Anyway, enjoy! Hope you get a laugh or two out of it.
What's that quote Leonie Dawson says about finishing projects and riding wild donkeys? It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be done? Well, I'm following that philosophy today and going to call my german challenge done. It will still be something I will actively work on, however, I am biting the bullet and publishing this video of me online, reading one of my daughter's favourite books… in german!! Now, if that's not pushing me out of my comfort zone and worthy of challenge completion, then I don't know what will!!
Anyway, enjoy! Hope you get a laugh or two out of it.
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Ah, night duty. I will be glad to see the back of you very shortly. But occasionally you serve a purpose. In this instance, two purposes - or more specifically, two challenges!
Firstly, the reason I am struggling more than usual tonight is because I was only a few chapters shy of finishing my library book as of this time yesterday, therefore I made myself complete said book before I went to sleep. As of 10:30 am yesterday, I finished the book from the library I had wanted to read. Yippee! And I am feeling motivated to start 2 others! I am happy to have my reading bug back, as it had been lacking for such a long time (probably was burnt out from all the studying of textbooks). There is a joy that comes from holding a physical book in your hands that just can't be explained... Last night, I heard one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time (sorry, it is unrepeatable...). I laughed so hard I thought I would wet myself. However, I was on my own when I heard this.
This morning, I was at morning tea with a colleague and both of us were feeling rather glum (for good, but also confidential, reasons). But as the conversation went on, I had the opportunity to share this hilarious moment from my night before. We roared with laughter, to the point that we were both wiping tears from our eyes. My belly was aching from that delicious workout it can only get from such a laughing session and my cheeks hurt for at least an hour afterwards. The beautiful thing about sharing this laugh with my friend was how uplifting it was, I hope for both of us. Sure, the laugh didn't take away the fact that we both had concerns that were getting us down, but it was exactly the thing we needed to get us through the morning. Laughter really is the best medicine. Last night I was a busy bee, finding all these different resources I will be using to improve my german vocabulary and grammar. Who knew there were so many free online sites dedicated to the german language!! Thank goodness for Pinterest and its awesome capacity to find amazing links on the interwebs!! I then read a bit more of my library book and indulged in an early night.... only to be woken 3 times by my toddler! Argh! Broken sleep makes mummy a walking zombie!!! I have been looking forward to her nap all day as I am going to recover one of the best ways I know how - it's bubble bath time! I'm off to enjoy myself! Take care! ;)
I have been busy the last few days! I went shopping and bought supplies to make my home made gift and care package, stuff to make cupcakes, and a book to begin a journal. I even managed to make it to the library to borrow some books. I've always been meaning to read something by Jodi Picoult, and I've seen the Lonely Planet Happy book several times and have wanted to flick through it.
Short but sweet post today.
Got lots of things in the pipeline… but I achieved one challenge before 9am Friday morning! For my "Feel-Good-Friday" - to quote Rob van Driel - I donated to a cause I'm very passionate about, being that I am a Neonatal Nurse: Daddy's Little Legend Appeal. I won't say much else, other than that Rob does an excellent job of explaining why he's a daddy on a mission to fundraise the much needed funds for a Retcam to save premature babies eyes and sight. Please visit the following websites to find out more about this wonderful cause and if you can spare some $$…. you know what to do!! http://www.daddyslittlelegend.com Why Rob van Driel is a daddy on a mission (from news.com.au) What the world needs now is some more love and smiles. After attempting today's challenge, I know this to definitely be true. Can you imagine the number of people who found my smile, dare I say it, confronting? A smile and a friendly wave had a lot of strangers in shock and disbelief that I was actually attempting connection with them.
It gets a bit different though as soon as I had my daughter copying me!! No one can resist a toddler waving enthusiastically at them, yelling "Hello!!" As soon as my daughter joined in, the mood of the challenge completely changed. I had lots of people waving back to both of us, and saying "Hello". I found myself smiling more and more and my mood becoming uplifted with the general cheerfulness I was encountering. I even found myself talking to complete strangers, so you could say I struck off my challenge of talking to someone I didn't know as well!! Hallo! Ich heisse Melissa und ich bin neunundzwanzig Jahre alt. Mein dreißigster Geburtstag ist am 26. April. Ich bin eine Krankenschwester an der Neonatal Intensivpflegestation im lokalen Krankenhaus. I spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. I schreibe ein bisschen mehr. Ich kann Deutsch lesen besser als ich spreche oder schreibe es.
Now, to the uneducated person, that sounds like I have a fairly decent ability to write german. Truth is, that took me at least 30 minutes to complete. And several rounds of editing. And reference to a german dictionary - more than five times. Without the dictionary, the only bits of the above that I would have got correct would have been: Hallo! Ich heisse Melissa und ich bin neunundzwanzig Jahre alt. Ich bin eine Krankenschwester in einem Krankenhaus. Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. This post is going to be rather short, given that it is about 2 am in the morning and I have yet to get to bed. I have been rather excitedly putting myself to the challenge, as well as putting this blog together, and sure enough time has escaped me yet again. All good though, as I am ready to take on my list of 30 head on!
I did consider putting "create a blog" on the list so that I would have already been knocking off one item of the list, but considering I started Mama Melzie last year, I didn't feel like that would count. Similarly, just because I am blogging about this challenge, I don't feel I can this as "starting a journal". I don't do things by halves and I want to do this properly. My aim is to work on each challenge and document 30-ish posts, each relating to one of the challenges as I complete it. A few of the posts may be those showing works in progress, considering I put "improve my German" and "create an artwork" on the list, but I'll try to let this blog naturally create itself. Anyway, before I lose any more shuteye (considering I have to be up in the morning for a yoga class), I'm going to sign off and go to sleep! Wish me luck!! |