Random follow #185 - @Greeniecg

When the first words you read in a twitter bio are NZ Warriors fan - I know I am going to follow that person FOR LIFE!  @Greeniecg is proud of his team and will stand behind them through think and thin.  Guaranteed.  And when you add in his two other joys in life - education and media one could easily think he was my brother from another mother.

So whats to like about this random tweeter?  - well Greenie is an original thinker and will willingly share his opinion with you without a doubt.  And without a doubt outside of the @nzwarriors official account I don't think I have ever seen anyone tweet quite so much about footy.  Actually I have seen a few people tweet a lot about footy but not with the same passion or fervour for one team like Greenie does.

With every play of the game Greenie is right there getting amongst it.  Every kick, tackle, bad call or point scored - he tweets about it.  If you're not into sport then you probably won't understand the passion or fire that getting behind and barracking for one team requires.

Here are a few tweets from your typical footy game -

"Leuluai's looking good so far! #nrlwstwar"

"Best kick of the warriors from danger #nrlwstwar"

"Mannering you tinny bastard! #letsgonewarriors #warriornation"

So yeah - you get the gist right?  But ts not all fun and games with Greenie though - "Won't be trying the L+P chocolate, hate white chocolate. Don't like the taste #killjoy #BuzzKillington #buzzkill"

He's not above correcting you if your grammar is incorrect - "C'mon people, it's not TEXTSES it's TEXTS. Like text with an 's' on the end. I know it's hard to say but come on! #englishteacher"

And he is a guy enjoys getting outside - "Sore ankles aren't fun when you have to run in 9 hours time. #moan #whinge"

Greenie isn't a man of too many words.  There are very few tweets that ever hit the maximum character limit.  He prefers to keep his tweets short and like a good game of footy - straight up the guts.  He sparingly Rts other peoples tweets which is a bit refreshing.  Sharing his opinion of the world isn't an issue because his intelligence drives him to non-conformity.  He doesn't have a bad word to say about anyone and he plays a straight bat every time.  I will let the man himself have the last word of this post.  Take it away Greenie -

"@NZWarriors giant on field banners. That's what we need more of st mt smart #letsgonewarriors #truewarriors #warriornation"

Random follow #148 - @superleeni

"Young people are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and more fit for new projects than for settled business." Francis Bacon.

There are a whole bunch of people at the younger end of the spectrum who use twitter.  They enjoy sharing their thoughts, insights and experiences of the world with us.  And one of the real queens of being able to do this well is @superleeni.  Coming at you out of Auckland Lena brings a fresh and youthful vibe to what can at times be *cough cough* a rather middle aged timeline.

And the joy that I get from her tweets are a fresh perspective on the little things in life.  A fresh perspective that can make you chuckle as you think - "Yes! I get that!".  For example - 

"I just inhaled fried rice and omg everything tastes better when you're hungry" or

"Just noticed my earrings don't match. Hopefully people thought it was a fashion statement" and even 

"Crumbs down my bra are the worst."

And its that sense of youth that makes her so endearing.  There is a feeling of happiness and bubbliness that has not yet been tainted.  I do enjoy seeing her profile picture pop-up and wondering what she is going to share next.  And she is SO interactive and sweet.  The difference between a good tweeter and a great one is the amount of effort they put into talking to others.  Well I can tell you that Lena is a great tweeter!

And she also displays a level of maturity that others would do well to emulate - "I can't get over how aggressive people can be on Twitter. I think basic decency should still apply, online or off."

So why follow her?  Because she is a very lovely young lady, who is also very pretty, who brings a fresh approach and zeal to social media.  And I am thinking that if her online personality is like her real life one then Lena is full of life, energy, freshness and enthusiasm.  All traits that are super appealing.

Please be aware that @superleeni is a super tweeter.  She tweets quite a bit.  But in a good way.  Her tweets are often fresh and make a positive contribution.  Which tells me that she really is a people person.  People people are the BEST tweeters.  And if there was ever a tweet that really nicely sums up Lena as a person I believe it would be this one -

"Manager says she's grateful to have me on her team :)"

(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.