whistling ninjakitty

Boo wouldn’t join me for a swim this morning, and I have to admit, I’ve been pretty slack on the whole getting out of bed and into the water routine if I’m going alone. Unless I wake up in some glorious sunshine the odds are pretty slim that I’m going to choose a dip over a nice hot shower. I know, my priorities are screwy, but that’s life.
This moring was one of those tasty fresh-smelly jump-out-of-bed-with-a-smile days that just make you want to race to the beach. The tide was pretty far out this morning, so I was forced to swim on the other side of the sandbar – something I’m not altogether comfortable with, and I’m not sure why. Sharks can cross the sandbar just fine if they have a mind to, I witnessed one do it only about 5 months ago. Great big thing it was too. Anyway, I’m out swimming past the sandbar and to make it worse I’m all alone out in the water – not a person for miles and miles. I guess 9:30 is a little late in the morning for the retired lifesavers to be out for a swim. It makes me a lot more comfortable when they are splashing about too. Not because I think a shark will go for them first, oh no, any one of those retirees could outswim me in no time. I guess I just like the safety in numbers idea.
I’m breast-stroking along, thinking reassuring thoughts about sharks all liking to sleep late; and enjoying the beautiful sunshine, the clear blue water and the white ripply sand beneath. There’s a funny click click noise not to far from me, out a bit deeper in the water. I just keep swimming. Then I see a flash of brown out in the water. A diving bird perhaps? I pay closer attention. A fin. A dolphin! A school of dolphins! Mum’s an babys and beautiful sleek black dads a few breast-strokes away. Click-click.
It’s an amazing thing, I would have thought that suddenly finding myself in plenty of company would make me nervous, but all the shark anxiety just melted away and I found myself laughing. Everytime I laughed I was greeted with click-clicks. One of the dolphins went past blowing jets of spray out of his… nostril? It was fun, three big spurts and lots of click-click-click. After a few moments the children out on the jetty must have spotted the dolphins too, I could hear them squeaking. Such a delightful happy start to the day.
The last time that happened to me I was a little girl, and grandma had us out of the water before she realised that they weren’t sharks. I was too apprehensive to go back in the water that time. Maybe next time I’ll have enough gumption to go out and swim with them, I’m sure I was invited.

Welly welly welly well, what an insane week!
The opening went very well, thanks for asking. Lots of lovely people turned up and I think we all had a time of it. Thank you to everyone who was able to come and show their support. I was getting so nervous I could hardly tell which way was up, but usually someone would grab me and show me where the ground was located. The show looked great and the folks at The Duke were amazingly attentive and let me be as fussy as I pleased.
I even sold a picture!

In other crazy news Im no longer working for my Dad. I don’t know if I could really explain what happened, but I decided that it would be better for our relationship if I wasn’t an employee – and the result of that is currently that we don’t have a relationship at all! That sure backfired! At any rate, I’m not grinding my teeth in my sleep anymore so on some level it must have been the right decision. I just hope Dad comes to that conclusion too before he tells all of Adelaide and the world in general what a horrible little ingrate I am, which from what I have gathered is his current position on the matter.

Happily for me Louise from the UniSA School of Art gave me a call and asked if I would be interested in teaching more classes this semester. Synchronicity is a marvellous thing. So I’m only very temporarily unemployed – which is wonderful otherwise I’d have to sell the newcarpayment. As much as I hate to admit it, it really is so very nice having some shiny wheels to get about in. I get so much done!

Finally, a summer day instead of the rainy cold nonsense we’ve had for a week. Aurelia + I took the “new” silver Echo (did reya mention she bought a car?) up to the Marino Lighthouse Conservation Park for a bit of a picnic. Snapped a few happies with the Holga, I’ll post those if they come out – the view is incredible, the industrial port spookiness to the south, Brighton to the north, + blue bay as far as you can see west.

Papa Carbone hooked us up with an old record player + amp/eq that was just kicking in the dust, so we’ve pulled out our vinyl collection again! Starting to feel like ourselves, + Throwing Muses’ Limbo is just as great as it ever was.

Anyhow. Gorgeous day going to waste.