The choice of life and death

Mr Oppelaar's cousin, Jason Kelly, said: ''I purely blame police for it. He's getting chased and that's what young people do. They get scared and they take off,'' he told reporters.

Mr Oppelaar's sister, Nicki, was also angry. ''My brother is dead now because the police chased this car to the point where he didn't want to stop.''

Mr Oppelaar's brother, Chris Mills, said: ''You have to ask who's responsible ... in some part it's the driver for doing the speeds he was doing, but mostly it comes down to the coppers ... what good's a stolen car?''

Mr Mills paid tribute to Mr Oppelaar as a larrikin who had many friends.

''He was a top bloke. He had trouble in his past, but he was starting to put all the pieces together and start a new life,'' he said.

-- Sydney Morning Herald Online, March 22, 2010 --

A mother, father, and four-month-old child were killed instantly on the weekend near Canberra after being involved in a car accident -- a tragedy. Their Mazda collided with a stolen car which had been driven through 2 red lights, seconds after a police chase was called off. The male-driver died after being arrested and taken to hospital, and the eighteen-year-old passenger of the stolen car is the only person left alive - in hospital and unconscious.

Although the ending of a life is never a joyful or wanted event, and my sympathies go out to the families of all involved, I just cannot help but think that the young man made the choices that led to his death - and the death of three innocent people. His family blames the police for chasing him - which is their right to do so - their choice to do so.

But, this young man chose to speed, run a red light - chose to run away from the police and the gaol term he may have received. Without that choice, the incident wouldn't have occurred, and the four-month-old child may have grown up one day to know its parents.

So who is to blame?

The policeman, fulfilling his role within society, attempting to arrest criminals?

Or the man who committed a crime of theft, speeding, and then running a red light into an innocent family?

Perceptions and Judgements of covers

Last night, while out for a drink for St Patrick's Day, three blonde girls walked into a bar... This could the be the start of a great joke, but the important thing was the three blonde girls in the bar that we were at.

One of the girls must have been about six foot, and gorgeous. The other two weren't as tall as the first girl, but also gorgeous. The bitch in me rolled my eyes and made fun of the fact that the three blonde girls were like honey to bees - the bees happening to be any male within a ten foot radius suddenly pulling out all tricks (including a passing dressed-up Leprechaun) to get their attention.

I soon ignore the meat fest, and went back to my conversation, putting in a pun here and there about the events behind me.

Somehow, I struck up a conversation with one of the blondes. "Are you girls German"... "No, we're from Holland". Ten minutes later, my boyfriend and I were invited to hang out with the girl on her boat during Amsterdam Mardi Gras when we are there later this year. Phone numbers were exchanged. And an emphatic plea for us to make sure we call her when we get there.

I then bought the girls a bottle of champagne that any other bloke in that bar would have bought to get into their knickers...

The perception that they were a gaggle of light headed blondes who were after a good time and a free drink was what I originally thought. But upon closer inspection, they were a lovely bunch of girls just out for a drink, celebrating their friends arrival. It wasn't their fault that their beauty and blondness attracted the attention of others.

I swallow my judgement, and shall remember from now on that although most times you can judge a book by its cover, sometimes you cant.

Melbourne stole the Victory,

For an unbiased opinion -- http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/melbourne-slips-another-one-past-sleeping-sydney/#item2559

For a biased opinion -- As a Sydney-FC fan, and one that was at the game... to lose was the worst case scenario. But, with still with a shot at the grand final, it wasn't going to be the last blow. But to lose to a goal off a wrongly rewarded penalty, and a goal that was sneaky, and perhaps un-sportsman like feels like your mother just took a half eaten lollipop off you for no good reason.

I would have accepted a well executed and worthy goal with a chin held high - but like the rest of the Sydney crowd, I stood there, stunned, hearing the collective silence of 20,000 fans "jaw drop" and think - WTF just happened? (Rae said as we left). The big screen only just managed to flash the winning goal soar through the posts it happened to fast, that as a sydney supporter I hoped it was only a reply they were screening.

The saddest past was watching Melbourne steal a victory, their supporter bays erupt in glee, while 3 of our best sat injured on the bench.

Expectations

Expectations ruin everything.

For example - the new Hot Chip album came out in January. I've read several reviews about the album before I bought it - and was always going to buy it no matter what the pundits said. Mostly, they said, 'nice' album, not great, and definitely not what you expect from Hot Chip i.e. its not dance-y like the other albums they have released.

The reason why I bring this up is because while I was walking to work today, a song came on that I hadn't heard yet. It was brilliant. It was like lying in a bed of clouds. A melody within a dance song? What? Yes, I was shocked. But the song was beautiful. The lyrics, the voices, the beat. It meshed so well together! I have no idea what the song it was, but I am sure the Hot Chip album deserves a better review than what it has received. Just because it didn't live up to peoples expectations, people didn't like it.

It got me thinking - expectations always ruin things. Events - like birthday parties, Weather - like at the beach or at a wedding, People... Venues... and any other aspect of life that is an expectation... even a family finding out their child is gay, or autistic, or a paraplegic.

Instead of expecting, and being disappointed, wouldn't it be nice if we human beings could accept and enjoy the diversity, high and lows, rain and wind, that come with life.

Not everything is as expected. And if it was, frankly, life would be boring.

Limbo

Limbo is defined by dictionary.reference.com as:

1.(often initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Theology. a region on the border
of hell or heaven, serving as the abode after death of unbaptized infants (limbo
of infants) and of the righteous who died before the coming of Christ (limbo of
the fathers or limbo of the patriarchs).
2.a place or state of oblivion to which persons or things are regarded as being relegated when cast aside, forgotten, past,or out of date: My youthful hopes are in the limbo of lost dreams.
3.an intermediate, transitional, or midway state or place.
4.a place or state of imprisonment or confinement."

So, basically it means being in a place that is unstable, unsure and hella confusing. Right now, I feel like Im in a place of limbo. Though for sure, I am not imprisoned, on the border of hell and heaven, I could be defined as being cast aside, forgotten, or in a transitional place.

I got phoned about a job on offer two weeks ago (its only been two weeks?). I still haven't heard even though it was to be a quick process. Today, I called, and was told they definately want to go ahead with me, and that the position is just waiting on some approvals. Thats great, fantastic, basically I am being told I have the role I would have killed for. It solves my current horrible situation of hating my job, my boss and my daily tasks...

But it hasnt been confirmed. I dont have a contract, nor even an "offer" per say, just someone's opinion that they really want me on board. Their word, I suppose you would say.

Almost similair to when a relationship is starting out. You have a first date, and decide, they are ok, and so go on a second date. After a few weeks have past, your pretty sure you are in a relationship - but its not decided. It hasnt been discussed, its not official.

Same limbo feeling. Your gut tells you - Yes! Your in like Flynn! Your brain goes - nuh ah, not until your signed on that dotted line do you have an escape.

Safety mechanism, perhaps?

It's Your Birthday

This weekend saw me bring in yet another birthday. Ive had 28 all in all, and I find it amazing that I perhaps only remember a third of them. Due to being too young, or too drunk or bascially because nothing happened.

I remember last years birthday, brought in with three days of drinking, eating and the combination of these two resulted in many unspoken of activities. And I smoked.

I remember the year before last, when noone turned up to my party except a few old friends, and ended with me in tears because I was so miserable, and also doing something which I had neither considered or thought of before. And I smoked.

I remember when I turned 25, I dressed in purple, and so did all the girls that I was friends with at the time, and I wanted to be somewhere else the whole night. And I didnt smoke

My 24th?? I actually cannot remember. I think I went to kareoke... And I probably smoked.

23 and 22 are also a mystery, but I assume I spent it in some pub somewhere, drinking, and probably smoking?

My 21st was at my mothers house, I had a bunch of close friends come, and a bunch of people I invited because I saw them that year. I wasnt a smoker yet.

20 and 19 are in that basket of - well, Im sure I spent it at the pub somewhere.

My 18th I drank Midori in Parramatta Park, got a dragon statue from a friend as a present, and remember seeing my boyfriend at that time skinny dipping with one of my now best friends.

17, not sure.

16, I had bad dress sense, was as skinny as a rake and have a photo between two girls who I was friends with who really didnt like each other. We all dated the same guy in a year, and one of them married him. None of us talk, or would talk to each other if we saw each other.

and thats where the memories sorta end... I vaguely remember by 13th birthday party, and a butterfly cake at one time, and a barbie doll cake all pink and white.

However, there is one common theme - each and every birthday is a different crowd of people. Some people have hung around, and seen me turn a year older several years in a row. But mostly, different people.

Its probably the most telling thing about humans. Some things change (people), and some things stay the same (we always have a birthday)...

Feeling a Fraud

For the past year and a half I had sat at this same pod and actioned the same tasks day in - day out. I have sucked up the tears, blown out the anger and thrown out mountains of ideas and paper.

This week, for some reason, is different. This week, I have come to the ubiquitous cross road in life, the 'road less travelled' as Robert Frost called it. It is not particularly the road less travelled for me, but rather two options, one confirmed and one hanging in the wind. Two great career options.

But, I feel the fraud. I agree to the confirmed opportunity, knowing that if the other opportunity comes through I'm out of here quicker than Jack the Flash. As the first offer is bread crumbs in a forest... The second is the icing on the cake.

Corporate fraud, we hear that term in relation to stock brokers and business men who try to beat the financial system, and get gaoled. Right now, I feel the term relates to me, as I'm trying to beat the system. And in the process, I hope it doesn't beat me.