"The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times." (Paulo Coelho)

Lately I have been addicted to two things: True Blood and Paulo Coelho. True Blood deserves an entry on its own… it got me through the flu over the past week. Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian writer, is getting me through life in general at the moment and has been hanging around me for a few years now… a bit like the uncle I never had.

I was first given The Alchemist by Coelho many years ago. I was about to embark on a year abroad to live in Japan… an apparent adventure. I ended up passing it on to someone I met on my journey because I felt they really needed to read it. That is the kind of writing he does. You just feel the need to share it with others. He writes about love, life, destiny, pain, surrendering, passion and so much more. Dee recently lent me Eleven Minutes. Well actually she didn’t lend it to me… I saw it in my scan of what can I borrow from her and what new magazines does she have that she may give me. Basically the plot of the book is that everyone lives their lives searching for that infamous “eleven minutes”. I shall let you use whatever imagination you’d like to define what you can do in that time.

Coelho’s writing is profoundly spiritual and makes me think about life in ways that provide insight and understanding. I did a bit of a google search and found so many inspiring and poetic quotes. Here is a random list of quotes I liked from his various books. His books are all amazing literature that have a story that everyone can relate to.

"Everything tells me that I am about to make a wrong decision, but making mistakes is just part of life. What does the world want of me? Does it want me to take no risks, to go back to where I came from because I didn't have the courage to say "yes" to life?"

"When I had nothing to lose, I had everything. When I stopped being who I am, I found myself."

"Waiting hurts. Forgetting hurts. But not knowing which decision to take is the worst of suffering."

"If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day."

When we meet someone and fall in love, we have a sense that the whole universe is on our side. And yet if something goes wrong, there is nothing left! How is it possible for the beauty that was there only minutes before to vanish so quickly? Life moves very fast. It rushes from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds."

"Stay mad, but behave like normal people. Run the risk of being different, but learn to do so without attracting attention."

"Life takes us by surprise and orders us to move toward the unknown -even when we don't want to and when we think we don't need to."

"Haters are confused admirers who can’t understand why everybody else likes you"

"Every blessing ignored becomes a curse."

"When we set out on the path, we always have a fairly clear idea of what we hope to find. Women are generally seeking their Soul Mate, and men looking for Power. Neither party is really interested in learning. They simply want to reach the thing they have set as their goal."

"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it."

You say that you love them, take their money and run. Say it's been swell, sweetheart, but it was just one of those things, those strings, those flings, those strings, those flings, you've got to cut.

I am a secret Jessica Simpson and Jewel fan (*sorry Dee) and discovered this randomly . Yes Jessica looks rather silly when she sings but if you just listen without being overcome by her mouth it is a super powerful song. I love listening to songs but more so because of my love of lyrics. Whether it is Bon Jovi, Kylie Minogue or Eminem. The word is more important then the beat.

Ever since one hit wonder Jewel wrote her book of poems titled A Night Without Armor my love of poetry resurfaced (how tragic is it that it had to come to that!). Yes take me on a direct line to Nerdville via the express train stopping no stations. I don't sit by the window and read Jane Austen style (maybe one day I will?) but I have a revitalised appreciation for the old classics of poetry. In the so called mainstream "normal" world that would be the same as saying I really like the lyrics of that song because I can relate to it. As I was doing a bit of real life work related research I rediscovered a poem by Pablo Neruda. I had actually first read this poem when I was in high school and needless to say I didn't really have the life experiences to appreciate it then. It is a nice read now though.

If You Forget Me 

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine

Playing a game doesn't take character. Doing the right thing by a vulnerable woman does.

I was captivated by the following article written by Michael Coulter an Editor from The Age newspaper (extracts below in italics). For those not living in Australia I am sure you can nevertheless relate to the debate in your own countries. Within Australia there has been widespread debate arising regarding the increased number of reported and alleged cases against both well-known and local suburban footballers mistreating women. Coulter's piece struck a chord with me so much so that I wanted to share parts of it.

'Regardless of circumstance, anyone with power has a choice - and there is no doubt where power lies in a room full of drunk men and a lone woman. They can do the right thing, or the wrong thing.

It is widely held that the sum of a group of young men is less than its parts, but even the most feral bunch is still made up of individuals, all of them with a will of their own. Decisions define us, and if you decide to do wrong, it's on your head. It's not the booze, or the drugs or the lateness of the hour; it's not the cheering of your mates or the lure of the ample cleavage you've been ogling all night. It's you, and for the rest of your life you have to live with the knowledge that when the opportunity arose, you chose to be a despicable bastard...

It takes enormous character to defy a group of men who are, effectively, closer than brothers. Not footballing character, which is about overcoming pain and adversity, but the ability to tell right from wrong and the integrity to choose right.

Perhaps a minority of players will inevitably hurt others, and themselves, because the qualities of a good footballer are not necessarily the qualities of a good person. Sportsmen need physical courage, strength, calm under pressure, an appetite for inflicting and receiving pain, loyalty and the intense desire to impose their will on a situation. For them, many values we try to instil in children - honesty, respect, empathy and the moral courage to say ''no'' to your friends - are actual liabilities...

If you're man enough to stand in front of a marauding pack on the field, you should be man enough not to be part of one off it. If you can stand the disappointment of losing a grand final, you should be able to stand the disappointment of a woman changing her mind. So what if your night ends with a cup of Milo rather than a stray root? Life, as any coach will tell you, is full of setbacks. Be a man, and live with it.'

It is wise to disclose what cannot be concealed. (Von Schiller- German poet)

We all have them. Some we only know about. Some we share with others. Some we share with only one other person because we have to. We put so much trust that they will never disclose it. Everyone has them. Some are insane. Some are beautiful. Some are horrific. Some have the potential to hurt beyond repair. Some are calculated lies. Some are promises. Some are so complicated that we think no one would ever understand them. Some are explosive. Some are innocent. Some are unforgiving. Some are everything. Some are nothing.

Secrets.

PostSecret is an ongoing project, created by Frank Warren, in which people mail their secrets anonymously on a homemade postcard. It has been around for ages (well since 2005). It is fascinating, shocking, riveting and confronting. Warren has a particular system about how he selects the secrets, only displays twenty postcards at a time and has no online archives. It is his baby so he can call the shots. Others online have taken it upon themselves to archive some secrets. He gets over 300 secrets a day to his home address from all over the world. Here are some of the more "less confronting" secrets...

Sometimes you just need to tell someone… anyone! In fact one of them may just indeed be mine...:)

Some like Sean Connery but John Marsden does it for me!

John Marsden

Standing in the queue of the cinema I had a little battle of my own last night. Our options: The Other Guys versus Tomorrow, When the War Began. I was leading the charge for the latter and this was based primarily on my infatuation with Mr John Marsden. Challenges were met with astonished questions.

“Do you not know who John Marsden is? Have you not read any of his books? Didn’t you read his books in high school? Did you not see him on Australian Story? Did you know he has his own school? Don’t you want to support Australian cinema? Did you know that John (first name basis by now) once sent me a personal reply to an email I sent him? Did you know he is a really nice guy?”

Then I got nasty on Will Ferrell…

“Have you not seen Talladega Nights? Yeah okay Stepbrothers was funny but you can’t guarantee this will be funny…he is an idiot most of the time.”

Then I ripped out the ultimate ballbreaker line (I promise I don’t do this that often and I was clutching at straws!).

 “You watch your movie and I’ll watch mine and we can meet at the end.”

If you are a solo cinema watching virgin you probably THINK that you’d be less shamed attending a nudist colony on your own! So I won that war justtttt but I promised to be less of a stubborn mule next Tight Tuesday!

Anyways Tomorrow, When the War Began was good. I liked it. I probably could have lived to see it on the small screen but some of the effects were pretty blockbuster and I liked the characters/actors. The only thing I didn’t like is it doesn’t end – surprise surprise just like the series of books (there are seven) it is to be continued. I think someone may be cashing in on the saga series style of movies?

There is a cheeky line in the movie where the main character Ellie says, “The books are always better then the movies.” So right hey.

I love to read and I adore libraries like some people adore the pub/casino/strippers. I overdose on books and just don’t know how to rationalise the experience of borrowing from the libs (I still can’t even believe I can take these gems home after all the fines I have accrued – it must be noted that I borrow on my Dad’s card now as a result!). Last night got me thinking about the books of my preteen era… and how they shaped me as a person.  There are three distinct books that have changed my life.

1. The Babysitters Club Series

I took this collection very very seriously. I purchased all and I mean all of them up to number #56 Keep Out Claudia including the Super Specials and Friends Forever. Like I did with my magazines – I categorised these little puppies and reread them over and over again. I never wanted to be a babysitter but I devoured these books simultaneous with a can of Pringles Sour Cream & Chives on a daily basis.

I stumbled upon a blog What Claudia Wore recently. It is absolutely hysterical. A blogger is sifting her way through the series and a hilarious analysis is given on each book. A must read for any true BC lover!

2. Everything Judy Blume

I love love her! She is a riveting author who writes about growing up, life changing relationships you have as a thirteen year old, first kisses, parents splitting up, feeling alone…oh she is amazing! A lady that remembers what it’s like to be a teen!

I was so Blubber (a fat kid!). I was so Margaret chatting away to God (lonely and friendless on school holidays). It was so the end of the world (still am pretty overdramatic). Recently I was at one of these crazy warehouse book expos and in the mirage of shirty paperbacks I stumbled across Summer Sisters. Summer Sisters is a book written by Blume for the adult market… it didn’t let me down. I cocooned myself for the following 24 hours and devoured it (this time with Sakata biscuits).

My favourite book of hers is Forever. I still remember making the purchase at a school book fair as a twelve year old. Clearly someone ordering the books for these kiddies was just not doing their job right. I didn’t purchase it knowing it was an education into the human body. Got on the bus with my fellow grade 6ers and eagerly started reading… Oh myyyyy God! That little paperback gave me more insight then my sister’s Cosmopolitans ever did. Since then I have probably read it ohhh at least fifteen times but I now scan away to the good parts! Go Judy!!!

3. Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

In the Attic

For someone who claims not to really like series – I loved this book and everything by V.C. Andrews (may she RIP and may her pseudonym stop and give it up as she will never be as good as the original). There is just wayyyyy too much in these books to justify a synopsis. Let’s just say that it puts Bold and the Beautiful to shame! It has even been banned in some countries!

I was so cringeworthingly in love with this book that when the movie was on TV (usually really late at night) I would actually tape it on video… and then regularly watch it! What demented ten year old does this?

A kiddie I know has started reading this book and I want to snatch it off her and say this is not for you… but then I realise that is massively the pot calling the kettle black! The local librarian did not say that to me when I reserved Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, and Garden of Shadows (the rest of the series) in the one hit as a ten turning eleven year old girl! So who am I to make judgements?

Currently Reading

Why Is God Laughing?: The Path to Joy and Spiritual Optimism by Deepak Chopra and If You Could See What I See by Sylvia Browne (*I think someone has been watching way too much Montel Williams)