We've been trying to sort out Christmas lists. The local toystore is going to be open on midnight on the Friday after Thanksgiving so I'm getting a list prepared and for all the stuff that they've been asking for, I still don't know what to put on the list.
We narrowed it down to about 4 items each and a couple big items that they have to share but for some reason it took all morning. I don't get it.
Another thing, I don't understand why I'm compelled to get them anything at all. Little monsters still can't pick up what they've thrown down and when I was that age, I was lucky to get anything at all. My mom will freely admit that we didn't get stuff when we were kids, mainly because the money wasn't there but also, my parents would work like dogs right up until Christmas Day and never had the time to shop anyway. Christmas Day was one of the few family days that we had and that was only after they got to sleep in.
November 13, 2008
November 7, 2008
What happened?
Not much. A funny thing happened though, I finished reading the Twilight series - and let me say now, I've never been affected by a story like that since I read Jane Eyre when I was 9. Ever since I finished it, I've been in a funk. I think it ended too well, too perfect and for the intended teenage audience, that's probably the perfect ending but for my jaded and advanced years, I found that I was depressed. It took a long time to figure out exactly what was bothering me and I think I was experiencing, for the first time in my life, envy. Envy that I physically cannot achieve that state of contentment and happiness that ended the story, envy that I don't have all the time in the world to pursue all the things I want to achieve. All this hit me last night and it was like a wall came down and I can breathe again.
Well done Stephanie Meyers!! You got me good and to be honest, I loved it.
Turning my attention to MY life now, quite a few things can happen in 7 days. You can:
Anyway, back to the reading thing...
I think this is just to piss me off, but all the authors/books that I've gotten interested in or want to read, are not currently available in the US until sometime next year. Karen Miller's final installment to the Godking trilogy isn't available in the US until next year. I still can't find Alan Campbell's 2nd novel here -ok, ok, he's British, but it was available in Sydney when we left so I assumed that I'd find it here eventually. Brent Week's final installment to the Shadows won't be available in paperback until December and that series has been out for ages - and yes he's American so it doesn't quite suit the rant but it's my rant so piss off. Most of these books are written years in advance, why can't they be published together so I get them all at once??? No wonder I keep rereading them, by the time the last one's out, it's been 2 years since I've read the first one and the OCD in my compels me to finish what I've started. I have to reacquaint myself with the whole story and that throws me off.
Anyway, on my waiting list is Karen Miller's Godking finale, Neil Gaiman's next novel - I forget the name, oh and as a completely different aside, Coraline is being made into a movie and I'm really excited about that, I'm trying to find my copy so DD can read it. Sadly what could be Terry Pratchet's last novel is also due out soon. Hopes and good wishes to him and his family. Beetle Bardly is here in a couple weeks. I've also discovered that Lynn Fflewing has released a new series so that's on the radar too.
Onto my new friend...funny how some people seem to be destined to meet. I took the kids to a halloween party of a couple of their school friends and I met this really cool lady there. She's:
"My husband's Australian"
"My husband's Australian. Where's he from?"
"Perth"
"Oh my God! My husband's from Perth!"
"Which community do you live in?"
"Savannah"
"No you don't!"
And so the night went on. It was like watching someone else have my life so we're keeping in touch so the boys can meet and the kids can play. That was one of the more profound moments of my week.
Finally, Madagascar 2 starts tonight so we're heading down to the drive-in tomorrow to check it out with a fried chicked picnic.
Ta daa!
Well done Stephanie Meyers!! You got me good and to be honest, I loved it.
Turning my attention to MY life now, quite a few things can happen in 7 days. You can:
- Start, er, restart, running again
- Completely overestimate cake batter volumes and end up with 3 doz cupcakes and a 15" bundt cake from the same batch
- Start and FINISH 3 novels - more on those later, I hate when I finish something in the middle of an incomplete series
- NOT download a cardful of photos from your camera
- NOT take pictures of all the Christmas tags you've finished
- Vacuum and mop up crumbs from under the dining table 3 times a day and still not see a difference
- Look helplessly at a mountain of crap on and around your desk and STILL decide to do nothing about it - reading is so much more interesting
- Wonder why it is your children are the ones in school but you're still doing homework
- Completely ruin a dinner that's supposedly fool proof
- Make new friend that could turn out to be a very distant relation
Anyway, back to the reading thing...
I think this is just to piss me off, but all the authors/books that I've gotten interested in or want to read, are not currently available in the US until sometime next year. Karen Miller's final installment to the Godking trilogy isn't available in the US until next year. I still can't find Alan Campbell's 2nd novel here -ok, ok, he's British, but it was available in Sydney when we left so I assumed that I'd find it here eventually. Brent Week's final installment to the Shadows won't be available in paperback until December and that series has been out for ages - and yes he's American so it doesn't quite suit the rant but it's my rant so piss off. Most of these books are written years in advance, why can't they be published together so I get them all at once??? No wonder I keep rereading them, by the time the last one's out, it's been 2 years since I've read the first one and the OCD in my compels me to finish what I've started. I have to reacquaint myself with the whole story and that throws me off.
Anyway, on my waiting list is Karen Miller's Godking finale, Neil Gaiman's next novel - I forget the name, oh and as a completely different aside, Coraline is being made into a movie and I'm really excited about that, I'm trying to find my copy so DD can read it. Sadly what could be Terry Pratchet's last novel is also due out soon. Hopes and good wishes to him and his family. Beetle Bardly is here in a couple weeks. I've also discovered that Lynn Fflewing has released a new series so that's on the radar too.
Onto my new friend...funny how some people seem to be destined to meet. I took the kids to a halloween party of a couple of their school friends and I met this really cool lady there. She's:
- Chinese
- Married to an expat Aussie from Perth
- Has 2 kids - 6 and 2
- Lives about 3 streets down from me
- In Chinese - that is, if it was written in Chinese characters - the SAME maiden name
- Totally cool
"My husband's Australian"
"My husband's Australian. Where's he from?"
"Perth"
"Oh my God! My husband's from Perth!"
"Which community do you live in?"
"Savannah"
"No you don't!"
And so the night went on. It was like watching someone else have my life so we're keeping in touch so the boys can meet and the kids can play. That was one of the more profound moments of my week.
Finally, Madagascar 2 starts tonight so we're heading down to the drive-in tomorrow to check it out with a fried chicked picnic.
Ta daa!
October 31, 2008
*Sigh* First Halloween
It's been a long eventful week and it's still not really over. No mojo to get a buzz with either, hopefully I can snap out of it soon.
The kidlets had a Halloween parade at school today and, yes, they were all very cute in their outfits, boy they're loud. About 400 kids from ages 3 to 10 packed into a gym, vibrating their way across the floor, laughing and talking and teachers on the mic and music in the back and parents yelling at their children to stand still to take photos, it was so nice to leave. Dh has some pictures somewhere....
It's not over yet, trick or treating still to come...
The kidlets had a Halloween parade at school today and, yes, they were all very cute in their outfits, boy they're loud. About 400 kids from ages 3 to 10 packed into a gym, vibrating their way across the floor, laughing and talking and teachers on the mic and music in the back and parents yelling at their children to stand still to take photos, it was so nice to leave. Dh has some pictures somewhere....
It's not over yet, trick or treating still to come...
October 22, 2008
6 things about me
I got tagged by Vicky to share 6 facts about me so here goes
I think I'll tag Jude, Kylie and TBD
- When I was about 14, I thought I was going to marry an Australian. I didn't have a particular one in mind, it was more a philosophical idea - like I was going to drive a red car or have 7 kids.
- I actually did want to have 7 kids.
- I can't stand reality TV.
- I can daydream into tomorrow if I'm not careful.
- I have a basket fetish.
- Ferns are my favourite plant.
I think I'll tag Jude, Kylie and TBD
Schemes!
It's no secret that one of my kids is a picky eater. DD will only eat from a list of about 10, maybe 15 things, all bland, all dry, all single foods. She won't eat anything with a sauce and hates to have her food touch or mixed. Can you see OCD tendencies?
Anyway, one of the things that she's dead set against is pizza. We only have to suggest pizza for dinner and there's wailing and gnashing of teeth. So this morning, when she say quite clearly
"Mom, I tried pepperoni pizza. I liked it"
"Oh really?" My almost nonexistent eyebrows are about level with my hairline. I'm waiting for the punchline.
"That means we can go to Chuck E Cheese now right?"
Ah, the other shoe dropped! For those unfamiliar with Chuck E. Cheese, it's a children's arcade who's sole reason for being is to take your money. In a desperate attempt to keep you there as long as possible, they offer assorted fast cardboard meals, most of which are cooked in a microwave and arrives about 2 hours after you've ordered from the 13 yr old serving staff. If I remember correctly it's either pizza substitue or wings substitute.
I can't stand the place - it looks and sounds Lord of the Flies in a room of pokie machines. I've been able to avoid the place by saying that there's nothing there that she'd eat - namely pizza but it appears that she has overcome that last hurdle. I'm going to have to test this quite vigorously before commiting to risking my sanity.
Anyway, one of the things that she's dead set against is pizza. We only have to suggest pizza for dinner and there's wailing and gnashing of teeth. So this morning, when she say quite clearly
"Mom, I tried pepperoni pizza. I liked it"
"Oh really?" My almost nonexistent eyebrows are about level with my hairline. I'm waiting for the punchline.
"That means we can go to Chuck E Cheese now right?"
Ah, the other shoe dropped! For those unfamiliar with Chuck E. Cheese, it's a children's arcade who's sole reason for being is to take your money. In a desperate attempt to keep you there as long as possible, they offer assorted fast cardboard meals, most of which are cooked in a microwave and arrives about 2 hours after you've ordered from the 13 yr old serving staff. If I remember correctly it's either pizza substitue or wings substitute.
I can't stand the place - it looks and sounds Lord of the Flies in a room of pokie machines. I've been able to avoid the place by saying that there's nothing there that she'd eat - namely pizza but it appears that she has overcome that last hurdle. I'm going to have to test this quite vigorously before commiting to risking my sanity.
October 20, 2008
Well, I did it!
After weeks of fighting with kidlets about cleaning the playroom, picking up their stuff and putting their toys away, the boom dropped. I told them over the weekend that "On Monday when you're at school, I'm going to throw away anything that's on the floor so make sure that you put anything you want to keep away"
They thought I was playing....
I collected 3 garbage bags worth of assorted trash, toys and craft items and they are currently on the curb awaiting pickup. I think there are going to be a couple pairs of very large eyes after school this afternoon. Ah....
They thought I was playing....
I collected 3 garbage bags worth of assorted trash, toys and craft items and they are currently on the curb awaiting pickup. I think there are going to be a couple pairs of very large eyes after school this afternoon. Ah....
October 12, 2008
Doh!
Well, I didn't make the Scrap4Life DT team. The last challenge was a Christmas themed OTP item and I did a mantel setting. Yes, yes, we don't have mantels in Florida but I did one all the same. It started off with the clock and I decided it needed candles around it and that spawned the circular NOEL and the trees but thetrees were too big for the circle so they got their own spot. Ideally the clock would be between the 2 sets of candles, maybe 6" over the surface.
Here are some close ups -
Here's the clock. I completely lost focus on the fact that the clock frame is pink so it doesn't quite match the blue theme I was going for...
Here a shot of the candles on the table.
I was having a serious mojo deficiency with all the stuff that was happening during the week too and I wasn't sure if I was going to get it in on time but it happened. I'm a little bummed out but that's ok, it just means that there's something else for me coming round the corner. The girls that did make it are really really deserving as well so it's all good.
Here are some close ups -
Here's the clock. I completely lost focus on the fact that the clock frame is pink so it doesn't quite match the blue theme I was going for...
Here a shot of the candles on the table.
I was having a serious mojo deficiency with all the stuff that was happening during the week too and I wasn't sure if I was going to get it in on time but it happened. I'm a little bummed out but that's ok, it just means that there's something else for me coming round the corner. The girls that did make it are really really deserving as well so it's all good.
October 10, 2008
Ugh - it's been an eventful week...
This week did NOT start well and it's ending isn't very relaxing either. Monday, we had to go to the kids' school for the little one's parent conference. After hearing that he's clearly the most advanced and well adjusted child in the class and that he's been telling embarrassing stories about me, the car decided to go on strike and not move.
Eventually it gets towed to the shop to find out that the shifter cable's snapped and it needs to stay overnight and have a new shifter installed. Thank God for good neighbours. They came out while the car was getting dragged up the tow bed and offered us their extra car while ours was getting fixed.
Did I mention that while all this was going on, DH was away? At least he was around most of Monday but with getting the car back and dealing with a bunch of crap that came up out of the blue along the way, I'm really tired right now. Tuesday was getting all the stuff I missed from Monday done, Wednesday was still playing catch up and dragging them all over for after school stuff, kids had a school holiday yesterday, DS is home today sick. At least he's supposed to be sick. If I didn't know that he projectile puked all over the back seat floor, I'd be packing him back to class. He NEVER pukes - I think I can count all the times he's puked like that on one hand - so just in case, we felt he should stay home. He's not acting sick though...
In between all of this, I needed to get my project for the DT Comp I'm in, it's the make or break it week and I bit off more than I could chew. This thing took on a life on its own and I went a little overboard so now I need a nap. It's done and photographed thank goodness. Will find out on Sunday, fingers crossed.
Eventually it gets towed to the shop to find out that the shifter cable's snapped and it needs to stay overnight and have a new shifter installed. Thank God for good neighbours. They came out while the car was getting dragged up the tow bed and offered us their extra car while ours was getting fixed.
Did I mention that while all this was going on, DH was away? At least he was around most of Monday but with getting the car back and dealing with a bunch of crap that came up out of the blue along the way, I'm really tired right now. Tuesday was getting all the stuff I missed from Monday done, Wednesday was still playing catch up and dragging them all over for after school stuff, kids had a school holiday yesterday, DS is home today sick. At least he's supposed to be sick. If I didn't know that he projectile puked all over the back seat floor, I'd be packing him back to class. He NEVER pukes - I think I can count all the times he's puked like that on one hand - so just in case, we felt he should stay home. He's not acting sick though...
In between all of this, I needed to get my project for the DT Comp I'm in, it's the make or break it week and I bit off more than I could chew. This thing took on a life on its own and I went a little overboard so now I need a nap. It's done and photographed thank goodness. Will find out on Sunday, fingers crossed.
October 6, 2008
Round 4
Woo hoo!! I've made it to Round 4 in the Scrap 4 Life DT Contest and I am chuffed!! Last challenge was to use paper piecing in the layout and that's not something I do at all. Came up with this:
Here's the fairy on the left as I was trying to leave it alone to dry
This was one of the more painful challenges since I really needed to think of something that I'd use. Die cuts and paper piecing are NOT my go to items. I am really pleased with how it turned out though.
Off to have a think now on the next one...
Here's the fairy on the left as I was trying to leave it alone to dry
This was one of the more painful challenges since I really needed to think of something that I'd use. Die cuts and paper piecing are NOT my go to items. I am really pleased with how it turned out though.
Off to have a think now on the next one...
October 5, 2008
True Blood and books
Ok, I've had a vampire fixation since I was about 3. One of my earliest memories is watching Dark Shadows with my grandparents, howling with the wolf. The last 30-humph years of my life has been littered with countless books and movies about Count Dracula and his ilk, Christopher Lee was my favourite bad guy. Needless to say, this my tastes have expanded to all sorts of other sci-fi and fantasy but the undead has always topped the list.
I'm very geeked about the True Blood series that's been airing on TV for the past few weeks, they've made a few character changes from the original books by the FABULOUS Charlaine Harris. As an aside, I've been a fan of her books for many many years and I love her books' character development and social commentary. Anyway, back to True Blood, I'm finding that I'm making time to sit and watch it and I never do that and I think part of the reason is all the eye candy that's parading across the screen. Whatever the reason, I'm there!
Now there's the Twilight movie coming out and I'm a little miffed that I don't have the rest of my books yet. I bought the first Twilight book when it first published about 4, maybe 5 years ago and I didn't get the rest because I thought the publishers were taking too long to release them, I made the decision that I'd get all of them once the last one came out. Having said that, I'm waiting for my box set and my fingers are drumming...
After all this, the only vampire books I can't read are the ones by Laurel Hamilton. For some reason I can't get into them and trust me, I've tried many times but Miss L.A Banks is my next target.
I'm very geeked about the True Blood series that's been airing on TV for the past few weeks, they've made a few character changes from the original books by the FABULOUS Charlaine Harris. As an aside, I've been a fan of her books for many many years and I love her books' character development and social commentary. Anyway, back to True Blood, I'm finding that I'm making time to sit and watch it and I never do that and I think part of the reason is all the eye candy that's parading across the screen. Whatever the reason, I'm there!
Now there's the Twilight movie coming out and I'm a little miffed that I don't have the rest of my books yet. I bought the first Twilight book when it first published about 4, maybe 5 years ago and I didn't get the rest because I thought the publishers were taking too long to release them, I made the decision that I'd get all of them once the last one came out. Having said that, I'm waiting for my box set and my fingers are drumming...
After all this, the only vampire books I can't read are the ones by Laurel Hamilton. For some reason I can't get into them and trust me, I've tried many times but Miss L.A Banks is my next target.
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