http://www.ninjavspenguin.com/blog/portfolio/
Check out the pretty pictures. I wish I could do this.
Friday, December 31, 2010
star signs
God, I'm so thoroughly Taurean it's embarrassing. Someone else posted the Taurean in love section of this, but the rest works too.
Go on, look up your own. Warning: you may find the website design a tad alarming :)
Thursday, December 30, 2010
same ones as last year
Just search Christmas Cupcakes for the recipe if you want - almond and almond buttercream, with cherry filling.
cosmo-licious
I had my first one of these, tonight, in honour of Danielle, and good god, I want 5 more. I'm off out for cranberry juice and limes tomorrow, and a giant martini glass.
Had a lovely dinner in Mao, in my beloved Dundrum shopping centre, with a very sweet friend, who treated me to said cocktail. Cheers!
I also got me a sweet little elephant keyring to replace an old and symbolic one that I needed to get rid of.
There are very nice bags on sale in Accessorize. Could someone please bring me shopping? Apart from the keyring, I was good today. Wore blinkers passing through all the sales to the left and right of me.
Before Christmas, I meant to blog about the fab and surprisingly cheap cardboard cake-stand I found in Harvey Nichol's - it's all gold and pink and blue frenchy sweet chic mixed patterns, it's SO perfect. I partly didn't due to business, but also the fact that I wanted to demand it for Christmas, and I felt that I should really have grown a bit beyond it. Even though it would have been the perfect present for C to buy me. So I bought myself one, and asked Axel to give it to me for Christmas. He ignored it, but I've used it once already - and tonight, C gave it to me, too :) because she is sweet and kind and aware that I no longer have a generous mother who loves to buy me nice things.
So thank you again, C, for being so caring of me and knowing what's just right. That is the best gift of all.
On the other side of it, one of the most frustrating things for me is seeing perfect things for people and not being able to buy them for all my friends. Oh for independent wealth/eccentric millionairism. You'd all be indundated with perfect things, yes indeed. Crates of condensed milk to bathe in, Danielle, and cupcakes couriered by private eco-jet (my boffins would have invented that) for you all.
xx
ps: will there be another hapless new year's eve post tomorrow night? Who knows... a song maybe... we'll see...
Had a lovely dinner in Mao, in my beloved Dundrum shopping centre, with a very sweet friend, who treated me to said cocktail. Cheers!
I also got me a sweet little elephant keyring to replace an old and symbolic one that I needed to get rid of.
There are very nice bags on sale in Accessorize. Could someone please bring me shopping? Apart from the keyring, I was good today. Wore blinkers passing through all the sales to the left and right of me.
Before Christmas, I meant to blog about the fab and surprisingly cheap cardboard cake-stand I found in Harvey Nichol's - it's all gold and pink and blue frenchy sweet chic mixed patterns, it's SO perfect. I partly didn't due to business, but also the fact that I wanted to demand it for Christmas, and I felt that I should really have grown a bit beyond it. Even though it would have been the perfect present for C to buy me. So I bought myself one, and asked Axel to give it to me for Christmas. He ignored it, but I've used it once already - and tonight, C gave it to me, too :) because she is sweet and kind and aware that I no longer have a generous mother who loves to buy me nice things.
So thank you again, C, for being so caring of me and knowing what's just right. That is the best gift of all.
On the other side of it, one of the most frustrating things for me is seeing perfect things for people and not being able to buy them for all my friends. Oh for independent wealth/eccentric millionairism. You'd all be indundated with perfect things, yes indeed. Crates of condensed milk to bathe in, Danielle, and cupcakes couriered by private eco-jet (my boffins would have invented that) for you all.
xx
ps: will there be another hapless new year's eve post tomorrow night? Who knows... a song maybe... we'll see...
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
quickie
I keep thinking the basketball net and stand Bodhi got for Christmas is a lurking person as I catch it out of the corner of my eye.
Reminds me of the time I came home, and saw a little glowing point of orange in my basement bedroom window as I approached the house. Instantly I froze in horror at the sinsiter idea of someone standing with menacing intent in the shadows of my room, smoking while waiting for my return.
Then I realised it was just the light on the ioniser on my shelf.
A strong imagination is not always your friend.
Reminds me of the time I came home, and saw a little glowing point of orange in my basement bedroom window as I approached the house. Instantly I froze in horror at the sinsiter idea of someone standing with menacing intent in the shadows of my room, smoking while waiting for my return.
Then I realised it was just the light on the ioniser on my shelf.
A strong imagination is not always your friend.
Monday, December 27, 2010
classic Christmas films
Christmas tv has changed since my day. No more Mary Poppins or the Wizard of Oz, new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, no My Fair Lady.
Much as I love Johnny Depp, I miss Gene Wider on Stephen's Day, and the kids were unimpressed too. We didn't make it into the factory. I might persevere another day, but it wasn't worth it at Christmas.
No more Aardman offerings either, though the repeat of last year's remarkable The Gruffalo was just as magical, despite the fact that we have the dvd and have watched it multiple times back to back.
Today Axel took Bodhi out and Olivia professed boredom. She was over arts and crafts and Donkey Kong for the moment. My brain stayed blank til I remembered - Indiana Jones! She'd been unimpressed by The Mummy last week but when I turned on the tv, the film was at the scene where they're at the table being served crispy giant beetles and boa constricters filled with live young, and monkey brains served in their heads!! Gleeful heaven for my unflappable girl. It got better from there, though her friend next door came to steal her away for a jelly and popcorn filled Indy marathon.
She even liked the Crystal Skull, and insisted the only difference between Indy's was that his hair was grey in the last one. Bless her!
True classics (well, I don't know about the last one, it sounds truly awful and I've avoided it, but not according to her). A nice little Christmas film experience to share as well. Good to see some things never change.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
balance
Olivia got dressed independently and without fuss this morning. We went to see my granny and the kids came and slid down a little hill with me - cheerfully, sweetly and happily, without moaning or screaming or whinging about the cold. It snowed, and the field was white and perfect around us, and it was quiet and still and beautiful, and it was nice to have my kids be able to enjoy my family home, however briefly.
The made snow angels, and Olivia insisted on rolling down the hill. The snow was quite deep.
My brother and his gf are coming home from Morocco today - will they make it, I wonder.
I need to get into South Wicklow tomorrow, think I'll have to take the train - me and 2 kids and a tiramisu and chocolate cherries and scalloped potatoes... stay posted!
The made snow angels, and Olivia insisted on rolling down the hill. The snow was quite deep.
My brother and his gf are coming home from Morocco today - will they make it, I wonder.
I need to get into South Wicklow tomorrow, think I'll have to take the train - me and 2 kids and a tiramisu and chocolate cherries and scalloped potatoes... stay posted!
Monday, December 20, 2010
a Christmas Whinge'n'Purge, avoid at will
I cna't seem to unlock my shoulders from round my ears. My neck is seizing up from it, burning muscles, ridiculously tight. Straight necked, shoulders down just seems to feel extraordinarily vulnerable. Must duck and cover, my body seems to think.
I drove Demure Lemur, effortlessly glamorous in her (vintage, inherited, ethically farmed) fur coat (Damn! I didn't make a knicker joke!) to the station in the snow, over deserted white roads past the park and nice houses, snow gently flying towards the windscreen. All was silent, peaceful, still and white. Frozen, blanketed, snow-globe safe. I wish I could hold on to that wonder. I love it so.
No, though. I'm in a place that doesn't quite work - a Christmas dinner at the mother in laws, ironically the first one ever, but I can't get around it this year - I don't want to take on the responsibility of cooking and cleaning and warming the house to a hospitable level, it's too much stress for no return, somehow. I can't get the sprouts soft enough.
So, I have no alternatives.
I wouldn't mind, going to my godparents on Christmas Eve was to be my replacement-family consolation, but I fear the beautiful peaceful snow may cancel that, in its incarnation as dangerous ice and impassable roads.
Olivia was wonderful today, though she broke my heart when she thought her school was closed, only to realise it was Bodhi's playschool, not hers - she broke down and sobbed at how much she hated her school and thought she wouldn't have to go, only to be knocked down by the reality. She even let me hug her, it was that bad. She really does hate it. What to do?
She was great all day though, no mother-bruising tantrums, til she had to go to bed at NINE pm - then shouting screaming stamping throwing - after Axel had given her the 'just one malteser' I'd said no to, just before teeth, and then he ran around getting her her stylus for her DS so she can play it in bed at 9.45.
I swear to god... what's the point in trying?
My child psychologist friend pointed out that she's taken control. Yes, yes she has. All these fights and fusses are putting years on me. Making my heart beat faster, sending stress hormones through me, hour after hour. I'm dreading the morning, dreading the evenings, dreading the sibling squabbling in between. She hates her school, she hates her family, she hates her life and wishes I would just kill her. Her father hates the mess, the shouting, the squabbling, he shouts back, and stamps and leaves and leaves and complains and fucks off some more after buying them more sugar and undoing any of nasty mean mommy's attempts at discipline or health of whatever parents are meant to do.
I thought I would be so good at this.
I have no idea why. But now I don't have any eagerness for the fight. I don't want to play, I don't want to spend quality time, I don't want to create, and manage and discipline and strive to find some sort of consistency within my chaotic, disorganised, lazy ass self. I don't care enough, maybe? Or I'm just too selfish? I read about people saying their children saved them, gave them purpose and I feel humbled and awed. For me, having children has just brought out all the bad stuff, all the worst of my raging, emotionally crippled, irritable, broken father, and my disfunctional, hysterical mother and the curse of their deep unhappiness and frustration that I visit on my children.
I went to the supermarket today, the nice one, with €100's worth of vouchers from Axel's work that paid for 2/3's of the Christmas shop.
I bought ingredients for stuffing; bread and nuts and mushrooms and parsley, and raisins and chestnuts for red cabbage, and mascarpone and eggs tiramisu (except no one does amaretti biscuits anymore) and nice drinks for the kids, and snacks and chocolate to coat brazil nuts for my gramdmother and cherries for my godparents. A sack of potatoes for roasties and scalloped potatoes. I bought snacks and clementines and all sorts of Christmassy things, loaded the trolley in the security of knowing I didn't have to worry so much about the cost. It was good. I pretended it was all for our merry Christmas at home, though the reality is, there's not really going to be one. I still can't taste anything, aside from anything else, with this blocked nose.
I had no intention of writing this post when I sat down. Still, it can't be all 'the things children say' can it? A bit of Christmas Fear is only natural, right? Right?
I drove Demure Lemur, effortlessly glamorous in her (vintage, inherited, ethically farmed) fur coat (Damn! I didn't make a knicker joke!) to the station in the snow, over deserted white roads past the park and nice houses, snow gently flying towards the windscreen. All was silent, peaceful, still and white. Frozen, blanketed, snow-globe safe. I wish I could hold on to that wonder. I love it so.
No, though. I'm in a place that doesn't quite work - a Christmas dinner at the mother in laws, ironically the first one ever, but I can't get around it this year - I don't want to take on the responsibility of cooking and cleaning and warming the house to a hospitable level, it's too much stress for no return, somehow. I can't get the sprouts soft enough.
So, I have no alternatives.
I wouldn't mind, going to my godparents on Christmas Eve was to be my replacement-family consolation, but I fear the beautiful peaceful snow may cancel that, in its incarnation as dangerous ice and impassable roads.
Olivia was wonderful today, though she broke my heart when she thought her school was closed, only to realise it was Bodhi's playschool, not hers - she broke down and sobbed at how much she hated her school and thought she wouldn't have to go, only to be knocked down by the reality. She even let me hug her, it was that bad. She really does hate it. What to do?
She was great all day though, no mother-bruising tantrums, til she had to go to bed at NINE pm - then shouting screaming stamping throwing - after Axel had given her the 'just one malteser' I'd said no to, just before teeth, and then he ran around getting her her stylus for her DS so she can play it in bed at 9.45.
I swear to god... what's the point in trying?
My child psychologist friend pointed out that she's taken control. Yes, yes she has. All these fights and fusses are putting years on me. Making my heart beat faster, sending stress hormones through me, hour after hour. I'm dreading the morning, dreading the evenings, dreading the sibling squabbling in between. She hates her school, she hates her family, she hates her life and wishes I would just kill her. Her father hates the mess, the shouting, the squabbling, he shouts back, and stamps and leaves and leaves and complains and fucks off some more after buying them more sugar and undoing any of nasty mean mommy's attempts at discipline or health of whatever parents are meant to do.
I thought I would be so good at this.
I have no idea why. But now I don't have any eagerness for the fight. I don't want to play, I don't want to spend quality time, I don't want to create, and manage and discipline and strive to find some sort of consistency within my chaotic, disorganised, lazy ass self. I don't care enough, maybe? Or I'm just too selfish? I read about people saying their children saved them, gave them purpose and I feel humbled and awed. For me, having children has just brought out all the bad stuff, all the worst of my raging, emotionally crippled, irritable, broken father, and my disfunctional, hysterical mother and the curse of their deep unhappiness and frustration that I visit on my children.
I went to the supermarket today, the nice one, with €100's worth of vouchers from Axel's work that paid for 2/3's of the Christmas shop.
I bought ingredients for stuffing; bread and nuts and mushrooms and parsley, and raisins and chestnuts for red cabbage, and mascarpone and eggs tiramisu (except no one does amaretti biscuits anymore) and nice drinks for the kids, and snacks and chocolate to coat brazil nuts for my gramdmother and cherries for my godparents. A sack of potatoes for roasties and scalloped potatoes. I bought snacks and clementines and all sorts of Christmassy things, loaded the trolley in the security of knowing I didn't have to worry so much about the cost. It was good. I pretended it was all for our merry Christmas at home, though the reality is, there's not really going to be one. I still can't taste anything, aside from anything else, with this blocked nose.
I had no intention of writing this post when I sat down. Still, it can't be all 'the things children say' can it? A bit of Christmas Fear is only natural, right? Right?
Sunday, December 19, 2010
this day, Sunday 19th December
Momentous title, eh?
No reason for it at all, sorry.
Back in the day, before I had babies, Axel's mother would push egg, beans and chips (plus copious amounts of sliced white bread) on us when we visited.
In the end, I think we asked her to stop, because we were getting fat. But she always liked to feed us. Once we had Olivia, she pretty much stopped. Mission Grandchild accomplished.
She did a dinner today, for us and the inlaws, as we won't be having Christmas dinner together. Softest sprouts I ever ate, I have to report. Like, sprout paste. It was all good though, as I still can taste nothing with this ongoing, endless cold.
But more significant is that she usually gets me Veggie-things, but forgot this time, and felt terribly guilty about it. My status is no longer what it once was, eh?
My sister in law announced pregnancy no. 2 today. She's got horrible morning sickness this time round. Axel's mother asked me if I had it, she couldn't remember. I got a flashback to huddling on her couch, miserable, mourning, and perpetually nauseated, sharing the news of our untimely pregnancy, while she whooped and danced around the sitting room, oblivious to my bedraggled state.
I laughed, darkly, I have to admit.
No reason for it at all, sorry.
Back in the day, before I had babies, Axel's mother would push egg, beans and chips (plus copious amounts of sliced white bread) on us when we visited.
In the end, I think we asked her to stop, because we were getting fat. But she always liked to feed us. Once we had Olivia, she pretty much stopped. Mission Grandchild accomplished.
She did a dinner today, for us and the inlaws, as we won't be having Christmas dinner together. Softest sprouts I ever ate, I have to report. Like, sprout paste. It was all good though, as I still can taste nothing with this ongoing, endless cold.
But more significant is that she usually gets me Veggie-things, but forgot this time, and felt terribly guilty about it. My status is no longer what it once was, eh?
My sister in law announced pregnancy no. 2 today. She's got horrible morning sickness this time round. Axel's mother asked me if I had it, she couldn't remember. I got a flashback to huddling on her couch, miserable, mourning, and perpetually nauseated, sharing the news of our untimely pregnancy, while she whooped and danced around the sitting room, oblivious to my bedraggled state.
I laughed, darkly, I have to admit.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
for the Irish among us...
I noticed, while searching for Donkey Kong Country The Return high and low the other day, that Disney have a game out called 'Epic Mickey'.
No, really.
I know I'm being juvenile, purile, infantile but that cracks me up.
*For those of you from outside our island, mickey is horrible skanky slang for penis. Memorably used by Twink to slander her cheating ex-husband for not being able to 'zip up his mickey'. Shudder.
It goes without saying that I'm also amused by the fact that there's a Mickey Park in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cartoon. Snigger.
No, really.
I know I'm being juvenile, purile, infantile but that cracks me up.
*For those of you from outside our island, mickey is horrible skanky slang for penis. Memorably used by Twink to slander her cheating ex-husband for not being able to 'zip up his mickey'. Shudder.
It goes without saying that I'm also amused by the fact that there's a Mickey Park in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cartoon. Snigger.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
more snow is coming, they say
Luckily, the sleds arrived...
Now. I have a post to write about last night's Frames gig but it may have to wait. In the meantime, I found some snow photos I forgot to post.
And a tour de snow (and messy house) by Olivia - Axl cleaned it all while I was away, it looks much better now...
Now. I have a post to write about last night's Frames gig but it may have to wait. In the meantime, I found some snow photos I forgot to post.
Back Garden
Front lane
View from Neighbour's Garden
White!
Small welly-prints
Looking up the lane
Remember the piggies?
And a tour de snow (and messy house) by Olivia - Axl cleaned it all while I was away, it looks much better now...
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
education
I'm missing having a real job, with set hours and company and conversation and three times what I get paid per hour at the moment.
There's a lot I don't miss too.
I fear I've been out of the classroom too long - I wonder if I'll get to teach again?
Here are some points about education in Ireland though - it's not looking so good. Should I move to Finland? I have a Masters!
There's a lot I don't miss too.
I fear I've been out of the classroom too long - I wonder if I'll get to teach again?
Here are some points about education in Ireland though - it's not looking so good. Should I move to Finland? I have a Masters!
Monday, December 13, 2010
not waving...
How does anyone in full time work do this Christmas thing? I can remember the stress of working and shopping and cleaning and giving up on all the plans and all the fun stuff like cookies and cards turning into chores - which, to be honest, is about to happen again, as Christmas is two weeks away and the shopping is not finished and the other things are not done.
And ... still working... just sent in my hours and it seems to add up to NOTHING. All those late nights and hours and stress just diminish when I add 'em up. Bah. I need a different job. Don't we all?
The shops keep not having what I want. And today in M&S I had to put back jammies for Bodhi that only came in threes - he loves jammies with a me-like passion. I hate the guilt tug of war between not spending what I can't afford, and not getting the kids things they need. Oh well. Maybe he doesn't need new ones, he has two pairs, plus the pair from Pennies on which the zip just broke. That's what I get for buying from Pennies! Yes it is.
Soon I will post about going to the Frames in Whelans. This is an experience that will be burningly nostalgic for me and while I'm so excited I'm getting to go, and will surely dance like I'm 16 again, I fear I may also weep a lot and frighten the kind friend from my past who sorted me out with a ticket like the angel star fairy she is.
Until then, I have no time for craft of coherence or meaningful anything. Seriously, this life we live, traffic and cares and burnout and exhaustion. What's it all about? When will there be a better way?
And ... still working... just sent in my hours and it seems to add up to NOTHING. All those late nights and hours and stress just diminish when I add 'em up. Bah. I need a different job. Don't we all?
The shops keep not having what I want. And today in M&S I had to put back jammies for Bodhi that only came in threes - he loves jammies with a me-like passion. I hate the guilt tug of war between not spending what I can't afford, and not getting the kids things they need. Oh well. Maybe he doesn't need new ones, he has two pairs, plus the pair from Pennies on which the zip just broke. That's what I get for buying from Pennies! Yes it is.
Soon I will post about going to the Frames in Whelans. This is an experience that will be burningly nostalgic for me and while I'm so excited I'm getting to go, and will surely dance like I'm 16 again, I fear I may also weep a lot and frighten the kind friend from my past who sorted me out with a ticket like the angel star fairy she is.
Until then, I have no time for craft of coherence or meaningful anything. Seriously, this life we live, traffic and cares and burnout and exhaustion. What's it all about? When will there be a better way?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Camille O Sullivan - The Ship Song
Oh, babies, I'd forgotten this song! I used to listen to this all the time. Isn't she beautiful? What a cover.
And the other songs - what classic, sexy performing. Wow. How did I miss her?
She's Irish French - great accent, great face :)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
spewww post
Ok, screw this not saying anything if you haven't anything nice to say blogging plan, it's not working so well.
I have to go get Olivia again in 3 mins (oops, post will be interrupted) because I just went to get her an hour ago and forgot today was drama day, so that took me 40 mins in the ice and traffic and blah blah and now I have to go do it all over again. I also forgot to bring her to her art class on Monday. Fuck!
Things are getting me down a tad.
The fact that our govt are pointlessly selling the country up the river with its people in a leaky boat is freaking me out. No one's being prosecuted. It's all... acceptable.
I must ring the phone company and say please let me pay the phone bill I've been delaying slowly. I don't get paid for another ten days, and then that has to last me through Christmas and til the end of January. Which is always a notoriously long month. And Axl is NCTing his car, and had to get things fixed and new tires - so that's costing him a grand, just before Christmas. Usually I just put Christmas on the Visa bill, but that has brought me to a point where no more can go on the Visa bill. I'm actually going to write another whole whiney rant about belt tightening and quality of life and what's the fucking point, oh, but maybe I won't do it here, I dunno.
Christmas. All this ice, and lots of time-consuming work which never seems to amount to as much in terms of cash means I haven't done ANY Christmas shopping yet. AGH.
Tommorow: I've made lists. Bodhi's going to stay late in playschool.
Deep breath.
Being sick is not helping my mood. Airplane germ-air gave me a nasty sore throat that intruded upon my slightly snow-stressed holiday and then developed into a full blown evil thing when I got home. It's nearly gone, I'm just all hoarse and the cold air hurts my throat and chest, and there is copious yellow and blood tinged expectoration - my poor dried out mucous membranes are suffering. All these minus temps and central heating are playing havoc with me. Bleh. My friend asked me the other day as I sat there talking intelligibly through my congestion, did I not believe in going to bed when I'm sick?
Ha! Insert Bitter Laugh Here. Of course I do. You all know that because I berate you when you don't.
But I couldn't. WorkkidsWork etc. SIGH. And I'm not sleeping well due to all the throat pain and dryness and work and the fact that Bodhi is also suffering from it and waking through the night and coming in to me and keeping me awake and waking up early etc etc. I mean, the night before last (because last night was a 2-am-er) I resolved to go to bed early, and was tucked up by 10 15. And then Bodhi woke up four times, I had to wake up and get a drink because my head had dessicated, and then Axl forgot his keys and rang me to open the door and then Bodhi woke up again and came in to me - and this was all in just over an hour and a half! It was funny, really, if it hadn't been me, at least.
And Olivia... I don't know what to say. This house feels like The Excorcist at the moment. Please send calm and love this way, it's tough right now.
And for some reason my cash-card is being refused. I'm sure there's money there!
Ohhh, if only they gave prizes for complaining, I would ace it.
Or something.
Ok, in happier news:
Three extra free Aloe Vera toilet rolls, our toilet roll of choice that I should no doubt no longer be buying as they're a luxury, but under my nose is all red and raw, and this will mean I don't have to buy balsam tissue to try and save it.
On the way home from exchanging the Christmas lights that didn't work I realised that thanks to the aul' soft Irish T, the kids think the forthcoming Narnia film is called The Dawn Shredder! The Dawn Shredder of DOOM!!! Bodhi suggests. I love it.
It seems to be thawing. Seriously, and this for another rant, the old people and mothers with tinies in buggies I've seen slipping all over the ice rink pathways... ridiculous. So far I only know of my cousin's husband's granny breaking a hip, and I hope it stays that way.
I'm sure there's more good stuff. I don't know what right now, but I have to go make pizza, so I'll return to think about it soon enough.
I have to go get Olivia again in 3 mins (oops, post will be interrupted) because I just went to get her an hour ago and forgot today was drama day, so that took me 40 mins in the ice and traffic and blah blah and now I have to go do it all over again. I also forgot to bring her to her art class on Monday. Fuck!
Things are getting me down a tad.
The fact that our govt are pointlessly selling the country up the river with its people in a leaky boat is freaking me out. No one's being prosecuted. It's all... acceptable.
I must ring the phone company and say please let me pay the phone bill I've been delaying slowly. I don't get paid for another ten days, and then that has to last me through Christmas and til the end of January. Which is always a notoriously long month. And Axl is NCTing his car, and had to get things fixed and new tires - so that's costing him a grand, just before Christmas. Usually I just put Christmas on the Visa bill, but that has brought me to a point where no more can go on the Visa bill. I'm actually going to write another whole whiney rant about belt tightening and quality of life and what's the fucking point, oh, but maybe I won't do it here, I dunno.
Christmas. All this ice, and lots of time-consuming work which never seems to amount to as much in terms of cash means I haven't done ANY Christmas shopping yet. AGH.
Tommorow: I've made lists. Bodhi's going to stay late in playschool.
Deep breath.
Being sick is not helping my mood. Airplane germ-air gave me a nasty sore throat that intruded upon my slightly snow-stressed holiday and then developed into a full blown evil thing when I got home. It's nearly gone, I'm just all hoarse and the cold air hurts my throat and chest, and there is copious yellow and blood tinged expectoration - my poor dried out mucous membranes are suffering. All these minus temps and central heating are playing havoc with me. Bleh. My friend asked me the other day as I sat there talking intelligibly through my congestion, did I not believe in going to bed when I'm sick?
Ha! Insert Bitter Laugh Here. Of course I do. You all know that because I berate you when you don't.
But I couldn't. WorkkidsWork etc. SIGH. And I'm not sleeping well due to all the throat pain and dryness and work and the fact that Bodhi is also suffering from it and waking through the night and coming in to me and keeping me awake and waking up early etc etc. I mean, the night before last (because last night was a 2-am-er) I resolved to go to bed early, and was tucked up by 10 15. And then Bodhi woke up four times, I had to wake up and get a drink because my head had dessicated, and then Axl forgot his keys and rang me to open the door and then Bodhi woke up again and came in to me - and this was all in just over an hour and a half! It was funny, really, if it hadn't been me, at least.
And Olivia... I don't know what to say. This house feels like The Excorcist at the moment. Please send calm and love this way, it's tough right now.
And for some reason my cash-card is being refused. I'm sure there's money there!
Ohhh, if only they gave prizes for complaining, I would ace it.
Or something.
Ok, in happier news:
Three extra free Aloe Vera toilet rolls, our toilet roll of choice that I should no doubt no longer be buying as they're a luxury, but under my nose is all red and raw, and this will mean I don't have to buy balsam tissue to try and save it.
On the way home from exchanging the Christmas lights that didn't work I realised that thanks to the aul' soft Irish T, the kids think the forthcoming Narnia film is called The Dawn Shredder! The Dawn Shredder of DOOM!!! Bodhi suggests. I love it.
It seems to be thawing. Seriously, and this for another rant, the old people and mothers with tinies in buggies I've seen slipping all over the ice rink pathways... ridiculous. So far I only know of my cousin's husband's granny breaking a hip, and I hope it stays that way.
I'm sure there's more good stuff. I don't know what right now, but I have to go make pizza, so I'll return to think about it soon enough.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Coldness: a realism poem
It's minus two
the sky is blue
and I am fucking freezing
it's hard to work
with icy hands
the feeling's far from pleasing
the heat is on
I'm in my bed
my throat is sore and dry
I'd rather go to sleep instead
but work is piled high.
the sky is blue
and I am fucking freezing
it's hard to work
with icy hands
the feeling's far from pleasing
the heat is on
I'm in my bed
my throat is sore and dry
I'd rather go to sleep instead
but work is piled high.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
a laugh
I have to share this website with you, here's a taste - I don't know if they're real or not, they made me cry with laughter and my nose drip. So funny. And I love the way the funny is cumulative, it gets better as you go on. I might be going over to the site now...
damnyou autocorrect
damnyou autocorrect
wooozy
I am woozy from four hours sleep - I had a wonderful few days away, conversing, eating nice food, and walking dogs in the snow. It was beautiful.
The snow that meant I couldn't get home til Saturday morning instead of Thursday night. So my rest cure ended up being a little bit more stressful than I anticipated. I have not yet learned to turn off gratuitous worry. I'm thinking no more winter travel in these new Arctic Winters we're promised for some time to come. I mean... snow in November. Come on!
I came home to a miraculously tidy house, which makes me feel calmer about Christmas preparation. I can focus more on worrying about money now!
I could do with a nice 12 hours sleep to shake this sore throat and sleepiness that is the kind departing gift of the Ryanair Experience. Then I'd be more able to deal with the kiddies' volume choices and demands. But, ah well, ah well. It's nice to be back too.
The snow that meant I couldn't get home til Saturday morning instead of Thursday night. So my rest cure ended up being a little bit more stressful than I anticipated. I have not yet learned to turn off gratuitous worry. I'm thinking no more winter travel in these new Arctic Winters we're promised for some time to come. I mean... snow in November. Come on!
I came home to a miraculously tidy house, which makes me feel calmer about Christmas preparation. I can focus more on worrying about money now!
I could do with a nice 12 hours sleep to shake this sore throat and sleepiness that is the kind departing gift of the Ryanair Experience. Then I'd be more able to deal with the kiddies' volume choices and demands. But, ah well, ah well. It's nice to be back too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)