To contact us Click HERE
I'm writing this post from a desk with different view from what is usually in front of me. Usually I'm at my kitchen table with nothing but a wall in front of me. Today, I'm looking out at a paddock, with hills in the distance. There's a long green shed in the middle distance with a red container parked next to it. Occasionally I see vehicles go by on the highway. A little blue bird is standing in front of the window showing me its tail. Horses wander by and now I feel the softness of a cat as one winds its way around my ankles. The sky is cloudy. Some of them are black and heavy looking. There's a faint roll of thunder in the distance. Apart from that the only sounds are the ticking of a clock and the breathing of the air conditioner. And the sound of my typing.
Over the summer break, my posting won't be as frequent while I relax and regroup. I certainly won't be posting daily! The best way to make sure you don't miss a thing is to subscribe via email - that way you'll receive an email whenever I do post something and you'll know about it straight away. (There's a button over on the right hand side. Yes! Right there! Just type in your email address, click and go.)
If you need a fix, why not visit the archives and see what you can find? There's lots to read. Two of my personal favourites are a response to spam email I received in October last year:Love in the letterbox and The Rejection Letter. Another favourite is a result of an exercise in imagination: Journey to the tenth floor
There are also suggestions at the end of each post which link to other posts. Sometimes I just follow a trail and enjoy the journey. Or you can just look at the pictures. The Sunday Slideshow posts have lots! Start here.
Thank you to my readers - I just love knowing that you're out there. I love receiving your feedback and hearing your stories too. I've enjoyed making you smile and laugh. I've enjoyed provoking you. I've enjoyed the ability to occasionally give you things. I've enjoyed sharing my perspective of the world.
Walking around these days I notice more and more that people have their eyes down and are absorbed in their screens. I've made a conscious choice to be fully present in the world with my eyes up and my attention OUT THERE. This is why I notice so much and can share it with you.
Whatever you do at this time of year, I hope it brings you joy or gives someone else joy. Stay safe and happy reading!
The rain has just arrived. The hills are still bathed in sunlight in the distance and the shrubs outside are squeaking as they scrape against the windows. The thunder is rumbling more deeply and the birds have taken cover.
ETA: 10 minutes later: the rain is pelting and I can't see the hills or the long green shed. I can barely hear myself think over the sound of rain on the roof and windows. Bliss.
1 Ocak 2013 Salı
Down town in the Country Music Capital - puppies and music.
To contact us Click HERE
Today I braved the Christmas shoppers in Tamworth. It wasn't too bad actually, except for the carpark. People lose their minds in shopping centre carparks, walking behind vehicles which have poor vision at the back, leaving shopping trolleys to partially block car spaces which are already too small for anything other than a city sized vehicle. And we're not in the city. Every second vehicle is a large 4WD with a bull bar on the front making it even larger.
I noticed the newsagency had more horse magazines than I would usually expect to see. Bunnings was packed with people but the lady selling the charity Christmas cakes was not very busy. The junior staff at the supermarket were very friendly and didn't begrudge the presence of customers. I bought a funky skirt for $16.
In the pet store I was pleased to see no animals for sale. There were three puppies and one cat available for adoption. They had been surrendered to the RSPCA. After having a health check, temperament tests and vaccinations they are desexed and microchipped and put up for adoption. There were two Kelpie-cross puppies from the same litter: one was an extrovert, barking happily at anyone who went by and the other was shy, just sitting and looking out. We wondered what they had been crossed with because their ears were enormous - perhaps a beagle or some kind of spaniel. Next door was a Jack Russell pup (called Antonio) who was resting when I saw him. Each animal has a written history and description of what their temperament is like and what kind of lifestyle they would fit with.
I spoke with one of the staff in the store and she told me that they also do checks on potential new owners. She has regularly refused adoption and she told me she is often abused by some breeders who are unhappy with the RSPCA. I was very pleased to know that this responsible approach is taken to . animals and ownership and that this particular store will have nothing to do with puppy factories.
The staff member also told me that twenty-five dogs had been surrendered in the last week. It's a timely reminder that pet ownership should be a conscious decision and shouldn't be taken lightly. Animals are not a commodity or a product. They are living creatures with feelings and should not be thought of as disposable.
I didn't ask what happens to the animals which aren't adopted, but I'm sure we all know.
At the other end of town, I came across this wonderful sculpture of country music legend Smokey Dawson. I really like the character of the piece. Seeing it left me in no doubt that I was in the country music capital!
I noticed the newsagency had more horse magazines than I would usually expect to see. Bunnings was packed with people but the lady selling the charity Christmas cakes was not very busy. The junior staff at the supermarket were very friendly and didn't begrudge the presence of customers. I bought a funky skirt for $16.
In the pet store I was pleased to see no animals for sale. There were three puppies and one cat available for adoption. They had been surrendered to the RSPCA. After having a health check, temperament tests and vaccinations they are desexed and microchipped and put up for adoption. There were two Kelpie-cross puppies from the same litter: one was an extrovert, barking happily at anyone who went by and the other was shy, just sitting and looking out. We wondered what they had been crossed with because their ears were enormous - perhaps a beagle or some kind of spaniel. Next door was a Jack Russell pup (called Antonio) who was resting when I saw him. Each animal has a written history and description of what their temperament is like and what kind of lifestyle they would fit with.
I spoke with one of the staff in the store and she told me that they also do checks on potential new owners. She has regularly refused adoption and she told me she is often abused by some breeders who are unhappy with the RSPCA. I was very pleased to know that this responsible approach is taken to . animals and ownership and that this particular store will have nothing to do with puppy factories.
The staff member also told me that twenty-five dogs had been surrendered in the last week. It's a timely reminder that pet ownership should be a conscious decision and shouldn't be taken lightly. Animals are not a commodity or a product. They are living creatures with feelings and should not be thought of as disposable.
I didn't ask what happens to the animals which aren't adopted, but I'm sure we all know.
.JPG) |
| Want a share a bench with Smokey Dawson? (c) divacultura 2012 |
.JPG) |
| If this is how Smokey looked in real life, I reckon he would have been a great storyteller. Look at the life in his face and eyes! (c) divacultura 2012 |
If the sock fits...clash the colours and the patterns!
To contact us Click HERE
This blog celebrated its first anniversary back in July. To celebrate, I gave away the gifts - a pair of my handknitted socks for one reader in Australia and one overseas reader.
Rose Wintergreen wrote and performed a whole song and was the worthy winner inside Australia. She sent me a photo of her wearing the socks. I just loved all the colours and patterns together so much that I asked her permission to share the photo with you. I'm pleased she said yes!
Great style! Great socks!
If you missed Rose's song, you can find it over here.
And you can find out more about Rose over here.
Rose Wintergreen wrote and performed a whole song and was the worthy winner inside Australia. She sent me a photo of her wearing the socks. I just loved all the colours and patterns together so much that I asked her permission to share the photo with you. I'm pleased she said yes!
 |
If you missed Rose's song, you can find it over here.
And you can find out more about Rose over here.
We made it to 2013 - the Mayans were wrong.
To contact us Click HERE
Imagine that. The world didn't end. Who knows what the Mayans were up to? The world could have been spared numerous B movies, apart from any angst which may have arisen from the looming end of the world.
I like milestones. I like to take the time to think about what's next and get my mindset right for whatever is next. I'm not really a goal setter, but I do like to be purposeful about actions that I take. My experience over the last few years since I finished full time employment for other people in October 2008 is that things work really well for me if I think positively, don't get tense and worried and continue to act on opportunities. I also look for opportunities. They can be sneaky things and can easily be missed if you're not actually looking.
I just checked my New Year post for last year and am very pleased with the alignment I achieved between intention and achievement. I am pleased with what I achieved. I haven't tackled my lace knitting yet, but I have signed up to an online class and have the yarn wound and ready to go. Development as a performer didn't really happen last year, but I'm okay with that. I've been spending a lot of time developing my skills as an improviser and actor in a teaching and assessment setting. It's not performance as such, but I'm still exercising my acting muscles.
The spare room is still a disaster - perhaps smaller and a tiny bit more organised than it was this time last year.
I'm very pleased with how my business is developing. Bookings and interest is very strong right through the first quarter and prospects are already looking very good beyond that. I'm feeling good about 2013.
On a personal level, one of my major achievements in 2012 was quitting sugar! I made it through the eight weeks of having no sugar at all, just in time for Christmas. Over Christmas, I have allowed myself to share a small portion of Christmas pudding and last night at dinner I had a dessert that was far too big and far too rich, given that I'm off sugar. It's interesting that previously I would have been fighting the urge to have seconds, but that doesn't happen anymore. The quit program has worked and my habits and palate have both changed. Congratulations to anyone out there who has achieved the same thing! And if you haven't quite made it yet, keep trying - it's worth it.
My main focus for 2013 is to continue to build my business, using networking and good work as my main advertising tools. On a concrete, practical note, I do want to get my website up and running.
Incorporating volunteering into my life while I'm working freelance is quite challenging. Because I am only paid when I work, I need to prioritise paid work over volunteering. Contributing to my community is very important to me and I'm feeling a little frustrated that I haven't found a way of volunteering regularly in the way my life is currently running. I solved that problem in 2011 by knitting for charity. This worked because it was easy to incorporate into my usual leisure activities and didn't compete for priority with my paid work. In 2012 I started to crochet a granny square a day and these will be turned into a blanket for someone. I will explore further charity avenues for my knitting this year.
Floating around in my mind is the idea of going unplugged for a day a month. I need to think about this idea more and gain clarity about what I mean. At this stage I'm thinking about it in the context of being offline - that is, not dealing with email, social media and using the internet generally. I feel like this would be a good thing to do to clear my mind and make sure days aren't sucked into the web vortex.
On the practical side, the spare room has made it onto the list. I know that I need to be more specific in thinking about this as making a broad statement like "tackle the spare room" really hasn't worked. At this moment I'm thinking "turn the spare room into a useful, welcoming space, so that it is more than a storage room". And of course, I need a timeframe. By 31 August 2013!
I've done fairly well with saving money during 2012, but with no real plan other than to have money to tide me over during the dead period of December and January. I'm going to put a firm aim in place and put aside 10% of all invoices (after I've taken out tax and GST).
And I want to dance more!
My plans for divacultura are to continue to write daily as much as possible. This is no longer a chore and I find that most days the inspiration is readily available and the writing happens fairly easily. If I'm travelling it's often difficult to post each day, but I've decided just to acknowledge that and communicate with my readers. Given my work schedule I may need to cut back to five posts a week, but I'll let you know if that happens. With the development of my website for this year, I need to think about the relationship between my business and my blog and make sure I seize opportunities for cross-pollination.
Here are the top 10 most read posts on divacultura:
1. MYKI: it's your key to bureaucratic frustration
2. Quitting sugar - two weeks down
3. That's how you handle a complaint!
4. Emergency services call - communication failure
5. Missing in action
6. Photo a day June - from a low angle
7. If myki is the solution, what the hell was the problem?
8. I've got the public transport ticketing blues
9. Photo a day - June round up & July list
10. 2 Days in New York - giveaway
Post numbers 2 through to 10 were all written this year. The top post was written in 2011. There's a strong theme of public transport and community service being subjects of these most popular posts. And my photos have also received lots of comments and compliments, both here on the blog and on Instagram and facebook. The one I'm puzzled about is "Missing in action" at number 5...
Phew! That's a great list and I'm excited about what's to come.
What are you thinking about for 2013? What's your intention?
I like milestones. I like to take the time to think about what's next and get my mindset right for whatever is next. I'm not really a goal setter, but I do like to be purposeful about actions that I take. My experience over the last few years since I finished full time employment for other people in October 2008 is that things work really well for me if I think positively, don't get tense and worried and continue to act on opportunities. I also look for opportunities. They can be sneaky things and can easily be missed if you're not actually looking.
I just checked my New Year post for last year and am very pleased with the alignment I achieved between intention and achievement. I am pleased with what I achieved. I haven't tackled my lace knitting yet, but I have signed up to an online class and have the yarn wound and ready to go. Development as a performer didn't really happen last year, but I'm okay with that. I've been spending a lot of time developing my skills as an improviser and actor in a teaching and assessment setting. It's not performance as such, but I'm still exercising my acting muscles.
The spare room is still a disaster - perhaps smaller and a tiny bit more organised than it was this time last year.
I'm very pleased with how my business is developing. Bookings and interest is very strong right through the first quarter and prospects are already looking very good beyond that. I'm feeling good about 2013.
On a personal level, one of my major achievements in 2012 was quitting sugar! I made it through the eight weeks of having no sugar at all, just in time for Christmas. Over Christmas, I have allowed myself to share a small portion of Christmas pudding and last night at dinner I had a dessert that was far too big and far too rich, given that I'm off sugar. It's interesting that previously I would have been fighting the urge to have seconds, but that doesn't happen anymore. The quit program has worked and my habits and palate have both changed. Congratulations to anyone out there who has achieved the same thing! And if you haven't quite made it yet, keep trying - it's worth it.
My main focus for 2013 is to continue to build my business, using networking and good work as my main advertising tools. On a concrete, practical note, I do want to get my website up and running.
Incorporating volunteering into my life while I'm working freelance is quite challenging. Because I am only paid when I work, I need to prioritise paid work over volunteering. Contributing to my community is very important to me and I'm feeling a little frustrated that I haven't found a way of volunteering regularly in the way my life is currently running. I solved that problem in 2011 by knitting for charity. This worked because it was easy to incorporate into my usual leisure activities and didn't compete for priority with my paid work. In 2012 I started to crochet a granny square a day and these will be turned into a blanket for someone. I will explore further charity avenues for my knitting this year.
Floating around in my mind is the idea of going unplugged for a day a month. I need to think about this idea more and gain clarity about what I mean. At this stage I'm thinking about it in the context of being offline - that is, not dealing with email, social media and using the internet generally. I feel like this would be a good thing to do to clear my mind and make sure days aren't sucked into the web vortex.
On the practical side, the spare room has made it onto the list. I know that I need to be more specific in thinking about this as making a broad statement like "tackle the spare room" really hasn't worked. At this moment I'm thinking "turn the spare room into a useful, welcoming space, so that it is more than a storage room". And of course, I need a timeframe. By 31 August 2013!
I've done fairly well with saving money during 2012, but with no real plan other than to have money to tide me over during the dead period of December and January. I'm going to put a firm aim in place and put aside 10% of all invoices (after I've taken out tax and GST).
And I want to dance more!
My plans for divacultura are to continue to write daily as much as possible. This is no longer a chore and I find that most days the inspiration is readily available and the writing happens fairly easily. If I'm travelling it's often difficult to post each day, but I've decided just to acknowledge that and communicate with my readers. Given my work schedule I may need to cut back to five posts a week, but I'll let you know if that happens. With the development of my website for this year, I need to think about the relationship between my business and my blog and make sure I seize opportunities for cross-pollination.
Here are the top 10 most read posts on divacultura:
1. MYKI: it's your key to bureaucratic frustration
2. Quitting sugar - two weeks down
3. That's how you handle a complaint!
4. Emergency services call - communication failure
5. Missing in action
6. Photo a day June - from a low angle
7. If myki is the solution, what the hell was the problem?
8. I've got the public transport ticketing blues
9. Photo a day - June round up & July list
10. 2 Days in New York - giveaway
Post numbers 2 through to 10 were all written this year. The top post was written in 2011. There's a strong theme of public transport and community service being subjects of these most popular posts. And my photos have also received lots of comments and compliments, both here on the blog and on Instagram and facebook. The one I'm puzzled about is "Missing in action" at number 5...
Phew! That's a great list and I'm excited about what's to come.
What are you thinking about for 2013? What's your intention?
Who's Calling?
To contact us Click HERE
Today while slicing up the last delicious cantalope of the year, the phone rang. Seth, who recently went out for a haircut is expecting an important call so I reflexively pivoted to face the phone, dropping my knife which fell, blade side down -- of course -- on my bare instep, slicing it open.
Still determined to answer the phone, I got close enough to read the caller ID which had a number I didn't recognize so I picked up the receiver.
But first I tripped on Buzzy who was winding around my legs.
Despite the chaos, I chirp a pleasant "Hello?" only to hear the low rumble of what we all recognize as a room full of desperate (I am not without pity) telemarketers. I mange to be polite as I inform my caller, who has asked for Seth, that while he isn't home, I would be pleased to take a message.
"No, thankyou," says she. This is just a courtesy call." She clicked off before I could shriek, now aware that I am standing in my own blood, "Well, I don't find it courteous at all!!!
On that note, here is a post from the ancient days of this blog, written immediately after Election Day, 2010, that is very appropriate in view of phone calls such as these as well as the barrage of political calls, polls and surveys that many of us have ben receiving in preparation for the approaching election...
Recent Scenario: After tidying my home, starting a load of laundry and vigorously petting the cats, I sit--with the lunch I’ve prepared--by the window to soak up some sunlight and relax for a few minutes. Cat Numero Uno curls up across my knees. Numero Dos settles by my side while I balance my veggie burger on the arm of the sofa, placing my iced tea on the window sill. I note, with fleeting concern, that I’ve forgotten to locate the portable phone. Then the phone rings.
Since it could be one of the boys needing advice (Can I wear this shirt with these pants? How much do I tip at a buffet? What is the meaning of life?), I pull myself to my feet, dispersing the cats—one of whom knocks my veggie burger to the floor.
The sound of shattering crockery alarms the other cat who leaps to the ceiling, up-ending the iced tea which then soaks my newspaper.
I stagger to the phone, my lips already forming the pearls of wisdom I will dispense, but, upon lifting the receiver, hear only, “Hi, this is Linda McMahon….” Or, “This is—insert the name of one of a dozen candidates who’ve been bombarding my home recently with obnoxious recorded messages. Or it’s their wife, child, left ass-cheek, pet or transsexual lover who wants, in additional recorded messages, to tell me why their daddy, mommy, wife, husband, etc. is the perfect choice for the job.
Unfortunately, there’s no one at the other end at whom to howl obscenities. So, I shriek them into the unresponsive receiver, impressing none but the cats (who’ve heard it all before) with my dazzling, yet disappointingly unmarketable, natural ability to string naughty words into extremely complex sentences.
Don’t these politicians see that this harassment isn’t an effective way to commandeer votes or rally a constituency? At least, not in my opinion, it isn’t. I’ve long treasured the privilege of voting but was so disgusted with these calls (plus the relentless negative ads on television combined with a scarcity of decent choices) that, this year, I considered getting a pedicure instead of casting a ballot.
Not to mention, I miss the old voting machines. I don’t trust the new ones. How could it not matter whether we insert our ballots face up or down? I think the new machines might actually be shredders. Right, Bridgeport?
I read that Linda McMahon’s campaign made 400,000 phone calls during the weeks preceding the election. I seriously think she made them all to my house. When I heard the staggering amount she spent (45 million American dollars) on her campaign, I had to lie down with a cool rag across my face and a bag of peanut M&Ms by my side.
The election is over but I’m still receiving calls. Now, mostly, from gutter installers, chimney cleaners and dozens of charities and organizations who think nothing of calling on a Sunday morning at 8:30 or a Friday evening after nine. I struggle to keep my head from exploding as I respond politely. After all, these are people trying to earn a living.
If my hormone levels are in flux or I’ve been rudely awakened, I’ve been known to behave less cordially. Afterward, I worry that, with the click of a mouse, a caller seeking revenge and possessing computer skills could skew my credit rating or place me on the no-fly list, so I try to control my ire. It does seem, however, that since I signed up with the “Do Not Call” registry I’ve been receiving more calls instead of fewer. Perhaps, I accidentally added myself to the “Please—I beg you!!—Call Me” list in a moment of delirium.
So, if any telemarketers, candidates, or pollsters are listening, I don’t want to hear why you’re right for the job, change my cable company or donate money. I want my phone time reserved for chatting with family and friends, ordering pizza or directing the confused driver of the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol van to my door. Other than that, consider me unlisted.
Today while slicing up the last delicious cantalope of the year, the phone rang. Seth, who recently went out for a haircut is expecting an important call so I reflexively pivoted to face the phone, dropping my knife which fell, blade side down -- of course -- on my bare instep, slicing it open.Still determined to answer the phone, I got close enough to read the caller ID which had a number I didn't recognize so I picked up the receiver.
But first I tripped on Buzzy who was winding around my legs.
Despite the chaos, I chirp a pleasant "Hello?" only to hear the low rumble of what we all recognize as a room full of desperate (I am not without pity) telemarketers. I mange to be polite as I inform my caller, who has asked for Seth, that while he isn't home, I would be pleased to take a message.
"No, thankyou," says she. This is just a courtesy call." She clicked off before I could shriek, now aware that I am standing in my own blood, "Well, I don't find it courteous at all!!!
On that note, here is a post from the ancient days of this blog, written immediately after Election Day, 2010, that is very appropriate in view of phone calls such as these as well as the barrage of political calls, polls and surveys that many of us have ben receiving in preparation for the approaching election...
Recent Scenario: After tidying my home, starting a load of laundry and vigorously petting the cats, I sit--with the lunch I’ve prepared--by the window to soak up some sunlight and relax for a few minutes. Cat Numero Uno curls up across my knees. Numero Dos settles by my side while I balance my veggie burger on the arm of the sofa, placing my iced tea on the window sill. I note, with fleeting concern, that I’ve forgotten to locate the portable phone. Then the phone rings.Since it could be one of the boys needing advice (Can I wear this shirt with these pants? How much do I tip at a buffet? What is the meaning of life?), I pull myself to my feet, dispersing the cats—one of whom knocks my veggie burger to the floor.
The sound of shattering crockery alarms the other cat who leaps to the ceiling, up-ending the iced tea which then soaks my newspaper. I stagger to the phone, my lips already forming the pearls of wisdom I will dispense, but, upon lifting the receiver, hear only, “Hi, this is Linda McMahon….” Or, “This is—insert the name of one of a dozen candidates who’ve been bombarding my home recently with obnoxious recorded messages. Or it’s their wife, child, left ass-cheek, pet or transsexual lover who wants, in additional recorded messages, to tell me why their daddy, mommy, wife, husband, etc. is the perfect choice for the job.
Unfortunately, there’s no one at the other end at whom to howl obscenities. So, I shriek them into the unresponsive receiver, impressing none but the cats (who’ve heard it all before) with my dazzling, yet disappointingly unmarketable, natural ability to string naughty words into extremely complex sentences.
Don’t these politicians see that this harassment isn’t an effective way to commandeer votes or rally a constituency? At least, not in my opinion, it isn’t. I’ve long treasured the privilege of voting but was so disgusted with these calls (plus the relentless negative ads on television combined with a scarcity of decent choices) that, this year, I considered getting a pedicure instead of casting a ballot.
Not to mention, I miss the old voting machines. I don’t trust the new ones. How could it not matter whether we insert our ballots face up or down? I think the new machines might actually be shredders. Right, Bridgeport?
I read that Linda McMahon’s campaign made 400,000 phone calls during the weeks preceding the election. I seriously think she made them all to my house. When I heard the staggering amount she spent (45 million American dollars) on her campaign, I had to lie down with a cool rag across my face and a bag of peanut M&Ms by my side.
The election is over but I’m still receiving calls. Now, mostly, from gutter installers, chimney cleaners and dozens of charities and organizations who think nothing of calling on a Sunday morning at 8:30 or a Friday evening after nine. I struggle to keep my head from exploding as I respond politely. After all, these are people trying to earn a living.
If my hormone levels are in flux or I’ve been rudely awakened, I’ve been known to behave less cordially. Afterward, I worry that, with the click of a mouse, a caller seeking revenge and possessing computer skills could skew my credit rating or place me on the no-fly list, so I try to control my ire. It does seem, however, that since I signed up with the “Do Not Call” registry I’ve been receiving more calls instead of fewer. Perhaps, I accidentally added myself to the “Please—I beg you!!—Call Me” list in a moment of delirium.
So, if any telemarketers, candidates, or pollsters are listening, I don’t want to hear why you’re right for the job, change my cable company or donate money. I want my phone time reserved for chatting with family and friends, ordering pizza or directing the confused driver of the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol van to my door. Other than that, consider me unlisted.
 |
| If he calls, I'll talk to him. |
31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
Long Distance Father/Son Bonding...and other crap
To contact us Click HERE
I have been composing a post in my head all day long. But then something else happened that seemed so much more "post worthy" that I have decided that what I was thinking just wasn't good enough for it's own post....so I'll just tack it on at the end. Sure, it won't make for a cohesive post but then when are my posts ever cohesive?
Earlier in the evening, I heard Hubby talking to the television. More than usual. I knew the Giants were playing so I chalked it up to them playing extremely well or extremely bad. No matter how they play, it is guaranteed that he will be telling them what to do or what not to do.
As time wore on, I began to notice that the tone was more conversational than confrontational. Generally, Hubby is confrontational with the television. I also noticed that the chatter of the sports announcers weren't blathering on and on in the background, as they usually are when he is watching a game.
Curious, I took a stroll past the living room to see what was going on. It turned out that Hubby was on the phone. With Man-Child.
These two boys of mine are extremely close, and always have been. They used to spend most of their Sundays during the "season" watching football together. And, if I'm not mistaken, up until Man-Child left for college, they have watched every Giants game together.
Since MC has left for school, I can tell that some of the joy Hubby felt at watching a Giants game is gone. Oh sure, he still berates the team when they aren't doing well, he still berates the referees and he especially berates the sports announcers. In his mind, all the announcers are Giants haters. But I could tell that his heart wasn't in it.
Until tonight. Tonight, one of them called the other. And then like two school girls, proceeded to watch the game "together" via the phone; for the ENTIRE game. It was hilarious. After it was over, Hubby informed me that it had been "fun." I sense a new trend in their football watching going forward.
In other news, I decorated the tree today. After yesterday's mild panic attack, I am feeling a little more in control. Oh sure, the house isn't decorated (and, most likely, won't be - since just looking at all FIFTEEN of those boxes gave me a headache.....), but the tree is trimmed and the stockings are hung. What more do you need to have Santa come visit? Exactly.
Only two minor hiccups occurred today while trimming the tree. The first being, I discovered last year's Christmas ornament. I buy a new one that is dated every year. Recently, I've been buying the photo ones to ensure that we have a family picture every year. Here is last year's.....
Look closely; what do you see?
This lead me to do a mental review. Did we take a family picture last year? If we did, why did I not put the picture into the frame?
For the life of me, I could not remember. And thus began the internal debate; "Should I just hang it on the tree as is? As a testament to the fact that I am obviously losing my mind? Or should I cheat and put in some random, fairly recent, photo and call it a day?"
In the end, I decided to set it aside and see if I could find some evidence of a family picture from last year before hanging it AS IS on the tree. After searching one laptop, my cell phone and another laptop I DID discover a family picture. And it was a definite cheat - since it was apparently taken after Christmas - on the 29th to be exact.
And then it all came flooding back to me. I had bought the ornament frame just days before Christmas and never got organized enough to have the picture taken. In a frantic attempt to get the picture done before the season was over, I had my friend come over at the last minute in an attempt to "close out" the holiday season. And then, once the photo had been snapped, I completely ended the season, neglecting to print the photo and pack it away.
Since I already have this year's ornament, I suppose I should get busy with that family picture business (note to self.....be more organized this year, dammit!)
The other hiccup occurred after I had decorated the tree. Yesterday, while up in the mountains, I found a Christmas ornament in MC's school colors and with the logo stamped on it. I bought it immediately. Today it was the first ornament on the tree. I snapped a picture and immediately texted it to him.
Hours later he responded.....
This from the kid who has had absolutely NO interest in trimming the tree these past several years? The kid who actually moaned if I suggested that he help me in any way?
I can't win, people. I just can't win.
Earlier in the evening, I heard Hubby talking to the television. More than usual. I knew the Giants were playing so I chalked it up to them playing extremely well or extremely bad. No matter how they play, it is guaranteed that he will be telling them what to do or what not to do.
As time wore on, I began to notice that the tone was more conversational than confrontational. Generally, Hubby is confrontational with the television. I also noticed that the chatter of the sports announcers weren't blathering on and on in the background, as they usually are when he is watching a game.
Curious, I took a stroll past the living room to see what was going on. It turned out that Hubby was on the phone. With Man-Child.
These two boys of mine are extremely close, and always have been. They used to spend most of their Sundays during the "season" watching football together. And, if I'm not mistaken, up until Man-Child left for college, they have watched every Giants game together.
Since MC has left for school, I can tell that some of the joy Hubby felt at watching a Giants game is gone. Oh sure, he still berates the team when they aren't doing well, he still berates the referees and he especially berates the sports announcers. In his mind, all the announcers are Giants haters. But I could tell that his heart wasn't in it.
Until tonight. Tonight, one of them called the other. And then like two school girls, proceeded to watch the game "together" via the phone; for the ENTIRE game. It was hilarious. After it was over, Hubby informed me that it had been "fun." I sense a new trend in their football watching going forward.
In other news, I decorated the tree today. After yesterday's mild panic attack, I am feeling a little more in control. Oh sure, the house isn't decorated (and, most likely, won't be - since just looking at all FIFTEEN of those boxes gave me a headache.....), but the tree is trimmed and the stockings are hung. What more do you need to have Santa come visit? Exactly.
Only two minor hiccups occurred today while trimming the tree. The first being, I discovered last year's Christmas ornament. I buy a new one that is dated every year. Recently, I've been buying the photo ones to ensure that we have a family picture every year. Here is last year's.....
 |
| WHY my pictures are randomly turning sideways, I don't know! But, other than that, what is wrong with this picture?! |
Look closely; what do you see?
|
| That is NOT my family!!! |
This lead me to do a mental review. Did we take a family picture last year? If we did, why did I not put the picture into the frame?
For the life of me, I could not remember. And thus began the internal debate; "Should I just hang it on the tree as is? As a testament to the fact that I am obviously losing my mind? Or should I cheat and put in some random, fairly recent, photo and call it a day?"
In the end, I decided to set it aside and see if I could find some evidence of a family picture from last year before hanging it AS IS on the tree. After searching one laptop, my cell phone and another laptop I DID discover a family picture. And it was a definite cheat - since it was apparently taken after Christmas - on the 29th to be exact.
 |
| Well, at least this one is right side up! |
And then it all came flooding back to me. I had bought the ornament frame just days before Christmas and never got organized enough to have the picture taken. In a frantic attempt to get the picture done before the season was over, I had my friend come over at the last minute in an attempt to "close out" the holiday season. And then, once the photo had been snapped, I completely ended the season, neglecting to print the photo and pack it away.
Since I already have this year's ornament, I suppose I should get busy with that family picture business (note to self.....be more organized this year, dammit!)
The other hiccup occurred after I had decorated the tree. Yesterday, while up in the mountains, I found a Christmas ornament in MC's school colors and with the logo stamped on it. I bought it immediately. Today it was the first ornament on the tree. I snapped a picture and immediately texted it to him.
Hours later he responded.....
 |
| Seriously? |
This from the kid who has had absolutely NO interest in trimming the tree these past several years? The kid who actually moaned if I suggested that he help me in any way?
I can't win, people. I just can't win.
Heartbroken.....
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I had a whole post ready to go - give or take a few tweaks - poking fun of an incident that happened earlier this week. But I'm not feeling very funny right now.
Right now, I am horrified and sickened at the tragedy in Connecticut.
My thoughts, prayers and tears tonight are for those people affected by the senseless act of violence today.
This insanity must stop.....it HAS to stop. Things like this should NEVER happen again. And the fact that they already have - too many times to count - is a testament to that fact.
Right now, I am horrified and sickened at the tragedy in Connecticut.
My thoughts, prayers and tears tonight are for those people affected by the senseless act of violence today.
This insanity must stop.....it HAS to stop. Things like this should NEVER happen again. And the fact that they already have - too many times to count - is a testament to that fact.
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