Reasons to make the O_o Face

Posted by yabbitgirl on Aug 16, 2010 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts

There are times when you read, see or hear something that just makes you :o. This is the thread to share them on!

The other day I don't know where I stumbled on a thread discussing the Nancy Drew novels. I remembered how much I loved them and I did a little research...which led me to the original publishers, who also published the Hardy Boys and the Bobbsey Twins. All written by a cadre of ghost writers under cover names. Then I found a link to an audio book of one of the Bobbsey Twins stories, which I loved when I was a kid. I listened to it for old times' sake. The :o happened when the author described little Flossie-aged-four's collection of dolls, among which was a black Sambo doll given to her by the family's "coloured cook Dinah, and her husband the stableman, Sam." Who had "excellent rooms above the stables." They had given her this black worsted ragdoll (named Jujube) which she kept with her other dolls..."but apart, at the other end of the shelf, and with a nice piece of white pasteboard in between--because, well, he wasn't really family."

:o :o
The story goes on to state that Flossie had thought about giving Jujube away but didn't want to hurt Dinah's feelings; "and after all, as Mamma said, there weren't any doll hospitals for black orphan dolls."

No wonder the Bobbsey Twins books went out of fashion. Nancy Drew is still available today...but then there was nothing like that in them.

So, VWers, what made you :o today?

Posted by veggydog on Aug 28, 2011 · Member since Sep 2006 · 1196 posts

My husband was just talking over the back fence to our elderly, but very fit, neighbor. For some reason it came up that he had had heart disease and is now vegan! :o I don't know how long he has been--long enough to improve his health, I guess. We've lived behind this guy for over 10 years but, obviously, we rarely talk to him. ::)

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Posted by veganhippie on Aug 28, 2011 · Member since May 2008 · 5810 posts

awesome!

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Posted by permanentgrin on Sep 12, 2011 · Member since Mar 2006 · 1789 posts

So...I'm trying to get Australian citizenship, and want it kind of in a hurry because my USA passport is about to expire and I want to go to a friend's wedding in the USA early next year and it would be easiest to travel on an Aussie passport. I sent my application 10 days ago, and they were supposed to get back to me within 60 days about taking the citizenship test. I just got a phone call asking if I'm available to take it on Thursday (day after tomorrow). So I'm making a :o face because 1) the dept of immigration has NEVER gotten back to me so quickly about anything, and I've had 4 different visas over the years so I've had to deal with them a lot, and 2) OMG I have to study for the test and get my papers together and get some passport-size photos taken and find someone to fill out form 1105 who's known me for over a year and who's in one of the accepted professions on the list and I'll need DH to take the day off and/or find a babysitter SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME.

They're supposed to email me the details (I don't even know where I'm supposed to go...I thought I'd have to go to Sydney but I'm sure the guy one the phone said something about Newcastle...he had an accent and I could barely understand him), so now I'm waiting for the email and I can't even tell DH because he's in Sydney for the day and turned his phone off. Aaahh, so nervous.

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Posted by humboldt_honey on Sep 12, 2011 · Member since Feb 2007 · 12529 posts

Happy cramming, pg. It'll work out. How hard is the test? How much do you have to learn and how much do you already know? This is exciting!

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Posted by oncewerewesties on Sep 12, 2011 · Member since Mar 2009 · 5849 posts

haha pg I can see why that would be a huge shock, immigration departments everywhere tend to process applications at a glacial rate! I'm sure you'll ace the test though! Good luck!

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Posted by permanentgrin on Sep 12, 2011 · Member since Mar 2006 · 1789 posts

Thanks hh and oww!

The test is 20 multiple choice questions, and I need to get at least 15 right to pass. I did the practice questions online and got 19/20, and that was before reading any of the handbook. I'm up to page 31 of the book and haven't learned anything really new, other than a few specific dates. It's mostly very general knowledge about how Australian government works and what the flag looks like and that kind of thing. I've lived here nearly 7 years now, so I've seen the flag a few times, lol. I'm mostly nervous about getting all my documents together in time, but the test still makes me nervous because I haven't taken a test since 2005 when I finished college. And I only have 2 days.

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Posted by shelloid on Sep 12, 2011 · Member since Nov 2006 · 4427 posts

OMG That is so so so so exciting!!!

I can't wait until I can apply for NZ citezenship, so am really jealous you get to get your Oz one sooooooooon!!!
I still have 4 years to wait thoguh.

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Posted by yabbitgirl on Sep 12, 2011 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts

When I did my Spanish citizenship it was just a lot of paperwork to fill out and then I talked to a judge for about 10 min and he stamped the papers and that was it. I'd been living here for 20 years by then. No exam, no real oath, nothing. (He did ask me if I renounced my allegiance to other countries, and I said yes, and the US embassy apparently ignores that if they choose to--and they always choose to). He did shake my hand but that was just because, as he said, I looked a bit lost.

DH had taken the morning off to do this, since we didn't really know how long it would take, so I offered to invite him to coffee. No, he went back to work.
Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

NONE of my Spanish neighbours/friends could see why I thought becoming a citizen of a different country was a big deal. Of course, it's their country. Maybe if it was on their side they'd get it.

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Posted by permanentgrin on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Mar 2006 · 1789 posts

DH had taken the morning off to do this, since we didn't really know how long it would take, so I offered to invite him to coffee. No, he went back to work.
Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

NONE of my Spanish neighbours/friends could see why I thought becoming a citizen of a different country was a big deal. Of course, it's their country. Maybe if it was on their side they'd get it.

I have to do an interview and test tomorrow, then await their decision, then if they say I'm allowed to become a citizen I have to go to a ceremony and take an oath. But everyone I've told about it so far thinks it's a big deal. :) I think I'll have a party once it's official. And I'll make all the guests dress as famous Aussies (but it has to be a real costume...they can't wear normal clothes and say they're Heath Ledger or something). I can combine it with my birthday party since I'll be turning 30 in December, which is probably how long it'll take before citizenship is official (if not longer).

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Posted by veganhippie on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since May 2008 · 5810 posts

heath ledger's australian?

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Posted by yabbitgirl on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts

I think Hugh Jackman's Australian, isn't he?
And that sounds like fun! Go for it!

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Posted by Jessimaka33 on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Dec 2008 · 2168 posts

heath ledger's australian?

my reason to 0_o :P

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Posted by oncewerewesties on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Mar 2009 · 5849 posts

heath ledger's australian?

my reason to 0_o :P

seriously?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlbS1J6Lu94

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Posted by permanentgrin on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Mar 2006 · 1789 posts

HAHAHA!!! I didn't know he was on Home & Away! Worst show ever.

ETA: Yes, Hugh Jackman is Australian. Also Guy Pierce (who was also on Home & Away, I think), Keith Urban, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, etc.

If I do the party though, I want people dressing up like Crocodile Dundee or Kylie Minogue or Tim Minchin. Because that would be more fun. :)

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Posted by oncewerewesties on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Mar 2009 · 5849 posts

ETA: Yes, Hugh Jackman is Australian. Also Guy Pierce (who was also on Home & Away, I think), Keith Urban, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, etc.

don't forget Russell Crowe, you guys can have him, we don't want him!

also, I have never watched Home and Away, but I figured it was likely to be the easiest source of a clear Aussie accent : )

Your party sounds awesome, wish we could all come!

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Posted by permanentgrin on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Mar 2006 · 1789 posts

ETA: Yes, Hugh Jackman is Australian. Also Guy Pierce (who was also on Home & Away, I think), Keith Urban, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, etc.

don't forget Russell Crowe, you guys can have him, we don't want him!

also, I have never watched Home and Away, but I figured it was likely to be the easiest source of a clear Aussie accent : )

Your party sounds awesome, wish we could all come!

Haha, no, you guys can keep Russell Crowe. Even though he lives here now. Also, wasn't Geoffrey Rush born in NZ? Lots of people claim him as Aussie, but for some reason I think that's wrong....

I would love for all of VW to come to my party!

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Posted by oncewerewesties on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since Mar 2009 · 5849 posts

nonono, it has been decided, Russell Crowe is aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll yours.

I don't think Geoffrey Rush was born in New Zealand, I'm pretty sure he's Australian born and raised, I've never heard him claimed over here.

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Posted by veganhippie on Sep 14, 2011 · Member since May 2008 · 5810 posts

i shared this in another thread, but it deserved to be here, too.

read the last 2 sentences in the first paragraph.

http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae186/theveganizer/IMG_20110912_142635.jpg

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Posted by oncewerewesties on Sep 15, 2011 · Member since Mar 2009 · 5849 posts