Miscellaneous:
*What is the most daring thing you've done?
Dare-devil daring was a bungee jump and rap-jump in NZ. I hated the rap-jump (walking or running down the side of a building tethered to the top), it was terrifying and I wasn't "cool" about it. The bungee was in Queenstown and also wasn't cool, but it was fun.
*What is the stupidest thing you've done?
Probably running off with Vince. Should have left it at one day and a life time of "what ifs"
*What is your most embarrassing moment? (Or moments)
Nah, I'm pretty cool. I have a lot of why did I ask that moments at my work. "Is this your mother?" "No its my wife" and most recently I asked an asian woman who was supporting her friend during a baby's vaccination if she was the nanny. Let the ground open up and swallow me.
*What choices in life would you like to have a redo on?
I'd like to stand up for myself a bit better. Although it would mean no Mark, I wish I wasn't able to contact Vince after our first meeting. But I can't ever say that, it would mean no Mark!
*What is your general attitude toward life?
Not too great at the moment, I'm finding almost every aspect very challenging. Hoping for a pick me up soon.
Personality:
*What kind of personality do you have?
I've evolved. I was painfully shy. Blushing like crazy and not able to speak. Now I'm very talkative, but still essentially shy.
*How has your personality changed over the years? What made it change?
Isn't that an interesting question after how I answered the first one. I'm sure being a nurse has changed me, being a mother has changed me. Nursing makes you talk to people and not always people you like. Older men (like 70+) flirt with nurses something terrible, and it all has to be taken in your stride. Coaxing out secret information is a skill too.
*How well do you associate with others?
I can talk to anyone. Once I know you, I'm chatty.
*What makes you nervous/happy/angry/surprised/scared/etc?
Nervous - anything to do with decisions.
Happy - family
Angry - family, breaking rules.
Surprised - ??
Scared - Jamie or Paul driving, mice and dogs.
Hobbies:
*What are your current hobbies?
Facebook would be my hobby. Baking is a need. Taking pics and scrapbooking is a sideline.
*What hobbies have you had in the past?
Scrapbooking was a passion.
*How often do you get to do your hobbies?
Its being bothered to do it. I am always on Facebook and it distracts me from everything else.
*What hobbies do you wish you could start?
I want to ride a bike. I want to scrapbook daily.
Death:
*What would you like to do before you die? (Bucket list)
I want to travel with Jamie.
I want to see my sons grow up and become amazing men.
I want to have all of my daughters-in-law (or son in law if that is the way it turns out) love me and feel as comfortable with me as their own parents.
I want to own a sports car.
Not much else.
*What are your beliefs about death?
I believe that I will leave my body and go to heaven to live with God.
*Are you scared to die?
I'm scared to die too early or painfully.
*How would you like to go?
The same as everyone else, peacefully in my sleep when I'm old before I get sick.
*What are your final wishes?
If anyone dare let me live in a coma I will come back and haunt you. I would rather pull out of treatment too early than to live the way some of patient's live. No life support, no dialysis and there had better be a euthanasia pill.
*What are your wishes for your funeral and burial?
Could not care less, don't put me in an expensive casket, happy to be cremated.
*What would you like people to say about you when you're gone?
She was an amazing mother and grandmother. Man she made the best (insert food item) I don;t know what I want to be known for. Maybe something a little more obscure like a pie that is not common in Australia.
Showing posts with label This is me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label This is me. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 04, 2014
Monday, February 03, 2014
This is me - Part 17/18
Nature:
*Where is your favourite place to go to get away from it all?
I strangely like to grocery shop. I like having time (on my own) to stroll through the aisles and look at everything.
*What outdoor activities do you like to participate in?
As little as possible. I would like to walk. I would like to ride a bike. I would love to swim. I would like to a lot of things.
*What are some of your favorite outdoor memories?
Torquay when I was a kid would be my favourite. Strangely I don't think I've been there since I met Vince. I don't believe I have been there with Jamie... will have to rectify that, change my memories to the new man (only had him for 14 years)
Travelling:
*Where in the world have you been?
Lets start from the beginning:
Germany - 1973
Canada - 1974-1979
Australia - 1979 - present
New Zealand - 1983
England, Scotland, Wales - 1993
France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Netherlands - 1993
New Zealand - 1997
All over Australia - 1997
Queensland - 2001
Thailand - 2013
*Where was your favorite vacation?
As a child my favourite holiday was going in our wind up caravan to the beach.
Teenager was our big family holiday to Uluru, three weeks off school and pure family time.
Adult - I did love NZ, but looking back there are so many dark memories. That is now been taken over by our trip to Thailand. I love that we were able to take all three kids on a 2.5 week vacation in the sun. We were careful with money which in hindsight wasn't as "fun" as it could have been. But what an experience.
*Where would your dream vacation be?
I really want to go to America, I want to drive across country in a big ole car like in Thelma and Louise. I want to go to New York, to Texas to the midwest. I want to experience a diner and all those things I read about on blogs and see on tv. I really want to do it as a couple - not a family (is that wrong?). I want our next holiday to be a cruise. Invite the whole family and all room separately but can meet up as required.
*How do you like to travel?
I don't care, I just want to do it more often. Not a fan of flying with toddlers, but they are growing up.
*Where is your favourite place to go to get away from it all?
I strangely like to grocery shop. I like having time (on my own) to stroll through the aisles and look at everything.
*What outdoor activities do you like to participate in?
As little as possible. I would like to walk. I would like to ride a bike. I would love to swim. I would like to a lot of things.
*What are some of your favorite outdoor memories?
Torquay when I was a kid would be my favourite. Strangely I don't think I've been there since I met Vince. I don't believe I have been there with Jamie... will have to rectify that, change my memories to the new man (only had him for 14 years)
Travelling:
*Where in the world have you been?
Lets start from the beginning:
Germany - 1973
Canada - 1974-1979
Australia - 1979 - present
New Zealand - 1983
England, Scotland, Wales - 1993
France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Netherlands - 1993
New Zealand - 1997
All over Australia - 1997
Queensland - 2001
Thailand - 2013
*Where was your favorite vacation?
As a child my favourite holiday was going in our wind up caravan to the beach.
Teenager was our big family holiday to Uluru, three weeks off school and pure family time.
Adult - I did love NZ, but looking back there are so many dark memories. That is now been taken over by our trip to Thailand. I love that we were able to take all three kids on a 2.5 week vacation in the sun. We were careful with money which in hindsight wasn't as "fun" as it could have been. But what an experience.
*Where would your dream vacation be?
I really want to go to America, I want to drive across country in a big ole car like in Thelma and Louise. I want to go to New York, to Texas to the midwest. I want to experience a diner and all those things I read about on blogs and see on tv. I really want to do it as a couple - not a family (is that wrong?). I want our next holiday to be a cruise. Invite the whole family and all room separately but can meet up as required.
*How do you like to travel?
I don't care, I just want to do it more often. Not a fan of flying with toddlers, but they are growing up.
Sunday, February 02, 2014
This is Me - Part 14, 15 and 16
Health:
*How is your overall health?
Gone downhill since I turned 40. Aches, pains, and degeneration in my back, shoulder and wrist. Long standing issue with Restless Leg Syndrome, insomnia, anxiety and some gynaecological issues that don't need to be discussed as this time.
*Have you had any surgeries? (If yes, give details.)
Wisdom teeth out at 19 years old.
Caesarean section done at 24 years old
Laparoscopy done to check for infertility around 33 years old.
Cholecystectomy (gall bladder out) at 39
Will have two more surgeries at the same time later this year.
*Have you had any broken bones? Nope
*Do you have allergies? Nope
*What are you doing to keep healthy now?
Trying to exercise, but am failing miserably. Trying to lose weight and am also failing miserably. Next week when it cools down a bit, I shall get back at it. What I want to do is walk and eat more vegetables.
Part 15
Around the World:
*What major world events have happened in your lifetime?
My remembered lifetime.
1982: Prince Charles and Diana got married, I actually remember watching that and I was only 9
1989: Tiananmen Square protest and massacre. I was in year 10 at school and recall watching the protesters grow in number every day and saying to my parents, I need to go to China, I need to know what it feels like to be in a crowd of one million people.. then a couple days later the army came in.. and the rest is history.
1997: Princess Diana killed in a car crash. I was in NZ about to return to Australia and our taxi driver told us she can been killed and we didn't believe him. He had to turn the radio on to prove it. What a shock.
2001: World Trade Centre terrorist attack, we were home here at Gordon St. I had fallen asleep on the couch and woke up around 11pm and the first tower was already hit and was smouldering as we have all seen a billion times now. I was confused as to what movie it was, so changed channels to get the name of the movie (you know what I mean) and it was the same on channel 9, same on channel 10, same on the ABC... what the hell? I woke Jamie up and like everyone else stayed up most of the night watching it on the telly. Surreal.
*Has it affected who you are now?
A major thing that really affected me at the time was in 1993, I was 20 years old. It was the killing spree of Paul Denyer. He was at the time known as the Frankston Killer. No I didn't live in Frankston. But it was the complete randomness of the killings, they were all thrill kills, pure stranger killings and I was so worried I would be next. It was the first time in my life that I thought I could be hurt and it changed the way I did things.
*Who was the President when you were born? Who is it now?
US: Richard Nixon
Barack Obama
Australia: Gough Whitlam
Tony Abbott (unfortunately)
Canada: Pierre Trudeau
Stephen Harper
NZ: Norman Kirk
John Key
*What natural disasters have you been in?
The closest we came to a natural disaster was a massive storm in Newcastle, the whole story is written here. We didn't live in Victoria during Black Saturday, so haven't been in a bush fire, missed a cyclone in Far North Queensland by about day. Been very safe actually.
Part Sixteen:
Politics:
*Are you involved in politics? How so?
Not very at all. We were quite unionised back in the mid 2000s due to a long strike Jamie was on with Boeing. You can read about it here and here
*Are you a specific political party?
I am 100% labour.
*How do you choose who to vote for?
I chose Labour. I can't cope with the other side.
*Are you happy with the Government?
Not at all. I hate our refugee policy. I find it embarrassing, that we would lock up, and pay a lot of money to lock up desperate people. I don't get that votes in Parliament are not all conscience votes. I don't like the rudeness of people in politics.
*What would you change if you could?
I would let the other side be in charge.
*How is your overall health?
Gone downhill since I turned 40. Aches, pains, and degeneration in my back, shoulder and wrist. Long standing issue with Restless Leg Syndrome, insomnia, anxiety and some gynaecological issues that don't need to be discussed as this time.
*Have you had any surgeries? (If yes, give details.)
Wisdom teeth out at 19 years old.
Caesarean section done at 24 years old
Laparoscopy done to check for infertility around 33 years old.
Cholecystectomy (gall bladder out) at 39
Will have two more surgeries at the same time later this year.
*Have you had any broken bones? Nope
*Do you have allergies? Nope
*What are you doing to keep healthy now?
Trying to exercise, but am failing miserably. Trying to lose weight and am also failing miserably. Next week when it cools down a bit, I shall get back at it. What I want to do is walk and eat more vegetables.
Part 15
Around the World:
*What major world events have happened in your lifetime?
My remembered lifetime.
1982: Prince Charles and Diana got married, I actually remember watching that and I was only 9
1989: Tiananmen Square protest and massacre. I was in year 10 at school and recall watching the protesters grow in number every day and saying to my parents, I need to go to China, I need to know what it feels like to be in a crowd of one million people.. then a couple days later the army came in.. and the rest is history.
1997: Princess Diana killed in a car crash. I was in NZ about to return to Australia and our taxi driver told us she can been killed and we didn't believe him. He had to turn the radio on to prove it. What a shock.
2001: World Trade Centre terrorist attack, we were home here at Gordon St. I had fallen asleep on the couch and woke up around 11pm and the first tower was already hit and was smouldering as we have all seen a billion times now. I was confused as to what movie it was, so changed channels to get the name of the movie (you know what I mean) and it was the same on channel 9, same on channel 10, same on the ABC... what the hell? I woke Jamie up and like everyone else stayed up most of the night watching it on the telly. Surreal.
*Has it affected who you are now?
A major thing that really affected me at the time was in 1993, I was 20 years old. It was the killing spree of Paul Denyer. He was at the time known as the Frankston Killer. No I didn't live in Frankston. But it was the complete randomness of the killings, they were all thrill kills, pure stranger killings and I was so worried I would be next. It was the first time in my life that I thought I could be hurt and it changed the way I did things.
*Who was the President when you were born? Who is it now?
US: Richard Nixon
Barack Obama
Australia: Gough Whitlam
Tony Abbott (unfortunately)
Canada: Pierre Trudeau
Stephen Harper
NZ: Norman Kirk
John Key
*What natural disasters have you been in?
The closest we came to a natural disaster was a massive storm in Newcastle, the whole story is written here. We didn't live in Victoria during Black Saturday, so haven't been in a bush fire, missed a cyclone in Far North Queensland by about day. Been very safe actually.
Part Sixteen:
Politics:
*Are you involved in politics? How so?
Not very at all. We were quite unionised back in the mid 2000s due to a long strike Jamie was on with Boeing. You can read about it here and here
*Are you a specific political party?
I am 100% labour.
*How do you choose who to vote for?
I chose Labour. I can't cope with the other side.
*Are you happy with the Government?
Not at all. I hate our refugee policy. I find it embarrassing, that we would lock up, and pay a lot of money to lock up desperate people. I don't get that votes in Parliament are not all conscience votes. I don't like the rudeness of people in politics.
*What would you change if you could?
I would let the other side be in charge.
This is me - Part Thirteen
Food:
*What are your favorite foods?
Main course: I love curry, any Indian, Sri Lankan, Thai or middle eastern. Not a fan of too hot, but I like it better than plain meat. I'd love to do rice for breakfast, but find it challenging.
But, I prefer sweet, anything sweet and recently I feel I'm addicted to bread, its not a want, its a NEED.
*What are your favorite desserts?
Anything really, I love ice cream. Cake. Slice. Pies. Pav. Anything sweet I'm there.
*Do you like to cook or bake? What are your favorites to make?
I love baking. Trying new things, but my family are my hinderance. They are not fans of anything new. I do love making a curry too.
*Do you have any food allergies?
Thankfully no. But know a lot of people who are gluten intolerant, so have experimented a LOT with gluten free cooking (and I hate it)
*What are some foods you have a hard time saying "no" to?
Cake, biscuits, anything that is free ;)
*What foods do you HAVE to have name brand? Which can you do generic?
Can't say I really "get" that. Marko hates SPC baked beans but I can't tell the difference.
*Do you try to eat healthy?
I'd like to. I want to eat vegetables with dinner. I want to experiment with healthy stuff, but my family again is the downfall, there are SO many dislikes in my family that there is very little that is acceptable.
*Do you prefer eating out? Where?
We love take away. Haven't done many restaurants in our life. Mainly due to Jamie not liking much.
*What are your favorite foods?
Main course: I love curry, any Indian, Sri Lankan, Thai or middle eastern. Not a fan of too hot, but I like it better than plain meat. I'd love to do rice for breakfast, but find it challenging.
But, I prefer sweet, anything sweet and recently I feel I'm addicted to bread, its not a want, its a NEED.
*What are your favorite desserts?
Anything really, I love ice cream. Cake. Slice. Pies. Pav. Anything sweet I'm there.
*Do you like to cook or bake? What are your favorites to make?
I love baking. Trying new things, but my family are my hinderance. They are not fans of anything new. I do love making a curry too.
*Do you have any food allergies?
Thankfully no. But know a lot of people who are gluten intolerant, so have experimented a LOT with gluten free cooking (and I hate it)
*What are some foods you have a hard time saying "no" to?
Cake, biscuits, anything that is free ;)
*What foods do you HAVE to have name brand? Which can you do generic?
Can't say I really "get" that. Marko hates SPC baked beans but I can't tell the difference.
*Do you try to eat healthy?
I'd like to. I want to eat vegetables with dinner. I want to experiment with healthy stuff, but my family again is the downfall, there are SO many dislikes in my family that there is very little that is acceptable.
*Do you prefer eating out? Where?
We love take away. Haven't done many restaurants in our life. Mainly due to Jamie not liking much.
Saturday, February 01, 2014
This is me - Part Twelve
Sleep:
*How many hours do you like to sleep at night?
Wow this is a vexed topic for me. I don't have a good relationship with sleep. At the moment I'm getting between 3-5 hours a night. It is not enough. I'd like to sleep for 7. Can't see that happening any time soon.
*Do you take naps?
Only ever take accidental naps on the weekend if the boys are watching a movie and they are sitting on my lap. I can't stay awake then. Also on the way home from a day trip, I sometimes micro sleep.
*Do you like a lot, or few blankets and pillows?
I hate heavy blankets. I like my neck covered but my legs out. Restless leg syndrome makes it challenging to be comfortable.
*Can you sleep anywhere, or does it have to be in your own bed?
Terrible sleeper at home. Worse sleeper anywhere else.
*What are your favorite conditions for a good-night's sleep? Does it have to be completely dark and quiet?
I love having my radio on. I love the overnight programs on the ABC for when I wake up overnight. Don't care about lights. Need to have my phone next to me.
At the moment Jamie is doing night shift, so we don't sleep together except on weekends (and to be honest, I'm not a fan), I tend to have one or more kids with me most nights. Ryan is nice to sleep with, he is a "still sleeper", Ben on the other hand is the messiest sleeper ever, he likes to go sideways, upside down, one foot on your head. He's very VERY hot too.
*How many hours do you like to sleep at night?
Wow this is a vexed topic for me. I don't have a good relationship with sleep. At the moment I'm getting between 3-5 hours a night. It is not enough. I'd like to sleep for 7. Can't see that happening any time soon.
*Do you take naps?
Only ever take accidental naps on the weekend if the boys are watching a movie and they are sitting on my lap. I can't stay awake then. Also on the way home from a day trip, I sometimes micro sleep.
*Do you like a lot, or few blankets and pillows?
I hate heavy blankets. I like my neck covered but my legs out. Restless leg syndrome makes it challenging to be comfortable.
*Can you sleep anywhere, or does it have to be in your own bed?
Terrible sleeper at home. Worse sleeper anywhere else.
*What are your favorite conditions for a good-night's sleep? Does it have to be completely dark and quiet?
I love having my radio on. I love the overnight programs on the ABC for when I wake up overnight. Don't care about lights. Need to have my phone next to me.
At the moment Jamie is doing night shift, so we don't sleep together except on weekends (and to be honest, I'm not a fan), I tend to have one or more kids with me most nights. Ryan is nice to sleep with, he is a "still sleeper", Ben on the other hand is the messiest sleeper ever, he likes to go sideways, upside down, one foot on your head. He's very VERY hot too.
This is Me - Part Eleven
Home life:
*Describe the places you've lived.
Templestowe Road was my childhood home. Parents are still there.
Holden St, Nth Fitzroy - Jo and I moved out into our "cool" city pad. Turquoise carpet and white concrete walls. It was awful, but it was ours. We thought we were really cool.
Kintore Cres - Box Hill - Jo and I moved there. A lovely little unit with a cute courtyard.
Roaming around - almost a year of nomadic living, including the back of a station wagon, a Kombie van, youth hostels and a caravan park.
Templestowe Road - back with the parents.
Gordon St, Tullamarine - moved in with Jamie to the house we are in now.
Purdue Avenue, Mayfield - our rental in Newcastle, it was a weird house, but it was home for 6 or so months.
Conmurra Circuit, Shortland - our purchased home in Newcastle. Renovated the whole place, ended up being perfect two days before we moved out.
Currently back in a desperate to be renovated Gordon St.
*What was your favorite house or apartment? Why?
My parents house is my favourite. Everything is in the correct place.
*How do you like to decorate?
I'm in the process of picturifying the house (ie putting up more pictures) Its a SLOW process.
*What is it about home that you love?
My family is there.
*How has your standard of life changed through the years?
Its gone up and down. We are on an upwards trend at the moment. Still always look at the price though.
*Describe the places you've lived.
Templestowe Road was my childhood home. Parents are still there.
Holden St, Nth Fitzroy - Jo and I moved out into our "cool" city pad. Turquoise carpet and white concrete walls. It was awful, but it was ours. We thought we were really cool.
Kintore Cres - Box Hill - Jo and I moved there. A lovely little unit with a cute courtyard.
Roaming around - almost a year of nomadic living, including the back of a station wagon, a Kombie van, youth hostels and a caravan park.
Templestowe Road - back with the parents.
Gordon St, Tullamarine - moved in with Jamie to the house we are in now.
Purdue Avenue, Mayfield - our rental in Newcastle, it was a weird house, but it was home for 6 or so months.
Conmurra Circuit, Shortland - our purchased home in Newcastle. Renovated the whole place, ended up being perfect two days before we moved out.
Currently back in a desperate to be renovated Gordon St.
*What was your favorite house or apartment? Why?
My parents house is my favourite. Everything is in the correct place.
*How do you like to decorate?
I'm in the process of picturifying the house (ie putting up more pictures) Its a SLOW process.
*What is it about home that you love?
My family is there.
*How has your standard of life changed through the years?
Its gone up and down. We are on an upwards trend at the moment. Still always look at the price though.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
This Is Me - Part Nine
Had to skip part 8 as I'm not a grandparent.
Celebrations:
*What are some of your personal and family traditions for each holiday? (New Years, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Easter, Christmas, etc.)
We are pretty poor when it comes to traditions. Currently New Years Eve is spent calming our dogs down. Easter is not set in concrete yet, but an Easter Egg hunt is a must. My tradition for Good Friday is NOT to have fish as my mum was against that Catholic tradition, so I am too. Christmas is we must watch Carols by Candelight on Christmas Eve and that is about it. Must make some traditions... Elsie style.
*What traditions have you carried over from your childhood? Which ones did you start in your own family?
None that I can think of. Oh my goodness that is sad.
*How do you celebrate adult's birthdays?
Family dinner, birthday cake and presents.
*How do you celebrate children's birthdays?
Family dinner, birthday cake and presents.
*How do you celebrate your anniversary?
We were dreadful, we both forgot. Remembered about 5 days later. Not into the celebrating thing.
Celebrations:
*What are some of your personal and family traditions for each holiday? (New Years, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Easter, Christmas, etc.)
We are pretty poor when it comes to traditions. Currently New Years Eve is spent calming our dogs down. Easter is not set in concrete yet, but an Easter Egg hunt is a must. My tradition for Good Friday is NOT to have fish as my mum was against that Catholic tradition, so I am too. Christmas is we must watch Carols by Candelight on Christmas Eve and that is about it. Must make some traditions... Elsie style.
*What traditions have you carried over from your childhood? Which ones did you start in your own family?
None that I can think of. Oh my goodness that is sad.
*How do you celebrate adult's birthdays?
Family dinner, birthday cake and presents.
 |
| Jamie's 39th birthday, Tiramisu! |
 |
| My 40th, a vanilla cake (I think) |
*How do you celebrate children's birthdays?
Family dinner, birthday cake and presents.
 |
| Mark's 15th birthday, choc cake. |
 |
| Ryan's 4th birthday, funfetti piñata cake. |
 |
| Ben's 2nd birthday, he slept and didn't get cake as we were in Thailand. |
*How do you celebrate your anniversary?
We were dreadful, we both forgot. Remembered about 5 days later. Not into the celebrating thing.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
This Is Me - Part Seven
Children:
*Give your children's full names, birth dates and places.
Mark Emmanuel Lantz - 12 June 1998, Melbourne Victoria
Ryan Joseph Storer - 4 December 2009, Newcastle NSW.
Ben Arthur Storer - 3 April 2011
*How did you choose their names?
Mark was chosen very early and confirmed very late in the pregnancy, his biological father is French, so it had to be a name that made sense in Australia and in France. Vince had a lot of good experiences with people called Mark and I really liked it, so Mark it was. Emmanuel I just love and it was Vincent's childhood best friends name.
Ryan was a toss up between Jared and Ryan. About two weeks before he was born I asked my mother to spell Jared (my preferred spelling) and she chose Jarrod, that cemented Ryan which we both really liked. His middle name is after Jamie's uncle Joe. We also have a fob watch which is engraved J Storer, so one of the boys had to have a J in their name.
Ben was a challenge. I knew it needed to be simple to "fit" with the other boys names. Jamie didn't want a name that was already at the football club! Hard call Jamie when we were in contact with around 50 boys. Elliott was high on the list, Ruben was too. But why Ben and not Benjamin, there are no adult Benjamins - they are always Ben, just go with Ben at the start. BUT everyone asks.. is it Benjamin. Arthur was my maternal grandfathers name. I never met him, he died before I was born. Plus it has a bit of a dagginess factor which is very important when dealing with a middle name. By the way, there were at least 3 Ben's in the footy club!
*What were the circumstances of each child's birth?
I've written about all three previously, Mark, Ryan and Ben.
*What are some funny things that each child does/did or says/said?
These are peppered throughout this blog and more frequently on Facebook. Scroll back, they are always saying funny stuff.
*How do you spend your time with your children?
We do heaps of stuff together, they help me cook, we go on adventures to playgrounds, we love a good playground. I try to fit in a proper family outing every fortnight, I haven't planned it that way, but its how its working out.
*What are your favourite family activities?
I like when we do stuff all together, even if its doing a garage re-sort and the kids pretend to help. A family dance party is fun. We really enjoyed bike rides last year, haven't done it this year. Dinners with the Dunn family are great too.
*Give your children's full names, birth dates and places.
Mark Emmanuel Lantz - 12 June 1998, Melbourne Victoria
Ryan Joseph Storer - 4 December 2009, Newcastle NSW.
Ben Arthur Storer - 3 April 2011
*How did you choose their names?
Mark was chosen very early and confirmed very late in the pregnancy, his biological father is French, so it had to be a name that made sense in Australia and in France. Vince had a lot of good experiences with people called Mark and I really liked it, so Mark it was. Emmanuel I just love and it was Vincent's childhood best friends name.
Ryan was a toss up between Jared and Ryan. About two weeks before he was born I asked my mother to spell Jared (my preferred spelling) and she chose Jarrod, that cemented Ryan which we both really liked. His middle name is after Jamie's uncle Joe. We also have a fob watch which is engraved J Storer, so one of the boys had to have a J in their name.
Ben was a challenge. I knew it needed to be simple to "fit" with the other boys names. Jamie didn't want a name that was already at the football club! Hard call Jamie when we were in contact with around 50 boys. Elliott was high on the list, Ruben was too. But why Ben and not Benjamin, there are no adult Benjamins - they are always Ben, just go with Ben at the start. BUT everyone asks.. is it Benjamin. Arthur was my maternal grandfathers name. I never met him, he died before I was born. Plus it has a bit of a dagginess factor which is very important when dealing with a middle name. By the way, there were at least 3 Ben's in the footy club!
*What were the circumstances of each child's birth?
I've written about all three previously, Mark, Ryan and Ben.
*What are some funny things that each child does/did or says/said?
These are peppered throughout this blog and more frequently on Facebook. Scroll back, they are always saying funny stuff.
*How do you spend your time with your children?
We do heaps of stuff together, they help me cook, we go on adventures to playgrounds, we love a good playground. I try to fit in a proper family outing every fortnight, I haven't planned it that way, but its how its working out.
*What are your favourite family activities?
I like when we do stuff all together, even if its doing a garage re-sort and the kids pretend to help. A family dance party is fun. We really enjoyed bike rides last year, haven't done it this year. Dinners with the Dunn family are great too.
This is me - Part Six
Marriage:
*How did you meet your spouse? Was it love at first sight or did it take some time?
I met Jamie on the internet, long before there was such a thing as internet dating or hook up sites. We were chatting on ICQ a chat program and to this day neither of us know who contacted who first. He was easy to chat to, surprisingly funny and we got along very well. We started chatting online in 1999, met in person later that year and although he was friendly and nice, it was not love at first site. I started uni, and our friendship grew. He worked afternoon shift, so some days I would visit if I didn't have classes and we just talked. In March of 2000 we went on our first official date, to his cricket presentation. He won a pretty good award. We had our first kiss and have been "a couple" ever since.
*How long did you date before you got engaged? How long was your engagement?
This is a bizarre question, because I don't feel we really dated. The first year probably. We moved in together in July 2001. We moved interstate together in 2004. We fell pregnant together in 2009 after trying for two years. We got engaged August 2009 and our engagement lasted 2 months.
*How did you get engaged? (The story.)
Our engagement story is very unromantic. I believe in strange bits of karma. I know my relationship with Vince was doomed, but felt the nail in the coffin was at the hospital when although Mark was named Mark Orset at birth, they put on his paperwork Mark Lantz. Somehow that was some type of karma about a doomed relationship. Therefore I knew Ryan was going to be *insert name* Storer, so I could not give birth as a Lantz. I needed to be Christy Storer so my baby had the correct name from birth... what does this have to do with an engagement story. I had wanted to get married from mid 2000. I knew Jamie was the person I was to spend the rest of my life with. He is not quite so forth coming. Its a shyness thing. Admitting love in front of people is not something he's keen on. I know he loves me, I'm not concerned. Neither of us are very photogenic either, that was hold up for getting married. So one day in2009 when I was 5 or 6 months pregnant, I asked him "give me one reason why we shouldn't get married, otherwise lets do it" We were in a full marriage like relationship anyway, there was no reason not to so we did!
*Who did most of the wedding plans? Who helped?
I did it all myself.
*Who were your bridesmaids/best men?
We did not have attendants.
*Describe the details of your wedding: the colors, the cake, the decorations, etc.
We got married at the Newcastle Registry Office. We had our good friends Jason and Terese as our witnesses, all of our children (Mark and their two boys) and that was it. I was hugely pregnant, I had massively swollen feet, I wore a white sun-dress from Kmart and gold ballet flats. It was perfect for us at that time in our life.
*Where did you go on your honeymoon? What adventures did you have?
Still have not been on our honeymoon. 6 weeks after we got married we had Ryan, then obviously Ben followed closely. When they are a bit older we will have our official honeymoon.
*How did you meet your spouse? Was it love at first sight or did it take some time?
I met Jamie on the internet, long before there was such a thing as internet dating or hook up sites. We were chatting on ICQ a chat program and to this day neither of us know who contacted who first. He was easy to chat to, surprisingly funny and we got along very well. We started chatting online in 1999, met in person later that year and although he was friendly and nice, it was not love at first site. I started uni, and our friendship grew. He worked afternoon shift, so some days I would visit if I didn't have classes and we just talked. In March of 2000 we went on our first official date, to his cricket presentation. He won a pretty good award. We had our first kiss and have been "a couple" ever since.
*How long did you date before you got engaged? How long was your engagement?
This is a bizarre question, because I don't feel we really dated. The first year probably. We moved in together in July 2001. We moved interstate together in 2004. We fell pregnant together in 2009 after trying for two years. We got engaged August 2009 and our engagement lasted 2 months.
*How did you get engaged? (The story.)
Our engagement story is very unromantic. I believe in strange bits of karma. I know my relationship with Vince was doomed, but felt the nail in the coffin was at the hospital when although Mark was named Mark Orset at birth, they put on his paperwork Mark Lantz. Somehow that was some type of karma about a doomed relationship. Therefore I knew Ryan was going to be *insert name* Storer, so I could not give birth as a Lantz. I needed to be Christy Storer so my baby had the correct name from birth... what does this have to do with an engagement story. I had wanted to get married from mid 2000. I knew Jamie was the person I was to spend the rest of my life with. He is not quite so forth coming. Its a shyness thing. Admitting love in front of people is not something he's keen on. I know he loves me, I'm not concerned. Neither of us are very photogenic either, that was hold up for getting married. So one day in2009 when I was 5 or 6 months pregnant, I asked him "give me one reason why we shouldn't get married, otherwise lets do it" We were in a full marriage like relationship anyway, there was no reason not to so we did!
*Who did most of the wedding plans? Who helped?
I did it all myself.
*Who were your bridesmaids/best men?
We did not have attendants.
*Describe the details of your wedding: the colors, the cake, the decorations, etc.
We got married at the Newcastle Registry Office. We had our good friends Jason and Terese as our witnesses, all of our children (Mark and their two boys) and that was it. I was hugely pregnant, I had massively swollen feet, I wore a white sun-dress from Kmart and gold ballet flats. It was perfect for us at that time in our life.
*Where did you go on your honeymoon? What adventures did you have?
Still have not been on our honeymoon. 6 weeks after we got married we had Ryan, then obviously Ben followed closely. When they are a bit older we will have our official honeymoon.
This Is Me - Part Five
Work:
*What jobs have you had?
1. 1991-1992 My first job was a courier working with my dad when I was 18 for about a year and half to two years. I drove a little white hatch back all over the eastern suburbs collecting pathology samples. I did a Tuesday evening run and a Saturday morning. I loved listening to the radio and stopping at all the centres. It was a great job.
2. 1993-1997 Next was Melbourne Pathology when I was 19, I was the junior technician in the microbiology department, I was at TAFE and the job was actually handed to me. Sue Lloyd Jones from MP came to my class one day (she was the boss of micro) and asked if anyone was interested in working, the teacher forced me to put my hand up and I was working about a week later. I did specimen reception, bacterial swabs plating out (putting onto petri dishes), first stage microscopy of vaginal swabs and faeces specimens. I also did a bit in the immunology department, setting up the tests for rubella, syphilis, arthritis and a little bit of hepatitis. I liked the job, but I got as far as I could go without having a degree. But once I had the degree I would have sat in the chair beside me and look at gram stains... not very exciting.
3. 1998-2000 Stay at home single mother - the best of all the jobs. I loved being home with Mark. He was an easy baby, an awesome toddler. But it doesn't pay the bills.
4. 2000 - 2003 Blood collector also with Melbourne Pathology. I did this part time during my nursing degree and then full time for a year when Jamie lost his job. It was also not a very thrilling job. I was very good at it. But the pay is crap and really every single day is the same. No one wants to be there, some people are nasty and job satisfaction is getting a vein. Not long term thank you very much.
5. 2004-2011 Registered Nurse at Hunter New England Health Service in the Gastroenterology Department. I loved working on H3. It was an awesome bunch of people. The work was crap (literally) but I liked it. Ended up being a Team Leader. Had a stint in the Motility Clinic. Cleaned lots of bums, gave out heaps of pills, help implement change.
6. 2012 Agency Registered Nurse - this was the WORST job ever. I hated every minute of it. New place every day, no friendly faces, no one explaining what to do. Only did it for about 2 months.
7. 2012 Registered Nurse at St Vincent's Private Surgical Ward. Thankfully I was only there for 6 weeks, this was the 2nd worst job ever. The staff again were bitchy and not helpful with explaining protocols and left me to my own devices until I made a mistake and then was told off. Weekend shifts were often cancelled due to no patients. Phew only 6 weeks of that shit.
8. 2012 Practice Nurse at Medical One. I loved this job. It was a nice pace, lovely staff, friendly to the point of amazing boss. Huge learning curve, VERY different from hospital nursing. Very little pushing out of the comfort zone. Pay was completely crap. Would happily be there today, but the pay was terrible.
9. 2013 - present. Practice Nurse at Care Medical. Some days I love it, some days it makes me cry. It has taken over my life. Its fast paced or completely dead. The role has changed so much since I started 12 months ago. Its grown into a monster that I don't think I can do it all. But I'm sticking at it.
*Who were your bosses? Did you like them/get along?
Exceptionally well to all except for the agency and the private hospital.
*Which was your favorite job?
Hmm... every job is fine when the circumstances are right. I didn't like the shift work, but my current job doesn't pay as well. I loved the closeness of the hospital.
*How many years until you retire?
Too many years I guess. My youngest child is 16 years off being 18... I'm working for a very long time yet. 25 years until I'm 65.
*Do you have any big plans for your retirement? (If retired: What have you done since retirement? What's next?)
I want to travel the world with my Jamie. I want my boys and their partners to be welcomed into my home as often as they want. I want to have a heap of grandchildren and be able to spoil them. But most of all I want to be pain free, healthy, happy and in love in my retirement.
*What jobs have you had?
1. 1991-1992 My first job was a courier working with my dad when I was 18 for about a year and half to two years. I drove a little white hatch back all over the eastern suburbs collecting pathology samples. I did a Tuesday evening run and a Saturday morning. I loved listening to the radio and stopping at all the centres. It was a great job.
2. 1993-1997 Next was Melbourne Pathology when I was 19, I was the junior technician in the microbiology department, I was at TAFE and the job was actually handed to me. Sue Lloyd Jones from MP came to my class one day (she was the boss of micro) and asked if anyone was interested in working, the teacher forced me to put my hand up and I was working about a week later. I did specimen reception, bacterial swabs plating out (putting onto petri dishes), first stage microscopy of vaginal swabs and faeces specimens. I also did a bit in the immunology department, setting up the tests for rubella, syphilis, arthritis and a little bit of hepatitis. I liked the job, but I got as far as I could go without having a degree. But once I had the degree I would have sat in the chair beside me and look at gram stains... not very exciting.
3. 1998-2000 Stay at home single mother - the best of all the jobs. I loved being home with Mark. He was an easy baby, an awesome toddler. But it doesn't pay the bills.
4. 2000 - 2003 Blood collector also with Melbourne Pathology. I did this part time during my nursing degree and then full time for a year when Jamie lost his job. It was also not a very thrilling job. I was very good at it. But the pay is crap and really every single day is the same. No one wants to be there, some people are nasty and job satisfaction is getting a vein. Not long term thank you very much.
5. 2004-2011 Registered Nurse at Hunter New England Health Service in the Gastroenterology Department. I loved working on H3. It was an awesome bunch of people. The work was crap (literally) but I liked it. Ended up being a Team Leader. Had a stint in the Motility Clinic. Cleaned lots of bums, gave out heaps of pills, help implement change.
6. 2012 Agency Registered Nurse - this was the WORST job ever. I hated every minute of it. New place every day, no friendly faces, no one explaining what to do. Only did it for about 2 months.
7. 2012 Registered Nurse at St Vincent's Private Surgical Ward. Thankfully I was only there for 6 weeks, this was the 2nd worst job ever. The staff again were bitchy and not helpful with explaining protocols and left me to my own devices until I made a mistake and then was told off. Weekend shifts were often cancelled due to no patients. Phew only 6 weeks of that shit.
8. 2012 Practice Nurse at Medical One. I loved this job. It was a nice pace, lovely staff, friendly to the point of amazing boss. Huge learning curve, VERY different from hospital nursing. Very little pushing out of the comfort zone. Pay was completely crap. Would happily be there today, but the pay was terrible.
9. 2013 - present. Practice Nurse at Care Medical. Some days I love it, some days it makes me cry. It has taken over my life. Its fast paced or completely dead. The role has changed so much since I started 12 months ago. Its grown into a monster that I don't think I can do it all. But I'm sticking at it.
*Who were your bosses? Did you like them/get along?
- My dad (he was a great boss).
- Sue Lloyd Jones - hmm.... she was aloof, cold, but sometimes fantastic, I recall her having great hair.
- Mark (oh my darling Mark)
- Some woman called Marcella and more directly Ellie - strangely enough I met Ellie again recently and she remembered me.
- Petra / Ginger / Kelly / Kristy / Cheree - disliked Ginger intensely, wrong person for the job. Got on with Kristy the best she was born to be a NUM. Petra I sensed didn't like me and always looked confused.
- Who the f**k cares.
- What was her name... Sue and she was delightful. She had an eccentric look about her, big floaty clothes and teased bright red hair. She was very warm and welcoming. Everyone else was a bitch.
- The wonderful Kym Robinson. I wish she was still in my life. I loved her. She was the friendliest person with the most wonderful smile and nature. She quit Facebook after we both left Medical One, and I don't her phone number
- My current boss is Dr Hussain. I shall leave it at that.
Exceptionally well to all except for the agency and the private hospital.
*Which was your favorite job?
Hmm... every job is fine when the circumstances are right. I didn't like the shift work, but my current job doesn't pay as well. I loved the closeness of the hospital.
*How many years until you retire?
Too many years I guess. My youngest child is 16 years off being 18... I'm working for a very long time yet. 25 years until I'm 65.
*Do you have any big plans for your retirement? (If retired: What have you done since retirement? What's next?)
I want to travel the world with my Jamie. I want my boys and their partners to be welcomed into my home as often as they want. I want to have a heap of grandchildren and be able to spoil them. But most of all I want to be pain free, healthy, happy and in love in my retirement.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
This is me - Part Four
College years:
*Did you attend college or a trade school of some sort?
Its not called college in Australia. Straight after high school, I went to TAFE (Technical and Further Education), I studied for an Associate Diploma of Applied Science - Medical Laboratory. This set me up to be a lab technician in the Microbiology Department of Melbourne Pathology. I did that for just over 4 years.
Then when I was 27 and Mark was 2, I went to RMIT University and studied my Bachelor of Nursing.
*How did you choose what you wanted to be when you grew up?
Dad worked for a pathology company as the courier when I was in my late high school years. I did some courier work with him. I also did my year 11 (I think) work experience with Victorian Pathology and quite liked it. I didn't get the marks to go straight to uni and do Bachelor of Applied Science, so I did the TAFE equivalent. It allowed me to be a lab technician.
*What did you think was the hardest thing about your chosen profession at that time? Did it turn out that way?
My chosen profession wasn't that difficult. More dealing with the personalities of the staff... its always about personality. I had some difficulty recognising the different parasites in poo to start with. But I shall always remember what a Giardia looks like.
*What dumb things did you do during those years?
I don't recall doing anything dumb. I was pretty straight laced until I met Mark's biological father.
*What good things did you do?
Again, I don't really recall. My memory is pretty crap for that time of my life.
*Did you live on your own? How well prepared were you for that?
I lived with my parents until I was 21 years old. Then I moved out with my sister Jo to North Fitzroy. We did pretty good.
*What life lessons did you learn?
Best if I don't live long term with my sister. That poo doesn't really bother me. That I don't' really enjoy looking down a microscope.
*What choices did you make that affect where you are now?
Nothing that I can think of.
*Did you attend college or a trade school of some sort?
Its not called college in Australia. Straight after high school, I went to TAFE (Technical and Further Education), I studied for an Associate Diploma of Applied Science - Medical Laboratory. This set me up to be a lab technician in the Microbiology Department of Melbourne Pathology. I did that for just over 4 years.
Then when I was 27 and Mark was 2, I went to RMIT University and studied my Bachelor of Nursing.
*How did you choose what you wanted to be when you grew up?
Dad worked for a pathology company as the courier when I was in my late high school years. I did some courier work with him. I also did my year 11 (I think) work experience with Victorian Pathology and quite liked it. I didn't get the marks to go straight to uni and do Bachelor of Applied Science, so I did the TAFE equivalent. It allowed me to be a lab technician.
*What did you think was the hardest thing about your chosen profession at that time? Did it turn out that way?
My chosen profession wasn't that difficult. More dealing with the personalities of the staff... its always about personality. I had some difficulty recognising the different parasites in poo to start with. But I shall always remember what a Giardia looks like.
*What dumb things did you do during those years?
I don't recall doing anything dumb. I was pretty straight laced until I met Mark's biological father.
*What good things did you do?
Again, I don't really recall. My memory is pretty crap for that time of my life.
*Did you live on your own? How well prepared were you for that?
I lived with my parents until I was 21 years old. Then I moved out with my sister Jo to North Fitzroy. We did pretty good.
*What life lessons did you learn?
Best if I don't live long term with my sister. That poo doesn't really bother me. That I don't' really enjoy looking down a microscope.
*What choices did you make that affect where you are now?
Nothing that I can think of.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
This is me - Part Three
Growing up, teenage years:
*What activities did you participate in? (Sports, dancing, music, arts, etc.) Explain what you did with each activity.
*How did you learn how to drive? What kind of car did you have?
*Who were your friends?
*Did you have a girl/boy friend? Talk about him/her (if your spouse is okay with it!).
*What did you like/dislike about school?
*What was your first paid job?
*What were your chores at home?
-----------------------
1. Oh dear, I can't remember, I think I did netball until I was about 12. We were in girls brigade, but can't remember how long that went. I'm guessing not too far into high school. We were pretty involved in church, so I went to the teen version of Sunday School and youth group. Will have to check with mum on that front.
2. I had a couple of lessons with one of dad's Kiwanis mates who was a driving instructor (luckily he wasn't a butcher - he was pretty good) then I was driving with mum and dad. I was super keen. Got my learners permit as soon as they changed the age from 17 to 16 and I was about 16.5years old when I got my L's. My dad was EXTREMELY laid back about it. I recall fairly early on that we got into the car and he got out the newspaper to read. "DAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING YET, YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION"
A running family joke was my indicating skills. We had a family holiday to Lakes Entrance, the streets there are very VERY long and very wide. Very safe for learning. Dad said, you have to turn right at Fish Street. So I turned the indicator on to show I was planning to turn right. The problem was Fish St was well over a kilometre down the road. Even now if someone has accidentally left their blinkers on Dad will say "oh they must be turning at Fish St"
I got my license at 8.30am on my 18th birthday. It was at the RACV in Box Hill. Today driving in Box Hill is terrifying, so many cars, wide (as in multi-laned roads) and the fact that I managed to pass my driving test first time, in Box Hill during peak hour is amazing.
I used mum & dad's cars. The first car I actually purchased was my bubble Mazda 121 (forgotten how to get images off the internet) all the extras and a spoiler I thought I was so cool.
3. My friends were Kellie and Sonia. Still friends with Kellie, we actually had lunch today (with 6 children - 3 were hers, 2 were mine and a ring in), we were not part of the cool crowd, but not unpopular either.
4. I got my first boyfriend (Andrew) when I was 16, we met at a church camp. I thought he was wonderful - obviously. I lived in Templestowe and he lived in Essendon. Which is pretty close to where I live now and it takes 40 minutes to get to my parents house. We were dedicated. Travelled by train or bus to visit each other. He lived with his father and brother, his step-mother and her three kids. They had only gotten married about a year before I met him and they were a fiery couple. Poor Andrew was not treated very well at all by his parents. They didn't cook - he ate a lot of 2minute noddles and 10 minute pasta & sauce. His parents screamed a lot. I stayed with him for 6 years! Yep until I was 22 years old. He wasn't faithful to me, I let it slide a couple of times.. but we grew apart. He remained my friend. He got Marko a "being born" present. I ran into him about a year ago during my lunch break. He looks the same - dorky hairstyle and in the most politically incorrect way looks "gay". He is married (I went to his wedding) with one daughter, Idalya who is around 10 or 11 now.
5. I liked school. I liked hanging out by the lockers and having people walk over our legs. We talked a lot. Can't recall much else. I always think back fondly about my school years.
6. Talk about nepotism. My dad employed me as a courier when I was 18 years old. He ran a pathology courier company - outsourced for a tiny little pathology company that got swallowed up when the biggies came in. I had to collect blood samples from doctors surgeries on a Tuesday evening and my Saturday morning run. I loved it. Listened to RRR a movie show I think on the Saturday mornings - I heard his voice again recently on the radio and it bought back so many memories. My goodness, I haven't done that job since 1992 and just looked at the Triple R radio guide and Film Buff's Forecast is still a radio show on Saturday's from midday until 2pm. WOW. That's been running for over 20 years!
Oh and Dad overpaid me, I got $200 per week. My sister got the same money for washing the cars and doing something with the books.
7. Honestly... no idea on the chores front. Help out would be the chore.
*What activities did you participate in? (Sports, dancing, music, arts, etc.) Explain what you did with each activity.
*How did you learn how to drive? What kind of car did you have?
*Who were your friends?
*Did you have a girl/boy friend? Talk about him/her (if your spouse is okay with it!).
*What did you like/dislike about school?
*What was your first paid job?
*What were your chores at home?
-----------------------
1. Oh dear, I can't remember, I think I did netball until I was about 12. We were in girls brigade, but can't remember how long that went. I'm guessing not too far into high school. We were pretty involved in church, so I went to the teen version of Sunday School and youth group. Will have to check with mum on that front.
2. I had a couple of lessons with one of dad's Kiwanis mates who was a driving instructor (luckily he wasn't a butcher - he was pretty good) then I was driving with mum and dad. I was super keen. Got my learners permit as soon as they changed the age from 17 to 16 and I was about 16.5years old when I got my L's. My dad was EXTREMELY laid back about it. I recall fairly early on that we got into the car and he got out the newspaper to read. "DAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING YET, YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION"
A running family joke was my indicating skills. We had a family holiday to Lakes Entrance, the streets there are very VERY long and very wide. Very safe for learning. Dad said, you have to turn right at Fish Street. So I turned the indicator on to show I was planning to turn right. The problem was Fish St was well over a kilometre down the road. Even now if someone has accidentally left their blinkers on Dad will say "oh they must be turning at Fish St"
I got my license at 8.30am on my 18th birthday. It was at the RACV in Box Hill. Today driving in Box Hill is terrifying, so many cars, wide (as in multi-laned roads) and the fact that I managed to pass my driving test first time, in Box Hill during peak hour is amazing.
I used mum & dad's cars. The first car I actually purchased was my bubble Mazda 121 (forgotten how to get images off the internet) all the extras and a spoiler I thought I was so cool.
3. My friends were Kellie and Sonia. Still friends with Kellie, we actually had lunch today (with 6 children - 3 were hers, 2 were mine and a ring in), we were not part of the cool crowd, but not unpopular either.
4. I got my first boyfriend (Andrew) when I was 16, we met at a church camp. I thought he was wonderful - obviously. I lived in Templestowe and he lived in Essendon. Which is pretty close to where I live now and it takes 40 minutes to get to my parents house. We were dedicated. Travelled by train or bus to visit each other. He lived with his father and brother, his step-mother and her three kids. They had only gotten married about a year before I met him and they were a fiery couple. Poor Andrew was not treated very well at all by his parents. They didn't cook - he ate a lot of 2minute noddles and 10 minute pasta & sauce. His parents screamed a lot. I stayed with him for 6 years! Yep until I was 22 years old. He wasn't faithful to me, I let it slide a couple of times.. but we grew apart. He remained my friend. He got Marko a "being born" present. I ran into him about a year ago during my lunch break. He looks the same - dorky hairstyle and in the most politically incorrect way looks "gay". He is married (I went to his wedding) with one daughter, Idalya who is around 10 or 11 now.
5. I liked school. I liked hanging out by the lockers and having people walk over our legs. We talked a lot. Can't recall much else. I always think back fondly about my school years.
6. Talk about nepotism. My dad employed me as a courier when I was 18 years old. He ran a pathology courier company - outsourced for a tiny little pathology company that got swallowed up when the biggies came in. I had to collect blood samples from doctors surgeries on a Tuesday evening and my Saturday morning run. I loved it. Listened to RRR a movie show I think on the Saturday mornings - I heard his voice again recently on the radio and it bought back so many memories. My goodness, I haven't done that job since 1992 and just looked at the Triple R radio guide and Film Buff's Forecast is still a radio show on Saturday's from midday until 2pm. WOW. That's been running for over 20 years!
Oh and Dad overpaid me, I got $200 per week. My sister got the same money for washing the cars and doing something with the books.
7. Honestly... no idea on the chores front. Help out would be the chore.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
This is Me - Challenge.
Thankfully there is no time frame for this one. Wasn't able to do the photo a day challenge... but
This is a history of me. There are many parts to this challenge. I found it on Pinterest (my newest obsession).
The full set of questions can be found here. Over the coming weeks and months and I will compile the answers and come up with a full history of me!
Your birth and family:
*What is your full name and how did you get that name? Do you have any nicknames?
*What are your parent's full names and birth dates and places?
*What is the date of your birth? Where were you born? What are some of the circumstances (when your mom went in to labor, how long, her doctor, your dad fainting, etc.) of your birth?
*What are your sibling's full names and birth dates?
*How was your relationship with your siblings and parents?
*What are some lessons you learned from you parents?
*How did you help in your home?
Part one:
* My name was originally Christy Dawn Lantz. The history of the my name - that I know - is that mum was reading a book called "Christy" by Catherine Marshall, and fell in love with the qualities of the character. She was a school teacher/missionary, so I've always had a lot to live up to. Dawn was just a favourite name and surprisingly Lantz is my dad's surname. Lantz was always problematic, the spelling is all wrong, everyone wants to do Lance, but its the peculiar spelling which I believe is German in origin. Never had any real nicknames, Jocelyn calls me Reg sometimes and my high school friend Kellie always calls me Chris. Otherwise my name is Christy or Mum.
* My mum was originally Rosemary Anne Lill, she was born in Ashburton in New Zealand back in the olden days in 1938.
My dad is Gilford Brian Lantz, but has always been known as Brian, never understood why people do that, give their kids a first name that will never be used. The thing these days is slightly different. Call their daughter Amelia, but always call them Millie. Seriously call your daughter Millie if that is what you want to call them. In Ben's swimming class there is - Maddison (Maddy), Ezekial (Izzy), Millicent (Millie) it makes for a confused bunch of kids. Dad was born in 1942 in (I'm guessing) Nova Scotia in Canada.
* I love my birth story, its unusual and kind of cool. My parents met in Germany in 1972, mum was on a working holiday around Europe with her BFF Betty (who just passed away last week), they were working in a canteen where the Canadian soldiers purchased their food. Their eyes met and it was love at first sight. My parents married in Bath in England (a very romantic setting). Then they moved back to Lahr in Germany where dad was stationed and I was born in the military hospital there. I don't know the full story of my birth, dad was not there - it wasn't customary for husbands to be there in the 1970s and mum had a difficult labour and I was quite unwell at birth, I was in the special care nursery for a week, which meant I wasn't able to be breastfed (an interesting point, how times have changed). We stayed in Germany until I was about one year old when we moved to Canada.
* My sister, Jocelyn Fay was born 19 months after me. She arrived in Nova Scotia in 1975. We were very close as children, like twins. We did everything together were each others best friends. This lasted until I had Mark and then we drifted apart for some time. We are back to being very close but we are very different.
* I'm very close to my mother, sometimes is worries me how dependant I am on her. I've been pleased that in the last two months we have spent quite a lot of time apart, unable to talk on the daily basis that we do and my life didn't fall apart. My relationship with dad is different to mum, he's not a talker. But he will listen to me when I get carried away (which is often)
* Lessons... oh I don't know. My parents are gorgeous people, very generous, friendly and helpful. If I could be half the person they are, I'll be doing great. I'd love to know how mum controlled Jo and I growing up. Goodness knows I need help.
* We had chores. Always helped with the dishes, kept our rooms in order, I did the grocery shopping with mum on Thursdays evenings. Other than that I can't recall.
This is a history of me. There are many parts to this challenge. I found it on Pinterest (my newest obsession).
The full set of questions can be found here. Over the coming weeks and months and I will compile the answers and come up with a full history of me!
Your birth and family:
*What is your full name and how did you get that name? Do you have any nicknames?
*What are your parent's full names and birth dates and places?
*What is the date of your birth? Where were you born? What are some of the circumstances (when your mom went in to labor, how long, her doctor, your dad fainting, etc.) of your birth?
*What are your sibling's full names and birth dates?
*How was your relationship with your siblings and parents?
*What are some lessons you learned from you parents?
*How did you help in your home?
Part one:
* My name was originally Christy Dawn Lantz. The history of the my name - that I know - is that mum was reading a book called "Christy" by Catherine Marshall, and fell in love with the qualities of the character. She was a school teacher/missionary, so I've always had a lot to live up to. Dawn was just a favourite name and surprisingly Lantz is my dad's surname. Lantz was always problematic, the spelling is all wrong, everyone wants to do Lance, but its the peculiar spelling which I believe is German in origin. Never had any real nicknames, Jocelyn calls me Reg sometimes and my high school friend Kellie always calls me Chris. Otherwise my name is Christy or Mum.
* My mum was originally Rosemary Anne Lill, she was born in Ashburton in New Zealand back in the olden days in 1938.
My dad is Gilford Brian Lantz, but has always been known as Brian, never understood why people do that, give their kids a first name that will never be used. The thing these days is slightly different. Call their daughter Amelia, but always call them Millie. Seriously call your daughter Millie if that is what you want to call them. In Ben's swimming class there is - Maddison (Maddy), Ezekial (Izzy), Millicent (Millie) it makes for a confused bunch of kids. Dad was born in 1942 in (I'm guessing) Nova Scotia in Canada.
* I love my birth story, its unusual and kind of cool. My parents met in Germany in 1972, mum was on a working holiday around Europe with her BFF Betty (who just passed away last week), they were working in a canteen where the Canadian soldiers purchased their food. Their eyes met and it was love at first sight. My parents married in Bath in England (a very romantic setting). Then they moved back to Lahr in Germany where dad was stationed and I was born in the military hospital there. I don't know the full story of my birth, dad was not there - it wasn't customary for husbands to be there in the 1970s and mum had a difficult labour and I was quite unwell at birth, I was in the special care nursery for a week, which meant I wasn't able to be breastfed (an interesting point, how times have changed). We stayed in Germany until I was about one year old when we moved to Canada.
* My sister, Jocelyn Fay was born 19 months after me. She arrived in Nova Scotia in 1975. We were very close as children, like twins. We did everything together were each others best friends. This lasted until I had Mark and then we drifted apart for some time. We are back to being very close but we are very different.
* I'm very close to my mother, sometimes is worries me how dependant I am on her. I've been pleased that in the last two months we have spent quite a lot of time apart, unable to talk on the daily basis that we do and my life didn't fall apart. My relationship with dad is different to mum, he's not a talker. But he will listen to me when I get carried away (which is often)
* Lessons... oh I don't know. My parents are gorgeous people, very generous, friendly and helpful. If I could be half the person they are, I'll be doing great. I'd love to know how mum controlled Jo and I growing up. Goodness knows I need help.
* We had chores. Always helped with the dishes, kept our rooms in order, I did the grocery shopping with mum on Thursdays evenings. Other than that I can't recall.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
