.. since I picked Alex up from his sleepover and I'm ready to kill him already!
It started before he even got in the car with him opening Bradley's door and harassing Brad until I physically lifted him away and made him get in the front seat. He did manage to thank his friend's mother for having him without prompting so at least he got something right.
As soon as we were out of the friend's driveway, he started spelling all the things he could see.
"T-i-s-s-u-e-s.
W-i-n-d-s-c-r-e-e-n.
W-i-n-d-o-w.
C-o-w.
C-a-l-f.
F-e-n-c-e.
H-o-r-s-e.
T-r-e-e.
S-h-r-u-b.
C-l-o-u-d.
T-r-e-e.
T-r-e-e.
T-r-e-e.
T-r-e-e.
T-r-e-e.
T-r-e-e."
I could ignore it while there was variety but once he got to about t-r-e-e number 64, I asked him to stop and he did .. for a whole 4 seconds. Instead of screaming at him, I let it go figuring he was just hyped up from being at a friend's place.
Then he started again with a minor variance .. no spelling; just repeating everything 5 or 6 times before moving on to the next item.
We were only 4km into a 27.9km trip at this point, so I turned the radio up.
It didn't work.
He just got louder and more repetitive.
So I turned the radio up some more and started singing along, really really loudly, in the hopes that he would get the hint and shut-the-hell-up already.
That didn't work either, so now I'm sitting here with a headache from my own bad singing thanking the universe that he didn't decide to do that lovely little trick on the way home from Merredin on Tuesday.
I don't think the Main Roads Department would have liked 13.5 year-old entrails and body parts all over their nice clean road signs.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Dirt, rain and a blue-tongue lizard ..
.. my weekend in a nutshell!
We went up to the block on Sunday to try to work out the official boundaries, let the boys have some fun on the quad and be in Merredin bright and early on Monday to talk to the shed builders. Two out of three ain't bad.
The boys had a great time on the quad bike and were very good about taking it in turns. There was no fighting (about the quad anyway!), they all listened to the rules and they obeyed them! Even Alex had a go this time because "dirt is better to ride on than sand; it's less dusty." Luckily it had rained a bit before we got there or he would have figured out that dirt is just as dusty as sand when it's dry.
Despite the rain, it was quite warm and Peter found a blue-tongue lizard sunning himself in an out-of-the-way spot on the edge of the block. He had gloves on so he picked the lizard up and took him to show the boys. Brad thought it was a snake at first and ran the other way but soon came back to check him out. Once we'd all had a look, but not a touch, Peter put him back where he got him from and we didn't see him again. He also found an inside-out snake skin and lots of rabbit holes. Should be interesting in summer .. yikes!!
The shed plans are being submitted to council this week and I managed to talk Peter into getting the builders to do all the little bits like installing windows, doors and a concrete floor. He had plans to do the doors and windows himself and to try and get a contractor in to do the concrete after the shed was built, but changed his mind once he realised how much longer it was going to take before we could actually use the shed. The concrete would have ended up costing the same, if not more, and there wasn't really any savings to be had by doing the other bits himself.
Now the boundaries were a whole other kettle of fish. (On another note, why would you put fish in a kettle? Wouldn't that make the tea taste weird?) We managed to find three survey pegs, all on the same fence line, but there were no others to be found anywhere. Using the measurements on the plan we had, we worked out that, with the exception of the one with the survey pegs, none of the fences are in the right position. In other words, there are seven sections of fence and only two are in the right place. Yes, we are arranging for a surveyor to re-peg the whole block. Apparently, he may be able to fit us in around February of next year, unless he has a cancellation, happens to be in the right area at the time of the cancellation, we can part pay him in advance and his stars are in alignment but only if Mercury is in retrograde with a solar eclipse due exactly 24 hours from the cancellation. I did offer the down payment of a child or alternatively a limb, but surprisingly enough, he seems to prefer Australian currency. Weird people, these country folk! (No lynch mobs please ... I'm just kidding!)
While Peter and I were tearing our hair out trying to work out angles and linear measurements from an infinitesimal copy of a copy of the title plan, Alex and Brad went off to explore the lakes behind the block. 'The lakes' is an overly optimistic term as I believe 'disgustingly goopy clay mud flats' would be more appropriate. I believe the exact words I said to them before they left were "Go and explore around the lakes. Don't step in the bits that have nothing growing on them 'cos you'll probably sink." Of course, in kid-speak that means 'step in every part that doesn't have anything growing on it, sink about 5 inches into the disgustingly goopy clay mud before panicking and running through the only true water puddle for kilometres, thereby drenching yourself, and then come running back to the car expecting to get in, looking like some abominable mud creature threw up on your shoes and the bottom half of your body. Oh and then complain about how you now have no shoes to wear and your feet are cold.' Peter's response? "That's what the block is for .. to get dirty!" Then in the next breath .. "You're not getting in my car looking like that!"
All in all, a great weekend had by all especially the boys. They even voluntarily got wet and dirty riding around in the rain on Sunday and there were no complaints! I did check the back of their necks for marks left by the alien body invaders, but there was too much mud to see clearly. The trip home was uneventful as well but they soon reverted to form this morning with Alex and Brad coming to blows over a Wii game. Some things never change!
We went up to the block on Sunday to try to work out the official boundaries, let the boys have some fun on the quad and be in Merredin bright and early on Monday to talk to the shed builders. Two out of three ain't bad.
The boys had a great time on the quad bike and were very good about taking it in turns. There was no fighting (about the quad anyway!), they all listened to the rules and they obeyed them! Even Alex had a go this time because "dirt is better to ride on than sand; it's less dusty." Luckily it had rained a bit before we got there or he would have figured out that dirt is just as dusty as sand when it's dry.
Despite the rain, it was quite warm and Peter found a blue-tongue lizard sunning himself in an out-of-the-way spot on the edge of the block. He had gloves on so he picked the lizard up and took him to show the boys. Brad thought it was a snake at first and ran the other way but soon came back to check him out. Once we'd all had a look, but not a touch, Peter put him back where he got him from and we didn't see him again. He also found an inside-out snake skin and lots of rabbit holes. Should be interesting in summer .. yikes!!
The shed plans are being submitted to council this week and I managed to talk Peter into getting the builders to do all the little bits like installing windows, doors and a concrete floor. He had plans to do the doors and windows himself and to try and get a contractor in to do the concrete after the shed was built, but changed his mind once he realised how much longer it was going to take before we could actually use the shed. The concrete would have ended up costing the same, if not more, and there wasn't really any savings to be had by doing the other bits himself.
Now the boundaries were a whole other kettle of fish. (On another note, why would you put fish in a kettle? Wouldn't that make the tea taste weird?) We managed to find three survey pegs, all on the same fence line, but there were no others to be found anywhere. Using the measurements on the plan we had, we worked out that, with the exception of the one with the survey pegs, none of the fences are in the right position. In other words, there are seven sections of fence and only two are in the right place. Yes, we are arranging for a surveyor to re-peg the whole block. Apparently, he may be able to fit us in around February of next year, unless he has a cancellation, happens to be in the right area at the time of the cancellation, we can part pay him in advance and his stars are in alignment but only if Mercury is in retrograde with a solar eclipse due exactly 24 hours from the cancellation. I did offer the down payment of a child or alternatively a limb, but surprisingly enough, he seems to prefer Australian currency. Weird people, these country folk! (No lynch mobs please ... I'm just kidding!)
While Peter and I were tearing our hair out trying to work out angles and linear measurements from an infinitesimal copy of a copy of the title plan, Alex and Brad went off to explore the lakes behind the block. 'The lakes' is an overly optimistic term as I believe 'disgustingly goopy clay mud flats' would be more appropriate. I believe the exact words I said to them before they left were "Go and explore around the lakes. Don't step in the bits that have nothing growing on them 'cos you'll probably sink." Of course, in kid-speak that means 'step in every part that doesn't have anything growing on it, sink about 5 inches into the disgustingly goopy clay mud before panicking and running through the only true water puddle for kilometres, thereby drenching yourself, and then come running back to the car expecting to get in, looking like some abominable mud creature threw up on your shoes and the bottom half of your body. Oh and then complain about how you now have no shoes to wear and your feet are cold.' Peter's response? "That's what the block is for .. to get dirty!" Then in the next breath .. "You're not getting in my car looking like that!"
All in all, a great weekend had by all especially the boys. They even voluntarily got wet and dirty riding around in the rain on Sunday and there were no complaints! I did check the back of their necks for marks left by the alien body invaders, but there was too much mud to see clearly. The trip home was uneventful as well but they soon reverted to form this morning with Alex and Brad coming to blows over a Wii game. Some things never change!
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Even with only two kids in the house,
I still get this ...
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Bradley is at a sleepover and as a result, Alex is all hyped up with no-one to annoy except for Andrew. Oh joy!!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Bradley is at a sleepover and as a result, Alex is all hyped up with no-one to annoy except for Andrew. Oh joy!!
Monday, 22 June 2009
Dear Donna,
Hi there! It's your old friend, the Universe, here to welcome you to another week of fun-filled lunacy.
I love watching you on mornings like these when you sleep in .. some of the things you do make me laugh! For instance, did you realise that you have made three cups of coffee this morning and yet haven't managed to drink a single one? The fact that you then made the second and third cups and put them down in the same location as the other one, then absent-mindedly picked up the first (very cold) cup to take a sip out of was hilarious, as was the look on your face!
Congratulations for getting the children to school on time, dressed in the right uniforms and sort-of awake but I will have to deduct points for the fact that you managed to forget two out of three school bags and thereby forgetting two out of three lunches. You really did need that second trip to school to remind you to get petrol though, so I suppose it's all worked out in the end.
On the topic of petrol, it would probably be a good idea to check the fuel gauge more than once a week now that you're driving a much bigger and thirstier car, especially seeing as the other car is filled with donations to charity and you have about as much chance of fitting the kids into that car as you do of fitting into your year 12 Graduation Dinner dress. Having bits sticking out the sides of the dress isn't actually illegal (though it definitely should be!) whereas having parts of the children sticking out of the car is illegal and possibly just a teensy-weensy bit dangerous. Just think of the damage to the paintwork and the upholstery if the children manged to bleed all over it; not to mention the cost of buying one-armed uniform blazers and one-legged uniform trousers.
Now I realise you have a busy week ahead of you, with the tiler doing both bathrooms and the new robe going into Alex's bedroom, but you need to make time for that wonderful thing called relaxing. You have only managed to read 6 books in the last 4 days so you're falling a bit behind. The housework can wait until you catch up. Another week won't really hurt anything will it? With the tiler being there, you won't need to do the bathrooms and I'm sure you can put the slaves, oops I mean children, to work doing the dishes. They dirty more of them than you do after all! So what if there's more of them .. put them to work I say!
Anyway, I had better be off for now to check on some of the other inhabitants of Earth or they may start getting jealous that I only seem to talk to you. Not everyone has voices in their heads to keep them company like you do! Just remember to check with another human before doing anything the voices tell you to or we may have all sorts of issues ... again!
Take care (and your happy pills!)
Love from,
The Universe
I love watching you on mornings like these when you sleep in .. some of the things you do make me laugh! For instance, did you realise that you have made three cups of coffee this morning and yet haven't managed to drink a single one? The fact that you then made the second and third cups and put them down in the same location as the other one, then absent-mindedly picked up the first (very cold) cup to take a sip out of was hilarious, as was the look on your face!
Congratulations for getting the children to school on time, dressed in the right uniforms and sort-of awake but I will have to deduct points for the fact that you managed to forget two out of three school bags and thereby forgetting two out of three lunches. You really did need that second trip to school to remind you to get petrol though, so I suppose it's all worked out in the end.
On the topic of petrol, it would probably be a good idea to check the fuel gauge more than once a week now that you're driving a much bigger and thirstier car, especially seeing as the other car is filled with donations to charity and you have about as much chance of fitting the kids into that car as you do of fitting into your year 12 Graduation Dinner dress. Having bits sticking out the sides of the dress isn't actually illegal (though it definitely should be!) whereas having parts of the children sticking out of the car is illegal and possibly just a teensy-weensy bit dangerous. Just think of the damage to the paintwork and the upholstery if the children manged to bleed all over it; not to mention the cost of buying one-armed uniform blazers and one-legged uniform trousers.
Now I realise you have a busy week ahead of you, with the tiler doing both bathrooms and the new robe going into Alex's bedroom, but you need to make time for that wonderful thing called relaxing. You have only managed to read 6 books in the last 4 days so you're falling a bit behind. The housework can wait until you catch up. Another week won't really hurt anything will it? With the tiler being there, you won't need to do the bathrooms and I'm sure you can put the slaves, oops I mean children, to work doing the dishes. They dirty more of them than you do after all! So what if there's more of them .. put them to work I say!
Anyway, I had better be off for now to check on some of the other inhabitants of Earth or they may start getting jealous that I only seem to talk to you. Not everyone has voices in their heads to keep them company like you do! Just remember to check with another human before doing anything the voices tell you to or we may have all sorts of issues ... again!
Take care (and your happy pills!)
Love from,
The Universe
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Random thoughts..
- Why do children only play with a toy when you threaten to throw it out?
- Why do children's bedroom floors and dirty clothing have such a magnetic attraction happening? Has the earth's magnetic field changed and someone forgot to tell me?
- Where did all this 'stuff' in my house come from?
- If the world spun in the opposite direction, would those of us who are right-handed switch to being left handed and vice versa?
- How come it's so hard for us to train the dog, but very easy for him to train us?
- Do our children think we're really that stupid?
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Friday fill ins #129
1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting the worst!
2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a person who was raised right.
3. Asking your children to cook you dinner is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time ... seems like a good idea at the time but ends up making you feel sick!
4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy covering their backsides and lining their pockets.
5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine the demands of housework and having some me time.
6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without salt or veggies in it.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep; tomorrow my plans include finalising the tile selection and Sunday, I want to sleep some more!
2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a person who was raised right.
3. Asking your children to cook you dinner is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time ... seems like a good idea at the time but ends up making you feel sick!
4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy covering their backsides and lining their pockets.
5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine the demands of housework and having some me time.
6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without salt or veggies in it.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep; tomorrow my plans include finalising the tile selection and Sunday, I want to sleep some more!
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Family news from the past week ..
I survived the '12th birthday movie night sleepover party' (obviously!) without too much damage. Andrew had a great birthday and a great party, even if he did come down to the lounge room and sit with me for a while because "they're all soooo noisy that I have a headache!" and that was with only three extra boys in the house.
After shifting some furniture in Alex's bedroom, I discovered our shower is leaking into his wall again., so now we're up for the cost of fixing that. Luckily, Peter was in the mood to fix it properly by re-tiling the whole shower instead of just patching it, so now I get to go pick out new tiles and try to arrange a reasonable quote for the labour involved.
I also managed to get him to agree to getting an electrician in to fix the dodgy front light and install another one. I thought I was on a roll until I figured out why he was being so reasonable ...
I bought food for the family on the weekend.
This is what Peter bought on the weekend ..
He's been wanting another bike for a while and now that we actually have a car (or three!) to transport the kids in, I don't really have a problem with him having it. He is careful, always wears the right protective gear and deserves some fun. The look on his face when he got off after riding it home was priceless. His grin nearly split his face in half! For those who want the details it's a Kawasaki Vulcan VN800 Cruiser. A cruiser is much better for a ride in the country on a fine afternoon than a sports bike. Only problem is that with his matt black helmet, now he really looks like a bikie.
Andrew went off to his year 7 camp on Monday. This will be the longest he's been away from home without one of us there with him. He's my little stress head, so he was a bit worried about the whole thing but found a kindred spirit in one of the kids who came to his birthday party, Nik, who was a bit concerned as well. They agreed to sit together on the bus for the 5 hour trip to Albany and help each other out. I think they'll both be so busy, they won't have time to feel homesick but it's good to know someone has his back. Andrew even deigned to give me a hug good-bye, after looking around and checking out what the other boys were doing of course!
Alex is in trouble again for not handing in homework that I know he's done at least part of. I have told his teachers that I refuse to put my entire life on hold to stand over him for hours on end, but some of them still don't seem to realise that getting him to think in abstract terms is like trying to milk a bull .. now matter how long and hard you try, it just isn't going to work! Mind you, the communication between the teachers and myself has improved greatly from last year so at least I'm able to suggest alternatives to tasks that are going to be too far outside the realms of reasonable expectation. I know you shouldn't wish your life, or your child's life, away but I can't wait until high school is over!!
Bradley has been wandering the house like a little lost soul without Andrew here. Apparently it's no fun to play the Wii by himself so the dog is getting a lot of extra attention and loving it!
Now I'm off to contact some more tilers so I can try to work out if the first quote is good, bad or indifferent. Wish me luck ...
After shifting some furniture in Alex's bedroom, I discovered our shower is leaking into his wall again., so now we're up for the cost of fixing that. Luckily, Peter was in the mood to fix it properly by re-tiling the whole shower instead of just patching it, so now I get to go pick out new tiles and try to arrange a reasonable quote for the labour involved.
I also managed to get him to agree to getting an electrician in to fix the dodgy front light and install another one. I thought I was on a roll until I figured out why he was being so reasonable ...
I bought food for the family on the weekend.
This is what Peter bought on the weekend ..
He's been wanting another bike for a while and now that we actually have a car (or three!) to transport the kids in, I don't really have a problem with him having it. He is careful, always wears the right protective gear and deserves some fun. The look on his face when he got off after riding it home was priceless. His grin nearly split his face in half! For those who want the details it's a Kawasaki Vulcan VN800 Cruiser. A cruiser is much better for a ride in the country on a fine afternoon than a sports bike. Only problem is that with his matt black helmet, now he really looks like a bikie.
Andrew went off to his year 7 camp on Monday. This will be the longest he's been away from home without one of us there with him. He's my little stress head, so he was a bit worried about the whole thing but found a kindred spirit in one of the kids who came to his birthday party, Nik, who was a bit concerned as well. They agreed to sit together on the bus for the 5 hour trip to Albany and help each other out. I think they'll both be so busy, they won't have time to feel homesick but it's good to know someone has his back. Andrew even deigned to give me a hug good-bye, after looking around and checking out what the other boys were doing of course!
Alex is in trouble again for not handing in homework that I know he's done at least part of. I have told his teachers that I refuse to put my entire life on hold to stand over him for hours on end, but some of them still don't seem to realise that getting him to think in abstract terms is like trying to milk a bull .. now matter how long and hard you try, it just isn't going to work! Mind you, the communication between the teachers and myself has improved greatly from last year so at least I'm able to suggest alternatives to tasks that are going to be too far outside the realms of reasonable expectation. I know you shouldn't wish your life, or your child's life, away but I can't wait until high school is over!!
Bradley has been wandering the house like a little lost soul without Andrew here. Apparently it's no fun to play the Wii by himself so the dog is getting a lot of extra attention and loving it!
Now I'm off to contact some more tilers so I can try to work out if the first quote is good, bad or indifferent. Wish me luck ...
Monday, 15 June 2009
Manic Monday #172
What is the last song that was stuck in your head and how did you get rid of it?
Don't know if it counts as a song as such, but the Imperial March from Star Wars. Alex has been humming it on and off for the past couple of weeks and it keeps popping into my head at the weirdest times. This time I managed to get rid of it by testing Bradley on his times tables.
If you had to say what one thing in your life best represents your freedom, what would it be?
Tricky one, this. Freedom from what exactly? Political oppression, depression, prison, pain? I'm going to take it in the political sense and say my freedom of speech. I can openly say I disagree with the government or spiritual leaders (or both) and not be afraid for my safety.
If you were invited to the White House for dinner tonight, what would you wear from your current wardrobe?
Considering the flight I would have to take to get there .. probably comfy jeans or dressy trousers with one of the three tops that still fit me.
Don't know if it counts as a song as such, but the Imperial March from Star Wars. Alex has been humming it on and off for the past couple of weeks and it keeps popping into my head at the weirdest times. This time I managed to get rid of it by testing Bradley on his times tables.
If you had to say what one thing in your life best represents your freedom, what would it be?
Tricky one, this. Freedom from what exactly? Political oppression, depression, prison, pain? I'm going to take it in the political sense and say my freedom of speech. I can openly say I disagree with the government or spiritual leaders (or both) and not be afraid for my safety.
If you were invited to the White House for dinner tonight, what would you wear from your current wardrobe?
Considering the flight I would have to take to get there .. probably comfy jeans or dressy trousers with one of the three tops that still fit me.
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Friday fill ins #128
1. I grew up thinking that my parents had it easy. All they had to do was go to work and boss us around. Boy, was I wrong!!
2. Lee's blog was the last website I was at before coming here.
3. Why don't you do what you want to do; be who you want to be?
4. Reading helps me relax.
5. Thanks for the comments.
6. I find rudeness and bad body odour very off-putting.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner out with some of the Big W girls; tomorrow my plans include food shopping and going with the flow and Sunday, I want to clean up the carports as well as relax!
2. Lee's blog was the last website I was at before coming here.
3. Why don't you do what you want to do; be who you want to be?
4. Reading helps me relax.
5. Thanks for the comments.
6. I find rudeness and bad body odour very off-putting.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner out with some of the Big W girls; tomorrow my plans include food shopping and going with the flow and Sunday, I want to clean up the carports as well as relax!
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
To all the non-scrapbookers out there ...
.. please, please, please write details on the back of your photos.
A date ..
A place ..
A name ..
.. will help the people who come after you to know more, understand more, of your life and the reasons why you took the photos you did.
I have been sorting through one of the three boxes of photos, albums and framed pictures that belonged to Peter and Mark's Dad. So many photos with no details, dates, place names or, worst of all, people's names, means so many memories lost.
Admittedly, a lot of the photos would probably only mean something to Neil or Anne as they are of trips they took together but even still, they are a part of their life and I hate to see them just languishing in a box with no idea of the who, what or where.
Hopefully we will be able to identify details of some of these photos but even if we don't, please make sure this doesn't happen to your memories.
A date ..
A place ..
A name ..
.. will help the people who come after you to know more, understand more, of your life and the reasons why you took the photos you did.
I have been sorting through one of the three boxes of photos, albums and framed pictures that belonged to Peter and Mark's Dad. So many photos with no details, dates, place names or, worst of all, people's names, means so many memories lost.
Admittedly, a lot of the photos would probably only mean something to Neil or Anne as they are of trips they took together but even still, they are a part of their life and I hate to see them just languishing in a box with no idea of the who, what or where.
Hopefully we will be able to identify details of some of these photos but even if we don't, please make sure this doesn't happen to your memories.
A Bradley funny ..
Driving home from school on Monday, Bradley was rather quiet in the back of the car, when all of a sudden he pipes up with:
"Mum, what's a bee-ow?"
"A what?"
"A bee-ow or maybe a bee-oo."
"I have no idea. Spell it."
"B-e-a-u."
"Oh, that's said 'bo' and it means a suitor or boyfriend."
At this point he started laughing almost hysterically.
"What's so funny?"
"The ute that just went past does repairs on boyfriends! That's funny!"
I looked for the ute in question and sure enough it was a Beaurepaires ute. (For those who don't know, Beaurepaires is a tyre outlet here in WA.) More laughter ensued until ...
"Why would you repair a boyfriend Mum? If they're broken wouldn't you just get a new one?"
It really is a throwaway society isn't it?
"Mum, what's a bee-ow?"
"A what?"
"A bee-ow or maybe a bee-oo."
"I have no idea. Spell it."
"B-e-a-u."
"Oh, that's said 'bo' and it means a suitor or boyfriend."
At this point he started laughing almost hysterically.
"What's so funny?"
"The ute that just went past does repairs on boyfriends! That's funny!"
I looked for the ute in question and sure enough it was a Beaurepaires ute. (For those who don't know, Beaurepaires is a tyre outlet here in WA.) More laughter ensued until ...
"Why would you repair a boyfriend Mum? If they're broken wouldn't you just get a new one?"
It really is a throwaway society isn't it?
Monday, 8 June 2009
Manic Monday #171
If you joined the circus, what act would you most want to perform?
Juggler/knife thrower because if I were able to do those, it would mean I had decent hand-eye co-ordination!
Would you generally be overdressed or under dressed at a party?
Depends on the season but probably under dressed. I am not a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination so always find it difficult to work out what to wear to events.
Do you feel that children should be sheltered from unhappiness?
No. I believe children should be taught that all emotions are OK and that bad times/feelings will happen in their lives, but they should be guided in how to deal with their emotions. For example, just because you're feeling bad doesn't mean you can take it out on someone else.
Juggler/knife thrower because if I were able to do those, it would mean I had decent hand-eye co-ordination!
Would you generally be overdressed or under dressed at a party?
Depends on the season but probably under dressed. I am not a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination so always find it difficult to work out what to wear to events.
Do you feel that children should be sheltered from unhappiness?
No. I believe children should be taught that all emotions are OK and that bad times/feelings will happen in their lives, but they should be guided in how to deal with their emotions. For example, just because you're feeling bad doesn't mean you can take it out on someone else.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Today ..
.. I have achieved the following:
- restrained myself from killing Alex 10 times (that's an improvement on the 23 times of yesterday!)
- paid 9 bills (and we all know that there will be at least 9 more by the end of next week!)
- listened to the dog bark at the birds in the trees out the back 8 times (I'm sure the neighbours are going to either report him to the council or try to kill him soon.)
- told Bradley to clean up his room 7 times (and then gave up!)
- done 6 loads of washing (most of it from the floor in Bradley's room.)
- vacuumed mulch off my carpet 5 times (damn dog thinks that the big bits of decomposing garden mulch are the best thing to chew inside. Apparently it's not as much fun to chew them outside!)
- done 4 lots of dishes (how is that possible when we haven't even had dinner yet?)
- tried to scrap 3 times (but didn't succeed at all. Mojo? Whatever I did, I'm sorry! Please come home ... please?)
- Read 2 books (you know you're getting desperate for something to read when you raid the kids' library bags!)
- Fell asleep in my lounge chair (my 'throne') 1 time (and woke to find one of my lovely children, Drew, had covered me with a doona so I "wouldn't get too cold to make dinner"!)
What did you get up to today?
Friday, 5 June 2009
Friday fill ins #127
1. Love makes a house a home.
2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been whatever takes the least amount of time to make.
3. As much as I love our dog, all he seems to do lately is bark! bark! bark!
4. A nice long walk would probably be a good idea but I really can't be bothered right now.
5. Sometimes, all you want to hear is some good news.
6. When all is said and done, we are all responsible for own actions, so why can't some people accept that fact and just get on with it?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having 3 extra 12 year-old boys in the house for Andrew's birthday/movie night/sleepover party; tomorrow my plans include recovering from aforementioned birthday party/sleepover and Sunday, I want to scrap!
2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been whatever takes the least amount of time to make.
3. As much as I love our dog, all he seems to do lately is bark! bark! bark!
4. A nice long walk would probably be a good idea but I really can't be bothered right now.
5. Sometimes, all you want to hear is some good news.
6. When all is said and done, we are all responsible for own actions, so why can't some people accept that fact and just get on with it?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having 3 extra 12 year-old boys in the house for Andrew's birthday/movie night/sleepover party; tomorrow my plans include recovering from aforementioned birthday party/sleepover and Sunday, I want to scrap!
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Whoever invented the recorder ..
should be hung, drawn, quartered, and then set on fire for good measure!
I can handle listening to just about any other instrument being played by an inexperienced learner. (Except a violin .. that always sounds like someone is trying to pluck the hairs out of a very delicate area .. one at a time .. with a blowtorch. Either that or a cat being stretched and strangled at the same time!)
I try to be supportive and appreciative of the child's efforts. (Although the expression on my face probably gives away what I'm really thinking .. "And just what, exactly, have my eardrums ever done to you?")
I realise that it is probably the cheapest and simplest instrument available to teach whole classes of children at a time. (Though the plastic they make them out of now doesn't seem to be nearly as hardy as it used to be. There was a time when you could use them as a handy substitute for a hammer without inflicting too much damage whereas now, you can barely play them normally without something falling apart.)
I know that children, whilst being the apple of their parents' eyes, can be somewhat difficult to deal with in large groups (kind of like wildebeest, or for that matter, just about any other wild beast I suppose), but how does giving them the power to inflict mental anguish and hearing loss on anyone within hearing range improve the situation at all?
I can understand that primary school music teachers have probably lost certain pitches of hearing from being repeatedly exposed to such a monstrous instrument, but I ask you, is that any reason to try to ensure that the parents of their students lose those same pitches of hearing?
So whilst I can sympathise with the plight of the primary school music teacher, I ask you all to join me in getting these abominations banned! All in favour .. say aye.
What?
You'll have to speak up.
I can't hear you!
Does anyone know sign language?
Oh .. I give up! I'll be hiding as far away as I possibly can, trying to stop the flow of blood from my ears. Send me a telegram when he's finished practising please ....
I can handle listening to just about any other instrument being played by an inexperienced learner. (Except a violin .. that always sounds like someone is trying to pluck the hairs out of a very delicate area .. one at a time .. with a blowtorch. Either that or a cat being stretched and strangled at the same time!)
I try to be supportive and appreciative of the child's efforts. (Although the expression on my face probably gives away what I'm really thinking .. "And just what, exactly, have my eardrums ever done to you?")
I realise that it is probably the cheapest and simplest instrument available to teach whole classes of children at a time. (Though the plastic they make them out of now doesn't seem to be nearly as hardy as it used to be. There was a time when you could use them as a handy substitute for a hammer without inflicting too much damage whereas now, you can barely play them normally without something falling apart.)
I know that children, whilst being the apple of their parents' eyes, can be somewhat difficult to deal with in large groups (kind of like wildebeest, or for that matter, just about any other wild beast I suppose), but how does giving them the power to inflict mental anguish and hearing loss on anyone within hearing range improve the situation at all?
I can understand that primary school music teachers have probably lost certain pitches of hearing from being repeatedly exposed to such a monstrous instrument, but I ask you, is that any reason to try to ensure that the parents of their students lose those same pitches of hearing?
So whilst I can sympathise with the plight of the primary school music teacher, I ask you all to join me in getting these abominations banned! All in favour .. say aye.
What?
You'll have to speak up.
I can't hear you!
Does anyone know sign language?
Oh .. I give up! I'll be hiding as far away as I possibly can, trying to stop the flow of blood from my ears. Send me a telegram when he's finished practising please ....
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Manic Monday #169
Another writing prompt along the lines of Friday fill-ins. Here goes...
Imagine you're packing a picnic lunch. What would be in your basket?
Fruit (grapes, watermelon, mandarins), fresh bread rolls, BBQ chicken, Edam cheese, cold water with lots of ice.
If your life were a weather vane, which direction would it be pointing right now?
No one particular direction. Just going with the flow ...
What's something that people do in traffic that really annoys you?
Tailgating, failing to indicate, cutting other people off and why is it that people think the glass in their car windows is one-way glass? I can see you when you decide to pick your nose at the traffic lights, you gross individual!!
Imagine you're packing a picnic lunch. What would be in your basket?
Fruit (grapes, watermelon, mandarins), fresh bread rolls, BBQ chicken, Edam cheese, cold water with lots of ice.
If your life were a weather vane, which direction would it be pointing right now?
No one particular direction. Just going with the flow ...
What's something that people do in traffic that really annoys you?
Tailgating, failing to indicate, cutting other people off and why is it that people think the glass in their car windows is one-way glass? I can see you when you decide to pick your nose at the traffic lights, you gross individual!!
Monday, 1 June 2009
Debbie's Delightful Cards
I went to Debbie's first card-making class on Saturday and look what we did:
When I saw the colours we were working with, I have to admit I wasn't all that keen on them. Orange and green are not usually colours I would put together because I'm more of a blues and greens person. Once we'd made the first card though, I was hooked! I'm really pleased with how they turned out and can see so many possibilities for cards and scrapbook page decorations.
Deb was great as a teacher, so patient and easy-going, but I only have one complaint .. she's introduced me to inking and now I want all the different colours! Oh the choices .. where do I start?
Friday, 29 May 2009
Friday fill ins #126
One, two, skip a few and back into it again!
1. It's cold and snowing in parts of the northern hemisphere; whereas it should be cold here and it's not!
2. I'm not a big fan of cooked whole tomatoes.
3. My favorite health and beauty product is sleep.
4. If I had a decent bicycle and knees that would co-operate, I would go out for a nice long ride.
5. Well, first of all life isn't fair and second of all, neither am I! (as said to my children regularly).
6. Ex-boyfriends, ex-workmates and current friends; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was very, very confusing because they were all in the wrong places!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to quiet time, tomorrow my plans include housework, as usual, and Sunday, I want to scrap or at least get the washing put away!
1. It's cold and snowing in parts of the northern hemisphere; whereas it should be cold here and it's not!
2. I'm not a big fan of cooked whole tomatoes.
3. My favorite health and beauty product is sleep.
4. If I had a decent bicycle and knees that would co-operate, I would go out for a nice long ride.
5. Well, first of all life isn't fair and second of all, neither am I! (as said to my children regularly).
6. Ex-boyfriends, ex-workmates and current friends; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was very, very confusing because they were all in the wrong places!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to quiet time, tomorrow my plans include housework, as usual, and Sunday, I want to scrap or at least get the washing put away!
Welcome to our new Country Estate ..
.. otherwise known as 'How's the serenity?' (Which movie is that from .. anyone?)
Despite the current economic downturn, we have decided to mortgage ourselves to the hilt (NOT!) to be able to purchase this 'massive' property with many, many features. So many features, in fact, I had to label the photographs just so you wouldn't get confused.
Now for those of you who are not familiar with the metric measurement system, 1 hectare or 10,000 sqm, is roughly equal to 2.5 acres. Therefore class, 1.4492 hectares is roughly equal to 3.6 acres. Thus endeth the maths lesson for today because now my head hurts!
I realise that many of you would not think that this is 'massive' , but considering that it is 14.5 times the size of our suburban block and roughly 25-30 times the size of current blocks for sale, I feel it is massive enough for a country retreat/doghouse for Peter/place to bury the children when they misbehave.
Seriously though, it is a great compromise between moving to the country and staying here. I get to live here and holiday there and Peter has some red dirt he can call his own. When you also consider that Peter was looking at blocks in excess of 150 acres, while I was looking at downsizing the one we have in Perth, this compromise is looking even better.
It's only 2.5 hours drive from home on good roads .. no off-roading required .. and is a dry block with no swampy bits. We will be building a 'shack' on it with all the mod cons .. running water, plumbing, some form of electricity .. and will probably use it every second time Pete is home. (That part is still under negotiation .. lol!)
We took the dog with us when we went up to look at the block last weekend and he was as happy as a pig in mud .. of which there wasn't any .. mud, that is .. luckily for Pete. This is him fast asleep on the backseat of the car on the way home ...
Tres elegant, puppy! Wonder if he's dreaming about all those rabbits he could smell?
Monday, 25 May 2009
Withdrawals ...
I've had no internet since Friday of last week and boy, have I missed it!
The problem is that when it rains in my street, one of the telephone line access pits somewhere along the street fills up with water and causes havoc because some of the wires' insulation has worn away. In fine weather we have no problems, obviously! The first big rain of the season and we lose phone and internet.
This time the phone was only out for about an hour (it's wire must be closer to the top of the pit so as the water drains, it dries out) but the internet was out for three whole days! It was like someone chopped off my right arm and beat me about the head with it! I never realised how much it made me feel more connected to the world outside my own four walls and how much I rely on it to do simple things like checking bank balances and paying bills. It's hard to imagine how we did things before computers, email and internet and the kids can't believe we survived and prospered back in the days of BC (Before Computers!)
In the grand scheme of things, of course, losing internet for a few days is nothing compared to the problems others have to deal with on a daily basis and that the rain caused total blackouts throughout the suburbs that lasted for three days, but it's a bit ridiculous that in this day and age, they haven't come up with a way to ensure reliable supply of these services.
Could be worse though. A lot worse ... so I'll stop my whingeing now.
The problem is that when it rains in my street, one of the telephone line access pits somewhere along the street fills up with water and causes havoc because some of the wires' insulation has worn away. In fine weather we have no problems, obviously! The first big rain of the season and we lose phone and internet.
This time the phone was only out for about an hour (it's wire must be closer to the top of the pit so as the water drains, it dries out) but the internet was out for three whole days! It was like someone chopped off my right arm and beat me about the head with it! I never realised how much it made me feel more connected to the world outside my own four walls and how much I rely on it to do simple things like checking bank balances and paying bills. It's hard to imagine how we did things before computers, email and internet and the kids can't believe we survived and prospered back in the days of BC (Before Computers!)
In the grand scheme of things, of course, losing internet for a few days is nothing compared to the problems others have to deal with on a daily basis and that the rain caused total blackouts throughout the suburbs that lasted for three days, but it's a bit ridiculous that in this day and age, they haven't come up with a way to ensure reliable supply of these services.
Could be worse though. A lot worse ... so I'll stop my whingeing now.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Case for the prosecution ...
Your Honour,
In the case of Donna Hawkins V Brutus (hereafter known as 'The Toilet Paper Bandit') and 'The Children', I will endeavour to show just cause for re-training 'The Children' to keep the toilet door locked, or at least closed, at all times.
Exhibit A:
A photograph of the accused, 'The Toilet Paper Bandit'.
In the case of Donna Hawkins V Brutus (hereafter known as 'The Toilet Paper Bandit') and 'The Children', I will endeavour to show just cause for re-training 'The Children' to keep the toilet door locked, or at least closed, at all times.
Exhibit A:
A photograph of the accused, 'The Toilet Paper Bandit'.
I realise the accused looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth and he is, in fact, rather cute and fluffy, but appearances can be deceiving.
Exhibit B:
Evidence photograph of the first occurrence of toilet paper thievery and destruction.
This was a new thing and the plaintiff, Donna Hawkins, was sure the accused would soon realise the error of his ways and reform himself into a house-rule-abiding puppy. Unfortunately this was soon followed by attempted clothing theft (Exhibit C)
and topped off with making-himself-comfortable-on-the-furniture (Exhibit D).
Exhibits E & F:
Evidence of one of the most recent occurrences of toilet paper thievery and destruction.
Unfortunately, we do not have photographic evidence of all occurrences of this type of thievery as the memory card on the camera is only so big and the cuteness factor has well and truly worn off for the plaintiff.
I'm sure you will agree with me, Your Honour, when I say that this must be stopped. I propose a severe re-training program for 'The Children' and major discipline for the main offender. We will now cut to the accused awaiting your verdict ...
"Who's a cute little puppy-wuppy then? You are! Is the big bad prosecutor scaring you? Come give the nice judgey a cuddle .."ahem ... Your Honour...
"Where were we? Ah yes.
I hereby recommend that the accused go free to roam his domain, with as much toilet paper as he sees fit to destroy .. I mean play with.
Case Dismissed!"
House guests ..
A friend of mine, Elle, has been living in Bali for the past few months. She and her two sons had residency visas for 12 months but due to the untimely death of their landlord, who had sponsored them, these visas were revoked and they had to come back to Perth to apply for new ones.
They were staying with her sister-in-law, or as we refer to her 'the anally retentive, OCD, delusional lying bitch from hell', but gave that up as a bad joke a couple of days in (the staying with her part; not the name-calling part). As a result they have been staying with me for the last week.
These are the same two boys who stayed with me while both their parents were sorting out the move to Bali back in November last year and I think that all the boys, while happy to see each other after such a long break, are at the end of their respective ropes. My boys are still in school so they get to get out of the house everyday and see the rest of their friends but the guests are getting a bit bored. There have been a few little incidents and one major hissy fit from Alex yesterday which was aimed at me. How dare I interrupt a Yu-Gi-Oh duel to request that he have a shower! Apart from that, which strangely enough was resolved by me giving him a haircut (don't ask!), it's been so easy having them here.
Elle is the best kind of house guest .. the kind that doesn't expect you to entertain them non-stop or to wait on them hand and foot .. and her stories of life in Bali have kept me in stitches for days. I'm trying to talk her into starting her own blog so I can get my fix of her sense of humour and pithy comments more regularly.
Elle and the boys are out at the consulate at the moment trying to sort out the visa snafu so I'd better go and do some housework and washing while they're not here. I may even attempt some scrapping too ...
They were staying with her sister-in-law, or as we refer to her 'the anally retentive, OCD, delusional lying bitch from hell', but gave that up as a bad joke a couple of days in (the staying with her part; not the name-calling part). As a result they have been staying with me for the last week.
These are the same two boys who stayed with me while both their parents were sorting out the move to Bali back in November last year and I think that all the boys, while happy to see each other after such a long break, are at the end of their respective ropes. My boys are still in school so they get to get out of the house everyday and see the rest of their friends but the guests are getting a bit bored. There have been a few little incidents and one major hissy fit from Alex yesterday which was aimed at me. How dare I interrupt a Yu-Gi-Oh duel to request that he have a shower! Apart from that, which strangely enough was resolved by me giving him a haircut (don't ask!), it's been so easy having them here.
Elle is the best kind of house guest .. the kind that doesn't expect you to entertain them non-stop or to wait on them hand and foot .. and her stories of life in Bali have kept me in stitches for days. I'm trying to talk her into starting her own blog so I can get my fix of her sense of humour and pithy comments more regularly.
Elle and the boys are out at the consulate at the moment trying to sort out the visa snafu so I'd better go and do some housework and washing while they're not here. I may even attempt some scrapping too ...
Sunday, 17 May 2009
He loves me .. he loves me not ..
He loves me!!
I don't often get flowers so it's a wonderful surprise especially considering that he would have had to think ahead and organise them before going back up to work. Forethought, planning and consideration .. much sexier than rock-hard abs!!
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Sound familiar?
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
except that in our house, it would be followed by "Muuuum! He's disturbing the air in my personal space!"
I would reply "Leave your brother and his personal space alone!"
Only to hear "He's still doing it! Make him stop!"
To which I would reply something like "Suck it up Princess!" or the ever popular "For heaven's sake you two! Go to your rooms .. NOW!!"
After which I would hear "It's all your fault!" Thwack! Thump! and then the inevitable ending of ....
"Muuuuuummm! He hit me! Now I'm bleeding. Where's the tissues? "
Aaah .. boys. Aren't they wonderful?
No, really.
Are they wonderful?
(Ask me again after I take them shopping for my Mother's Day present.)
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Quick update ..
I had to eat humble pie this morning when Mum showed me a different way to get to the hospital. It's 4 km longer than the way I usually go but only took 15 minutes instead of the usual 25.
Mum is fine but very drowsy. I've spoken to her tonight and she asked that we not visit until tomorrow afternoon because it's too much of an effort to stay awake. I was wondering if she would be upset if I didn't go tonight (homework police are required in full force) so now I don't have to feel guilty. Aren't I terrible?
Jackie shared the news of the addition to her family with me today. Her little one is so gorgeous .. a real little ball of fluff! Milly (or is it Millie?) is so cute it made me want another little puppy .. for about ten minutes then the functioning part of my brain kicked in! One little creature in the house at a time is enough and at the moment I have 4!
The dog has managed to steal another stuffed toy from the boys so I'd better go supervise the chase and subsequent medical treatment of said stuffed toy before the hormonal children start crying again.
I love my life .. I love my life .. I love my life .. (repeat ad infinitum)
Mum is fine but very drowsy. I've spoken to her tonight and she asked that we not visit until tomorrow afternoon because it's too much of an effort to stay awake. I was wondering if she would be upset if I didn't go tonight (homework police are required in full force) so now I don't have to feel guilty. Aren't I terrible?
Jackie shared the news of the addition to her family with me today. Her little one is so gorgeous .. a real little ball of fluff! Milly (or is it Millie?) is so cute it made me want another little puppy .. for about ten minutes then the functioning part of my brain kicked in! One little creature in the house at a time is enough and at the moment I have 4!
The dog has managed to steal another stuffed toy from the boys so I'd better go supervise the chase and subsequent medical treatment of said stuffed toy before the hormonal children start crying again.
I love my life .. I love my life .. I love my life .. (repeat ad infinitum)
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Blah ...
I'm feeling rather blah today. As a result I have achieved almost nothing and am extremely uninspired to change that.
I've had a headache for the last couple of days that has come and gone several times but is currently very much here and my eyeballs are starting to feel like they should be abandoning ship and taking my eardrums for company. (No, it's not swine flu!) No other symptoms apart from total apathy and lethargy, so I should be right as rain once I get some decent sleep.
Mum is going into hospital tomorrow to get her incarcerated hernia sorted out and I'll be taking her in. We have to be there before 7am so I'll be out of bed nice and early to make sure she's there on time. She's going to Murdoch SJOG, which is where she works, and she's used to leaving home at 8:40pm to be there for 8:55pm. She's asked me to pick her up at 6:45am tomorrow but I don't think she realises how much traffic there's going to be at that time of the morning. Oh well, I'll just do as I'm told then I can't get into trouble, right?
And now I have two children in tears ... again! It's like living with a couple of leaky taps!! I think they're both having hormone surges because they're getting upset over the silliest littlest things and are driving me insane in the process. Maybe they're just feeling blah too ..
I've had a headache for the last couple of days that has come and gone several times but is currently very much here and my eyeballs are starting to feel like they should be abandoning ship and taking my eardrums for company. (No, it's not swine flu!) No other symptoms apart from total apathy and lethargy, so I should be right as rain once I get some decent sleep.
Mum is going into hospital tomorrow to get her incarcerated hernia sorted out and I'll be taking her in. We have to be there before 7am so I'll be out of bed nice and early to make sure she's there on time. She's going to Murdoch SJOG, which is where she works, and she's used to leaving home at 8:40pm to be there for 8:55pm. She's asked me to pick her up at 6:45am tomorrow but I don't think she realises how much traffic there's going to be at that time of the morning. Oh well, I'll just do as I'm told then I can't get into trouble, right?
And now I have two children in tears ... again! It's like living with a couple of leaky taps!! I think they're both having hormone surges because they're getting upset over the silliest littlest things and are driving me insane in the process. Maybe they're just feeling blah too ..
Friday, 1 May 2009
Friday fill ins #122
1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is basically the same rule for life: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Oh, and make sure you do your job properly .. the first time!
2. I'm not a big lover of shellfish, especially clams.
3. When I think of carnivals I think of how easy it is, and how much fun it can be, to get caught up in the all the sights and sounds.
4. If I had to pick just one, I'd say that tulips are my favorite spring flower.
5. Things on my desk include an OTT lamp, a Cricut, a pile of new scrapping supplies and a huge mess!
6. Rudeness always makes me wanna do unmentionable things to the perpetrator!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having some quiet time with my husband, tomorrow my plans include food shopping and the usual Saturday housekeeping chores and Sunday, I want to create something!
2. I'm not a big lover of shellfish, especially clams.
3. When I think of carnivals I think of how easy it is, and how much fun it can be, to get caught up in the all the sights and sounds.
4. If I had to pick just one, I'd say that tulips are my favorite spring flower.
5. Things on my desk include an OTT lamp, a Cricut, a pile of new scrapping supplies and a huge mess!
6. Rudeness always makes me wanna do unmentionable things to the perpetrator!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having some quiet time with my husband, tomorrow my plans include food shopping and the usual Saturday housekeeping chores and Sunday, I want to create something!
Monday, 27 April 2009
See what happens ..
by the end of the school holidays? Check out the post below .. a random thoughts post that is completely empty .. like my mind! (Actually I pressed the wrong button and it posted so I figured I'd just leave it there to remind me of why I used to work during most of the school holidays .. so my mind would continue to function at a rate faster than a turtle mugging a snail!)
On the topic of school holidays ... only three more sleeps until we're back on the merry-go-round that is getting children out of bed early enough to be fed, dressed and packed for school ... but not too early that they have time to complain about how early you got them out of bed. I reckon mothers are the best juggling and balancing acts in the world! (Then again, that brings to mind the saying 'too many freaks; not enough circuses' so I suppose it can be looked at many ways!)
Seriously though, it has been good to be home for the holidays and to actually spend time with the boys. Sure, I've wanted to kill them a time or two (or fifty!) but we've spent time together doing things away from the house as well as at home and they seem to have enjoyed themselves and surprisingly enough so have I. I say surprisingly because I was concerned with having them all at home, all day, every day for nearly three weeks. The weekends are usually bad enough with the bickering and fighting so I thought it would be worse because of all the extra time together. Most of the time they got along fairly well and the other times were relatively easily dealt with by removing one person from the mix .. and yes, sometimes that person was me!
We went out for a 'sausage sizzle' lunch at Bickley Reservoir on Saturday with Clare and Richard. I realised just how slack I've been in parenting these kids when they told me they didn't know how to play 'french' cricket .. the one where you stand in the centre of a circle with the bat and aren't allowed to move your feet as you hit the ball. My excellent (snort!) hand-eye skills were extremely helpful in ensuring I never got a turn at bat because I couldn't manage to catch a single ball! They all finally took pity on me and I got out on my first bat! Oh well, at least I got some exercise chasing the ball all over the place.
Then we went for a bush walk, led by Alex with me bringing up the rear. Clare had worn some lovely looking sandals while the rest of us were in runners. Poor thing got bitten about 50 times by the bull ants that were absolutely everywhere! When her hopping around trying to remove the ants started to resemble a cross between a Native American rain dance, Peter Garrett's efforts out front of Midnight Oil and Riverdance, we gave up on the walk and headed back to the car park. Unfortunately we ended up on a different track going back up the hill and there were more ants for us to contend with. I'd forgotten how much those little buggers hurt when they bite .. ouch! All in all though, a good time out .. I'll just remember to take the Stingose or bi-carb next time!
Sunday was very quiet with all of us managing some sort of sleep in followed by a lazy day doing nothing much at all, apart from finding out that Alex only has three shirts, two pairs of shorts and nothing much else in the way of clothes. Why did he put the rest of the clothes away in his drawers if he knew they didn't fit? Apparently, so that it looked like he had clothes. Huh? Yes, that was his answer!
Today I made them all come away from the TV screen and out to the backyard to help me do some gardening .. much to their disgust! We managed to fill the garden waste bag with all the weeds we pulled and all the trimming of trees we did and we, oops I mean I, also managed to plant the grevilleas and waxes I bought a couple of weeks ago. Now if I could just get the bore reticulation to work I'd be happy. I'll never have a display garden (I'm way too lazy for that!) but at least the weeds aren't taller than me any more.
I'm still looking for a job and you'll probably call me crazy (everyone else does .. it's OK to join in!) but I turned down a job last week. The original ad said it was part-time, 4 days a week. Turns out it was part-time hours five days a week and 1-in-4 weekends with 4 weeks of full-time training in the city first. I can understand having to be trained properly, but working weekends and every second afternoon until 5:30 wasn't going to be good for the homework situation .. or my mental health! I know, I know .. I'm being too picky but at least I know I can get another job now! Great boost to the self-esteem.
My scrapping mojo made a temporary appearance the other day to enable me to finish some UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) that were hanging around driving me insane. I don't know where he's gone now though .. probably back into the bottom of the laundry hamper. I have realised he only seems to make an appearance when the hamper is empty so I figure that's where he must live. I say 'he' because no self-respecting female mojo would live in a laundry hamper full of boys' sweaty underthings!
On that pleasant note, it's time to get some sweaty boys through the shower (with soap and shampoo, boys!) and get ready for dinner. Now what to have ....
On the topic of school holidays ... only three more sleeps until we're back on the merry-go-round that is getting children out of bed early enough to be fed, dressed and packed for school ... but not too early that they have time to complain about how early you got them out of bed. I reckon mothers are the best juggling and balancing acts in the world! (Then again, that brings to mind the saying 'too many freaks; not enough circuses' so I suppose it can be looked at many ways!)
Seriously though, it has been good to be home for the holidays and to actually spend time with the boys. Sure, I've wanted to kill them a time or two (or fifty!) but we've spent time together doing things away from the house as well as at home and they seem to have enjoyed themselves and surprisingly enough so have I. I say surprisingly because I was concerned with having them all at home, all day, every day for nearly three weeks. The weekends are usually bad enough with the bickering and fighting so I thought it would be worse because of all the extra time together. Most of the time they got along fairly well and the other times were relatively easily dealt with by removing one person from the mix .. and yes, sometimes that person was me!
We went out for a 'sausage sizzle' lunch at Bickley Reservoir on Saturday with Clare and Richard. I realised just how slack I've been in parenting these kids when they told me they didn't know how to play 'french' cricket .. the one where you stand in the centre of a circle with the bat and aren't allowed to move your feet as you hit the ball. My excellent (snort!) hand-eye skills were extremely helpful in ensuring I never got a turn at bat because I couldn't manage to catch a single ball! They all finally took pity on me and I got out on my first bat! Oh well, at least I got some exercise chasing the ball all over the place.
Then we went for a bush walk, led by Alex with me bringing up the rear. Clare had worn some lovely looking sandals while the rest of us were in runners. Poor thing got bitten about 50 times by the bull ants that were absolutely everywhere! When her hopping around trying to remove the ants started to resemble a cross between a Native American rain dance, Peter Garrett's efforts out front of Midnight Oil and Riverdance, we gave up on the walk and headed back to the car park. Unfortunately we ended up on a different track going back up the hill and there were more ants for us to contend with. I'd forgotten how much those little buggers hurt when they bite .. ouch! All in all though, a good time out .. I'll just remember to take the Stingose or bi-carb next time!
Sunday was very quiet with all of us managing some sort of sleep in followed by a lazy day doing nothing much at all, apart from finding out that Alex only has three shirts, two pairs of shorts and nothing much else in the way of clothes. Why did he put the rest of the clothes away in his drawers if he knew they didn't fit? Apparently, so that it looked like he had clothes. Huh? Yes, that was his answer!
Today I made them all come away from the TV screen and out to the backyard to help me do some gardening .. much to their disgust! We managed to fill the garden waste bag with all the weeds we pulled and all the trimming of trees we did and we, oops I mean I, also managed to plant the grevilleas and waxes I bought a couple of weeks ago. Now if I could just get the bore reticulation to work I'd be happy. I'll never have a display garden (I'm way too lazy for that!) but at least the weeds aren't taller than me any more.
I'm still looking for a job and you'll probably call me crazy (everyone else does .. it's OK to join in!) but I turned down a job last week. The original ad said it was part-time, 4 days a week. Turns out it was part-time hours five days a week and 1-in-4 weekends with 4 weeks of full-time training in the city first. I can understand having to be trained properly, but working weekends and every second afternoon until 5:30 wasn't going to be good for the homework situation .. or my mental health! I know, I know .. I'm being too picky but at least I know I can get another job now! Great boost to the self-esteem.
My scrapping mojo made a temporary appearance the other day to enable me to finish some UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) that were hanging around driving me insane. I don't know where he's gone now though .. probably back into the bottom of the laundry hamper. I have realised he only seems to make an appearance when the hamper is empty so I figure that's where he must live. I say 'he' because no self-respecting female mojo would live in a laundry hamper full of boys' sweaty underthings!
On that pleasant note, it's time to get some sweaty boys through the shower (with soap and shampoo, boys!) and get ready for dinner. Now what to have ....
Friday, 24 April 2009
Friday fill ins #121
1. Apparently there's some sort of conspiracy against my sanity. It's called 'school holidays'.
2. I hope tomorrow is a sunny day.
3. 2009 has been very up and down so far.
4. That crashing noise I heard wasn't yet another bowl being broken. It was a new bird call ... yeah that was it.
5. For too long I've been worried by what others think about me.
6. I am not obsessed with reading anything and everything; I am not!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to some scrapping time, tomorrow my plans include a picnic lunch with Clare, Rich and the boys at Bickley Reservoir and Sunday, I want to rearrange more furniture in the house!
(Just to clarify: words in green are provided by Janet over at Friday fill ins.)
2. I hope tomorrow is a sunny day.
3. 2009 has been very up and down so far.
4. That crashing noise I heard wasn't yet another bowl being broken. It was a new bird call ... yeah that was it.
5. For too long I've been worried by what others think about me.
6. I am not obsessed with reading anything and everything; I am not!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to some scrapping time, tomorrow my plans include a picnic lunch with Clare, Rich and the boys at Bickley Reservoir and Sunday, I want to rearrange more furniture in the house!
(Just to clarify: words in green are provided by Janet over at Friday fill ins.)
If kids on school holidays were dogs ...
see more dog and puppy pictures
and if teenagers were dogs anytime ...
see more dog and puppy pictures
Friday, 17 April 2009
Something new .. to me anyway!
I've been seeing this on Lee's blog for a while now and she posted a link, so I thought I'd give it a go. Here's my first ever Friday fill in ...
1. Join me in finding some mojo and finally getting some scrapping done.
2. Put a little sanity time in your day!
3. Happiness is somewhat elusive at times but still worth the effort.
4. Overtired, dazed and confused.
5. I'm waiting for the Valium I put in Alex's breakfast to kick in! (just kidding!!)
6. Zoning out the kids during the school holidays is hard to resist.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having some relatively quiet scrapping time, tomorrow my plans include food shopping and house cleaning (oh yay!) and Sunday, I want to just relax!
Probably way too sarcastic but I'll get better and more real as I go along. Unless that is the real me and then we're all stuffed .. lol!
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Translations for the Easter school holidays ...
Said: "Mum! I'm hungry!"
Means: "Mum! There's still approximately 14.6 kilos of fat coated sugar in the form of Easter eggs in the fridge and I wish to consume all of it this very second!"
Said: "OK. I'll only have one egg."
Means: "I'll only have one egg .. the biggest one there. It's not that big really .. it would only feed a small African nation for a week."
Said: "Muuuuummmm! He took my (insert appropriate thing here)!"
Means: "He took my thing because I took his thing first and I'm counting on the fact that you're sick of hearing this already and will tell him off and not me. And if I look appropriately upset, I may even get another lot of chocolate out of you."
Said: "When are we going to do something interesting?"
Means: "I have absolutely no idea of how much anything costs and don't really care. Just sell a kidney and take me to the movies already!"
Said: "Mum. Muum. Muuum. Muuuumm!"
Means: "I like the colour your face goes when I do this 10 times an hour. It reminds me of the colour of my Easter egg wrappers."
Said: big thump, silence then "Aaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh! Muuuuummmm!" followed by loud sobbing.
Means: "You better have up-to-date health insurance because I think I just broke something!"
Said: "Mum? Did you know that set of candles on top of the bookcase don't fly very well? "
Means: "Mum? I managed to totally annihilate half the things on the top of the bookcase with only one throw of the tennis ball that you've told me about 1000 times today to stop throwing inside. Aren't I clever?"
Said: "I love you Mummy."
Means: Can mean many things:
Means: "Mum! There's still approximately 14.6 kilos of fat coated sugar in the form of Easter eggs in the fridge and I wish to consume all of it this very second!"
Said: "OK. I'll only have one egg."
Means: "I'll only have one egg .. the biggest one there. It's not that big really .. it would only feed a small African nation for a week."
Said: "Muuuuummmm! He took my (insert appropriate thing here)!"
Means: "He took my thing because I took his thing first and I'm counting on the fact that you're sick of hearing this already and will tell him off and not me. And if I look appropriately upset, I may even get another lot of chocolate out of you."
Said: "When are we going to do something interesting?"
Means: "I have absolutely no idea of how much anything costs and don't really care. Just sell a kidney and take me to the movies already!"
Said: "Mum. Muum. Muuum. Muuuumm!"
Means: "I like the colour your face goes when I do this 10 times an hour. It reminds me of the colour of my Easter egg wrappers."
Said: big thump, silence then "Aaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh! Muuuuummmm!" followed by loud sobbing.
Means: "You better have up-to-date health insurance because I think I just broke something!"
Said: "Mum? Did you know that set of candles on top of the bookcase don't fly very well? "
Means: "Mum? I managed to totally annihilate half the things on the top of the bookcase with only one throw of the tennis ball that you've told me about 1000 times today to stop throwing inside. Aren't I clever?"
Said: "I love you Mummy."
Means: Can mean many things:
- "Can I have another Easter egg/drink of hyperactivity inducing cordial/useless piece of plastic masquerading as a toy/shred of your sanity to add to my growing collection?"
- "Do we really have to go to bed now? It's only 10pm!"
- "I have broken something precious to you, have hidden the evidence in a very obvious place and have every intention of denying all knowledge of said broken thing, all while blaming my brothers."
- "I want something but haven't quite decided what yet, so I'll just stall until it comes to me."
- and last, but not least "I love you, Mummy!"
Said:"Yes honey; I love you too. Now get down off the ceiling and go to bed. It's midnight."
Means: "Yes honey; I love you too. Now if I could just find that taser I'd be able to better remember why! Where in heaven's name is the Bailey's? Mummy needs a nightcap!"
Friday, 10 April 2009
Overheard recently ..
Brad: Alex! Do one thing at a time!
Alex: But I'm multi tasking.
Brad: Don't! Multi tasking is baaad!
Alex: But Mum does it just fine; why can't I?
Brad: Little difference there Alex .. Mum is a woman. Women can multi task. Boys don't cope with it!
The truth hurts, doesn't it boys? LOL!!
Alex: But I'm multi tasking.
Brad: Don't! Multi tasking is baaad!
Alex: But Mum does it just fine; why can't I?
Brad: Little difference there Alex .. Mum is a woman. Women can multi task. Boys don't cope with it!
The truth hurts, doesn't it boys? LOL!!
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Dear Donna,
Hi.
It's me, the Universe, just checking in to find out whether you liked yesterday's version of 'Messed-up Monday'.
Some points for future reference:
It's me, the Universe, just checking in to find out whether you liked yesterday's version of 'Messed-up Monday'.
Some points for future reference:
- If you really are that tired that you feel you must go back to bed at 9am, may I suggest that you set your alarm for an hour later so you don't sleep the entire morning away, then wake in a panic thinking the children are still at home and now you have to .. shock horror .. drive them to school, even though they only have 3 hours of lessons left.
- While you are stressing about the above possibility, it would be good to check if the dog is lying on the floor next to the bed, before leaping out of it like a demented hippo and frightening him so much he barks at you in pure self defense. You really are lucky he didn't bite you considering he jumped further in the air than any poodle cross should be able to.
- On days you know you are going to need the car to run numerous errands, it would be wise to check whether 'Mr Nobody' has left the interior light on again! That way you can avoid the whole dismantle-the-battery-fixtures-so-you-can-charge-the battery thing, as well as the now-what-the-hell-should-I-do syndrome that follows soon after, as you resign yourself to at least another hour at home. You could have done housework but I can see how that would take second place to reading a book you've already read at least 6 times.
- Now I realise that you were kind of limited in your time frame for doing the shopping and errands, but heading for the biggest local shopping centre during the lunchtime rush and expecting to get in and out of there in under half an hour was really pushing it. Yes, I did arrange for Target and Woolworths to be full of dawdling, chatting, blocking-the-aisle kind of shoppers, as well as checkout operators moving slower than the wettest week in school holidays at just that time, all to help you learn this valuable lesson.
- Relying on the clock in your car to advise you of the time, on a day when you had important appointments, probably wasn't the best idea either. I just loved the look on your face when you finally realised that, far from being slow as you would expect after the battery being flat, it was actually 30 minutes fast! I just live for those sort of looks. "Smile you're on Candid Camera: Universe edition!"
- When attending your youngest son's parent-teacher afternoon, it is probably wise to make sure you read some of his self-assessment before answering the question "So does Bradley get his self-assessment skills from you?" I'm sure it delighted you no end to see such comments as: "I'm really a curious boy at heart, so I ask lots of questions." and (when asked about whether or not he was a risk-taker) "Well, making mistakes is how we learn. Right?" as well as "I'm a good friend but I only do the right thing about half of the time." I'm sure you'll get right on that 'half-the-time' business. After all, that's barely a D. Surely you can help him increase that to at least a B by the end of next term.
- On the topic of your youngest son, did you like the not-so-little surprise he left you .. in the bathroom, the toilet, the laundry, the linen cupboard and all down the hallway to the bedrooms? Bet you didn't think it was possible to flood half the house only using the shower, did you? Oh and didn't you just looove all those bubbles from the third of a bulk size bottle of body wash? Oh, come on! You know you needed to mop the floor. Bet you didn't think you'd have to do it four times though; one after the other! Think of the exercise you got then and the further exercise you'll get from washing, hanging out, folding and putting away just about every towel in the house .. all 26 of them! I know I could have got the middle boy to tell you before 8:30pm but where's the fun in that? You probably would have stopped the water before it got to the carpets in the bedrooms if I'd done that.
- Realising the dishwasher was feeling left out, I thought I'd better get it some attention too. Was two floodings in one night too much? Really? OK then. I'll remember that for next time. (Note to self: she really doesn't appreciate me trying to help her get the floor mopping done. Think of new things to try.)
- This last one probably was a bit cruel but technically, it was Tuesday. I mean, you know the bin is collected before 6 am every Tuesday. It's not my fault that you don't surface before 6:30 these days. And it's not my fault that I reminded you that you forgot to put the bin out at 1am; I was just trying to help. And it's most definitely not my fault that the dog got out the gate and led you a merry chase across the neighbour's yard resulting in you needing to have another shower before getting back into bed at 2am. And not my fault that the dog was then awake for the next hour, scratching at the back door, whining to get inside. Oh no, you're not pinning that one on me! Mind you, I suppose I just pinned that one on me, didn't I?
Think of it all this way, the week can only get better from here. I mean, you don't have that much to do. Just pack bags for the two boys going away with their father, finish washing all those towels, wash all the other mountains of washing, make 20 jelly cups with fruit for Bradley's school thing on Thursday, chase Alex to finish his S&E homework that was due last week, the usual housework, Easter shopping, arrange flowers from your MIL for her mother's birthday, sort out the bombsite that is your kitchen, have the two older boys at Midland train station by 6:30am on Thursday with the appropriate forms and bags and then drop the other one off at school with his 20 jelly cups and have morning tea with Debbie and Jackie on Wednesday. That last one should make up for all the rest! Enjoy your week and I'll be in touch soon!
Thinking of you often (as I laugh myself stupid!),
The Universe
Overheard today ...
Some of the things that come out of this child's mouth are just plain odd!
Drew: "Bruuutuuussss! Come here puppy." (all in a very high falsetto voice).
When Brutus looked at him, Drew then said:
"Don't you tilt your head at me. That's my signature move!"
'Signature move'??? Where does this stuff come from?
Drew: "Bruuutuuussss! Come here puppy." (all in a very high falsetto voice).
When Brutus looked at him, Drew then said:
"Don't you tilt your head at me. That's my signature move!"
'Signature move'??? Where does this stuff come from?
Sunday, 5 April 2009
I didn't think it would be possible to hate ..
.. homework more than I did in primary school but I do.
I have been fighting with Alex all day to get a reading journal entry done (a whole 15 lines of handwriting) and I am at breaking point. I gave up the opportunity to go out and see friends, do what I want to do, listen to music at more than a whisper, all to stay home and try to get him to do his homework.
I have tried sitting with him, prompting him. He leaned on me and complained he was tired.
I moved further away and ignored him. He ignored me right back and still didn't write anything.
I tried the assertive approach (do it or else I'll remove privileges). He said he didn't care.
I went the 'bribery' route and promised some internet time if he could just finish it before the beginning of the next decade. The sarcasm went over his head like a 747 and he went to get a drink.
I followed him to make sure he didn't put himself back to bed (for the third time today) and was told in no uncertain terms to 'get out of his face'.
I am now sitting in the study, hiding from him (and the rest of the world if you must know!) and listening to this child who was so exhausted he couldn't even get off the floor (where he put himself mind you!), laughing very loudly at a conversation his brothers are having in the other room, all the while swinging on the very same chair he couldn't find the energy to even sit on 10 minutes ago.
Another one of those things that mothers don't tell their as-yet-childless friends.
"You know how you thought that cats invented passive resistance and passive-aggressiveness? Nope. It was teenagers."
I don't know who said this originally but it rings oh so true for me today:
"Some days being a mother is like being pecked to death by a chicken."
Amen sistah, Amen!!
I have been fighting with Alex all day to get a reading journal entry done (a whole 15 lines of handwriting) and I am at breaking point. I gave up the opportunity to go out and see friends, do what I want to do, listen to music at more than a whisper, all to stay home and try to get him to do his homework.
I have tried sitting with him, prompting him. He leaned on me and complained he was tired.
I moved further away and ignored him. He ignored me right back and still didn't write anything.
I tried the assertive approach (do it or else I'll remove privileges). He said he didn't care.
I went the 'bribery' route and promised some internet time if he could just finish it before the beginning of the next decade. The sarcasm went over his head like a 747 and he went to get a drink.
I followed him to make sure he didn't put himself back to bed (for the third time today) and was told in no uncertain terms to 'get out of his face'.
I am now sitting in the study, hiding from him (and the rest of the world if you must know!) and listening to this child who was so exhausted he couldn't even get off the floor (where he put himself mind you!), laughing very loudly at a conversation his brothers are having in the other room, all the while swinging on the very same chair he couldn't find the energy to even sit on 10 minutes ago.
Another one of those things that mothers don't tell their as-yet-childless friends.
"You know how you thought that cats invented passive resistance and passive-aggressiveness? Nope. It was teenagers."
I don't know who said this originally but it rings oh so true for me today:
"Some days being a mother is like being pecked to death by a chicken."
Amen sistah, Amen!!
Friday, 3 April 2009
Getting used to this ..
.. too used to this, if you know what I mean!
(Which you probably don't 'cos I'm not making any sense right now and probably won't for some time to come, if the voices in my head have anything to say about it, which they won't because I'm currently ignoring them because they told me to eat too much today and I'm mad at them, at least until tomorrow afternoon. Don't ask me why tomorrow afternoon; it just seemed like the right thing to type at that particular moment in time. And now that I sound like a total nutcase, I had better clarify what all this gibberish is about.)
I'm starting to feel like I don't want to go back to work. I'm quite enjoying this supposed lady-of-leisure (leisure .. yeah right!) lifestyle and could very easily become permanently accustomed to it. Trouble is, my bank account is looking decidedly malnourished and needs feeding, especially as the ravenous appetites of the various utility companies have been depleting it rather faster than normal.
After much thought and discussion with friends whose opinions I really value, I decided against going back to the joy-sucking vortex that is Big W. As much as I miss (most of) the people, I just could not justify returning to a company that does not value its employees or their loyalty. They have gotten to the stage where everyone is just a number in the system and is supposedly replaceable in an instant (which was proved wrong by the fact that they still haven't filled my old job more then five weeks after I left .. hah!)
This leaves me in a quandary though. Now what do I do? I have been looking for positions and most of the ones that are advertised require skills, qualifications or experience I don't have and with the current economic climate, I am a bit concerned that I won't find anything appropriate.
Maybe I should stop being so picky. Nah, that can't be what's wrong. I mean surely there's plenty of jobs for part-time hours, 2-3 days per week, paying at least $18 an hour, not in retail, within 10-15 minutes drive from home, requiring no previous experience, that don't involve wearing some hideously unflattering uniform or dealing with morons day in, day out .. aren't there?
No?
I should revise my expectations just slightly?
OK, so which criteria should I change? The morons one or the uniform one?
Maybe I should find some other way of raising money. Surely there are some non MLM/party plan home based businesses out there.
No?
Hmmmm ...
Anyone want to buy a kid? Slightly used, one lady owner, low mileage for it's age. I'll even throw in one really great guard dog. He'll guard you from trees, the wind, birds flying overhead and ambulance sirens. Strangers .. meh, not so much. Threatening trees in the park .. now that's a different story!
Going cheap ...
(Which you probably don't 'cos I'm not making any sense right now and probably won't for some time to come, if the voices in my head have anything to say about it, which they won't because I'm currently ignoring them because they told me to eat too much today and I'm mad at them, at least until tomorrow afternoon. Don't ask me why tomorrow afternoon; it just seemed like the right thing to type at that particular moment in time. And now that I sound like a total nutcase, I had better clarify what all this gibberish is about.)
I'm starting to feel like I don't want to go back to work. I'm quite enjoying this supposed lady-of-leisure (leisure .. yeah right!) lifestyle and could very easily become permanently accustomed to it. Trouble is, my bank account is looking decidedly malnourished and needs feeding, especially as the ravenous appetites of the various utility companies have been depleting it rather faster than normal.
After much thought and discussion with friends whose opinions I really value, I decided against going back to the joy-sucking vortex that is Big W. As much as I miss (most of) the people, I just could not justify returning to a company that does not value its employees or their loyalty. They have gotten to the stage where everyone is just a number in the system and is supposedly replaceable in an instant (which was proved wrong by the fact that they still haven't filled my old job more then five weeks after I left .. hah!)
This leaves me in a quandary though. Now what do I do? I have been looking for positions and most of the ones that are advertised require skills, qualifications or experience I don't have and with the current economic climate, I am a bit concerned that I won't find anything appropriate.
Maybe I should stop being so picky. Nah, that can't be what's wrong. I mean surely there's plenty of jobs for part-time hours, 2-3 days per week, paying at least $18 an hour, not in retail, within 10-15 minutes drive from home, requiring no previous experience, that don't involve wearing some hideously unflattering uniform or dealing with morons day in, day out .. aren't there?
No?
I should revise my expectations just slightly?
OK, so which criteria should I change? The morons one or the uniform one?
Maybe I should find some other way of raising money. Surely there are some non MLM/party plan home based businesses out there.
No?
Hmmmm ...
Anyone want to buy a kid? Slightly used, one lady owner, low mileage for it's age. I'll even throw in one really great guard dog. He'll guard you from trees, the wind, birds flying overhead and ambulance sirens. Strangers .. meh, not so much. Threatening trees in the park .. now that's a different story!
Going cheap ...
Monday, 30 March 2009
Overheard just now ..
Drew: "Oh for heaven's sake .. put some clothes on!! What do you think this is? A strip club?"
That's it! No more 'Two-and-a-Half Men' viewing for you!!
That's it! No more 'Two-and-a-Half Men' viewing for you!!
Sunday, 29 March 2009
What to do? Oh what to do?
I went into my old work on Friday to do some early Easter shopping and say hi to a few people, and was immediately accosted by many requests of "Please come back. We need you!" So many in fact that I started seriously considering it and am now in two minds about it. I was also offered a two-days-a-week position in the book section, working for a manager who appreciates his staff and stands up for them.
On the one hand,
On the one hand,
- I enjoyed the sales office job (just enough brain power required without overloading the circuits).
- I liked most of the people there and could tolerate the rest without too much angst (most of the time anyway).
- I really liked feeling useful and capable.
- I don't like being at home all the time because I start to go stir crazy and get depressed (I can feel myself sliding already!)
- Working in a different area of the store would mean getting away from the micromanaging cow.
- Doing something completely new that makes use of my OCD 'skills'.
- They still haven't found anyone to replace me on a permanent basis so technically the sales office job is still open.
On the other hand,
- I don't know if they're just asking me to come back because they think it's what I want to hear or if they really want me back.
- The main person I don't like dealing with is still there, still putting her nose into everyone else's business and isn't likely to leave.
- Whether they would take me back into the sales office seeing as they didn't seem all that put out when I resigned.
- Whether they would take me back with the expectation that I would just pick up the slack in the sales office at the expense of my own (new) job in books.
- Whether they would take me back at all or if I have well and truly burned my bridges.
I keep thinking that if they had offered me holidays when I handed in my resignation, I would have taken them and then gone back to work five days a week. I would have preferred four or even three days a week but I would have gone back and kept pushing for a job share position.
I can't figure out if I want to go back now because 'it's the better the devil you know' or because I am scared I'm not going to find anything else, especially the way the economy and job market are right now. To be perfectly honest, I haven't looked all that hard for a new job yet and the idea of starting all over again does scare the bejesus out of me. (On another note, does anyone know what 'the bejesus' is?) Even though I apparently radiate an air of confidence in work situations, it's all fake! I'm really trembling on the inside, absolutely terrified I'm going to get something wrong or found out to be a fake and that I shouldn't really be there.
I've spoken to Peter and he's OK either way but is leaning towards finding something completely new. Debbie thinks I should go for something new and not get sucked back into the black hole of Canning Vale. The boys don't really care as long they can keep going to the school they're currently in. Any other thoughts and opinions gratefully considered!
Thursday, 26 March 2009
"Like sand through the hourglass ...
.. so are the days of our lives." (cue annoying music here)
I can remember thinking, back in the dim, dark recesses of time when I was a know-it-all teenager, that soapies were so unrealistic in the way they portrayed the same problem going on for weeks, then finally being solved, only to have the same problem re-appear in a slightly different guise a bit further down the track.
'Surely once a problem was solved' thought my very unworldly self, 'it stayed solved. People don't keep making the same mistakes over and over again, do they?'
I have now realised that, barring demonic possession, kidnapping, marrying a sibling or having oodles of money with no discernible job, my life is a little like a soap opera. There are problems that last for weeks, or even months, seem to be resolved, then rear their ugly little mutant heads in a slightly different form.
If there's anything I should be used to around here, it's weird little mutants, yet I amaze myself with my lack of ability to see them coming, lack of knowledge of how to deal with them yet again and total faith that once resolved, they're gone forever. Did I learn nothing from ditching the occasional day of school just to watch the countless never-ending angst-filled dramas? Obviously not!
I now give you .. (drum roll please) .. the Alex saga!
(otherwise known as "As the world turns .. around me. And not just the world .. oh no .. the entire Universe revolves around me thank.you.very.much!)
As you are probably aware by now, we have been having a few problems with Alex and school, namely suspensions last year for violence and numerous detentions for not doing homework.
After much discussion between Peter and I, we took him for an enrolment interview at our local public high school with the view to enrolling him there, seeing as he obviously wasn't prepared to put in the effort required to stay where he is. Peter had been threatening to take Alex out of his private school for quite some time so he finally put his foot down and arranged the interview.
(I just want to clarify that I don't think private schools are necessarily any better than public schools. I just think that in our particular circumstances, this particular private school is better for Alex than the public alternative.)
Alex's overall attitude was one of resignation to the fact that he would be changing schools and leaving his only friend behind as well as some curiosity about the school itself. The enrolment interview went well, as did the tour of the school but once Alex had it explained to him that this school was not geared toward the student who wanted to attend university, his whole attitude changed. He wants to become a science teacher or some sort of scientist/technician/engineer, all of which require university degrees and therefore university entrance subjects in high school. All of a sudden he was promising Peter the moon and stars for the opportunity to stay at his current school.
After a meeting with the current school's principal and deputy-principal (pastoral care), Peter seemed a lot happier with the current status quo. He appreciates that Alex has improved greatly from last year and while there is still some concern about his lack of completed homework, he is getting better. The two of them have made some, for want of a better word, 'deals' regarding his homework and attitude towards school so hopefully, they will start to have some effect from here on.
It just amazes me how much has changed in schooling since we went to school. As I explained to Peter, Alex was suspended for the kind of 'push-me, shove-you violence' that would have gone completely unpunished and probably completely unnoticed in our day. (Just hold on while I go grab my zimmer frame will you?) If you weren't bleeding, unconscious or had bones sticking out of your skin nothing much was done. Oh, and homework was never chased up. If you didn't do it, there were no repercussions from the school; just from your parents at report card time. (I can still remember that feeling of dread walking home to give Mum and Dad the report card that had my first ever D on it .. quaking in my boots I was!)
So all in all, the soap opera status quo continues but stay tuned for further developments. You never know, there might be a murder next.
Or the discovery of a secret bunker under the house where we could keep him locked up for years, only letting him out when he finishes all his homework (in about 30 years!)
Or even that he's a little alien mutant beamed in from another planet sent here to test human patience levels. Yeah, that one sounds good .. and scarily enough, the most believable!
I can remember thinking, back in the dim, dark recesses of time when I was a know-it-all teenager, that soapies were so unrealistic in the way they portrayed the same problem going on for weeks, then finally being solved, only to have the same problem re-appear in a slightly different guise a bit further down the track.
'Surely once a problem was solved' thought my very unworldly self, 'it stayed solved. People don't keep making the same mistakes over and over again, do they?'
I have now realised that, barring demonic possession, kidnapping, marrying a sibling or having oodles of money with no discernible job, my life is a little like a soap opera. There are problems that last for weeks, or even months, seem to be resolved, then rear their ugly little mutant heads in a slightly different form.
If there's anything I should be used to around here, it's weird little mutants, yet I amaze myself with my lack of ability to see them coming, lack of knowledge of how to deal with them yet again and total faith that once resolved, they're gone forever. Did I learn nothing from ditching the occasional day of school just to watch the countless never-ending angst-filled dramas? Obviously not!
I now give you .. (drum roll please) .. the Alex saga!
(otherwise known as "As the world turns .. around me. And not just the world .. oh no .. the entire Universe revolves around me thank.you.very.much!)
As you are probably aware by now, we have been having a few problems with Alex and school, namely suspensions last year for violence and numerous detentions for not doing homework.
After much discussion between Peter and I, we took him for an enrolment interview at our local public high school with the view to enrolling him there, seeing as he obviously wasn't prepared to put in the effort required to stay where he is. Peter had been threatening to take Alex out of his private school for quite some time so he finally put his foot down and arranged the interview.
(I just want to clarify that I don't think private schools are necessarily any better than public schools. I just think that in our particular circumstances, this particular private school is better for Alex than the public alternative.)
Alex's overall attitude was one of resignation to the fact that he would be changing schools and leaving his only friend behind as well as some curiosity about the school itself. The enrolment interview went well, as did the tour of the school but once Alex had it explained to him that this school was not geared toward the student who wanted to attend university, his whole attitude changed. He wants to become a science teacher or some sort of scientist/technician/engineer, all of which require university degrees and therefore university entrance subjects in high school. All of a sudden he was promising Peter the moon and stars for the opportunity to stay at his current school.
After a meeting with the current school's principal and deputy-principal (pastoral care), Peter seemed a lot happier with the current status quo. He appreciates that Alex has improved greatly from last year and while there is still some concern about his lack of completed homework, he is getting better. The two of them have made some, for want of a better word, 'deals' regarding his homework and attitude towards school so hopefully, they will start to have some effect from here on.
It just amazes me how much has changed in schooling since we went to school. As I explained to Peter, Alex was suspended for the kind of 'push-me, shove-you violence' that would have gone completely unpunished and probably completely unnoticed in our day. (Just hold on while I go grab my zimmer frame will you?) If you weren't bleeding, unconscious or had bones sticking out of your skin nothing much was done. Oh, and homework was never chased up. If you didn't do it, there were no repercussions from the school; just from your parents at report card time. (I can still remember that feeling of dread walking home to give Mum and Dad the report card that had my first ever D on it .. quaking in my boots I was!)
So all in all, the soap opera status quo continues but stay tuned for further developments. You never know, there might be a murder next.
Or the discovery of a secret bunker under the house where we could keep him locked up for years, only letting him out when he finishes all his homework (in about 30 years!)
Or even that he's a little alien mutant beamed in from another planet sent here to test human patience levels. Yeah, that one sounds good .. and scarily enough, the most believable!
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Some people have waaay too much ..
.. time on their hands! Check it out though .. it made me laugh!
(and then shake my head wondering what on earth the world has come to)
(and then to wonder when I turned into my grandmother)
(and then to realise it's after 10pm so it's OK to be a bit loopy)
(and then to think 'get on with it and post the video already!' so here goes ...)
(and then shake my head wondering what on earth the world has come to)
(and then to wonder when I turned into my grandmother)
(and then to realise it's after 10pm so it's OK to be a bit loopy)
(and then to think 'get on with it and post the video already!' so here goes ...)
Monday, 16 March 2009
Overheard recently ..
After telling Andrew to do something he didn't particularly want to do:
Bradley: "Come on Drew. You heard the lady .. get going."
Andrew: "That's no lady. That's my mother!!"
Hmmm .. think it's time for a little chat about r.e.s.p.e.c.t?
Bradley: "Come on Drew. You heard the lady .. get going."
Andrew: "That's no lady. That's my mother!!"
Hmmm .. think it's time for a little chat about r.e.s.p.e.c.t?
You'd think that I'd post more ...
now that I have all this time on my hands, yet I haven't had the urge to sit and type something for ages. Last week's post was one of those "Christmas letter" type posts .. you know, the ones where you condense everything that's happened down to a couple of paragraphs and call it done.
This is the beginning of the third week since I finished work and I'm only just starting to get my head around the fact that I'm able to plan my own days and do what I want to do. Still trying to work out what I want to do versus what I feel I have to do.
Some more of the things I thought I'd do more of but haven't yet:
This is the beginning of the third week since I finished work and I'm only just starting to get my head around the fact that I'm able to plan my own days and do what I want to do. Still trying to work out what I want to do versus what I feel I have to do.
Some more of the things I thought I'd do more of but haven't yet:
- scrapping
- cleaning
- gardening
- sewing
- walking
- having coffee with friends during the week
- organising
I haven't been sitting around doing absolutely nothing but if you saw the state of my house, you certainly think that! Mind you, so far I've managed to:
- finish the curtains for the master bedroom (finally .. only taken 4 months!)
- do a bazillion loads of washing (I made the boys clean up the floors in their rooms .. sigh!)
- make about 50 phone calls following up things that should have been dealt with ages ago
- do three years worth of tax returns for a friend's mother and brother
- clean the patio area (except for all the tools, leftover trampoline parts and all the spare bits & pieces)
- read about 19 books
- um ... not much else due to the previous point!
I'm finally starting to feel a bit more relaxed but that may change tomorrow. Peter is coming home early to help me try to work out what to with Alex and his uncanny ability to get himself into trouble at school. Wonder which side of the family he gets that from?? Not my side!! (said with tongue firmly planted in cheek .. where's that angel smiley when you need it?)
Sunday, 8 March 2009
The end of my first week as an unemployed bum ..
and it feels really weird. It's kind of like being on holidays so far, but I'm sure that will wear off eventually. Anyway, it's been a very up and down week.
Up: No work on Tuesday (or any other day!)
Down: Sorting through more of Neil's paperwork, realising he's really gone and having a cry.
Up: Spending some time with Peter, without kids, before he went back.
Down: Regretting that I didn't resign earlier to spend more time with him.
Up: Managing to catch up with Jackie for a decent chat .. not a half hour one while watching the clock to make sure I'm not late for work.
Down: That I can't fix her health problems and make her feel better.
Up: Spending the day with Andrew on Thursday (he stayed at home so he didn't get heatstroke from watching the swimming carnival .. again!)
Down: Seeing the look of disappointment on his face when we couldn't bake banana bread because we ran out of time after running all the errands I needed to do.
Up: Catching up with an old scrapping buddy, Sue, for the first time in ages.
Down: Realising how long it's been since I actually did some scrapping, let alone with friends.
Up: Seeing Debbie for lunch on Friday and helping (just a teensy bit) with a scrapping dilemma.
Down: Coming home to find I left my teensy bit of mojo at Debbie's house.
Up: Being invited out to a friend's 40th birthday party on Saturday night.
Down: Going out to my car to go and pick her up, only to find one of the children left the car door open, which left the interior light on, which made the battery run flat.
Up: Remembering there's a spare car battery in the carport that I can jump start the car with.
Down: Finding out that battery is flatter than the one in the car.
Up: Remembering that I'm an RAC Roadside Assistance member and ringing them to jump start the car.
Down: Finding out my membership lapsed last year and that it will cost me $215 to re-join over the phone.
Up: Realising it's still early enough to call a taxi and then getting there only an hour late.
Down: Remembering I left the present at home .. D'oh!!
Up: Going to the bridal fair with my 'baby' sister.
Down: Finding out there's absolutely no parking left at the venue and doing about 9 laps of the city trying to find any parking whatsoever, all while dodging insane taxi drivers who don't believe the lane markings on the roads apply to them as well as the rest of us.
Up: Finding a free street parking spot.
Down: Having to reverse parallel park into said spot which was on a steep hill.
Up: Managing to do it without hitting anything .. not even the curb .. on the first try!! Woohoo!!
Down: Realising we were going to have to climb back up that steep hill after walking around the bridal fair.
Up: Having a great time at the bridal fair and enjoying Clare's company.
Down: Realising how many creepy celebrants and photographers there are out there.
Up: Finding a couple of really good, affordable photographers, caterers, celebrants, DJ's and bonbonierrie (how do you spell that anyway?) suppliers.
Down: Putting up with the creepy, pushy spruikers with crappy looking products and huge price tags.
The major up for the whole weekend though ...
Clare found the perfect wedding dress!
We had looked through all the gowns on display and hadn't found one that satisfied all her criteria. Most of them were too floral or lacy for her (FYI: scalloped lace is apparently big this year .. bleecch!) and the ones she found that came close to what she wanted style-wise were way out of range price-wise.
We'd almost given up and were browsing through the last wedding dress place that had discounted gowns for sale, when we found one that she liked the style of but thought the colour was all wrong. I convinced her to try it on anyway and she fell in love with it. She also tried on two others in different shades but similar styles and it just re-affirmed her initial reaction to the first one. The colour is perfect for her; the design is very,very flattering and the beading is just gorgeous. The saleswoman lent her a veil and some jewellery to complete the look while she was trying it on and she just looked so radiant and happy that I nearly burst into tears.
To top it all off, I got them to knock a little bit more off the already discounted price, so she ended up with $350 off and a dress she loves that fits her almost perfectly (but would still be really easy to alter if she loses the weight all brides swear they're going to lose!) I can't wait to see Richard's face when he sees her in it but I guess I'll have to. The wedding's not 'til December after all!
Up: No work on Tuesday (or any other day!)
Down: Sorting through more of Neil's paperwork, realising he's really gone and having a cry.
Up: Spending some time with Peter, without kids, before he went back.
Down: Regretting that I didn't resign earlier to spend more time with him.
Up: Managing to catch up with Jackie for a decent chat .. not a half hour one while watching the clock to make sure I'm not late for work.
Down: That I can't fix her health problems and make her feel better.
Up: Spending the day with Andrew on Thursday (he stayed at home so he didn't get heatstroke from watching the swimming carnival .. again!)
Down: Seeing the look of disappointment on his face when we couldn't bake banana bread because we ran out of time after running all the errands I needed to do.
Up: Catching up with an old scrapping buddy, Sue, for the first time in ages.
Down: Realising how long it's been since I actually did some scrapping, let alone with friends.
Up: Seeing Debbie for lunch on Friday and helping (just a teensy bit) with a scrapping dilemma.
Down: Coming home to find I left my teensy bit of mojo at Debbie's house.
Up: Being invited out to a friend's 40th birthday party on Saturday night.
Down: Going out to my car to go and pick her up, only to find one of the children left the car door open, which left the interior light on, which made the battery run flat.
Up: Remembering there's a spare car battery in the carport that I can jump start the car with.
Down: Finding out that battery is flatter than the one in the car.
Up: Remembering that I'm an RAC Roadside Assistance member and ringing them to jump start the car.
Down: Finding out my membership lapsed last year and that it will cost me $215 to re-join over the phone.
Up: Realising it's still early enough to call a taxi and then getting there only an hour late.
Down: Remembering I left the present at home .. D'oh!!
Up: Going to the bridal fair with my 'baby' sister.
Down: Finding out there's absolutely no parking left at the venue and doing about 9 laps of the city trying to find any parking whatsoever, all while dodging insane taxi drivers who don't believe the lane markings on the roads apply to them as well as the rest of us.
Up: Finding a free street parking spot.
Down: Having to reverse parallel park into said spot which was on a steep hill.
Up: Managing to do it without hitting anything .. not even the curb .. on the first try!! Woohoo!!
Down: Realising we were going to have to climb back up that steep hill after walking around the bridal fair.
Up: Having a great time at the bridal fair and enjoying Clare's company.
Down: Realising how many creepy celebrants and photographers there are out there.
Up: Finding a couple of really good, affordable photographers, caterers, celebrants, DJ's and bonbonierrie (how do you spell that anyway?) suppliers.
Down: Putting up with the creepy, pushy spruikers with crappy looking products and huge price tags.
The major up for the whole weekend though ...
Clare found the perfect wedding dress!
We had looked through all the gowns on display and hadn't found one that satisfied all her criteria. Most of them were too floral or lacy for her (FYI: scalloped lace is apparently big this year .. bleecch!) and the ones she found that came close to what she wanted style-wise were way out of range price-wise.
We'd almost given up and were browsing through the last wedding dress place that had discounted gowns for sale, when we found one that she liked the style of but thought the colour was all wrong. I convinced her to try it on anyway and she fell in love with it. She also tried on two others in different shades but similar styles and it just re-affirmed her initial reaction to the first one. The colour is perfect for her; the design is very,very flattering and the beading is just gorgeous. The saleswoman lent her a veil and some jewellery to complete the look while she was trying it on and she just looked so radiant and happy that I nearly burst into tears.
To top it all off, I got them to knock a little bit more off the already discounted price, so she ended up with $350 off and a dress she loves that fits her almost perfectly (but would still be really easy to alter if she loses the weight all brides swear they're going to lose!) I can't wait to see Richard's face when he sees her in it but I guess I'll have to. The wedding's not 'til December after all!
Overheard recently ..
"Mum, can we have pig's butt and bumnuts for breakfast?" Alex asking for bacon and eggs.
"No thanks. I'm lac-toast intolerant." Alex again when asked if he'd like toast with his bacon and eggs.
"I don't want to play this game anymore. It makes you think about maths!" Andrew when trying to work out how many extra points he'd get if he used different collection methods.
"Alex! Leave that alien alone! It's my turn to kill it!" Bradley playing a PS2 game with Alex 'helping' on the sidelines.
"No killing Brad. You should hug him and love him and call him George." Alex's response to the previous statement.
"No thanks. I'm lac-toast intolerant." Alex again when asked if he'd like toast with his bacon and eggs.
"I don't want to play this game anymore. It makes you think about maths!" Andrew when trying to work out how many extra points he'd get if he used different collection methods.
"Alex! Leave that alien alone! It's my turn to kill it!" Bradley playing a PS2 game with Alex 'helping' on the sidelines.
"No killing Brad. You should hug him and love him and call him George." Alex's response to the previous statement.
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