My Story.

I had an interview for a job today.
My potential boss asked me ... What's an Erika story? What's the one you want to write?
I could give no answer. When she asked it, whatever maturity I felt went away. An hour earlier, I was thinking, this is a real job, like a career... I'm all grown up.
Ya.. right. I'm some kid - jumping into the deep end, promising all the grown ups "I can do it myself!"

Why should we hire you? I don't need water wings any more!
What do you bring to the deep end? I can hold my breath for a minute.
Why do you want to work here? I'm sick of the shallow end.

It's all about how hard you kick... well, so I'm told. Sink or swim.

Cyclone in Myanmar

The people she holds nearest to her heart have never felt so far away.
Kyin Khine, 56, is waiting in her Hamilton home to hear news of her sister in Yangon after a cyclone ravaged the coastline.
There’s no word from her brother who owned some rice fields near the water.
Cyclone Nargis has claimed more than 20,000 lives since it struck just a few days ago, according to the Myanmar military government. More than double that are still missing, and the number continues to grow. Entire communities, like the ones where Khine’s relatives lived, have been destroyed.
Her husband, Tint, 64, also waits for news of his brother.
“We are thinking, ‘he could be dead,’” said Khine.
Waiting and thinking is all they can do.
“We don’t know how long it will take to get news,” she said. “I feel very bad. You can’t do anything. You can just pray.”
Some relatives have turned up uninjured, but the rest remain part of the missing in Myanmar.
Khine watches the news, and hears the death toll rise. Pray.
She calls her niece in Singapore again- no word. Pray.
She lies on the couch. She can’t eat- just some coffee. Pray.
Khine and her husband are alone in Hamilton. Most of their relatives, including their three grown children live in Singapore. They came here as political refugees,and have lived in Hamilton since 2000.

In Theatres....

I love going to see a movie by myself. In fact, 90 per cent of the movies I see, I watch alone. I will never complain about it, because the movie is never ruined for me.
Previews are the only speed bump in this entertainment utopia.
Trailers are naturally followed by the typical "That looks so good," or "I want to see that," or "What the H-E-double hockey sticks?!?! That looks so lame."
Who am I to say that to, if the seat to my right is empty and to my left is the aisle?
Alas, it leaves a depressed taste, one that doesn't go away with blue icee, popcorn, glossettes, or coffee (which seems to be my latest favourite movie snack).
The only cure is a blockbusting smash hit. Thankfully, the movie almost always out shines the previews. Almost...
Like most females, I forget the valley of darkness, after a single James MacAvoy sighting, or a specifically chocolatey snack.
I guess if I can't skip the previews, I can make sure it's a MacAvoy flick, or I can sneak in some Lindors.