quicko: bath and body works?

Continuing my missing-the-mall trend -- I do really wish there were a Bath and Body Works around.  Plenty of The Body Shops, but just not the works.  How else am I supposed to get the waters to dance?!

update: stop the press, i spoke too soon!

Hold your horses, everyone, I've got a way better deal than yesterday's $7 calendars -- the newsagent is now selling its 2012 diaries for $5!!

quicko: the secret's not out

There is no Victoria Secret in Australia!  I really don't know why not, and I'm a bit distressed about it.

quicko: $7 for a calendar

I was in a bookstore and saw they had calendars on sale.  2012 calendars.  In September.  Of 2012.  Granted, the pictures will still be pretty, but you can buy pretty postcards for 40 cents.  More importantly, what is the market for calendars in September like if they can charge $7 for one?  Is there a sudden influx of people every first day of fall (or spring, whatever) who suddenly gasp and realize with a pang that they have been living this whole entire year without a calendar, and rush out to buy one, whatever the price, and then gratefully (gratefully!) find calendars reduced to a mere $7?

Or perhaps there are chronic calendar crises?  I tend to think I, as one who keeps my calendar on my desk and legitimately uses it as a placemat every morning for breakfast, am in the minority, but perhaps I am not.  And if spilling tea on it at least once a week doesn't render mine unfit for the job (it cleans up quite easily, I assure you), I can only imagine that these other calendar-placemat-ers are terribly pristine about their property.

The is one contingent I have neglected, though:  the annual Benjamin Buttons.  Those, of course, who don't live their entire lives backwards, but merely individual years.  For these, running headlong into September is much more akin to running headlong into April.  Late for calendars, to be sure, but these annual Buttons are odd characters anyway, and I suspect they may be so stingy they cannot stand the thought of paying full price for. a calendar and are able to suffer through three calendarless months with the promise that awaits them of a beautifully new, reasonably priced calendar come fall (or spring, whatever).

Whichever your case, do not fear.  2012 calendars are here, and they are only $7.  Better hurry, though, before time runs out!

quicko: fathers' day?

It's Fathers' Day here, which is a wonderful thing, of course, except that it's two and a half months  late and falls smack dab in the middle of an already entirely too busy weekend in my family.  Instead, I'll use this day to say happy birthday, Andrew, and happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!

And, man, I miss Labor Day.  Say hi to the ocean for me, family!

photos: god keeps his promises

Just when I needed a reminder -- God sent a great, big, beautiful double rainbow to remind me that, YES, He DOES keep His promises ... and is great and awesome and amazing and loves me ... wow!  Praise God!!

quicko: spring!!!

There is a little bit of spring in my room and I'm so thrilled!

(And THANK YOU, Katie!!!)

As I'm sure I've mentioned before, the Australian seasons shift on the 1st of the month (a pinch and a punch, etc.) instead of the 21st, so it is officially spring here now.

Australians by and large tend to really despise winter (unless visiting real winter overseas, which they find a pretty awesome novelty), so the change in the air is palpable in terms of mood when it goes from winter to spring.  Everyone is happy and cheerful and optimistic -- and looking forward to a much better summer (ask them about it) than last year's.