Max has tagged me. Again.
I don’t mind, because it gives me something to write about and who doesn’t love harping on about themselves, ad nauseum?
The topic du jour (as always) is 8 Random Things, apparently not necessarily about me. However, due to sheer force of habit (I’ve done this tag at least 10 times now), it is all about me.
RANDOM THING NUMBER ONE
I started earning my own money when I was 9 years old, singing and dancing professionally on stage. When I was tall enough, I graduated from dancing girl, to this:

I’m the brown furry one in the stripey scarf.
Yes, I was a wombat. My name was Wal Wombat. Wal was my alter ego from the ages of 10 – 15. We used to do full stage productions at festivals, concert halls and shopping centres as well as some television. He was fun and he paid fairly well, too.
RANDOM THING NUMBER TWO
I have had to install a childproof lock on my fridge because one of my cats [points at the one on the floor named Spiffy] has worked out how to open it, seal and all and eat everything inside. Cunning little bastard.

RANDOM THING NUMBER THREE
Because it seems to be de riguer to include some random titillating (ahem) fact, I will confess that my bra cup size is DD. Sometimes I think it’s no wonder I have a sore back. I love my breasts, but I could easily live with less…
In lieu of posting a photo of myself topless, because…. well, I’m just not going to, here is a picture of some some other woman with boobs. Use your imagination.
RANDOM THING NUMBER FOUR
I’m descended from royalty. Brian Boru, King of Munster, no less.
RANDOM THING NUMBER FIVE
I despise the taste of coffee and coffee flavoured products more than anything else on earth. UGH. I feel quite ill just at the thought of eating something like coffee cake, or inadvertantly taking a sip of iced coffee.
As disgusting as the taste of coffee is to me (do NOT kiss me with coffee breath!) , these things do smell rather good:

RANDOM THING NUMBER SIX
My grandmother was murdered in her own home in 1986. It was re-enacted on Australia’s Most Wanted. The murder was never solved. The case has been reopened recently, due to advances in DNA technology, but there are no new leads. Probably due to the fact that the culprit(s) set fire to her house.
RANDOM THING NUMBER SEVEN
When I had just turned 17, I was kicked out of home and had nowhere to go, so I lived in a cave for about a week. I’m not talking about some kind of pretend cave. It was a real cave on the side of a cliff face. I had a lot of fun that week. I stayed there with a couple of friends and we had a gas cooker, a double mattress on milk crates and whatnot. We even had a party, which was probably not the brightest idea being on the edge of a sheer drop, but nobody was hurt, so who gives a flying fox, eh?

Not the actual cave I lived in, but a very good likeness. My cave had far less grafitti.
RANDOM THING NUMBER EIGHT
I sing Tenor in a large choir. We do mostly big productions like ‘Handel’s Messiah’ and ‘Carmina Burana’. I adore it. Standing in the middle of 130 harmonising voices can be almost akin to having an orgasm. My voice is actually Contralto (the lowest range for a female), but composers don’t/didn’t often write for Contraltos… So, I have to sing with the men. I no complain.
There you have it. Random stuff.
I hereby torture tag the following: Jules, Art, Tommy (evil laugh), modobs, Ranna, Summer, Carrie and Stripper
Go forth and randomise.
Song Of The Day – XTC – Senses Working Overtime

















May 21, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Cats are going to take over the world. I am convinced.
May 21, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I don’t doubt it for a second. All that stands in the way is opposable thumbs. I’m keeping a close eye on the paws of Spiffy and Bilbo.
May 21, 2007 at 10:11 pm
This is the most interesting tag I’ve read so far.
I’m tempted to call you Wombat now. Oh I think I will but on occasion, Nessie, on occasion.
BTW, your tits are huge! lol
I think my own tag responses are going to stem from some of your topics. Thanks for the inspiration. Interesting – very interesting (I still think you should at least post a pic of you in tight sweater)!
Gosh – I’m sounding gay these days.
May 21, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Ahh tags! They do tend to take my blogging off of my failing love life and general boy dismay! HAHAHA! Now about your tag post here. MY GOD YOU DO HAVE HUGE TITS! LOL! I’m off to write my tag now. LOVE YA SWEETS!
May 21, 2007 at 11:11 pm
I’m with Stiletto – what a great read
May 21, 2007 at 11:12 pm
You lived in a cave for a week. That is so incredibly cool. (Sure, I can say that, never having lived in a cave for a week — had I gone through that experience, it probably wouldn’t be nearly as awesome as I think. Then again, since DESCENT scared the living hell out of me, I probably wouldn’t do well in a cave.) As for not liking the taste of coffee — interesting. I sometimes wonder what my world would be like if I hadn’t developed such a nasty coffee addiction — for one thing, I’d get more sleep and I probably wouldn’t talk nearly as much as I do. (Then again, I probably wouldn’t write as much as I do, either.)
May 22, 2007 at 2:17 am
Stiletto: I often find inspiration in other people’s lists. I’ve had to do so many of these now, that sometimes it’s really hard to think of new things. At least now I have (almost) a clean slate here, I can use bits I’ve used before elsewhere… heh. Such a cheater.
Nessie is fine with me, as is Wombat… just don’t call me Wal! [shudder]
As for a photo, I don’t think anyone wants to see an ex-wombat in a tight sweater, do they? I mean, wombats are cute, but they’re not that cute…
Ranna: Yah, too bloody huge. Hah. Limiting as far as buying underwear goes, too….[sigh]
Meg: I thought about tagging you, then decided against it as it isn’t quite in line with the focus of your blog…. However, if you want to do it for a bit of fun, I’d love to see what you’d come up with
Richard: It was pretty awesome, because it wasn’t so much like camping, due to the cave being within walking distance to shops and amenities. It was like going back to a secret hiding place…
I often wonder what my life would be like if I did have an addiction to coffee. I’d probably get off my lazy arse and be a far more productive member of society, hah. Then again, I could just be strung out on caffeine, which in my experience is not a fun feeling…
May 22, 2007 at 2:32 am
Vanessa, there’s a lot to be said for not being a more productive member of society. The way I see it, society has plenty of productive people out there. It needs a few more dreamers and poets and just plain non-productive people.
May 22, 2007 at 2:51 am
Richard, truer words were never spoken. No longer will I submit myself to self-persecution for spending the vast majority of my time in an ongoing daydream.
My saving grace has been that the people in my dream know me and they miss me if I go away…
I feel my quality of life has been greatly improved already. Thank you.
May 22, 2007 at 3:13 am
Oh! I second Richard’s comment!
Damn – that’s exactly the way I feel!
I won’t call you “Wal” so don’t worry.
I hope there are some new leads on your grandma’s murder.
May 22, 2007 at 3:18 am
BOOB! BOOB! BOOBY! BOOBY! BIG BOOBS! OMG BIG BOOBS! NICE!!!!
you know speaking of topless photos: this one time in myspace land: I posted “naughty” photos for my boyfriend (the “he that shall not be mentioned”) once to a site for him ONLY. BUT Iforgot to delete them afterwards and posted a link on my myspace page to other normal pics that only lead people to the “naughty” pics. OMG! And the person that pointed them out to me was my one and only, very loving….MOTHER!!!!! OMG!!!!!! So people have seen certain parts of my body that should not have been for all to see! My stupidity! OH well! HA!
May 22, 2007 at 3:21 am
Yah, it’s not looking hopeful for my grandmother if they didn’t come up with anything this time around. It’s over 20 years ago now and unless something slaps them in the face, I doubt they’ll open it again. It would completely freak me out if they caught who did it. Talk about opening a can of worms. I’ve been living on the edge of denial for decades now…
May 22, 2007 at 3:25 am
AB – HAHAHAHA! Oh, you poor thing. My mother would have a conniption if she came across something like that. She found my myspace blog and almost had a breakdown over things I’d written in it of a sexual nature… Nothing we’d really think twice about, of course…
I hope it was just her that saw them… surely if anyone else had, they’d have said something to you…
May 22, 2007 at 3:40 am
Vanessa, when I occasionally take a look at the world around me, I quickly retreat into the world of my screenplays and short stories and poems because this world just doesn’t do it for me. Hatred and bigotry and contempt and just plain darkness. No, thanks. I’m fortunate enough to surround myself with people who also decide not to spend too much time in the so-called real world. Yes, there are going to be those who say that we’re flirting with disaster by not facing the truths that are out there — but there are far too many lies to deal with, as well, and I prefer to let others sort out the mess. Does that make me a bad or irresponsible person?
May 22, 2007 at 4:07 am
Richard, no it does not make you a bad person. Nor me, because I very much relate to what you’re saying. The real world is hard to avoid at times, especially as I’m married to a journalist, but if nothing else, that keeps me informed – which can’t be a bad thing. Most of the time I’m off on planet Vanessa… a planet formed with a rather sudden and somewhat noisy bang in 1972 in a galaxy far, far away…
There are plenty of people who are willing to challenge the lies and sort out the mess. I applaud them. I make my little differences in my own way.
My planet has broadband internet access, too, which rules.
May 22, 2007 at 4:17 am
You’re married to a journalist? That’s so cool. (Maybe not, though, come to think of it — all that reality coming in at all hours of the night, not bothering to wipe its shoes…hmm…) Like you, I think I make my little differences in my own way and it’s usually on the personal level — taking someone who has darklings hovering around them and just kind of helping them see some of the light that’s out there. I’m glad that I found your blogs, by the way. I like the way you write.
May 22, 2007 at 4:30 am
Yes, a journalist/walking encyclopaedia/newspaper editorial. It has its pros and cons. I spend a lot of time at the other end of the house on the computer, because the endless current affairs programmes on tv do become a little tedious and draining. On the other hand, if I need to know background on just about anything, all I have to do is ask. It’s quite handy. As are the free tickets to the theatre and movies.
It’s the little ways, yes. As you said, helping someone find light, or sponsor a child in a third world country, which is probably the furthest I’m willing to go in terms of social activism. I started that years ago, and I’ve had given it up by now, except my conscience couldn’t deal with the thought of the child being repossessed… “Sorry kid, it’s back to eating maggots for you!”
Thanks for the compliment. I’ll be over to check out yours later this afternoon when I’m not having to sneak in here everytime the boss’ back is turned…
May 22, 2007 at 4:41 am
LOL no, glad you didn’t tag me – I couldn’t be anywhere near as interesting as you!
May 22, 2007 at 4:54 am
You know I told AB this and she still WORRIES herself to death over it. LOL! Guess i would too if it were my parts in pics floating around. HAHAHAHA! Sorry girl didnt mean to laugh but I still remember the day she found out they were still on there. She was freakin out! GOD LOVE HER! LOL! Vanessa you are just too damn interesting. I’m waiting on the book. “The Vanessa Files” sure to be a best seller.
May 22, 2007 at 5:26 am
Meg – You’d be surprised what you could come up with! Honestly, I don’t see mine as terribly interesting. It’s just my life….. y’know…
Ranna – I’ll bet she was freaking out. I think I’d have a heart attack if it was me. A fatal one. I just wonder why she didn’t just email them…? AB? Hehe…
A book, eh? I don’t think anyone would believe it…
May 22, 2007 at 8:30 am
http://pressposts.com/Blogging/Max-strikes-again/
Submited post on PressPosts.com – “Max strikes again?”
May 22, 2007 at 9:16 am
Argh, a new tag again. Ok, I’ll torture myself to find 8 random things about me
It’s interesting to have the point of view of someone who’s married to a journalist. I tend to leave all the informations I ‘ve read, heard, seen during the day when I pass the door at home. But hey, since I’m specialised in financial matters, I guess it would be pretty boring for my man.
What a lovely brown wombat costume, BTW !
May 22, 2007 at 11:06 am
Heh yeah. I think we need to think up some new tags. This one is getting pretty old.
Hmm. I think financial journalism could be a little different, especially if you weren’t at all interested in economics or the state of the stock market. That would drive me nuts if my husband came home and talked endlessly about that…. it’s bad enough as it is with the endless world affairs. I still take a lot of it in, though.
Ahh, Wal Wombat was a cutie. You can’t really see them in that photo, but he wore spectacles. He was a wise old wombat.
May 22, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I am gay today, weneed pictures. I lived in a cave too. Were they used to store deaed bodies until it was warm enough to bury them. It was connected to the state hospital which I had escaped from. I hated coffee until I lived near Seattle and then I aquired a taste becuase they run you out of town if you don’t.
May 22, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Stiletto is gay today too. Or maybe that was yesterday. You two ought to get together. I’ll watch.
A mortuary cave. Well, that beats my cave hands down. I don’t think anything ever died in my cave that didn’t have an exoskeleton.
Damn, that’s Seattle off my list of likely places to live…
May 22, 2007 at 3:54 pm
At the risk of sounding ignorant. Ah what the hell!
What is a tag? Hmmm
May 22, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Hehe, alright you sissy tag virgin….
It means that I have “tagged” you to write a blog with a list of 8 random things about yourself. You’re supposed to tag other people to do the same at the end of the blog, but it’s not compulsory.
I tagged you. Go write and post.
May 22, 2007 at 5:11 pm
All right. Be gentle
May 22, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Aw, I was just joshin’ ya….
May 22, 2007 at 5:55 pm
“Gentle” is overrated.
May 22, 2007 at 6:01 pm
At the wrong moment…
May 22, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Okay, how many times have you said you wouldn’t play this game again? I love how you keep finding random things.
No coffee eh? What do you use when you’re in desperate need of a caffeine fix?
*Homesick at the thought of parties in caves*
I’m not sure, but I think you’d prefer to sing with the guys ;~)
May 22, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Hey, I never said I wouldn’t play again. That was you! On one of the tags I did on myspace, I had to list FIFTY things. I have a decent well of tidbits to draw on, heh.
You know, I do prefer to sing with the guys. The ladies in my choir are like a gaggle of nattering ninnies. The men and I have hearty laughs.
I’m not really a fan of caffeine. It makes me edgy and anxious if I have too much of it. I drink Pepsi Max (sugarless Pepsi) on occasion, but that’s about all…
I too, am homesick at the thought of parties in caves. Let us transport ourselves…..
May 22, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Gosh, a tag! Thanks love, I’ll need to get my thinking cap on…
Hmm, coffee. Well you know I’m with you on that one, although I think I have developed an unhealthy addiction to V lately… Does the sight of those iced coffee bottles, those yucky mustard coloured ones, make your blood boil too? Arghh! For some reason they seem to make up about eighty percent of the litter in Australia…
Oooh, I’m coming to the cave party too!I think you should have it in Munster. There has to be a cave or two around there. Get back to your roots. Pity though that there probably aren’t any more Norse settlements to attack, or at the very least play a few pranks on…
May 22, 2007 at 11:50 pm
OH wait! Ranna didn’t tell my ass until I IM’d her to tell her mom was freakin out! Then Ranna decided to say…”Oh I saw those the other day.” WHAT!!!!!
Yeah emailing them would have been better but I was trying to be all creative and put it in a slide show effect with some oh la la stripper music!! haha!!! OH well! What a wanker I am!
Mom was just like “If your dad finds out about these” and I was like…he’s not gonna, right mom? Well I do beleive she told. OH well! They can’t always THINK their sweet innocent daughter is so innocent right.
I too hope that leads do come up about your grandmother! I hate that for you. That will forever be in your memories and wondering if the person you just walked by could have done such a thing. My heart goes out to ya dear.
May 23, 2007 at 2:44 am
Jules, iced coffee coloured packaging makes me feel physically ill. Then there’s bloody mocha. You have to watch out for mocha or you might drink/buy it by accident. It’s happened before. How anyone can want to drink anything that colour is quite beyond me. [shudder] And you’re right. They are everywhere.
Munster cave party! Brillant! See, that’s what I love about you….Shame about the Norse settlements, I know. Role-play is never quite the same….
May 23, 2007 at 2:53 am
Do you still have the scarf? That scarf is sweet.
May 23, 2007 at 2:55 am
AB – Ranna saw them?? Hey, she didn’t mention that! Naughty girl. Yah, I can totally understand you freaking out. Although, in my experience, people don’t click on links much.
Cute about the slide show…
Onya Mom for keeping a secret. There are some things that should just stay between mother and adult daughter. You don’t want your father visualising ANYTHING of that nature… ergh….
It may sound odd, but I kinda hope no leads come up about my grandmother. Then I can continue to compartmentalise what happened and live in a state of permanent detachment. It was a gruesome affair….
May 23, 2007 at 2:56 am
stripper – not quite. I have one very similar… but that’s for waving about at football matches. The scarf stayed with the costume, unfortunately.
Hey, you got tagged…
May 23, 2007 at 12:28 pm
The real question is: How did you survive in the cave without coffee????
May 23, 2007 at 12:29 pm
And thanks for keep us abreast of other random… uhm… things.
May 23, 2007 at 12:30 pm
2D, or not 2D… THAT… is the question.
#3 is the answer.
May 23, 2007 at 3:03 pm
You just want to make me feel sick on purpose! [cries]
I was just doing my civic duty by keeping you abreast. Or maybe I was just trying to titillate…
July 27, 2007 at 7:34 pm
[...] the “huge tits” was being replaced by “sweaty breasts”. Huge tits I could understand, but sweaty breasts? No [...]