Random follow #123 - @Styla73

Some people tweet a lot, some people don’t, and at almost 85,000 tweets tonight’s Random Kiwi tweeter is definitely someone who tweets a lot. But this is in no way a bad thing, quite the opposite. Prolific tweeters can brighten your timeline at any time of the day and make you smile,  tweet something that gets you thinking or say something that makes you just want to give them a big hug, and this is exactly what @Styla73 does to my Timeline.

Kylie’s timeline is filled with passion, and that passion is what I love about following her. Wikipedia tells us Passion is an intense emotion, compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something. This definitely shows in Kylie’s tweets. Take this one for example:

"JOY AND HAPPINESS AND MANDY F*&^$@G PATINKIN IS MY FAVOURITE YOU GUYS S%@T"

And even when Kylie may not be having the best day, her passion still shows through, like in this tweet:

"I have a migraine so couldn't watch the stream but am opening one eye to say YAY MINNESOTA! #equalitynow #cryingbachmanns #somuchjoy"

Her tweets are also quick snapshots of her life, sometimes happy, sometimes not, but they always tell a story, like this:

"I ate vogels coz I love vogels but I shouldn't have because now I am in all the pain because I shouldn't eat vogels. #vogels"

Or this tweet which I love because it is Kylie being honest about her tweets and telling it like it is.

"(Apologies for depressing tweets. Sometimes twittering is just a black hole to shout into.)"

Scrolling through her Timeline has brought me many smiles, laughs and a couple of tears, but it is her honestly and her passion which makes @Styla73 an interesting person to follow. I have yet to have had the pleasure of meeting Kylie in real life, (she lives in Wellington, I live in Auckland) but I hope I get that pleasure one day so I can see her passion for myself, and give her a big hug! Go on, hit that follow button, and fill your timeline with the passion that is @Styla73!

Today's blog post is brought to you by @pammygirl  :)

Random follow #101 - #revtalk and @RevChrisHuriwai

There are many interesting people from many diverse and interesting walks of life.  It is via social media that our worlds intersect and a certain amount of both richness and depth is added to our every day lives.  I must admit that I was quite taken aback when @PhidMcAwesome recommended @RevChrisHuriwai as a kiwi tweeter worth following.

Not because @RevChrisHuriwai is not a good tweeter but more from the view that I never took Phid as being quite so broad minded.  But I must say I am pleased for both of those facts.  That Chris is a great tweeter and also that Phid has a broad mind.

So what does a maori Anglican priest tweet about?  Well to be fair - everything under the sun.  There are very few topics that are out of bounds or that will not be discussed (within a fair amount of reason of course).

Television - "Shes after the money...don't trust her! #ShortlandStreet"
X-Factor - "So that's 'It Only Happens' down...wonder how long until 'Sweet Darling' and 'E I Po' make an appearance. #XFactorNZ #MaoriMuch"
Current affairs - "Oh no, I wish Twitter had a 'I was joking' button. I know Jason was the one on What Now... #FailedComedian"

One thing I personally know about Anglicanism is that it allows room for the individual to shine while maintaining and preserving the form and function of the church.  I for one admire and enjoy that if I go to a particular denomination of church that I have a pretty good idea of the layout of the service and the procession thereof.  And yet with all the formality the person that is the priest is given the latitude to share their journey, ideology and philosophy of Christianity as they see it.

@RevChrisHuriwai is not afraid to weigh in and share his opinions on the matters of the day.  And having both access to social media and the knack of being able to write a good tweet  means Chris is onto a winner,  And these are but a few of the topics that he tweets about - marriage equality, Maori spirituality, ANZAC day and pretty much all sorts.  Such as -

"If 'bad' can go from meaning 'bad' to meaning 'good,' surely 'Gay' can go from being derogatory to meaning 'Awesome' #GayMeansAwesome"

And it amongst all the tweets there are of course the obvious religious type tweets.  He is a man of the cloth of course -

"The Good Word - "I never thought all my father's stories about his growing up would come in handy...but they have! #PricelessSermonMaterial"
"I absolutely love Anglican Choir Dress! #ThatcherFuneral"

And he also has an absolutely BRILLIANT sense of humor as well -

"When #MarriageEquality passes into law, can my wife and I divorce and get Gay Re-Married? Our first wedding just wasn't fabulous enough..."

@RevChrisHuriwai is one of five Anglican ministers who use the hashtag and contribute to the twitter discussion via #revtalk. Revtalk.co.nz is more than just a hashtag though.  It also a pulpit, come website, come platform for sharing their vision online.  Whats great about this site is that the Revs are able to give a diverse range of view points of the topics and having more than one means the content is fresh, updated often and usually quite challenging as well.  And not just to you the reader but amongst their group too.

If your timeline is need of a lift or some inspiration then I can totally recommend either @RevChrisHuriwai or the #revtalk as being worth a follow.

(Not so) Random follow #100 - the girl with The Rolling Stone's tattoo

As you live your life there are many, many people with whom you will cross paths.  Some people will make additions to you while others subtract.  Many people will pass through and pass by without you noticing them.  Today's person is someone who has been an addition.

Jaarna is a beautiful young lady whom I have known for a few years.  She first came to us from Tauranga and took up a position within the creative school administration team (also known as CTC).  It didn't take her very long to make an impact on people.  Not that she was loud or overbearing or any of those things.  Rather she went about her work in a constructive, methodical and clear headed way.

Jaarna is a people person.  She is a person who when she smiles and laughs can light up a room.  She has the ability to turn a dreary dull day into one full of love, fun and creativity.  She also has an exceptional sense of humor mainly due to her upbringing in Opotiki.  So its not exactly refined in a posh, private school manner.  More like a down at the pub raucous night out kind of sense of humor.

She is also a very open and loving person.  She accepts anyone and everyone into her life.  There has been the odd time when people have taken advantage of that but Jaarna is a quick learner.  And she can also see through the bullshit.  If you bring to her a heap of dung wrapped up in fancy paper - she knows and can very quickly figure out your lies and crap.

Anyway.  Jaarna is also a lover of tattoos.  And she has two distinctive one's that I know of.  The first is the Rolling Stone's symbol which is emblazoned in full color on the top of one of her feet.  She wears it proudly. And it is quite a remarkable thing.  I was caught completely unawares when I saw it for the first time and had to do both a double and triple take to recognise just what it was.  She also has angels wings on her back.  And this one I believe is a very true representation of her.  She has such a kind and gentle nature about her that to say she is an angel would be a very fair description.

It was just a few years ago that Jaarna, after going through a particularly tough patch, found the woman of her dreams.  I would often catch up with her and ask how it was going and Jaarna would gush and tell me about this amazing lady she had met would had completely swept her off her feet.  As Hayley lived in Wellington and we were in Rotorua there were many discussions on the best and most efficient ways of heading south.  (I think in Jaarna's mind the fastest way possible was the only way!!!)

Jaarna left us and moved south to live with her fine partner.  Life had definitely turned a corner and things were coming together very, very nicely.  A new job, a new career, love abounding - everything was going well.

Until.  Until the day she was told she had cancer.  Not terminal at that stage but cancer nonetheless.  And so began the treatments.  The day in and day out of therapy, feeling ill, hair loss, constant fatigue and the throwing up.  If there is no other message that you take away from this post let it be that Jaarna is a fighter and a survivor.  And its been the love, support and sheer determination  of both Hayley and her family and friends that has helped Jaarna with her fight.

And with the support of her work colleagues and family they thought up a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of day to day living.  Not being able to work meant that there was a huge financial hole created.  So Shelley and Janet (some of Jaarna's very best friends) thought up the idea of FLAG day.

F = Fight

L = Like

A = A

G = Girl  

FLAG day was a super dooper fundraiser that was HUGE.  Unfortunately Jaarna wasn't able to be there due to the timing of her treatments but she joined the festivities virtually.

Without a doubt one of the happiest days of Jaarna's life was when her and Hayley became civil partners.  When Hayley came into Jaarna's life it was like night and day.  A bubbly, happy, resilient spirit welled up within her and started bubbling over so that all who knew them couldn't but become infected with the love and devotion they have for each other.  And it may very well be that they may be able to get married this year too.  But there are other factors in play that may or may not see that happen.

So whats happening now?  In short Jaarna has been told that cancer has returned and this time it will bring her life to a close.  Sooner rather than later.  And so I write this post not because I am looking for sympathy as a friend.  But rather as a way to acknowledge a very special, beautiful, lovely young lady for whom I have ALL THE LOVE AND RESPECT in the world for.  I am proud to say she is my friend.  And she will ALWAYS hold a very special place within my heart.

This not an obituary or meant to be dark.  Rather my intention is to tell you all about a very special lady who I am proud to say is my friend.  Often times we leave the things we should say to people until after they have gone.  And so in this post I am wanting to say all the things that I want to.  Hopefully I have been able to do that above.

You won't find Jaarna on twitter.  You probably won't find her on Facebook either.  And you definitely  won't be able to find her in Wellington.  Where you will find her is spending time with the most special people in the world in the most special place in the world to her.

My final thoughts -

Life is precious.  Love all the people.  Say all the things you need to say today.

Jaarna Holly Renee' Hoskins passed away on the 22nd of June, 2013. Farewell dear friend.