Ova Bearing

I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.....

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Thank you to all the people who sent birthday wishes yesterday. I am truley amazed at the people I have in my life both near and far...some I have never meet in person, some I have not seen in 20-30 years and some I see multiple times a week. You all bring so much love, laughter and happiness. I now sit with good wine and company reminiscing on all the amazing times, whilst listening to the music that formed me and continues to move me in ways that is often difficult to express in words. #gettingsoftinmyoldage #soundgarden #musicsavedmysoul #theangles #thereplacements #stilllivinginthe90s

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The perfect way to end an intense weekend of roller derby

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Saturday night - thats a wrap...

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My fav corner of my home #pearljam #vinyllove #subpop #musickeepsmealive

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Clouds #cbr #monochromemavens

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A date with Evan and Juliana

I wish!

I have loved The Lemonheads since the days of their 'Its a Shame About Ray' album. Very 90's catchy tunes, with Juliana lending her cute vocals and bass for a number of songs.

Whilst in Seattle a couple of weeks ago I bought a Lemonheads CD at Easy Street Records. Plastered across the packaging was "when the lemonheads were punk'. Intrigued I of course bought it. When I got home I unpacked it, listened and reignited the love of the Lemonheads.

So I checked out what's been going down in the last 20 years, and here I discover the very cute relationship Evan Dando and collaborator Juliana Hatfield have had - being called the Mulder and Scully of the 90's rock world. Well they are still at it, twittering (is that even a thing?) 'I love you' to each other regularly. No one knows if they have or had anything more than a deep friendship based on admiration and respect. They are not telling and nor should they, in fact I really want to think its just love for another human.

It got me thinking about the 'boy' friends I have had in my life and how having these amazing relationships have made up the sum of my parts. I am not sure if its a meh thing anymore, but growing up in the 70' and 80's it was...well....unusual. I'd get 'ooo is he your boyfriend?'...um nope, just a friend.  Both my man and I have never had limitations about who we are friends with, he hangs out with chicks and guys and I hang out with guys and chicks. I hang out with his boy friends, he hangs out with my girl friends.  Some people I know are still perplexed by this....weird.

Anyway, why talk about a date with Evan and Juliana? A series of events lead me there.  1. All this got me thinking about Rob, my man's bestie and a boy friend I hung out a lot with in the 90's. A cutie of a man who introduced me to Soundgarden and tequila. 2. I have been ridiculously sick for a week and a couple of nights ago took the plunge and had taken some serious drugs to get me through the night. 3. Drugs = stupidly realistic dreams for me. And voilà I had a most vivid dream where Evan, Juliana, Rob and I hung out, drank tequila and had all round fucking epic night. I feel happy and content with my time with Evan and Juliana, they even sung Drug Buddy for Rob and I....Am so bummed missed their tour in 2012....sad face...

Rob and his amazingly hot and talented wifey Robyn

So on this New Years Eve I raise a toast to all those who have 'boy' friends and 'girl' friends. Its a special thing peoples.

  Evan and Juliana still got it on stage

    And of course some music to finish. Enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM5-bGgeipM

  Ova

'I whish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me'

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We are family.......I've got all my sisters with me

I love fog. Not sure why. Maybe it's because when you can't see anything in front of you you have time to think within, to reflect. I attended a family reunion on the weekend. It was an 18 hour round trip in the car and it was worth every minute of that drive. I wasn't going to go, I am about to head to the USA (like right now.....I am on the bus heading to Sydney for the flight), I just thought I didn't have time to get it all in. Then when I arrived I realised I would have been an idiot not to go. I have a large family, we'll compared to most people I know. I'll start with the easiest, my dad's family. My dad is one of 5 kids, I am one of 15 cousins (plus some half cousins....is that even a thing?). Most of us have kids. My nonna and nonno came to Australia during WW2 leaving their family behind, so that's pretty much all of my dad's family that I know. I have no idea how many peeps are in Italy. My mum's family are strewn across Australia and England. My mum is one of 11 siblings (or 10...I can never remember), I can't tell you how many cousins I have, nor how many of us have kids. I do know that some of my cousins have grandchildren. There are just way too many of us for me to know all of them. Now I didn't attend either of those family reunions. Nope I attended my family once removed reunion. My uncle Derrick (my mum's brother) married Babs. Babs is a Power. I attended the Power family reunion. When my mum first moved to Australia in 1967 Bab's sister Maureen had already immigrated from England. She was the only family my mum had in Australia......hope you are all following this!.......so I grew up with Maureen's kids who were a mix of cousins, big brothers and sisters and aunties and uncles all wrapped into one giant bundle of awesomeness. Then there were Maureen's siblings, half brothers and sisters and all their kids. The Powers were always fun, still are, and they have had a huge impact on my life. I spent my childhood with the Powers, and I have a lot to thank them for. They taught me how to live, that it's OK to be yourself and of course gave me my introduction to great music. So the reunion was great. It was also my aunt and uncles 50th wedding anniversary. ... now that's something you don't celebrate very often these days. All these people and the only person I wanted to be there couldn't, my brother. My brother died in 1995, a few days after his 19th birthday in a motorcycle accident. When your brother or sister dies a part of you leaves. I don't know how to explain it, it's just gone. I don't think it ever comes back. What helps is having a great family. I don't see my family very often, but I know when I do its fucking amazing.......and the weekend was fucking amazing. So now the fog has lifted, the sky is a beautiful blue.....what a great day to be with my new found sisters travelling to 'Merica'.

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Preparation and Reflection

As I sit and start my preparations for yet another trip to the USA I reflect on what an awesome life I have had and have. Yeh sure there have been ups and downs-moments in time where you think about how fragile we are as humans, moments so joyous you can hardly believe what you are experiencing.

I think about my last trip to the USA, the first holiday with my man without our kids. A trip where I saw Soundgarden at the Paramount in Seattle, met Jeremy Jones (a friggin awesome snowboarder!), hung out in snow covered Silverton Colorado, walked the sands of Pipeline and remembered why I fell in love with my man oh so many years ago.

This next trip is with two very special people in my life - Bambi Von Smash’er and ShortStop. Bambi, my el capitano, friend, a dancer extraordinaire and the person in my life who reminded me who I am. ShortStop, my friend, teamie, an eater of all the meats after a game of roller derby and the person who shows me (and all around her) what it takes to be the best. Both of these amazing women challenge me to be better; a better me, a better athlete, a better teamie-but not a better dancer, i don't think i'll ever be able to 'shake it' like these two.

The last time I traveled with Bam we had an amazing adventure; which included long lines at RollerCon, a road trip from Vegas to Austin (which included an awesome hair metal and rock soundtrack),  an awesome karaoke tribute to Bon Jovi at Beerland , tubing in Texas, tequila...and a wooden bear…best not ask about that….

This trip will be full of roller skating, music and an attempt to keep up with the Bam and Shorty training routine….. I can hear my old bones screaming noooooo already….

As I think about times past and times to come I can’t help but reflect on the words of the great poet laureate Eddie Vedder…….

'I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me'