I just wanted to come here and brag about the successes of a boy I spent my childhood growing up with 6 months out of the year. Jesse, (who was once my defacto step brother and eventually became my younger brother's half brother, yep, we're one of those families) finished his first novel "The Con" which was highly commended in the ABC fiction award! It has been published by ABC Books and is being released on Wednesday!! The Con was described as being "a beautifully written, scalpel-sharp examination of the promises and betrayals of creativity and the people and the choices who make us who we are". You gotta be happy with THAT!!
Jesse spent half of his year with his Mum in the big smoke and then half of it with us in the sticks were he would educate me and Nick on all the trends in popular culture that had occurred since last time he saw us and that we would so obviously remain ignorant if it wasn't for his annual visits. He provided all the cultural capital we could need if we were suddenly deposited into the real world - The Starwars Trilogy, The Goonies, technical lego, the knowledge of the delights of something called "Macca's"... In turn, I credit myself with his ability to make a mean cubby and the bravado to tackle the most rugged and dangerous rides in the go-cart. He was my comrade in the war against having to eat disgusting things like powdered milk and liver and onions! He was the kind of kid who would draw himself pictures of the world map and label all the countries and capitals and major land formations when he was like 8 years old...for FUN!! Even though I'm sure he thought of us as completely backwards he did alright with us... he didn't mind so much when I refused to roleplay Princess Leia (I was a Hans Solo kinda girl)and he appreciated the Monkey Magic headbands I made for him out of paper and feltpens.
Anyway in honor of Jesse the writer my question for this Monday is: Are you a touch-typist? (ie. do you use the correct finger postioning without the need to look at your keyboard.)
Happy New Years Everyone!!! My resolution is to exorcise the Screaming Banshee Woman - to speak in a measured and calm voice as much as I possibly can!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Since Christmas
Well Christmas has been and gone and ours was like many other I suppose - sweating it out in our furry Christmas hats while stuffing ourselves with way too much food, trying to rig up some makeshift cooling mechanisms in the ridiculously hot weather and of course ending the daylight hours with some sporting activity - in our case trying not to loose the soccer ball down Mum's 80 degree mountainside ...
My brother Nicholas arrived here early Christmas morning with a couple of six packs of Woodstocks, so my plans of a quiet, snuggly, Christmas morning with Greg and Bubby (and Izzy on speakerphone) went out the window, he blared his personal play list out of the computer all morning and when I made my stern request for carols he put on South Park's Christmas Special. GRRR!
The food, as always was exceptional. Except instead of trying our luck in finding the gold coins inside the pudding it was finding-the-tip-of-Biggy's-finger-inside-the-coleslaw. (Just joking. He assured us he already fished it out before he added the mayo'.) All in all, a very noice day.
As I was telling Izzy on the phone the other day, the rooster has gone absolutely feral. It crows all hours of the day and night. It humps thongs. If you go through the front door and come too close to his beloved thongs he swoops in, grabs a hunk of the skin on top of your foot with it's beak and latches on with venom! Friggin' hurts too!! Picture me, shaking off this rooster who takes a piece of my flesh with it, screaming in rage, picking up one of his darling shoes (probably with a mound of rooster jism on it) and pegging it full speed, meeting my target fair and square with a spray of feathers! This place is a circus!
Anakin's language development has accelerated to the max. I've started teaching him Wiggles songs like "Hot Potato" that have hand movements that go with it. Yesterday I bought him a Wiggles Concert DVD - besides some cricket and tennis, So You Think You Can Dance and Survivor, it's the only telle he's watched. I think he's going to be a full Wiggles convert, just like Izzy was ten years ago.
A tip for the ladies - if you want to keep your man inside the house to help with the baby and the housework rather than dissappearing out to the shed etc, just get around the house with no gear on. They can't drag themselves away! Ha ha. It's been working for me for the last hour or so...(I do have astounding breasts...JOKE!)
I've been trying to pinpoint the unwritten rules I live by for a writing challenge for Thirty Voices. Man, I can't come up with much. I must be completely undisciplined or something.
Izzy's been having a blast with his dad. They've been to Luna Park, swimming at Bondi and are planning to climb the bridge.
And that reminds me Paul and his girlfriend tracked down a rare copy of my favourite book "Hanta Yo" for me! I can't wait to get my hands on it when Izzy brings it back home. What an awesome present. If they start reading it before Iz leaves though, they're never going to want to give it to me...it's THAT good!
I came home from the shops with negative 65 cents in my account yesterday. I thought I was keeping myself in check, avoiding the aisle with the half price 1000 threadcount sheets and everything. Besides Anakin's DVD I ended up getting Izzy a big Zebra stripe mat that goes well with his new cotton doona cover, as I'd been wanting to revamp his room a bit while he was away and a very well priced weights bench for Greg which (since realising the urgent state of my finances) he will be paying me back for! I think I can stop spending money now and just look forward to making some!!
My brother Nicholas arrived here early Christmas morning with a couple of six packs of Woodstocks, so my plans of a quiet, snuggly, Christmas morning with Greg and Bubby (and Izzy on speakerphone) went out the window, he blared his personal play list out of the computer all morning and when I made my stern request for carols he put on South Park's Christmas Special. GRRR!
The food, as always was exceptional. Except instead of trying our luck in finding the gold coins inside the pudding it was finding-the-tip-of-Biggy's-finger-inside-the-coleslaw. (Just joking. He assured us he already fished it out before he added the mayo'.) All in all, a very noice day.
As I was telling Izzy on the phone the other day, the rooster has gone absolutely feral. It crows all hours of the day and night. It humps thongs. If you go through the front door and come too close to his beloved thongs he swoops in, grabs a hunk of the skin on top of your foot with it's beak and latches on with venom! Friggin' hurts too!! Picture me, shaking off this rooster who takes a piece of my flesh with it, screaming in rage, picking up one of his darling shoes (probably with a mound of rooster jism on it) and pegging it full speed, meeting my target fair and square with a spray of feathers! This place is a circus!
Anakin's language development has accelerated to the max. I've started teaching him Wiggles songs like "Hot Potato" that have hand movements that go with it. Yesterday I bought him a Wiggles Concert DVD - besides some cricket and tennis, So You Think You Can Dance and Survivor, it's the only telle he's watched. I think he's going to be a full Wiggles convert, just like Izzy was ten years ago.
A tip for the ladies - if you want to keep your man inside the house to help with the baby and the housework rather than dissappearing out to the shed etc, just get around the house with no gear on. They can't drag themselves away! Ha ha. It's been working for me for the last hour or so...(I do have astounding breasts...JOKE!)
I've been trying to pinpoint the unwritten rules I live by for a writing challenge for Thirty Voices. Man, I can't come up with much. I must be completely undisciplined or something.
Izzy's been having a blast with his dad. They've been to Luna Park, swimming at Bondi and are planning to climb the bridge.
And that reminds me Paul and his girlfriend tracked down a rare copy of my favourite book "Hanta Yo" for me! I can't wait to get my hands on it when Izzy brings it back home. What an awesome present. If they start reading it before Iz leaves though, they're never going to want to give it to me...it's THAT good!
I came home from the shops with negative 65 cents in my account yesterday. I thought I was keeping myself in check, avoiding the aisle with the half price 1000 threadcount sheets and everything. Besides Anakin's DVD I ended up getting Izzy a big Zebra stripe mat that goes well with his new cotton doona cover, as I'd been wanting to revamp his room a bit while he was away and a very well priced weights bench for Greg which (since realising the urgent state of my finances) he will be paying me back for! I think I can stop spending money now and just look forward to making some!!
Monday, December 24, 2007
She Came!
I got to see the over excitable, atypical little nymphette early this morning. She stayed for a couple of hours and then went off in search of the next adventure. She cracks me up - she is totally lacking conventional schooling, but if you wanna know how to soften and kill a chook ready for eating, or how to a catch a barra', just ask Kyra. While she was here she unravelled this 7 foot long, King Brown snake skin that she had tanned! It was making a menace of itself, hanging around her camp up the Pascoe so her dad killed it with a shovel. It musta been HUGE! I'm already looking forward to the next time I see her.
Now as a tribute to Kyra the next question I will pose to you is: What has been your favourite costume that you've ever worn to a fancy dress party or performance. (JT please answer this one!)
Kyra hosted a Heroes and Villains party a few years back. I dressed as Rollergirl, coz she was my hero from Boogie Nights. I'd enhanced these hotpants with all kinds of pink ribbons and sequins and made fuzzy pink covers for my rollerblades, which I wore the entire night - even moshing in their little jam room. It was so much fun. We were like a bunch of kids running amok. She made a Xena Warrior Princess costume and looked totally convincing! So tell us, what has been your best costume? I'm dying to know!
I fell in love with a Cashmere Pine Christmas tree at KMart yesterday. I really want to buy a big one for next year but I'm pretty broke after all the shopping lately and I'm hoping it will be reduced even further after Boxing Day.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS XX
Now as a tribute to Kyra the next question I will pose to you is: What has been your favourite costume that you've ever worn to a fancy dress party or performance. (JT please answer this one!)
Kyra hosted a Heroes and Villains party a few years back. I dressed as Rollergirl, coz she was my hero from Boogie Nights. I'd enhanced these hotpants with all kinds of pink ribbons and sequins and made fuzzy pink covers for my rollerblades, which I wore the entire night - even moshing in their little jam room. It was so much fun. We were like a bunch of kids running amok. She made a Xena Warrior Princess costume and looked totally convincing! So tell us, what has been your best costume? I'm dying to know!
I fell in love with a Cashmere Pine Christmas tree at KMart yesterday. I really want to buy a big one for next year but I'm pretty broke after all the shopping lately and I'm hoping it will be reduced even further after Boxing Day.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS XX
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Food and Friends
I've stumbled upon the best combination of foods for a big bowl of breakfast (I'm talking BIG), you've gotta try it it's YUM: Bowen mango, cherries, fresh dates, Brazil nuts, - chop it all up and mix it with organic yogurt and a sprinkling of Carmans toasted nut muesli. Mmm-mm!! I was eating something similar all through mango season when I was pregnant with Anakin - no wonder he was monstrous! Sounds like I'm a bit of a health freak but there was a time last week when it occured to me that I'd eaten cake for breakfast about 3 times in a row. I like the best of both worlds. I just love tasty food.
Speaking of food, I have been assigned the "Fruit Platter" for our Christmas brunch at Nick's. Where we'll be enjoying croisants and ham and eggs and sweets as well. I also have been allocated the Christmas trifle for dessert after an early roast turkey dinner at Mum's along with my famous potato salad, which I make with lots of tasty bacon and onion, parsley, walnuts, boiled eggs and lashings of whole egg mayo'. I've also got everything I need to make rocky-road, and already have a container of dark chocolate cherry and macadamia truffles in the fridge. Man I love a good feast but seriously the New Year needs to herald a commitment to some serious exercise!
I came home today to a loaded grumicharma tree and picked a huge container full. We've also got loads of carambolas on, which Bubby hooks into all the time exclaiming "yum! YUM-MY!" with juice dripping all over him. Looks like a huge crop of black sapotes coming on too. It so good to be able to wander down the yard and eat stuff straight off the trees. Anakin just LOVES it! If he's a bit skeptical about trying something, say cherries, I just have to emphasise to him "It's a TREE cherry Bubby! It came off the tree! Eat it up." And he does. I'm totally thankful to my mum - she's the one who's planted trees her entire life. She spends her entire weekends (when she's not linedancing!) in her orchard and when she's run out of work there she comes down to do some in mine. She is legendary. No joke.
The cubby is finished too! Mum made the curtains for it and hung them up while we were away over the weekend. Another surprise when we arrived home! It looks really cute and I can't wait to post pix. (Iz took the camera to Sydney.)
I had a girlfriend ring up out of the blue today, she's been up the Cape for the last 6 months and I'm really excited in the hope that I might see her here tomorrow. I love her for being such a spirited party girl and she loves my brutal honesty. She's thrown the best cocktail and fancy-dress parties I've ever been to, in the most out-of-the-way depths of the bush! And I've provided a haven for her to stay when she's overstepped the boundaries of her marriage just that little too far (or usually in her case - a lot too far!) We grew up in a similarly unconventional family environment and can understand each other well. She's a doll and I haven't seen her since...
Speaking of food, I have been assigned the "Fruit Platter" for our Christmas brunch at Nick's. Where we'll be enjoying croisants and ham and eggs and sweets as well. I also have been allocated the Christmas trifle for dessert after an early roast turkey dinner at Mum's along with my famous potato salad, which I make with lots of tasty bacon and onion, parsley, walnuts, boiled eggs and lashings of whole egg mayo'. I've also got everything I need to make rocky-road, and already have a container of dark chocolate cherry and macadamia truffles in the fridge. Man I love a good feast but seriously the New Year needs to herald a commitment to some serious exercise!
I came home today to a loaded grumicharma tree and picked a huge container full. We've also got loads of carambolas on, which Bubby hooks into all the time exclaiming "yum! YUM-MY!" with juice dripping all over him. Looks like a huge crop of black sapotes coming on too. It so good to be able to wander down the yard and eat stuff straight off the trees. Anakin just LOVES it! If he's a bit skeptical about trying something, say cherries, I just have to emphasise to him "It's a TREE cherry Bubby! It came off the tree! Eat it up." And he does. I'm totally thankful to my mum - she's the one who's planted trees her entire life. She spends her entire weekends (when she's not linedancing!) in her orchard and when she's run out of work there she comes down to do some in mine. She is legendary. No joke.
The cubby is finished too! Mum made the curtains for it and hung them up while we were away over the weekend. Another surprise when we arrived home! It looks really cute and I can't wait to post pix. (Iz took the camera to Sydney.)
I had a girlfriend ring up out of the blue today, she's been up the Cape for the last 6 months and I'm really excited in the hope that I might see her here tomorrow. I love her for being such a spirited party girl and she loves my brutal honesty. She's thrown the best cocktail and fancy-dress parties I've ever been to, in the most out-of-the-way depths of the bush! And I've provided a haven for her to stay when she's overstepped the boundaries of her marriage just that little too far (or usually in her case - a lot too far!) We grew up in a similarly unconventional family environment and can understand each other well. She's a doll and I haven't seen her since...
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Getting it good.
In the wee hours of yesterday morning I left Izzy in the capable hands of a perpetually smiling Qantas flight attendant and gave him a final wave from out the front of Rusty's Market as his plane to Sydney flew overhead. We're going to miss him big-time, but in saying that, minus the oldest kid, our sex life has suddenly gone into overdrive. I told Greg weeks ago that while he was on Christmas holidays, Izzy was away and Anakin asleep, he'd get plenty of daytime sex (my favourite kind) and sometimes it's a drag keeping promises but not this time! (Well look, nobody asked ya to read!) Imagine how good he's gunna get it when all the kids grow up and leave home. Hey, there's a bright side to everything.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Cock-a-doodle-DON'T!
I asked my brother for some help with a good Monday survey question and he wanted me to ask if you looked at your poo in the toilet bowl before you flush it. I said "EWW!! NICHOLAS!! They're all ladies!! They're not going to want to answer a question like that!!! They'll think I'm depraved" But oddly he's kinda made me curious...JOKING!! Oh and that reminds me, he also wanted to know if you get turned on by inanimate objects. That one has got me thinking..
Anyway, my question for you today is: (And thank-you for last week, I think I'm going to have to replace all my dud knives with some sharp ones!) Do you collect anything specifically? My sister is a big collector, she has a beautiful collection of teddy bears and teapots. I'm not too into it, all I have is a collection of Izzy's baby teeth! Oh and I've collected a pile of commemorative 50cent pieces. What about you?
Greg bought me the most beautiful set of bikini's yesterday! The top is a moulded triangle 50's style halter and the bottoms are a pair of roll top boy legs with side ruching. They are so modest but really flattering. I love em!! They're a lot like these but the bottoms aren't so skimpy and the fabric on mine has a black background with an abstract palm frond print in different shades of green.
As Izzy would say "Cool Clarky!"
About my chicken in the laundry; me and Greg woke up to this garbled sounding "Cock-a-doodle-doo!!" a couple of mornings ago and half asleep we responded simultaneously "Oh no. It's a rooster!" Shit. We were hoping to get some eggs any day now.
Anyway, my question for you today is: (And thank-you for last week, I think I'm going to have to replace all my dud knives with some sharp ones!) Do you collect anything specifically? My sister is a big collector, she has a beautiful collection of teddy bears and teapots. I'm not too into it, all I have is a collection of Izzy's baby teeth! Oh and I've collected a pile of commemorative 50cent pieces. What about you?
Greg bought me the most beautiful set of bikini's yesterday! The top is a moulded triangle 50's style halter and the bottoms are a pair of roll top boy legs with side ruching. They are so modest but really flattering. I love em!! They're a lot like these but the bottoms aren't so skimpy and the fabric on mine has a black background with an abstract palm frond print in different shades of green.
As Izzy would say "Cool Clarky!"
About my chicken in the laundry; me and Greg woke up to this garbled sounding "Cock-a-doodle-doo!!" a couple of mornings ago and half asleep we responded simultaneously "Oh no. It's a rooster!" Shit. We were hoping to get some eggs any day now.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Pix and Pink Bits
Jingle Bell Joe:
This is Anakin with his hoard of farm animals that came out of his stocking yesterday. He was doing an Ozzy Osbourne for a while there with a chicken hanging out of his mouth.
With his baby-doll who he has named "Bocky" (He cuddled it tenderly for awhile and then started repeatedly rapping it over the head!)
Yep, just like my profile pick, but you can see the colours through it. (My God, is my nose really that pointy?!)
I went to a local girl's 40th "Pink Party" last night. A list of pink things made a border around the invite: Pink frocks, pink cocktails, pink boas, pink lipstick... It went on to list "pink bits" and "pink pills" and specifically instructed to leave your inhibitions and children at home. Bit saucy! I'm no prude with my man in the parameters of my relationship but I'm not into, whatdoyacallit? umm, swinging! But I took my chances and went for a laugh. I had to drive home so behaved myself and only had a couple drinks. It was good to mix with some old local yokels. Working at the school I tend to know everyone as such-n-such's Mum or Dad. Had a bonding session with my ex-boyfriends girlfriend. She's a real hippy-fairy waif of a girl, much more suited to his New Age Aquarian Gospel, John Butler loving self. She was telling me how desperately they wanted a little acreage to grow vege's etc and it really reinforced how fortunate I am that my dream has been manifested (her word) into reality!
Anyway there was some awesome costumes - some chick even came dressed as a giant pink lamington! And I was stoked coz I had an excuse to wear these deadly shoes I bought from the op-shop once.
How cool are they? Except they're so tiny I'm not even completely sure they are even meant to be worn as shoes. I think they're actually ornaments that a tourist brought home from some oriental country. More likely a Provence of China where they still like to practice foot-binding! As tight as they were (I felt like that chick from the IT Crowd) I still had to wear socks with them (making it even more of a task jamming my feet into them). HAVING to wear socks with second hand shoes could be listed as one of my rules in life!
This is Anakin with his hoard of farm animals that came out of his stocking yesterday. He was doing an Ozzy Osbourne for a while there with a chicken hanging out of his mouth.
With his baby-doll who he has named "Bocky" (He cuddled it tenderly for awhile and then started repeatedly rapping it over the head!)
Yep, just like my profile pick, but you can see the colours through it. (My God, is my nose really that pointy?!)
I went to a local girl's 40th "Pink Party" last night. A list of pink things made a border around the invite: Pink frocks, pink cocktails, pink boas, pink lipstick... It went on to list "pink bits" and "pink pills" and specifically instructed to leave your inhibitions and children at home. Bit saucy! I'm no prude with my man in the parameters of my relationship but I'm not into, whatdoyacallit? umm, swinging! But I took my chances and went for a laugh. I had to drive home so behaved myself and only had a couple drinks. It was good to mix with some old local yokels. Working at the school I tend to know everyone as such-n-such's Mum or Dad. Had a bonding session with my ex-boyfriends girlfriend. She's a real hippy-fairy waif of a girl, much more suited to his New Age Aquarian Gospel, John Butler loving self. She was telling me how desperately they wanted a little acreage to grow vege's etc and it really reinforced how fortunate I am that my dream has been manifested (her word) into reality!
Anyway there was some awesome costumes - some chick even came dressed as a giant pink lamington! And I was stoked coz I had an excuse to wear these deadly shoes I bought from the op-shop once.
How cool are they? Except they're so tiny I'm not even completely sure they are even meant to be worn as shoes. I think they're actually ornaments that a tourist brought home from some oriental country. More likely a Provence of China where they still like to practice foot-binding! As tight as they were (I felt like that chick from the IT Crowd) I still had to wear socks with them (making it even more of a task jamming my feet into them). HAVING to wear socks with second hand shoes could be listed as one of my rules in life!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Jingle Bell Joe the Jolly Elf
That was Izzy's pen name when he replied to one of the Grade 1's Santa letters on Wednesday. How cute. I'm always going to think of him as Jingle Bell Joe now and laugh.
Another late night, but I'm all ready for the kids early present opening session in the morning. Oh, except that Izzy's new tramp is still in the box! Greg has crashed-out super early. Apparently his big day spent at home alone with Anakin has completely drained him. (I hope he has a new found appreciation of what I accomplish every day!) I've tried to wake him several times but he's not budging. We'll have to do it early in the morning. I can't wait! I've bought Anakin this most beautiful baby-boy doll and I know he's going to love it so much!
Well I like what she did to my hair! (Sorry Kim, no pics yet my camera is on the blink) I just look more like my profile picture again really. Except it's even shorter still. She used a razor for the entire cut, in a kinda freestyle way and it's been coloured for the first time in for ages! A dark chocolaty colour and some caramel too. Except she put some fine, really light foils through it here and there and I dunno about the contrast! I would prefer it without I think! Anyway I've got to give the girl credit, I was completely indecisive when I arrived and she managed to talk it out with me and negotiate all my mixed messages, bear with me when I messed it all up playing around with it midcut, take my criticisms and follow my instructions while probably going against her own creative urges and make me a fairly well satisfied customer! Legendary!
The kids and I dressed in our Christmas clobber (Mum's word) and went down to the Village Green Christmas Party last night. Santa's last word before he headed off in his 4WD was to Anakin! He said "Bye-bye little fella" and rubbed his arm. How cool. The kids looked sweet and had tourists taking happysnaps of them (a bit strange) while we were eating our fishermans' basket dinner. On the way home we did a bit of a drive around to look at lights while playing Christmas carols on the car stereo. It was fun. I'm determined to get in as much Christmassy stuff with Izzy as I can before he heads of down South!
Another late night, but I'm all ready for the kids early present opening session in the morning. Oh, except that Izzy's new tramp is still in the box! Greg has crashed-out super early. Apparently his big day spent at home alone with Anakin has completely drained him. (I hope he has a new found appreciation of what I accomplish every day!) I've tried to wake him several times but he's not budging. We'll have to do it early in the morning. I can't wait! I've bought Anakin this most beautiful baby-boy doll and I know he's going to love it so much!
Well I like what she did to my hair! (Sorry Kim, no pics yet my camera is on the blink) I just look more like my profile picture again really. Except it's even shorter still. She used a razor for the entire cut, in a kinda freestyle way and it's been coloured for the first time in for ages! A dark chocolaty colour and some caramel too. Except she put some fine, really light foils through it here and there and I dunno about the contrast! I would prefer it without I think! Anyway I've got to give the girl credit, I was completely indecisive when I arrived and she managed to talk it out with me and negotiate all my mixed messages, bear with me when I messed it all up playing around with it midcut, take my criticisms and follow my instructions while probably going against her own creative urges and make me a fairly well satisfied customer! Legendary!
The kids and I dressed in our Christmas clobber (Mum's word) and went down to the Village Green Christmas Party last night. Santa's last word before he headed off in his 4WD was to Anakin! He said "Bye-bye little fella" and rubbed his arm. How cool. The kids looked sweet and had tourists taking happysnaps of them (a bit strange) while we were eating our fishermans' basket dinner. On the way home we did a bit of a drive around to look at lights while playing Christmas carols on the car stereo. It was fun. I'm determined to get in as much Christmassy stuff with Izzy as I can before he heads of down South!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Hot digs
Anakin met Santa for the first time yesterday. He was walking up the mainstreet of one of the local towns ringing his bell (and NOT singing out "Ho ho ho!"). Anakin's eyes were big round saucers as he shook Santa's white gloved hand. I was brought to distraction feeling sorry for the guy in that ridiculously hot looking suit in the ridiculously stinking hot weather. Anyway under all the white beard he looked like a nice Santa and Anakin enjoyed their little interlude.
I remember when Izzy was Anakins age and we would be hanging out in the shops during the festive seasons I would always have to be on the lookout for Santa (and the Easter Bunny) and get outta there pronto if we saw them coming. The poor boy he would practically have a nervous breakdown in my arms if he caught sight of them, his body would start shaking all over in fear. Totally spun him out. A life sized talking bunny and a massive bearded man dressed completely out of season just didn't add up for him at all! Took him a few years to get over that phobia.
He was a bit of a stress case at times though. I think he was three when he started having these tantrums about aging. He would kick and scream and sob "I don't wanna be old!! I don't wanna be a Grandpa!!! I don't wanna get wrinkles and die!!! AHRRR!!!"
I don't think Anakin's going to turn out to be so complex as Izzy. Izzy is all cerebral. Anakin's totally physical.
Izz had his school breakup concert last night and this little girl energetically bouncing out the nutbush with her cute little crop of curls bouncing up and down along with her made me want Greg's daughter bad. That feeling comes and goes a lot. The problem is I want one that's already half grown up. Going on grade 4 or so. Reckon Santa will bring me one for Christmas?
I remember when Izzy was Anakins age and we would be hanging out in the shops during the festive seasons I would always have to be on the lookout for Santa (and the Easter Bunny) and get outta there pronto if we saw them coming. The poor boy he would practically have a nervous breakdown in my arms if he caught sight of them, his body would start shaking all over in fear. Totally spun him out. A life sized talking bunny and a massive bearded man dressed completely out of season just didn't add up for him at all! Took him a few years to get over that phobia.
He was a bit of a stress case at times though. I think he was three when he started having these tantrums about aging. He would kick and scream and sob "I don't wanna be old!! I don't wanna be a Grandpa!!! I don't wanna get wrinkles and die!!! AHRRR!!!"
I don't think Anakin's going to turn out to be so complex as Izzy. Izzy is all cerebral. Anakin's totally physical.
Izz had his school breakup concert last night and this little girl energetically bouncing out the nutbush with her cute little crop of curls bouncing up and down along with her made me want Greg's daughter bad. That feeling comes and goes a lot. The problem is I want one that's already half grown up. Going on grade 4 or so. Reckon Santa will bring me one for Christmas?
Monday, December 10, 2007
"Make Me Current"
I've booked myself a hairdresser's appointment on Friday and I'm finally going to get to use that line. I tell you what though, I hope they know what they're doing - I've got the finest most flyaway, difficult-to-manage hair and I don't know what it's doing these days - since having Anakin half of it has fallen out and I've lost all my curl! It's a sad, sad state of affairs. Me and my neighbour have booked in together and we'll be doing a little bit coffeshoppin' beforehand. Yay! Greg's first day of holidays and I'm going to be leaving him to it!
Man I'm so glad survivor is back on telle coz there hasn't been anything decent on for ages. Bubby had to stay awake through the two hour special last night as I couldn't drag myself away to put him to bed! That yummy gravedigger had me squirming around in my seat, he's got to win for sure! Mmm-mm.
I'm hoping Greg's going to buy me a big roll of black plastic at work in the next couple of days so the kids can have a slip-n-slide in the yard all holidays.
The boys are opening their prezzies early this year (Saturday) because Big Brussie will be down in Sydney on the 25th. His Dad better look after him real good!! I can imagine the plane being full of boys and girls making the trip to see their absent fathers for the school holidays.
Anakin is starting swimming lessons with my neighbour this arve. When I ask him if he wants to go for a visit next door he goes "Swim? Swim?" She's only charging me $5 a lesson. Bargain!
Izzy is having a total bludge week at school. Today he's doing weaving all day. Tomorrow he'll probably be having dress rehearsals for the school concert and some Christmas craft. Thursday they're watching movies and Friday is clean-up day.
Twice this week I've found myself with my head buried deep into the wheelie bin. The first time I explained to Izzy that, even though I'd love to, I can't keep all his school books year after year, that we just don't have room for anything (same old story) and that after having a real good look through them and tearing out all the blank pages for recycling, I'd just have to bite the bullet and chuck them in the bin. He couldn't have cared less. Well they spent one night in there 'till the guilt set in and I pulled them all back out. I'll damn well find room...somewhere! Second time I thought I must have thrown out Izzy's new keycard and pin as I realised they should have been in the mail a few days ago and my usual form is just to chuck bank stuff out (reminder to self - inform the bank I access my statements on line.) After dragging through all the wheelie-bin contents AGAIN I found it in the letter box. Doh!
Man I'm so glad survivor is back on telle coz there hasn't been anything decent on for ages. Bubby had to stay awake through the two hour special last night as I couldn't drag myself away to put him to bed! That yummy gravedigger had me squirming around in my seat, he's got to win for sure! Mmm-mm.
I'm hoping Greg's going to buy me a big roll of black plastic at work in the next couple of days so the kids can have a slip-n-slide in the yard all holidays.
The boys are opening their prezzies early this year (Saturday) because Big Brussie will be down in Sydney on the 25th. His Dad better look after him real good!! I can imagine the plane being full of boys and girls making the trip to see their absent fathers for the school holidays.
Anakin is starting swimming lessons with my neighbour this arve. When I ask him if he wants to go for a visit next door he goes "Swim? Swim?" She's only charging me $5 a lesson. Bargain!
Izzy is having a total bludge week at school. Today he's doing weaving all day. Tomorrow he'll probably be having dress rehearsals for the school concert and some Christmas craft. Thursday they're watching movies and Friday is clean-up day.
Twice this week I've found myself with my head buried deep into the wheelie bin. The first time I explained to Izzy that, even though I'd love to, I can't keep all his school books year after year, that we just don't have room for anything (same old story) and that after having a real good look through them and tearing out all the blank pages for recycling, I'd just have to bite the bullet and chuck them in the bin. He couldn't have cared less. Well they spent one night in there 'till the guilt set in and I pulled them all back out. I'll damn well find room...somewhere! Second time I thought I must have thrown out Izzy's new keycard and pin as I realised they should have been in the mail a few days ago and my usual form is just to chuck bank stuff out (reminder to self - inform the bank I access my statements on line.) After dragging through all the wheelie-bin contents AGAIN I found it in the letter box. Doh!
Monday Question II
Next question: Do you believe what they say - that "you are more likely to cut yourself with a blunt knife", or like me, do you think if you were actually game enough to use a sharp knife you'd have cut all the tips of your fingers off long ago?
How was your weekend? Mine was busy with extra kids (at one stage I had five 11 year old boys in my tiny lounge room!) and my brother was mooching around our place again apparently "helping Greg with the shed" which in reality translates to drinking with Greg, eating everything in the fridge, calling on us for taxi services at 4 in the morning and sleeping off his hangover in our aircon'ed bedroom.
Mum took us out to dinner last night. Izzy shouldn't have come - he's too use to all you can eat buffets where you pay at the door, make your way directly to the food and stuff yourself sick. For him waiting for his dinner for 40 minutes was downright criminal. And then I ordered him an entree size thinking it would be enough (my bad!), he took about three seconds to eat it so I scrounged him up some pizza and he was still completely unsatisfied. On top of that the bleak artwork hanging on the walls was affecting him in a bad way (he can't handle things provoking his emotions negatively - he thinks those "Angel Flight" adds should be outlawed coz they make you feel depressed. I told you he hates Emo. Imagine how he'd react if I hung an Albert Tucker like this one in his bedroom)
When he got home he was saying to me "Mum, if that place burns down it was a bearded man named Bob Jenkins" I couldn't stop laughing at him all night - he was suffering big time.
Anakin was in hysterics of laughter the other night too. He was playing with a gecko (his latest favourite thing) when it threw it's tail (that's what they do as a defense mechanism when they're scared). So he's picked up this wriggling gecko tail and was holding it out for us to see. Mine and Izzy's reaction was one of total grossed out horror which he thought was pretty cool, so he spent the next half an hour or so chasing us around with this fleshy squirmy apendage while we ran away screaming "Eww!!"
How was your weekend? Mine was busy with extra kids (at one stage I had five 11 year old boys in my tiny lounge room!) and my brother was mooching around our place again apparently "helping Greg with the shed" which in reality translates to drinking with Greg, eating everything in the fridge, calling on us for taxi services at 4 in the morning and sleeping off his hangover in our aircon'ed bedroom.
Mum took us out to dinner last night. Izzy shouldn't have come - he's too use to all you can eat buffets where you pay at the door, make your way directly to the food and stuff yourself sick. For him waiting for his dinner for 40 minutes was downright criminal. And then I ordered him an entree size thinking it would be enough (my bad!), he took about three seconds to eat it so I scrounged him up some pizza and he was still completely unsatisfied. On top of that the bleak artwork hanging on the walls was affecting him in a bad way (he can't handle things provoking his emotions negatively - he thinks those "Angel Flight" adds should be outlawed coz they make you feel depressed. I told you he hates Emo. Imagine how he'd react if I hung an Albert Tucker like this one in his bedroom)
When he got home he was saying to me "Mum, if that place burns down it was a bearded man named Bob Jenkins" I couldn't stop laughing at him all night - he was suffering big time.
Anakin was in hysterics of laughter the other night too. He was playing with a gecko (his latest favourite thing) when it threw it's tail (that's what they do as a defense mechanism when they're scared). So he's picked up this wriggling gecko tail and was holding it out for us to see. Mine and Izzy's reaction was one of total grossed out horror which he thought was pretty cool, so he spent the next half an hour or so chasing us around with this fleshy squirmy apendage while we ran away screaming "Eww!!"
Friday, December 7, 2007
Another flashback photo
I'm the skinny one on the left with the hair "sconned back". My sister Nick is holding the Bubba, who is my cousin Bianca and the other two girls Marce and Gub are sisters and my cousins also. Their Dad had driven us to Gladstone in his Toyota Coaster to visit all the relies, you can see it in the background. I don't know what Mum was thinking because he's not the sort of bloke I'd entrust my small children with that's for sure! Talk about a character. Our kids give him folklore status like Ned Kelly - on the few occasions they've ventured over to see Uncle Michael (he has a farm next door to some of our property) they always come back with these stories of him cooking up a big pig tongue stew or something as equally as squirmish - could be all true but I tend to avoid the guy since he developed the habit of calling my boyfriends things like "paw-paw head" and "hairy c*nt".
The other day Anakin held the hose right in my face and that feeling of getting water fair up my nose brought back all these memories of those girls. We use to have a great swimming hole down the back of Uncle Michael's. He set us up a rope swing on an overhanging tree and one of us would have to tread water while we flicked it up to the other standing in among all the tree roots on the bank of the creek. We'd wrap the swing up round the tree climbing up to our jumping spot. We'd then launch ourselves out and try various flips and somersaults, usually ending in a big stinging belly flop and a nose full of water. They'd call me "Nelly" because that was my way of saying "nearly" and I'd say it every time as I tried to encourage the others toward a perfectly executed trick.
I've also got this really heartwrenching memory of Bianca too (the littlest one). She was about that age (in the photo) and toddling along infront of me, I saw that she was coming up to a muddy patch in the yard and lifted her up a little from under the arms to swing her over it. Well I lost my footing and stumbled and we kind of fell over together in a heap. It wouldn't have been so bad but she hit her mouth on the corner of a concrete slab and her lip was bloody and split. I was so distraught I spent the entire day sobbing my eyes out on the bottom bunk bed going "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.." Looking back it was hardly that drastic but as a little kid I felt SO guilty and it was so hard to face her mum after I damaged her perfect little girl. Goes to show how supersensitive kids emotions can be.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Baubles and Bullacouses
Yep, I eat roast pumpkin skin and all! Greg thinks it's a bit primitive and leaves his behind on the plate but I think I was starving-hungry a lot more frequently than him as a child! I told you I'm from "licking plates clean"! One of the more frequent things out of my mouth was "MUM! I'm FAMISHED!!" The local bush-kids thought we were a bit queer the way we used some French/Flemish words in our everyday speech. Like when everyone else tied their hair back with a "bobble" we used a "bullacous". And I love the word "bauble" Jen 'coz it reminds me of the word "BULLACOUS" and being a hungry little brat in the sticks. Ha ha!
Ruth, I make the yummiest pumpkin soup, I'll have to make some for you and NG when you come visit! Oh and I noticed that AUSTRALIA wasn't on your list of places that you must get to but every other bloody continent was! (See "Thirty Voices" link) I'm assuming that's because you've already been!!
Tiffany your shortbreads and tea were a saving grace.
Thanks for responding girls! It turns out "all my other readers" turned out to be NONE! Ha ha! Shame..
I forgot to mention the awesome caftan I 'thrifted". (Learnt that word from The Ongoing Project (link below too!) It's deep purple and gold and I LOVE IT. I'm even wearing a matching bindi so I'm looking like a hippified Lovechild today!
But I better scrub up later, I'm going in to sign my contract at the Principal's office this arve. Woohoo!
Ruth, I make the yummiest pumpkin soup, I'll have to make some for you and NG when you come visit! Oh and I noticed that AUSTRALIA wasn't on your list of places that you must get to but every other bloody continent was! (See "Thirty Voices" link) I'm assuming that's because you've already been!!
Tiffany your shortbreads and tea were a saving grace.
Thanks for responding girls! It turns out "all my other readers" turned out to be NONE! Ha ha! Shame..
I forgot to mention the awesome caftan I 'thrifted". (Learnt that word from The Ongoing Project (link below too!) It's deep purple and gold and I LOVE IT. I'm even wearing a matching bindi so I'm looking like a hippified Lovechild today!
But I better scrub up later, I'm going in to sign my contract at the Principal's office this arve. Woohoo!
Monday, Monday..
I've decided to introduce a Monday survey question. First question: Do you eat roast pumpkin skin and all? Please humour me by leaving your response and waiting with baited breath for next Monday's equally as intriguing question. (Yes, you too Shel. And all those other readers that never leave me a comment!)
Well this is my Christmas tree erection experience (it's pretty miserable compared to everyone elses). Firstly I picked it up off the spare room floor where Anakin has been dragging it around for the last couple of months, chewing off all the fake cherry clusters (or whatever that stuff is suppose to be) and leaving red dye all over his face. It's just a little bonsai sized tree because as I've mentioned before we don't have much storage space so we've been using this tabletop sized one for about 3 years now. Then I took it into Izzy's room where he was playing Need For Speed Dub Edition Remix and tried to illicit some Christmas cheer out of him while I straightened out all the branches. That was unsuccessful as he just glanced at it occasionally, making remarks like "Mum why are you bothering with that little scrap of a tree". Then I sat it up on the table and hung all the little decorations I bought for it (I use the things you thread around the bottom of wine glasses because they make perfect sized ornaments for it), realising that I need about twelve more packets, plus bows and baubles to make it look anywhere near decorative enough since none of last years decorations made it though Anakins oral inquiries! Then over dinner his dad sat him up on the table(!) where he saw a great opening to pull it over and start his sabotage anew!
We had a nightmare trip to Cairns, it was stinking hot and my temper was way hotter! Greg pissed me off at every given moment. Anakin missed out on so much sleep, which always makes me stress out at the best of times. And Izzy did his bit to give me the shits as well (not half as often as Greg though!) I admit I could have handled matters so much more gracefully but I get sick of handling matters - it seems I'm left to handle everything!! That's the friggin' problem!!!! Enough of that though.
I actually managed some great progress on the Xmas shopping front. I bought my other nephew these two awesome books which he is going to LOVE!!
I've already bought a great handbag for my niece filled with heaps of things like bracelets, make up stuff, hairbrushes etc so that's all the niece and nephews taken care off now.
I bought some more stuff for Izzy's stocking (a new cap, a Chasers War on Everything DVD and Stewie Griffin's guide to World Domination)and an animal print doona cover for my brother that looks so stinking hot in this weather but which he wants to make his beautiful cabin in the bush a sexy little love nest for the ladies.
Anakin has been listening to music with Izzy's headphones heaps lately and he's got this most adorable way of miming the lyrics - it looks FOR REAL!! He is so cute.
Well this is my Christmas tree erection experience (it's pretty miserable compared to everyone elses). Firstly I picked it up off the spare room floor where Anakin has been dragging it around for the last couple of months, chewing off all the fake cherry clusters (or whatever that stuff is suppose to be) and leaving red dye all over his face. It's just a little bonsai sized tree because as I've mentioned before we don't have much storage space so we've been using this tabletop sized one for about 3 years now. Then I took it into Izzy's room where he was playing Need For Speed Dub Edition Remix and tried to illicit some Christmas cheer out of him while I straightened out all the branches. That was unsuccessful as he just glanced at it occasionally, making remarks like "Mum why are you bothering with that little scrap of a tree". Then I sat it up on the table and hung all the little decorations I bought for it (I use the things you thread around the bottom of wine glasses because they make perfect sized ornaments for it), realising that I need about twelve more packets, plus bows and baubles to make it look anywhere near decorative enough since none of last years decorations made it though Anakins oral inquiries! Then over dinner his dad sat him up on the table(!) where he saw a great opening to pull it over and start his sabotage anew!
We had a nightmare trip to Cairns, it was stinking hot and my temper was way hotter! Greg pissed me off at every given moment. Anakin missed out on so much sleep, which always makes me stress out at the best of times. And Izzy did his bit to give me the shits as well (not half as often as Greg though!) I admit I could have handled matters so much more gracefully but I get sick of handling matters - it seems I'm left to handle everything!! That's the friggin' problem!!!! Enough of that though.
I actually managed some great progress on the Xmas shopping front. I bought my other nephew these two awesome books which he is going to LOVE!!
I've already bought a great handbag for my niece filled with heaps of things like bracelets, make up stuff, hairbrushes etc so that's all the niece and nephews taken care off now.
I bought some more stuff for Izzy's stocking (a new cap, a Chasers War on Everything DVD and Stewie Griffin's guide to World Domination)and an animal print doona cover for my brother that looks so stinking hot in this weather but which he wants to make his beautiful cabin in the bush a sexy little love nest for the ladies.
Anakin has been listening to music with Izzy's headphones heaps lately and he's got this most adorable way of miming the lyrics - it looks FOR REAL!! He is so cute.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)