Bits and bobs

Two convinced me to sign up for Skype.  It was hysterical talking to him so I'll be doing that again.  Just what I need - something else to spend time on!

Two and GGF have got me re-hooked on my Nintendo DS.  I currently have two games going.  See above comment about time!  The last two nights it's been pushing midnight before I went to bed because of those stupid games (or rather the stupid person playing them).

There will be photos of the tattoo and the process.  I just need to find the wire that connects my phone to my computer as I cannot, for the life of me, work out how to get the bluetooth connection to work.

As I have mentioned, Himself turns 60 on Monday.  His eldest son (my step son) and his partner are coming down from Brisbane as a surprise.  They will catch up with the boys and their partners on Friday and then will come here on Saturday.  My problem is that Saturdays are all about Himself wanting to get up and get going.  Where or doing what doesn't matter, he just like to be up and off.
The boys and I had worked out that we would all go to Two and GGF's for a bbq lunch but that's not really feasible for a few reasons.  I want SS to see this place (they haven't been down for a few years) and GGF is frantically studying for final exams so may want to spend some time in peace and quiet.  They also have a cat who isn't used to people - Two and GGF used to live in a shoe box and never had anyone round so Moosh freaks a bit when people come to her house.  She's getting better but noone in this family would want to upset a cat!!  So the latest is that we will pretend to be going to Two's but One will say that he has someone interested in buying his car (which is in OUR garage!) and wants his Dad there to help negotiate.  He will then rock up with SS.  Sounds so simple but I can see it falling in a heap somewhere down the line.  I have to buy enough food and drink for a bbq here without Himself realising.  And a cake would be good.

Today, though, I'll clean the house.  It's been a while (I've been sick!) and I'd like it looking nice and sparkly for the weekend.

And that, I guess, is my cue to get off the stool, close down my laptop and get stuck in.

I'm a winner!!!

The lovely Chris conducted a 10 day giveaway to celebrate her 3 years of blogging.  It was no hardship to enter as I read her blog many times a day (I know, get a life!!) and love her writing style and outlook on life.  I love her honesty as she battles with the crap that life throws and her resilience in the face of said crap.  She also can take the credit (or blame - lol) for my quilting obsession. She is one talented, inspirational chick.

I had been thinking a fair bit about this competition (see above re: life, the getting of!) and would say to myself "Don't be silly, someone else will win".  Then I remembered when Two was about 5 and he entered a competition on the telly for a Super Nintendo (yes, it was a looooooong time ago!).  I didn't know about this (I can't remember how he entered but think his big brother might have helped) and one Saturday morning they were watching telly and he yelled "Mum I've won a Super Nintendo" ... "yes darling I'm sure you have" ... "No Mum, he really has!".  The little shite HAD won (when you have a very unusual surname you can be pretty sure that the kid's name on the screen is yours) and he went on to win a few other things from kids' shows.  Whenever he entered he was convinced that he would win.  He has taken this attitude into adult life to the point that he used to get upset if we would try to preempt any disappointment because we were interfering with his positive thoughts.  I know that many books have been written about the power of positive thinking but it's ingrained in most of us not to be too hopeful for fear of disappointment.

Every prize Chris listed sang to me so you can imagine my delight when I logged on this morning before work specifically to see who had won and IT WAS MEEEEEEE!!

Thank you Chris.

I am so glad I found your blog because of the pleasure it brings me every day, the other blogs I have found as a result and your generous give away.

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And in other news ...

Himself had his tattoo started on Saturday.  When I saw it roughed in I just KNEW it was going to hurt like hell (hee hee) and it did.  Poor boy.  It looks really good, though, and I can't wait to see it coloured and shaded.  The funniest part?  Driving home my darling husband was fretting about what his mother would say.  He turns 60 next Monday!!!!!

One popped in to the tattoo shop and we have all agreed that we are hanging out for more!  I saw a design I really liked that could be adapted to work with what I already have so I need to save my pennies and book a time with the artist to discuss my options.

Himself, One, Two and I played golf yesterday and it was a lovely 'hit and a giggle' sort of afternoon.  We had a full house for dinner which is always fun and then Two wanted to talk.  And talk.  And talk.  Everyone else had left or gone to bed but he was in one of those rare moods where the conversation got quite deep and meaningful.  So it was well after midnight when I got to bed but I wouldn't have missed a minute of those precious hours as we discussed his relationship with GGF, his relationship with us as his parents, the boys' recollections of their childhood .... oh, heaps of things.

Work today was pretty good. As a flow on from the positive thinking vibes gained from Chris' contest I made a concerted effort to think positively about work instead of bitching and moaning.  Now that's not to say that I won't be bitching and moaning tomorrow but today was good!

Dinner's about ready, it's been pouring with rain and the river is looking beautiful in the evening light so I'll bid you adieu and go and count my blessings.

Later....  I have a follower!!   WELCOME SOL!  

FRRIIIIDDDAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The conference was ... OK.  Some of it was absolutely fascinating (I thought we'd heard enough about H1N1 flu but today's presenters were riveting) and some not so.  It's always a shame when a potentially interesting presentation is ruined by a poor speaker.  And refreshing when a potentially ho-hum presentation ends up being amusing and entertaining (even if the content is still ho-hum!).

I was still crook yesterday (I had to walk out of one of the opening presentations due to a coughing fit ... how embarrassing) but today I got through most of the day without feeling yucky.  In fact, for the first time in well over a week I think I feel almost human again.

I contacted the seller of my dodgy nintendo ds game and he was most obliging.  He offered to send me an australian version but Three had already bought me one (bless him and for less than I originally paid so, yes, Three I WILL be speaking to you first in future - dumb mum) so I had the amount credited back almost immediately.  A very positive outcome but I won't be indulging in my ebay habit much any more as I am determined to get our debts paid off so I can at least consider giving up paid work.  I say paid work because I don't believe that those who stay at home work any less than those who have a paid job and I will also look at some sort of volunteer work.  I think part of my dissatisfaction with my current job is that I don't feel that I'm making a difference any more and that's why I went into nursing (certainly not for the money!) but having said that I don't want to go back to shift work.  Yeah, spoiled brat, I know.

Himself turns 60 Monday week and tomorrow he's getting his first tattoo!!!  That means that Two will be the only one in the family who hasn't been inked.  I will go with Himself tomorrow for moral support and to suss out where and what I will get next.

We're catching up with the usual suspects for dinner at the club so I'd better get a wriggle on and touch up the makeup and mosey down there.

Have a great weekend.

Am I naive?

I bought a game for my Nintendo DS from ebay.  It's a newly released game and I bought it from an Australian seller.  It arrived today and is FOR AMERICAN USE ONLY!!  It doesn't work in my console.

I have sent a couple of emails to the seller and will be returning it for refund tomorrow.

There was nothing on the description to indicate that this would not work in Australian consoles and the seller's feedback was good.

So ... was I dumb to do this?  Asks she hoping like crazy the OTHER game she bought before this one arrived will not be the same thing!

Needless to say, Three, who works for a company that sells these things, thinks his mother is almost beyond redemption in the idiot stakes!

I'm still snotty and short of breath but well and truly on the mend.  Off to a conference for the next two days.

I have been trying to pretend that I don't work and am quite enjoying myself.  Himself says that once we get rid of our credit card debt I can retire.  What a brilliant incentive.

Dinner's in the oven (meatloaf) and life is looking a bit more positive.

stitches out!

I haven't been able to get a really good look at the schnozz as the doctor liberally dabbed it with betadine but it feels OK.  A bit raw, maybe.  The histology came back benign so THAT's good news, too.  I may have a little scar but there were two red lumps there before and I didn't have it done for cosmetic reasons ... and makeup is a wonderful thing.

I rang the boss and told her I wouldn't be in tomorrow.  I am much better but still needing a nap two or three times a day and am still full of phlegm (sorry TMI!).  Every so often I have a massive coughing attack and it doesn't sound good.  I'm also still getting short of breath and dizzy.  Do I sound as if I'm trying to justify myself?  Funny that.  I'm very good at insisting others take time off when they're sick but not very good at taking my own advice!

I finished "the thoughtful dresser".  I was interesting although I wasn't sure if it was trying to be a biography of Catherine Hill who sounds like a fascinating woman and I will google her for more information.  I am about to start the new Dan Brown book and am looking forward to that.  And it just happens that the next few days are going to be pretty grim from a weather point of view.  That and my cold = curled up on the couch.  Bliss.  And no guilt.

I will know I'm 100% better when I'm back down in the sewing room for more than 10 minutes at a time.

And now it's time to get dinner on the go even though it's still broad daylight!!  Curried mince and rice ... real comfort food.

I can breathe again!

And swallow. Still coughing and sneezing but at least I'm getting an almost unbroken night's sleep. And that makes for a better day.

Yesterday we pottered about. Himself is planning on getting his first tattoo (a week before he turns 60!!) and we went out to pick up the drawing only the bloke wasn't there so he's going back today. Then, seeing as we were out that way, we popped into check out the new Doncaster. OK, it's been open a while but I haven't been there. It's awesome. The old shoppingtown was very tired and reminiscent of the 70s but this one is all sparkly and shiny and new with some very nice shops.

It was obvious that Himself was in go, go, go mood and I was very much in a sitonmyarseanddojackshit mood. So I mentioned that I wanted some sort of inserts in the walk in wardrobe thinking that would give him something to think about and research. What I didn't expect was for him to go to Bunnings and come home with a couple of shoe shelves which were meant to solve all my problems. And then he proceeded to toss all my clothes out of the wardrobe, fold them and put them back in neat, sorted piles. Now, I know this sounds all helpful and thoughtful but it DID MY HEAD IN!! The majority of those clothes don't fit. Many still have price tags on and I have been plucking the courage to do a clean out/try on and get things looking more reasonable. But, as most women will understand, you have to be in the right head space for something like that. I don't need a pile of 15 or so pairs of pants/jeans of which maybe 2 or 3 fit. Ditto every other type of clothing. Except shoes!!

Daylight saving started today. I don't like losing an hour's sleep and I don't like the fact the government in its wisdom has decided that we will have 6 months on and 6 months off. I was quite happy with daylight saving starting at the end of October and ending in March. I know the days have started to get longer but the Spring equinox was only a couple of weeks ago. another month and it would start to feel like summer is round the corner. On the positive side, Himself and I have no excuse to not get out and walk when we get home from work! Yes, I can be contrary.

And now I will go and make another cup of tea and sit. Cos I can.

Musings from the sick bed!

This isn't my bed! It's the bed in the hotel we stayed at in Townsville but wouldn't it be nice if when we were sick we were able to have freshly laundered sheets on our bed all the time?

Today has been rather unpleasant. I eventually went back to bed this afternoon which I never do but I was just so miserable and couldn't get comfortable anywhere. And I haven't done any exercise today but will put this down as a free day and hopefully will be well enough by the weekend to make up for it. If not, well, so be it. I love the feeling I get when I exercise (memories resurfacing from a couple of years ago and Fireman Sam) but being able to breathe is quite important, too!

I started reading a new book ("the thoughtful dresser" by Linda Grant - I need a break from Pratchett as I have read nothing but him for 12 months, now) and it got me thinking about blogs and how what we read evolves. When I first dipped my toe in the world of the internet and all it had to offer I was on the merry go round of weight loss and spent most (OK, ALL of my time) on weight loss forums and reading weight loss blogs. Through this I have met some wonderful people in real life and in cyberspace and I continue to read a handful of those bloggers but have found that the focus of their writing is no longer weight loss.

As a result of a consultation I had with Imogen Lamport a couple of years ago I have become a regular avid reader of her blog and through her have found many others. These blogs are all about style and finding one's own style and finally, after 53 years, I feel entitled to take a positive, healthy interest in my appearance and image. Yes I want to get healthier and lose some weight but I am learning to give myself permission to look my best regardless of what the scales or tape measure might say.

Through one of Imogen's posts I found this and it has made a huge difference to how my bras fit and, more importantly, my self esteem. I have also developed an interest in the sociological aspects of appearance (hence the book!) and for some reason I find it so liberating to search for books on style rather than continuously pick up yet another book on weight loss hoping THAT will solve my problems. A panelist on the Gruen Transfer made a comment along the lines of marketers/advertisers develop a product and then create a need in us. The weight loss industry is a prime example of this. We are constantly told that we are not good enough as we are and need product/company XYZ to rectify the situation. This results in appallingly low levels of self esteem in women who should be proud and confident.

The other area of blogging I am delving into is related to quilting. As a very new, self taught quilter I need all the help I can get. I have bought some books from ebay which have inspired me to go further but the myriad of blogs out there always have an answer to my immediate problems.

And speaking of quilting, Three has said he would like me to make him one to throw over the couch in his sitting room (the Green Room!) with a musical theme. So I have just purchased some fabric from ebay with guitars and will have a play with ideas to make something blokey. And I came across some Beatles fabric so Two will be getting a quilt as well. Now I just need to work out what One would like (other than the pyjamas I have been promising him for months!) and I might have a couple of Christmas pressies solved. Time permitting.

I'm feeling a bit better now. 2 paracetamol and a glass of sauv blanc seems to have numbed the pain or at least made me not give a toss about it.

Three is at work. Himself is in Sydney so I shall go and veg on the couch before making a pizza for dinner. I defrosted a chicken fillet but really cannot be bothered cooking it and frozen pizza base, cheese and mushroom sounds much more appealing. With chocolate to follow :)