Girl in America competition for Sassy magazine. That was 12 years ago now, and that trip to New York totally changed my life. It was the first time I’d seen the inside of a magazine office, and I’ve wanted to start my own magazine ever since. Although now I’d think twice about it because I don’t need the stress.

I remember how devastated I was when Margie called from NYC to tell me Sassy had been bought out, and everyone who worked there got fired. And, naturally, the first new-and-unimproved issue was the one with me in it.

I have since visited the offices of Dwell and ReadyMade, two of my favourite mags, and have gotten a thrill each time. I’ve also sat in the offices of a few teenage-girl mags, back in the day when I was trying to get paid for pictures of me, not by me, and could actually pass for a teenage girl.

I tried to set up a visit to Frankie while I’m in Queensland, only to find out there’s only one person in that office, and she’s going on holiday the same time as me! Everyone else is in Sydney. It really is a shame that I love Melbourne so much more than Sydney because that’s where all the magazines are. I was secretly hoping that if there could be an alternative magazine mecca, it could be in a surf town in Queensland.

Maxim’s Cakes, Chinatown

 
Toby was right! The Trashcan Sinatras are coming to Australia!! And I told him he must have misread it — that there was a better chance of Frank Sinatra coming to Melbourne. This is such exciting news, and totally makes up for the bummer of missing The Sleepy Jackson and the Community Cup this weekend.

Yep, I’m still unwell, although closer to feeling human than when I last typed. Even though I live thousands of miles away, I still call my mom when I’m sick. Because it is her job to dispense advice and be mom-like. And (possibly) save me a trip to the doctor.

My naturopath moved my appointment ahead to Friday, so she can “do something about those sinuses” before I get on a plane to Queensland the next day. She hinted at acupuncture.

Acupuncture? Oh dear.

The good news is that I’ve cashed in on my bedridden-ness and made 120 envelopes (Etsy listings most likely tomorrow). I haven’t been able to do a whole lot else, given my yarn order is still on its way on a horse-and-buggy from Bendigo. I’m going to knit another jumper/sweater, this time with much thinner yarn and needles. And, for the first time in ages, I’m excited about a sewing pattern. So much to make, so little time.

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I saw a picture of my best friend this week and realised we have very similar hair, for the first time in maybe 15 years. My hair is so long now that it’s taken on a life of its own. Back when I had more of a pixie cut, I set shoulder length as my goal, never thinking I would make it that far. It’s past the shoulders now.

Not sure if I’ll get the chop or just a trim. I’m tempted to go short-short and start all over again, but I’m not sure if that version of me exists anymore?

Vietnam Town restaurant, Richmond: There’s something about the almost textbook-like penmanship and colours of these signs that appeal to the 6-year-old in me.

 
I am under house arrest.

Well, that’s how it feels, anyway. My three-week vacation started officially yesterday, with a trip to the doctor for a second round of antibiotics. Which, I suspect, are not working. I am tired of coughing.

I do not have health insurance, and — thanks to my immigration status — I no longer have Medicare either. So it’s full price for me.

I got paid in one lump holiday sum last week, instead of my usual weekly pay. After paying my student loan, credit card, bills, etc., I had a tidy sum left with which to live off for the next three weeks. It’s been like an exciting game — how thrifty can I be now so that I can maximise my holiday fun money for when I go north? (Then imagine me muttering “Rats!” each time another unforeseen bill is paid.)

At least the money’s there, though, and I don’t have to pay for anything on my credit card. Yet. I put some stuff up on eBay, and I sold seven packs of my map envelopes and notecards last week, so that’s very exciting. I haven’t gotten far enough in my local store orders to make any for Etsy yet, but they’re for sale at Meet Me at Mike’s on Bridge Rd, Richmond, if you can’t wait. And, if I do say so myself, they are very adorable.

 
In the spirit of positive reinforcement, I will share with you some things I have accomplished recently:
* made/packaged/sold envelopes
* finished knitting a new scarf
* had Miko’s claws trimmed (I don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago! No more cat Velcro!)
* watched eight movies and some episodes of INXS Rock Star
* celebrated my 12-month anniversary with Sparky
* ate at SOS, the long-awaited pescatarian restaurant in Melbourne Central
* put oil in my car and inflated the tyres
* created a yummy rice-cooker recipe that requires zero cooking effort and includes spinach, almonds, cherry tomatoes and marinated feta

The list of things left to do is long and a bit depressing. I’ll see what I can accomplish after I start to feel better. There will always be to-do lists, though; the important thing is that I’m NOT WORKING.

If you have any non-touristy tips for Brisbane and surrounds, leave a comment.