2013

2012 was a massive year for me, for so many reasons and on so many levels. It was the year I lost my grandfather, moved out of home for the first time, my first teaching job, my first overseas trip, the year I got to see Wicked again and met so many cast members I hadn't had the opportunity to meet before...

But this post is all about looking forward to 2013, because that too looks like it'll be a big year- but for different reasons.

1. I'm taking my mum to see Legally Blonde: The musical in January, which is her Christmas present. This will be her first time seeing the show, and my 4th. I'm really hoping she likes it!
2. In April, I'm having a week's holiday in Queensland. I like Queensland because it's sunny. And yes, we will be seeing Legally Blonde up there, but that's because we have friends up in Queensland who we want to see the show with. Most people I tell this to, just think it's another Wicked case for me, but it's not. With Wicked I had to see the show again, and I still miss it so much, it's like a drug. Legally Blonde is a great show, the cast is awesome, it's funny and got some great music, but I'm not addicted like I am to Wicked. And I'm pretty excited to go back to Movie World while I'm in QLD!
3. May is going to be a crazy month. Kelly and I have tickets to Legally Blonde opening night in Melbourne (and now one of the preview shows too, haha. Kelly knows why I'm laughing at this). This is mostly because we wanted to go to one opening night, and Melbourne's pretty close for both of us. Then it's my 23rd birthday, and 2 days after that, I'll be in Adelaide seeing Driving Miss Daisy, which I can honestly admit I am seeing only because the stars of the play are Angela Lansbury (Mrs Potts from Beauty and the Beast) and James Earl Jones (Mufasa from The Lion King) and I am a Disney nerd, who can't pass up the chance to maybe actually meet them.
4. In June, I'm going back to Adelaide to see Idina Menzel!!!!! I still can't believe that. Every time I see a video of her (interview or performance) or listen to her sing Defying Gravity, I just cry. I can't even fathom we're actually going to be seeing her live. Not just because she's the original Elphaba, but because she's amazing and seems like such a nice person.
5. Sometime throughout 2013 (we hope) we'll have Delta Goodrem touring (!!!!) and Wicked returning to Sydney, which I will be seeing a lot (Apparently it'll be going back to Melbourne too, but I'm in Sydney, so...). Apparently it'll be a mostly new cast, which makes me a little sad, because our cast is amazing, but I'm also excited to see new people in the roles.
6. In December, The Lion King musical is also returning to Sydney, which I'm psyched to see because the last time it was here I was 14 and my parents wouldn't take me, so I missed out.
7. I'm also hoping to get a job in 2013, (because money will definitely be required for #1-6) and gain more experience teaching.

15 Facts About Me

Yet another post inspired by a trending topic on Twitter. So, here are 15 facts about me:

1. If I wasn't a teacher, I'd love to be one of those people at Disney who do the research for the movies (yes, this is a thing. I saw it on the Pocahontas DVD). I think that would be the coolest job ever. 
2. I wrote my first book when I was 6, about Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. I don't still have it, unfortunately. It had pictures...
3. I found Nancy Drew, The Diary of Anne Frank and Wicked all through reading other books (and fanfiction, in the case of Wicked).
4. Before I ever heard Nina (Delta Goodrem) sing on Neighbours, she was my favourite character because she was quiet, shy, read and got pushed around by other kids. She was the first character on Neighbours I really related to.
5. The most I've ever cried during a TV show is on 8 Simple Rules when John Ritter/Paul died. The first time I remember crying watching TV was on Neighbours when Drew died. The first movie I remember crying in was the video of Charlotte's Web when I was 7. 
6. When the first Harry Potter movie came out, no one besides me wanted to see it, so I convinced my brother by telling him there was a dragon in it (he was obsessed with dinosaurs and dragons at that age). We saw the movie, and then I read the first 2 books to him. I also got him into Twilight by showing him the movie trailer. I'm still working on Wicked. I like sharing the things I love with my family and friends.
7. I have a real fear of not being liked, which stems from years of bullying. This covers everyone from friends, family, colleagues, friends of friends, celebrities, my students... yeah. I know, it's pathetic. In my defense, I don't want to constantly wonder if people really like me, it's just habit by this point.
8. The point of #7 is that it makes me reluctant to sometimes share my opinion. I also don't like upsetting people or hurting their feelings. Because I've been on the other end too many times.
9. I wish my family was closer- including extended family. I especially wish my sister and I were closer. I'd really love to do something just the two of us, but she'd never go for it. I laugh it off, but it hurts. 
10. I screwed my back up my first year of uni. No idea how, I just woke up one morning and couldn't bend. I couldn't sit or stand, it was awful. The doctor said it was muscle spasm. 4 years later and my back still hurts sitting or standing too long.
11. My computer is my life. I actually have no idea what to do with myself without it. Likewise, I don't cope very well not being able to write.
12. I have similar movie/book/TV tastes to my mum, but am much closer to my dad in terms of personality. I have my Dad's eyes and nose, but don't really look like either of my parents. My siblings and I all have my dad's nose, and my brother and I have the same eyes. People say me and my sister look alike, but I don't see it. I pretty much look like no one in my family. I've often felt like the black sheep in the family.
13. I have more pet peeves/ irritations then I let on. I just hide them because... well, see #7-8. 
14. My greatest fear is never finding love and having a family. I've been wrestling with it since I was 16.
15. I hate, hate, hate change. I'm very nostalgic. I don't cope well, especially with losing touch with people.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope everyone has a happy holiday.

I'm thinking of my Grandad today, and know a lot of my friends will be thinking of people they've lost this year, so I'm sending good thoughts out to everyone.

Be safe, be happy, and tell me what you got for Christmas!

Just in case anyone's interested, here's what I got:

1. Season 1 of Gilmore Girls on DVD
2. Season 1 of SMASH on DVD
3. The Rescuers Down Under (Disney) on DVD
4. A Bug's Life on DVD
5. iTunes
6. A cinema gift card
7. A milkshake maker
8. A Vase/candle thingy.
9. Chocolate
10. A bag
11. A bracelet
12. Pajamas

I think that's all!

Also, a very Happy Birthday to the amazing Jemma Rix, who turns 28 today! And really, if I have to explain who that is, I don't know you people.

30 Songs on Shuffle

This was another trending topic on twitter a little while ago I thought would be fun!

1. Enchanted- Taylor Swift
2. Raining Diamonds- Ricki-Lee
3. Grown Up Christmas List- Lucy Durack and Rob Mills
4. Dear Old Shiz- Wicked
5. Knocked Out- Delta Goodrem
6. Child of the Universe (Acoustic)- Delta Goodrem
7. Finale- Wicked
8. Need You Now- Glee
9. Asleep on the Wind- Idina Menzel
10. Curtain Calls/Tomorrow Reprise- Annie Cast
11. Here's to Us- Glee
12. My Wild Frontier- Faith Hill
13. You Will Only Break My Heart (Live)- Delta Goodrem
14. Haunted (Live)- Taylor Swift
15. Predictable- Delta Goodrem
16. Don't rain on my parade (Live)- Glee
17. This is the moment- Anthony Warlow
18. O Come All Ye Faithful- Delta Goodrem
19. War on love- Delta Goodrem
20. New York State of Mind- Glee
21. Who Knew- P!nk
22. Believe Again- Delta Goodrem
23. Have a little faith in me- Mandy Moore
24. The Wizard and I- Wicked Australia (Jemma Rix)
25. Sparks Fly (Live)- Taylor Swift
26. Thank Goodness- Wicked
27. Possessionless- Delta Goodrem
28. We Can- Leann Rimes
29. Suddenly- Leann Rimes
30. Fragile- Delta Goodrem

Um... so yeah... I have a lot of Delta on my iPod! And Wicked.

To My Students

Dear Students,

So, we've come to the end of the school year, my first year of teaching and my only year with you guys as your teacher.

And I can admit, in some ways, I'm happy to be leaving. Nothing to do with you guys, but living without shops, movies, city access and being so isolated from my family and friends hasn't been easy.

But I wanted to say thank you. You guys have made my first year of teaching... memorable to say the least :P I've gotten to know you all pretty well, and I'm so glad I did, because you're all great kids. And I really, really mean that.
Even the kids in the school that I didn't actually teach (i.e. primary school kids), I can say you are all lovely people and you made me feel so welcome from the very beginning.

The words "Panda Cheese" and "manufactured pop" will always remind me of my Yr 11 boys (sorry, Year 12 now), and I'd really like to thank you two boys, because even when I was having the worst day, you two could always put a smile on my face. Thanks for every time you dropped by just to say "hi" or called out "Hi, Miss!" as you passed me in the street. Sometimes it's the little things that get you through the day.

For my junior girls, we had some really great conversations in our classes and I got to do some really fun classroom activities with you two, which I hope you enjoyed as much as I did!

I'm really proud of what you guys have learned this year, even though I feel like you haven't yet quite reached your full potential!

• Boys, I'm really proud how well you guys took to the concept of "voyeurism" and still remembered it well after the topic was over- even if you did say that Psycho had "the worst acting you've ever seen" (except for Twilight). 
• I got one girl interseted in The Diary of Anne Frank and the other in Pride and Prejudice, and you can both now say you've seen Tangled, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. (As a 90's child and Disney nerd, you don't know how upsetting this was to me. Or maybe you do, given my reaction when this was revealed).

And then there's all the things you've learned that aren't on the syllabus or in any exam.

• I'm really, really proud that all 4 of you (and a few more!) now know Wicked, and that R can tell the difference between "animals" and "Animals", and that S knows the significance of "Fae" and that you guys know the names of "Fiyero" (not my duckling) and "Elphaba" (although R and M will probably always refer to her as She-Hulk).
• You have also been thoroughly educated on Delta Goodrem's music, much to the happiness of the boys :) (You're welcome :P)
• And I'm proud that I had to give away multiple copies of the Wicked soundtrack and David Harris's albums :)

But you guys have taught me things too, which I'll always remember and think of you guys. I now know more about metal music than I honestly ever wanted to (thank you, boys); as well as other types of music that you guys have kindly educated me on this year.

And to those that came and left throughout the year, thank you for also adding something to my first year of teaching! It was really great getting to know you all as well.

So I wanted to write this (also, my 100th post- I saved it for a special occasion), just to say thank you for making my first year of teaching so special. I will genuinely miss you guys!

All I can say is this:

It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me Is made from what I learned from you

You'll be with me Like a handprint on my heart

Yes, it's from Wicked but it's true. I learned a lot from you guys, and hopefully you learned a thing or two from me! And I was super proud to be your teacher, and I'll always remember you guys as my first students.
You are all capable of doing really well and working really hard. Remember that.

Sincerely, Miss Eades