Pathetic

I am pathetic at updating this. I think I shall dump it. There is no point. I put short updates on my FB. That's enough for me these days. Plus even when I want to have a whinge, by the time I get to a PC I have forgotten.

Before I go, I have a few things to write about;

Just back from a well earned break and was happy and good and loved all again. For one day. Today, third day back from break, I'm ready to slap people again. How are people so bloody stupid. Last time I pointed out who I was whinging about, I got burned and completely shut down my blog. So even with me dumping this, I won't name names. I am over it though. Ready to chuck my job, sell the house and move interstate to country (insert other state here). Anywhere.

Melbourne drivers are incredibly inconsiderate. They just don't give a hoot. And I'm over it. So many people are above the law, and think they are more important than anyone else on the road. Yunno, the road was built from point a to point b and you are NOT the only person travelling between these two points. Yes, that red light means stop. Not just for me, but for everyone facing it. Lines on the road? Yup, there for a reason, stay on the side of yours you idiot. Oh wow, you have a 4WD, how fabulously expensive for you, how about you turn your headlights off while sitting behind me in my regular height sedan? Oh and my current fave? No, while you are on the freeway, you can't merge left onto the on ramp then merge back into the left lane further up. This is ILLEGAL you dickhead.

16 yo Jessica Watson. Love her. She is 16 and got off her butt and did something incredible. I don't care if it doesn't fit the bill for a record. She is amazing.

Bulldogs - disapointed you are 5 and 3. Should be better than that. Then again, you are 4th on the ladder this week, so I should be happier.

T and kids - love you all. You know this and don't need me to write about it here. Esp when I could be doing stuff with you instead of sitting at a PC telling the world how wonderful you are.

World, if you know me and are my friend on FB, I'll catch you there. Otherwise, Adios!

Been a while

Well between my birthday and now, there have been quite a few things happen:

• My maternal Grandfather passed away, now leaves me and my brother with one grandparent. He was 86, she is 84. The funeral was nice, as far as funerals go. We had the wake at our place. He was doing ok while at home, but the day before Aus Day he fell, and it was later discovered, broke his hip. Got through the op, but had to go into care, as he needed nursing 24/7.


• Thomas the cat suffered teeth issues, was taken to the vet, but hasn't been right since. Turned into a skinny boy. Need to learn how to fatten him up. Overfeeding doesn't work, as he'll generally scoff whatever is there, then chuck.


• Footy season has started and my boys are 2 wins from 3 games. Have attended all 3 games so far. Next week it's the Lions at the Gabba, just a tad too far away by car.


• I've signed up to do a course at work. The boss is paying. It's Certificate IV in Frontline Management. Dunno if it will give me more skills, but it will be good for work. And a catch up with my work girlfriend for 5 or 6 afternoons in May/June. Yeah, I'm not selfish.


• Little Missy Moo is toilet training herself. I'm ecstatic, more than words on a PC screen can show. Mr H is not yet ready, but we won't push him either. I tried training them at the start of summer, with no luck. She's now just clicked.

Hmmm... I think that is me up-to-date, not unless you want the boring bits as well. Will try to do more often in future!

Cool!

The sweetest chick has nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award

The rules for this award are:
1. Thank the person who nominated me for this award - Thanks Jen!


2. Copy the award and place it on my blog - Done.


3. Link to the person who nominated me for this award - Done above.


4. Share 7 interesting things about myself


5. Nominate 7 other beautiful bloggers (with links)



So, 7 interesting things about me.... gawd, don't think there ARE 7 interesting things.... here goes:
1. At the age of 38 I *still* don't know what I want to do when I grow up.
2. I can play the saxophone, having learnt clarinet and flute in high school.
3. I love to research things. I have people get in contact with me just to have me find an answer to questions they have.
4. I can touch my nose with my tongue. Apparently this is why he married me (joke joyce).
5. If I were younger, I'd be a surrogate for someone. Yes, it was that easy for me to be pregnant. And yeah, I still would now if it weren't so frowned upon for someone so 'old'.
6. I want to learn how to purl. Can knit, but not purl.
7. I now live by the 'if you don't ask you don't know' credo, and this works for most situations/thoughts. Eg, if you want something, ask for it, irrespective if that want is information, furniture, a discount, etc...

and now for my 7 nominations (I won't renominate you Jen) :) in no particular order:
1. Renlish
2. Artful Kisser
3. Miaow the Cat
4. Day to Day
5. Frog Ponds Rock
6. Weds Off
7. I don't do mornings

And now I have to admit, I don't update nearly enough, but I'll try to do better in future, or quit! :)

Happy Birthday to Me!

I hate my birthday. Actually, no that isn't right. I USED TO hate my birthday. Seriously. The fuss, the attention. Ugh. Not my cuppa tea.

A little different today. I'm having a wonderful day. A wake up SMS at my birthtime (thanks Ma!), more SMS's, as well as emails, phone calls and FB hellos. A stack of gorgeous pressies from hubby (yes, I know, they were from the kids... right!!!) and some handmade cards from the four sweethearts. Lunch with hubby and 3 of the short ones, come back to the office and my boss has bought me flowers. I was given a gift from my Mum via hubby at lunch, so have opened more gifty goodness.

I'm waiting for someone to come into the office and notice the flowers, so I can smile and tell them it's my special day :) I'm enjoying this and it's SOOOO unlike me. Love it!

Crafty!

Reading a crafty blog today (link to specific post) I've just thought of a good idea for a small handmade Xmas gift. Melissa is making these great handmade wash cloths. Very clever. I'm thinking to do same, but in a pocket style, so you can slip your soap inside the wash cloth to use it.

What do you reckon? Feels more like a female type gift. Maybe one of these with some really nice soap? Hmmm... Thinking cap back on.

I recently came up with another nifty idea, combining knitting and ipods. I'm yet to make more than one, so I'll try and get knitting a few more, then post about that and see what you think about it - I'd like to know if you'd use it and such. Just out of interest :)

How many??

I find when talking about the children we have, that I'm often apologising. Well, maybe apologising is the wrong word; maybe it's more 'explaining'. You see, we have four children. Yes, in this day and age, that is generally considered more than the norm. Let's face it, anyone on the telly with more than the average 2.4 children gets barked "buy a bloody telly!" by yours truly. Tongue in cheek and cheeky grin in place of course.

I always wanted three kids. You buy a station wagon/family car, there are five seats; one for Mum, one for Dad and three for the kids. Three seemed a good number.

I met my husband, he wanted two kids, stated, "we already have one with your eldest, now we just need one more". Yes, several girlfriends swooned at this (I can't tell you how many times I heard; Oh he's a keeper!) He knew I wanted three in total. Then I had one more, my second, his first, and he agreed with me and wanted another.

We thought we'd go for number three, but the month he knocked me up my womb was having a two for one deal and we got twins. That changed the dynamic of our lives.

We sold the station wagon and bought a people mover. Thoughts of one child in school and two in child care while we both worked went out the window; who the heck can afford three in child care? If we both continued to work full time, after paying for child care, hubby darling would walk out of work with just $15 cash! That ain't gonna pay the rent kids! Our rental situation went out the window and we started to consider seriously the possibility of buying or building our own home.

All of these things that were never considered all came into play.

So let me just say, when someone asks about my family situation, and I admit to the four children, once my conversation partner stops gasping for air, I then point out that the third child turned out to be twins and it wasn't on purpose and yadda yadda yadda. And at the same time, I feel that I'm apologising for the fact that I have one more child than I expected.

And through the apologies and explanations, right now, I have to admit I wouldn't change that number for the world.

Swan st bridge

According to a work colleague, the bloke driving her back to work last week after a meeting, came over the Swan st bridge in the right lane. When he merged into the left lane, he was subsequently pulled over when through the intersection and fined. There is a solid white line over the bridge.

Good I say. I hate being one of the sheep in the left lane the whole way, sometimes in 10 minutes of traffic (might not seem a long time, but when you are just sitting there, it's an absolute age) and have people constantly push in to the left lane ahead of you and through the green light, leaving you to stop at the red light behind them. Ugh.

Don't know how often police are sitting and watching, but to me, it's not worth the fine to try and push in. I'm going to stick in the left lane and avoid the fine.

*sigh*

Eldest has joined up on Facebook. It was not without a lot of hesitation and thinking on my part allowing her to go on there.

Her other biological parent has, as expected, gotten in touch. Course he has his profile set to "don't let me be found in searches", so I can't look at it. Sent her a friend request yesterday. She ignored it. Did it again today with the note "I would love to be your friend only if you want to if not when your ready ill be here (sic)". Nice that he wants to be 'here' for her now. Nice that he wants to be a part of her life now. Nice that he doesn't mention any faults, why should he, in his mind there are none.

She's leaving it go for now. I'm not happy about her being in contact with him, why should I be, but I'm not going to fight it. I have, over the past 12-24 months, encouraged her to get in touch with him and go meet up with him. I can't keep her wrapped in cotton wool forever, and she does have to learn some things for herself. But I'm never going to be happy about it. And I'm not apologising for that.

We'll see how things go. I have her gmail and her FB logins and much as you may disagree, I will continue to keep watch on both. It's not all about him. She is 13. She is not the worldly adult she may think. And she still trusts too easily.

Vega

I listen to Vega, especially the brekkie show. it was Dicko, Dave and Chrissy, but Chrissy has just been sacked, so as of this morning, it's just Dicko and Dave.

I think they've lost more by losing her than what they have gained by her sacking. I know the story went out that it was due to the fact that the station was losing money, but the show was missing that female touch this morn and I think that may be more of a loss than they expected.

Only this week to go before they finish up, so I'll keep listening. Then I'll listen to the pod more often. Maybe I'll take up my brother's suggestion of listening to podcasts. Or talking books.

We'll see.

Reading

I'm currently reading "Sins of the Brother". It's (according to the subtitle) the "Definitive story of Ivan Milat and the backpacker murders".

Now I don't know if you've seen Wolf Creek, but I have and it was scary. Not so much the horror of the film, that isn't it, it's more the thought that these things really did and have happened.

I'm only just getting into Part two of the book, which within the first 2 chapters has already gotten in to the 'guts' of what that man's life was like. Part one was more about his childhood, his family life, and the lives of his family.

I think what I'm more frightened of is the fact that someone thought it was ok to do this to people. Not what they did, but that they thought it was ok. I mean, what they did was horrific, but that someone thought this was a fair thing to do to another living human being.... and to think up doing these sorts of things in the first place... well.

Have to admit, it's a good bedtime read though. I like reading biographies and autobiographies most of all, and this one is quite thorough in it's telling.

Terrible

it's been over a month since I wrote here - that's terrible. This is why I stopped blogging in the first place; lack of update-ability.

Mostly a lack of time, but also a lack of things to say. I guess tweeting would suit me, as I can generally update my FB status with a sentence or two and that sates me, but I refuse to tweet. Not my cuppa tea actually. Strangely enough....

Anyway, my pre-NYE resolution is to write more often, even if it's about naught. Practice the writing skill thingie.

Reusable?

I'm a big fan of freecycle. In a nutshell, freecycle is an online community you join to give and gain usable items no longer wanted/needed. So imagine you open your cupboards and think "This breadmaker taking up space in my cupboard is no longer needed by me. It still works fine, so it would be a waste to toss it into landfill." You can offer it out on freecycle. Person who does want it comes and picks it up from you. No cost to you, them (other than their transport) and more importantly - the earth.

All good.

Recently I've seen a couple people offering out bassinette mattresses. Now this is all good and fine, but the guidelines on bassinette mattresses is that they shouldn't be used for more than one baby. No idea what this is about, the reasoning behind it (SIDS maybe?) but then got to thinking, if there isn't a real reason behind it, why is it known? Why is it I bought new ones for each of my little ones?

Is there a real reason to buy a new bassinette mattress with each baby, or is it simply some sort of scare tactics to make parents buy new each time. Generally you would be looking at $10-$50 for a suitable piece of foam mattress, so not a huge outlay (esp if you are cheap like me and go the $10 version) but really... is there a reason?

I'm off to google hoaxes etc and find out why. If indeed it can be found out online. If you know why a new mattress should be used, please tell me in the comments. And also, if the same holds true for a cot/bed mattress.

** Just thought - bassinette mattresses are generally foam, where cot and bed mattresses are generally innersprung. Hmmm..... Off to snopes/google!

Hopeless

I'm a bit hopeless at updating this, but hey, it's my 'get that crap off your chest, so you don't explode at people' place, so I'll keep going for now. Don't know for how long.

Just thought I'd mention I'm not normally this grumpy. As stated above, this is where I have a bit of a hissy fit/whinge/rant/etc, so I may sound like a really grumpy ole woman, but I think I can be seen with a smile or cheeky grin on my face more often than a frown.

I'd like to think so anyway!

Anyway, you can think what you like I suppose. I don't know you, you don't know me, you sometimes read something that I write and that is as far as our relationship goes. :P

Losing myself

Happy to follow up from 14th Sept post; 1.5kg down. For a person who drifts up and down the scales to see a definite drop each week to get to a solid 1.5kg down in 4 weeks is ok. Not bad.

If I was being 'exceptionally' good, I reckon I'd be double that down, but hey, I'm still enjoying life, I'm still having pizza for dinner when T cooks it, enjoying some chippies with the kids when we open a bag, but the thing is, I'm having less slices of pizza and a smaller bowl for my share of the chippies. It's just being sensible.

I've also lessened the alcohol intake. But again, if I'm at a 'do' or somewhere to relax and enjoy a drink, I will. If we have friends over, I'll relax with a beer or wine.

I'm more likely to have a drink of water at my desk and drink during the day, have been known to buy a 2 litre bottle of soda water (so much easier to drink when water has bubbles in it) and drink it while at work that day. I think my local-to-work Coles is running low on their $1.11 Homebrand 2 litre bottles. My fault and I'm glad of that!!

I have had some white chocolate with the hubby and our evening cuppa warm (lite) milk, but sticking to the one row per sitting, as opposed to my past 3 rows, then going back for more.

So we'll plod on. Hopefully in 4 more weeks time, I'll be recording another 1.5kg drop.

Freeway driving

Driving on a freeway, you see some crazy characters. Some make you laugh, others make your heart thump. Today I saw a thumper.

A little blue "Accent" travelling down the Westgate bridge. Nothing much there. Not til you looked in the read window and saw a little yellow hat wearing head looking out the back window.

Yes, in full view of everyone behind.

No car seat, no restraint, just kid's head bobbing up between adults in the back seat.

They got off the freeway at Millers Road. I almost followed them, but got a bit worried about road rage laws and all. Instead I had my passenger use my phone to take a photo. Pic includes car, window with head, and number plate.

Now how do I report this, and who to?

Room decor

3 bedrooms for the kids. At the moment we have eldest in one room on her own, oldest boy in his own room, and the twins in the smallest room together. Eventually the plan is to have the boys in together and the girls in their own rooms. The main reasoning behind this is the boys are close in age (almost 2 years between them) and the girls have a big difference in age (13yo and 2yo). Big Miss will remain in the one big room on her own. Small Miss will remain in the smallest room on her own.

Have started decor in the boys room. Going with Disney's Cars. We have curtains and a framed print on the wall. More to come at some point.

Big Miss has some bits and pieces on her walls. She's into decorating her own space herself. I'd like to do it up in purple, like the bed set we got her, but she's so tomboy, it's just too difficult to arrange. I'm now leaving it to her.

Little Miss. Very much a little "Miss". Loves pink. My girly girl. Had been thinking to go mainstream, like Pooh bear or Disney Princess or something, mostly cos it's easy to find pieces to go with everything, but I had a good idea today.

I have always loved the book "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. I thought it would be easy to find things to go with that sort of decor, maybe some framed pictures on the wall, or wallpaper of some sort, but nada. Looks like if I want that theme, I'm going to have to get creative and make some things. Or check out this link from a friend for more ideas.

Or come up with a different theme....

It's time

I did something on the weekend I've never willingly do before; I asked a friend who is an awesome photographer, to take my picture. I had a specific reason for it, so it needed to be done, and she did exactly what I asked, and did so perfectly. The results were a good head shot and a well framed full body shot.

Problem was, I'd never seen me like that. I mean, I've looked in the mirror; I know what I look like, but seriously, this was a wake up call and a half.

Having had twins a little more than 2 years ago, I can no longer use them as an excuse. I can no longer say, "oh it's ok, I've just had twins, I don't expect to look great after that", as it was more than two years ago - I have had plenty of time to have done something about the weight since then.

I've been wanting to do something for a while now, but this photo has really made me think twice about being so slack in my effort. I've jumped on the scales this morn and I fully intend taking measurements this week, if not this evening. I plan to do this properly, and to hit my short term target of 10% by Christmas. After that, I intend on pushing on.

My goal weight is horrendously far off. I'm almost as heavy now as I was after having my first child. And being 13 years younger, I was of the mindset back then that it wasn't a big deal, it would drop off when I put in a little effort and when I did get in the right frame of mind, I was right, it did fall off pretty effortlessly. I was at my goal weight when she hit 2. Thing is, it's taken 11 years to creep back on. Sure, I've had 2 pregnancies in that time, but again, that really is no excuse.

I did well today, for a first day; I stuck to eating well, when putting bickies out for a meeting, I remembered that photo and didn't scoff one for myself, and at lunch I walked a little over 3 kms. So let's see how this goes.

I've found when I "out" myself and don't keep the diet and exercise a secret, I succeed way better than when I don't tell people, and don't create witnesses. So thanks any readers out there. Feel free to drop me a line every now and then to ensure I stay on the right track.

BTW I don't expect to be perfect and eat no chocolate or exercise every day, but I do expect to try my best and if I fall off the good track, that I do get back on there. Let's see, eh?

Junk man

Haven't spilled the beans yet, but T and I have vastly different opinions on the issue he raised on his blog yesterday - see here to read more.

Here is the scenario. Once a year our local council has a 'hard garbage collection'. This is basically where you can leave junk too big for the garbage bin on your nature strip and the council truck turns up (eventually) to pick it up and take it to the tip for you. Good for people like us who don't have access to a trailer, nor a tip.

Now, having just had the front yard cleared and cleaned up, we hired some big skips and dumped all the garbage we could find. So we had nothing on our nature strip on Sunday night.

But the neighbours did. And people drive by, see something they think might be good or useful, pick it up and off they go. Now, just so you know, this is illegal. You aren't allowed to take the stuff from the nature strip - once it's put out there, it becomes the Council's property, so by taking it, you are taking Council property (stealing).

The discussion then leads to: The person who takes the stuff - is he merely breaking the law, or is he recycling useful things? What do you think? I'd be interested to hear!

How do you do it?

I like my job, enough to keep returning on a daily basis, enough to say thanks when the pay packet comes in. I like it enough.

I like my direct boss. It's just me and him in this office. I like that. He's pretty good as far as bosses go. Flexible, friendly, down to earth. I like the boss.

He has 5 Managers. I adore 2. Can't stand the other 3. Just can not stand them. When they ring, I wonder how I can get out of speaking with them. I don't - I always answer and I always answer nice and friendly like. But I still wonder how I can get away with avoiding their call.

There are several departments I would like to avoid. And would if I could. Yes, if I could buy that item without dealing with Purchasing I would. Yes, if I could do the mail without seeing certain people along the way, I would.

I have a time in the office that I now detest. It's generally between 8.30 and 9am, and it's when the security guard sticks his head in for a (I'm not kidding) 15 minute chat. Don't get me wrong, I like chatting with the best of them, but I'd really rather avoid these... confrontations. Today I set up the coffee machine while he hung around and watched.

How do you get by, avoiding certain people, without upsetting the order? I like being seen as a nice person, but I can't take this for much longer. I have said this in the past and I'm putting it here: these people are going to be the reason I leave my job.

And yes, I'm quite aware that it could be much worse somewhere else, but seriously, I won't have a predisposed opinion of people in a new workplace. So many years in one workplace are definitely a no-no. Time to move on.

Nicknames

Aussies. We're a funny lot.

I have a friend who is shorter than me, by I guess at least a foot. She calls me Munchkin.

I have another friend who is only 2 years older than me. He calls me Kiddo.

I love it.

If it were anywhere else, I'd be known as Tall Old person.

Not so much there to love.