Home. Hurray! And other stuff.

We are home.  I’m grateful to be home and also grateful to be away.  I think I needed the break and hopefully I will be able to go on fresh.  I ended last year on a really down note and had avoided people most of the last few months because I was worn down and tired. 

I spent an inordinate amount of time volunteering at school last years. Girl Child’s behaviour got worse whenever I tried to help her group with anything.  This year I’m not going to spend so much time at school – well unless they pay me. 

I’m really hoping this year she will have a better year especially now that she sleeps through the night since she had her adenoids removed and then healed from the infection.  Of course while we were away she woke me tow of the 3 nights crying in her sleep.  She doesn’t remember why but I brought her into bed with me both times and she slept through until morning.

Maybe she cries most nights and at home our bedroom is too far away to here her.  I don’t know. I hope she doesn’t.  Thinking she does makes me sad.

Um.. next random thought.  I had been doing so well on the reducing my caffeine intake and upping the water I drink daily.  But while I was away I drank way too much caffeine and didn’t drink enough water.  We also ate way too much junk.  Way, way too much junk.

Tomorrow is another day.  Hopefully a better one, hopefully with less junk, caffeine and lots more water.  And maybe some exercise now my sunburn is just sun reddened and not painful anymore.

Oh yes, this post makes NaBloPoMo for January 2010 complete.  Yay another thing to have as in progress on my 101 list.

Holiday Day 3 - Home tomorrow

So after my post last night and we got home we had to wander to the supermarket because as the night progressed the vague pinkish tinge that some of us had turned very pink and ouchy. Yes, despite putting on sunscreen a few times and before we left home, we all got slightly or in my case quite a lot sunburnt. Boy Child has reddish shoulders, Girl Child has a pink tinge on her face and just under where rashie finshes. And I have sunburnt legs and feet. So lots of after sun care stuff was applied and we were extra careful with the sunscreen today despite the fact it was overcast and several degrees cooler than yesterday.

Home tomorrow.  It's been nice to get away from home but I have missed Mr E. and I admire single parents. It's a tough job even with a partner and the few days just us has shown me how tough it is. I'm not sure I'm cut out for it. We'll be glad to get home. See you on the flip side. (Boy Child: Nobody says that anymore!)

Commenting

I'm pretty sure there are lots of posts that I will want to comment on but while I'm away I don't really have the opportunity unless I feed the kids McDonalds for breakfast lunch and dinner.  While they would like that I couldn't really justify it and I'm sure it would contribute to an incrediable increasing E. Which is the opposite of what i want to happen.

So in the memorable words of Jeff Fenech (a former world champion boxer and mangler of the englich language) "I love youse all!" And I will comment when I get home, honest.

Holiday Day 2

So today we spent pretty much in water.  Beach mid morning to early afternoon.  A quick trip to the shops for a boogie board for all of us and sand building construction materials for Girl Child before going bacck to the apartment for lunch and then into the pool for a while.  Girl Child is becoming more and more comfortabel in water which is terrific

This afternoon was off to a different beach for more fun and we discovered Boy Child is a Body boarding fiend!  For a kid who goes to the beach maybe twice a year at the very most he was excellent at catching waves and riding them in.  Of course the first time he was out I had to go and get him as he hadn't noticed (well that was my opinion) that he was drifting further and further away from us and eveyone else.  He says he knew and was trying ot get back in but it didn't seem like that to me.  But maybe he was because he held my hand most of the way back in. And that's a big thing for a kid who doesn't like being touched.

We are now having dinner at McDonalds. No Pork Belly for me as yet PPMJ. But I'll see what we can do tomorrow!  Couldn't convince Boy Child to return to the RSL and I'm happy enough leeching internet here for the moment.  I am so glad I finally got a laptop last year.

Desert time and then walking back to the apartment.  Hopefully, the walk will help get rid of some of this junk food I've eaten!

Holiday day 1

Here I am blogging from the Far South Coast of NSW. I am actually sitting in the apartment Boy Child, Girl Child and I are staying in for a few nights and typing this up on Word because I figure paying for net access is something I really can’t be bothered with when you can get if free at McDonalds, Gloria Jeans (Coffee Shop Franchise) or the local Returned Services League (RSL) club where we had dinner.


I did actually take the laptop to dinner and did connect to their wireless broadband but then food started to arrive so I thought it would be impolite to continue stuffing around.

Now dinner was lovely. Boy child had a modified Chicken Parmagana so it was just Chicken Schnitzel, Girl Child had ham and pineapple pizza, and I had Lemon Sole topped with prawns and a sauce. Okay the topped with prawns was 3 prawns but they and the sauce were nice and the fish was delicious.

Now I think it’s Pink Patent Mary Janes who is often discussing Pork Belly and it was on the menu! I was very impressed but as I rarely have seafood I thought that sounded the better option today. If we eat there again and the Pork Belly is Gluten Free I think I was have it just for you PPMJ! Sure beats the McDonalds that Boy Child wanted for dinner.

Okay, better go and track down wireless internet to post this and hope I can post earlier tomorrow if the kids aren’t having issues with wandering around again as they did this afternoon.

Apparently the first stop tomorrow is finding a beach. The pool is too tame for Boy Child and Girl Child wants to make sand castles.

Catching up on work…mostly

Today I am trying to catch up on the work I should have done earlier. We are going away tomorrow and instead of working during the school holidays I have been reading your blogs, general stuffing around and playing with the children.

See, this is the issue I have with working from home.  The deadlines are flexible until it comes to crunch time. Then you are wandering around the house at 2 am trying to work out where the rest of the paperwork is so you can reconcile banks accounts and get everything to the auditor before you go away.

It’s the wandering around the house at 2 am the proves that Boy Child just can’t unwind and is also wandering around the house at 2 am, supposedly getting a glass of water but probably going to watch TV if I hadn’t be up as well.

I’m wondering if his night time wanderings are part of the reason the tooth fairy hasn’t arrived 2 nights in a row for the two teeth he lost in just over 2 hours (yes one was another 2 am wander by Boy Child).  Of course Girl Child checks if the Tooth Fairy has been as soon as she gets up which is generally after Mr E. is up but way before I want to get up or Boy Child is even remotely awake. Girl Child is obsessed with the Tooth Fairy as she was one of very few children in her Kindergarten (first years of big school here) class last year who hadn’t lost a tooth.  She still hasn't and is playing very close attention to the fairy ornament where we put teeth for collection.

Have to take Smiley Dog to the vet later for hopefully his last check up on his ear canal operation. It’s only been 5 and a bit weeks since his operation (see here if you want details) but as we had Vet appointments every 2 days for about 2 weeks and then weekly appointments it feels as though it has been forever.

And then there's washing and packing to be done.  Better go do the work now or we won’t be able to go away.

Lamingtons

Today Girl Child and I made Lamingtons.  Thanks to Sharalyn for the recipe.

Now this is where I admit again, that I am no domestic Goddess.  In fact, often my urge to bake (when not from a packet mix) results in varied results and often phone calls to people who actually have domestic ability and more importantly baking skills. 

Today’s urge was partly patriotic, being Australia Day and all, but mostly due to hunger and the fact that the GF Lamingtons available in the shops are about $7.00 for 3.

This is how the Lamingtons turned out:

 

Now before we got to the point I worked out that we didn't have any Baking Powder.  So I called one of those non domestically challenged people I know. My friend wasn't home so I spoke to her husband.

Yes, definitely need baking powder.  Damn! Next question and this is where I sound really stupid.  Recipe states: Place eggs and caster sugar in metal bowl and whisk with wire whisk over a saucepan of hot water until mixture is warm and slightly frothy.

Conversation follows.

Me: I don't have a metal bowl.  Can I use glass?

Him: No.  It might break due to the heat.

Me: Oh, okay then.  Well I have some of those metal things you use to cook in. Would that work?

Him: Saucepans?

Me: I have those but I mean those other things.  The ones that go in the oven.

Him: Tins. I don’t think that will work.

Me: Oh okay then.

Him: But we have some and some baking powder you can borrow.

After making sure it was GF baking powder I wandered to their house and borrowed the required things in order to make the very yummy lamingtons shown above.

And yes that was exactly how the conversation went.  I’m sure I sounded like a complete twit.

I’m tired, it’s way past bed time

Nothing to say here.  Nothing exciting.  Life going on as usual.

Might try to make GF lamingtons tomorrow from the recipe posted by Sharalyn.  But maybe not.  If I do I’ll post a pic to prove it.

I’ve lost my motivation (probably due to staying up too late most nights) and have heaps of work to do before we go away on Thursday.  Let’s see how that goes.

Shopping for swimwear…

Yesterday we went to the shops to get Boy child’s hair cut.  Now a few years ago this would have been a major effort involving but not limited to – stress, tears (his and mine), and bribery.  How things have changed.

I decided to look for swimmers for Girl child as the one piece I bought her rubbed badly and we are going to go away to the coast for a few days – guilt due to school starting again soon and having not much at all.  Oh and envy for those who have shown off holiday photos.

So we had a look at swimmers for Girl Child, starting with a rashie to cover her up – she has red hair, blue eyes and a pale complexion so really needs to be protected. But we found somewhere selling a 3 piece set – Rashie, and tankini top and bottoms.  Score! and even better it was on special.

During Girl Child’s  swimming lessons I’d realised that my swimmers were dying I thought I would look for me too. So instead of stress, tears and bribery for the haircut we ended up with stress (mine) and laughter (mine and others) in the swimwear section.

There were 4 piece sets for woman in the same shop – Bikini top, bottoms, board shorts and thongs (aka jandals or flip flops).  Now what I found interesting before even deigning to try on said outfit was the sizing of the footwear. As the size of the swimmers went up so did the thong size.  Which I found quite bizarre.  Surely a tall, athletic woman would have bigger feet than fat, frumpy me? Anyway I digress.

I decided to try on the bikini which was apparently in my size.  However, what occurred looked something like this:

and not in a good way. Yes I felt like a fat, frumpy mother badly channelling one of Hugh Hefner’s former girls (without the blonde hair, carefully shaped eyebrows and vaguely coquettish expression). This one is Kendra Wilkinson apparently. Photo from mydiddle.com.

There is no way I’d consider that bikini top fit so I returned the offending items and went elsewhere.  I did find a tankini in the same size which did fit which only serves to make me remember Bikinis do not fit bodies like mine in anyway that could be considered flattering.

Note to self: get fit before these swimmers die because otherwise the torture that is trying to buy new swimmers will do my head in!!!

Ooooh, look! Pretty!

I have managed to work out how to change my layout. I made my own header and everything, too.  Impressive isn't it?  Not bad for a computer illiterate person.

It was all thanks to Amanda over at BloggerBuster.

Is this where I admit that it has taken hours? No? Well pretend I didn’t say that then.  But I had nothing better to do on a Friday night when Mr E. decided to go to bed at 8.30 or so and I thought what else can I do while watching Love Actually?

So I decided to try and make my blog look slightly more interesting than it was.  And Voila, a pretty little blog.  Go, me.  Also in the Go, me stakes I now have 20 Followers!  Impressive, very impressive.  so thanks you lot.  You know who you are.  Your time reading my drivel blog is very much appreciated and so are your comments.

And as it is now tomorrow I don’t have to blog again until Sunday and I’m still making my NaBloPoMo post every day.

5000 question survey - 101 to 150

101. What does happiness/joy feel like physically? Warm, fuzzy, nice.
102. List five people you love starting with the one you love the absolute most.
I hate these things limiting the people you love.
A, B and C: My husband, Boy Child and Girl Child
D My Nana
E My uncle and aunt (a couple counts as one, right?)
103. How many movies have you gone to see this month? 1
104. If you could have 3 wishes...but none of them could be for yourself, what would you wish for?
A happy and healthy life for my children.
My husband to be happy and healthy and less addicted to TV and computers.
Less (or much better no) crises in the world due to natural disasters, war and major illnesses.
105. In what ways do you relax and de-stress when you are really tense? Coffee and chocolate. No wait, a nice warm bath with a book and the door locked!

106. How much money would it take to get you to drive to school naked in the springtime and get out of the car? Nobody has that much!
107. Have you ever killed an animal? No. Yuk.
108. Have you ever lost someone close to you? Yes
109. What do you think of cloning? I think it’s something that could be used for good or evil.
110. Do you read or watch TV more often? Read
111. With all this talk of terrorism going around are you willing to sacrifice rights and freedoms for increased safety? I think some terrorism talk is a beat up. But people have given up things for greater security and safety.

112. What is the punishment you would come up with for Osama Bin Laden if you caught him alive?  I think making him watch Barney the dinosaur show over and over again would be a great punishment. No, I’m not serious but Barney is annoying.
113. Have you ever named an individual part of your body? No.
114. Have you ever been on the radio or on TV? No

115. Have you ever won a lottery, or sweepstakes? Nope. But then I don’t buy tickets either.
116. Have you ever won a contest or competition? Yes I won a walkman thing when I was about 12 and a guess the smarties in a jar competition when I was in my first year of school.

117. Do you like to watch The Joy of Painting show with Bob Ross (check out this link if you don't know who he is. Also please note me if you notice the link is broken) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross_(painter)? I have never seen it but it sounds interesting.

118. Do you know what your grandparents and your great grand parents did for a living? Yes my great grandparents were famers and my grandparents had a few jobs each.

119. Is there anything really interesting in your family history? Nothing I care about. Genealogy is not my thing.

120. Is there anyone you trust completely? My husband.
121. Have you ever lost someone without having the chance to say goodbye? Yes and it sucks.

122. How do you feel about women in politics?No different to men in politics. Just in skirts sometimes.

123. Would you rather have an indoor Jacuzzi or an outdoor pool? Tough choice. Both? Okay, the Jacuzzi because I love baths.

124. What things are you interested in that you study or read about on your own? Zero... I don’t even study the stuff I’m supposed to be studying at the moment.

125. Would you consider yourself to be intelligent? Some days.

126. Would you consider yourself to be wise? Nope.

127. Have you ever given or received a lap dance? No.

128. Have you ever spoken to a homeless person? I don’t think so.

129. Would you ever creep into the subway tunnels to go exploring? No I’m a scaredy cat.

130. If you could add 70 years to your life but only by making some random person die 70 years sooner would you? No way.

131. Can you finish any of the following lyrics?
A: Nothing to kill or die for... and no religion too.
B: Late comings with the late comin' stretcher... la la la.
C: I could make a film and make you my star... la la la.

132. Were you ever with someone while they died? Yes.

133. Would you rather be a world political leader or a rock star? Neither. Yuck.
134. Have you ever given someone a love letter that you wrote?
Maybe. When I was younger.
135. Have you ever sent someone a surprise though the mail? Yes.

136. Are you looking forward to any concerts right now? No. I think I have about 10 years until my next concert given my track record! LMAO.

137. Of all animated movies, which is the best one you've ever seen? Lots are great: UP, WALL-E, the Lion King and who could forget Fantasia! Please note I have never seen the Fox and the Hound, Bambi and lots of those classic animations.
138. What are the best bands or songs to listen to while driving? Those with good beats and catchy tunes.

139. What do you think is the most amazing thing that anyone has ever accomplished? Anyone? I think organ transplants. That’s amazing to me.

140. What could a member of the opposite sex do to impress you? Be nice, have nice hands, smell nice and have the same colour eyes as Harry Connick Jr. I think I just described my husband.

141. About how many emails do you get a day? Not including spam, generally between 5 and 10. Depends how many people comment on my Blog!

How many of those emails are junk mail? The junk I didn’t include is about 5 a day.

How many of them are forwards? Thankfully people don’t send me those much.
142. What's your favourite thing to do online besides write in your diary and hang out at this site? Sleep, read, avoid housework.
143. Do you believe Kurt Cobain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain) killed himself or was it a conspiracy? Suicide.
144. Have you ever thought about hitchhiking across the country? I always thought that it’s a stupid idea.
145. Who would you bring with you on this kind of a road trip? Wouldn’t be going so won’t be taking anyone.
146. Of the following, which word best describes you: accurate, bold, charming, dependable Maybe dependable. People can depend on me to be late.
147. If you are single, at about what age do you think you will be ready to settle down and get married? If you are married, how old were you at the time? 23.
148. Do you often wonder, when you say goodbye to people, if it is the last time you will ever see them? Usually not but if I’m having a bad week (or more) then yes.
149. What movie are you most looking forward to seeing when it comes out? Avatar – okay it’s out I just want to see it.
150. What is your quest? I’m looking for the Holy Grail, of course!

Just stuff

Survived camping out again last night so have crossed camping for at least 2 nights off my 101 in 1001 list.  Unfortunately Girl child liked it so much she refused to go to bed in her room tonight. Weird child that one!

Today I had to drag the kids out of the house because quite frankly I was going nuts here.  I’m beginning to regret not going away for some of the holidays.  Of course it would have just been me and the kids as Mr E. has worked pretty much every day except the public holidays including some of the weekends. Plus Smiley Dog has needed medications and vet appointments to check him after his operation so logistically it wasn’t really viable. Plus Boy Child copes better at home, with familiar things around him so we have stayed home.

I must admit I am more than slightly envious of people talking about their beach holiday, boat trips (take Jacinta’s post as an example).

Anyway it’s getting late and i should got to bed especially as it’s a night in my bed instead of the ground. I have missed my bed and my husband too I guess. He was too chicken to sleep out with us.  Okay it was more that he thinks camping is a dirty word.

Sleep well.  I’m pretty sure I will be sleeping much better tonight!

Camping Out

So we had our big camp out last night. Our Tent looks like this.  And I remember using it when I went on a 3 day hiking trip in Year 9 or 10 at school so it was been around for a while.

Boy Child wanted to sleep on the Trampoline and Girl Child and I set ourselves up in the tent.  Apparently it is/was his childhood dream to sleep on the trampoline at night – which I discovered at 2 am when he decided it was too cold and he needed to be in the tent with us.  Of course it was pretty cold in the tent too so he went in and got us more blankets. Pretty cold was 10 degrees Celsius…It’s summer here so should have been warmer but it wasn’t.

Eventually we all went back to sleep again but it took a while and then I woke up at 5.45 am.  I’m a little bit tired but hey we did it.

And we are camping out again tonight. Without taking the mattresses off their beds which was one thing the children suggested.  But  this time with more blankets and hopefully we won’t all be awake in the middle of the night.  Also will help if they actually wear long sleeves and pants as they were asked but they both refused.

Anyway we are about to head out again, I just thought I should post how last night went.

Wish me luck and good sleep vibes.

Thanks!

Yesterday was a blah day

I left the house only to go the clothesline and the mail box.  And i didn't get out of my pyjamas at all!  Just couldn't be bothered.  Not sure what it was really.  A combination of things, i guess.

Firstly everyone (huge generalisation I know) seems to be on a fitness kick.  I read post about people losing weight, getting fitter and healthier and I feel bad and go and eat biscuits.  No motivation to get healthier here this week.

Guilt. You see it’s school holidays. School goes back in 2 weeks. We have done nothing of not.  Okay, we did go to Sydney for an early Christmas, have seen a movie and Girl Child had swimming lessons for two weeks.  But nothing of note: no going to the coast, no visiting relatives interstate (apart from the day and a half for the early Christmas), just some play dates at the pool after lessons and shopping. 

I’m sure there are others but they are the two main ones.

So today I got dressed, and even left the house for bread and milk which turned into having coffee and chocolate and getting stuff to make tacos for dinner.

So dinner was made and I decided to give the kids and I a different night and so we are camping in our yard tonight.  Will be interesting as Girl Child can’t sleep without the light on and we have only ever been camping once before almost 5 years ago. If we manage to make tonight perhaps we can camp out tomorrow too and that will count as one of my 101 in 1001.

Wish me luck!

Best Album of the Year

This is probably very predictable but my Best Album of 2009 was:

Now I actually got this album for Christmas in 2008 but Mr E. bought me the Australian Tour CD for Christmas 2009, so that’s the one I’m referring to – or is that cheating? Look it even has a slightly different cover so I figure it is different and therefore not cheating.

The tour CD has a second disc with some DVD’s including some songs live from the tour. However, I did find the Video clip to Please Don’t Leave Me a little, um, disturbing. It freaks me out. Not in the way Funhouse is scary / funny but just the way that the couple relate in the clip kind of reminds me of Stephen King’s novel Misery.

There are also 2 additional tracks on the CD which always good. And just for the record I have So What as the ring tone in my phone.

I find it particularly funny when Mr E. calls and my phone goes: “I guess I just lost my husband, I don't know where he went.”

The 5000 question survey: Questions 51 to 100

51. Make up a definition for the following silly words...
Fruitgoogle: Fruit which has a special internet connection so you can google while out and about. On the plus side it is biodegradable and can get thrown away once you have eaten the fruit.
Ambytime: A time to amble. Which is like wandering only more constructive because with a specific time frame.
Asscactus: Really annoying person who thinks they know everything.
52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands?
Chocolate chip cookies.
53. What was your favorite toy as a child?
My teddy bear
54. How many TV’s are in your house?
Too many!
55. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
Read or lay on my back and look at the clouds
56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow?
Happy
57. Have you ever dreamt a dream that came true?
Not that I remember although I have had a feeling of déjà vu.
58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader?
Yes
59. What is your idea of paradise?
It depends on the day....today it would be a nice peaceful lounge near water.
60. Do you believe in god and if so what is he/she/it like?
Yes. Big.
61. Do you believe in Hell?
I believe in the concept of Hell.
62. What one thing have you done that most people haven't?
I once tried to learn the trapeze.
63. What is the kindest thing you have ever done?
No clue...what I think is kind someone else may just find annoying.
64. Are you a patient person?
I try very hard. But If I’m tired or grumpy not really.
65. What holiday should exist but doesn't?
Wonderful, relaxing and available the moment you need it.
66. What holiday shouldn't exist but does?
LA Gang Tours  Bad taste I think.
67. What's the best joke you ever heard?
Best bad joke: why did the rooster cross the road? Because he was stapled to the chicken.
68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been?
No clue.
69. Is your hair natural or dyed?
Natural
70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front?
I’m a vault. My secrets aren’t necessarily dark or deep but a mere acquaintance is never going to know what they are.
71. What is under your bed right now?
Mostly dust and shoes.
72. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home?
Well I’d stay for a while if the wicked witches were dead and the flying monkeys were gone. Those things seriously creep me out!
73. If you drive do you frequently speed?
Hell, no.
74. What is the world's best song to dance to?
How drunk am I? Bryan Adams - Summer of 69 is good.
75. What song was on the last time you danced with someone?
I seriously can’t remember when I last danced. However, I’m pretty sure I was a little under the weather at the time. So it was probably about 2.5 years ago.
76. Do you prefer Disney or Warner Brothers?
Neither.... I like Pixar.
77. What is the first animal you would run to see if you went to the zoo?
Penguins
78. Would you consider yourself to be romantic?
Yes, sometimes. I like ‘happily ever after’ does that count?
79. If the earth stopped rotating would we all fly off?
Nah, because gravity still sucks!
80. What is the one thing that you love to do so much that you would make sacrifices to be able to do it?
Sleep, eat chocolate, sleep, chocolate... I can’t decide on one. Sorry.
81. If you (and everyone) had to lose one right or freedom, but you could pick which one everyone had to lose, what would you pick?
Maybe the freedom people have to wear Budgie smugglers.  Especially those who think they look good in them when pretty much only models and very fit sports people do.
82. If you had to choose would you live on the equator or at the North Pole?
Ohh, very tough choice. Probably the equator as long as there was air conditioning and pools / rivers/ oceans to swim in.
83. Would you rather give up listening to music or watching television?
TV.
84. What do you think makes someone a hero?
Something more than being good at sport.
85. What cartoon would you like to be a character in?
Zero. I don’t think I’d be good as a cartoon character.
86. Name one thing that turns your stomach:
Vomit.... Oh, did you mean what makes me want to throw up?
87. What was the last thing you paid for?
Lunch today.
88. Are you a coupon clipper?
No.
89. Get anything good in the mail recently?
Not since Christmas.
90. Which would you rather take as a gym class...dancing, sailing, karate, or bowling?
Ten Pin Bowling although sailing might be fun.
91. In Star Trek people 'beam' back and forth between different places. What this means is they stand in a little tube and their molecules are deconstructed and sent to another tube somewhere else where they are reassembled. Only problem is when the molecules are deconstructed the person is dead. When they are put back together it is only a clone that has all the dead person's memories. So...
Is the person who gets beamed the same person on both ends?
It’s too late at night to even think about this.
92. What insects are you afraid of?
Spiders.
93. If you could print any phrase on a T-shirt, what would it say?
Maybe: Nothing to see here, move along.
94. What's the most eccentric thing you have ever worn?
How eccentric are jeans, t-shirts and runners?
95. If you could pick one food that you could eat all you wanted but it would have no effect on how much you weigh what food would it be?
Chocolate of course!
96. What are your parents interested in?
Zero. They are dead.
97. Have you ever caught an insect and kept it as a pet?
Yes.
Have you ever caught and tamed a wild animal?
No.
98. What is more helpful to you, wishes or plans?
Plans are more helpful, wishes are more interesting.
99. When do you feel your life energy the strongest?
After a decent sleep.
100. You are spending the night alone in the woods and may bring only 3 items with you. What do you bring?
Sleeping bag, food and water.

Favourite Photo of the Year

The lovely Clarissa tagged me a few days ago to show my favourite photo of the year. It fits the Best theme for the January 2010 NaBloPoMo so that's good. I’m killing two birds with one stone so to speak.  It was a tough choice but today I think this is my favourite photo of 2009.

 

It’s of Girl Child and Boy child and was taken at our early Family Christmas.

I’m going to tag:

Emily (who takes gorgeous photos) check them out here.

Anella, who is also gifted in the photography stakes,

Stacey,

Tabitha and

Lastly (but certainly not leastly) Tasia D.

Today I had chocolate

Chocolate chip cookies in fact but chocolate all the same. I managed a week without it which is pretty impressive for me.

Plus I made them this morning before taking Girl Child to swimming and meeting other people at the pool. 

In other momentous news I only had 2 cups of coffee (total caffeinated beverages today = 2!) Way to go, me!

However, I am really tired. Perhaps it was the lack of caffeine my body is reacting too or the four hours at the pool. Anyway this is short and sweet tonight so I can go to bed.

Good night all!

Am I dumb or what?

So I started work on my 101 in 1001 aka the Day Zero Project.  Which I thought was a good thing. For those who don’t know what it’s about the website is here.

Now it’s school holidays here.  Almost 4 weeks down….a little over two weeks to go.  School shopping done, thankfully.  It did take three shopping expeditions and quite a bit of …… encouragement may be an appropriate word.

That was for the new shoes (3 pairs), socks, T-shirts, shorts, school bags, lunch boxes, drink bottles and contact to cover the books once the book packs arrive at school.

So why out of the 67 things I have on my 101 list have I started the things I really, really need to survive school holidays?  Why did I think I could cut down on caffeine and give up chocolate?

Yes I have managed to stick to 3 caffeinated beverages at day, increased my water intake and had a chocolate free week.  Okay 5 days of temperatures in the  mid to high 30’s have really helped with the first two but seriously coffee and chocolate are my coping mechanisms.

What was I thinking?  However, tomorrow is looking good:

1 chocolate free week is done!

5,000 questions Part 1 (1 to 50)

1. Who are you?
Me. A wife, mother, worker and student.
2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you?
I am NOT a people person, I love my family and I enjoy chocolate (gluten free).
3. When you aren't filling out 5,000 question surveys like this one what are you doing?
Playing or working on the computer, stuff with and for the family, sleeping.
4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn't like at the time).
High School? Worst: PE I am so uncoordinated and Social Science – I had the same teacher for 4 years and we clashed big time. Everything else was okay – English, Maths, Science, Wood / Metal Work, etc.
5. What is your biggest goal for this year?
Don’t really have one. I do want to complete my 101 in 1001 in the timeframe though.
6. Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Not really a where more a What. Comfortable – physically, monetary and emotionally
7. What stage of life are you in right now?
The OMG my children are growing up stage.
8. Are you more child-like or childish?
Depends on the day.
9. What is the last thing you said out loud?
Bed!
10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now?
No clue
11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes?
Yes. Only got to yellow belt (2^nd from beginning)
12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same?
For me it seems to be cyclical. Every few years life gets complicated but then eventually things get better again.
13. Does time really heal all wounds?
Physically yes.
14. How do you handle a rainy day?
Sometimes by going out in it, sometimes by watching from a dry, cosy place.
15. Which is worse...losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights?
Neither.
16. How is your relationship with your parents? Will you miss them when they are gone?
Well they are dead so i guess it’s non existent.
I do miss them for the important things, milestones, but I don’t miss the drama that one of them seemed to enjoy.
17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?
Sometimes but not always.
18. What is the truest thing that you know?
Global Warming is real.
19. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet, librarian and journalist/ author.
20. Have you ever been given a second chance?
Yes.
21. Are you more of a giver or a taker?
Probably a giver but I’m also happy to take coffee and chocolate.
22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind?
Not really. Very analytical.
23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?
Gallbladder issues were pretty interesting. Led to 4 or so days in hospital on IV antibiotics.
24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you?
None of your business.
25. Who have you hugged today?
Boy child and Girl Child.
26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?
Mr E., Girl Child and Boy Child.
27. Do you have a lot to learn?
Doesn’t everyone?
28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?
A To cook brilliantly (and healthily)
B To be able to heal
C to be able to play a musical instrument well.
29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?
How they make me feel.
30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?
Honesty and communication
31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?
A see my children become happy, healthy, confident and responsible adults
B Celebrate my silver or even better Golden Wedding Anniversary
C Hopefully see my children happily married or in long term relationships
32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?
I don’t know......
33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?
Not really. I think there are a lot of worthy causes.
34. What does each decade make you think of:
The 19..
20's: Flappers
30's: Great Depression
40's: WWII
50's: Elvis Presley
60's: Free Love
70's: Births
80's: School
90's: The starting of our own family – Wedding and Boy Child being born
2000: Y2K that never happened Girl Child being born
2010's: Growing
35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?
None.
36. What is your favourite oldie/classic rock song?
Bad Moon Rising is a favourite sometimes
37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?
Australia. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?
Don’t screw our country up, please.
38. What's your favourite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?
Anything that has something decent on.
39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?
I’m not a villain!
40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?
No
41. If you were travelling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?
Fly.
42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?
The rotation of the earth blocks the sun light.
43. What does your name mean?
God is my oath.
44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?
If I had to make a choice I’d say space but don’t really like either option.
45. Word association
What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:
Air: Oxygen
Meat: Cooked
Different: same
Pink: Purple
Deserve: reward
White: ice
Elvis: Presley
Magic: wand
Heart: ache
Clash: titans
Pulp: Fiction
46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?
I’m not sure I want to meet a dead person... Zombies just aren’t my thing.
47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?
Hugh Jackman might be good for a night out.
48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it every day?
No. Every week maybe but not every day.
49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?
Music, books, food, water and a bucket.
50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?
Nope.

Best Blog Find

Okay back on to the Best list,  I think I have skipped a few that weren’t relevant and tonight I have chosen the Best Blog Find.

For me the best blog find has been blogging itself.  Mr E. starting blogging a long time ago as many geeks did.  Even Boy Child had started a blog a while ago but me, I never got the whole blogging thing.

Then I noticed a few people I ‘knew’ starting listing their blogs in their signatures so I followed the links and started reading.  And from there I followed links to other Blogs. Somehow I found NaBloPoMo about the same time as I started my blog (October 2009) and figured that would be a good way to motivated myself to blog consistently.  And it worked!

I think I follow almost 30 blogs and there are some I don’t follow as yet but read via people / blogs I follow so I figure I could be reading as many as 45 blogs!  Which I’m impressed with as somehow whatever I’m doing here people actually seem interested in.

Thus far some lovely people have given me 3 awards – two for blogging and one for commenting which is spectacular. I think it’s extra special as I’m not very funny or willing to be brave and share my emotions, or have any great insights into the human condition.

Maybe one day I will be braver or funnier, or more insightful (perhaps not about the human condition but about something) but until then thank you for hanging out with me and reading my drivel!

Day Zero Project: 101 in 1001 - update

Well I have been wandering around looking at other people’s lists and have updated mine with the following:

Organise my books

Complete the 5000 Question Survey

Write down my answers to the all "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"

Read David Allen "Getting Things Done"

Clean out the pantry

Tidy the Linen cupboard

Learn how to use / apply make up

Use the face scrub / exfoliate at least 5 times

Use the body scrub / exfoliate at least 5 times

Use moisturiser for 30 days

Go on the Million Paws Walk with Dogs

Update my resume

Get to school before the first bell for 10 weeks

Organise and have time with each child separately and do something they want to 5 times each

Go on a picnic

Write and send Christmas cards before 10 December

Go to bed before 10.30 for a week straight 5 times

Take vitamins for 1 month

Answer the 20 questions you should ask yourself every Sunday once a month for a year

Find out what is involved to get tested and go on the bone marrow register

So now I have 66 things on my list.  I’ve actually managed to add list so far on the Day zero Project website.  Yay for me!

And as far as progress goes I haven’t done that much.

So far 2000 grains of rice from freerice.com 2,000/100,000

3 days of 5 glasses of water of more 3/30

2 days of 3 or less cups / glasses of caffeinated beverage. Umm I have no time limit on that one so not sure how that should work.  maybe should make a time limit like a month.  21 days should make a habit so 30 days should work.

So how is everyone else going?

P!NK - Best Night Out

When I discovered the tickets were on sale Mr E. and I spoke about it and while I really wanted to go, the presale tickets were $20 or $30 extra. So I decided against it.  someone we knew was going to buy tickets on line the day they went on sale to the general public but tickets for the shows here sold out in under 10 minutes. So I missed out.

Then they announced the additional concerts.  I was stoked! I asked some friends and it was decided that we would get the cheap seats.  So I managed to get the 6 tickets we needed and some friends and I went to Sydney to see P!NK’s last Australian concert for the Funhouse tour.

Now, I’m not really a concert person.  I have been to some when I was younger… pre MR E.  In fact the last concert I had been to was Frente! with the guy I was going out with before Mr E.  and that was a bad concert.  Dodgy Uni Bar,  and with the singer obviously off her face and saying things like: “um, I don’t remember the words” and singing lalala to quite a few songs.  Let’s just say I was very underwhelmed.

Anyway back on track. On Saturday 29 August 2009 Mr E., Boy Child and Girl Child all stayed home while 3 friends and I drove to Sydney. We checked into to the place we were staying. hang around for a while and then caught some trains to  Acer Arena. We were there really early because I had been told there would be Gluten Free food available but I had to be there at 6.00. Anyway being early meant we beat the crowds to the merchandising stands.  I got a T-shirt and a Program but never could find where I was supposed to eat.  Two friends wandered off to find food and T. and I stayed around the arena.

Now we had the cheap seats and I had been told jokingly that we would need oxygen tanks.  I think we were way at the back but front on so that was good. It’s very steep though, glad no one was afraid of heights!

First up was Evermore.  They were good but very loud. My ears were ringing but then maybe that was just because I am so not a party animal.

There was an interval and the crew / backstage people all did Michael Jackson’s Thriller.  It was really good.

Then there was P!NK. She was excellent.  This wasn’t a concert, it was a full on show.  An extravaganza, really. And it was awesome!

 

The songs were great, the dancing was brilliant and the acrobatics / trapeze / above the stage work was awesome.  I have been on a trapeze once and freaked out so i was very, very impressed with those parts.  And the fact that P!NK was singing while hanging upside down above the stage was exceptional.

Photo’s from Pinks Page.

I’m not sure how many changes of costume there were but there seemed to be lots. But the times P!NK was off stage changing, there were things happening on stage and you didn’t even know she had been gone until she showed up in different outfits.

For my first concert in over 15 years (yes I am old), I certainly choose a brilliant one to go to. As anyone who has been reading my blog for a while I loved the concert so much I asked for the concert tour DVD for Christmas. And Mr E. bought it for me. Anyone who wants to see some highlights from the concert DVD there is a quick clip here.

Anyway, the concert finished and we caught a train back to our accommodation and that my friends, was the best night out I had in 2009.

NaBloPoMo Post – Best Article or Book

Today I have nothing.  It’s almost midnight and I have nothing to say to the world apart from I am tired and should really be in bed.

On the list of Bests I am up to Article and Book.

At this point I have no best article and the best book changes depending on my mood.  Although once I attempt to read 50 of 71 greatest books of all time for my 101 in 1001 I may have more that I enjoy.  But I really doubt it. There is a reason I haven't read some of those books.

So for now as I’m in a Fantasy frame of in the best book is:

Day Zero Project: 101 things in 1001 Days

Okay, i have been thinking about this a lot.  I know I have an issue  procrastination and if I actually do start something I seem to have a problem with following through on things so this maybe be the slap in the head incentive I need.

So I’m biting the bullet and going to do it!  So far I haven't come up with 101 things.  I have 46 but it’s a start. The Day Zero website is broken for me so I guess I will start my list over there another day (maybe even tomorrow).

I hope nobody minds me visiting their lists and maybe stealing borrowing some inspiration from them.  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Bungee jumping and sky diving are so NOT happening!

So far I have:

Finish this list of 101 things

Do more exercise at least 3 times a week for 3 months (12 weeks).

Drink more water 5 glasses to get up to 1.5 or more litres daily

Lose 2 kgs

Lose 5 kgs

Lose 8 kgs

Lose 10 kgs

Lose 12 kgs

Keep weight off for at least 6 months.

Have a Family holiday to New Zealand 2011

Go to the Art Gallery and / or Museum with or without the family 5 times

Go to the Theatre twice.

Donate Blood regularly (at least 5 times in 1001 days)

Attempt to read the 50 of 71 Greatest Novels of All item that I haven't read as yet

Learn card making and make them instead of buying them

Put in the forms for a school hours job

Blog everyday for 2 months a year (February doesn't count)

Plant a vegetable patch possibly with fruit trees.

Take the children on a bush walk / hike

Organise my workspace and then tidy it once a month

Try Zumba at least 5 times

Write and post (snail mail) 10 letters to people

Have a Chocolate free week

Cut back on caffeine. Try to get down to 4 a day (any caffeinated beverage)

Participate in National Novel Writing Month (November)

Go Camping for at least 2 nights

Learn to cook an Indian meal from scratch (no jars allowed)

Restart our worm farm

Finish my course at Tafe

Try to be houseproud and actually make the house visitor friendly

Have a BBQ at home

Have a dinner party

Have someone / people over for coffee 5 times

Menu plan at least a week worth of dinners and stick to it

Change readers at school once a week for a term

Call my family interstate at least once a month

Have a games afternoon / night with the family every few months

Go out with my husband on a date 5 times

Volunteer somewhere once a month for 6 months (not necessarily consecutive)

Clean out my clothes and get rid of things I will never wear again

Start the Couch to 5 km run thing.

Complete the Couch to 5 km run thing.

Watch a Monty Python film in its entirety.

Have a LOTR fest and watch all three movies in a weekend.

Donate 100,000 grains of rice on freerice.com

Re-learn to touchtype

Tabitha…

Yesterday when I was mentioned that I had forgotten Stacey when passing on the You are my sunshine Award I was also remiss in not mentioning Tabitha!  She is from Probably Tabitha which used to be heading the the right direction. Tabitha is like Stacey and comments on the comments she receives.

So the You are my Sunshine Award also goes to you.

You are my Sunshine Award again!!!

Guess What? I have been lucky enough to have received the You are My Sunshine Supportive commenter Award again. Rinnez from from Rinniez has bestowed it on me and it is the first award she has ever received.  So go and check her out.  I think that she along with many others might inspire me to start my own 101 in 1001 / Day Zero List.

Now I did pass this on a few days ago but was totally remiss in not mentioning Stacey from Say Something Stacey.  Stacey is a very supportive commenter and replies to each comment on her own blog individually!  Now that’s sharing the blog lurve around.

So Stacey, I give you the award.

 

I would also like to give an honourable mention my 17 followers.  Thanks for being there.  Your support is appreciated.

Best Restaurant moment

Today’s best post is about Best Restaurant moment.

Our family doesn't really go out to restaurants unless you count McDonalds.  Okay, we do have a restaurant (which doesn't have a drive through attached) where we have eaten for the last 13 plus years but that is not the setting for  today’s best restaurant moment.  Oh and Best in this case really means memorable, okay?

Once upon a time there was a guy and a girl.  They were together for quite a while (okay really only 8 months) and eventually they went out on a date to a real restaurant.  You know the kind where you actually dress up instead of wearing jeans and they have tablecloths? There may have even been candles although it may have just been dim lighting or a fading memory.

It was a French Restaurant, which for some reason meant the food was quite expensive, served on large white plates and there was hardly any of it.  The plates were almost empty. And the service was slow. Very, very slow. It was very bizarre but it may also explain why the restaurant appeared to close not long after.

We ate dinner and I have no idea what it was.  Then we ordered desert and coffee.  Now they specifically asked us did we want the coffee with the dessert to which we had said yes!  For some reason getting coffee with desert was interpreted as give them desert and bring them coffee when you feel like it.  Which in this case turned out to be 45 minutes after the desert arrived.

So our enjoyable night out in a real restaurant with real tablecloth that we had specifically dressed up for turned into this long drawn out affair.  To make matters more interesting some time between ordering and getting dessert (which was also a very long time) Mr E. proposed.

It went something like this:

Mr E. grabbed my hand and said something along the lines of: “E., would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” Romantic, right? He had a ring there and everything.

My response: “I think I’m going to throw up!”

Yes, I truly said that. Certainly not the response he was expecting.  No, I wasn't sick, and it wasn't food poisoning.

I did eventually say Yes. I remember holding hands and kissing and  thankfully NOT throwing up. Despite my first response to his question he still wanted to marry me and so, as they say, the rest is history.

You are My Sunshine Award

I was thrilled to be given this new award from Melissa at Suger Coat it.  She made it to acknowledge those that have a blog and spend endless hours ensuring that other blogger's get feedback on their blogs by leaving comments, adding themselves as a follower or dropping by just to let you know there are people out there.

Isn’t it pretty?  I love the bright, happy feeling I get when I look at it.  And even better it was only given for the first time ever yesterday 3 January 2010 (that feels weird to type!) and I have received it twice and funnily enough both times from Melissa!

Melissa from The Things I'd Tell You also gave me this award.  And considering how many followers she has (129 right now) and lovely comments she gets, I am over the moon with this being passed to me by her as well.

Now to pass it on to those who as Melissa (Suger said) spend endless hours ensuring that other blogger's get feedback on their blogs by leaving comments, adding themselves as a follower or dropping by just to let you know there are people out there.

Firstly I need to pass the award back to Melissa and Melissa. They both deserve it.

Next Clarissa.  She wanders over from Limpets and Penguins often and I like reading her comments.

DarNonymous from Three Little Birds. Because even though she is on her honeymoon she has still dropped by to visit and comment.  Now that is commitment to the blogosphere!

And lastly but definitely not leastly (is that even a word?). Anella who posts gorgeous photos among other things at Things I say and Pictures I take.

Once again, thanks to Melissa and Melissa and to everyone else who drops by, follows this blog and those people who comment.  It’s all very much appreciated!

Mrs Clumsy – Best injury / incident

I went out to have coffee with a friend this morning.  Unfortunately when I picked up her coffee to pass it to her I spilt it over her.  Yep, I managed to pour half a latte all over my friends lap. Oh, ****!

Thankfully it wasn't hot, hot and she didn’t get burnt. But gee I felt like an idiot!  But it did just reinforce how clumsy I actually am. So for today’s best post I am moving away from the list and going on to the best injury / injury causing incident.  Okay maybe it should be worst but best works for me.

Picture this:

Afternoon, engagement party, in a lovely backyard, 100’s of people (well so it seemed – but people were flowing in and out so it was quite hard to tell).  Things were going well, I was taking food around, mingling, chatting etc. Then for some reason I decided to pick up Girl Child and carry her like a baby.  She was 4 and a big 4 at that.  She is taller than average and quite solid.  I picked her up and carried her slung across my body, head on one side and legs the other. First mistake.

Second mistake was stepping down 20 or 30 cm to the next level of grass. I still have no idea how it happened, I had had no alcohol to drink and I put it down to the fact I am clumsy plus I was holding extra 20 plus kilos. I step down and roll my ankle, then somehow roll my other ankle and manage to flash my underwear at my cousins fiancée's sister and her friends.

Excellent!  Mortification time.  I did roll to protect Girl Child and she was fine just scared.  I, on the other hand could not walk.  After laying there for a while (thankfully with my dress back down where it belonged) with ice I manage to get up.

It was a long drive back home that evening. 3.5 hours with ankles swelling and throbbing.  It turns out that while I didn’t break anything I did manage to twist both ankles in both directions.

The day after                     Five days later

   

And the bruising was impressive.  you can see some on the 5 days later photo but it was not as impressive as the other foot:

So the upshot was extreme embarrassment on the day and 6 months of physio.

That my friends was the BEST(or possibly worst) Injury / incident in my recent past. 

Best Trip - Day 2 NoBloPoMo Jan 2010

Well it’s Day 2 and I’m blogging and it is only afternoon.  Must mean I”m off to good start.

As I’ve stolen / borrowed / been inspired by the Gwen Bell list of things I wasn't sure if I should blog on the best Trip of 2009 or ever. So I had thought I would write about both but as I’m not sure what is the best trip ever I thought I would start with the best trip of 2009 and see if or when I run out of steam / time / words.

Best Trip of 2009.

Easy to choose this one.  It was our early Christmas with my extended family on 19 Dec 09. I have already blogged about it here.

So why do I consider it to be the best trip of 2009?

Well first off we (as a family) don’t actually do many trips and this one was nice.  The kids and I do go away more than we go as a family mostly because there are school holidays that need to be survived filled with activities, Mr E. doesn’t like leaving his broadband is busy and we have pets which will need to be kennelled and looked after.

Plus it feels as though I am now relating to my family on an adult level, which is great. And I am getting so much better at the whole hug thing.  Very much needed as I have spent most of my life hating to be touched. Of course - Mr E., Boy Child and Girl Child were the exception to that.

The children all play nicely together.

And my extended family has not yet fed me something with Gluten in it.  As a Coeliac of 14.5 years that is very impressive given how often my parents managed to poison me with gluten. 

So that is why it was the best trip… oh and maybe because Mr E. needed to get back home for work so we actually only stayed away for 1 night and Boy Child can cope with that amount of time at my grandmothers.  And this meant there were no meltdowns!

NaBloPoMo Jan 2010

I received an email about NaBloPoMo for January 2010.  The theme is Best but you don’t have to blog using the theme if you don’t want to. 

So I considered this for a few days and then thought this will be easy.  After all lot of people posted about Best for their December and 2009 Wrap Ups.

Which brings me to Yes I signed up.  So here is the new badge:

I hope no one considers it cheating if I borrow some of the Gwen Bell's Best 09 prompts which were:

1 Trip
2 Restaurant moment
3 Article
4 Book
5 Night out
6 Workshop or conference
7 Blog find of the year
8 Moment of peace
9 Challenge
10 Album of the year
11 The best place
12 New food
13  Change to the place you live
14 Rush
15 Best packaging
16 Tea of the year
17 Word or phrase
18 Shop
19 Car ride
20 New person
21 Project
22 Startup
23 Web tool
24 Learning experience
25 Gift
26 Insight or aha! moment
27 Social web moment
28 Stationery
29 Laugh
30 Ad
31 Resolution

I’m not sure I will use all of these but i think I will need the help and inspiration.

Wish me luck.  I’ll be needing lots of it!