I've learnt a few things this week. For starters, apparently, according to spell check, 'learnt' is not a a word. Whatevs, homes. Crazy Americans. Don't try to change me. Anyway, yes. I've learnt a few things this week.
One is that Gynecomastia in males (or man boobs) are caused by a blocking of dopamine receptors in the tuberoinfundibular system, leading to an increase in prolactin, a hormone normally involved in lactation. Of course, it would have been nicer if I'd learnt that before my exam today. You would think that man boobs would have been interesting enough to remember, but no. When you're sleep deprived and forced to cram a semester's worth of notes into one night, not even man boobs are enough to keep you going.
During my late night/early morning cramming session, I also learned the consequences of my (and thus, vien's) dad's clock obsession. Now, I don't really know when his fascination with clocks actually started. I mean, I think I can recall him periodically come home with a clock or two when door-to-door salesmen would visit him at his shop, but they were usually mixed in with random toys and torches. Lately, however, he's been bringing boxes and boxes of them home, in all these weird shapes and sizes. Clocks that beep. Clocks with thermometers. Clocks with picture frames. Cartoon clocks. Hideous ones that I think were supposed to be made to look like car wheels - but fail miserably. He's tried on numerous occasions to pass these on to me - it's kind of cute how excited he gets about it. 'I have a present for you, it's really pretty!' *hands over a bright yellow clock on wheels that plays strange techno music and darts around the floor on its own*. I wish I had a picture to show you. Actually, here. It's like this, but yellow.
Anyway, I usually love to study at night (as much as it's possible to love study), mainly because everyone else is asleep, and our usually chaotic house is quiet. Well, usually anyway. Before the introduction of the multiple clocks. Now, I'm not a fan of ticking clocks at the best of times. I've been known to go as far as getting up in the middle of the night to take a battery out of a clock, just to stop the goddamn ticking. So imagine trying to study in a room with three analogue clocks, none in sync (so the ticking worked in rounds), plus two additional digital clocks that beep randomly and sometimes, continuously. I'm sure that my sister took the batteries out of those ones at some point, but they somehow managed to get back in there. They're like the clocks that never die. Gahhhh.
I learned how to do clock cards at work.
Yes, my mind, like my sisters, is random.
Now, as my other half mentioned up there, I love to shop. I love shoes and clothes and bags and accessories, and all those other things that make Vien roll her eyes. I often get strange looks because of the clothes I wear. My sisters often tease me about my sequin dresses, or my chunky platforms or my high waisted pants. I don't care. I like my high waisted pants, and my partner Alex says he likes them too. Vien says it's just because he's trying to get into my high waisted pants. Anyway, often a trend will come along that I don't quite love straight away. Gladiator heels/flats? I cringed when they first came on the scene. Power shoulders? Steered clear because I thought they'd make my already broad shoulders look to manly. Maxi dresses? 'They'd make everyone look frumpy'. Now my wardrobe is bursting at its seams with all of the above. I practically live in maxis. Anywho, my point is, I changed my mind. And where as in the past (when I wasn't so confident) I would of been super embarrassed about contradicting myself, I've learned to accept that it's okay to do so. You're allowed to grow; to change.
And I've learned to apply this outlook to my everyday life as well.
My group of friends sort of disassembled when highschool ended. There were lots of issues, as there generally is when a big group of girls are involved. There were fights, falling outs, and many, many (often-not-so-nice) words said. I hung on to the people that I wanted in my life; those that were always there for me, that made me happy. And I'm for them, and that decision, I'm thankful, because they've bought me plenty joy in the years that followed. That doesn't mean that I haven't missed those I left behind though, because despite whatever happened, when you've spent so many years together, there are bound to be memories that you just can't shake.
When we disbanded, many of us, full of pride, vowed to cut all ties. We told ourselves that we no longer needed certain others in our lives. There was plenty of he said/she said/so and so did this/that; rumours, name calling, immaturity. I'm not proud of it, but I'm not going to hide that it happened. For a long time, bitching was just a part of life.
I labeled 2011 as a year of building bridges. No more holding on to the past. I reached out to someone who was once a very close friend, because I genuinely missed her. We both knew that a lot had happened; that we had our differences. But we were both willing to look past all of that. The night I skipped family Saturday Night Dinner to go to her birthday, Vien said, 'But you don't even like her!' I told her it was time to build bridges.
So this week, when two of my girlfriends, who had used to be besties, but had gone their separate ways, reconnected, despite having made their previous feelings about each other very clear, I was happy for them. Where others may say they're being fake or going back on their word or whatever, I've learnt that people are allowed to change their minds. Things change, circumstances change, people change. It's okay to tell people you miss them. It's okay to say that you care. It's okay to decide that maxi dresses actually are actually quite flattering on, and don't make you look frumpy at all. And then make up for all that lost time by wearing them all the time. With your gladiator flats. And your power shoulders.
And since this is blog about being grateful: I'm thankful for all the things I've learnt this week. I'm thankful for fashion, for letting me express who I am. I'm thankful for friends, who will always have my back, no matter how loudly I choose to express myself. And I'm thankful for family, who have no choice haha. Especially sisters that are way more awesome than they know.
And I'm super thankful to be rid of exams, and uni, at least for the next week! Yay!
I'm sorry if this post doesn't make sense, or read quite right. I'm sleep deprived, and over it haha.
Peace out yo.
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