New beginnings...

Speaking as someone who buggered up a lot of things in 2010, I look forward to 2011 with hope and positivity and yes, probably the fact I’ll mess something else up. But that’s okay. It shows a life well lived.

My wish for you in 2011 is you find the love of your life or get that job or house or baby or car or money or whatever it is you need and don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s just life. You’re not supposed to be good at it. You’re just supposed to take a crack at it.

Happy 2011

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

A-muse-me not…

"Ms. Jones can definitely write erotica! WHEW!!!"

http://bookinitalong.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-bad-girl-by-amarinda-jones.html

Erotica. How hard it is to write? Despite what some authors will say - you know the whole thing where they tell you writing is like a ‘muse’ ridden mystical journey into the core of ones being to bring out the inner yearnings of their soul– yawn - it’s not hard to write erotica. It is however mechanical and boring because it’s all about making it real and no one in real life when they’re having sex, to my knowledge, worries about hand placement, errant cocks, hair in mouth and or where tongues should be. So I tend to think, while that compliment and review was very nice – thank you very much – it’s all imagination and as I have said before many times everyone has it and anyone can write. It’s a matter of bum to chair and fingers to the keyboard. Wanna write? Do it. There’s nothing mystical about it. And you inner soul? Keep it in your shoe.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Boxing Day...

The picture above is from my temporary digs in Cairns. This is the box room come office. The computer is squashed in to the side. The box room leads off into a small bathroom that would be an ensuite if I was using the room for it’s intended purpose of being a bedroom but it’s become what I call the pool room. Only my togs (swimsuit) hang out in there.

So – Boxing Day in Australia – no it’s not about boxes that are waiting to be unpacked when I have a permanent home. It’s about this…

Boxing Day got its name from an old tradition when employers boxed gifts for their workers on the day after Christmas.

http://goaustralia.about.com/cs/eventsfestivals/a/boxingday.htm

Or, in reality, it’s about the after xmas sales where people max out their credit cards and then whine for months afterwards about their bills. Humans…fascinating…

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Peace...

A friend sent me this Tibetan Prayer…

May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.
May all beings be free.

Have a peaceful day.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

The five cent piece quandry....

I share a foyer/staircase with the next door apartment. I don’t see ‘em much but they seem nice people – more importantly they’re quiet. That’s a huge bonus. For the last three weeks, as I come and go, I have been watching a 5 cent piece outside their door. Why? Because it fascinates me that they haven’t picked it up. Yes, I know it’s only 5 cents and you need a gazillion 5 cents pieces to buy anything worthwhile – sort of like those useless bloody French centimes or when I was living in London, those dumb arsed half pennies. Do they still have them? As chambermaids in London we used to collect the left over ones from people’s rooms after they left ‘cause tourists had no idea what to do with them. We’d put them in a large jar and when we thought we have enough to buy several bottles of plonk (wine) we used to go into the local bottlo (liquor store) and dump the lot on the counter much to the vexation of the proprietor who had to count them.

Anyway…back to the 5 cent piece – see exhibit A – also look at the crapacious cream tiles that are so hard to clean. I understand that they use them as a generic, all purpose colour to fit in with everyone but I truly believe you are either born to be a cream person or you get cream thrust upon you and it drives you mad. I'm the latter. I need colour. So – the 5 cents piece - why it interests me is it started up at their front door. They would have had to step over it constantly when they left. Why wouldn’t you pick it up? The 5 cent piece then proceeded to go back and forward in front of the door for weeks. It’s almost like it wants people to notice it. Now the five cent piece is sitting slightly away from the door but directly in the path the neighbors have to take. They have to see it. Part of me thinks ‘pick the bloody thing up’. Do they pick stuff up on the floor at home? Another part of me would miss the adventurous 5 cent piece. And no, there’s no point me picking it up. It’s a study in human nature and humans fascinate me so.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Cracking the code…

I’ve been in Cairns just over a month. I love it. The lifestyle is very casual and the people are unbelievably friendly. That threw me somewhat after coming from a big city where no one speaks to you unless there’s a specific reason. But – and there is one – I cannot work out Cairns’ secret handshake.

Being an ex-army brat and used to never actually belonging anywhere, I know that every place has a code you get to understand and absorb as you try to fit in. You may never become ‘one of them’ because you’re a ‘blow in’ but you can understand enough to work out what’s what. Once you crack it and can give the secret handshake you’re in. But stuffed if I can work out what the code is in Cairns. It’s a town where everyone knows everyone…except me. I know some people but not enough or maybe they’re the wrong people to know…I dunno. The inability to crack the code of Cairns is driving me mad.

If someone is selling a magic decoder ring on Ebay please advise.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Mayo head…

So I emailed a friend and said yes, by all means come over and pick up what I have here but let me know before you do. Why? Am I running around half naked due to the heat? Yes I am and if anyone peeks in my windows and sees me then they deserve having their retinas burnt out. But it’s not a naked issue. It’s about mayonnaise and having it slathered on me. No, it’s not a new sexual practice as far as I know. And no, it’s not something I do because I’m bored and I paint myself with condiments. It’s a hair thing.

I went on the internet and looked up old fashioned remedies for dry hair. Mayo is one of them. I would never eat the stuff. It’s pukeable but the high fat content and the fact that it has eggs in it means it’s good for hair. So I tried it and it works. However having a mayo head is neither a team sport nor something for people to sit around Chez Amarinda and discuss over coffee as I drip mayo on the floor. Call me crazy but some things need to be done in private.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Not all fruit is created equal…

I went for a wander over to Rusty’s markets which is in the heart of Cairns as I was in dire need of fruit. I know, you didn’t think you could have a fruit emergency but you can. It’s similar to a chocolate emergency but fruit is more virtuous but not nearly as much fun as chocky. Anyhow, I’m verrrry picky when it comes to fruit. Even though every stall had bulging fruit displays (see picture – yes, people did wonder why I was taking a picture. I just smiled and nodded as I do), not all fruit is created equal. But I did manage to leave Rusty’s with several bulging shopping bags of tropical fruit. Yum. Fruit emergency diverted. On to the next Amarinda drama...and there will be one.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

I'm not much of a writer...

…because I can’t decide if I really want to go to a romance writer/reader convention thingy in Sydney in March next year. I have 8 days to register and get the cheap early bird rate. Meh…I don’t know. I’ll be honest, I find conventions boring. While I like talking to readers, I dislike all the formality of these shindigs and the authors I have never heard of before telling me how wonderful they are. No doubt you are honey but you don’t have to sell me. I will admit the main reason I want to go is to use it as a tax deduction. The thing is with tax deductions you sometimes pay more than you get back so is that really just defeating the purpose? What to do…what to do? I have been thinking what I spend in Sydney for one weekend I could spend half of in pissing off up to Cooktown - maybe 4 hours north of Cairns – or Mission Beach to the south and go walkabout there for the weekend.

I don’t know. If I was any sort of a writer I would be on the convention bandwagon ready to go. I think I have the wrong DNA for this gig.

Why the picture of the pool at the apartments where I am in temp living mode? Mainly ‘cause I was too lazy to find another picture. This was taken in the arvo just before a monsoonal downpour. I still got wet either way. Some things are just meant to be…I’m just not sure conventions are.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Uh oh, Toto…

I decided to start walking in the mornings again today. What with moving and everything I had got out of synch with my normal routine. So I took a wander around the new neighbourhood. It’s located on the verge of the rainforest. It’s hot and humid but the air is disgustingly fresh and clean and I’m not sure my city lungs will be able to cope. Anyway as I meandered along, sticky-beaking at houses, I came across this sign. WTF? I don’t think we’re in the city anymore, Toto. I do carry a heavy stick to whack attacking dogs or dumb arsed bad guys who may view me as a target – but wild animals? What sort? How big? Do they have claws and just how fast can I run?

The picture below is the view from my balcony.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

The bug squad…

One thing I do notice about living in the tropic is the bugs are – well - dumb. No really. I have found I spend a lot of time lifting bugs off their backs and righting them on their legs. They wander off, without thanks and I suspect go and do the same thing again. What is that about? Clumsy or what? And why more so in the tropics? A dear friend did point out that maybe they wanted to die and my intervention could be pissing them off. Well, fine but how does one know it a bug wants to die or not? It’s not like they can speak. Anyway, this is one I saved earlier. Upside down bugs? Not on my watch.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

90 degree angle interruptus…

I hate it when this happens. I know I’m not the only one on the planet who, every so often, maybe due to fat, clumsy fingers or not paying attention due to bright, shiny objects, somehow manages to turn her screen on the side at a 90 degree angle. No, I don’t know how it happens. If I did I would stop doing it. The pain in the bum about this is that I then have to stand up and crane my head on the side so I can find the google bookmark I have for this entitled “how do I turn my computer screen right side up?” Sounds easy but everything goes backwards and where you think the cursor is it isn’t. And why the hell would you have it so you could inadvertently turn your screen on a 90 degree angle anyway? It’s not like I’m an astronaut in zero gravity. Who thought that dumb arsed idea up? A computer nerd drinking too much red cordial? Yes, it is a terrible drama – how much can a koala bear I ask you? 90 degree angle interruptus? It's out there. Be careful.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Banana time...

I’m a very casual person. I dress as I choose, speak as suits me and act how I want. But up here in the tropics of far North Queensland, where every second person will tell you they saw Oprah doing some filming, because at some stage she’ll be hanging out here when she brings her TV show down under. And you know I did see her myself. I was at the supermarket and they had flowers marked down in price. I love flowers. I bought the last bunch and I’m almost sorta kinda certain in a vague way that the woman who missed out on the last bunch was Oprah. She stood there and said ‘bugger’ – but in an American accent. Yep – 27% certain it could have been her…anyway, where was I? Oh yes, casual people – my god, they’re casual in Cairns. Compared to them I’m on speed. I used to tease fellow colleagues who worked in the Cairns branch about them always being on ‘banana time’ when it came to doing things and bloody hell it’s true. So, I have to slow down more, drive less like a city driver, wait for long, drawn out discussions about the weather/crocodiles/cricket to be finished at the bank before I can do my business and basically try not to walk so fast. Yes, it will be quite a stretch for me. But for now a picture of pineapples growing au natural at the motel I stayed at. Yes, correct, only a city person would stop and take a picture of that. And yes, they’re real as I felt them and no I don’t think super glue was used.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

The budgie has landed…

Well, moving – what can I say? You can be as organized as all get out and the whole thing goes smoothly until you have to deal with the internet service provider. Cue bungling Keystone cops music. Anyway, that debacle has sort of been sorted out…sorta…kinda…it’s ongoing drama.

But, the temporary Chez Amarinda is set up to a degree. These pictures are from my balcony. Three sliding doors lead onto the balcony from the bedrooms and living room. It’s all to do with keeping cool in the tropics.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

I hate...

...incompetent people who cannot find their own arse with their hands and waiting for them to do so. How do these people grow up so inept and why do they all work at phone/internet companies?

It's one of the inponderables of life. Like missing socks and men...they just happen along. Hopefully, if the planets align and people can find their arses I will have the internet tonight.


yours in extreme frustration,

Amarinda

Bugger...bum...

I have no internet at home. It's driving me nuts...not that it was a far drive. Hopefully I will be back online soon...or maybe in frustration take up competitive drinking on my balcony to soothe the savage beast within...

Amarinda

I know vampires suck but...

http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-vampires-kiss-by-amarinda-jones.html

But hey - thanks for the review. Any publicity is good and all opinion - sucking or not - is admired and respected.

Amarinda

Uh oh...lost again in Cairns....

I'm thinking I should start reading the map before I drive off....

On the home run....

So I’m up and refreshed, sorta, and perky…ok, I’m never perky but I have thrown on clean clothes so that’s a start and I’m heading off to Cairns. It’s my final destination. Another 5 hour drive and I’ll be in my new home city. Watch out Cairns. I’m coming…

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Day two on the road...

Long stretch today – Bundy to Mackay. It’s 8 and a bit hours. I plan to sing along to the sundry shopping bag of CDs I have thrown together to play. Not sure how Patrick, my car, will deal with 8 continous hours of me singing. I’ve also decided in lieu of my birthday I shall blow another $30 and stay in a 4 star motel. What the hell. I’m worth it.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book