On Thursday, I went to work as usual.
Well, not quite as usual. It had been raining all week, which meant that the dryer was busy and the line under the house heaving with those things not friendly for the dryer - like bras and stockings (well, I don't wear stockings - urgh - but those stocking-y socky things that I wear under trousers with shoes).
So on Thursday, I grabbed my shoes and handbag and keys, kissed Paris and V goodbye ('Salina was still at my sister's) and went downstairs to put on my shoes and stocking-y socky things - only I didn't, because I realised that I only had x minutes to get to work, when it takes y minutes to get there and x was a smaller number than y - so I made the decision to put on my shoes and stocking-y socky things when I got there.
So on Thursday, I drove to work (in silence - don't ask me about the stereo) barefoot (yes, illegal in some states) and actually got there in x minutes (woo hoo) and contemplated putting the seat back and putting on my shoes and stocking-y socky things in the car - when I thought, nah, much more comfy to do this in my office chair, so I walked barefoot in to work.
So on Thursday, I got in to work, said good morning to my colleagues and chatted while I sat down, pulled on my stocking-y socky things and grabbed my shoes. My black shoes. My brand-new black shoes as the stitching in my old black shoes had started to disintegrate on Monday.
Only they weren't. My brand-new black shoes, that is. Well, technically, one was. The left one. The other one was one of my old black shoes. The left one.
On Thursday, I was very quiet (especially when I snuck up on people).
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Countdown
As 'Salina says, it is New Years Eve Eve today - and we were hit with the hard question of "when we were going to let her stay up until" - which I know is gramatically incorrect in so many ways, but then, look at her mother.
We have answered in stellar parental style "we will discuss and see".
The discussion in my head thinks that it may be a good idea to link it to the year in which she can engage in family activities such as washing-up or folding without prompting from adults. he he he - never one to discount an opportunity for a little honest bribery. V will probably be thinking along the lines of when she can vote. I am hoping mine comes through for her first.
Since last we met (well, since last I wrote), we have
We are all looking forward to a 2012 and the unwritten pages waiting for us to write across them.
I hope everyone has a lovely, safe and happy New Year.
We have answered in stellar parental style "we will discuss and see".
The discussion in my head thinks that it may be a good idea to link it to the year in which she can engage in family activities such as washing-up or folding without prompting from adults. he he he - never one to discount an opportunity for a little honest bribery. V will probably be thinking along the lines of when she can vote. I am hoping mine comes through for her first.
Since last we met (well, since last I wrote), we have
- celebrated Paris' birthday,
- nursed ear infections,
- endured Christmas (Bush Babe paints a beautiful Christmas shared - be thankful there wasn't sound, because she would have had to dub certain sections consisting entirely of screams from where I was sitting - one New Years Resolution is to slowly widen Paris social circle and acceptance of groups in her "zone"),
- enjoyed moments of familial togetherness,
- gardened,
- demolished old garden beds,
- rejoiced in Paris returning to a semblance of good humour,
- beached (another New Years Resolution does contain something about blubber proportions in there),
- ate (yeah, about that Resolution - note the term "New Year"?) and
- discovered Doc Martin (well, we already had discovered, more like we devoured it - got Series 1 for Christmas then purchased Series 2 and 3 on the flimsy pretext of an early V birthday present).
We are all looking forward to a 2012 and the unwritten pages waiting for us to write across them.
I hope everyone has a lovely, safe and happy New Year.
Friday, December 02, 2011
December and the winds of change
It is the former, and as to the latter - howling a gale outside, which is a change from the stillness and heat that were November's colours.
I now have a daughter twixt childhood and primary school, and teenagerhood and secondary school.
I just bundled her off to her Nana's for the weekend, before a week of action packed adventure at her aunt's place
I also have a daughter firmly addicted to Hi-5 - in fact, this is firmly entwined in EVERYONE'S subconscious here:
Having all of 'Salina's old videos is truly paying off - not to say anything about the new cast members, I have been assured they are excellent (and get a run if Paris' requirements meet their scheduled time slot), however should the Hi-5 shout be made at any other time, we have stock!!
There was a moratorium on the instituting the new Christmas legislation at our house - I have always been a Grinch, with a blanket "no Yuletide trimmings (including the singing of carols) before December 1" law in place, but V finally has the numbers in the lower house to institute change - unfortunately, change keeps getting thrown at our house and the first day he could hook in with his co-horts and add a bit of tinsel and flash was not until last Friday - which was indeed, the 2nd.
Ah well, we have been told 2012 will be a year of turmoil - it may actually be our house getting its act together EARLY.
On that note, I have actually been proactive about the whole Christmas card project that has been mooted every year - right up to the point of purchasing some cards and stamps - so this year I didn't need to do that, just actually write, and believe I am now 8% into it - we have high hopes of that number rising and surpassing any previous records!
Otherwise - work is going well (except for that whole thinking that the Christmas dinner for my beautiful little community organisation job on the 8th of December was somehow going to happen when 'Salina's School Concert was on the 8th of December - right up until the 5th of December I somehow thought they were separate nights!)
Technology is working against us - analog television finally switched off this week, and after spending over $500 ensuring that we would get digital signal reliably for the majority of the time, the first night something went awry with our remote control and our television watching future looked like it would be one channel only, and peering around a large "Programs have changed. Do you want to rescan. Ok for yes, Exit for no" sign. For some reason, there is no Ok or Exit button on the box itself, and so we know that one day V's efforts with the emery board on the remote control may not be enough - luckily they were this time around. Of the 5 days since we have had Digital signal only, we have had a 20% success rate of signal being unaffected by the weather...
Do you remember the saga of my car stereo? Well, there is progress. Another speaker is working!!! Unfortunately, the only sound it makes is large pops and whizzes which Paris finds rather disconcerting, so it is conversation only available when she is in the car - which is great for her language development and working quite well for our understanding capabilities also. When she is not in the car, I do attempt to listen to the radio, but while one speaker has regained life (however ineffectively), the "good" speaker now has a mind of its own and I get edited highlights only, with the "not so good" speaker adding emphasis - so I get a lot of meditation done also.
The microwave died yesterday. One of the upsides of combining two adult's households is often you end up with 2 microwaves, and so when mine died 3 years ago we didn't need to contemplate buying a new one. One of the downsides of combining two adult's households is often the 2 microwaves you have are getting on in work hours, and V's microwave decided that yesterday would be a great day to curl its toes.
The oven still works though - and just as well, as I have two very keen bakers on my hands:
Other than that - well, in 10 days it is Paris' birthday, in 2 weeks it is Christmas - which means I really should buy some presents and get myself organised soon!
I now have a daughter twixt childhood and primary school, and teenagerhood and secondary school.
I just bundled her off to her Nana's for the weekend, before a week of action packed adventure at her aunt's place
I also have a daughter firmly addicted to Hi-5 - in fact, this is firmly entwined in EVERYONE'S subconscious here:
Having all of 'Salina's old videos is truly paying off - not to say anything about the new cast members, I have been assured they are excellent (and get a run if Paris' requirements meet their scheduled time slot), however should the Hi-5 shout be made at any other time, we have stock!!
There was a moratorium on the instituting the new Christmas legislation at our house - I have always been a Grinch, with a blanket "no Yuletide trimmings (including the singing of carols) before December 1" law in place, but V finally has the numbers in the lower house to institute change - unfortunately, change keeps getting thrown at our house and the first day he could hook in with his co-horts and add a bit of tinsel and flash was not until last Friday - which was indeed, the 2nd.
Ah well, we have been told 2012 will be a year of turmoil - it may actually be our house getting its act together EARLY.
On that note, I have actually been proactive about the whole Christmas card project that has been mooted every year - right up to the point of purchasing some cards and stamps - so this year I didn't need to do that, just actually write, and believe I am now 8% into it - we have high hopes of that number rising and surpassing any previous records!
Otherwise - work is going well (except for that whole thinking that the Christmas dinner for my beautiful little community organisation job on the 8th of December was somehow going to happen when 'Salina's School Concert was on the 8th of December - right up until the 5th of December I somehow thought they were separate nights!)
Technology is working against us - analog television finally switched off this week, and after spending over $500 ensuring that we would get digital signal reliably for the majority of the time, the first night something went awry with our remote control and our television watching future looked like it would be one channel only, and peering around a large "Programs have changed. Do you want to rescan. Ok for yes, Exit for no" sign. For some reason, there is no Ok or Exit button on the box itself, and so we know that one day V's efforts with the emery board on the remote control may not be enough - luckily they were this time around. Of the 5 days since we have had Digital signal only, we have had a 20% success rate of signal being unaffected by the weather...
Do you remember the saga of my car stereo? Well, there is progress. Another speaker is working!!! Unfortunately, the only sound it makes is large pops and whizzes which Paris finds rather disconcerting, so it is conversation only available when she is in the car - which is great for her language development and working quite well for our understanding capabilities also. When she is not in the car, I do attempt to listen to the radio, but while one speaker has regained life (however ineffectively), the "good" speaker now has a mind of its own and I get edited highlights only, with the "not so good" speaker adding emphasis - so I get a lot of meditation done also.
The microwave died yesterday. One of the upsides of combining two adult's households is often you end up with 2 microwaves, and so when mine died 3 years ago we didn't need to contemplate buying a new one. One of the downsides of combining two adult's households is often the 2 microwaves you have are getting on in work hours, and V's microwave decided that yesterday would be a great day to curl its toes.
The oven still works though - and just as well, as I have two very keen bakers on my hands:
Other than that - well, in 10 days it is Paris' birthday, in 2 weeks it is Christmas - which means I really should buy some presents and get myself organised soon!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
First thing in the morning
As you know, I am an early bird - not always by choice, and sometimes much earlier than would be ideal, but this morning I slept in until 6.30am.
I love those mornings when I wake up first.
Before Paris utters her "morning" with her big grin and "sleep well" and starts telling me which of her numerous stuffed toys shared her cot as she hands them out - although it is hard to knock Green Teddy, Blue Teddy, Puppy and Baba off the charts.
I am always EXTRA careful when I fill the jug and get my ingredients together as her bedroom is next to the kitchen, and it doesn't seem to take too much once the sun is up and the birds are squarking.
Before 'Salina starts hacking.
She has had a persistant cough for a few weeks. That is nothing new. The only sort of cough she ever seems to get is of the persistant variety.
Three years ago, she was so sick from it we even went to get a nose swab to see if it was Whooping Cough. According to that test, she wasn't - but if you ever wanted to torture a child, I now know how.
Two years ago, she was pretty sick from it and we now have a wide selection of "try this" courtesy of several doctor visits, pharmacy assistants and our main medical source of information, my mum (trust me, most of the area I come from considers her their main medical source - and awesome pharmacist who may not always remember where the Christmas decorations are, but can pronounce and know what those long words at the side of every one of them mean).
Last year, the same.
This year - well, I was slack this year, because I bypassed the several doctor appointments route and went straight for the medley of elixirs we have used in the past. As she had camp, I did go and get them all labelled by the local pharmacies. As she got worse two nights before camp I did seriously contemplate ruining her primary school ending and keep her home, but she improved and I let her go. The report when she got home was she was fine except for the last night. Since she got back, not so much, so I finally put on my good mother hat and took her to the doctor. Doctor mentioned that Whooping Cough was back (which we had read in the school newsletter) and not to rely on the immunity of "ten years after vaccines". We went and got blood and, what hey? Shut the stable door, she has Whooping Cough.
Worst mother in the world award right there.
So she needs her sleep. In her sleep, she isn't coughing.
I love listening to the fans and the birds and the waves and the silence as I have my first cup of tea.
I occasionally have a second at lunch, but the first of the day must always be tea. My father is a great believer in that strategy. Do you know, he has been married to my mother for over 45 years and always takes one in to her when he gets up? She doesn't get to it when it is hot, which is no doubt her long-marriage strategy.
I do drink coffee - that is reserved for the second cup, the cup when I first get in to work (sometimes they are the same thing)...
Must go - I hear a "mummy, mummy" from Paris' room, so time to go and do a soft toy stocktake.
How do you start your day in an ideal world?
I love those mornings when I wake up first.
Before Paris utters her "morning" with her big grin and "sleep well" and starts telling me which of her numerous stuffed toys shared her cot as she hands them out - although it is hard to knock Green Teddy, Blue Teddy, Puppy and Baba off the charts.
I am always EXTRA careful when I fill the jug and get my ingredients together as her bedroom is next to the kitchen, and it doesn't seem to take too much once the sun is up and the birds are squarking.
Before 'Salina starts hacking.
She has had a persistant cough for a few weeks. That is nothing new. The only sort of cough she ever seems to get is of the persistant variety.
Three years ago, she was so sick from it we even went to get a nose swab to see if it was Whooping Cough. According to that test, she wasn't - but if you ever wanted to torture a child, I now know how.
Two years ago, she was pretty sick from it and we now have a wide selection of "try this" courtesy of several doctor visits, pharmacy assistants and our main medical source of information, my mum (trust me, most of the area I come from considers her their main medical source - and awesome pharmacist who may not always remember where the Christmas decorations are, but can pronounce and know what those long words at the side of every one of them mean).
Last year, the same.
This year - well, I was slack this year, because I bypassed the several doctor appointments route and went straight for the medley of elixirs we have used in the past. As she had camp, I did go and get them all labelled by the local pharmacies. As she got worse two nights before camp I did seriously contemplate ruining her primary school ending and keep her home, but she improved and I let her go. The report when she got home was she was fine except for the last night. Since she got back, not so much, so I finally put on my good mother hat and took her to the doctor. Doctor mentioned that Whooping Cough was back (which we had read in the school newsletter) and not to rely on the immunity of "ten years after vaccines". We went and got blood and, what hey? Shut the stable door, she has Whooping Cough.
Worst mother in the world award right there.
So she needs her sleep. In her sleep, she isn't coughing.
I love listening to the fans and the birds and the waves and the silence as I have my first cup of tea.
I occasionally have a second at lunch, but the first of the day must always be tea. My father is a great believer in that strategy. Do you know, he has been married to my mother for over 45 years and always takes one in to her when he gets up? She doesn't get to it when it is hot, which is no doubt her long-marriage strategy.
I do drink coffee - that is reserved for the second cup, the cup when I first get in to work (sometimes they are the same thing)...
Must go - I hear a "mummy, mummy" from Paris' room, so time to go and do a soft toy stocktake.
How do you start your day in an ideal world?
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
If this is Wednesday...
it must be November.
Just dusting up around here and look at this, I have a blog. I used to love it and tend it with care, but now it lives most of the time covered with weeds and morning glory pretending to be beans - oh sorry, the metaphorical analogy with my garden just took over...
So,1023 days in and what has happened?
Well, just before it kicked off, I went with my sister, her kids and Paris to a family gathering - I learned
'Salina had a very important social engagement to attend that weekend (some 12 year olds have weekend sleepover parties for about a dozen of their nearest and dearest, and she was nearest and dearest enough with this particular birthday girl that she was included in the organising committee, apparently) and so V had to hold the fort with Eddie - I don't think he was too put out with the solitude.
While not traditional in Australia, having US connections means that we do Halloween adventures - with excellent Halloween costumes courtesy of Gramberta.
V took 'Salina and a friend trick or treating, while Paris and I stayed home and played in "mines room".
'Salina was a Zombie (its funny, the photos of pre-teen Zombies never turn out quite as cute as little pumpkins) and her friend appeared to have been dragged through the bushes backwards.
I myself was dressed as a grumpy mother - but the time one-on-one with Paris in "mines room" went a long way to iron the grump away.
Along came November
On the 3rd, there was a very important event to celebrate...
... and we inched that bit closer to having a teenager in our house.
'Salina had a week at school camp and came back about two years older.
Paris is twenty-three months old now, and can jump, tantrum and make jokes. She still has a passion for "mine's room" but now Summer is upon us, swimming is a new favourite.
Not much of a post - I am afraid that life is just flashing by at the moment, with occasional "pin down and do"s going on here and there, but with work and V's study and the last weeks of primary school and just plain growing up going on, it is far too busy yet mundane to grasp the moments and reflect - which is what I plan to do once I have worked out how to compartmentalise the busyness of it all!!!
Just dusting up around here and look at this, I have a blog. I used to love it and tend it with care, but now it lives most of the time covered with weeds and morning glory pretending to be beans - oh sorry, the metaphorical analogy with my garden just took over...
So,
Well, just before it kicked off, I went with my sister, her kids and Paris to a family gathering - I learned
- I have a wonderful sister (I learn that often);
- I have a verbose family (like that is a surprise);
- Paris does warm up eventually with familiar faces (and surprised us all by voluntarily seeking Nana's lap - although she may have worked out Nana had fish on her plate and Paris LOVES fish); and
- car journeys with a back row of little ones are doable for several hours, but hell if you go over that threshhold by an hour or two
'Salina had a very important social engagement to attend that weekend (some 12 year olds have weekend sleepover parties for about a dozen of their nearest and dearest, and she was nearest and dearest enough with this particular birthday girl that she was included in the organising committee, apparently) and so V had to hold the fort with Eddie - I don't think he was too put out with the solitude.
While not traditional in Australia, having US connections means that we do Halloween adventures - with excellent Halloween costumes courtesy of Gramberta.V took 'Salina and a friend trick or treating, while Paris and I stayed home and played in "mines room".
'Salina was a Zombie (its funny, the photos of pre-teen Zombies never turn out quite as cute as little pumpkins) and her friend appeared to have been dragged through the bushes backwards.I myself was dressed as a grumpy mother - but the time one-on-one with Paris in "mines room" went a long way to iron the grump away.
Along came November
On the 3rd, there was a very important event to celebrate...
... and we inched that bit closer to having a teenager in our house.'Salina had a week at school camp and came back about two years older.
Paris is twenty-three months old now, and can jump, tantrum and make jokes. She still has a passion for "mine's room" but now Summer is upon us, swimming is a new favourite.
Not much of a post - I am afraid that life is just flashing by at the moment, with occasional "pin down and do"s going on here and there, but with work and V's study and the last weeks of primary school and just plain growing up going on, it is far too busy yet mundane to grasp the moments and reflect - which is what I plan to do once I have worked out how to compartmentalise the busyness of it all!!!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Rearranging the Deckchairs
This post was started a week ago.
It still hasn't been posted.
Not because it is traumatic, but because on the scale of prompt blogging, I would be way down the bottom - buried in the mud.
Therefore I will edit a bit, and I will just hit publish when the big girl gets home from school - its to dig myself out of the mud (and to get that whole "unedited post at the top of your list = another day when I haven't got around to ticking it off the list" feeling out) (even though its not on my list for today) (I don't have a list for today) (which might be the problem).
Anyhow,Today is Sunday was a much anticipated day here in Paradise.
Itis was the day where we lose lost an office - but gained a "big girl".
The day where we lose a roommate - and gain privacy.
The day where we
It has now been 5 whole days of "mines room", and I would have to declare the adventure totally successful. The day starts with a little "'ood morning" from Paris, and then, with an added note of wonder "mines room" - this phrase then gets used about 1000 times before bed time, always with the note of wonder and joy.
As to our room - well, let me just say it is VERY nice to not have to share it with anyone other than V. The office space is lovely too - so sparse and clean.
Our front verandah, however? Well, lets just say that storage is on the "list of things to contemplate" over the next little while.
It still hasn't been posted.
Not because it is traumatic, but because on the scale of prompt blogging, I would be way down the bottom - buried in the mud.
Therefore I will edit a bit, and I will just hit publish when the big girl gets home from school - its to dig myself out of the mud (and to get that whole "unedited post at the top of your list = another day when I haven't got around to ticking it off the list" feeling out) (even though its not on my list for today) (I don't have a list for today) (which might be the problem).
Anyhow,
It
The day where we lose a roommate - and gain privacy.
The day where we
- get rid of skanky old furniture that was useful but not loved
- discover we have absolutely NO STORAGE except said skanky furniture
- find that we STILL can't find the phone we lost months ago
- box up/move existing boxes of office stuff to that corner of the verandah that was our office storage unit last time we did this for months
- vacuum and vacuum and vacuum
- find stuff that hasn't been used for years and make HARD decisions
It has now been 5 whole days of "mines room", and I would have to declare the adventure totally successful. The day starts with a little "'ood morning" from Paris, and then, with an added note of wonder "mines room" - this phrase then gets used about 1000 times before bed time, always with the note of wonder and joy.
As to our room - well, let me just say it is VERY nice to not have to share it with anyone other than V. The office space is lovely too - so sparse and clean.
Our front verandah, however? Well, lets just say that storage is on the "list of things to contemplate" over the next little while.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
School Holidays - Day 1 and really hoping that it won't be Disaster 1
Today is the beginning of the school holidays. yay. Or in 'Salina's view - YAY!!!
Today marks the beginning of hours and days of endless nothing having to be done and taking your time doing it - in 'Salina's world.
Unfortunately, it doesn't mean hours and days of endless nothing for me to fit in some special time with her - it is juggling my schedule so that V doesn't end up with too much quality time with a passel of various children eroding his serenity and 'Salina doesn't end up with too much being dumped on other people.
Luckily, I have a family (hi BB) who fall into a whole category of their own, where they manage to turn the concept of "being dumped on" into "enhanced opportunities" and often get to fill quite a bit of the holiday dance card with taking advantage ofdumping the opportunities presented.
Tonight falls into yet another category, other people hitting the "help, I have discovered I have a social engagement when family of our own are not available fordumping assistance" wall and remembering a throwaway line many moons ago from older child's best friend's parent concerning enhanced opportunities - or maybe even a sleepover.
L (the friend and older sister) and F (younger brother) will be staying with us THE WHOLE NIGHT - something that hasn't happened with any of 'Salina's friends since we discovered mould in the blow-up mattress (and therefore since the adventure of tear in the blow-up mattress while trying to get rid of the mould) and while the concept is thrilling in anticipation (especially as the repair kit seems to be holding on the mattress), there is also a little bit of terror involved.
Terror Alert Level 1 - L has had issues with us in the past. She is a delightful child, don't get me wrong - just delightful in a "Straight A Report Card, Champion in Every Sport, School Captain" way, which is veryfreaking confronting when you figure that on a good day you can scrape a B on being a friend's parent. The issue was when she called us on it (not really - she told us about the straight A (and ancilllary comment of "Delightful") while we were waiting for Parent/Teacher to discuss other letters of the alphabet and ancillary comment of "enigma").
Terror Alert Level 2 - F is a 9 year old boy. I remember 9 - 9 was okay when 'Salina was there. But the boy bit? While I know some children in that category (hi there Dash), I don't really do boys all that well. Something about them scares me. Like spiders. They appear unpredictable. Like spiders. I am sure he will be fine. If I say it often and confidently, I will overcome the fear, won't I?
Terror Alert Level 3 - Dinner. I told 'Salina to workshop what they wanted and get back to me. They all love Enchiladas. Yay!!! I love Enchiladas (as can be ascertained by our Wedding Night Feast here) I can do enchiladas. My MIL (hi there Gramberta) even told me how to do it San Diego style. San Diego is really close to Mexico (much closer than Paradise), so its really nearly authentic. Well, as really nearly authentic as you can get IF you have the ingredients. Here in Paradise, the true ingredients are a myriad of substitutes*, and I hope that I can get as close to San Diego as I can, so I can be really almost nearly authentic.
Terror Alert Level 3 - Addendum A - Really almost nearly authentic may not wash, as their mother is Brazilian. Now, I know you are all (well both) thinking "So" (or even " Não percebo!"), but there is no doubt a hierarchy of Mexican authenticity, and I am sure that Paradise enchiladas interpreted through Brazilian influences probably rates higher than Paradise enchiladas interpreted through San Diego via Central Queensland gringo (and I am pretty sure that those last three words bear the greatest impact in the slide).
Terror Alert Level 3 - Addendum B - I turned to Google to see if I could reconstruct what Gramberta told me what to do without having to rely too heavily on my memory, due to the fact that my memory at the time was tinged with "living with a 4 month old" and there are bits I rock at, and bits where I bite. They all mention ingredients I don't have. Most mention ingredients I can't get. Some mention stuff that makes me think "why doesn't Paradise have a decent Deli?". A few mention preparation that should have taken place a few hours ago.
Terror Alert Level 4 - Bed time. With strange children. Strange as in not usual in our home, rather than the truly unusual. Judging from what I think I know of the parents, I would assume similar strictness to the regime in operation here - but it is holidays, it is a sleepover AND there is a Football Semi-Final on tonight that F has been trained to be an avid watcher of (as is V)... Add 2 11/12 year old girls watching movies in the next room and a nearly 21 month oldbaby young lady, and it may be terrifyingly flexible.
Terror Alert Level 5 - the above-mentioned Football Semi-Final. Maybe perhaps the last game for the Broncos (and the soon to be immortal Darren Lockyer) - and I can assure you, I haven't done everything I could have to help them over the line which is scary. (As is the fact that I should have, whether it be for a football game or not.) (Or even visitors or not).
The above was written hours ago.
Before dinner time. They all ate - to varying degrees. It was deemed "yummy" although apparently they don't really like spices (hard to dodge in Mexican food), rice or vegetables that have been messed with too much (luckily I had an unmessed tomato to offer - visitors can verify we can be quite terrifying ourselves in our obsession that those under the age of 13 are required to eat a quota of vegetables or berries/fruit/herbs/plantlike things that imitate them).
Before bedtime. Which went amazingly smoothly. Still firmly planting one limb on wood about that one.
Before football. The Broncos made it. Just. Lockyer may not have.
Before the morning. Which it still is. And which I must go forth and prepare for in my bed - because as sure as the sun rises in the east, so do my children (and, from the mouths of the visitors, they LOVE waking up early).
* Remind me to tell you one day how to do Smoked Paprika Chicken WITHOUT Smoked Paprika.
Today marks the beginning of hours and days of endless nothing having to be done and taking your time doing it - in 'Salina's world.
Unfortunately, it doesn't mean hours and days of endless nothing for me to fit in some special time with her - it is juggling my schedule so that V doesn't end up with too much quality time with a passel of various children eroding his serenity and 'Salina doesn't end up with too much being dumped on other people.
Luckily, I have a family (hi BB) who fall into a whole category of their own, where they manage to turn the concept of "being dumped on" into "enhanced opportunities" and often get to fill quite a bit of the holiday dance card with taking advantage of
Tonight falls into yet another category, other people hitting the "help, I have discovered I have a social engagement when family of our own are not available for
L (the friend and older sister) and F (younger brother) will be staying with us THE WHOLE NIGHT - something that hasn't happened with any of 'Salina's friends since we discovered mould in the blow-up mattress (and therefore since the adventure of tear in the blow-up mattress while trying to get rid of the mould) and while the concept is thrilling in anticipation (especially as the repair kit seems to be holding on the mattress), there is also a little bit of terror involved.
Terror Alert Level 1 - L has had issues with us in the past. She is a delightful child, don't get me wrong - just delightful in a "Straight A Report Card, Champion in Every Sport, School Captain" way, which is very
Terror Alert Level 2 - F is a 9 year old boy. I remember 9 - 9 was okay when 'Salina was there. But the boy bit? While I know some children in that category (hi there Dash), I don't really do boys all that well. Something about them scares me. Like spiders. They appear unpredictable. Like spiders. I am sure he will be fine. If I say it often and confidently, I will overcome the fear, won't I?
Terror Alert Level 3 - Dinner. I told 'Salina to workshop what they wanted and get back to me. They all love Enchiladas. Yay!!! I love Enchiladas (as can be ascertained by our Wedding Night Feast here) I can do enchiladas. My MIL (hi there Gramberta) even told me how to do it San Diego style. San Diego is really close to Mexico (much closer than Paradise), so its really nearly authentic. Well, as really nearly authentic as you can get IF you have the ingredients. Here in Paradise, the true ingredients are a myriad of substitutes*, and I hope that I can get as close to San Diego as I can, so I can be really almost nearly authentic.
Terror Alert Level 3 - Addendum A - Really almost nearly authentic may not wash, as their mother is Brazilian. Now, I know you are all (well both) thinking "So" (or even " Não percebo!"), but there is no doubt a hierarchy of Mexican authenticity, and I am sure that Paradise enchiladas interpreted through Brazilian influences probably rates higher than Paradise enchiladas interpreted through San Diego via Central Queensland gringo (and I am pretty sure that those last three words bear the greatest impact in the slide).
Terror Alert Level 3 - Addendum B - I turned to Google to see if I could reconstruct what Gramberta told me what to do without having to rely too heavily on my memory, due to the fact that my memory at the time was tinged with "living with a 4 month old" and there are bits I rock at, and bits where I bite. They all mention ingredients I don't have. Most mention ingredients I can't get. Some mention stuff that makes me think "why doesn't Paradise have a decent Deli?". A few mention preparation that should have taken place a few hours ago.
Terror Alert Level 4 - Bed time. With strange children. Strange as in not usual in our home, rather than the truly unusual. Judging from what I think I know of the parents, I would assume similar strictness to the regime in operation here - but it is holidays, it is a sleepover AND there is a Football Semi-Final on tonight that F has been trained to be an avid watcher of (as is V)... Add 2 11/12 year old girls watching movies in the next room and a nearly 21 month old
Terror Alert Level 5 - the above-mentioned Football Semi-Final. Maybe perhaps the last game for the Broncos (and the soon to be immortal Darren Lockyer) - and I can assure you, I haven't done everything I could have to help them over the line which is scary. (As is the fact that I should have, whether it be for a football game or not.) (Or even visitors or not).
The above was written hours ago.
Before dinner time. They all ate - to varying degrees. It was deemed "yummy" although apparently they don't really like spices (hard to dodge in Mexican food), rice or vegetables that have been messed with too much (luckily I had an unmessed tomato to offer - visitors can verify we can be quite terrifying ourselves in our obsession that those under the age of 13 are required to eat a quota of vegetables or berries/fruit/herbs/plantlike things that imitate them).
Before bedtime. Which went amazingly smoothly. Still firmly planting one limb on wood about that one.
Before football. The Broncos made it. Just. Lockyer may not have.
Before the morning. Which it still is. And which I must go forth and prepare for in my bed - because as sure as the sun rises in the east, so do my children (and, from the mouths of the visitors, they LOVE waking up early).
* Remind me to tell you one day how to do Smoked Paprika Chicken WITHOUT Smoked Paprika.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
My me day (in list form)
- Scrambled eggs for breakfast
- Leftover sandwiches from the AGM last night for lunchboxes - choice!!
- 'Salina's school photos today, so with Paris dressed in her photo suit from a few weeks ago took "sibling shots"
- 'Salina off to school, Paris to daycare
- Attempt to see School Secretary about After School Care report for P&C - she is too busy
- Help in tuckshop
- Go to Job 1 to give boss update on people I interviewed on Monday
- While there, attempt to fix an error I made with a cheque deposit yesterday - I hate it when I stuff up!!
- Collect empty platters from people who were at AGM the night before
- See an old family friend in the middle of the street who is on for a chat
- Collect more empty platters from other people who were at AGM the night before
- Rearrange meeting rooms where the AGM was the night before on behalf of Job 2
- Finalise a few compliance issues regard the AGM the night before for Job 2
- Visit the Auditor re Job 2
- Go to the Post Office re Job 2
- Collect more empty platters from other people who were at AGM the night before
- Deliver empty platters back to caterer
- See School Secretary about After School Care report for P&C
- Get home
- Read a vacuous book for 20 determined minutes!!!
- 'Salina gets home
- Make super-yummy chocolate-chip biscuits
- Shop for milk and veges
- Collect Paris
- Make bangers, mash, cauliflower cheese and steamed veg with my team (thanks V)
- Get seriously entertained by the girls
- Except when Paris and hard objects collide - happens more often of late and when hyped
- Ate
- Bathed
- Got girls to sleep
- Blogged
- To bed
I love my days off!!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Pride, Pain and Pigtails
Look at that - 4.55am and Friday is off and running!!!
Friday is my day with Paris, so obviously it involves shopping (the grocery kind) which means doing the budget (I like to keep the keel upright) but then I remembered, just as I saddled the computer for a little number wrangling that my sister made a promise on my behalf - and it may be slightly more fun than trying to make the red go away.
I have been a very busy little indian over here and seriously need to sort out my Wednesday priorities, because we had another fail at the whole "me" time concept. Had I done that, perhaps we would have had this post a little earlier!
Still, Friday is Friday, and a whole day away from Saturday (heck, weeks away from September even).
The first part of my title - Pride - is truly for 'Salina though. On Monday she was presented with Student of the Week for her class - but the bit that really puffed my chest was why. Apparently, 'Salina is "always helpful and considerate of others!" I already knew that, but it is great that it is recognised by her teacher. She often gets daughter of the moment by being kind to her little sister, and letting her play in the Schleich pit!
I have always been a fairly big fan, of course, but since being a big sister she has truly blossomed. I do fear the teen years, but as I have always said, she is pretty good clay.
She has little fans too!
Our celebration of her prize was rather muted by being in the emergency department of the local hospital. V did have a rather sore leg when we left (for our weekend to the abovementioned sister's place) but, rather than being on the mend it was worse when we returned - and a day of toddler wrangling had brought him to his knees (figuratively - the one in question wasn't up to bending that well) and he had visions of a possible transition to mono-leggedness - and anticipating the relief that would bring.
Luckily, it turns out that he had aggravated a Baker's Cyst, and when you google there are whole websites dedicated to this little curiosity (and many panaceas) - and he had a classic case. Unfortunately, when you google the symptoms, there are far more onerous things than Baker's Cyst on the first few pages, so a great deal of relief here.
And pigtails?
Well...
Ta da!!! Of course, we have now broken the pigtail charm, and all I have received is "noooo" to the suggestion of pigtails since this photo shoot!!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Trawling through the past...
I have jigged around my work days - crammed all of my official "work" hours into 3 days. This means instead of me being out of the house for 4 full days (I always ended up running around and not getting home ever before 4.30pm) I am home after 5.30pm on those 3 days, but on one day of the week - Wednesday - I can do "me" stuff.
I know. What a horrible mother. Making my day for "me" a childcare day... Still, I have a 100% Paris-friendly Friday (used to be Monday), and the real bonus is a one (or two) on one afternoon a week for 'Salina.
I find sometimes I miss her the most.
The first week that I undertook such a Wednesday was last week. I had plans. The sewing machine my mother had bought for my birthday (I know - spoilt AS!!! Thanks Mum!) had not been removed from the box and taken for a spin, and that is exactly what a (relatively) child-free "me" day calls for.
Unfortunately, one of my jobs is a small role with a community group - and trying to get input and information from a committee of volunteers (and extremely busy people in real life) can be a juggling act, and half of my Wednesday - and most importantly the afternoon section starring 'Salina - was stripped away.
That meant that last week, I spent a few quality hours going through all of my sewing stuff (over 10 years of "what I used to be" thrust into boxes for when I got the time) and a short half-hour fixing 3 skirts and expanding (at least the bottom half) of my wardrobe 100%.
This week, I was really REALLY determined to have a "me" day. Well, I was determined to a point - because I realise that the concept of "me" must include all of the paperwork detrius that has started to weigh upon my psyche (at least that part that is counting on a decent tax return to tick a few things off the list) and so today - I tidied the office (with nary a football team to prosper by it).
As V is using the spare room/office for his study at the moment (even as I type), I brought all of the boxes that my office had been stuffed into about 2 years ago, when we rearranged the house for the advent of a baby in our lives...
I took photos of that - you'll see them if I have time to download them (I am all about time and motion today).
I threw out whole swathes of "why the heck did I keep that". Do you know that I finally bit the bullet and binned 69 floppy disks. I don't have access to a computer that would take them, and even if that were possible, I finally erred on the side of "no" when I asked myself if I really NEEDED 7 boot and 4 rescue disks for operating systems that were obsolete. I even agreed that is was possible that neither I nor anyone else would really want to look back upon assignments and notes from Tafe courses I studied a few years ago.
(Okay, I did keep 7 - but they have important stuff like my poetry on them).
I also put together all of the "I can't part with this due to sentimentality" into only a few boxes and put them up into that cupboard that has room. I know, a little bit moving the deckchairs, but it takes a while for me to let go of stuff - just ask V.
By lunchtime, I realised that the job I had undertaken was a 2-parter, and it would be better to succeed at the first (which I had, thank you very much) and fill the remaining hours with
Sure beats going through the paperwork that precipitated the original task!! Oh well, there is always next week...
Finally, I will leave you with 2 things - a question: - what do you do on "me" days? - and a rant - from 13.5 years ago. I was so arty, it really did start mid-sentence.
I know. What a horrible mother. Making my day for "me" a childcare day... Still, I have a 100% Paris-friendly Friday (used to be Monday), and the real bonus is a one (or two) on one afternoon a week for 'Salina.
I find sometimes I miss her the most.
The first week that I undertook such a Wednesday was last week. I had plans. The sewing machine my mother had bought for my birthday (I know - spoilt AS!!! Thanks Mum!) had not been removed from the box and taken for a spin, and that is exactly what a (relatively) child-free "me" day calls for.
Unfortunately, one of my jobs is a small role with a community group - and trying to get input and information from a committee of volunteers (and extremely busy people in real life) can be a juggling act, and half of my Wednesday - and most importantly the afternoon section starring 'Salina - was stripped away.
That meant that last week, I spent a few quality hours going through all of my sewing stuff (over 10 years of "what I used to be" thrust into boxes for when I got the time) and a short half-hour fixing 3 skirts and expanding (at least the bottom half) of my wardrobe 100%.
This week, I was really REALLY determined to have a "me" day. Well, I was determined to a point - because I realise that the concept of "me" must include all of the paperwork detrius that has started to weigh upon my psyche (at least that part that is counting on a decent tax return to tick a few things off the list) and so today - I tidied the office (with nary a football team to prosper by it).
As V is using the spare room/office for his study at the moment (even as I type), I brought all of the boxes that my office had been stuffed into about 2 years ago, when we rearranged the house for the advent of a baby in our lives...
I took photos of that - you'll see them if I have time to download them (I am all about time and motion today).
I threw out whole swathes of "why the heck did I keep that". Do you know that I finally bit the bullet and binned 69 floppy disks. I don't have access to a computer that would take them, and even if that were possible, I finally erred on the side of "no" when I asked myself if I really NEEDED 7 boot and 4 rescue disks for operating systems that were obsolete. I even agreed that is was possible that neither I nor anyone else would really want to look back upon assignments and notes from Tafe courses I studied a few years ago.
(Okay, I did keep 7 - but they have important stuff like my poetry on them).
I also put together all of the "I can't part with this due to sentimentality" into only a few boxes and put them up into that cupboard that has room. I know, a little bit moving the deckchairs, but it takes a while for me to let go of stuff - just ask V.
By lunchtime, I realised that the job I had undertaken was a 2-parter, and it would be better to succeed at the first (which I had, thank you very much) and fill the remaining hours with
- pegging clothes,
- printing a few photos for a few frames found and deserving of being used - a task I never REALLY seem to get around to (obviously, its not genetic),
- transfer all the information from an dead computer's hard drive to a new external drive in case I need any of the files, and
- blog
Sure beats going through the paperwork that precipitated the original task!! Oh well, there is always next week...
Finally, I will leave you with 2 things - a question: - what do you do on "me" days? - and a rant - from 13.5 years ago. I was so arty, it really did start mid-sentence.
Diary entry –
Saturday 28th (February, 1998)
… ex-wife don’t get on, and now I know WHY” scene most often ends this merry-go-round.
I believe in being upfront and honest when entering new Love’s domain. This includes “I’ve got a kid”, “I’m only in town for another month” (and “I am not married”), “Let’s see what happens and…” (sorry about harping on about the state – recurring nightmare).
But, hey, there comes a point when a girl can dream – share a bed; breakfast together – alone; the next twenty years; matching plots – okay, I never go that far. But the fertile plains of the imagination are never dormant – unless blighted.
Even the most simple girl like me has her fantasies.
To be allowed to wallow in those fields is the most forbidden luxury… unless
I’m talking about a certain commitment, men. A sort of right here, right now – a decision. Shall we cut the safety ropes together and push offshore?
And then, the stupid bastards run, don’t they? Dust. Cut out impressions on the door. Maybe it’s the delivery?
Boom. Back to the caves and rocks, and I go back to the mill. Churn out another bastard poem.
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