Dances to the beet of her own drum

I have moved my blog!!

2007-12-10T22:23:00.000+11:00

I do apologise for any inconvienience groovers, but I have moved over to wordpress

http://dancestothebeetofherowndrum.wordpress.com/

Come have a sticky beak and bear with me while I get things set up over there.

Christmas Wishes

2007-12-10T20:36:00.000+11:00

So I Don't LOOK Like I've Had A Hysterectomy Don't I?

2007-12-08T12:46:00.001+11:00

People are strange.

Yesterday when I got to the assembly hall at my kids school, I was greeted by an acquaintance who says to me "oh A was going to ring to see how you were going but here you are! How are you?" I tell her I'm pretty good. She asks me did I have a D & C or something and I tell her no, that I'd had a hysterectomy. She gasped and told me I didn't look like I'd had a hysterectomy and asked if I was now popping little white pills.

I was a little gobsmacked. I dunno what pills she thinks I should be popping, but the only thing I'm taking these days is panadol occasionally.

And exactly what is a post hysterectomy woman supposed to look like anyhow??

Was I meant to grow horns? Was I meant to get a tattoo for my forehead announcing that I can no longer reproduce? Or was I meant to suddenly shrivel up like an old crone, start wearing old lady dresses and develop a cackle in my voice?

I'm stuffed if I know!

Perhaps it was just the fact that I was there at all. Another g/f did tell me that she thought I'd be in bed resting still and was quite surprised when I explained that I'm merely uncomfortable, but not in pain and am feeling quite well.

I never was very good at languishing around in bed. Hell. It's not like I did anything. I don't see what the difference is between sitting around at home or sitting in a hall. And I'd really like to know when taking things easy turned into not leaving the house?

Was Anyone Missing The Family Drama's?

2007-12-07T23:28:00.000+11:00

So the assembly I was meant to be going to............ mum rang me only 1/2 an hour beforehand to tell me she couldn't take me as she was too sick. If she's sick she's sick but I wish she'd give me more notice when she does this. She knew she was sick in the morning. Even an hours notice is better than half an hour.

Ended up getting there in the end, in the middle of a torrential downpour that left me dripping wet from head to toe, despite my umbrella, by the time I got to the hall door lol I will admit that I'm not quite ready to be driving myself around. Driving itself was fine, parking was a bitch.

Then when I get home some strange chick is ringing me on behalf of the skank whore ex sis in law, who is looking for mum to mind her kids while she goes down to the police station, yet again, over the scummy druggo b/f. As if I give a shit what "she really needs". I told the chick that mum was sick in bed and not to ring me on the skank's behalf again and that if the skank hadn't screwed my brother over and pissed everyone off then maybe she'd have some support when she "needs it".

Then I ring mum & dad to see if she's feeling any better and poor dad can't find mum let alone figure out whats going on, so when we compare notes we realise that my sister has dragged mum out of bed to go pick up her partner from XYZ (about an hours drive away on country roads) cos he's missed his lift. Meantime they may not get through cos of flooding from the rainfall in our area today. Dad is PISSED OFF that she would do this to mum when she's sick and he's sick of the skank ringing up wanting mum's help every time something goes wrong with her scummy b/f . He's going to do his nut when mum gets home........................

And it had been such a quiet peaceful couple of weeks............ lmao

At least the assembly was nice. CJ was beaming when she received her award. Each teacher gives 4 special end of year merit awards to students from their class. CJ's was for "being a friendly, well mannered member of the class. Applying herself to her work, producing excellent results" and for having an "outstanding approach to school this year."

TJ's class gave a presentation on the meaning of Christmas. It was lovely.

Don't have much today

2007-12-06T23:25:00.000+11:00

Didn't do much today.

But tomorrow........... my darling CJ is getting a special merit award at the K - 10 assembly.

TJ got one of these awards last year.

They are pretty special.

She's very excited.

TJ The Reconcilliation Sheep Terrorist

2007-12-05T18:26:00.000+11:00

TJ is involved in the sacramental programme at our church this year. He is doing his First Reconciliation.

Every week he is given a home sheet with activities on it for him to work through and a sheep for him to colour in and bring back the next week to be placed on a large poster in the church.

The first week's sheep was rainbow coloured.

The second week's sheep was black.

The third week's sheep was covered in cotton wool.

Then we get to the fourth week. By this time TJ is starting to look for new idea's for decorating his sheep............ so he shot it! I'm betting it was the first ever reconciliation sheep with a bullet hole in its side and blood everywhere.

God help the fifth and sixth sheep!

Stitching

2007-12-04T23:53:00.000+11:00

I had my stitches out today. Stung a bit. I was wondering what was going on "down there". It felt (and hubby reckoned it looked) like I just had a loop of fishing line hanging out my belly. The nurse who took the stitches out explained that a loop of fishing line hanging out was pretty much what I had. They had stitched on the inside and left a loop hanging out to enable the stitches to be removed. Interesting. Everything is healing nicely. But my guts feel like they want to fall through my pelvis tonight.

Speaking of stitching, that's what I've been doing today.

I'll be making cushions with the stitchery. I'm doing four small panels for each cushion. TJ decided that he wanted to help me "knit" (time to do some more vocab expansion) and is helping do the Rudolph panel. CJ wants to do the bell panel........ but also wants to make her own cushion to give to Granma so we'll see how far she gets.

Will post more pics as the project continues.

More Earrings

2007-12-03T22:36:00.000+11:00

OK so here are the rest of the earrings I made yesterday.

I also discovered on the camera a pic of the toys the kids bought on Saturday.

The bear belongs to CJ - his name is apparently Christmas boy. The reindeer belongs to TJ - I've already had to sew his nose back on and he is currently awaiting washing as he is covered in soot. Must have been checking out some chimneys.

Someone Stole My Freakin ToDo List!!

2007-12-03T08:57:00.000+11:00

Now how am I meant to remember what I was planning to nag everyone into doing for me??

Bastards!

Hmmmmm

I can see a much bigger notepad..............

Oh and look! I have the rest of the day to fill it up while they are all at school and work and shit.

Bahahahaha!!

But first................... what did I have on the list for me................ is it time for a nap yet?

Making Stuff

2007-12-02T22:02:00.000+11:00

Today I got someone else to pull out some of my craft supplies.

I can't find my camera right at the moment to take pictures of what I've been making today, but I have this pic of an earring and necklace set I made for one of CJ's friends last weekend.

I'm going to be making another set the same, but using blue beads for Lou for a graduation present (her Yr 7 graduation is in the next week or so).

Will post some more piccies of my creations tomorrow after I make my damn weaner kids find my camera!

And The Result Is In..........

2007-12-01T23:25:00.000+11:00

Thought I should update my avid circle of readers on the results of hubby's forray into appliance purchasing earlier.

When I could no longer bear the wait, I rang him. And just in time too. He was looking at a $50 toaster. Who on earth pays $50 for a toaster when you can get one for $12 from Coles? Apparently my hubby.

**shakes head**

So having nipped that in the bud, I told him to find the damn microwaves and describe them to me. He started with a smallish 17L one at $99 and went up the row. We ended up settling on a 25L Sanyo stainless steel microwave for $149 (reduced from $160 thanks to hubby's eagle eye and a price tag mix up), a $12 toaster from Cole's and THANKFULLY when it arrived home the microwave was as user friendly as my old one. Mummy is quite pleased.

The kids immediately bustled into the kitchen to make toast and heat up a freezer meal for lunch! lol

I will never let him leave me at home again to go buy appliances. It was just far too stressful! I don't care if my guts are hanging out on the floor and I have to drag myself across the asphalt by my fingernails to follow him, I AM NOT BEING LEFT AT HOME AT APPLIANCE BUYING TIME AGAIN!

Thank God for mobile phones!!

How Frickin Scary Is This??

2007-12-01T12:57:00.000+11:00

My hubby is, as we speak, down the street buying a new microwave.

Yes. I have allowed him out to forage for groceries and fetch a replacement appliance without supervision!

I'm scared as hell!

I'm seriously hoping he brings back something in the "doesn't-require-a-degree-in-rocket-science-to-use" type range.

Don't get me wrong. My hubby is not a complete imbecile. He just doesn't think the same way I do. He'll be fine with the groceries (for the most part), but the appliance? He probably will be thinking more about brand, size and how they look instead of brand, size and ease of use.

Take this morning, for instance............. he tried to ring his sister. Her mobile phone was disconnected. He tried her home phone. It too was disconnected. So then he decides that "something" must be very wrong.

Me, I just presume that their ongoing saga with Telstra has led to them not paying their bill and switching over services, something she would tell him when she next popped round for coffee.

Do you see what I mean by thinking differently?

So you can imagine my terror at the idea of him choosing my appliances for me then?

NaBloPoMo

2007-11-30T22:41:00.000+11:00

Nablopomo finished today and I didn't quite manage it.

But I was in hospital for a few days!

Or was madly trying to be organised for being hospital.

Or burning down my house!

I did manage 30 posts for the month though so I feel like that was a reasonable effort towards the goal.

Lightening would be so proud of me!!

2007-11-30T15:58:00.000+11:00

I'm SOOOOO excited!! I'm sitting here reading over our latest electricity bill and its down by a whopping $350!! We will be $100 in credit by the time we get our next bill.

Now. The trick is to keep it low through this quarter when we are using the air con. Sigh.

But still $350!!!

It's so nice to be home

2007-11-30T15:37:00.000+11:00

In my own bed!

Without alarms or bells or lights going off at all hours of the night.

Without nurses poking at me or injecting me in the middle of the night.

Or having full blown conversations with me then expecting me to pop right back to sleep.

I'm going really well. I have not lifted a finger, had a g/f visit for lunch and have caught up on some reading and web surfing from the comfort of my bed and numerous plump pillows.

I've been quite surprised that I am not in more pain. I have only been needing a bit of panadol the past two days for my uncomfortableness. And that's all it is. A feeling of being uncomfortable. I must be really lucky on this occasion methinks.

I'm Home

2007-11-29T22:56:00.000+11:00

I'm home, I'm home!!

Need to get some sleep right now, but will catch you all up tomorrow.

Found It!!

2007-11-26T23:57:00.000+11:00

Was under the bed! lol

Have scoffed down 3 pieces of dark choccy and am now at peace.

Yes.

I am making up shit to post about to make up for my absence later in the week.

But you love me anyway!

Less than 20 minutes

2007-11-26T23:41:00.000+11:00

And I still haven't found the damn chocolate!!!

Thank God for Girlfriends!

2007-11-26T22:40:00.000+11:00

My g/f's keep me sane.

One of the them the day before my op made comment about them ripping my guts out on the slab. That was Anja - always helping me keep things real! lol (ok ok the ripping the guts out bit was mine, but the slab bit was all hers!)

And here is Nikki's ode to my uterus -

U is for unique which is what you are
T is for terrific, I admire you from afar
E is for excellent, our friendship I can't compare
R is for rambunctious, you handle life with flair
U is for understanding, your compassion knows no end
S is for super, I am glad you are my friend

Oh OK, its an ode to me. But it made me giggle and Nikki is a doll.

ooooooo and we mustn't forget the final countdown song that was our email loop theme song for last weekend.

Now if they would just send me chocolate..........................

luv ya's!

(see my lovies - now you girls are stars in bloggity ville lol)

lmao

hmmp

2007-11-26T22:34:00.000+11:00

Rightio then!

Where's the damn chocolate gone??

I only have 1 hour and 25 minutes more that I can eat for and I want chocolate now!!

mwahahahaha

Up Goes The Tree

2007-11-25T23:14:00.000+11:00

No not in flames.

Just up.

As in erected.

In our living room.

Did I mention that I'm talking about the Christmas tree?

TJ loves the tree. This one is quite piddly compared to what we've had in years past, but it will do for this year. We'll get a nice sumptuous one after chrissy when Target discounts them all. lol

TJ has also put together a little 60cm tree that I picked up for $5 after last Christmas. It came complete with lights, tinsel and decorations. It will go on the dining table when we finish cleaning the kitchen/dining room.

If we ever finish cleaning the kitchen/dining room. Sigh.

What A Mess!

2007-11-24T23:58:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I was just feeling daft for having a damn fire in the kitchen.

So today on top of feeling stupid, I also feel guilty. I haven't been able to help cleaning the kitchen up. Every time I stepped foot near it I started coughing. Asthma type coughing. Argh.

I only usually get asthma if I have a bad cold and it goes to my chest. Since I quit smoking a few years back, I only get it a couple of times a year if I'm unlucky, but I had asthma last night after the lungful of crap I inhaled trying to put out the fire. I've never had an asthma attack on the fireground. But then bushfire smoke doesn't contain fumes from chemicals/plastics etc either

Consequently my poor hubby, who has had 3 out of state trips this week and is leaving for another one tomorrow morning, has had to spend the entire day cleaning the kitchen for me. Every wall, every surface, every cupboard has smoke/soot/fire extinguisher powder on or in it.

He hasn't made it up to the ceiling yet and part of the upper walls (our ceiling is 11ft high in places) but when I peeked in for a look a little while ago, he'd cleaned up enough that I was OK. I guess the kids and I will clean out some more of the cupboards tomorrow.

Maybe then I won't feel so damn useless, after I've done something.

Anyone Else Nearly Burn Down Their Home Today?

2007-11-23T21:27:00.000+11:00

have noticed this funny little thing happen to me over the past 6 months. Sometimes if I've been busy (like I have a bit lately), when I sit down quietly for a few minutes I fall asleep. I might only sleep for 15 minutes, but I seriously just can't keep my eyes open. This is important in understanding what happened this afternoon.

I dyed my hair this morning. Then had a shower to rinse it out. Hopped out of the shower and had to wander in the living room to find some clothes, then wandered out to the kitchen thinking a hash brown would hit the spot. I turned on the stove element, put the saucepan with some oil in it on the element, popped a hash brown in and wandered back into the bedroom to get dressed. I got distracted by a phone call. I then found myself sitting for a minute and feeling this wave of tiredness wash over me. Next thing I know the smoke alarm is going off and my kitchen is on fire!

I grab the fire extinguisher and the damn thing jammed so I've grabbed the phone and called 000. Meantime the flames are half way up the frickin wall! I then attempted to smother the flames and remove the saucepan from the heat, but was too late. I ran out of the room when I heard a hissing sound coming from an aerosol can on a shelf above the microwave near the stove. A minute or two later it exploded, punching a whole in the dining room wall and shooting flames everywhere. Sounded and looked quite scary. I've dealt with much bigger fires n the bush, but it's a little different having one in your own kitchen, then having something explode and watching flames shooting out into your laundry.

I ended up with 6 police officers in 3 different cars, 2 fire trucks an ambulance and country energy out the front of the house. The neighbours will have a field day gossiping about this!

There isn't any structural damage, but boy is it a MESS! There would have been no damage, apart from smoke damage, except for the saucepan and stovetop if the can hadn't exploded. And you never know just how many cobwebs you have until they are covered in soot. My whole kitchen/dining is covered in white dry chemical powder. My half burnt microwave and a packet of half burnt napkins are sitting on the front lawn. The burnt saucepan, kitchen scales, recipe books etc are sitting on the back lawn.

I called a g/f to pick me up so I could go somewhere to calm down and make some phonecalls. So we ducked past the school and picked up the kids. CJ hops in the car and says to me "geez you look like you're having a bad hair day mum". I say "honey you have NO idea". My g/f's daughter sniggers from the backseat. Then TJ tells me that they heard sirens during assembly and wonders out loud where they were going. I tells him very calmly "oh they were just going to our house". We spent the rest of the afternoon at my g/f's home with her hubby telling TJ that "my wife is a better cook than your mum cos she hasn't burnt the house down..... yet".

Poor CJ was devastated when we got home and discovered that a painting she had made for me was burnt and the hand decorated glass she was given at her auntie's wedding had been broken when the firemen opened the windows to ventilate the house.

TJ is most concerned that we have two less options for cooking food now that the stove and microwave are fubar. He was most relieved when I reminded him that we still have the electric frying pan and the BBQ. He was also very concerned that our food might have got damaged, but then he remembered that the pantry is on the other side of the kitchen well away from the fire. Boys. Always thinking with their stomachs!

Hubby was just concerned that I saved the kettle. He let out a yowl of protest when I informed him that his cappacino's were ash and the moccona was stuffed. So nice that his priorities are straight.

And so it begins.............

2007-11-21T23:59:00.000+11:00

CJ started thinking about her Christmas wish list today.

I have only myself to blame. Yesterday, I had been skiting to my g/f's how I was going to ask for a triple dose of Johnny and Orlando for Christmas. Then while we were driving past the video store on our way to get pizza, I commented to my kids that Pirates 3 was out on DVD this week. The kids of course went "COOL! We'll have to get that". I stupidly tells them that I'm going to ask Santa for it for Christmas cos I've been a good girl.

That got them thinking.

So today CJ's list stands at

* Pixel chick babysitter ("but I'll have to hide it from my friends")
* Mr Bean's Holiday DVD
* a Ping Pong Table
* a Pool for the backyard (and not a wading pool either!)
* a Basketball Hoop

And they still have over a month to add to their already rapidly expanding lists.

Not Happy Jan!

2007-11-20T20:15:00.000+11:00

CJ was invited to a party on Saturday afternoon and so was her friend H.

H's parents are out of town this w/e so asked me if H could stay with us for the w/e so she could go to the party. This was organised over 2 weeks ago.

Yesterday CJ came home telling me about another invitation that she was meant to be getting today for a second party that is a sleepover party on Saturday. H isn't invited to the second party.

We've told her that she cannot break the existing plan so that she can go to both parties leaving H unable to go to the first one. We told her that it wouldn't be fair to H and that friends did not dump each other if they had a better offer on short notice leaving one in the lurch.

She is NOT happy.

I told her life isn't fair. lol ooooo I'm a mean mummy!

That was this morning.

This afternoon I got meaner.

She came home from school in a FOUL mood having received said second invitation and having spent the day being harassed by her other friends telling her to make H do something else.

This made me quite cranky. I told CJ after half an hour of grumbling, snapping and dirty looks in the supermarket that if her friends were that selfish, then they were not the kind of girls I wanted her hanging around with. After more grumbling and dirty looks I then told her that if she wanted to be cranky at me because HER FRIENDS were selfish and disorganised with not getting invitations out on decent notice, that I could and would cancel her acceptance to the first party and she could stay home for the weekend.

She was all sweetness and light after a mere 5 minutes.

lmao

One Week............

2007-11-20T17:52:00.000+11:00

One week and counting down to my op. I received all my pre-op info from the hospital the other day and have my pre-anaesthetic check tomorrow.

I have done a double grocery shop today so that poor old hubby doesn't have to worry about much else other than perishables next week.

Swimming pool entries have been paid in advance so mum doesn't have to worry about sending change with the kids to school next week.

Hubby FINALLY got my Christmas boxes out so I can start seeing what I've got and start decorating.

Its all systems go really.

Oh, I've tried to invite a few people to my "farewell uterus piss up" on Saturday night, but they seem to think I'm joking............. Might change their minds when I ring them at 7pm on Sat night and slur "WHERE ARE YOU?" lol

Watch This Space

2007-11-19T23:52:00.000+11:00

I have been flitting about socialising (well playing cards till all hours of the night whilst laughing at and confounding drunk people) and trying to organise my shit for numerous things so will get to catch up with you all tomorrow and shall post my little heart out to make up for my absence! lol

Selective Memory

2007-11-15T08:19:00.000+11:00

I am so NOT a morning person! I don't get up till 7:30 on a school morning........ and sometimes I snooze till 7:45.

CJ had to be at school this morning at 6:30 to leave on an excursion to Canberra. When I found out hubby was going to be home this morning I did a little happy dance as I was not going to have to drag my sorry arse out of bed at some God forsaken hour of the morning.

Yeah I know it's only an hour and a half earlier that I would have had to get up. BUT I FIND 7:30 HARD!

Damn hubby forgot didn't he. Damn hubby organised to start work at 6 am this morning didn't he. So I had to get up at 6 am didn't I. He refuses to believe that I told him she had to be there at 6:30. I recounted the whole conversation with him, even told him when we had the discussion. Nope. No memory of it whatsoever.

But........... I refused to get up at 5:30 to take him to work. He had to walk. In the dark. HA!

Hay Burning

2007-11-14T23:39:00.000+11:00

We've been called out to 4 hay shed fires in the space of 5 days.

All those little showers of rain we had last month led to hay being baled damp and now its all igniting and going up in smoke! As if the poor farmers don't already have enough problems with the drought.

*shakes head*

The poor bloke who's place we were called to today had already had one shed go up last Friday. The shed that went up today is next to his wheat field so we are keeping a careful eye on it so that he doesn't also lose his crop.

At least we haven't had anything light up in a national park yet from lightning strikes!

stupid Stupid STOOOOPID Mummy!

2007-11-13T22:29:00.000+11:00

A friend of mine got her Chrisco delivery on the weekend. She doesn't drink coke and is allergic to cheese so bought some of the things he wasn't going to use around to our place for the kids.

Included in the goodies were two coke 6 packs. One pack regular, one pack diet.

We had a gaggle of kids around on Sunday so let them have some of the cans. TJ was allowed ONE can of diet coke. I think he snuck more than that.

How do I know he snuck more than he was allowed? COS THE DAMN KID IS BOUNCING OFF MY WALLS!

*sighs*

He was squirming so much though his piano lesson that I was waiting for him to fall off the stool. Five minutes in the car this morning on the way to school made my head want to explode. And shopping this afternoon............... I shoulda taken a leash to attach to his shorts and binded his hands!

And now I'm going to have to detox him at the worst time of the year for doing so.

*longer more dramatic sighs*

Should never have allowed even a little coke. Stupid, Stupid STOOOOPID mummy!

*gets out the elimination diet list*

Menu Plan Monday

2007-11-12T11:37:00.000+11:00

Monday - Bacon and Eggs

Tuesday - Chicken Schnitzel Burgers

Wednesday - BBQ'd sausages and vege's (zuchinni, carrot, new potatoes)

Thursday - Chicken Salad

Friday - Rissoles, vege's and potatoe wedges

Saturday - Steak with pasta and vege's

Sunday - BBQ with salad

Nothing exciting this week - just a week full of quick and easy meals. I'll be also making up shepards pies and some pasta dishes to go in the freezer for easy meals when recovering from my op.

Find more menu ideas at Laura's

The Water Fight

2007-11-11T21:58:00.000+11:00

I ended up with four giggly preteen girls at my house today. They decided to have a water fight. hehehe. Hubby was in a playful mood. hehehe. His sister was here and up for some mischief too........

So they stole some water bombs, filled them up and hid behind the water tank to ambush the little girls................ well I think you can imagine the resulting screaming that happened.......... but did it stop there?

NOOOOOO

Having run out of water bombs they then went and found buckets to give the girls a proper soaking! Then the girls did something really really silly............ the got on the trampoline. We have a 3 metre round trampoline with a safety net on it. They were sitting ducks for what was to come................... 4 buckets and the hose! They screamed so loud they scared the dog!!

Good thing CJ has lots of cl0thes - those girls were SATURATED!! And the big kids? Barely a splash on them. LOL

(disclaimer - only undrinkable tank water was used in the arming of soldiers in this battle skirmish)

The Wish List

2007-11-10T23:31:00.000+11:00

It's nearly that time of year when I put together my "wish list".

My hubby is a hit and miss gift giver. Sometimes he gets it right, sometimes he's WAYYYYYYYY off base. he's usually not to bad with practical stuff (like a new electric frying pan) but is hopeless at luxuries (like perfume) My hubby and I know each other quite well, but we have different interests. For example, I'm a reader, he's not. So he could tell you that I read a lot, but probably not what I read. Or when it comes to candles, soap or perfume he could tell you that I'm sensitive to some scents, but can never quite remember which ones. They aren't the kind of details he naturally pays attention to - it's not part of his makeup.

Now it has become obvious to me, after many years off banging my head against the brick wall in frustration, that he and I think differently. I cannot reasonably expect him to "figure out" what would make me smile or we both end up frustrated and disappointed. Me, because I was too stubborn to admit that it was OK that he needs some help and him because he'd gotten it wrong again. So now I make him a list of things that I would like.

A few years ago I started writing my hubby a list. I know some people will say "but if I have to tell him its not a surprise". Well no, but you won't be disappointed either. And it gives them options.

One year, I actually handed him $200, a list and said "go fetch" as I pushed him out the door. He went to the local department store and was laughed at by one of the sales attendants for being so pathetic. BUT. I wrote that list thinking that he'd get 2 or 3 things off it and that I'd still get a surprise as I wouldn't know which things they were.

I got a surprise all right. With some careful choices he managed to stretch the money to get every damn thing on the list!! Including a gorgeous watch that was EXACTLY what I would have picked for myself. Was the best Christmas or Birthday I've ever had!! And he felt GREAT because he knew I was going to like or wanted everything he got.

Now............ where did I put that Regency Jeweller's catalogue........ I might include some pictures with my list this year........... LOL!

And Now We Get To Clean The Carpet..........

2007-11-09T22:39:00.000+11:00

Last night I decided to defrost my upright deep freezer. From experience I know to put some trays down to catch some of the drips, but the thing that catches the most water is to put some towels around the front of the door.

I had forgotten about our floors.

See, this house seems like it was put together rather quickly without much thought. The floors all run toward the middle of the slab. So instead of water puddling around the front of the freezer as it defrosted, it dripped onto the floor, ran behind the fridge, under the wall and out into the middle of my living room!

If I have a flood in the laundry I end up with water all over the toilet floor as well that then runs through to the hallway. And there is no floor drainage in any wet area.

So tomorrow we get to clean the carpet to get rid of the water stain. And I thought I was simply defrosting my freezer!

The Ex Freak Show Part 2578493

2007-11-09T01:40:00.001+11:00

Yeah so I'm a couple of hours late in making this blog entry. Bite me!

My ex mum in law rang tonight to see if there was anything I would like taken up to my daughter. They are going up for a visit next week. Lovely, lovely lady. My ex father in law - lovely lovely fella. It's been 13 years since the split, yet they still buy me Christmas presents, have all my children call them grandma and grandpa and are in regular contact. Can't even begin to imagine how they spawned the demon child they call son, but they did. .

The last time I talked to Satan incarnate things were OK. They are never "good", not even "fine". "OK" is the best it ever gets with him. Apparently I was mistaken. The schizoid prick is on his control freak kick again and I am on the outer. We have an agreement, because of past issues, that my daughter and husband don't speak to each other. Apparently I somehow have proven that I am untrustworthy by letting my husband answer HIS OWN PHONE IN HIS OWN HOME on a WEEKDAY DURING SCHOOL HOURS when my daughter is meant to be at school. Mind you it wasn't my daughter who rang. It was the sanity challenged one wanting a favour. But I broke the agreement. Go figure. Oh that's right. I'M NOT A NUTCASE! NO WONDER IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME!!

So now the paranoid arse bandit won't sign off our new custody/access agreement that he's been stuffing me around with for the past 4 months. He's also fighting with his parents who dared to tell him he wasn't being fair. They don't know if they are even going to get to see her when they go up but they are going to try.

My chances of getting to see my girl over the Christmas hol's are getting slim. I haven't seen her since January. And he wonders why I resent him.

I want to see my baby.

Time to see if I have any rabbits left in my hat.

I hope the manipulative, lunatic scumbag zealot gets hit by a meteor.

A freakin' big one.

Would serve him right.

Letter From Lou

2007-11-07T23:01:00.001+11:00

My Lou wrote us a letter!!

Without being asked to!!!

This is HUGE!!

She likes to get letters. She likes to get parcels. She likes to get emails. But she isn't very good at reciprocating in kind. I may get one email for every ten I send her for example.

It was quite interesting too. She needs her little sister's advice on making friends.

My girl's don't only look different. One has straight blonde hair, the other curly dark hair. They are as different as chalk and cheese in everything they think and do. Lou is a bit of a loner who would love to be everyone's friend, but has great difficulty in making or being a friend. CJ is a social queen. She has always been accepted by any and all, and just knows how to make other people feel at ease. Unfortunately what is natural instinct for CJ goes against natural instinct for Lou.

I hate seeing my girl so unsure of herself. We always knew that her teenage years would be difficult because of her lack of social skills and her inability to read people. She's just at the start of it though and its already as hard as I imagined. I can only pray it doesn't get worse.

Home Body

2007-11-06T23:57:00.000+11:00

I was chatting with my mum earlier. As we do. These days.

Anyhow, she tells me that my cousin who was meant to be moving from Dubbo to Brisbane, because her husband was offered a job up there a few months ago, is no longer moving. She said, with some surprise, that despite W being a truck driver and used to being away so much that he is really quite a home body and missed his family so much that he couldn't wait for them to move up to Brissie to join him so quit and went home to them.

I dunno why she was surprised. Made perfect sense to me. My hubby drives for a living too. On any given day he could be in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Tamworth, Dubbo, Mildura, Canberra, Coff's Harbour or anywhere in between. He's is usually only away 4 nights a week, though it varies.

Thing is, when he's home, he's home. It can be hard to get him out of the house, so we don't go out much, or go away much. And when he's home he likes us to be home too so we mainly hang around the house doing........ I dunno, just stuff. Just normal, average, everyday stuff. The kids and I do most of our socialising etc through the week.

Some people are surprised by how close hubby and I are. They think because he's away so much that we mustn't have much time for each other or to talk. But we do talk. All the time. I call him every night before I go to bed. We catch up on whats happened through the day and discuss any decisions that need to be made, and just anything else that comes to mind. He always calls me through the day to see how my day is and to let me know when he's back on the road and when he'll be home. He actually gets upset with me if I don't call him to say goodnight. I get upset with him if he doesn't kiss me goodnight every night that he's home.

I think, no I know, that we talk more than a lot of other married couples we know and more often that not we even know whats going on in the other one's head. That can be interesting. lol It also means that we don't usually have hours or days to dance around issues trying to figure out what the other one is thinking or wanting or needing or ticked about and ending up in a big fight in the meantime. We just have to spit it out or suck it up.

I know a lot of couples couldn't live with the added pressure of one partner being absent half the week or more. And I won't sugar coat it. It's not easy. My cousin calls it being a part time widow. And it's what you are. Part time wife, part time single parent and always having to balance the two. I have to be able to cope on my own when he's not home, but also remember to make sure to step back and let him be the husband and father when he's here and we've had to learn to make our time as a family count. But it works for us and I guess that's all that matters.

Menu Plan Monday

2007-11-05T14:51:00.000+11:00

Monday - Sausage Sizzle

Tuesday - FIsh and Chips
Baking - Cinamon Tea Cake

Wednesday - Steak with Carbonara and salad

Thursday - Shepard's Pie
Baking - Pikelets

Friday - Grilled chicken pieces with Sweet potato salad.

Saturday - BBQ at mums - taking meat and beetroot lol
Baking - Chocolate Cake, Date Loaf

Sunday - Home made Hamburgers and oven baked spicy potato wedges

Woohooo - I'm done!! And not last minuted either! lol

Find more menu ideas at Laura's

My hubby the bastard sneak!

2007-11-04T22:32:00.001+11:00

I have yet again caught my darling hubby (sarcastic form) sneaking up on me.

It's a great game you see.

He stalks me. Silently. Stealthily.
Until he is standing somewhere close to me
He then waits for me to notice him at which time I usually scream and have heart palpitations!!

Or if I'm sitting on the bed reading or talking with my *net friends*, he will silently crawl in the door then around the foot of the bed until he can pop up dramatically behind me.

And this is a highly amusing sport to him.

To me? Not so much. Actually not at all. If I wanted to die from fright I would try skydiving or base jumping or swimming with sharks. I am sick to death of having the bejeezus scared out of me on a regular basis. A girl can only take so much fright in her life.

But does it end with a scream?

NOOOOOOOOOOO

He then laughs at me and expects me to act affectionately towards him. Probably thinks he deserves a rewarding pat for his sneaky prowess.

Last thing I want to do after having him make me scream is kiss the daft man. Truth be told I want to throttle him. Repeatedly.

Bastard.

I should hide his teeth

There's A Screwdriver Jammed Into My Door Frame

2007-11-03T22:15:00.000+11:00

There is a screwdriver jammed into the door frame of my bedroom. Hubby has run the coax cable for the radio scanner through our bedroom window, then hooked it above our bedroom door to run out to the living room where he has the scanner on full blast. There was a gap in the door frame so he's stuck the screwdriver into it to hold the coax there. LOL He's such a handy man!

Sigh. I really don't give a crap what the cops are up to tonight! The scanner is useful when we have crews at a fire or other incident so that we can hear whats happening but I hate it when he adds the cop's channels into it. It NEVER SHUTS UP! Its worse than a 3 year old! And I'm not that bigga sticky beak that I need to know all the criminal activities of everyone in town.

I call it "the squawk box". Hubby is HIGHLY offended by that name for his precious toy! I know!! I'll make it a Squawk Box label for it to stick on it while he's away next week. Heehee. That'll get him going!

Out Damn Paperwork!

2007-11-02T23:32:00.000+11:00

I've been sitting here this evening doing paperwork. Brigade activity summaries, member activity summaries, time sheets....... and its driving me nuts! My totals don't balance. ARGH!!!

I give up. I've printed everything out and will go over it tomorrow to figure out where I have stuffed up.

BUT. At least I now have the bones of what I was trying to do. My figures mightn't quite add up yet, but my forms are created and will work once my brain finishes with its frozen moment!

I do finally feel like I'm getting somewhere with setting up the new records system though. Now if I could just wave a magic wand and have someone archive the old brigade records for me I'd be a happy chicky!

Not The Bunnies!!

2007-11-01T23:30:00.000+11:00

My cat has been so lazy today.

"Yes but all cats are lazy." I can hear you saying.

But are all cats so lazy that when being tormented and place into awkward poses all they can do in response is mouth a soundless meow? Or how about knowing that you are in the car and not jumping off it even after you start driving out the driveway lazy?

That's how lazy he was today.

Must have been the rabbit.

Now we normally have our cats inside by the kids bedtime, but last night with sick kids I didn't go looking for them till later. Meantime Coal (hubby's cat) had caught a rabbit. A wild grey one. Not someones pet. You can usually count anywhere from 6 to 20 of the things in our street at night. Sox (my cat) waited until Coal was off guard then stole it from her. Hubby and I were not chasing them chasing each other with the dead rabbit at 11 o'clock at night so went to bed and left them to it. Must have been a very merry chase indeed for him to be this tired today! LOL

SheFinally Did It!

2007-10-31T19:59:00.001+11:00

After nearly 30 years of abuse, my mother in law has finally left my her partner.

On Monday night she refused to sign yet another credit card application so that he would have money to go overseas to meet his Philippino mail order bride. (Not that he'd ever admit that's what she is, but we've SEEN the emails!) He went apeshit. Smashed up the kitchen, threw glasses at her and W and threatened to kill her.

The cops were called and he took off. An AVO has been taken out and the police made him cancel his travel plans. He was meant to be flying out in a fortnights time you see. So, no money, no nookey, trouble with the cops and more tantrums.

All of this culminated yesterday with W (eldest son) organising alternative housing and D (youngest son) organising manpower and trucks to move them with. They were unpacked in the new house by tea time last night leaving him with only a bed, a fridge, one telly and kitchen gear for one.

So he gets home late yesterday afternoon, finds the house cleaned out and rings her to say "I'm sorry, I don't want you to leave, I didn't mean for any of this to happen, I just wanted the children gone" He wants her to kick out her two children who are at home and not have any contact with the 3 that aren't. Fair enough to kick the two out of home on the surface, they are adults after all....... but this isn't about them sponging, this is about him being terrified that one of the no longer intimidated by him children will start to influence her away from under his control.

This may be it. I'm hoping this is it. I'm praying this is it. But at the same time I have to advise hubby and his siblings to be cautious too. They are desperate for their mother to get away from their stepfather/father, but are looking at this only through the eyes of the child of a battered woman. They don't understand why she stayed so long. They don't understand why she was so desperate to hang onto her house. They don't understand that after having her identity slowly but surely stripped from her that house is the only solid thing left that defines her. They don't understand that she has been manipulated by this man for nearly 30 years and is still vulnerable to him. They don't understand that battered women often go back and sometimes need a few trial runs before they actually go and stay gone. They don't understand that they can't make decisions for her right now, no matter how screwed up her thinking because until she owns the final decision to leave that it will never really be over.

I wouldn't wish what I went through with my ex on my worst enemy, but ........... how do I put this?......... if some good is to come from the hell I went through, I'm glad it is this, that I can support my husband through this and hopefully help him and his siblings understand a little of what their mother is going through.

Ugh!

2007-10-31T15:38:00.000+11:00

My pelvis finally decided to unlock and I now have movement. And not a moment too bloody soon either. I shuffled into the kitchen late last night to get a drink only to discover that my kitchen is trashed!! There are bowls and saucepans sitting out from SATURDAY! My nice pretty water glasses are smashed as things have just been dumped in the sink on top of them and I won't even try to guess what all the food was clogging up the sink. Apparently we only scrape plates in this house if I am actually watching!! I was ropeable! Will still need to rest up and be careful for a few days, but the pain is GREATLY reduced already and I seriously need to be able to do some bits and pieces around here.

I also had to go to the doctor's to get some scripts refilled today. Turned out it was quite lucky cos I had CJ up till 4 this morning with a fever, headache and sore throat. Gave me a bit of a fright. She hasn't been that sick since she was a tot. The doc confirmed my guess, just a virus, not much to be done except paracetamol and rest. We had just made it out of the chemist from replenishing our supplies when TJ got flushed and grumpy. He was home from school too as he had a headache last night and I thought a day at home might help him kick whatever was making him off. Looks like he's got the same bug.

So......... we made one last pit stop at Woolies for lemonade and a new dvd, and the kids are now both settled in the living room watching 'The Rise Of The Silver Surfer'.

I'm hoping that they might have a nap. I could sure use one!

So I'm Lying In Bed This Morning And.........

2007-10-30T22:39:00.000+11:00

hubby gets up and wanders out the back to have a ciggie then checks on TJ getting ready for school (yes wearing my dressing gown) when CJ, who is not feeling well, comes into the room, jumps in hubby's side of the bed and snuggles in for the morning.

Needless to say hubby was less than impressed. I told him that he'd obviously forgotten the 15 minute rule - if you are out of bed for more than 15 minutes you are up and forfeit all bed rights.

So he starts mucking around walking in and out of the bedroom growling at the bednapper daughter. At one stage he comes running in the with insect spray yelling about a cockroach being in the bed. I tell him its a pink cockroach in its dressing gown. She informs me that she's a breast cancer cockroach!

He give up after that! LMAO

TJ's Messy Eggs

2007-10-29T23:24:00.001+11:00

TJ decided tonight that he wanted his eggs "messy". In TJ's language that means scrambled.

I explained to him that he had to simply crack two eggs into the frying pan, then keep stirring them while they cooked. He asked if he then had to put them in a bowl to "smoosh them up" . I explained that no, the stirring while cooking would do that for him. So off he goes to cook his eggs under his sisters supervision.

Except that he wouldn't let her supervise! So every couple of minutes he was in and out of my bedroom (still stuck) asking me were his eggs cooked enough yet. Mind you he was bringing the frying pan, the egg flip and the egg rings with him every trip. Not sure why we needed the egg rings, but they make great bracelets!

Hubby has not long gotten home and asked me about the mess in the frying pan. Quite frankly, I told him, I'm surprised there isn't egg from one end of the house to the other!

Menu Plan Monday

2007-10-29T19:10:00.001+11:00

It's that time of the week again......... sigh..........

No I can do this. I. Can. Do. My. Menu. Plan.

lol

Seriously

Monday - Eggs on Toast

Tuesday - Hawaiian Pizza!
Baking - pikelets

Wednesday - Shepard's Pie and Salad

Thursday - Steak & sweet potato salad
Baking - Cinamon Tea Cake

Friday - Fish and Chips

Saturday - Snags and Mash with veges
Baking - Chocolate Slice

Sunday - Rissoles, potato wedges and veges

Cinamon Tea Cake

60g Butter or Margarine
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Essence
1/2 Cup Castor Sugar
1 Cup of Self Raising Flour
1/3 cup of Milk
1 Egg
1 teaspoon melted butter
Cinamon Sugar to taste

Soften butter/margarine and beat into castor sugar. Add vanilla essence and egg and beat well. Alternate adding portions of milk and flour, beat until smooth. Pour into small round cake tin or loaf tin and bake in moderate oven for 25 - 30 minutes.

After turning out from tin, brush melted butter across top of cake and sprinkle with cinamon sugar. Let cool and enjoy!

Head over to Laura's for more menu planning inspiration!

The Sleepover!

2007-10-27T23:06:00.000+10:00

God have mercy on my soul......... I have 5 giggling gooses of girls gallivanting around my backyard in boxers and singlets with purple and pink glow stick glasses on their faces!

They have stuffed themselves on chips, lollies, sponge cake with jam & cream filling, pikelets, more lollies, hotdogs and hot chips. TJ long ago hit overload as was convinced to go to bed before he had a meltdown. Hubby has been intermittently turning the back lights off and scaring the beejezus out of the girls for his own amusement.

I decided that while I couldn't exactly do much being stuck in bed that I would make each one a pair of earrings as a take home treat. Of course two of them had to pick out their own designs which has taken the better part of an hour lol These are some of the earrings I made for the girls.

Oh and I heard the most interesting version of "These Boots are made For Walking" the girls were singing it as "these boobs were made for bouncin' and that's just what they'll do, one of these days these boobs are going to bounce all over you" It was pretty much at that point that I decided that perhaps being stuck in bed for the duration of the party wasn't such a bad thing after all!

Umahhh!

2007-10-26T22:45:00.000+10:00

Apparently I've done the norti thing and mentioned the "c" word........ Christmas! lol.

I must admit though to freakin myself out a little last night. I was sitting here thinking "well its CJ's b/day so its only 8 weeks till Christmas" then I thought "oh shit! I'm getting operated on in 4 weeks so need to be ready WAYYYYYY early"

I've taken stock today and its not as bad as I first thought.

All of hubby's and the kids gifts are either ordered through Chrisco/Castle or on layby. I only have one niece, one nephew and parents left to acquire gifts for. One set of grandparents disapprove of us spending money on them and the kids are capable (with minimum supervision) of making chocolates and I can give CJ a small embroidered banner to make without much difficulty. The two sets of grandparents on hubby's side only ever get photo's from us so I just have to pick some and get nice prints made up. My parents........ well......... I'll think of something I"m sure! lol A voucher from the local second hand book shop for my dad and something crafty for mum. As long as I've figured out what I'm making before my op, I'll be able to get it done while I"m resting up after.

The tree we usually put up the first weekend in December. Given that my op is a few days before we'll just put it up a week early. I'm also going to drag out my boxes of stuff so I can figure out where I want things to go. I figure that sitting in bed giving orders to others about where I want things still counts as resting! lol

I just need to make a plan so that all the big jobs are taken care of before my op or by someone else. As long as I get some kind of plan together I think it should all be pretty smoothly.

Oh Crap!

2007-10-25T23:33:00.000+10:00

IT IS ONLY TWO MONTHS TO CHRISTMAS!!

CRAP!!!

I need to get organised. Double Crap!

Time to take inventory and make some lists

CJ's the Birthday Girl

2007-10-25T23:16:00.000+10:00

Its your birthday, its your birthday and we want to say, many happy, many happy, returns of the day.

Well that's the birthday sone they sing at school.

I had to laugh, CJ came complaining that some of the boys in her class were cranky at her for not bringing in birthday cake to share.... I would've thought they'd be getting a bit past that by their age! lol 10 & 11 year old boys are funny creatures

Part of her present was a Pandora's Charm Bracelet. She REALLY likes it. I'm so pleased! Now if I can just con DHubby (non affectionate form today) into buying one for me for Christmas I'll be a happy chicky!

We had a pretty good afternoon despite my being sore and laid up again. Mud cake makes everything better. I'm managing to move a little today, so we aren't postponing her party. We will be doing easy party food like party pies, sausage rolls, cocktail frankfurts etc though to keep it simple and easy. She is having 4 friends for a sleepover in a tent in the backyard. I figure if they are outside there is less chance of my hearing them giggling all night! lol

Menu Plan Monday on Wednesday

2007-10-24T22:17:00.000+10:00

Yeah yeah, I know its not Monday and this should've been posted days ago! Bite me!

Monday - Spag Bol

Tuesday - Snags and homemade chips

Wednesday - Roast Chook and vege

Thursday - Snags and something or other

Friday - Rissoles and Vege

Saturday - Party food

Sunday - More Rissoles and vege

Dunno what I did to myself the other day, but I'm back in bed again. Sigh. AND to add insult to injury my shirt slipped up giving me too much heat from the hot water bottle so now I have blisters as well.

Last night about midnight, I was hoping to be able to get myself a glass of freakin' water and ended up stuck in the kitchen, not able to get back to bed, so had to call out to CJ to come help me. Poor girl must've been keeping an ear out for me cos she was there in two seconds, helped me back to bed, reheated my hot pack, got me a glass of cold water, tucked me in and went back to bed. She had bags the size of tasmania under her eyes this morning, so stayed home from school and bummed around with me watching dvd's all day. This child is a legend! She absolutely rocks!

S0 this weeks menu is all stuff that the kids can cook themselves if need be. I just hope I'm back on my feet by sat for CJ's party, but if I'm not, we have a plan B to have it next w/e instead and she's not upset at the idea at all. God luv her!

Gosh Oprah has some Stooooooooopid Guests!

2007-10-22T22:52:00.000+10:00

I think I over did things. I'm sore from my neck to my knees. Doesn't feel like I've thrown anything out, just sore muscles. Really REALLY sore.

So as a result I'm lounging around in bed today watching telly. Jenny McCarthy is on Oprah. She says that kids with autism can recover. Huh? thinks I. Recover she says. Just like someone in a bus crash recovers. She then goes on to explain that autism is a result of vaccination shots. Way to go Oprah! Way to convince millions of viewers that the parents of autistic children haven't bothered to rescue then and "bring them out" AND that vaccinations cause autism. I suppose the 'peace from the divine' during her son's cardiac arrest should have set off some warning bells. I don't know an awful lot about autism, but even I could see that this woman is a complete nutter.

She was talking about giving "hope" to parents of autistic children. All I saw was her giving the majority of them a slap in the face and opening the door for more crackpot theories

Tit for Tat

2007-10-21T22:20:00.000+10:00

So the other day I'm on the phone to the zone office with L our admin person. She was having one of "those" days and accidentally called me by the resigning secretary's name - P. I had a chuckle to myself about how frazzled L was, but didn't think anything more of it......... until the captain starts calling me P instead of Bettina.

Finally when I get him to explain why, it turns out that L was talking to him later in the day and was worried that she may have offended me by calling me the wrong name. The fella's thought this was a great joke. They started calling me "P" every time they talked to me after that. Then it became "P2" in honour of my status as the second secretary.

But I got the last laugh. They didn't think it was quite as funny when I started calling them all by the names of the old executive members!
mwahahahaha!

Are We There Yet?

2007-10-20T21:44:00.000+10:00

We were all sitting around at the back of the station tonight watching our various spawn cook tea on the BBQ, when the ex captain shows up to have a sticky beak. He calls the captain over to have a "private chat" and expresses some concern that other members are still angry at him and holding a grudge.

We've only had one training night since reforming last week and he's already come to that conclusion? I could understand him raising that kind of concern if after a month or so people weren't talking to him and he wasn't being included in brigade activities, but after just one week, one training night and one job in which he was asked to participate, he had decided that some of us are angry and grudgeful? Makes you wonder who's not giving whom a go.

It's a bit of a joke really. The fact is that most of us are quite beyond hurt or angry. The level of ridiculousness has left most just plain old tired. Tired of bullshit and crap. The real issue here is trust and that is something that may take quite some time to rebuild.

The Freakin' Secretary RESIGNED!

2007-10-20T00:00:00.000+10:00

The newly appointed secretary/treasurer of our newly formed brigade only lasted 7 days. On the 8th day she resigned! So the executive held an emergency meeting and decided to appoint a replacement. I found out a few hours later........ AFTER they had confirmed it with the bosses from the zone office.

The phone call went something like this.........

the captain:- "Bettina?"
Me: - " Yes Brian?"
the captain:- "P. has resigned"
Me:- - "oh"
the captain:- "guess what?"
Me: - "what"
the captain:- "you're it"
Me: - "I am?"
the captain:- "yep congratulations"
Me: - "asshole"
the captain:- "bahahahaha"

She hadn't done much except for typing up last week's minutes and checking the PO Box. So, yesterday I had to sort out what the bank needed to open the new brigade account, collect signatures, find minutes, make a new letter head, write letters, close store accounts, open new store accounts, chase the other exec members for more signatures, order enough meat to feed God only knows how many people for 3 days, create new sign on sheets and try to find some contact details for members so we could organise crews. All this while being shit-stirred mercilessly by the fella's.

This morning I spent trying to figure out what office supplies I needed to set up the office how I would like it, and how I was going to file/sort paperwork etc, all without the benefit of being able to see what was in the filing cabinet as the keys had been lost. Three hours, much more shit-stirring and $400 later I have a fully stocked office, the kitchen supplies are replenished and there is enough food in the place to feed a small army. Only then did one of the guys finally break into the filing cabinet for me to discover that I didn't need 1/3 of the stationary I brought. Keys are very handy things. So are bolt cutters.

Its been quite a funny day actually - some executives from the old brigade were 1st class hoarders. We have been finding equipment, supplies and uniforms all over the place in padlocked lockers with no keys, hidden in cupboards, and shoved in boxes. I have a feeling that its going to take us quite a while to get an accurate picture of what exactly is in our station.

I think I'm on top of the secretary side of the job as of this evening, although mid afternoon if one more person had asked me just one more question I would have happily stuffed their head in the filing cabinet and set it alight. At that point I came home for a couple of hours to just sit in the cool quiet, enjoy the chatter of my children and clear my head.

Tomorrow we start to set up our financial record system. Fortunately I have a qualified book keeper on hand to help with that. By far the biggest job is going to be to sort and archive the 13 years worth of paperwork from the old brigade. We have been finding paperwork stashed all over the station too. It will be a bit-by-bit-over-quite-a-few-months job methinks.

But the thing that makes me smile, the thing that I'm really really proud of the past two days............... my washing is done, dry & folded, the dishwasher is packed and the sink is shiny!

Busy Week

2007-10-17T22:55:00.000+10:00

Well its a busy week this week.

It all started Monday night with the first official training night of our new brigade. Has me absolutely perplexed why some people jumped up and down wanting the night changed so they could be there....... it was the same usual suspects in attendance as always. lol

Had some errands to do yesterday and then today have spent the day at the station cleaning and clearing out the stuff from the old brigade. Then another meeting tonight to organise crew for the next few days.

The local Aero club is hosting a fly in this weekend. They are expecting 300 or so planes and 2000 or so people. We are providing fire protection for the event so need a crew on standby at all times as well as needing an extra person or two manning our station as it is the command centre in case of emergency during the event as well as providing the pilots with a place to shower etc during the weekend. So its all hands on deck till Monday when they all go home again. Hopefully some of us will get a flight for our efforts! lol

I was given a mission today. The mission, and I did choose to accept it, was to locate and acquire an adequate supply of toilet paper without actually paying for any! lol I did quite well. I raided the Fire Control Office and came back with 4 commercial size rolls of toilet paper, plus as an added bonus a bag full of RFS wristbands and yo-yo's. I wasn't quite sure how the yo-yo's would be used for wiping our butts, but told the FCO that we'd figure out something! Perhaps we can trade them......... go into the school and tell kids that we'll give them a yo-yo for every roll of dunny paper they steal from home and bring in to us! lmao

I'm quite enjoying myself right now. This is a part of the job that I really really enjoy and after having a break for a few months I'm finding myself quite eager to get back in the swing of things and quite thankful that I can.

Body Declutter

2007-10-16T17:21:00.000+10:00

Last year I got a bit of a shock when after having a pap smear I was called back in for an appointment. I was told that I had an abnormal result. I was told it was a CIN 3. I had surgery within 4 weeks to remove it.

I recovered from that quite well, but started having hormonal problems 6 months later. My cycle got so out of whack that I ended up anaemic and slept this winter away. My husband told me that I'd "gone whacko" and the kids used to hide from me during the worst of the mood swings. When my GP started me on hormones I also had acne the likes of which I had not ever had even during the peak of my adolescent zit production!

So, three months, may tests and quite a few iron tablets later, my gynecologist tells me I have a pseudo poly cystic ovary disorder which means in a nutshell that I'm not ovulating properly and its throwing everything out of whack, including my weight.

Basically I have two options a) a hormone implant that he doesn't feel confident of being able to place because of the awkward position of my uterus and scaring from the operation last year that I would need a general anaesthetic for anyway or b) a hysterectomy which will stop the hormones, control the anaemia, help me lose weight and take my risk of further cancers from "very high" to "practically zero".

Let me see......... I choose.......... tick tock tick tock......... b! So I have 6 weeks to say goodbye to my uterus. I'm thinking of throwing it a farewell party the weekend before my op.......... do you reckon that will count as decluttering body clutter? lol!

Menu Plan Monday

2007-10-15T22:34:00.001+10:00

Monday - tonight we had eggs on toast
Baking - Date Loaf & Honey Rice Bubble Slice

Tuesday - BBQ Chicken, chips + Salad & hot bread rolls

Wednesday - Chicken Pasta Bake (Freezer Meal) + Cabbage & Sweet Potato
Baking - Tea Cake & Cheese Scones

Thursday - Sausages + Cheesy Potatoes & Peas, Corn

Friday - FFY (Fend For Yourself)
Baking - Chocolate Cake & Pikelets

Saturday - Lamb Cutlets + Potato Fritters and Salad

Sunday - Spaghetti Bolognaise

Thought I'd share one of our favourite slice recipes.

Honey Rice Bubble Slice

4 cups of Rice Bubbles
1 cup of Coconut
1 cup of unsalted Peanuts
120 grams Butter or Margarine
4 tblspns Honey
1cup Castor Sugar

Combine Rice Bubbles, Coconut and Peanuts in large mixing bowl.
Gently heat Margarine, Honey and Castor Sugar in a saucepan until melted. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes stirring occasionally (be careful if you don't stir it will bubble over). Poor over dry ingredients and mix through.
Press into slice tin and allow to cool and set. Cut slice and store in an airtight container.
Doesn't usually last long enough in our house to need refrigerating, but does keep well in the fridge.

For more menu plans and recipes visit Laura

I'm Ready!

2007-10-14T22:06:00.000+10:00

Their uniforms are ironed and waiting on the ends of their beds. Their lunches are made and sitting in the fridge. Their shoes are shined. Their bags are packed and waiting near the door.

I am soooooooo very ready for school to go back tomorrow! lol

I love my kids. And I love spending time with them. And I love school holidays. I love the break in routine. I love not having to be anywhere. I love being able to make the day up as we go along.

But today, I am just ready for some "alone time" and tomorrow...... I shall have it!

Sandpaper People

2007-10-13T16:43:00.000+10:00

We all have sandpaper people in our lives. The term I'm using might not be one you are familiar with, but you know who I'm talking about. "Those people". You know? The ones that rough us up a little whenever they open their mouths.

I call them sandpaper people because while they do rough us up a little with their backhanded compliments, poorly worded jokes or inappropriate comments, they also take off some of our rough edges. They teach us to be a little more tolerant, a little more patient and to be a little quicker to overlook careless words that previously would have caused us to explode or at the very least offended us and left us stewing in our own juices.

But I think the worst of it is that even when you do eventually blow up at them they always reason it away. "oh she's just stressed about blah blah and taking it out on me as usual". It's never something they did, they are just the convenient scapegoat for our mood swings. I guess its half true. I do tend to blow up at my sandpaper friend when something else in my life is going crappily, but that doesn't mean that she's not unintentionally insulting the rest of the time, just that I am better equipped to overlook it when everything else is going well.

I still have to wonder sometimes........... how long till she runs out of sand and is just plain old paper? And will that be before or after I try to choke some sense into her with my bare hands?

Day of Sirens

2007-10-12T11:10:00.000+10:00

There are quite a few different sounds that a fire tanker siren can make from long wails to short yelps.............. and my son can imitate them all quiet well.

So well in fact that I have been known to wander into the living room to see what he's watching on the telly that has sirens on it or to turn our scanner up to sticky beak at whats happening around town only to find that it's actually TJ in his bedroom playing out a disaster of epic proportions on the road mat that covers most of his bedroom floor.

There have already been a few disasters this morning. I hope they take a break mid afternoon so I can have a short nap without dimly recognising the sound in my sleep then bolting awake waiting for my pager to go off! Don't laugh. It's happened before!

I keep wondering though............... will he be a fireman or a firetruck when he grows up?

hehe

Drama Thursday

2007-10-11T21:39:00.000+10:00

I'm feeling like I'm a bit of a drama queen at the moment, but I don't mean to be. Honest I don't. Things just seem to be happening around me lately.......... Sigh.

This time it's my own family's turn to exhibit their dysfunctionality.

Today my brother J picked an argument with my mother. When she drove off on him before he'd finished his rant, he decided to follow her home. Luckily that wasn't where she actually went, because he had a little tantrum and trashed the house. God only knows what he would have done had he been able to find her. He then took his rage for a drive around town and caused some havoc elsewhere as well.

My brother is a drug addict. At the moment he's using and at the mercy of his addiction. Most likely a combination of marijuana and amphetamines or possibly heroin. He's also mentally ill. So the drugs transform his normal quirky behaviour, quick temper and secretiveness into full blown conspiracy theories, rages and paranoia. The police were talking about having him scheduled (committed to a mental ward for evaluation) tomorrow if he isn't acting a bit more rationally in the morning. I hope they do. I hope he gets some help this time for his head space and not just his addiction.

The Pantry Terrorist!

2007-10-11T11:29:00.000+10:00

TJ the pantry terrorist in on the rampage!!

The past few days he has eaten

* breakfast - full bowl of cereal
* 2nd breakfast - another full bowl of cereal
* Lunch - a sandwich
* 2nd lunch - another sandwich
* afternoon tea - hoards of bickies and fruit
* late afternoon tea - an apple if he can con one out of me
* dinner - whatever we are having plus seconds
* desert - iceblock or icecream
* supper - bowl of baked beans

He's either having a growth spurt or is actually a hobbit child in disguise!

My fear is this - if he eats like this during a growth spurt at age 8 how on earth will I every manage to keep enough food in the house when he's in his teens???

Perhaps I should change his name to Tomwise Gamgee!

Inaugural Brigade Meeting

2007-10-11T10:20:00.000+10:00

Our inaugural brigade meeting was held last night to open our "new" brigade. It was certainly very interesting indeed. They attempted to fill positions with supposedly neutral people, but didn't have enough so had to balance it out between the warring sides. Two of the neutral people were interesting decisions in that one of them is old friends with one side and the other is despised by that same side. ........ so I guess it all balanced out in the end lmao! It will also be very interesting to see how the new secretary/treasurer manages to do her job next year when she resumes full time uni in Canberra.

Hubby and I are off the hook job wise. I'm quite thankful for that, but he's a bit ticked. Understandably so too. He's more qualified than two blokes who were put in for positions and had tried to stay neutral through the BS earlier this year. Unfortunately I was a prime target and him being my husband, I can understand why they didn't want to put him in. Not fair, but that's life.

Anyhow, I have my gear back, have my pager back, I have permission to upgrade my licence to drive the tankers and apparently hubby will be getting a station key at some stage so we are set to go for the coming fire season which looks like being a doozy!

000

2007-10-10T15:53:00.000+10:00

I've noticed this past week or so on one of the television stations between 11:30 and midnight there are adds encouraging children to ring 000 in an emergency. The characters on the add look like they include a fairy, a superhero, a magician, the kangaroo from the hooley dooleys and some purple weird eared creature from teletubbies or some such strange programme. Its an OK add. I'm sure little kids would like it.

My question however is this............. how many toddlers do they think sit up watching telly at that time of night? Wouldn't the advertising dollars be better spent in the morning during ....... hmmm lets see....... the shows the kids actually watch?

Methinks someone dropped the ball..............

HOLY CRAP - QUICK CATCH ME BEFORE I FAINT!!

2007-10-09T15:03:00.000+10:00

CJ has done it this time!

She actually bloody did it!!

She

She

SHE CLEANED HER FREAKIN ROOM!!!!

Little A's Disaster

2007-10-08T21:16:00.001+10:00

One of the parents from our Little A's club was working at our shed over the weekend putting in tracks for a new roller door when a welding spark hit a high jump mat and ignited. The building and all the athletics gear are pretty much a right off and the club has NO money to replace the lost equipment.

Somehow I don't think that we'll be right to start the season next Thursday let alone host the Zone Championship Carnival the first weekend in December without some kind of mad scramble for funds and equipment over the next few weeks.

What a bit of rotten luck!!

TJ and the Shower

2007-10-08T21:05:00.000+10:00

The past few weeks have seen the rise of a perplexing and frustrating phenomenon. TJ (now 8) has decided that in the interests of keeping his showers quick that he shall turn it on while he undresses, then turn it off while he redresses into his pj's without actually hopping under the water. Apparently if I am not going to allow him enough time to thoroughly soak the bathroom while playing cars for half an hour under the running water then he isn't going to be clean. At all. Ever.

Some nights I have had to send him back to the shower 3 or 4 times before he will finally hop in and actually wash himself. He would be quite happy to forgo showers altogether and pj's and just wear the same clothes all day, then sleep in them at night too for weeks on end I am sure.

Having already used the "if you don't start washing yourself I'll have to bath you like a baby" to no avail I am now unsure of what mother's barb to pull out of my arsenal next. Have no fear though, it will come to me. This is not Miss Lou that I am dealing with - I have so far always come out on top with the other two!

Menu Plan Monday

2007-10-08T16:42:00.000+10:00

Well actually, I did a little more than just menu planning today. I started taking a full inventory of my pantry. I know that Flylady Leanne suggest we have a perpetual pantry list, but I don't think I'm up to being that organised yet. I did however like this idea for organising my pantry from MeckMom! I often buy things I already have because I didn't see it on my shelf or miss something that I needed again because I didn't see it or saw an empty packet and didn't realise I needed it. Not sure how I'm going to organise my inventory list yet, but I'll come up with something over the next few weeks I'm sure.

Anyhow the menu plan for this week is.........

Monday - Chicken Schnitzel with Sweet Potato & Salad

Tuesday - Takeaway

Wednesday - Shepard's Pie (freezer meal x4)

Thursday - Rissoles with Potato & Mixed Greens

Friday - Beer Battered Fish with Chips & Salad

Saturday - Sausages with Mash & Salad

Sunday - Roast Chicken with Roast Veges, Peas & Corn

The freezer meal is one that I can make extra of that will freeze nicely for hubby's meals while on the road through the week.

I also need to include on my shopping list for this week snacks for school for the kids & healthy snacks for me. I really should pick a day to do some baking. I'll have a think about it.

The Predator

2007-10-07T23:22:00.000+10:00

You know that sound that the alien out of Predator makes? The clicking sound? I know how they make that sound. I know this cos my hubby can make that sound with his teeth. Apparently making up things to do with your new teeth is what truckies do when on the road so that when they return home they can drive their families nuts. And I don't mean a little nuts, I mean stark raving loony want to smash his teeth with a hammer nuts!! I sincerely wish that he would go back to picking at his toenails.

I guess my message today, dear friends, is that teeth are for chewing not making sound effects with. You just never know. One day that advice could save your false teeth from a hammer.

Hahahaha

2007-10-07T14:15:00.000+10:00

Just as I was thinking about putting on a dvd while hubby watches the car racing, he comes tearing into the bedroom and flogs off with my dvd player so he can watch a dvd in the living room. (The dvd player from out there shit itself the other day). I told him he was being rude and he took it anyhow.

So then his dvd wouldn't work. He fiddled with it for ten minutes and couldn't get it to play. lmao. So then he brings the dvd player back. I wait 15 minutes put the dvd on and it plays straight away!! lmao

Serves him right for pinching it on me!

Dressing Gowns

2007-10-06T23:25:00.000+10:00

I have got to get hubby his own dressing gown. When its a bit chilly and he wants to go outside for a ciggy he steals my pretty pale blue with stars all over it dressing gown. I wouldn't mind him wearing it except for the ciggy smell and farting in it. Still its nice that he's confident enough in his masculinity to just pinch it and wear it at will. I'd be a tad worried if it was any other item of clothing though! lol

Chocolate Helps!

2007-10-04T17:01:00.000+10:00

I'm sitting listening to the musical (to my ears) sound of TJ vacuuming while teasing the cat and eating some chocolate. Yes, some may say not to tease the cat, but I say if he's in the way of me seeing the monitor or trying to walk on my keyboard or sitting on the mouse then he deserves everything he gets. Besides. It's damn funny!

I've really been craving the chocolate this week - not an uncommon occurrence for me at 'that time of the month'. I've actually eaten 3/4 of a block in the past 4 days which is quite a lot for me. A block can often last me a month or more (providing no one else finds it). Maybe not the healthiest form of self medication, but at least its better than cigarettes right? But damn it all, if it wasn't so choc full of chocolatey goodness that makes me feel better than I wouldn't crave it. So its the chocolates fault you see, not mine................

Can I Go Back To Bed Now?

2007-10-04T11:15:00.000+10:00

Please?? The day has gots to be better if I start it again!!

I woke up with a sore arm (dunno why) and a headache (my sinuses are gunked up again).

Then, I'd only been up for 20 minutes this morning when TJ broke the dvd/set top box. It wouldn't work cos he had it on telly not dvd so he then pressed every button multiple times and seems to have fried it! It was only 6 weeks old!!

Hubby is in Ballarat so can't fix it for me!

The forecast for a cooler day must be off - its already 3 degrees warmer than yesterday. (but at least the damn wind has dropped)

The electrician showed up unannounced while I was in the shower to look at the air con unit which is stuffed only to then hop in his ute and take off without saying a word, so I have no idea whats wrong with it, when he'll be back or when it might be fixed.

Then on top of that my periods (not going to stuff around with phrases like "a friend" - tis no friend of mine!) arrived with a vengance this morning and I feel like crap. I'm just hoping the mood swings don't kick in full force or I really might just kill someone by the end of the day. Which reminds me that I'd better go put that gyno appointment I made 8 weeks ago on the calender.

Battling the Bulge

2007-10-03T22:49:00.000+10:00

hmmmm we got up to 32 degree's today. What the hell happened to spring? Did we "spring" over it straight into summer? AGAIN? Oh well at least the pool is open now so I'll be able to get into some kind of exercise routine again.

Mostly I think due to my recent bout of anaemia leaving me with the sleeping habits of a new born infant, I have put back on 7 of the 10 kilos lost last summer. So starting weight 117 kg. Goal by Christmas to be back at 110kg. Then we'll set a new goal. I was really hoping to be down to the hundred mark by the end of this summer. Guess we'll see how we go.

I'd better start taking my meds again tomorrow. That might help.

Yay Me!!

2007-10-03T16:09:00.001+10:00

I got this weeks grocery shop down to $160 instead of the usual $250! Hubby wasn't terribly impressed with not being able to just chuck anything he spotted into the shopping trolley, but that's the price he's going to have to pay if we are finally going to take control of our finances.

Taking Deep Breaths

2007-10-02T11:07:00.000+10:00

Had a phone call from the ex. He's looking for dates that I received correspondence from his lawyers who buggered us around something shocking with negotiating a new custody/access agreement so that he can write a letter of complaint. Sigh

And because he's complaining he's refusing to pay the final bill. Sigh.

And because he's not paying the final bill his lawyer won't hand over the documents to lodge with the court. Sigh

So I still don't have an agreement in place after months of being harassed over it by both him and his lawyer.

Sigh

And apparently its all my fault because I wanted advice from my own lawyer to stop him from trying to screw me over. Again. Like he's been trying to do for the past 3 years. Which he now point blank denies ever trying to do.

Grrrr

Now where's my axe got to?

What do Cats dream about?

2007-10-01T23:49:00.000+10:00

Anyone who has a dog knows that they dream. Its not uncommon to see a sleeping dog move its legs or even make the occasional yelp while in the throes of doggy sleep but have you ever seen a cat do it?

I first noticed it last week while stuck in bed. I was reading one afternoon when his front legs started moving around. Tonight I'm trying to get settled for sleep and my furboy starts singing. Yes singing. Eyes still shut, still curled in a ball and singing. You know what I'm talking about? That almost musical meowing they do when calling the ladies.

Who knew??

Three Wise Women

2007-10-01T22:27:00.000+10:00

Three Wise Women...

You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise women instead of men, don't you? They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Menu Plan Monday

2007-10-01T21:29:00.000+10:00

So lets see how this menu plan monday thingy goes.

Monday - we ended up having frankfurters, chips and vegie's cos it was quick and easy.

Tuesday - Sausages, potatoe, mixed greens

Wednesday - Spag Bol & Salad for hubby and kids Chicken & salad for me

Thursday - Fish, Potatoe Bake, Cabbage, Carrots

Friday - Home-made hamburgers

Saturday - Stirfry beef & vegies

Sunday - Roast something and vegies.

Decisions, Decisions!

2007-10-01T19:37:00.000+10:00

My fire brigade has always been a place of tension. Always. I've been there 12 years and even it its good times there is an undercurrent of nastiness just waiting to bite. Earlier this year those tensions finally bubbled over and rendered the brigade completely dysfunctional. The end result being a split in the brigade and our zone team manager making the decision to close it down. So the shed was locked up, everyone had to hand their gear in and we weren't meant to be doing anything with the service.

Last month there was a public meeting to discuss forming a new brigade. All members of the previous brigade were invited to apply to join the new one and the zone team will be appointing the executive members instead of holding an election. Any members thinking that they would like to hold an executive position were invited to write application letters as if applying for a job. Unfortunately a few months break was not enough to cool some tempers and loosen some grudges.

I wasn't going to apply for anything. I'd be happy to take on a job if need be, but am not interested in the target for my back that will come with it. I've copped more than my fair share of shit over the past 6 months and was hoping to steer clear of it from here on out. However some of my fellow members asked me to please put in for the secretary/treasurer job as they have little confidence in the only person that they knew of who was putting in for it. I don't want to let them down either and realistically I'm still going to cop shit anyhow so....what to do what to do ...... how to put in an application letter saying "I don't want the job, but I'll do it if I have to cos I was asked to & there aren't that many people to pick from" but without sounding put upon, arrogant or flippant lol

I think I've done it and I think I've made it quite clear why I am applying. I just hope that the powers that be will also step up once the new brigade is formed with the new executive installed and stop letting the ones who make the most noise get away with blue murder!

There is another meeting to formally open the new brigade and announce the new executive next week. It will be interesting I'm sure.

Sitting Pretty

2007-09-30T15:16:00.001+10:00

I'm moving a little easier again today and our bed really needed changing after me lounging and eating in it for a good whack of the week.

Hubby set up a lounge out the back for me to recline on while he stripped the bed and washed the sheets.

While waiting for the sheets to dry he was gardening.

My husband has this strange quirk. He likes me to watch him doing man stuff. He tells me to "sit there and look pretty" while he completes his manly chores. He also likes me to keep up a stream of inconsequential chatter and look at him admiringly from time to time. I often reward him with a cup of strong coffee or better yet a cafe latte and a snack to his unspoken delight.

I'm not sure where this little quirk stems from although I am quite happy to play along. If he's in the mood to be admired, he's not looking for an assistant so I don't have to get my hands dirty.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against dirt, but if work gets done and all I have to do is "sit and be pretty" then I'll take that option. lol

Its funny, I watch my son doing chores and he likes an audience and admiration too .............

Its nice sometimes. To watch the little boy inside my man.

Hubby and his Pillow

2007-09-29T16:13:00.000+10:00

Hubby keeps peeking at me around the door, pulling faces at me and poking his teeth out at me.

In return I am wiping my fingers on his pillow after eating chips, wiping my mouth with it also and using it to mop up hubby's spit after he slobbered on my arm and ran away just cause he could.

He didn't like that. Wonder what else I can do to his pillow.

**insert evil laugh here**

Storage Containers and the Seagull Queen

2007-09-28T22:42:00.000+10:00

Hubby was at Moore Park today. Came home with a plastic storage container that the furniture place are apparently selling now. I have promptly filled it will stuff! lol (the craft stuff that the kids found for me the other day) He didn't quite know what to make of that. I dunno why. If you give a woman a container she naturally finds "stuff" to put in it. And they say we aren't logical!!

My sis in law rang tonight to say that they would be home tomorrow. She was telling me that her hubby challenged her to a fishing contest (cause what else would you do on your honeymoon) and she caught 8 fish to his 5. She said that they had found it strange that not many seagulls were around where they were. As she was releasing one of the fish, it was being still in the water for a moment before attempting to swim off and in swooped a dirty great seagull and snapped it up! The overseas tourists were apparently horrified, so here she is standing on a jetty near a beach in cairns trying to convince a bunch of tourists that the fish was really ok and the seagull was just playing with it. lmao! I told her that she nearly blew her cover as the evil seagull queen!

She was then telling me that her hubby doesn't want to see the video we made of their wedding cos he was a little emotional and teary in it. He wants us to destroy it. I told her to tell him that I've already mentioned his "episode" in my blog for all to see and that I'm putting the video on youtube! mwahahahaha Apparently she's been giving him crap about it all week!

I SO need to get out of this bed and burn some energy before I go completely around the bend and give in to the dark side!!

Lovely Lou

2007-09-27T22:24:00.000+10:00

My eldest daughter Lou was left at home on her own for a few hours this morning while her dad was at work and the step mum was out shopping or something, so she snuck a phone call in from the house phone to ask me to ring her back. Still has a sneaky streak about her! lol

She had me gobsmacked today though. We always knew given her peculiar "quirks" that she would find her teenage years difficult. Her earlier years were difficult enough without also having to contend with raging hormones and the sheer bitchiness of teenage girls. Sure enough she's having a tonne of problems and is one very hurt, angry and confused girl. She has always had problems fitting in with her peers. This morning she says to me "why can't the kids at school be nice to me and try harder because I've got problems?"

How on earth am I meant to tell her that kids will pick on her more because of those problems without crushing any hope she has of one day fitting in? How do I tell her that she just has to try harder when she's already trying so hard?

Sigh. It's not fair that these kids that are so special should find some things so hard.

On the flip side, I was so proud of her. She tried to send me a postcard from Canberra a couple of weeks ago when she was there on school excursion (even though she mixed up the address and I didn't get it) and bought CJ a necklace (and then realised when she got home that she'd accidentally bought a "G" and not a "C"). This was a really good step despite things not going to plan. She's not usually very thoughtful of other people and definitely doesn't like to spend her money on others so I was really really proud of her for thinking of us instead of just herself. I'm going to send her some extra allowance next month so she can replace the necklace with the right initial.

Stuck in bed

2007-09-26T23:28:00.000+10:00

I must have seriously over done things yesterday and I thought I'd taken things rather easy. I couldn't get comfortable last night or stop my leg from aching so didn't get much sleep. Then this morning everyone left for work and school while I was still half asleep. When I woke up, I was having problems just getting myself to the loo, and wasn't going to manage getting into the kitchen at all so had to take some drugs on an empty stomach leaving me feeling quite woozy.

Poor hubby got home at lunch time took one look at me and I burst into tears. I hate days like this. I hate having to rely on other people to take care of me. I hate the role reversal at times where the kids sometimes take care of me. I know I shouldn't feel guilt over this but I do. But mostly I hate succumbing to the urge at times to have a pity party which I did in grand style today.

After the pity party was over however, Hubby and the kids made tea (Shepard's Pie as per the menu plan and it was really good lol), then they stacked and started the dishwasher, put a couple of loads of washing through, picked stuff up off the floor for me to sort through, found some of my crafty projects for me, found me another book to read and loaded my bed with snacks in case I'm not moving much tomorrow either. CJ plied me with soft drinks then switched the aerial on the telly in my bedroom over to the good reception so she could watch telly with me, TJ turned the keyboard up as loud as it could go and played songs for me then sat on my bed to read me a story about diggers and backhoes, hubby went to the chemist to make sure I have plenty of drugs, ate tea in bed with me and and even moved the computer in next to our bed so I can catch up with my online friends and now Sox (my boy cat) is now sitting guard over me. I think he likes School of Rock too! lol

I hope my hip starts to settle down soon - before I go completely stir crazy!

I wonder...........

2007-09-25T21:17:00.000+10:00

There are many things that I wonder about from time to time......... like

I wonder if I smack hubby over the head with a hammer will he finally sit down with me and help me work out a do-able budget?

I wonder how many times I have to tell the kids to close the car door properly before they'll actually do it?

I wonder how some doctors got their medical licenses when they can't read an x-ray?

I wonder how one of our cats can sleep practically on the top of her head with her face smooshed into the doona?

I wonder what the girlfriend of one of hubby's workmates thinks her boyfriend is going to do with over $600 worth of licenced footy gear (clocks, watches, jumpers, mugs etc etc) for Christmas? (I think she went into the shop and lay-byed everything that he didn't already have - honest to goodness how much bronco gear does one fella need?)

I wonder exactly who hubby thinks is coming to a BBQ that we are meant to be hosting this weekend when he won't make a guest list with me or invite anyone himself?

I wonder if Target will have any 1000 thread count sheets left tomorrow for me to lay-by?

I wonder why the spellchecker on this blog thingy doesn't seem to recognise perfectly legitimate words that I use like 'smooshed'?

I wonder why us women are so hard on ourselves? Why we seem to take fiendish delight in putting ourselves down, calling ourselves names and taking decisions that others make about us who don't really know us to heart?

Not Another Monday!

2007-09-24T22:09:00.000+10:00

I am SOOOOOOO ready for school holidays!! I need a break from routine. Oh well, only this week to go.

The kids helped me take inventory of our freezer tonight then we all sat down together and planned this weeks menu. I plan Tuesday to Tuesday (as that's shopping day)

Tuesday - chicken nuggets, chips + celery/carrot sticks
Wednesday - Shepard's Pie
Thursday - Rissoles & baked veges (potatoe, sweet potatoe, carrot) + greens
Friday - Bacon and Eggs night
Saturday - entertaining - having BBQ with salads, potatoe bake and zucchini slice
Sunday - Fish and Chips
Monday - Roast chicken & baked veges + greens

After taking inventory I realised that I don't need to buy meat this week or frozen veges so my shop tomorrow will be pretty basic. Will do shopping list in morning.

Today was hubby's birthday - he told me that he's starting to feel old now that he's hit 34! I just laughed at him. He was heading to Melbourne this afternoon so we are having his birthday tomorrow (if he's home before the kids bedtime) or Wednesday (if he's not)

Oh Happy Day!

2007-09-23T20:29:00.000+10:00

The big day is finally over.

I sat up the front of the church and watched hubby very proudly walk his little sister down the aisle and give her away to a very deserving man.

The bride was radiant! She looked absolutely gorgeous. It was a very lovely ceremony and the reception was great. Plenty of food and drinks, great weather, formalities kept to a bare minimum. A was so happy that her day went smoothly and said that she couldn't have asked for better and had exactly the day that she wanted. She is currently on her way to Canberra to spend the night before flying to QLD in the morning. Her in laws gave them a week in the sunshine state for a wedding gift while they babysit their son and the dog.

I was a bit worried this morning that I wouldn't even be able to get to the church I'd been so sore, but its amazing what enough strong drugs will do for you. I got there OK and managed to do the reading that I was asked to do to.

And to top it all off I won $5! I bet my sis in law $5 a few days back that her mum would show up despite all the drama of the past week and she did! She sneaked into the church at the last minute and sat up the back, then scowled at everyone at the reception, but at least she was there....... and without her sleazebag partner much to everyone's relief!

But......... never in my life have I seen so many tough men blubber! Hubby was struggling to hold back tears as they walked up the aisle, the groom was in tears saying his vows and one of my brother in laws burst into tears when he came up to hubby outside the church to say hello. It was lovely............. but I am going to get MONTHS of stirring out of this! Mwahahahahaaaa

Hubby and his sister A

Back - Groom/Bro in law J, Bride/Sis in law A, Bro in law W, Hubby

Front - Sis in law K, TJ, Me and CJ

Still not sure what on earth possessed K to wear white to her sister's wedding...... a few of the guests who didn't know who she was thought she must have been another bride for another wedding taking place after this one LOL

Why God Made Mums

2007-09-21T23:30:00.000+10:00

Why God made Mums

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions!!

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the sticky tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring
3. God made my Mum just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother & not some other Mum?
1. We're related
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mums like me.

What kind of little girl was your mum?
1. My mum has always been my mum and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mum need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mum marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mum eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mum didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mum doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a clot. 2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between mums & dads?
1. Mums work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work. 2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Mums have magic; they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mum do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mum perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mum, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING SEND IT ON TO OTHER MOTHERS, FUTURE MOTHERS, OR JUST WOMEN IN GENERAL!!

Lucky Me!

2007-09-20T22:37:00.000+10:00

Today has not been a great day. My pain level today would probably be a 7 on the scale of 1 to 10. 1 being no pain at all and 10 being the "someone knock me out before I commit hara kiri" end of the scale.

This is the second time today that I have managed to get down to the study but I won't be able to sit here long.

I'm very fortunate to have an understanding hubby and good kids when it comes to this kind of thing. Hubby ran some errands for me before he left for work (TJ's glasses need repairing again) and the kids managed to cook tea without killing each other or burning themselves. We had a picnic tea on my bed seeing as how I couldn't sit at the dining table with them. We also had mini pizza's instead of sausages, but the menu plan has got to be flexible right? lol (I'd actually forgotten that I had them in the freezer....... kids have memories like elephants when it comes to the location of junk food) They even managed to stack and start the dishwasher before going to bed the little angels.

At times I feel guilty for not always being physically capable of being the kind of mum that I think I should be or that I think they deserve to have. But then I remember that when I'm too sore to be running around they all take great delight in having a captive audience. For the privilege of being waited on hand and foot I am made a very interesting assortment of foodstuffs (inch thick cheese slices on toast, or weetbix with very little milk and way too much sugar for example). I also get to hear every single mind boggling thought that pops into my dear daughter's pre pubescent brain, get assaulted by the "can we have a...(insert appropriate junk food item here)....." terrorist repeatedly because he knows I can't chase him away and am serenaded by an vast assortment of hubby's bodily noises that are apparently meant to be amusing but often result in me begging for a gas mask.

I am very blessed indeed.

Menu my menu

2007-09-19T21:10:00.000+10:00

Why oh why am I so resistant to menu planning? I know its a good idea, I know it will save me money. So why do I dislike the idea so much?

I was thinking about this while I was making lunch today. I think it is because food always seemed so regimented when I was growing up. Monday and Tuesday was sausages, chops, peas, carrots and mashed potatoes. Wednesday was usually roast or baked lamb with the occasional Silver side thrown in. Thursday and Saturday was a repeat of Monday and Tuesday. Friday was either take away (if Dad was feeling generous) or home cooked chips and fish fingers. Sunday was quite often get your own noodles/bacon and eggs or leftovers. Chips and chocolate were a once a week on Friday night treat. (which I'm now thinking wasn't such a bad idea).

It seems to almost be a shackling of myself to sit down a plan a menu. God knows I don't like to feel restricted. Its not exactly creative, spontaneous or fun to have everything planned out is it? And what if I don't "feel like" whats on the plan for tonight? Or what if I'm having a bad pain day and not really up to cooking much?

On the other hand I get sick of having to figure out whats for tea each night. I get frustrated with the weekly budget blow out and the amount of food that gets wasted each week in our house. I've seen other flybabies put up menus a month ahead and I don't think I'm up to that, but a week perhaps even a fortnight I can manage I reckon.

Interestingly enough my daughter CJ came in to the study this afternoon and asked me what was for tea. When I told her that I hadn't thought that far yet she said "oh. So you don't have a plan like you did yesterday?". She seemed disappointed.

I think a flylady essay for handicappable flybabies that I read the other day has the answer. I can make a menu plan and if its not fitting with the day then I simply need a simple alternative. If I make a menu plan and include 3 extra meals that either the kids or I can make with minimum fuss for "just in case" then we should be covered.

So this is the rest of our week. Until hubby brings home his runs for next week I can't plan much further than that.

Thursday 20/9 - Sausages, Chips, salad
Friday 21/9 - Rissoles, potatoes, peas, corn, cauliflower
Saturday 22/9 - Steak, potatoe bake, mixed frozen veges
Sunday 23/9 - BBQ at friends place - may need to take meat
Simple alternative in case needed - bacon and eggs

I guess I'd better go write it up on the whiteboard in the kitchen so that everyone in this house knows that there is now a plan!

All is Calm, All is Bright

2007-09-19T20:07:00.000+10:00

The little phone spree this morning continued through the day with K the sleaze bag getting on the phone to A while she was at work and informing her that they are not coming to her wedding and that she's "bought it on herself" by associating with us. A is VERY relieved to say the least. Rings me up tonight quite happy & bubbly and tells me that I HAVE to come to her hen's night on Friday! lol

Ready To Scream!!

2007-09-19T09:49:00.000+10:00

I am so damn frustrated! I'm talking rip the head off the next person to ring with my teeth and hacking their bodies with the axe frustrated. I do not take kindly to be woken by the phone, let alone being woken by the phone to someone ranting and raving at me on the other end!

A couple of days ago hubby's step dad K the sleaze bag ran A and asked her what was going on with the wedding - meaning who was walking her down the aisle. She told him that nothing had changed and that he should know by now what was happening as she'd told him enough times. Then he says to her "I suppose R and B (hubby & me) are going to be there?" They are just not taking either her or hubby seriously about us being there and hubby walking her down the aisle.

Hubby bumped into his youngest sister K yesterday and had a bit of a go at her. He told her that she had no right getting their mum to ring us up the night before she started a job expecting a place to live when they had had nothing to do with us for months and months prior. He also told her to tell her dad that yes we would be at the wedding and that he would be walking A down the aisle.He didn't raise his voice, but he was pretty firm, she was a bit upset, but stayed there talking to us for a few minutes afterwards. She did make a comment about not being sure about coming to the wedding if there was going to be crap to which I told her that the only way there would be crap would be if K the sleazebag started it. We thought that was that. Hubby felt pretty good about having said his piece and thought that was the end of the matter.

This morning he gets a phone call from his older brother W asking him what he's doing threatening their little sister and telling people not to come to the wedding. Hubby gets all flustered (he's a very non confrontational person) mouths off saying a heap of stuff he shouldn't, then rings me and rants at me about it and is talking about not going to his sister's wedding. I ring his brother and sort of smooth things over and explained that he didn't threaten K and what our side of things is with their mum (which he understood cos he has had similar problems) but boy its a mess!

I can't wait for this wedding to be over!!!!

I could very well kill someone by the end of the week. Do you reckon I'd be able to plead self defence? After all I'd be defending my peace of mind!

Truly, Madly, Desperately!

2007-09-18T21:04:00.000+10:00

And the disaster continues to loom ever larger and ever closer. (Warning long and whiney)

Hubby ran into his youngest sister K today and gave her a piece of his mind. Apparently it wasn't terribly tasty as she was nearly in tears after.

I suppose some background is needed at this point. 3 years ago I was asked by my mum in law to fix her pc that her partner had stuffed while satisfying his porn fixation. Aforementioned partner didn't want me to fix the pc and abused me in front of my kids over the matter. We have not been back to visit since - I don't need that and the kids don't need to see it. We organised to meet mum in law on neutral ground when her partner wasn't around until she lost interest in the kids completely.

Fast forward to 5 months ago. Mum in laws partner "accidentally" sends porn to us while pretending to by hubby's mum while talking to us on messenger. I'm not sure how you can accidentally do that.... twice! I deleted them off messenger thinking that he is definitely not a safe person to have on there especially if my kids are on the pc. Hubby's mum says I'm "over reacting" and its "none of her business anyway". I'm really not sure how porn appearing on our pc isn't any of my business, but anyhow.
A few weeks later hubby's mum shows up as his sister A's place in tears cos her partner is having an online affair with some chickie from the Philippines and expects her to support him in getting a visa to bring this chick over here and when she refused he had the locks changed on the house. We support her when she says she wants out, organise a house, organise movers, the lot. Moving day comes and she refuses to go and accuses us all of making a big deal out of nothing.

Fast forward to 3 months ago. We moved house. Hubby decides not to tell his mum where we are now living as she has not bothered to call or visit or even send birthday cards to the kids in oh around 2 years or so. The only time we hear from her is when her partner is playing up or when she wants something.

Fast forward again to 3 weeks ago. Hubby gets a phone call from his mum wanting us to put his youngest sis K up indefinitely "cos she got a job" and his mum doesn't want to drive K over here everyday. Hubby is upset, I'm ropeable, CJ decides that Nan T is just a user "cos she only sees or calls us when she wants favours" TJ is rather oblivious to the whole matter, but he's an 8 year old boy who's life revolves around cars and fire trucks so what would he care?

So today hubby told K that if she had wanted somewhere to stay that it would have been OK in the short term had she rung herself and that more than half a day's notice would be appreciated. God only knows what story she went home and told her mum cos she's now texting hubby asking him if there is a problem and telling him not to take it out in his sister **rolls eyes** She then rang his sister A and told her that they weren't coming to her wedding if we didn't stop "our crap".

I am so glad that they live 45 minutes away!! lol

In brighter news (I'm taking a leaf out of Kelley's positive spin book) the kids helped me cook a bbq for tea tonight. We got thick sausages from the butcher, cut up carrots, zucchinis and tiny taters (tinned new potatoes) and chucked it all on the bbq. Oh and also some sliced pineapple. Yum Yum. CJ made a green salad. I asked her to cut up some cheese and she used the potatoe peeler instead of a knife, then I asked her to cut some celery sticks and she got a little mixed up. Cut up the shallots into sticks instead (yes she's blonde) but it all worked OK in the end.

TJ gave me the biggest giggle of the day. After he had finished all his tiny taters and was eyeing off mine he says to me "I desperately like them." Cracked me up that he even knew the word desperate let alone used it in that context!

I was quite pleased that after tea I was able to get them to make their lunches for tomorrow and help me clean up the kitchen without any grumbling! My dishwasher was packed and running by 7:30. Thats never ever happened before in our house!!

Hmmmm and for a positive spin on the inlaw situation.............. they still don't know where I live!!! LMAO!!

Disaster in the making?

2007-09-17T21:28:00.000+10:00

Following on from detoxifying yesterday........... why can I not detoxify our families? Honestly, I am beginning to think that hubby and I are the only sane ones (well ok, maybe his sister too but thats all)

Hubby's sister A is getting married on Sunday. Hubby is walking her down the aisle since her father (hubby's step dad) said that he wouldn't do it. Now of course they keep ringing her and asking whats happening as if she will all of a sudden change all the arrangements that she made. He now wants to do it and for some reason doesn't even think that we'all should be at the wedding let alone involved in it! Then tonight we were talking to hubby's Nan C who a couple of weeks ago was so excited about the wedding only to find out that they are moving this weekend and had forgotten all about the wedding. It was bad enough that they showed up to my wedding late and in their yard clothes. I am so glad that they are not my parents and that this isn't my wedding!

Of course the only reason that they aren't ringing here bitching is that hubby did partially declutter them......... when we moved he refused to tell them where we moved to and changed our phone number as well lol.

The things we have to do to get some peace!!

Detoxifying

2007-09-16T19:59:00.000+10:00

I was having a bad morning today mobility wise so instead of going visiting we invited some people over. Then we kept them. lol Well, we invited them to stay for tea, but they never actually made a decision so we made it for them. Talking somethings over with them this evening I realised that it wasn't just our old house that stopped us from hosting as much as we would have enjoyed it was also some of the toxic relationships that surrounded us.

Around the same time as we moved (3 months ago) we also had some major upheavals in our circle of friendships and I have to say that it has been bliss!! More and more I'm seeing just exactly how manipulative, deceitful and harmful some of those friendships were and how they were negatively impacting on us and the way we interacted with the rest of our social circle. Moving was a fresh start all round it would seem, in home, in friendships and in the long run, in my spirit.

First Blog

2007-09-15T21:17:00.000+10:00

I am quite new to the idea of blogging. In fact I'm not even sure that I will be the kind of person who can post their thoughts on the events of their life or on random thought explosions with any kind of regularity, but here it goes.

Was quite pleased this evening to be able to have hubbies sister A and her son E over for a BBQ tea. Its nice to have the house "company ready" or only 15 minutes from being so. It was also nice to be able to throw together nibblies and desert from things in the pantry for unplanned guests too. Am looking forward to doing a lot more hosting in this house.

The past few months in this house we have done more hosting than we had in the past few years in our old house. I'm thinking that we were seriously ripping ourselves on in the social lives department and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy putting on a nice meal and sharing some hospitality. Now that we are starting to have visitors/guest regularly I'm starting to make mental lists of things that would be nice to have for when they are here like more cutlery or different placemats or cushions for the lounge lol