Today’s Lunch – 7th November 2018

Published November 7, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Allow me to introduce you to some beautiful things about Melbourne, spring and apartment living in today’s post.

We are currently in Spring Carnival season here in Melbourne, in Spring in Melbourne we get most of our rainfall. Yesterday was the Melbourne Cup! Supposedly, the race that stops the nation? (I wouldn’t know as I was asleep when it happened) and I woke this morning just before 8am to the sound of thunder, pouring rain, someone running past my front door down the hallway towards the lift and my water feature on my balcony had returned. Looking outside to the otherwise busy intersection to see rain coming down ‘side-ways!’. You know the kind? With the sound effects of (ssssshhhhhhhh!!!!)

Spring Carnival

Melbourne Cup is very well known for people getting dressed up (or down) people basically making a huge disgrace of themselves and celebrities hanging out and rubbing shoulders in a pavilion called the Birdcage and the catering being to die for.

Disgrace

In short, I’ve never been, I don’t gamble and despite it raining buckets, the race still goes on.
The water feature on my balcony, I have a drain pipe on my balcony that was bubbling up water, that in itself you might think what’s so bad about that? Um, yeah. I live on the second floor! This is not a great thing, but it’s only happened twice now and I’ve just signed a lease for my second year here so I shouldn’t stress?

Bsalcony flood

Also, because I’ve had a 4-day weekend due to the public holiday yesterday and purposely keeping Monday’s schedule clear, I venture out of the house for the first time since Friday!

Long Weekend

Doing full Person and back to my crazy normal Wednesday schedule. So today’s lunch is a pancetta quiche with side salad and my medicine.

Pancetta Quiche Latte

Cheers

H

Today’s Lunch – 31st October 2018

Published October 31, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays lunch birthday

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Before I get started, how good is pineapple? I have recently rediscovered pineapple! Not big on fruit and hate buying it and it dying before I remember to eat it. So, very happy to introduce non-Australians to our very cool Big things. The big pineapple!

The Big Pineapple
Had my once a year haircut last Friday………here’s some pictures of my new hairdressing salon!

Annual Haircut

And because I stretch out my birthday celebrations for a week, here’s some photos of my actual birthday lunch. On the way over, Google Helen (giggle Helen) provided directions. You don’t come to my part of town and rely on google!

Including my Blood Orange mocktail with rosemary, and things I’ve forgotten. A amazing shoulder roast lamb, with salad, corn on the cob and zucchini chips and (OMG) Saganaki (haloumi cheese grilled with figs) mmmmmmmmmmmm…….

And Monday, my favourite cake from my favourite cafe. I can never recall what it’s called so when ordering I describe it as “chocolate salted caramel thing?” And Gabriel will tell the new-be what it’s called. I convinced Caroline to share it with me. Each bite all she could say was “Oh My God! That’s Amazing!” Which is why I took a second piece home. To last me the rest of the week.
Hey! No judgement. It’s birthday week! There are no calories in birthday week!

Chocolate cake

And a few weeks ago I got to an exhibition in West Melbourne with a friend to catch a chic I was at high school with back in the day. She is an artist who is based in New York! This is some of her smaller work. She did these in her last visit a few months ago so they could go in this group exhibit.
I always find myself at these arty things thinking why does this woman look familiar? (She is thinking the same thing of me) and I go through the rolodex of my history as to where we may have crossed paths? Oh, at one of my artists friends’ openings. Still got it!

Art 1 Art 2

Art 3

Art 4

And as I’ve finally even able to have someone get me to appointments on a Wednesday. Wednesday has resumed normal programming. Today’s offering. Pumpkin Arancini with side salad with my medicine.

Pumpkin Arancini Latte

Cheers,
H

Mika

Today’s Lunch – 24th October 2018

Published October 24, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

45! 45, 45! Repeat after me! Helen is still 45! Because, my next mid-week blog post I will not be able to say this, I’m not struggling with getting older, or closer to 50, it’s only a day older than the day before.

I’m not exactly anywhere near where I imagined life to look like by this age. I don’t know what a 46-year-old should dress, or act, or even be doing however I’m doing the best with what I have.

Still trying to have my Wednesday return to some kind of normal, but it’s taking longer than I imagined. So, I’ve been missing out on my favourite cafe. But I will remedy this on Monday and hopefully next Wednesday!

Wednesday

In a meeting for lunch today, for the self-advocacy group I’m part of, not for fun but important. To be continued……………….

Self Advocacy

Meanwhile, here’s what I had for lunch! Butter chicken with white rice and a paratha.
Have to get medicine later!

Butter Chicken 1 Butter Chicken 2

Butter Chicken 3

Cheers,
H

Today’s Lunch – 17th October 2018

Published October 17, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

The wisest words I can share from my shrink! (Cough, just sounds cooler than psychologist) that I can share with you are these. “I don’t have to tell you how to suck eggs!” This is the advice she gives me when I debrief her on how shitty the world I survive in with a disability. I can already hear her saying this to me when I next see her.

How to suck eggs

But why? I hear you ask, you should recently have read about the world of funding in which I must navigate and survive? This year I’ve been trying to decide when to go with a new case management organisation.

NDIS funding

My bad, that’s a dated term. They are now called a Service Coordinator! I had just been handed over to a new one mid-year. I met with her a few times and decided it was time to move. I am funded 2 hours a week to help coordinate my services. You get that I do that right? (It’s a NDIA term, just go with it) according to my new C.M. (shuddup! And go with it, it’s shorter!) told me it was the equivalent of an 8-week review.

Service Coordinator

I’m overdue my review for my next NDIA funding plan, when I get to November 6th the current one ends and so do my carers and anything else I need.

NDIS Review

I met my new CM, and she was really awesome. She told me she was going to get me out of this habit of calling her a C.M. I told her that was fine because I would eventually stab her to death with a fork! Yes, she laughed. so, I’ll now refer to a case manager as a Service Coordinator or a S.C. Try to keep up.

New Service Coordinator

This cool S.C had seven funded hours to get up to speed, book me an appointment for my review and meet with me a few times and be there to advocate for my next plan. In layman’s terms it’s a lot to do in only seven hours.

Have I mention my theory that government agencies and welfare services are not actually about providing service? It’s about making you run around a wheel until you give up and get a job. If you can, or you get screwed. Um, have you met me? My names Helen! I’m thinking about changing my middle name, to screwed!

Running in Circles

And I say this because I got a call from my (cough) S.C yesterday telling me she was handing me over to another S.C. We meet Monday! FFFFAAAARRRRKKKK! Not happy Jan!

Again, had no water this morning, by the time I finished with my carer I cancelled my stabby appointment as I would have been late. Definitely have to go out to get some food for my lovely Caroline as she’s driving me across town tomorrow for my Neuropsych appointment. Did I mention neuropsych appointments, not just for crazy people anymore. In short, the neuropsych test is about working out what parts of your brain have deficiencies or problems doing what they are meant to do. Can’t test too smart as I’ll lose funding, can’t test too slow or I’ll get heavily medicated so I’m bombed out and don’t get to make my own decisions anymore. Oh, oops. Did I say that out loud?
Looking forward for a quiet week, when does that happen?

Too smart

Running out of things to make with lemons.

Lemons

Cheers,
H

Today’s Lunch – 10th October 2018

Published October 10, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

People often think people with disabilities don’t have a sense of humour, they would be wrong. Made the best disability joke yesterday and only two people were there to witness it. I was at Ross House where the self-advocacy group, I go to is located. All the resident organisations are not for profit (NGO’s) The lift is old and small and slow, there are stairs. I’ve never used them. There are four floors and with my young carer who normally escorts me shopping and cooking on Fridays in the lift and a complete stranger, the lift seemed to stop every floor on the way down yet there was no one there to get on the lift. I muttered to my carer as to why the lift kept stopping without anyone joining us? “Someone probably pressed the button and they got sick of waiting and took the stairs but, I can guarantee you it’s not someone in a wheelchair!” Yeah, I went there.

Disability humour

Wednesday has started a bit differently. No water in the whole apartment complex until after 1pm so lunch will be after my only appointment and I think it’s about time I put a myth to rest, I wrote in an earlier post how I dislike the “Like”. It may have been taken out of context. I love the “Like” I have only two ways to tell if people read or like my posts. I know it sounds needy, however, hit me with a “Like and comment” I need to be validated too. Oh, yeah! I just hit 200 followers. I know, it’s not that many to some of you. I still get excited by every single one. I go check out what you have to write about and hit you up with a “Like” so you know I dropped by. If you write about something I’m interested in or feel I can support you I will follow you also.

Like

Eventually I got out on Hellonwheels to get to my only appointment, which was to get stabbed, that being acupuncture. In true Melbourne style it’s spring. So, t-shirt weather if you are lucky to be in the sun but not catching the wind. I couldn’t wait to get home to put on some warmer clothes. I stopped to collect a little cannoli and a French donut (it’s got custard in it) and stop at the post office.

French donut

No photos today. But I can show you some cute toys I bought Mika last Friday. You have already shown more interest in her new toys by reading this. Except, well I think I don’t need to describe what obviously happened here.

Mika toys

Need more coffee, much more coffee! Medicine!

Coffee

Today’s Lunch – 3rd October 2018

Published October 3, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays lunch

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

And here we are again and after a long but broken weekend. Friday was a public holiday and Sunday I had a day out, as in I did full Person. I’ve been trying to get to the NGV to see the MoMa exhibition for months and I have the books (my art book library has been building for about 25+ years) and the fridge magnets and I finally got to see the exhibition.

Andy Warhol 1 Artwork 1 Artwork 2 Artwork 3

I confess, after all my effort to get there I spent longer posing for my photo to be taken then I did actually looking at Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe and Roy Lichtenstein.

I even told my companions for the ad entire no matter what I’m not allowed to buy a print. I still am yet to hang anything g in my apartment as I need to install picture rails and I’m yet to get everything framed I bought from my overseas adventure back in 1994. Guess I’m yet to write about that bit of a Cinderella story with a very unfulfilling ending so far.

Cinderella

And today’s offering? While I almost didn’t make it today. I considered a kip & staying local I feel I’ve neglected my favourite things, places and people. So, here we are, Pancetta quiche with the side salad and standard medicine.

Quiche Latte

Cheers,
H

Today’s Lunch – 26th September 2018

Published September 26, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day!

Life has been way too chaotic lately. What is going on? Is it just me?

Chaotic

Last Thursday, my young carer and I went over to the west. My artist friend Larissa had organised a huge Fringe event called Disability Pride. Here is a little taste. You can see photos of the event on my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/helen.caligiuri

Disability Pride 1

Disability Pride 2

And if you can share the posts already on fb for this event. I’m still struggling to share to that page. I’m doing it wrong, obviously. https://www.facebook.com/larissa.macfarlane

Disability Pride

And like my sleep isn’t challenged enough? Enter this scenario. Late Monday night far, far away in the country. My mum chases in Two cats (One likes to stay out later than the other prompting me to tie them together.) I can’t believe she bothered to tell me why she couldn’t do that. Then she drove to Melbourne (3.5 hours) to arrive at 2.10am, I was in bed around 3am and my younger sister was returning from her first overseas trip. I woke at 7.30am, to wonder where they both were? I had expected to wake to an extra body snuggled down asleep in my bed. Did I need to give her intensive border control training? Doubtful. Getting luggage took for ever apparently. So overall, four hours sleep. Not good at all.

Sleep

My one appointment Tuesday was cancelled without anyone bothering to tell me so after my family departed I had a kip and I finished the day with a friend coming for dinner and a film. I had managed to convince my friend Susanne (her real name) to watch Deadpool with me.

Forgive the irony, I told her she could hit me if it was too violent. I forget, I find the violence so highly stylised and the humour for me wiped my memory of the violence. I gotta hand d it to her, the moments she closed her eyes and blocked her ears, I stroked her leg (more of a pat) and told her “butterfly kisses!” And reminding her of Ryan Reynolds rack, eighteen minutes from the end she waved the white flag, she had, had enough and I didn’t get my slap.

Deadpool

It’s now very early Wednesday morning as I tap out this blog and another crazy day is ahead.

Crazy day

So, today’s lunch, Spanakopita with a side-salad and medicine. Nom! Nom!

Spanakopita

Latte

Cheers

H

Happy Wednesday

Today’s Lunch – 19th September 2018

Published September 19, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Another busy week, a whole lotta crazy! What’s new, right? Monday, I did 5,000 steps. Yeah, I’m a step-counter, at 45 and steps are still important. Oh and today is International talk like a pirate day! Ah, yah! Yes, me hearties.

Pirate talk

Very happily was down at my regular cafe yesterday and got to have one of my favourites, the almond croissant and medicine!

Almond Crossaint

Got to see my GP, who gave me a print out of my latest blood tests. He confirmed my liver is ok (I wasn’t thinking I had pickled it I was previously told I had a fatty liver!) that can’t be good right? But now it’s all good! I’m happy to even donate my liver!

Liver

One of my friends mentioned to me this week when you are sliding into the Pause, your weight fluctuates. I smartly asked, “when does it go down?”

Menopause

I confess I got lazy today and had a kip before leaving home to do “person”. I stayed local closer to home. And my two appointments. Getting stabbed and tortured by my beautician.

Doing person

Today’s offering, a Mediterranean focaccia. (Mina cut it up for me, she’s so sweet!) Medicine and this little pecan tart.

Med Foccacia Latte

And lastly, I think I should mention Mika my companion cat might be getting a name change to include Houdini, maybe a middle name? We will build on it.

Mika 2

Last Friday, I let my carer out via the car park and returned upstairs, when I went back inside and locked the door Mika made her escape and I didn’t realise for several more hours! Eventually having looked everywhere inside including inside the pantry and the European laundry I checked out in the hallway. Saw my neighbour and as I’ve only met her once or twice she offered to come in and help me find her. She is a nurse who works night-shift. Hence why I never see her. Now you know I asked if she had eaten? I make my Nona proud every time!

Nona

As I had sent out my texts to my other neighbours to collect muffins there was a knock at my door and Will stood there and suggested they had something in their apartment that might belong to me? I’m sorry, I blurted out “Do you have my fucking cat?” His partner wanted to keep Mika and Mika wasn’t much interested in me or returning home. She had to be caught and carried and not by me. Now don’t hate me, however, my new fur-child is not food-orientated. So, when I had been banging around in my kitchen she had not surfaced and she had not noticed me putting out her food.

Mika 1
Mika has not had a collar but she’s getting one this week and it’s going to look like a charm bracelet, with those things. So, she if found roaming the halls, please return to, “xyz!”

Cat bling

I’m also imagining her out in the hallway thinking all the doors look exactly the same! Feeling like a bad fur-parent!

Bad Fur parent

Cheers,
H

Hump Day

Today’s Lunch – 12th September 2018

Published September 12, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Well, this week has been very different from normal, I even left the house (apartment) on Sunday. I went to what I like to call the crazy cat lady festival. It was the cat show on at the exhibition buildings in Carlton.

Exhibition Building

CCF 1 CCF 2 CCF 3 CCF 4 CCF 5

And my friend, her son and the son’s girlfriend that were nice enough to take me, great day! Just great!

Even when pulling out of the underground carport, after getting lost looking for the exit. “Look toward the light! Go to the light!” And my friend’s son replying to me “I’ve had just about enough of you!” Totally felt like part of the family…….

Go to the light

Tuesday I was at the committee meeting I go to for the self-advocacy brain injury group I’m a member of, coming home with the standard side serve of migraine.

Committee Meeting

Super!

Wednesday, now today! No Chiro or acupuncture to help with the migraine. I definitely had to get out to my favourite location for some normal. That said! Today’s offering? The brain grain salad, with the standard medicine and carrot cake, does it count for one of my veggie servings for the day? Just asking!

Brain Grain Salad

Latte

Cheers,
H

Midweek 1

Today’s Lunch 6th September 2018

Published September 6, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch

Today’s lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Allow me to start with some good news and a shout-out to one of my carers who is currently away. Well, miss you and my new bag is fine. A friend visited late last week with her skates on! (No, really!) and she lengthened the strap on my new bag prompting me to let you know I’m enrolling you into an extensive 1 to 1, 6 months full time course on how to lengthen straps on bags. My friends going to give you an exclusive course. I know, 6 months. Never fear, you will come out with a certificate one, in bag strap adjusting totally worth it! I imagine you can use these skills for the rest of your life. Totally worth it! (Yes, I am kidding)

New bag

I am not nailing this 1am bedtime curfew. I can’t manage to make it to bed by 1, then I hear the street cleaners before too long anyway. Then get woken the first time around 4am. People wonder why I’m so grumpy.

Grumpy cat

So, planning plenty of writing today. With lunch of course.

Well, if you read my posts each day you might have noticed, that didn’t happen on the correct date. Yes, Wednesday I went back to bed with a crappy migraine, slept until 5pm and it was quiet on the home front as the trams weren’t running. There is a tram stop at my door for the city. I had caught a tram home later in the afternoon on Tuesday and it was pure agony. Buses replacing trams, I had followed directions in Clifton Hill from my usual tram stop to the train station to get a bus. After going up and down the ramps to get to speak to an actual person and given more terrible half-baked directions, I walked even further to be directed to a bus. There were 3 men in hi-vis on the bus, none of whom knew what the hell was happening.

Trams

Get a clue people! Should I mention do not prove incompetent when a woman is sliding into the pause. My crazy lady hormones are playing up and I can’t do person properly! Good thing I stayed at home Wednesday.

Crazy lady hormones

Thursday, I more than made up for it. After my carer did my cleaning I went out for lunch. A nice local, I used to do lunch at 15 years ago when I worked not far from where I now live. They specialise in Lebanese pizza’s. so, haloumi cheese. I always order a vegetarian pizza (don’t judge me) with salami. Plus, I settled in for 2 medicines to deal with my migraine that just does not want to go away!

Vegetarian Pizza

Latte

Latte 2

Upon returning home I got down in to B1, where my scooter shed lives and dug around in my gardening supplies to pot some of my bulbs. Some things went home or were thrown out when I moved so it’s going to take time to restock.

Pot plants