So. Yeah. It's been a big few days.
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, as you might have guessed, my car was stolen from our driveway. We didn't hear a thing, and the dogs didn't bark. I went out the front door on Wednesday morning, ready to go to work, looked to the right where our driveway is ... And my car was gone. I rang work, slightly disbelieving to tell them that as I had no car, I couldn't get in. It took a while to sink in that my car was really gone. Someone had stolen it. So I spent the morning ringing the Police, the insurance company, the Police again, VicRoads, and the insurance company again. I kind of hoped that it had just been stolen by some kids, who'd run it out of petrol then dump it somewhere, safe and unharmed.
This morning I got a call at 8 a.m. from the Eaglehawk Police saying that it had been found, dumped about 10 minutes from here, and that "there was some significant damage to the front end of the car". So, Christine and I went out to have a look, and hell yes, there was some significant damage to the front end of the car. The Police think that whoever stole it has hit some kind of pole/signpost (like a stop/give way sign or a street sign), which has basically collapsed the car into the middle of itself. The passenger in the front seat has then slammed their head into the windscreen, and left some blood in the cracked glass (next time, might be an idea for them to steal a car with airbags, since they sure as hell can't drive. Dumbfucks. Yeah, there's still some anger about all this ...). My cd's and cd player were all still in the car, as were all the papers/service books in the glovebox. I guess since there was nothing of real value in the car, they decided to just dump it and run after they crashed it.
It looks as if the insurance company will probably write the car off, as the damage is pretty extensive, and it would probably cost more for them to repair it than it would for them to pay me the market value of the car and be done with it.
So today, I dealt with the Police, the insurance company, the tow truck driver, the smash repairs place, the insurance guys again, and then the Police again. I also went to the bank to see about getting a personal loan, to buy a new car. My car only cost me a couple of grand, because at the time all I needed was something to get me to work and home again, and I didn't want to take out a loan and get into debt. This time I'll be buying something a little more expensive, something a little newer (mine's a 1984 model), something with airconditioning (no more sweltering in 40 degree heat), and something with a loud alarm system.
To be honest, I can't believe how much this has upset me. It's just a car, right? But seeing it, all smashed up, knowing that I probably won't be driving it again, made me upset - because it was my first car, because the first time I drove myself to Melbourne, it was in that car, because I could get in my car and just relax, even on my most stressed day (what can I say, driving relaxes me) - and it made me pissed off. What does someone get out of that? What's the point in stealing a car that's not yours, driving it around, smashing it into a pole and then dumping it? What's the point? It's dangerous, and stupid, and now, I'm without my car, my Gibbsy, named after Gibbs from NCIS, because yes, he's old, but he's hot! Even if the insurance company does decide to repair him, I won't keep him. Quite frankly, knowing that someone broke into him, and stole him ... Just freaks me out. I can't even explain why. I know he'd look the same as before, they'd get out all the dings and paint him and replace his windscreen, but ... Like I said, I can't explain it. I'd have to sell him. I know it's irrational, and stupid, but that's what I'm feeling right now.
So, tonight, I will hopefully get some sleep, since the last couple of nights have been sleepless (I've borrowed a car from one of my bosses at work until all the insurance stuff gets sorted out, and now I'm beyond paranoid that they're going to come back and steal it - I jump every time I hear a car door during the night). I think that's part of the reason I was so emotional today (emotional, hell, I was a basket case. I spent the entire afternoon crying off and on, in huge, hysterical sobs, that I just couldn't control. My eyes are like tiny little slits at the moment, they're so swollen from crying). If I can just get a good nights sleep I'm sure I'll be fine. We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings ...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
My car ...
The Police found it ...
Thanks, dumbfuck car thieves. I know there was at least two of you, because someone in the passenger seat smashed their head on my windscreen when it crashed. Hope you have the biggest headache ever, you dipshit.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Dear Scumbag Car Thief
Just wanted to say thanks. Thanks heaps.
In a week that's already been incredibly stressful, what with having a fire get within 1 freaking kilometre of our house and everything, you just had to do your bit, didn't you?
Thanks for stealing my car last night while I slept. It was actually the first good nights sleep I've had since Friday night. I woke up this morning, feeling refreshed, and not as stressed as I've been since Saturday.
When I went out to get in my car for work, however, all your handiwork hit me fair in the face as I realised that my freaking car had been stolen.
Thanks for making me miss another morning of work, while I rang the police and the insurance company and VicRoads. That's work that I can't afford to miss. I need that money.
Hope you enjoyed driving around in my car, listening to my CD's, using up the tank of petrol I just filled 2 days ago. That's $50 down the drain, so thanks you friggin dumbfuck.
I hope that your testicles turn green and fall the fuck off and I hope that you walk around with snot all over your face all day. I hope that you're found, and that you're charged. I hope that you realise the stress and the hurt and the cost that you've caused. I hope that someday you realise exactly what you did to me, and that you then have to deal with that shame for the rest of your life.
Snappz.
In a week that's already been incredibly stressful, what with having a fire get within 1 freaking kilometre of our house and everything, you just had to do your bit, didn't you?
Thanks for stealing my car last night while I slept. It was actually the first good nights sleep I've had since Friday night. I woke up this morning, feeling refreshed, and not as stressed as I've been since Saturday.
When I went out to get in my car for work, however, all your handiwork hit me fair in the face as I realised that my freaking car had been stolen.
Thanks for making me miss another morning of work, while I rang the police and the insurance company and VicRoads. That's work that I can't afford to miss. I need that money.
Hope you enjoyed driving around in my car, listening to my CD's, using up the tank of petrol I just filled 2 days ago. That's $50 down the drain, so thanks you friggin dumbfuck.
I hope that your testicles turn green and fall the fuck off and I hope that you walk around with snot all over your face all day. I hope that you're found, and that you're charged. I hope that you realise the stress and the hurt and the cost that you've caused. I hope that someday you realise exactly what you did to me, and that you then have to deal with that shame for the rest of your life.
Snappz.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Lucky?
This will only be a short entry. Today everything is still to raw, too real.
I don't even know how to describe the events of the last two days.
The fires came scarily close to our house. It is something I would never want to experience ever again. And yet, we were lucky. We didn't lose our house, we didn't lose our lives.
Around Victoria, the death toll is still climbing. The houses that have been destroyed are numerous. Entire towns have been devastated.
It all happened so quickly.
Please keep the victims of the bushfires in your thoughts. They need all the prayers that you can send their way.
I don't even know how to describe the events of the last two days.
The fires came scarily close to our house. It is something I would never want to experience ever again. And yet, we were lucky. We didn't lose our house, we didn't lose our lives.
Around Victoria, the death toll is still climbing. The houses that have been destroyed are numerous. Entire towns have been devastated.
It all happened so quickly.
Please keep the victims of the bushfires in your thoughts. They need all the prayers that you can send their way.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Uh-oh ... Rant time!
A couple of things on my mind tonight ...
Firstly, the Government's Stimulus Package. The Opposition is currently trying to stop it going through Parliament. While part of me does agree with the logic in their argument - should we be putting our country in huge amounts of debt to try and avoid a recession (which will probably occur anyway?)? The other part - the larger part of me - thinks that $900 could be an enormous help to families/people who are really struggling at the moment. Imagine being able to stock up the freezer/fridge/pantry, get some winter clothes, pay some extra off bills that they can't seem to clear ... Even people my age, who are living from paycheck to paycheck, would really appreciate some extra help. The first round of bonuses (given out in December) helped boost retail sales by 4% in December. The money would be spent, I'm sure. Most people are finding it hard to save money to get ahead at the moment. Maybe the bonus money will ease the pressure a little. Personally, I don't know if I'm eligible for the bonus, but I hope that it passes through Parliament. I think it would do a lot of good.
Secondly, Telstra. FUCKERS. Oh yeah, this is gonna be a rant.
I moved house in NOVEMBER. As people do, I rang up, went through all their stupid little questions and I disconnected my phone ... Because I was MOVING HOUSE. A month ago, I still had not received my final phone bill from Telstra. So I called. Only to find out that my broadband connection had NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. It was STILL active. Almost TWO months after I moved house. So, they disconnected it, and told me the bill was on it's way. Great. Can't wait to pay it. Last week, I realised that I still hadn't spotted the bill, but I couldn't ring them last week as I worked all week. Today, 4 weeks later, I rang again. This time the excuse for not receiving my bill yet? "That service is still connected. Are you sure you arranged disconnection when you moved?" OH MY GOD. Seriously??! They had my broadband account disconnected (FINALLY, they get SOMETHING right!)
but my phone line was still active. EVEN THOUGH I MOVED OUT ALMOST THREE MONTHS AGO! The second reason I haven't received a bill? Because even though I have provided it 4 times (when disconnecting fixed line, when disconnecting broadband, WHEN RINGING UP TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD MY NEW ADDRESS CORRECT, when ringing to find out where the bill got to), they WERE STILL SENDING MY BILLS TO MY OLD ADDRESS.
For fucks sake!
Ok, now I have to cut this post short because my TELSTRA WIRELESS CONNECTION keeps DROPPING OUT and I'm worried I'm going to lose this whole post. Damm Telstra.
Ok, rant over ... Sorry for the colourful language :-)
Firstly, the Government's Stimulus Package. The Opposition is currently trying to stop it going through Parliament. While part of me does agree with the logic in their argument - should we be putting our country in huge amounts of debt to try and avoid a recession (which will probably occur anyway?)? The other part - the larger part of me - thinks that $900 could be an enormous help to families/people who are really struggling at the moment. Imagine being able to stock up the freezer/fridge/pantry, get some winter clothes, pay some extra off bills that they can't seem to clear ... Even people my age, who are living from paycheck to paycheck, would really appreciate some extra help. The first round of bonuses (given out in December) helped boost retail sales by 4% in December. The money would be spent, I'm sure. Most people are finding it hard to save money to get ahead at the moment. Maybe the bonus money will ease the pressure a little. Personally, I don't know if I'm eligible for the bonus, but I hope that it passes through Parliament. I think it would do a lot of good.
Secondly, Telstra. FUCKERS. Oh yeah, this is gonna be a rant.
I moved house in NOVEMBER. As people do, I rang up, went through all their stupid little questions and I disconnected my phone ... Because I was MOVING HOUSE. A month ago, I still had not received my final phone bill from Telstra. So I called. Only to find out that my broadband connection had NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. It was STILL active. Almost TWO months after I moved house. So, they disconnected it, and told me the bill was on it's way. Great. Can't wait to pay it. Last week, I realised that I still hadn't spotted the bill, but I couldn't ring them last week as I worked all week. Today, 4 weeks later, I rang again. This time the excuse for not receiving my bill yet? "That service is still connected. Are you sure you arranged disconnection when you moved?" OH MY GOD. Seriously??! They had my broadband account disconnected (FINALLY, they get SOMETHING right!)
but my phone line was still active. EVEN THOUGH I MOVED OUT ALMOST THREE MONTHS AGO! The second reason I haven't received a bill? Because even though I have provided it 4 times (when disconnecting fixed line, when disconnecting broadband, WHEN RINGING UP TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD MY NEW ADDRESS CORRECT, when ringing to find out where the bill got to), they WERE STILL SENDING MY BILLS TO MY OLD ADDRESS.
For fucks sake!
Ok, now I have to cut this post short because my TELSTRA WIRELESS CONNECTION keeps DROPPING OUT and I'm worried I'm going to lose this whole post. Damm Telstra.
Ok, rant over ... Sorry for the colourful language :-)
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Ugh ...
The acoustic version of 'Sweet About Me' that Gabriella Climi sang before the tennis final?
Shit.
Also, what the hell was she wearing? And has her hair been near a brush any time this week?
Great advertisment for Melbourne ... We breed scruffy, disgustingly-dressed terrible singers ...
Shit.
Also, what the hell was she wearing? And has her hair been near a brush any time this week?
Great advertisment for Melbourne ... We breed scruffy, disgustingly-dressed terrible singers ...
Friday, January 30, 2009
That's not the way I want my story to end ...
A lot of loose change rattling around in my head this week ...
Firstly, the main item on the news for the last few nights has been the heatwave. Victoria is having a heatwave ... No frigging kidding. It's been high thirties since last weekend/start of this week, and the last four days have seen temps into the FORTIES. The freaking forties, people. Forty, forty three, forty four, forty four. And tomorrow we're in for a lovely forty four. The news keeps harping on about it ... It's a heatwave, it's a heatwave ... No shit, sherlock. Remember when it was winter and we were all bitching about how cold it was? Remember that magical, freezing time that was only a few months ago? When we all prayed for summer to start? Maybe we prayed too hard. Apparently it's the only time since 1855 that we've had this many days with the temp above 40. Well, don't I feel friggin special to be a part of history!
I had the week off work last week. I went to Melbourne - left on Tuesday when it was 42 (yeah, it was a great drive in a car with no air conditioning, thanks for asking), and it was mid to high 30's there all week. I went down to go to the allergist - the appointment I waited three months for - and to hang with my sister and my nieces for a few days.
My sister and my nieces are doing well. My little Bug Eyes is such a smart kid. She's very switched on - can't get much past that kid. My little Baby Smurf has turned into such a smiley, giggley kid. She's got a very definite personality - if she's not happy, you know it. But most of the time she's happy to just chill, smiling every few seconds at something random. It rocks!
The appointment with the allergist went great. I'm allergic to dogs! *lol* Funny. Not really badly allergic, but I had a reaction, so there's something there. Mostly I'm allergic to grasses, pollens, dust mites, all that kind of stuff. The good news is that I can be desensitised against those allergies. This involves starting immunotherapy, which is a fancy name for a hideously expensive course of 8 injections, done every second week. Then I go back to the allergist, and start a second course of terribly expensive injections. I finish them, and go back to the allergist again. Then I get a final - yep, you guessed it - unbelievably expensive lot of injections and go back to the allergist once more. Then I go on my merry way, hopefully forever cured of allergies/hayfever.
The good news is that the injections, which go over the next two or so years, will get rid of all the problems I'm having now. My asthma, which is mostly allergy/sickness induced will most likely totally go (woo hoo!). My headaches will disappear, I won't be so tired all the damn time, and I won't go through a box of tissues very two days, I'll be able to concentrate better at work ... The benefits are endless. The bad news? The injections work at out about $100 each. Not $100 per round, $100 each. There are 8 injections in each round. I get about $25 of that back on Medicare (wow ...! That'll help!). The other bad news is that I have to keep going the way I am for a while, it takes a few months (sometimes up to 6 or 8 months) to see the difference. But honestly, I'd pay anything to feel better, and I've put up with it for this long, so what's a few more months? Probably should start saving for the next lot of injections now though ...
So, I had my first injection yesterday afternoon. Because they inject me with what I'm allergic to, I have to have the injection, sit in the room with the doctor for five minutes, have my vitals taken, then go and wait in the waiting room for 25 minutes, and then I can leave. Apparently, injecting me with what I'm actually allergic to is kinda dangerous ... Who woulda guessed it?! The studies say that if a reaction is going to happen, it will happen in the first 15 minutes ... So my doctor makes me wait 25 just to be on the safe side. Apart from it going really red and some lumps coming up where the doctor stabbed me, (totally to be expected, though) it went fine.
Did I mention it's been a little bit hot here ... ?! Oh, I did ... ?!
Work has been good. I worked all this week, since I had last week off. It's been busy as all hell. I'm convinced that the girl who worked all last week did shit-all, all week, because I've spent the week catching up on work that should have already been done. Grr. However, yesterday I actually left at 4 instead of 5. Our power went out, and with no computer (and no air conditioning) there wasn't much point in me hanging around. Since I live about a three minute drive from work, I was worried about getting home to a hot house, figuring the power wouldn't have gone out here too, but I walked into a nice, cool house, with the power still working. I know the power went out in much of Victoria today due to the heatwave (yeah, we're in the middle of a heatwave, didn't you know?!), but thankfully we lucked out again and kept the power again all day.
So, I just finished seven days straight, I have tomorrow off, then I go back for four days, then I get two off. Woo hoo.
Before I finish, I'd like to get a little serious for a minute here. On Sunday night, an Uncle of mine died. His name was Russell, and he passed away after a brief illness. He fought, but the illness was stronger than him.
Russell never did anything "great", or "amazing". He was just an ordinary guy, who went to work each day. He loved his family, (including the two kids who weren't technically his) and was always there for them. He was gruff, sometimes a "grump", enjoyed a drink on special occassions (Sunday was a special occassion to Russell ...!) and love spoiling the grandkids. He wasn't rich, but he took care of his family. He wasn't surrounded by material crap that meant nothing. In the end, he died the way he lived - surrounded by his loving family, who were always there for him, like he was for them. Quite simply, he was a good guy.
R.I.P Russell. You fought so hard, right to the end. You have earned your rest.
Also, R.I.P. Darcey Freeman. I can't remember the last time that a story on the news made me cry so hard. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. How could someone do that to a child?
Ok, this has been a long entry, and it's now 12:27, so I think it might be time for bed. Night guys.
Firstly, the main item on the news for the last few nights has been the heatwave. Victoria is having a heatwave ... No frigging kidding. It's been high thirties since last weekend/start of this week, and the last four days have seen temps into the FORTIES. The freaking forties, people. Forty, forty three, forty four, forty four. And tomorrow we're in for a lovely forty four. The news keeps harping on about it ... It's a heatwave, it's a heatwave ... No shit, sherlock. Remember when it was winter and we were all bitching about how cold it was? Remember that magical, freezing time that was only a few months ago? When we all prayed for summer to start? Maybe we prayed too hard. Apparently it's the only time since 1855 that we've had this many days with the temp above 40. Well, don't I feel friggin special to be a part of history!
I had the week off work last week. I went to Melbourne - left on Tuesday when it was 42 (yeah, it was a great drive in a car with no air conditioning, thanks for asking), and it was mid to high 30's there all week. I went down to go to the allergist - the appointment I waited three months for - and to hang with my sister and my nieces for a few days.
My sister and my nieces are doing well. My little Bug Eyes is such a smart kid. She's very switched on - can't get much past that kid. My little Baby Smurf has turned into such a smiley, giggley kid. She's got a very definite personality - if she's not happy, you know it. But most of the time she's happy to just chill, smiling every few seconds at something random. It rocks!
The appointment with the allergist went great. I'm allergic to dogs! *lol* Funny. Not really badly allergic, but I had a reaction, so there's something there. Mostly I'm allergic to grasses, pollens, dust mites, all that kind of stuff. The good news is that I can be desensitised against those allergies. This involves starting immunotherapy, which is a fancy name for a hideously expensive course of 8 injections, done every second week. Then I go back to the allergist, and start a second course of terribly expensive injections. I finish them, and go back to the allergist again. Then I get a final - yep, you guessed it - unbelievably expensive lot of injections and go back to the allergist once more. Then I go on my merry way, hopefully forever cured of allergies/hayfever.
The good news is that the injections, which go over the next two or so years, will get rid of all the problems I'm having now. My asthma, which is mostly allergy/sickness induced will most likely totally go (woo hoo!). My headaches will disappear, I won't be so tired all the damn time, and I won't go through a box of tissues very two days, I'll be able to concentrate better at work ... The benefits are endless. The bad news? The injections work at out about $100 each. Not $100 per round, $100 each. There are 8 injections in each round. I get about $25 of that back on Medicare (wow ...! That'll help!). The other bad news is that I have to keep going the way I am for a while, it takes a few months (sometimes up to 6 or 8 months) to see the difference. But honestly, I'd pay anything to feel better, and I've put up with it for this long, so what's a few more months? Probably should start saving for the next lot of injections now though ...
So, I had my first injection yesterday afternoon. Because they inject me with what I'm allergic to, I have to have the injection, sit in the room with the doctor for five minutes, have my vitals taken, then go and wait in the waiting room for 25 minutes, and then I can leave. Apparently, injecting me with what I'm actually allergic to is kinda dangerous ... Who woulda guessed it?! The studies say that if a reaction is going to happen, it will happen in the first 15 minutes ... So my doctor makes me wait 25 just to be on the safe side. Apart from it going really red and some lumps coming up where the doctor stabbed me, (totally to be expected, though) it went fine.
Did I mention it's been a little bit hot here ... ?! Oh, I did ... ?!
Work has been good. I worked all this week, since I had last week off. It's been busy as all hell. I'm convinced that the girl who worked all last week did shit-all, all week, because I've spent the week catching up on work that should have already been done. Grr. However, yesterday I actually left at 4 instead of 5. Our power went out, and with no computer (and no air conditioning) there wasn't much point in me hanging around. Since I live about a three minute drive from work, I was worried about getting home to a hot house, figuring the power wouldn't have gone out here too, but I walked into a nice, cool house, with the power still working. I know the power went out in much of Victoria today due to the heatwave (yeah, we're in the middle of a heatwave, didn't you know?!), but thankfully we lucked out again and kept the power again all day.
So, I just finished seven days straight, I have tomorrow off, then I go back for four days, then I get two off. Woo hoo.
Before I finish, I'd like to get a little serious for a minute here. On Sunday night, an Uncle of mine died. His name was Russell, and he passed away after a brief illness. He fought, but the illness was stronger than him.
Russell never did anything "great", or "amazing". He was just an ordinary guy, who went to work each day. He loved his family, (including the two kids who weren't technically his) and was always there for them. He was gruff, sometimes a "grump", enjoyed a drink on special occassions (Sunday was a special occassion to Russell ...!) and love spoiling the grandkids. He wasn't rich, but he took care of his family. He wasn't surrounded by material crap that meant nothing. In the end, he died the way he lived - surrounded by his loving family, who were always there for him, like he was for them. Quite simply, he was a good guy.
R.I.P Russell. You fought so hard, right to the end. You have earned your rest.
Also, R.I.P. Darcey Freeman. I can't remember the last time that a story on the news made me cry so hard. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. How could someone do that to a child?
Ok, this has been a long entry, and it's now 12:27, so I think it might be time for bed. Night guys.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Go Warne ... r? !!
Twenty/20 is on - that's Cricket for you folks who don't know - and in their 20 overs, Australia scored 182. South Africa haven't made a great start at 3/12 in the third over ... C'mon Aussie, c'mon ... :-)
So, yeah. Not much going on here. Just watching the cricket, as you can tell. Christine's at work, so I can watch in peace :-)
Dozer comes home on Tuesday. We're getting ready to have a new puppy in the house, buying toys, a bed, water/food bowls, and more toys :-) Christine is cranky coz she's going to Melbourne for the first couple of days that Dozer will be with us, so she won't see the cute lil puppy for a while (all together now ... "Awww!"). I'm cranky coz next week I'm going to Melbourne for a specialist/doctors appointment, so I won't be home to see him for a few days. I can't wait to see my nieces though, that'll be awesome.
I can't believe how little I've got to say tonight ... :-) I keep getting distracted by the cricket. One of the guys from work is actually at the MCG tonight ... I hate him!
3/31 in the fourth over ... Maybe this game isn't totally in the bag? They do seem to be smacking a few now ... Ok, possibly I should just give up writing this, and concentrate on the cricket.
So, yeah. Not much going on here. Just watching the cricket, as you can tell. Christine's at work, so I can watch in peace :-)
Dozer comes home on Tuesday. We're getting ready to have a new puppy in the house, buying toys, a bed, water/food bowls, and more toys :-) Christine is cranky coz she's going to Melbourne for the first couple of days that Dozer will be with us, so she won't see the cute lil puppy for a while (all together now ... "Awww!"). I'm cranky coz next week I'm going to Melbourne for a specialist/doctors appointment, so I won't be home to see him for a few days. I can't wait to see my nieces though, that'll be awesome.
I can't believe how little I've got to say tonight ... :-) I keep getting distracted by the cricket. One of the guys from work is actually at the MCG tonight ... I hate him!
3/31 in the fourth over ... Maybe this game isn't totally in the bag? They do seem to be smacking a few now ... Ok, possibly I should just give up writing this, and concentrate on the cricket.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Dozer ...
Ok, let's clear a couple of things up here, k?
For a while now, Christine has been talking about getting another dog. Mostly, to benefit Jersey. He is a social dog, needs to be around people/other dogs all the time. He's settled down a bit, but still has a way to go. Everyone she's spoken to - e.g. vet, other dog owners, thinks that this would be a great idea. She's also been saying for quite some time that the next one will be a pound puppy, from the RSPCA. This isn't something that has been rushed into.
We've been out to the RSPCA a couple of times over the last couple of weeks or so. We found a gorgeous staffy x lab that we liked. His name was Alan, and he was a few years old, and a little bigger than Jersey. So, we did as the website suggests to do when you already have a dog at home - Christine took Jersey out to meet Alan. They didn't fight, but as Alan was bigger than Jersey, he dominated him when they played, which lead to Jersey lying down, going submissive. So, Alan was out.
We had a chat at home the other night, and figured that: a) we needed a dog roughly the same size as Jersey, or smaller, and b) we would probably need a dog either younger than Jersey, or roughly the same age. That way, he'd have someone with plenty of energy, just like him. Although we didn't really want to do the whole puppy thing again - housetraining, putting everything up so it doesn't get chewed on, etc., we figured that we survived Jersey being a pup, what's the worst that could happen?
Thursday, we went back to the RSPCA. The sad thing is, they get 15 - 20 new dogs every few days. Honestly, some people should be shot. I'm sure some give their dogs away as a last resort, but most seem to be dumped, or are strays that no one bothers collecting. I guess the only positive is that their are also people who are always willing to take in pound puppies.
So again, we went and had a look. And, two cages from the end, was this tiny bundle of fur. His name was Blaze, and he was a Rottie cross. One of the RSPCA volunteers said that they thought he was actually purebred, but they couldn't say for sure. He was a stray, with no tags and he wasn't microchipped. I put my fingers through the cage, and he started chewing away on them. He was gorgeous.
So, we turned around and went home again to get Jersey. On the way home, we discussed whether we really wanted a puppy or not - could we really handle all the responsibilities of having a little pup? And we decided that if Jersey and the pup got along, then yes, we could.
Jersey and Blaze got along beautifully when we let them have a run together. Jersey needs to be a little more gentle with the pup, but he wasn't bothered when Blaze would run and jump on his head, or lick his feet. So, we decided to go for it. We signed the paperwork, sorted out a day to pick up him up (after he's been microchipped and desexed) and sadly said goodbye to the little guy. On the way home, we discussed renaming him, as he doesn't know his name yet. Christine came up with Dozer, so Dozer it is.
So, anyway. We went out to the RSPCA today to hang with him for a little while. Jersey and Dozer had a run around for a while, which was good. I hope now that the people who left comments can see that this isn't something that we've rushed into. We didn't just pick out Dozer on a whim, because he was cute, without thinking things through. Neither Christine or I are like that. We know that he's going to pee (or "puddle", as one dog training book we got from the library yesterday called it ... How delicate!) in the house. He'll chew and destroy stuff that we like, and that's ok too. He and Jersey will, at some stage, fight. And we'll deal with it. We're ready for whatever those dogs want to throw our way ... :-)
And that, should be the end of that!
For a while now, Christine has been talking about getting another dog. Mostly, to benefit Jersey. He is a social dog, needs to be around people/other dogs all the time. He's settled down a bit, but still has a way to go. Everyone she's spoken to - e.g. vet, other dog owners, thinks that this would be a great idea. She's also been saying for quite some time that the next one will be a pound puppy, from the RSPCA. This isn't something that has been rushed into.
We've been out to the RSPCA a couple of times over the last couple of weeks or so. We found a gorgeous staffy x lab that we liked. His name was Alan, and he was a few years old, and a little bigger than Jersey. So, we did as the website suggests to do when you already have a dog at home - Christine took Jersey out to meet Alan. They didn't fight, but as Alan was bigger than Jersey, he dominated him when they played, which lead to Jersey lying down, going submissive. So, Alan was out.
We had a chat at home the other night, and figured that: a) we needed a dog roughly the same size as Jersey, or smaller, and b) we would probably need a dog either younger than Jersey, or roughly the same age. That way, he'd have someone with plenty of energy, just like him. Although we didn't really want to do the whole puppy thing again - housetraining, putting everything up so it doesn't get chewed on, etc., we figured that we survived Jersey being a pup, what's the worst that could happen?
Thursday, we went back to the RSPCA. The sad thing is, they get 15 - 20 new dogs every few days. Honestly, some people should be shot. I'm sure some give their dogs away as a last resort, but most seem to be dumped, or are strays that no one bothers collecting. I guess the only positive is that their are also people who are always willing to take in pound puppies.
So again, we went and had a look. And, two cages from the end, was this tiny bundle of fur. His name was Blaze, and he was a Rottie cross. One of the RSPCA volunteers said that they thought he was actually purebred, but they couldn't say for sure. He was a stray, with no tags and he wasn't microchipped. I put my fingers through the cage, and he started chewing away on them. He was gorgeous.
So, we turned around and went home again to get Jersey. On the way home, we discussed whether we really wanted a puppy or not - could we really handle all the responsibilities of having a little pup? And we decided that if Jersey and the pup got along, then yes, we could.
Jersey and Blaze got along beautifully when we let them have a run together. Jersey needs to be a little more gentle with the pup, but he wasn't bothered when Blaze would run and jump on his head, or lick his feet. So, we decided to go for it. We signed the paperwork, sorted out a day to pick up him up (after he's been microchipped and desexed) and sadly said goodbye to the little guy. On the way home, we discussed renaming him, as he doesn't know his name yet. Christine came up with Dozer, so Dozer it is.
So, anyway. We went out to the RSPCA today to hang with him for a little while. Jersey and Dozer had a run around for a while, which was good. I hope now that the people who left comments can see that this isn't something that we've rushed into. We didn't just pick out Dozer on a whim, because he was cute, without thinking things through. Neither Christine or I are like that. We know that he's going to pee (or "puddle", as one dog training book we got from the library yesterday called it ... How delicate!) in the house. He'll chew and destroy stuff that we like, and that's ok too. He and Jersey will, at some stage, fight. And we'll deal with it. We're ready for whatever those dogs want to throw our way ... :-)
And that, should be the end of that!
Friday Night Fun
Christine: This is ridiculous. You'd think they'd at least line them up so you can just grab one as you go by.
Me: You're right. I'm gonna write them a letter: "Dear B____ City Council. I went out on Friday night to steal one of your bright orange road cones. Didn't make it easy for me, did you, fuckers?!"
Christine: (Laughing hysterically) I can't breathe.
Me: I'm sure they'll get right onto fixing that. They'd want to make theft easier for their rate-payers!
Me: You're right. I'm gonna write them a letter: "Dear B____ City Council. I went out on Friday night to steal one of your bright orange road cones. Didn't make it easy for me, did you, fuckers?!"
Christine: (Laughing hysterically) I can't breathe.
Me: I'm sure they'll get right onto fixing that. They'd want to make theft easier for their rate-payers!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Introducing ...
Meet Dozer!The newest member of our house. We went to the RSPCA today, and fell in love. Jersey likes him, so we signed the paperwork today. We pick him up on Tuesday. He's a rottie cross, and he is adoreable! He's still a puppy, so we named him Dozer in honour of the bulldozer he's sure to become as he grows!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Another Quote ...
“You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.” - Robin Williams
Friday, January 02, 2009
01/01/09
Congratulations to Ang, Vince and Ryan on the birth of Nicholas John!
01/01/09
7:49 p.m.
8lb, 8oz.
Beautiful, happy and healthy!
01/01/09
7:49 p.m.
8lb, 8oz.
Beautiful, happy and healthy!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
What a year!
So ... 2008.
What a year, eh?
2007, as I've written before, was a crappy year.
2008 was the year that things fell to pieces - and then fell back together perfectly.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together..."
I could write a long, reflective blog entry on all that has happened in the last year ... But, quite frankly, I'm still paying for last night, and I've also had one or two drinks this arvo, so I don't quite have the attention span for a long entry. So instead, I'll just hit on the main points ...
Better things fell together this year.
I lost my job ... Then fell into a job that makes me happy. I love going to work now. I laugh, I joke around with the guys, and I work my arse off happily. I can't count the number of times that I've started smiling at work, just because I've had the thought that I'm so lucky - I love this place, this is my "work". I take work home, and I sit there smiling while I do it. I've been there close to seven months, and none of the gloss is wearing off. Rock on!
I moved from my nice, perfectly located, peaceful little unit when Christine purchased her first house. I knew that it would be fine, as we'd lived together before ... But I'd still lived alone for close to three years. I was used to total freedom, quiet when I wanted it and being the only one in control of the remote control. But again, better things fell together. Now? Now I've living in a kickarse house located three minutes from my work. We've got a huge kitchen and lounge room, and the best airconditioning ever. I haven't lost any of the freedom I got used to while living alone, and I can't believe I ever doubted that this would be anything but awesome. Again, this is only a couple of months old, but I don't see anything changing. We've settled in so well, it seems like we've always been here.
The family dramas went up and down for the first three-quarters of the year, which was rough. However, the last few months have seen a slight, teeny, tiny, slow-moving change occur. Things finally seem to be settling down. For the first time in a few years, we were all home for Christmas, and there were no fights. The day was peaceful, and content. We weren't the "perfect family" by any means ... But maybe we're on the way there.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together ..."
Bring on 2009!
Happy New Year!
What a year, eh?
2007, as I've written before, was a crappy year.
2008 was the year that things fell to pieces - and then fell back together perfectly.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together..."
I could write a long, reflective blog entry on all that has happened in the last year ... But, quite frankly, I'm still paying for last night, and I've also had one or two drinks this arvo, so I don't quite have the attention span for a long entry. So instead, I'll just hit on the main points ...
Better things fell together this year.
I lost my job ... Then fell into a job that makes me happy. I love going to work now. I laugh, I joke around with the guys, and I work my arse off happily. I can't count the number of times that I've started smiling at work, just because I've had the thought that I'm so lucky - I love this place, this is my "work". I take work home, and I sit there smiling while I do it. I've been there close to seven months, and none of the gloss is wearing off. Rock on!
I moved from my nice, perfectly located, peaceful little unit when Christine purchased her first house. I knew that it would be fine, as we'd lived together before ... But I'd still lived alone for close to three years. I was used to total freedom, quiet when I wanted it and being the only one in control of the remote control. But again, better things fell together. Now? Now I've living in a kickarse house located three minutes from my work. We've got a huge kitchen and lounge room, and the best airconditioning ever. I haven't lost any of the freedom I got used to while living alone, and I can't believe I ever doubted that this would be anything but awesome. Again, this is only a couple of months old, but I don't see anything changing. We've settled in so well, it seems like we've always been here.
The family dramas went up and down for the first three-quarters of the year, which was rough. However, the last few months have seen a slight, teeny, tiny, slow-moving change occur. Things finally seem to be settling down. For the first time in a few years, we were all home for Christmas, and there were no fights. The day was peaceful, and content. We weren't the "perfect family" by any means ... But maybe we're on the way there.
"Maybe good things fall apart so better things can fall together ..."
Bring on 2009!
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
These Days - Powderfinger
It's coming round again
The slowly creeping hand
Of time and its command
Soon enough it comes
And settles in its place
Its shadow in my face
Puts pressure in my day
This life well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like i had planned
It's coming round again
The slowly creeping hand
Of time and its demands
It settles in its place
Its shadow in my face
Undignified and lame
This life well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like i had planned
Control well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like i had planned
Soon enough it comes
Soon enough it comes
To tie us down
The slowly creeping hand
Of time and its command
Soon enough it comes
And settles in its place
Its shadow in my face
Puts pressure in my day
This life well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like i had planned
It's coming round again
The slowly creeping hand
Of time and its demands
It settles in its place
Its shadow in my face
Undignified and lame
This life well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like i had planned
Control well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like i had planned
Soon enough it comes
Soon enough it comes
To tie us down
Who doesn't love Homer?
"Mmmm ... 64 slices of American cheese ..."
"So i said, 'Look buddy, your car was upside down when we got here, and as for your grandmother, she shouldn't have mouthed off like that."
"You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
"Extended warranty! How can I lose?"
"So i said, 'Look buddy, your car was upside down when we got here, and as for your grandmother, she shouldn't have mouthed off like that."
"You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
"Extended warranty! How can I lose?"
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Mother of the Year
Overheard tonight at Safeway:
Mum: "Ethan! You are irritating the BEJESUS OUT OF ME!"
Someone is ready for the end of school holidays ... Too bad there's another four weeks before school goes back.
Mum: "Ethan! You are irritating the BEJESUS OUT OF ME!"
Someone is ready for the end of school holidays ... Too bad there's another four weeks before school goes back.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Impression That I Get - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if i could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad i haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess
Or has it ever come down to do or die
You've got to rise above the rest
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if i could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward,
I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was,
I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go
I might be a cowards,
I'm afraid of what I might find out
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Whoch makes me wonder if i could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad i haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Or been close to folks who have
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if i could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad i haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess
Or has it ever come down to do or die
You've got to rise above the rest
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if i could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward,
I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was,
I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go
I might be a cowards,
I'm afraid of what I might find out
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Whoch makes me wonder if i could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad i haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Another year over ...
I know, I know. Bad blogger. Baaaad blogger.
This is only my third entry for the month. How the hell did that happen?!
I actually had every intention of updating before Christmas, or at least on Christmas day to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I'm not sure what happened to those intentions, somewhere along the way they got lost I guess ...
Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas, anyway. I was at home, with the family and we actually had a great day. It was very low-key, but nice. There were no fights, I didn't break my brothers nose at any point during the day ... Yep, it was a good Christmas.
Things in the World of Snappz have actually been humming along quite nicely.
Christine and I have well and truly settled into the house, and are loving living together. We seem to have fallen into quite an easy, relaxed routine that leads to no stress, and no fights.
Jersey is still known as Devil Dog, and shows no signs of leaving his "puppiness" behind anytime soon. We are constantly saying "NO!", because he continues to do everything from dig massive holes in the backyard to pinch stuff from the bin inside to wreck stuff to whine incessantly when he's left outside alone for more than 30 seconds. Actually, the whining has toned down a notch, which is good, and we have managed to train him to sit and wait before he comes in the back door. Everything else though? He's driving us mental. The last few mornings we've gotten up to discover the concrete in the backyard covered in dirt, and holes everywhere. It's getting old. He actually dug out half a garden bed about an hour ago, and he'd only been outside alone for a little while. He's seriously testing the patience of both Christine and I.
The Buckley Bunny/B-Man/Buck-Miester/Buckster is doing well. He ended up at the vets again a couple of weeks ago, after he came out with big red spot type things on his back. Our first suspicion, since they looked like blood, was that Jersey had somehow managed to get to him, but it turned out to be a sun infection - something about the sun interacting with what he'd eaten, and upsetting the bacteria under his skin, which then turned bad. It was upsetting, and I felt guilty. I should have known better to let an all white rabbit live outside in the sun. So he's been an inside rabbit for the last couple of weeks while he gets better. To help him get better, twice a day I have to wash him with this brown stuff, then wait 10 minutes and put cream on him. He was on antibiotics for the first 14 days, but they've stopped now. I got some shadecloth to go over his cage, and probably at the end of this week I'll get some more to put on the fram at the back of the house. Today he went back into his outside cage - once it was properly covered, of course! Can't really afford another $150 at the vet! - and he already seems much happier. His cage inside is only small, so he doesn't have that much room to move. Hopefully by the end of the week his back will be all healed, and I'll have the rest of the shadecloth up for him.
Work is going well - really well. Devil dog and I sometimes go for walks at night, and we walk up past work - about a 50 minute walk all up. Last week I found myself smiling and laughing as I walked past work, unable to believe how happy I am there, and how much I love the place. Honestly, it's just awesome. Somewhere, somehow I must have done something good to get this gig. The office is closed for two weeks over the holidays, but I'm working right through in the nursery part. The best news I've heard lately? That they're considering taking me out of the nursery, and putting me in the office full time. I don't know if it will happen, but I think I might actually bust with happiness if it does :-)
I'm hoping to spend some time on here tonight, updating this page and making it look a bit newer. It's all a bit same old/same old. I haven't changed much on here in months. Might have to update my links and fix up the "Currently Reading", as well as find some new quotes for the page. Maybe some song lyrics ... Maybe some new pictures ... Hmm, we'll see how I go.
Ok, before I go, I have two things to share ...
Pictures of 2008: This is our world. Amazing. You can find Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.
And ... Some song lyrics.
I love Christmas. These two songs I've been playing non-stop all week, simply because I find them beautiful.
*****
Snow's falling down as you step out of your car
Presents in your arms and you've traveled far
Someone opens the door with a smile on their face
And you know you've come to the right place
Family nestled by the fire
Christmas hopes to inspire
Loved ones by your side
You know you'll kiss your babies goodnight
At Christmas, Christmas
No matter who you are, how far you've come
This is where you belong
At Christmas
Memories 'round the Christmas tree
Are the sweetest ones that remain with me
It's a comfort deep inside, though you can't stop the race of time
To know that Christmas will always be
Family nestled by the fire
A Christmas hope will be inspired
Loved ones by your side
You know you'll kiss your baby goodnight
At Christmas, Christmas
No matter who you are or how far you've come
At Christmas
Can't you feel it changin'
Sense the anticipation
You can tell we're almost there
Precious time we're takin'
Memories we're makin'
There's a Christmas in the air
Now this is what Christmas means to me
Being together with your family
And the wise men who have followed that star
To where our baby Jesus lay
Family nestled all around
Baby Jesus asleep so sound
And His star shined so bright
On that very first holy night
At Christmas, Christmas
No matter who you are or how far you've come
this is where you belong
At Christmas, Christmas
*****
Everything's different
But nothing has changed
Are we going in circles
It's Christmas again
Can't you hear the sleigh bells right
All our voices unite
And look up the the heavens
See the stars shining bright
Everybody needs a little lovin'
around Christmas time
Somehow you got to know you're going to be all right
Do you remember how it used to be
Sitting under the Christmas tree
In your heart you'll
Find the season
We've been blessed by the children
black, yellow, and white
They believe in the things
we try to deny
So throw down your weapons
But continue the fight
And let's love one another
On this Holy night
Everybody needs a little lovin'
Around Christmas time
Somehow you got to know you're gonna be all right
Do you really remember how it used to be
Sitting under the Christmas Tree
In your heard you'll
find the season
O reach down inside your heart
and see all the love
O in your heart you'll
find the reason
Everybody needs a little lovin'
Around Christmas time
Somehow you got to know you're gonna be all right
Do you really remember how it used to be
Sitting under the Christmas tree
In your heart you'll
find the season
*****
This is only my third entry for the month. How the hell did that happen?!
I actually had every intention of updating before Christmas, or at least on Christmas day to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I'm not sure what happened to those intentions, somewhere along the way they got lost I guess ...
Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas, anyway. I was at home, with the family and we actually had a great day. It was very low-key, but nice. There were no fights, I didn't break my brothers nose at any point during the day ... Yep, it was a good Christmas.
Things in the World of Snappz have actually been humming along quite nicely.
Christine and I have well and truly settled into the house, and are loving living together. We seem to have fallen into quite an easy, relaxed routine that leads to no stress, and no fights.
Jersey is still known as Devil Dog, and shows no signs of leaving his "puppiness" behind anytime soon. We are constantly saying "NO!", because he continues to do everything from dig massive holes in the backyard to pinch stuff from the bin inside to wreck stuff to whine incessantly when he's left outside alone for more than 30 seconds. Actually, the whining has toned down a notch, which is good, and we have managed to train him to sit and wait before he comes in the back door. Everything else though? He's driving us mental. The last few mornings we've gotten up to discover the concrete in the backyard covered in dirt, and holes everywhere. It's getting old. He actually dug out half a garden bed about an hour ago, and he'd only been outside alone for a little while. He's seriously testing the patience of both Christine and I.
The Buckley Bunny/B-Man/Buck-Miester/Buckster is doing well. He ended up at the vets again a couple of weeks ago, after he came out with big red spot type things on his back. Our first suspicion, since they looked like blood, was that Jersey had somehow managed to get to him, but it turned out to be a sun infection - something about the sun interacting with what he'd eaten, and upsetting the bacteria under his skin, which then turned bad. It was upsetting, and I felt guilty. I should have known better to let an all white rabbit live outside in the sun. So he's been an inside rabbit for the last couple of weeks while he gets better. To help him get better, twice a day I have to wash him with this brown stuff, then wait 10 minutes and put cream on him. He was on antibiotics for the first 14 days, but they've stopped now. I got some shadecloth to go over his cage, and probably at the end of this week I'll get some more to put on the fram at the back of the house. Today he went back into his outside cage - once it was properly covered, of course! Can't really afford another $150 at the vet! - and he already seems much happier. His cage inside is only small, so he doesn't have that much room to move. Hopefully by the end of the week his back will be all healed, and I'll have the rest of the shadecloth up for him.
Work is going well - really well. Devil dog and I sometimes go for walks at night, and we walk up past work - about a 50 minute walk all up. Last week I found myself smiling and laughing as I walked past work, unable to believe how happy I am there, and how much I love the place. Honestly, it's just awesome. Somewhere, somehow I must have done something good to get this gig. The office is closed for two weeks over the holidays, but I'm working right through in the nursery part. The best news I've heard lately? That they're considering taking me out of the nursery, and putting me in the office full time. I don't know if it will happen, but I think I might actually bust with happiness if it does :-)
I'm hoping to spend some time on here tonight, updating this page and making it look a bit newer. It's all a bit same old/same old. I haven't changed much on here in months. Might have to update my links and fix up the "Currently Reading", as well as find some new quotes for the page. Maybe some song lyrics ... Maybe some new pictures ... Hmm, we'll see how I go.
Ok, before I go, I have two things to share ...
Pictures of 2008: This is our world. Amazing. You can find Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.
And ... Some song lyrics.
I love Christmas. These two songs I've been playing non-stop all week, simply because I find them beautiful.
*****
Snow's falling down as you step out of your car
Presents in your arms and you've traveled far
Someone opens the door with a smile on their face
And you know you've come to the right place
Family nestled by the fire
Christmas hopes to inspire
Loved ones by your side
You know you'll kiss your babies goodnight
At Christmas, Christmas
No matter who you are, how far you've come
This is where you belong
At Christmas
Memories 'round the Christmas tree
Are the sweetest ones that remain with me
It's a comfort deep inside, though you can't stop the race of time
To know that Christmas will always be
Family nestled by the fire
A Christmas hope will be inspired
Loved ones by your side
You know you'll kiss your baby goodnight
At Christmas, Christmas
No matter who you are or how far you've come
At Christmas
Can't you feel it changin'
Sense the anticipation
You can tell we're almost there
Precious time we're takin'
Memories we're makin'
There's a Christmas in the air
Now this is what Christmas means to me
Being together with your family
And the wise men who have followed that star
To where our baby Jesus lay
Family nestled all around
Baby Jesus asleep so sound
And His star shined so bright
On that very first holy night
At Christmas, Christmas
No matter who you are or how far you've come
this is where you belong
At Christmas, Christmas
*****
Everything's different
But nothing has changed
Are we going in circles
It's Christmas again
Can't you hear the sleigh bells right
All our voices unite
And look up the the heavens
See the stars shining bright
Everybody needs a little lovin'
around Christmas time
Somehow you got to know you're going to be all right
Do you remember how it used to be
Sitting under the Christmas tree
In your heart you'll
Find the season
We've been blessed by the children
black, yellow, and white
They believe in the things
we try to deny
So throw down your weapons
But continue the fight
And let's love one another
On this Holy night
Everybody needs a little lovin'
Around Christmas time
Somehow you got to know you're gonna be all right
Do you really remember how it used to be
Sitting under the Christmas Tree
In your heard you'll
find the season
O reach down inside your heart
and see all the love
O in your heart you'll
find the reason
Everybody needs a little lovin'
Around Christmas time
Somehow you got to know you're gonna be all right
Do you really remember how it used to be
Sitting under the Christmas tree
In your heart you'll
find the season
*****
Sunday, December 07, 2008
...
How silly for me to punish myself in the present moment
because someone hurt me in the long ago past.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Just the highlights ...
... Here goes ... Fastest update ever.
Work ... Busy. Flat out, actually.
Finally have more than a single day off at a time ... At the end of this week, I'm going to Melbourne for 4 days to see my sister and nieces.
On Friday, my nephew turns 4. It kills me that I can't see him, give him a birthday hug, or even talk to him on the phone.
Buckley-Bunny is good. Loving the new house, the bigger cage and the freedom to run around in the backyard for a while each night.
Speaking of the new house, things are still going really well. No fights so far, having heaps of fun.
I hate hayfever. I haven't been able to breathe properly in weeks. It's getting worse. My specialist appointment isn't until January.
It's 12:23 ... Have to be up at 7 to get ready for work ... Should go to bed. Peace out.
Work ... Busy. Flat out, actually.
Finally have more than a single day off at a time ... At the end of this week, I'm going to Melbourne for 4 days to see my sister and nieces.
On Friday, my nephew turns 4. It kills me that I can't see him, give him a birthday hug, or even talk to him on the phone.
Buckley-Bunny is good. Loving the new house, the bigger cage and the freedom to run around in the backyard for a while each night.
Speaking of the new house, things are still going really well. No fights so far, having heaps of fun.
I hate hayfever. I haven't been able to breathe properly in weeks. It's getting worse. My specialist appointment isn't until January.
It's 12:23 ... Have to be up at 7 to get ready for work ... Should go to bed. Peace out.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I swear I didn't mean to start ranting!
Really ... Just never know how to start these entries.
So, things here are humming along nicely.
Chrissie and I have settled into the new house, and hit upon a nice rhythm - she does the housework when she's not working, I do it on my days off, and it's all good. The Buckmiester is loving his new cage, and he gets to run around in the backyard (providing it's not too cold/wet) at night. If it's too cold/wet for him to run outside, then he gets to run free in the spare room for a while. Jersey is not too impressed with us at the moment, as the house has a doggy door, but we've blocked it :-) So now he gets inside when we say he's allowed inside. He can still get out if he needs to when he's inside, but the door only goes the one way now - thank you, dad for fixing it!
Speaking of it being too cold/wet, what the hell is with the weather? It's NOVEMBER. It's almost the end of November. November = HOT WEATHER! Yesterday it was like 10 degrees. Seriously. And last night was FRIGGING FREEZING. Today the wind was like ice, going straight through you. I had on a singlet, a long sleeved tee, and my work shirt. And at times, I was STILL cold. Bring it on, SUMMER!
What else has been happening ... Work has been good. Busy as all get-out, but fantastic. I worked an extra day this week to make up for missing a day last week when I was moving. It amazes me that I get to have so much fun at work, that I can laugh and joke all day, and I don't get in trouble from the boss for it ... Actually, it's usually the boss that starts it :-) I'm thrilled with the location of our new house, because it's about a three minute drive from my work. So now I get like an extra 30 minutes of sleep in the mornings :-)
Neither Christine or I have finalised everything that needs to be done at our old places yet. We thought we had - we both cleaned our arses off, and left the places a hell of a lot cleaner than when we moved in - but on Thursday we both got letters stating that if we wanted our bonds back, we had to go back and do shit like "dust the heater" and "clean the bath plug hole" and "scrub the tiles in the kitchen". I had 17 items on my list, Christine had 21. What really pissed me off? The fact that there were items on my list such as "clean out garden shed" (whatever is in there isn't mine! I never used it, didn't even know I had access to it.), "clean oven knobs" (1: it wasn't done when I moved in, the oven was filthy. 2: it's not 'dirty' that you can change/fix, it's stained/baked on. you can't get it any cleaner! I know, I tried!), "wash curtains" (they were washed! TWICE! once by mum, once by me) "replace broken bedroom mirror" (it's not broken! it had just slipped down behind the dresser!). I was the one who got "dust heater", and if they'd looked properly, they would have realised that it's not dust on the heater, it's age stains. Honestly, I've never been more wild in my life. They were so nit-picky and unreasonable it made steam come out my ears. Christine was even less impressed with her letter, which was even more nit-pickier (shut up, it's a word!) than mine. Grr, even just thinking about it is making me angry again. It really feels like they're just making us run around in circles to get our bonds back, which is fucked. We were both good tenants, never caused a problem, always reporting maintenance issues, keeping the places clean, and this is how they repay us??? Get f***ed, DCK.
Anyway, now that I've raised my blood pressure a bit, just thinking about DCK, I should probably go to bed and relax a little! :-) Did have some news and other stuff I wanted to write about, but maybe I'll leave that for later. I've had my rant, so now I'll toddle off to bed. I'm out :-)
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin special.
So, things here are humming along nicely.
Chrissie and I have settled into the new house, and hit upon a nice rhythm - she does the housework when she's not working, I do it on my days off, and it's all good. The Buckmiester is loving his new cage, and he gets to run around in the backyard (providing it's not too cold/wet) at night. If it's too cold/wet for him to run outside, then he gets to run free in the spare room for a while. Jersey is not too impressed with us at the moment, as the house has a doggy door, but we've blocked it :-) So now he gets inside when we say he's allowed inside. He can still get out if he needs to when he's inside, but the door only goes the one way now - thank you, dad for fixing it!
Speaking of it being too cold/wet, what the hell is with the weather? It's NOVEMBER. It's almost the end of November. November = HOT WEATHER! Yesterday it was like 10 degrees. Seriously. And last night was FRIGGING FREEZING. Today the wind was like ice, going straight through you. I had on a singlet, a long sleeved tee, and my work shirt. And at times, I was STILL cold. Bring it on, SUMMER!
What else has been happening ... Work has been good. Busy as all get-out, but fantastic. I worked an extra day this week to make up for missing a day last week when I was moving. It amazes me that I get to have so much fun at work, that I can laugh and joke all day, and I don't get in trouble from the boss for it ... Actually, it's usually the boss that starts it :-) I'm thrilled with the location of our new house, because it's about a three minute drive from my work. So now I get like an extra 30 minutes of sleep in the mornings :-)
Neither Christine or I have finalised everything that needs to be done at our old places yet. We thought we had - we both cleaned our arses off, and left the places a hell of a lot cleaner than when we moved in - but on Thursday we both got letters stating that if we wanted our bonds back, we had to go back and do shit like "dust the heater" and "clean the bath plug hole" and "scrub the tiles in the kitchen". I had 17 items on my list, Christine had 21. What really pissed me off? The fact that there were items on my list such as "clean out garden shed" (whatever is in there isn't mine! I never used it, didn't even know I had access to it.), "clean oven knobs" (1: it wasn't done when I moved in, the oven was filthy. 2: it's not 'dirty' that you can change/fix, it's stained/baked on. you can't get it any cleaner! I know, I tried!), "wash curtains" (they were washed! TWICE! once by mum, once by me) "replace broken bedroom mirror" (it's not broken! it had just slipped down behind the dresser!). I was the one who got "dust heater", and if they'd looked properly, they would have realised that it's not dust on the heater, it's age stains. Honestly, I've never been more wild in my life. They were so nit-picky and unreasonable it made steam come out my ears. Christine was even less impressed with her letter, which was even more nit-pickier (shut up, it's a word!) than mine. Grr, even just thinking about it is making me angry again. It really feels like they're just making us run around in circles to get our bonds back, which is fucked. We were both good tenants, never caused a problem, always reporting maintenance issues, keeping the places clean, and this is how they repay us??? Get f***ed, DCK.
Anyway, now that I've raised my blood pressure a bit, just thinking about DCK, I should probably go to bed and relax a little! :-) Did have some news and other stuff I wanted to write about, but maybe I'll leave that for later. I've had my rant, so now I'll toddle off to bed. I'm out :-)
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin special.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
See if you can possibly guess who I'm pissed at ...
Yeah, I'm still hanging around :-)
It's been a long, exhausting, internet-less week!
(Yeah. Thanks heaps, Telstra. Had to make us wait AN ENTIRE WEEK for our wireless internet, didn't you? FUCKERS ... ) (Yes, I have issues with Telstra now. I DO NOT LIKE THEM)
The move went well, everything made it to the new place. We still haven't unpacked all the boxes yet, because, well, we're slack :-) But we're getting there.
The rabbit and the devil-dog have been sharing the same backyard, sort-of-peacefully, and no one has died, lost any fur/hair or gotten into a fight, so that's gotta be a positive sign, right?
Both the Buckmiester and Jersey-dog made it through traumatic days at the vet - Bucks was desexed last Friday, and Jersey went in yesterday.
Work has been crazy-busy. Taking work home with me most nights still, since there isn't enough hours in the day. Yesterday, I emailed work to do at home to myself, forgetting that I didn't have an internet connection at home, even though Telstra WILL bill us for it. Yep. FUCKERS.
Anyway, I'm tired, (and way cranky at Telstra, hid it well, didn't I? :-)) so I better head to bed. Real update ... Coming soon :-)
It's been a long, exhausting, internet-less week!
(Yeah. Thanks heaps, Telstra. Had to make us wait AN ENTIRE WEEK for our wireless internet, didn't you? FUCKERS ... ) (Yes, I have issues with Telstra now. I DO NOT LIKE THEM)
The move went well, everything made it to the new place. We still haven't unpacked all the boxes yet, because, well, we're slack :-) But we're getting there.
The rabbit and the devil-dog have been sharing the same backyard, sort-of-peacefully, and no one has died, lost any fur/hair or gotten into a fight, so that's gotta be a positive sign, right?
Both the Buckmiester and Jersey-dog made it through traumatic days at the vet - Bucks was desexed last Friday, and Jersey went in yesterday.
Work has been crazy-busy. Taking work home with me most nights still, since there isn't enough hours in the day. Yesterday, I emailed work to do at home to myself, forgetting that I didn't have an internet connection at home, even though Telstra WILL bill us for it. Yep. FUCKERS.
Anyway, I'm tired, (and way cranky at Telstra, hid it well, didn't I? :-)) so I better head to bed. Real update ... Coming soon :-)
Monday, November 10, 2008
One last time ...
So, two hours ago, I was planning an entry about how this will be my last entry from my King St home ever, as tonight I pack up the computer, so the removalists can take the desk tomorrow.
Two hours ago, my mental list was something like:
- pull apart bed
- clean fridge, ready to be switched off in the morning
- do one final load of washing, then disconnect washing machine
- do dishes on sink, then pack them
- get good nights sleep, ready for the big move tomorrow.
In the last two hours, all I've done is item number one. Why? Because I went to pull apart the bed, and realised that *someone* (*thanks, mum ...!) had packed the spanners I needed to pull my bed to bits. So, having no idea where they would be, I started ringing friends. One didn't have one. One had no idea what i was talking about. A few weren't home. Finally, I found someone with a spanner set ... Out in Raywood. Yeah. 25 minutes out of town.
So, I went for a drive.
So now, it's 10:30, and all I can say is ... Stuff the long, witty blog entry I had planned. *snort* I still have items on my list that need doing, and it's getting late. So ... Goodbye, King Street. Next time I update will be from the new house. Yay.
That's all!
Two hours ago, my mental list was something like:
- pull apart bed
- clean fridge, ready to be switched off in the morning
- do one final load of washing, then disconnect washing machine
- do dishes on sink, then pack them
- get good nights sleep, ready for the big move tomorrow.
In the last two hours, all I've done is item number one. Why? Because I went to pull apart the bed, and realised that *someone* (*thanks, mum ...!) had packed the spanners I needed to pull my bed to bits. So, having no idea where they would be, I started ringing friends. One didn't have one. One had no idea what i was talking about. A few weren't home. Finally, I found someone with a spanner set ... Out in Raywood. Yeah. 25 minutes out of town.
So, I went for a drive.
So now, it's 10:30, and all I can say is ... Stuff the long, witty blog entry I had planned. *snort* I still have items on my list that need doing, and it's getting late. So ... Goodbye, King Street. Next time I update will be from the new house. Yay.
That's all!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
The Bunny Rules
I found this online and thought it was kinda cute :-)
The Bunny Rules
- The bunny is not allowed in the house.
- OK, the bunny is allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms.
- The bunny is allowed in all rooms, but has to stay off the furniture.
- The bunny can get on the old furniture only.
- Fine, the bunny is allowed on all the furniture, but is not allowed to sleep with humans, on the bed.
- OK, the bunny is allowed on the bed, but only by invitation.
- The bunny can sleep on the bed when-ever he wants, but not under the covers.
- The bunny can sleep under the covers by invitation only.
- The bunny can sleep under the covers every night.
- Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the bunny.
The Bunny Rules
- The bunny is not allowed in the house.
- OK, the bunny is allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms.
- The bunny is allowed in all rooms, but has to stay off the furniture.
- The bunny can get on the old furniture only.
- Fine, the bunny is allowed on all the furniture, but is not allowed to sleep with humans, on the bed.
- OK, the bunny is allowed on the bed, but only by invitation.
- The bunny can sleep on the bed when-ever he wants, but not under the covers.
- The bunny can sleep under the covers by invitation only.
- The bunny can sleep under the covers every night.
- Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the bunny.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Oh, the ... Packing.
So ... Moving day is next Tuesday. TUESDAY! That's like, FOUR days away!
My plan for today (my first day off in seven days) went something like this:
- Pack
- Change address at VicRoads, Medicare, RACV, Ambulance Victoria, etc.
- Arrange phone/internet/gas/electricity disconnection, and connection at the new place
- Phone real estate agency to organise last rental payment
- Clean walls, curtains, floors
- More packing!
I did not plan for:
- People turning up to look through my house (which, as you can imagine is a disorganised mess at the moment) (P.S. Thanks for the warning, DCK!)
- A sick rabbit who clearly needed a vet (lucky I was able to get Buckley an appointment this afternoon)
- The stupidity of Telstra - Seriously, I spent like 40 minutes on hold, spoke to FOUR different people and the last one finally told me that I can't plan my internet disconnection in advance - I have to ring back on the day I actually want it disconnected. You couldn't have told me that THREE PEOPLE AGO??!!
I think that I got most of my mental list done though. I still have to change my address at the bank, and I still have some cleaning and packing to do tonight/tomorrow. I have tomorrow off as well, and then I go back to work Sunday/Monday/Tuesday. Tuesday the removalists come to do all the big stuff, and Wednesday dad is coming down with his ute to do boxes and small stuff. Because Wednesday is Bendigo Cup day here, I get the day off work. Woo hoo!
As I mentioned, The Buckmiester ended up at the vet today. This morning I noticed that he hadn't had anything to drink all night, which is unusual for him. He was also constantly trying to pee, although nothing was coming out, and (hope you're not eating as you read this) had incredibly runny poo (which was all over him). He was so quiet, and not moving much at all, so I knew he was unwell. So off we went to the vet - first time for him! It wasn't a very pleasant experience - he had a thermometre shoved up his you-know-what, got four needles and was prodded all over. He has a UTI and some kind of tummy upset, so we came home with some antibiotics, and a recommendation for Yakult, which has a lot of good bacteria in it and will help his tummy. I gave him some Yakult via a syringe before, half of which he spat back at me. I'm keeping a pretty close eye on him, and if I haven't seen him have a drink by about 9 p.m., I'll give him some more Yakult and some water through the syringe. I also booked him in next Friday to be desexed, and to have all his vaccinations. So, next Friday will be a big day for him!
Anyway, I probably better get going and do some more cleaning ... and packing. My god, the packing. Why did I buy so much shit?!
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin special.
My plan for today (my first day off in seven days) went something like this:
- Pack
- Change address at VicRoads, Medicare, RACV, Ambulance Victoria, etc.
- Arrange phone/internet/gas/electricity disconnection, and connection at the new place
- Phone real estate agency to organise last rental payment
- Clean walls, curtains, floors
- More packing!
I did not plan for:
- People turning up to look through my house (which, as you can imagine is a disorganised mess at the moment) (P.S. Thanks for the warning, DCK!)
- A sick rabbit who clearly needed a vet (lucky I was able to get Buckley an appointment this afternoon)
- The stupidity of Telstra - Seriously, I spent like 40 minutes on hold, spoke to FOUR different people and the last one finally told me that I can't plan my internet disconnection in advance - I have to ring back on the day I actually want it disconnected. You couldn't have told me that THREE PEOPLE AGO??!!
I think that I got most of my mental list done though. I still have to change my address at the bank, and I still have some cleaning and packing to do tonight/tomorrow. I have tomorrow off as well, and then I go back to work Sunday/Monday/Tuesday. Tuesday the removalists come to do all the big stuff, and Wednesday dad is coming down with his ute to do boxes and small stuff. Because Wednesday is Bendigo Cup day here, I get the day off work. Woo hoo!
As I mentioned, The Buckmiester ended up at the vet today. This morning I noticed that he hadn't had anything to drink all night, which is unusual for him. He was also constantly trying to pee, although nothing was coming out, and (hope you're not eating as you read this) had incredibly runny poo (which was all over him). He was so quiet, and not moving much at all, so I knew he was unwell. So off we went to the vet - first time for him! It wasn't a very pleasant experience - he had a thermometre shoved up his you-know-what, got four needles and was prodded all over. He has a UTI and some kind of tummy upset, so we came home with some antibiotics, and a recommendation for Yakult, which has a lot of good bacteria in it and will help his tummy. I gave him some Yakult via a syringe before, half of which he spat back at me. I'm keeping a pretty close eye on him, and if I haven't seen him have a drink by about 9 p.m., I'll give him some more Yakult and some water through the syringe. I also booked him in next Friday to be desexed, and to have all his vaccinations. So, next Friday will be a big day for him!
Anyway, I probably better get going and do some more cleaning ... and packing. My god, the packing. Why did I buy so much shit?!
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin special.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Let's declare today a Public Holiday!
Big day in the House of Snappz today.
The Buckmiester, who's been having a run outside twice a day since the weather has warmed up, DUG HIS FIRST HOLE TODAY.
Yes folks, Bucks did the rabbit thing and dug his very first hole!
Seriously, I could not be more proud of my baby!
The Buckmiester, who's been having a run outside twice a day since the weather has warmed up, DUG HIS FIRST HOLE TODAY.
Yes folks, Bucks did the rabbit thing and dug his very first hole!
Seriously, I could not be more proud of my baby!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Buckle up ...
Yeah, I know. It's been ages.
There's been a bit happening though.
I haven't written in a while - to be honest, I've barely even looked at this site in a while. But tonight, I wanted to check on some sites I link to, and I couldn't be bothered to type in the address so I figured I'd just check on here and click. And then I realised that my site counter thingy is going up ... And I haven't updated in ages. So that made me feel guilty. So here goes ...
I'm in the middle of packing up my place. Christine and I move in about three weeks. We let the real estate agents that we're currently renting from know last week that we'd be moving out, and so far, I've had two inspections from the real estate people (wanting to check out anything that might need fixing after I move) and tomorrow I've got a guy coming to look at the carpet because the landlord is talking about replacing it, so they've arranged for a guy to come and do a quote. Not to mention I've had my agent calling to make appointments for prospective renters to walk through and have a look at the property.
The packing is going well. The week before last (? I think) I had two days off in a row, so I cleaned out a heap of stuff and did a lot of packing. Yesterday my mum was down for the day to start cleaning walls and stuff. So far I'm feeling like I'm pretty well organised. It looks like we'll be moving boxes and small stuff on the Thursday, and the removalist will do the big stuff on the Friday. I've got that weekend off work, so Saturday will be unpacking, and Sunday I'll be back at the old place, doing the last of the cleaning.
I haven't said a lot about the new place .... It's beautiful. It's three bedrooms, nice kitchen/dining, a sunroom which is awesome, a storage space under the house, a good sized yard (with a brand new fence so the dog can't get out!), just been recently painted, ducted heating and cooling, huge laundry, good carpets ... And I love it. It's about a 3 minute drive from where I work, which will be awesome. (I'll be going home for lunch a bit!) Christine and I both fell in love with it as soon as we looked at it. I think living with someone again will take some getting used to (we've both been living alone for like two years) and I'm sure there will be some adjustment with Christine being my "landlord". She's already said Buckley is to become an outside rabbit, which is fine, but I've said that when it's hot in summer, he'll be coming inside. I know it's her house, but rabbits aren't great in heat, and Bucks doesn't handle the heat too well. He spent most of last summer inside (in air conditioned comfort) and he still seemed to wilt most days. I've put on layby a new, double story cage for the Buckmiester, and I'll be putting up some kind of little fence around it so that Jersey can't get to him. My biggest fear is that Jersey will get into Buckley's cage while Christine and I are at work. I'll just have to do whatever I can to make sure that doesn't happen :-)
Speaking of Jersey, he doesn't seem to be settling down. At all. He's destroyed two phones in the last couple of weeks - Christine's cordless home phone and her mobile phone. The home phone is still usable, but the mobile had to be thrown out. He got them both while she was sleeping on the couch during the day after doing night shift the night before. He also destroyed her One Tree Hill Season 4 box set, a torch and a book. Yeah, I'll be buying some kind of lock for my bedroom and locking all my shit in there when I'm not at home! Seriously though, I've been thinking of paying for obedience school for him for Christine's birthday, which is coming up in a few weeks. Something tells me it would be money well spent.
I went into the cafe last week and told my boss that I was finishing this weekend. I've had enough, and weeks ago I said I would finish up, and what happened? Nothing. She kept putting me on the roster, which I'm sick of. There was another reason for doing it though ... I've picked up an extra two days a week at the office. WOO HOO! So I'll now be doing 4 and a half days a week there, which is terrific. I still love it there, and I'm thrilled that they offered me some more days. This weekend will hopefully be my last weekend at the cafe - providing that my boss doesn't keep rostering me on when I'm not at the office. I've told her that I don't want that, but she clearly doesn't listen to me, does she?
There's been a bit happening though.
I haven't written in a while - to be honest, I've barely even looked at this site in a while. But tonight, I wanted to check on some sites I link to, and I couldn't be bothered to type in the address so I figured I'd just check on here and click. And then I realised that my site counter thingy is going up ... And I haven't updated in ages. So that made me feel guilty. So here goes ...
I'm in the middle of packing up my place. Christine and I move in about three weeks. We let the real estate agents that we're currently renting from know last week that we'd be moving out, and so far, I've had two inspections from the real estate people (wanting to check out anything that might need fixing after I move) and tomorrow I've got a guy coming to look at the carpet because the landlord is talking about replacing it, so they've arranged for a guy to come and do a quote. Not to mention I've had my agent calling to make appointments for prospective renters to walk through and have a look at the property.
The packing is going well. The week before last (? I think) I had two days off in a row, so I cleaned out a heap of stuff and did a lot of packing. Yesterday my mum was down for the day to start cleaning walls and stuff. So far I'm feeling like I'm pretty well organised. It looks like we'll be moving boxes and small stuff on the Thursday, and the removalist will do the big stuff on the Friday. I've got that weekend off work, so Saturday will be unpacking, and Sunday I'll be back at the old place, doing the last of the cleaning.
I haven't said a lot about the new place .... It's beautiful. It's three bedrooms, nice kitchen/dining, a sunroom which is awesome, a storage space under the house, a good sized yard (with a brand new fence so the dog can't get out!), just been recently painted, ducted heating and cooling, huge laundry, good carpets ... And I love it. It's about a 3 minute drive from where I work, which will be awesome. (I'll be going home for lunch a bit!) Christine and I both fell in love with it as soon as we looked at it. I think living with someone again will take some getting used to (we've both been living alone for like two years) and I'm sure there will be some adjustment with Christine being my "landlord". She's already said Buckley is to become an outside rabbit, which is fine, but I've said that when it's hot in summer, he'll be coming inside. I know it's her house, but rabbits aren't great in heat, and Bucks doesn't handle the heat too well. He spent most of last summer inside (in air conditioned comfort) and he still seemed to wilt most days. I've put on layby a new, double story cage for the Buckmiester, and I'll be putting up some kind of little fence around it so that Jersey can't get to him. My biggest fear is that Jersey will get into Buckley's cage while Christine and I are at work. I'll just have to do whatever I can to make sure that doesn't happen :-)
Speaking of Jersey, he doesn't seem to be settling down. At all. He's destroyed two phones in the last couple of weeks - Christine's cordless home phone and her mobile phone. The home phone is still usable, but the mobile had to be thrown out. He got them both while she was sleeping on the couch during the day after doing night shift the night before. He also destroyed her One Tree Hill Season 4 box set, a torch and a book. Yeah, I'll be buying some kind of lock for my bedroom and locking all my shit in there when I'm not at home! Seriously though, I've been thinking of paying for obedience school for him for Christine's birthday, which is coming up in a few weeks. Something tells me it would be money well spent.
I went into the cafe last week and told my boss that I was finishing this weekend. I've had enough, and weeks ago I said I would finish up, and what happened? Nothing. She kept putting me on the roster, which I'm sick of. There was another reason for doing it though ... I've picked up an extra two days a week at the office. WOO HOO! So I'll now be doing 4 and a half days a week there, which is terrific. I still love it there, and I'm thrilled that they offered me some more days. This weekend will hopefully be my last weekend at the cafe - providing that my boss doesn't keep rostering me on when I'm not at the office. I've told her that I don't want that, but she clearly doesn't listen to me, does she?
Today I went to visit a friend who lives about 20 minutes out of town. She is pregnant, and I haven't seen her in a while. She's grown heaps, and things are looking good. Her little boy, who is two has also changed heaps. It was amazing to see. We had a good chat, and have decided to organise a baby shower for her. Neither of us has organised a baby shower, or even been to one, but do you think that's going to stop us? Hell no, watch us go!
What else has been happening ... I think I'm out of thoughts. I've got an appointment in Echuca with the miracle man next week for my back. I was meant to go on Wednesday, but (ironically) my back was too bad and I knew I wouldn't be able to handle an hour in the car to get there. The 10 minute drive on the way home from work was enough to give me nerve pain up and down my legs. I think it's because I haven't been walking as much (thanks, winter) and because I've put some extra weight on (thanks, Maccas). I'm back into eating salads and lots of fruit though, so hopefully that'll make a difference.
Anyway, it's getting late, and I'm working at the Cafe tomorrow, so I better take off. Have a great night guys, sorry about the delay in updating ...
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin special.
Edited to add - if you have time, please visit Henry and his family at http://henryschallenge.blogspot.com/. They've just been told that Henry's cancer is back. Please send lots of love and good thoughts.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Short, and sweet. Eh, not so sweet actually. I talk about bloody stumps at the end ...
My week so far:
- 4 weeks until moving day. Decided to start packing last night. Had fun for the first 20 minutes, then got bored and gave up. House now messier than ever. And still haven't organised a damn thing for the move.
- The cold that I had the other week? Turned into one hellacious chest infection (coughing up blood, not being able to sleep because lying down made it impossible to breathe, sleeping about 16 hours a day for something like 5 days straight), which I'm still trying to get rid of. What's with that?
- Have been told four times since Saturday that they'd love to make me a full time employee at the office/that they can see me becoming full time/that I'd be great all the time in the office/that they'd love to have me in the office all the time. Fingers crossed that it happens, I think I'd freaking explode with happiness!
- Things with my dad aren't great. He's still not well, and he's still not himself. He's still so quiet. He had a doctors appointment yesterday, and he had some follow up tests today. Hopefully something will show up and it can be easily fixed. Please, please let it be something that can be easily fixed.
- The Buck-miester is getting a new cage. I've put a layby a $250, double story wooden hutch for him. Since he'll be moving outside when we go to the new house, I wanted him to have a bigger, nicer cage. And this one is pretty sweet. Hopefully I can pay it off in the next few weeks so that when we move, he can move into his new digs too!
Ok, I'm out. Getting late and I'm at the stupid, i-hate-the-place-with-every-freaking-breath-in-my-body, depressing, awful cafe tomorrow. Ugh. I'd rather shoot myself in the foot with some kind of high-powered riffle and then pour salt into the wound and finish by hacking off my foot with a pair of blunt, useless scissors and walk over hot coals on my bloody stump to go to the hospital ...
- 4 weeks until moving day. Decided to start packing last night. Had fun for the first 20 minutes, then got bored and gave up. House now messier than ever. And still haven't organised a damn thing for the move.
- The cold that I had the other week? Turned into one hellacious chest infection (coughing up blood, not being able to sleep because lying down made it impossible to breathe, sleeping about 16 hours a day for something like 5 days straight), which I'm still trying to get rid of. What's with that?
- Have been told four times since Saturday that they'd love to make me a full time employee at the office/that they can see me becoming full time/that I'd be great all the time in the office/that they'd love to have me in the office all the time. Fingers crossed that it happens, I think I'd freaking explode with happiness!
- Things with my dad aren't great. He's still not well, and he's still not himself. He's still so quiet. He had a doctors appointment yesterday, and he had some follow up tests today. Hopefully something will show up and it can be easily fixed. Please, please let it be something that can be easily fixed.
- The Buck-miester is getting a new cage. I've put a layby a $250, double story wooden hutch for him. Since he'll be moving outside when we go to the new house, I wanted him to have a bigger, nicer cage. And this one is pretty sweet. Hopefully I can pay it off in the next few weeks so that when we move, he can move into his new digs too!
Ok, I'm out. Getting late and I'm at the stupid, i-hate-the-place-with-every-freaking-breath-in-my-body, depressing, awful cafe tomorrow. Ugh. I'd rather shoot myself in the foot with some kind of high-powered riffle and then pour salt into the wound and finish by hacking off my foot with a pair of blunt, useless scissors and walk over hot coals on my bloody stump to go to the hospital ...
Thursday, October 02, 2008
I have some news: We have a house. It's pretty cool. It's about a 3 minute drive from my work - it would probably take about 20 minutes to walk though (down the road, around a corner and then down a loooong road). It's 3 bedrooms + a sunroom, a nice backyard and it's in a quiet street. We move in about 6 weeks time. I better start packing ...
... On to what I wanted to write about tonight.
Today, I went to mum and dads for the day. Dad wanted to do an oil change on my car, and mum had a heap of boxes for me so I can start packing.
My dad was ... quiet.
Last weekend, he lost one of his best mates to an aneurysm. Out of nowhere, and shocking to all.
He's been unwell lately - shocking headaches that no one can explain.
He was forced into retirement last year, and is in the middle of fighting for compensation because of the unfair IR Laws that brought about his retirement. The IR Laws have now been overturned, and WorkChoices is dead, but dad still has no job. Of course, his previous employer is dragging out things out.
I felt like crying when I saw him today. In fact, I am crying now, thinking of him. I don't know why. He seemed ... Lost, I guess. I was sad for him. I hurt for him. I wanted him to be normal, but he was so far from normal. I'm scared for him. The work thing is worrying him, and stressing him out. I feel like screaming at his old bosses. He worked for them for 19 years. Never called in sick unless he had to. He only took holidays when he had to - if he had built up too much leave and had to use some of it up. He'd work nights if there had been an accident and he was needed. 19 god damn years, and this is how they treat him? How is that fair? How is that right?
Bob's funeral is tomorrow. Mum and dad will go, as will many others from the town. He was the type of bloke who would do anything for anyone. He and dad had been mates for years. They used to drink together, and work together on weekends.
I don't know why I have this sadness tonight. I can't really explain it - but something about my dad, so quiet, so lost, so not-himself today, has really gotten to me. The tears don't want to stop, which is making typing hard. I think I'll go have a bath, and cry in there for a while.
... On to what I wanted to write about tonight.
Today, I went to mum and dads for the day. Dad wanted to do an oil change on my car, and mum had a heap of boxes for me so I can start packing.
My dad was ... quiet.
Last weekend, he lost one of his best mates to an aneurysm. Out of nowhere, and shocking to all.
He's been unwell lately - shocking headaches that no one can explain.
He was forced into retirement last year, and is in the middle of fighting for compensation because of the unfair IR Laws that brought about his retirement. The IR Laws have now been overturned, and WorkChoices is dead, but dad still has no job. Of course, his previous employer is dragging out things out.
I felt like crying when I saw him today. In fact, I am crying now, thinking of him. I don't know why. He seemed ... Lost, I guess. I was sad for him. I hurt for him. I wanted him to be normal, but he was so far from normal. I'm scared for him. The work thing is worrying him, and stressing him out. I feel like screaming at his old bosses. He worked for them for 19 years. Never called in sick unless he had to. He only took holidays when he had to - if he had built up too much leave and had to use some of it up. He'd work nights if there had been an accident and he was needed. 19 god damn years, and this is how they treat him? How is that fair? How is that right?
Bob's funeral is tomorrow. Mum and dad will go, as will many others from the town. He was the type of bloke who would do anything for anyone. He and dad had been mates for years. They used to drink together, and work together on weekends.
I don't know why I have this sadness tonight. I can't really explain it - but something about my dad, so quiet, so lost, so not-himself today, has really gotten to me. The tears don't want to stop, which is making typing hard. I think I'll go have a bath, and cry in there for a while.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Lather, rinse, repeat.
I freaking love my job. I'm not sure why - I don't do anything amazing, or special. It's just fun. Every day is slightly different, but similar ... If that makes sense :-)
8:30 - 8:50 - Leave home and head to work. Swing by the Post Office on the way, check our PO Box and mail off anything from the office.
8:55 - Arrive at work with the mail. Get myself organised.
9:00 - 9:30 - Open mail and distribute. Go through the docket summaries from the day before and bank cash, organise checks etc.
9:30 - 11:30 - Spend the morning drowning in paperwork. Answer the phone 75 times, transferring each call, and laughing at the rude morons after I've hung up.
11:32 - Offer a bribe (money or a slab of beer) to the first person who can "break" the phones for me. Get myself some morning tea from the tea room and spend a couple of minutes chatting to whoever is around.
11:40 - Consider shredding paperwork, then realise that's probably not the best idea. Get back into it.
11:45 - 11:55 - Get into an important financial discussion with Meg. Mutually agree that the extra money that has appeared in the til (a couple of hundred dollars, and no one knows where it's come from or why the til is now up) should be put into the Social Club to make one hell of a Christmas Party. Decide the best way to sell this to the guys is to translate it into the number of beers the money could buy at said party. Guys? Guys, if we put the extra money from the til into the social club, then we could get an extra 85 pots of beer at the party! Woo hoo!
11:55 - 1:45 - Finish important financial discussion and put aside paperwork for a while. Fold 150 newsletters. Laminate some stuff. Send out some price books to people who want to have a look at what we have, but can't be bothered to come in. Get a list of what's needed and organise a stationary order. Fire Publisher up and make up some signs. Read through minutes of the last meeting, and print off blank minutes sheet for the next meeting which is coming up. Make a note of what still needs to be done before the next meeting. Leave post-it notes for those who haven't finished their tasks.
1:45 - 2:15 - Eat lunch. Hop up and down about 35 times and answer phones, transferring calls or taking messages. Thank god there's a phone in the tea room, so I don't have to keep running back to my desk. Wonder how pathetic it would make me seem if I started eating at my desk to save time ...
2:15 - Pull out paperwork again. Get my list of figures, and start the monthly graphs. Swear at myself, the desk, the phone and the computer as I realise that somehow our drivers have managed to stuff up their sheets. Either that, or they've gone back in time. Mumble under my breath and screw up my nose as I get more and more annoyed. Seriously, have they got a freaking time machine in their trucks?
4:30 - Consider pulling out hair. Cause fear and chaos when I announce to the office that the next driver who goes back in time/stuffs up their sheet will have to deal with me.
4:45 - Start packing up for the end of the day. Organise paperwork into piles of what's done, what needs to be done, and what can't yet be done. Tick off what I've finished, put in M's office to get signed off on. Count til, put in safe. Close and lock all windows. Make sure all split-system heaters are off.
4:55 - Yell "Are you kidding me?!" when M hands me more driver sheets to do tomorrow. Roll my eyes and tell him he's lucky it's almost knock-off time, otherwise I'd so kick his arse.
5:00 - Pick up mail that needs to be sent off in the morning. Grab my bag, make sure I've got all my crap from the tea room. Check milk supplies and see if I need to stop on the way to work tomorrow morning. Take some paperwork home with me, to see if I can get a head start on tomorrow. Answer one last phone call, take a message.
5:05 - Time to head home.
5:15 - Home!
8:30 - 8:50 - Leave home and head to work. Swing by the Post Office on the way, check our PO Box and mail off anything from the office.
8:55 - Arrive at work with the mail. Get myself organised.
9:00 - 9:30 - Open mail and distribute. Go through the docket summaries from the day before and bank cash, organise checks etc.
9:30 - 11:30 - Spend the morning drowning in paperwork. Answer the phone 75 times, transferring each call, and laughing at the rude morons after I've hung up.
11:32 - Offer a bribe (money or a slab of beer) to the first person who can "break" the phones for me. Get myself some morning tea from the tea room and spend a couple of minutes chatting to whoever is around.
11:40 - Consider shredding paperwork, then realise that's probably not the best idea. Get back into it.
11:45 - 11:55 - Get into an important financial discussion with Meg. Mutually agree that the extra money that has appeared in the til (a couple of hundred dollars, and no one knows where it's come from or why the til is now up) should be put into the Social Club to make one hell of a Christmas Party. Decide the best way to sell this to the guys is to translate it into the number of beers the money could buy at said party. Guys? Guys, if we put the extra money from the til into the social club, then we could get an extra 85 pots of beer at the party! Woo hoo!
11:55 - 1:45 - Finish important financial discussion and put aside paperwork for a while. Fold 150 newsletters. Laminate some stuff. Send out some price books to people who want to have a look at what we have, but can't be bothered to come in. Get a list of what's needed and organise a stationary order. Fire Publisher up and make up some signs. Read through minutes of the last meeting, and print off blank minutes sheet for the next meeting which is coming up. Make a note of what still needs to be done before the next meeting. Leave post-it notes for those who haven't finished their tasks.
1:45 - 2:15 - Eat lunch. Hop up and down about 35 times and answer phones, transferring calls or taking messages. Thank god there's a phone in the tea room, so I don't have to keep running back to my desk. Wonder how pathetic it would make me seem if I started eating at my desk to save time ...
2:15 - Pull out paperwork again. Get my list of figures, and start the monthly graphs. Swear at myself, the desk, the phone and the computer as I realise that somehow our drivers have managed to stuff up their sheets. Either that, or they've gone back in time. Mumble under my breath and screw up my nose as I get more and more annoyed. Seriously, have they got a freaking time machine in their trucks?
4:30 - Consider pulling out hair. Cause fear and chaos when I announce to the office that the next driver who goes back in time/stuffs up their sheet will have to deal with me.
4:45 - Start packing up for the end of the day. Organise paperwork into piles of what's done, what needs to be done, and what can't yet be done. Tick off what I've finished, put in M's office to get signed off on. Count til, put in safe. Close and lock all windows. Make sure all split-system heaters are off.
4:55 - Yell "Are you kidding me?!" when M hands me more driver sheets to do tomorrow. Roll my eyes and tell him he's lucky it's almost knock-off time, otherwise I'd so kick his arse.
5:00 - Pick up mail that needs to be sent off in the morning. Grab my bag, make sure I've got all my crap from the tea room. Check milk supplies and see if I need to stop on the way to work tomorrow morning. Take some paperwork home with me, to see if I can get a head start on tomorrow. Answer one last phone call, take a message.
5:05 - Time to head home.
5:15 - Home!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
I'm a germ-filled miserable walking headache ...
So, I've been struck down with the cold.
It's not that shocking, I guess, when you consider that both my nieces, who I spent four days with last week/weekend, and almost everyone at work, has it.
I honestly didn't realise how shitty a cold could make you feel. Now I totally get why we've had so many people at work call in sick with the cold.
I've never had headaches like this before. Ever. I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning, and not even 15 seconds later, I was crying from the pain. I took three Panafen (Ibuprofen and codeine) and didn't move for an hour and a half. Finally they started to work, and it didn't hurt so bad to move my head. And this has been happening for three days. I've been taking tablets every two to three hours, day and night.
I've been drinking about 5 litres of water a day since my throat is so sore, and I constantly feel like I'm dehydrated. I've been waking at 2 or 3 a.m., drinking a 750 ml bottle of water and going straight back to bed.
I can't figure out if I'm hot or cold, so my heater is either on high, or I have my front door open so the freezing cold wind can come in and cool me down.
I've been through an entire box and a half of tissues in two days.
And, oh yay, in the last three days I've had about 8 asthma attacks, which has just added to the fun.
Hopefully, the worst has passed. I still feel crappy, and I'm just about to have (another) early night in the hope that some sleep might help, but today I think I felt a little bit better than yesterday? Maybe? A little bit?
Ugh!
It's not that shocking, I guess, when you consider that both my nieces, who I spent four days with last week/weekend, and almost everyone at work, has it.
I honestly didn't realise how shitty a cold could make you feel. Now I totally get why we've had so many people at work call in sick with the cold.
I've never had headaches like this before. Ever. I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning, and not even 15 seconds later, I was crying from the pain. I took three Panafen (Ibuprofen and codeine) and didn't move for an hour and a half. Finally they started to work, and it didn't hurt so bad to move my head. And this has been happening for three days. I've been taking tablets every two to three hours, day and night.
I've been drinking about 5 litres of water a day since my throat is so sore, and I constantly feel like I'm dehydrated. I've been waking at 2 or 3 a.m., drinking a 750 ml bottle of water and going straight back to bed.
I can't figure out if I'm hot or cold, so my heater is either on high, or I have my front door open so the freezing cold wind can come in and cool me down.
I've been through an entire box and a half of tissues in two days.
And, oh yay, in the last three days I've had about 8 asthma attacks, which has just added to the fun.
Hopefully, the worst has passed. I still feel crappy, and I'm just about to have (another) early night in the hope that some sleep might help, but today I think I felt a little bit better than yesterday? Maybe? A little bit?
Ugh!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sorry about the length ...
I don't even know where to begin ...
I've been in Melbourne for the last few days. I went to see my sister and my nieces. I went to have a relaxing few days, chilling out, playing with the kids. I went to do some shopping.
It didn't quite go to plan, though.
Firstly, I decided to drive to Melbourne. Which I've never actually done before, but I figured it's only two and a half hours, how hard can it be? Usually I take the train, which takes two hours to get to Melbourne, then I get onto another train out to my sisters, which takes another hour and a half (if Connex hasn't cancelled services. Even if they have, the trains are usually packed.). So, I went "stuff it, I'm driving". I got directions off whereis.com.au, and left early on Thursday morning (6 a.m.).
Seriously? It would have been faster to take the freaking train.
I got lost. Somehow, somewhere, I must have taken a wrong turn. I ended up at Essendon (about 45 k's from my sisters) and I had no idea how to get back to where I needed to be. Add to that that it was freaking peak hour in Melbourne, bumper to bumper traffic, which I am not used to, and throw in the fact that everyone in that damn city drives like morons, and I was a little stressed.
Eventually, after running up a huge mobile phone bill on whereismobile.com (and visiting suburbs such as Tullamarine, Bayswater, Nunawadding, Donvale - none of which are really on the way to my sisters, might I add), I found my way. I got to my sisters a little after 10:30 a.m. FOUR AND A HALF HOURS OF DRIVING! FOR A TWO AND A HALF HOUR TRIP! The first thing I did? Take myself off to Knox City (big shopping centre) and spend a ridiculous amount of money on a GPS for my car. Considering I can barely pay my bills at the moment it probably wasn't a terrifically smart move, but oh my god, does it make things soooo much easier. Coming home today was about a thousand times less stressful, because all I had to turn was "turn right in 500 metres", and "turn left in 100 metres". Seriously, it was worth every single cent, and I'll be using it when I drive to my sisters again.
So ... Thursday I went to Knox with my three year old niece and we did some shopping. Obviously I tested her patience a little too much though, because once we were done shopping, and were on our way out, she started crying. And she cried the whole way home. She cried at an old man who asked her name, she cried at the bus driver who gave her a free ticket to cheer her up, she cried when we stopped at traffic lights ... And she cried when I started laughing at her. I know! Seriously, what kind of meanie laughs at a crying kid?! It was funny though. She was just over-tired, and no one was going to make her happy!
Thursday night, I was exhausted. Driving for hours, shopping and a loooong day had tired me out. I crashed at about 11 p.m ... only to be woken up at 11:30 by my sister, upset and yelling, because my brother rang (drunk, of course), threatening to kill himself.
Oh. My. God.
Then he hung up, and wouldn't answer his damn phone again. Hello, stress levels. A few minutes later, one of his ex-girlfriends, who is good friends with my sister, was banging on the front door, upset because he'd rung her to say goodbye, since he was nothing but a disappointment to everyone, and he couldn't handle this anymore ...
Oh. My. God.
So, my sister keeps ringing him, and finally he answers and they find out where he is. Olivia, his ex, goes to pick him up and take him home so he can sleep it off.
Nup.
He gets in her car, only to start crying and then jump out at traffic lights, saying he's going to kill himself, yada yada yada. So Olivia, not knowing what the hell to do, rings the police, and asks them to look for him. Meanwhile, my sister and I are still awake, worried, and not knowing what is going on. Eventually the police ring to tell us that they've found him and they're going to keep him for a few hours until he sleeps it off.
Finally, bed time?
No.
Baby Smurf, that gorgeous little niece of mine, decides to wake up. Screaming. Doesn't want a bottle, doesn't want to crawl around on the floor, doesn't want to do anything but scream because she's reallllly unhappy, and she wants the world to know it. We finally managed to get her to sleep just after 4 a.m.
Ahh, sleep.
I got just over 2 hours before little Bug Eyes, my other niece was up to start the day.
Needless to say, I was not at my best on Friday. We did some shopping at Knox, and spent the afternoon at home, hanging out. My sister rang my brother to tell him she'd had enough and that he's not welcome at her house anymore, she's sick of the lying and manipulating. He could only swear and carry on about being picked up by the police the night before.
Friday night, Baby Smurf was again the unhappiest kid in the world, and wouldn't take her bottle, which was a bit of a worry. She'd had nothing since Friday morning and my sister was worried about her dehydrating. This went on Friday night and Saturday morning, so she rang Nurse on Call, who advised her to take the Smurfette to the hospital to get her checked out. Six hours at the hospital showed up ... A healthy kid! A close examination of her mouth did reveal a white spot ... She's got a tooth coming in! So the nurses gave Amanda a syringe to shoot the milk into Smurfette's mouth :-) Saturday night she drank a full bottle this way, although she was still very unsettled.
She woke us at 2 a.m. this morning, still cranky, but she had another full bottle via the syringe. It was perfect timing, because it meant that I got to watch the end of the Storm game which was on Channel 9. What a freaking amazing finish! 45 seconds to go and the Storm won! Baby Smurf couldn't figure out why she wasn't the only one yelling in the loungeroom! :-)
Eventually, (a little after 3 a.m.) we all went back to bed. And this morning? Guess who woke up all smiles, with a brand new tooth poking through the gum?
Yep! She did it!
And she was like a totally different kid. For the last few days all she's done is cry and scream and cling to whoever's closest, but today? All smiles. And giggles. It was so awesome to see her feeling so much better!
So, after hanging out with the girls for a while, and cooking pancakes for breakfast, I started packing up to head home. I was so, so tired, (in the last 3 night I would have had maybe three hours each night) and I figured I'd better get going before I realised just how tired I was. As I'm packing, however, the phone rings.
My sister had given her MIL the rent money. And MIL was ringing to say that the rent money was $50 short.
It appears drunk, dickhead brother helped himself to the money last weekend while he was visiting.
Seriously. What next???
So then my sisters boyfriend cracked the shits and they had a screaming fight, which ended when he walked out. Ugh.
I stayed a while longer, helped bath the Smurf and talked to my sister, then I took off.
And now, I'm home. Tired, and just about ready to cry. It just feels like one thing after another, you know?
And my brother. What the hell?
I know I haven't spoken to him in a year and 9 months, and I didn't think that I cared about him that much, but the worry inside me at the moment is just ... Huge. I'm scared. So scared.
And the thing that scares me, and pisses me off, is that he won't change. He's had so many opportunities and he won't change. He keeps drinking and stuffing up and manipulating and lying and what the hell can be done? He's going to end up dead, because we can't frigging do a thing to make him realise that he's wrecking his goddamn life.
Where do we go from here? I'm not speaking to him. My sister isn't speaking to him. Dad has had enough as well. Mum is still trying, and he's breaking her heart. And he doesn't give a fuck, he won't CHANGE.
I don't even know what to say.
I've been in Melbourne for the last few days. I went to see my sister and my nieces. I went to have a relaxing few days, chilling out, playing with the kids. I went to do some shopping.
It didn't quite go to plan, though.
Firstly, I decided to drive to Melbourne. Which I've never actually done before, but I figured it's only two and a half hours, how hard can it be? Usually I take the train, which takes two hours to get to Melbourne, then I get onto another train out to my sisters, which takes another hour and a half (if Connex hasn't cancelled services. Even if they have, the trains are usually packed.). So, I went "stuff it, I'm driving". I got directions off whereis.com.au, and left early on Thursday morning (6 a.m.).
Seriously? It would have been faster to take the freaking train.
I got lost. Somehow, somewhere, I must have taken a wrong turn. I ended up at Essendon (about 45 k's from my sisters) and I had no idea how to get back to where I needed to be. Add to that that it was freaking peak hour in Melbourne, bumper to bumper traffic, which I am not used to, and throw in the fact that everyone in that damn city drives like morons, and I was a little stressed.
Eventually, after running up a huge mobile phone bill on whereismobile.com (and visiting suburbs such as Tullamarine, Bayswater, Nunawadding, Donvale - none of which are really on the way to my sisters, might I add), I found my way. I got to my sisters a little after 10:30 a.m. FOUR AND A HALF HOURS OF DRIVING! FOR A TWO AND A HALF HOUR TRIP! The first thing I did? Take myself off to Knox City (big shopping centre) and spend a ridiculous amount of money on a GPS for my car. Considering I can barely pay my bills at the moment it probably wasn't a terrifically smart move, but oh my god, does it make things soooo much easier. Coming home today was about a thousand times less stressful, because all I had to turn was "turn right in 500 metres", and "turn left in 100 metres". Seriously, it was worth every single cent, and I'll be using it when I drive to my sisters again.
So ... Thursday I went to Knox with my three year old niece and we did some shopping. Obviously I tested her patience a little too much though, because once we were done shopping, and were on our way out, she started crying. And she cried the whole way home. She cried at an old man who asked her name, she cried at the bus driver who gave her a free ticket to cheer her up, she cried when we stopped at traffic lights ... And she cried when I started laughing at her. I know! Seriously, what kind of meanie laughs at a crying kid?! It was funny though. She was just over-tired, and no one was going to make her happy!
Thursday night, I was exhausted. Driving for hours, shopping and a loooong day had tired me out. I crashed at about 11 p.m ... only to be woken up at 11:30 by my sister, upset and yelling, because my brother rang (drunk, of course), threatening to kill himself.
Oh. My. God.
Then he hung up, and wouldn't answer his damn phone again. Hello, stress levels. A few minutes later, one of his ex-girlfriends, who is good friends with my sister, was banging on the front door, upset because he'd rung her to say goodbye, since he was nothing but a disappointment to everyone, and he couldn't handle this anymore ...
Oh. My. God.
So, my sister keeps ringing him, and finally he answers and they find out where he is. Olivia, his ex, goes to pick him up and take him home so he can sleep it off.
Nup.
He gets in her car, only to start crying and then jump out at traffic lights, saying he's going to kill himself, yada yada yada. So Olivia, not knowing what the hell to do, rings the police, and asks them to look for him. Meanwhile, my sister and I are still awake, worried, and not knowing what is going on. Eventually the police ring to tell us that they've found him and they're going to keep him for a few hours until he sleeps it off.
Finally, bed time?
No.
Baby Smurf, that gorgeous little niece of mine, decides to wake up. Screaming. Doesn't want a bottle, doesn't want to crawl around on the floor, doesn't want to do anything but scream because she's reallllly unhappy, and she wants the world to know it. We finally managed to get her to sleep just after 4 a.m.
Ahh, sleep.
I got just over 2 hours before little Bug Eyes, my other niece was up to start the day.
Needless to say, I was not at my best on Friday. We did some shopping at Knox, and spent the afternoon at home, hanging out. My sister rang my brother to tell him she'd had enough and that he's not welcome at her house anymore, she's sick of the lying and manipulating. He could only swear and carry on about being picked up by the police the night before.
Friday night, Baby Smurf was again the unhappiest kid in the world, and wouldn't take her bottle, which was a bit of a worry. She'd had nothing since Friday morning and my sister was worried about her dehydrating. This went on Friday night and Saturday morning, so she rang Nurse on Call, who advised her to take the Smurfette to the hospital to get her checked out. Six hours at the hospital showed up ... A healthy kid! A close examination of her mouth did reveal a white spot ... She's got a tooth coming in! So the nurses gave Amanda a syringe to shoot the milk into Smurfette's mouth :-) Saturday night she drank a full bottle this way, although she was still very unsettled.
She woke us at 2 a.m. this morning, still cranky, but she had another full bottle via the syringe. It was perfect timing, because it meant that I got to watch the end of the Storm game which was on Channel 9. What a freaking amazing finish! 45 seconds to go and the Storm won! Baby Smurf couldn't figure out why she wasn't the only one yelling in the loungeroom! :-)
Eventually, (a little after 3 a.m.) we all went back to bed. And this morning? Guess who woke up all smiles, with a brand new tooth poking through the gum?
Yep! She did it!
And she was like a totally different kid. For the last few days all she's done is cry and scream and cling to whoever's closest, but today? All smiles. And giggles. It was so awesome to see her feeling so much better!
So, after hanging out with the girls for a while, and cooking pancakes for breakfast, I started packing up to head home. I was so, so tired, (in the last 3 night I would have had maybe three hours each night) and I figured I'd better get going before I realised just how tired I was. As I'm packing, however, the phone rings.
My sister had given her MIL the rent money. And MIL was ringing to say that the rent money was $50 short.
It appears drunk, dickhead brother helped himself to the money last weekend while he was visiting.
Seriously. What next???
So then my sisters boyfriend cracked the shits and they had a screaming fight, which ended when he walked out. Ugh.
I stayed a while longer, helped bath the Smurf and talked to my sister, then I took off.
And now, I'm home. Tired, and just about ready to cry. It just feels like one thing after another, you know?
And my brother. What the hell?
I know I haven't spoken to him in a year and 9 months, and I didn't think that I cared about him that much, but the worry inside me at the moment is just ... Huge. I'm scared. So scared.
And the thing that scares me, and pisses me off, is that he won't change. He's had so many opportunities and he won't change. He keeps drinking and stuffing up and manipulating and lying and what the hell can be done? He's going to end up dead, because we can't frigging do a thing to make him realise that he's wrecking his goddamn life.
Where do we go from here? I'm not speaking to him. My sister isn't speaking to him. Dad has had enough as well. Mum is still trying, and he's breaking her heart. And he doesn't give a fuck, he won't CHANGE.
I don't even know what to say.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Linkapalooza.
So, Collingwood are out of the finals ... :-( I don't know what the hell happened. How could we lose to ST KILDA??! Seriously. I mean, they're a great team and all, but ... ??!! We were playing for a spot in the semi-final, and we couldn't beat them? Disappointing, Pies, disappointing.
I worked today and yesterday, at the cafe/ice creamery. We had a couple of good days, as the weather has been beautiful. We were meant to get rain today, which meant we were planning a quite day, but so far it's been sunny (although very windy) all day. Ahh, spring! :-)
Anyway, I better go cook me some dinner ... Er, heat up the takeaway from last night. I actually just came to share some new sites I've found, so here goes.
Nick, the Xray Photographer ... This is strangely fascinating.
Fail Blog ... Is pretty freaking funny.
Cosha's ... This could be considered a little ... err ... dirty. Don't say you weren't warned!
DatingFun.com ... Random trivia.
Disapproving Rabbits ... How friggin gorgeous! And so funny! I'm only pissed I didn't discover it sooner :-)
I can has cheezburger ... Not usually a cat person, but this is pretty cool.
And, as always, new secrets are up at PostSecret. Check em out!
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin special.
I worked today and yesterday, at the cafe/ice creamery. We had a couple of good days, as the weather has been beautiful. We were meant to get rain today, which meant we were planning a quite day, but so far it's been sunny (although very windy) all day. Ahh, spring! :-)
Anyway, I better go cook me some dinner ... Er, heat up the takeaway from last night. I actually just came to share some new sites I've found, so here goes.
Nick, the Xray Photographer ... This is strangely fascinating.
Fail Blog ... Is pretty freaking funny.
Cosha's ... This could be considered a little ... err ... dirty. Don't say you weren't warned!
DatingFun.com ... Random trivia.
Disapproving Rabbits ... How friggin gorgeous! And so funny! I'm only pissed I didn't discover it sooner :-)
I can has cheezburger ... Not usually a cat person, but this is pretty cool.
And, as always, new secrets are up at PostSecret. Check em out!
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin special.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
13/09/2001.
Hey Mel,
So, it's been seven years since you were last here with us. September 13, 2001. And here I am, writting to you again, continuing the tradition that I started in 2002. I gotta tell you, it sucks. This is not the tradition that I would have wished for, ever, but here we are anyway.
It doesn't get any easier, you know. I might laugh more when I think about you and I may cry less ... But it doesn't really get any easier, knowing that you're not here, and you're not coming back. It still hits me at the strangest times - it's like I forget and then - wham. Mel's dead. The realisation takes my breath away and makes me stop cold for a minute. How? Why? Mel?
So, it's been seven years since you were last here with us. September 13, 2001. And here I am, writting to you again, continuing the tradition that I started in 2002. I gotta tell you, it sucks. This is not the tradition that I would have wished for, ever, but here we are anyway.
It doesn't get any easier, you know. I might laugh more when I think about you and I may cry less ... But it doesn't really get any easier, knowing that you're not here, and you're not coming back. It still hits me at the strangest times - it's like I forget and then - wham. Mel's dead. The realisation takes my breath away and makes me stop cold for a minute. How? Why? Mel?
You give me smiles at the most random times. All it takes is a song on the radio that we played at your funeral, or an expression that someone might say that makes me automatically think of you, and I'm smiling. Sometimes I'm having a bad day, or I'm upset about something, and it turns everything around. It's like you're watching over me, and it rocks, dude! Keep it up.
It's weird - so many times this week my thoughts have gone to you. On Tuesday night, I dreamt of school, and of Kelly. It was the strangest dream I'd ever had - it made no sense, but I woke up knowing that you gave that dream to me. And then at work, one of the guys started whistling one of the songs that your mum played at your funeral. Out of nowhere. On Wednesday, I heard another song from the funeral on the radio, which I haven't heard in months. Today, I was out house hunting. We ended up at Adams St (!!!!), looking at a place. Thank you.
So, we've made it through another year without you. We share our stories. We see your face. We hear your laugh. Quietly, you live on within us. Your smile stays in our minds, because you were Mel. Who could forget you?
Miss you, Miss Melody.
If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?
Friday, September 12, 2008
22 degrees!
Spring has sprung. Thank freaking god, because I'm sick of cold, rainy weather.
Right now, it's sitting on 22 degrees, and I've actually got my house open to air it out a little. Outside is a little cloudy, but it's waaaarm. Woo hoo!
Of course, with spring comes hayfever. Yesterday I went house-hunting WITH A BOX OF TISSUES. Yeah. I couldn't stop sneezing long enough to go anywhere, so we ended up leaving with the tissues. I looked like shit. And today is a repeat performance. I'm going to have to go to the doctor to get a refferal to a specialist. I've tried every tablet/nasal spray/natural remedy out there. Some work, but usually only for a couple of days. Ugh. And I can only imagine how bad it's going to be at the office this summer with all the dust and pollens floating around. So I should probably get onto it before it gets worse.
So, yeah. I haven't done an entry for a while. Last week I worked all week - my usual two and a half days at the office, as well as Wednesday afternoon and Thursday as the other girl was sick. She was back on Friday, which was great for me because it meant that I didn't have to cancel my appointment to get my car fixed in Kerang. So, Friday morning I was up early and when I got home, dad took my car to the mechanic and mum and I hung out at home. Saturday and Sunday I worked at the cafe, (yes, I'm still there - don't ask) and as usual, it was not fun.
This week I worked Monday, was off Tuesday sick, and worked my usual half day on Wednesday. Yesterday I went house-hunting with Christine, which was fun. There's about 4 that we want to check out a little more - two that we really like. Hopefully we'll make a decision in the next couple of weeks and get the ball rolling soon. I swear, this will be the LAST time that I move ... Ever. *lol* Just looking around my place, realising how much crap I'll have to pack up gives me a headache :-) Not to mention, we'll be putting devil dog (Jersey) and Buckley in the one house, and throwing in my birds and Christine's fish (who are at constant risk of being eaten by Jersey). And Buckley will become an outside rabbit ... Don't know how he'll like that ... He's used to be inside. (Yeah, he's spoilt rotten!) I've already said that he'll be coming inside when it's too hot (32+ degrees) because as a rabbit, he's got no way to release heat (rabbits can't pant like dogs) and summer outside could easily kill him. So, we've got it all planned out. We just have to find *the* house :-)
What else ... That's about it, really. I've been very boring. Today I spent the day cleaning the house, doing washing, and cleaning out the bunny and birdies cages. Oh-so-fun. Now I'm going to go cook me something to eat, and listen to some music. Ahh, what a nice end to a day off :-)
Right now, it's sitting on 22 degrees, and I've actually got my house open to air it out a little. Outside is a little cloudy, but it's waaaarm. Woo hoo!
Of course, with spring comes hayfever. Yesterday I went house-hunting WITH A BOX OF TISSUES. Yeah. I couldn't stop sneezing long enough to go anywhere, so we ended up leaving with the tissues. I looked like shit. And today is a repeat performance. I'm going to have to go to the doctor to get a refferal to a specialist. I've tried every tablet/nasal spray/natural remedy out there. Some work, but usually only for a couple of days. Ugh. And I can only imagine how bad it's going to be at the office this summer with all the dust and pollens floating around. So I should probably get onto it before it gets worse.
So, yeah. I haven't done an entry for a while. Last week I worked all week - my usual two and a half days at the office, as well as Wednesday afternoon and Thursday as the other girl was sick. She was back on Friday, which was great for me because it meant that I didn't have to cancel my appointment to get my car fixed in Kerang. So, Friday morning I was up early and when I got home, dad took my car to the mechanic and mum and I hung out at home. Saturday and Sunday I worked at the cafe, (yes, I'm still there - don't ask) and as usual, it was not fun.
This week I worked Monday, was off Tuesday sick, and worked my usual half day on Wednesday. Yesterday I went house-hunting with Christine, which was fun. There's about 4 that we want to check out a little more - two that we really like. Hopefully we'll make a decision in the next couple of weeks and get the ball rolling soon. I swear, this will be the LAST time that I move ... Ever. *lol* Just looking around my place, realising how much crap I'll have to pack up gives me a headache :-) Not to mention, we'll be putting devil dog (Jersey) and Buckley in the one house, and throwing in my birds and Christine's fish (who are at constant risk of being eaten by Jersey). And Buckley will become an outside rabbit ... Don't know how he'll like that ... He's used to be inside. (Yeah, he's spoilt rotten!) I've already said that he'll be coming inside when it's too hot (32+ degrees) because as a rabbit, he's got no way to release heat (rabbits can't pant like dogs) and summer outside could easily kill him. So, we've got it all planned out. We just have to find *the* house :-)
What else ... That's about it, really. I've been very boring. Today I spent the day cleaning the house, doing washing, and cleaning out the bunny and birdies cages. Oh-so-fun. Now I'm going to go cook me something to eat, and listen to some music. Ahh, what a nice end to a day off :-)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Wanna smile?
Check out Torrie's blog, and watch this video. It reminds me of the way Bug Eyes used to dance when she was younger. She'd dance to any and all music, and it ALWAYS made me smile.
Work ...
From work ...
B: "I'm having a bad sock day, ok? You wanna make something of it?"
Big Boss:"Oh yeah, the chicks totally dig it. The wife isn't too impressed though!"
B: "I'm having a bad sock day, ok? You wanna make something of it?"
Big Boss:"Oh yeah, the chicks totally dig it. The wife isn't too impressed though!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)