December Daily - 3rd

Today its phone photos.  Amazingly I took 16 photos on my phone today and a bunch on the DSLR of my cake preparation (that is for tomorrow).

Tuesday is my day off with the boys.  Ben got some McDonald's hotcakes for breakfast, he loved spreading the "peanut butter" (whipped butter) and dipping it into the maple syrup.  I got myself a coffee.  Ryan wasn't feeling the best, so he went without.  Marko went to school and Jamie went to the casino with his friends for a farewell "do".

Cold hotcakes for breakfast

My work colleague/friend Raihanah had her 4th baby on Friday, so the staff at work put in and I got these items.  A jungle gym, a Hungry Caterpillar towel, some gorgeous clothes from Pumpkin Patch and some bathing stuff.  We went to visit this afternoon, and I got a cuddle from baby Maryam, she's so cute and alert.  Forgot to take a pic - whoops.

Checking out Maryam's stash

The wrapped presents

 My little sickie - a good poop did the trick.  He is causing me so much grief at the moment.  Refusing to go to sleep.  Spending far too much time on my phone watching YouTube videos.  He was asleep at 10.15pm tonight, almost a record for early to bed!  I feel I spend all my time threatening, maybe that's the issue, barely follow through.  Anyway... in true Facebook fashion, this time 4 years ago... my waters had had broken about 2 hours ago, we headed in to the JHH and waited for the much anticipated arrival of our dear middle child.

Ryan felt sick, so had a nap today.

Tonight's dinner was due to me staying up late last night watching Rick Stein's India.  He made this prawn and coconut curry.  It was very delicious and now I have mustard oil in my pantry (yay). 

Cooking dinner

Rick Stein's prawn and coconut curry.

Today mum went in to have her 3rd spinal surgery.  Mr Lu Ton is her fabulous surgeon, who she adores and trusts completely.  Her titanium rod in her back broke (!) so the whole structure needed reinforcing.  Supposedly they did a lot more than was anticipated, but should make it all stronger.  She is spending the night in the High Dependency Unit and then will go to the ward tomorrow.  So thankful that she has gotten though the past year and will start her road to recovery.  They have a massive year planned for next year.  Don't need back pain to get in the way.

December Daily - 2nd

Today was BUSY.  Hard drop off (how unusual), Ryan has started to cry and scream when I leave him.  Makes me want to cry - almost every day.

My three boys

Went shopping for Raihanah and her bubba Maryam.  Got a whole lot of baby supplies.

Checking out the tree. 

 Collected the little dudes, they were happy.

Came home cooked some delicious port schnitzel.

Hello I'm Ryan

 

Watched The Blacklist - my new favourite shows.

Mum, I only want to take ONE photo with your fancy DSLR camera, 

 Sent the kids to bed.  They wouldn't go to sleep.  Ben dropped off around 10.30 and Ryan... I guess he might be asleep now 11.50pm.  Getting so exhausted that they won't sleep.

My goodness they are gorgeous.

Asked what the little boys had for lunch 

Ryan "fruit"

Ben "apples and cookies"

It goes without saying that I don't believe them.

"I love your hair like that" I'm currently sporting a very cute curly pigtail (or so I think), Ryan wants a pigtail out the back.

December Daily - 1st

So once again, I'm attempting to do a photo (or several) a day.
Today is Sunday 1st December.  We had a cousin day today.  My sister and her kids came over for lunch then we went to Jamie's sister for the afternoon.  Here are some selected pictures.

Ben trying out the 3D glasses

Drinking hot chocolate

SMILE

Peppa Pig on my phone

Mark's second dinner, the first one wasn't quite enough

Our sparse Christmas tree with Call of Duty on the telly behind it.

Kid-isms

Funny things the little boys say:

Wakey-wakey: This phrase was challenging to work out.  Did they mean "time to wake up" or something different.  It is almost always with "no wakey wakey" and over time I believe it mean no way Jose!
Do you want to get dressed?
No wakey wakey - then run away


Sugar: This is bizarrely not about the sweet white sand.  But its another name for a Nerf gun bullet.  Its morphed from trigger to sugar.  and then they got confused pull the trigger, find the sugar.


Pew: another word for shoot.  I want to pew you.

My Day

0230     Ben cries, realise Ryan is in my bed.  Return Ryan to his bed, get Ben and go back to sleep.

0530     Ryan comes back to my bed.

0630     Ryan says its morning time and wants a sandwich.  Ben wakes up, hears the word sandwich and immediately wants a sandwich.  Make two sangers and plonk them in front of ABC2 while I get ready.

0700     Wake Mark who refuses to wake up.  Dress little boys, make lunches.


0730     Jamie arrives home

0750     Leave for work, drop Mark at school, drop boys at daycare.

0830     Arrive at work, busy busy busy like totally nuts for the whole morning.

1230    Boss leaves for a conference, everything calms down a bit.

1500    Finish work, try on a pair of shorts - look ok.

1600    CT of my back to find out why my back hurts.

1700    Pick up some tshirts in Glenroy for the little boys.  Get massively lost driving home.

1745    Pick up boys.

1810    Arrive home.  Cook tea and discuss days events.

1900    Grocery shopping.

2030    Put boys in bed - stories and songs.

2100    Make granola, meatloaf for tomorrow nights tea and some pumpkin pies

2200    Jamie leaves for work

In between times I'm doing the laundry, tidying up, keeping everything running smoothly and EATING EATING EATING.

2330    Fall into bed and wait for the RLS to start.

More baking

Tonight's projects:

Home made granola - adapted from Joy of Baking. This is definitely not the pretty version of this recipe, but I've made it so many times now that I just add my own things.  My recipe is:

3 cups of rolled oats (every recipe says not instant, but I'm not sure why)
3/4 cup of slivered almonds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup coconut - coarse grind if you've got it
A sprinkle of chia seeds
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of cinnamon
Pour over 1/2 cup of golden syrup and 3 tablespoons of oil
Mix well and spread on a roasting tray, cook at 180C for around 20mins.
I tend to cook until it smells really yummy.  I burned it once, so ever since it has always been a little blonde.
Then chop of some dried fruit, this time I added about 6 dried sliced apple (chopped up) and a big handful of prunes chopped up.
It makes a really dense mixture and its totally delicious and I end up eating too much, so I "watered" it down with some Rice Bubbles.

Then I made a meatloaf for tomorrow nights dinner.  This time adapted from Nigella Lawson's site.  I still have quite a few tubs of sausage meat, so I defrosted one of those and a package of minced pork/veal mix.  1 egg, salt and pepper and two slices of stale bread.  Mix and mush until all combined.  Oh and Worcestershire sauce.  Lay down a bed of meat, then put 3 boiled eggs along it, then put the other half of the meat until its all covered.  Then the best bit - BACON - I swaddled the whole thing in bacon (I'm even starting to sound like Nigella now.


Finally, I made my mini pumpkin pies.  No adapting this time, a straight steal from here.
1 15oz can of pumpking (huh? can?? I boiled up a piece of pumpkin and then mashed it, then I used my "you beaut" scales and found out what the heck 15oz is - around one cup I would assume.)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk (yummmm)
2 large eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger (oops didn't have any of this, left it out)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 tsp salt
1 unbaked pie crust (I made my own pastry!)

Pastry - taken from Betty's Kitchen which is a YouTube channel.  She doesn't have written recipes you have to watch her very long (about 10 mins) videos to get the recipe.

Anywhoo I put the pastry in a small flan tin and then popped about one cup of the pumpkin mix into it, slid it into the oven at 210C and baked for about 20 mins.  They look amazing, currently sampling and it tastes bloody beautiful too...

Things I want

1.  My family won't like it.  But I want a tattoo.  I want it on my arm somewhere.  I want it to be pretty, I want it planned and by a good artist. Something like this on my upper arm. I'm quite obsessed with Silje, I love her style.  Looked at a place on Chapel St here in Melb and they have a girl artist who is lovely in her designs.  Can't see it happening though.

2. I also want a charm like this, but to have it with MRB instead of ABC. For those of you playing along at home, its available here.

 3.  I would really like this chair, this one is from Harvey Norman.

 4.  Sunglasses, saw a similar style on Annabelle Crabb (major girl crush) and just need to have them.  Will keep an eye (get it ) out for this style.

Nigella's Pesto Pasta

This is definitely going on our menu at home and on our Christmas holiday

Nigella Lawson's Pesto

500g potatoes cubed and boiled until soft.
500g linguini - put into the same pan as the cooked potatoes
200g green beans - again in the same pan as the above ingredients.

In a blender
100g basil
100g parmesan cheese
1 clove of garlic
100-200ml of olive oil
Add some of the cooking water to thin it out.

Strain the pasta and add the pesto.
VOILA.

Cup Day

The event season is here.  The first event is Cup Day.

 

The plan is for nibblies, sweeps and horse races.

Food ideas:

Pear and Roast Beef Rolls

Sausage rolls

 

 I've never made sushi, but am very willing to give it a go.  Prawn and tuna.


 

 Vietnamese Rice Paper rolls


 


 I'd love to do this stick horse for the kids horse races, but its quite complicated and in true A Beautiful Mess fashion is VERY light on with the directions - cut a horses head... oh yes... as a non craft person, I can work that magic!

 

 But it will probably look more like this...

 Oh and a cheese platter.  I think that'll do it.  Trying my hand at savoury.

Running a sweep too.  Maybe prizes rather than money... hmmm prizes or money for the family that wins.  Will have to get a consensus on that one.
Must log on here on Saturday for the form.

Eating / Cooking

It appears I'm going to end up having a family of big eaters.

Today (Saturday) Breakfast
Mark - huge bowl of cereal
Ryan - 2 weetbix and a banana, followed by a honey sandwich
Ben - 1 weetbix and banana followed by a vegemite sandwich
That is just breakfast.  It does slow down a bit over the day.  They enjoy lunch - a tin of spagetti (each for the little ones).

So that got me thinking, how am I going to feed them as they grow up and get bigger.  I did a google search "large family cooking" and that took me exactly where I wanted to be.  Religious home schoolers with big families.  One of them - Responding in Faith - has made me laugh because of her breakfasts.

biscuits, gravy and eggs

grits, sausage and egg casserole
waffles
omelets
french toast

apple dumplings

southwest breakfast casserole

Imagine going to that much effort for breakfast.  Hasn't she heard of cereal?  A smoothie?  Toast with vegemite?  What the heck are biscuits and grits (my initial guess is scones and well I just dont' know about grits)

Then comes lunches:

grilled sandwiches, chips, carrots

chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, fruit cups

pizza burgers, chips, carrot sticks

hot dogs or chili dogs, fries, fruit cups

sandwiches, applesauce, cottage cheese

pasta, apple sauce, garlic bread

fish sandwiches, veggies, yogurt

SOOOO much effort.

Snacks and dinners are fully planned too.  I didn't read the blog too much, but I'm guessing she homeschools.  How does she have time to homeschool, cook, clean and do laundry for her 5-7 children.  I need to have a little lie down thinking about it.

Looking up

I feel things are on the improve.

I've been on anti-depressants for a little over a month now and am feeling so much better.  I got myself a pill case, so as well as taking anti-depressants I'm also taking a multivitamin and Vitamin D every day.  So maybe everything all together is good for me.  I'm getting my RLS under control too.  Exercise is still quite haphazard.  Guilt is a HUGE.  I can't seem to get there.  The thought of finishing work, going to the gym which takes approx one hour inc changing time and then collect the boys, then home and do the washing, get dinner, clean up, bath and bed the boys, encourage Mark to do something.  ETC ETC ETC well there just isn't enough time when I'm not getting home until 6.30pm.  I just can't go early.  That is just does not work for me.

Have set up a new blog for planning for Christmas.  Its here.

Some recent pictures..

The cheesy pair on a sunny day

They are outside on a coffee table with a pillow and blanket!

A meal made by Mark and Isaac (for themselves only)

Ryan as Spiderman

Shooting out his web

Stressed out

That is me!  Completely stressed out.  

I'm finding my work overwhelming.  I've been there too much recently.  I need a break.  I need a bit of a backbone too.  That will be enough about that.

I'm very worried about my memory.  What if I'm getting early onset dementia.  People know I "don't remember things"  But its getting really bad.  Mark rang me a few weeks ago whilst I was at the supermarket, he needed a medium sized extension cord.  The electrical section was two aisles away and I forgot it.  I didn't realise what I'd forgotten until Mark asked for it.  Didn't realise when I got to the car, completely gone.

Jamie and I are taking the auto mechanic to VCAT (consumer court) over an issue we have had.  I'm stressing about that, Jamie told me not to worry about it, its not that difficult.  Why the hell would he know??  I spoke to my mum she said she's been to VCAT twice, once with my sister (over tenants) and once for TOWN Club.  She said its not stressful, I believed her.  Then Jamie piped up, "I've been to VCAT too"  WHEN???  "You know, with Dave" ummmmm.......  oh yes that was only 5 years ago.  Where has this memory gone? 

I remember so little of Mark's childhood.  Dates I'm rubbish with.  I don't know if certain things have happened with him.  I just don't know.

The names of the kids is beyond a joke.  I get it wrong constantly.

I can't recall the names of things.  I ask Mark to put his clothes in the dishwasher and put it on.  He looks at me with a sad look on his face.

I have my birthday party in a little over two weeks time, I've thought about it. but organised NOTHING.  It frightens me to do it.

I'm getting curtains for my birthday (yes that's a good present) but its so stressful to pick them.  What if they are not right?  It frightens me to do it.

I've joined the gym and I'm frightened to go.

I need to lose weight but I'm lacking all form of willpower.

I'm cutting myself off from life.  I love my friend Connie but now I don't see her.  I miss her.

I haven't seen my sister in weeks, I miss her.

I haven't seen my sister-in-law in almost two weeks and I miss her.

I think a new mental health care plan is in order.  When the fuck do I have time to see a counsellor?  Oh well, sort out everyone else's lives and mine can circle around the drain. The pressure of everything is getting to me.

RUOK?  Not really, but thanks for asking.

Q&A time... because I love doing these.

What was the last song you sang aloud?
The Alphabet Song - like I do everyday

When did you last cry?
I cry regularly when I leave my house in the morning, getting three kids ready and out the door makes me lose it and I cry until I get around the corner.

How are you feeling?
Exhausted, overwhelmed, frustrated and annoyed.

If your boyfriend were to say he was breaking up with you, would you let him go or still hold on?
Oh he has to stay.

If you look straight ahead past your computer screen, what do you see?
Our delightful diagonal timber feature wall.

Kissed someone in the past week?
I have kissed the 4 men in my life and both of my parents this week.  Oh and my friend Connie too (she's Italian and I get kissed hello and goodbye each time)

Does anything hurt on your body right now?
Nah, all good.

Ever listened to a song on repeat or does it drive you crazy?
I can do repeat.

Do you want someone to call you right now?
I wish I could talk to my husband.  But he's at work.

Last person you had a deep conversation with?
Mum.

Do you wear glasses? If so, how long have you had to wear them?
Nope. 

Is there something you're not looking forward to?
Really don't feel like working the next two days.  I don't want to clean this house.

Is something wrong right now?
Yes we are renovating and my baby is sick.

Is iTunes currently open on your computer?
We are not an Apple family.  We do however have Spotify and no its not on.

Are you mad at someone?
Fairly constantly mad at my husband.  Frustrated with others.

Do you plan on sleeping in tomorrow?
WHAT?  What even does that mean?

Can you honestly say you listen to all kinds of music?
No.

Last sporting event you watched?
Nah, don't watch sport but do sometimes enjoy listening to it on the radio

What does your best friend call you?
Christy

Would you prefer a thunderstorm or for it to be snowing?
Thunder

Laptop or Desktop?
I hate laptops.

What company is your cellphone provider?
Oooh this is an exciting question - Telstra

What were you doing 4 hours ago?
I was at the doctor with my baby

Where did you go to yesterday?
Work, gym, home

Have you ever fought over the opposite sex?
Nope.  Whoops, not fight but yelled at someone over my ex (there might have been some alcohol involved)

Are you good at math?
I'm not bad at Maths, but have a shit memory.  Also never learned the times tables and have forever regretted that.

What's your favorite holiday?
Our trip to Thailand.

Have you ever gone to a concert?
Yes quite a few.  Going to see Bon Jovi again this year for the uhem 5th or 6th time

What brand of shirt did you wear today?
Susanne Grae

Do you cry a lot?
Yep

Would you rather date or Leonardo DiCaprio or Matt Damon?
Eww, neither.

Do you act more silly or serious?
Probably silly.

Are you good at keeping secrets?
No - dont' tell anyone ok.

Would you rather spend or save your money?
I want to save it, but what I do is spend it.  Our house is at the stage where EVERYTHING needs to be replaced.  Our clothes are at the stage where everything needs to be replaced.  And everyone has to eat.

Do you ever wear hats?
No

How many times have you kissed the last person you kissed?
Daily - or almost daily - my darling husband who I'm mad at.

The person you have feelings for shows up at your house, what do you do?
Oh its you... can you sweep the floor?

Are you currently frustrated with a girl/boy?
Yes.  I'm frustrated infinitely by my eldest son!

Will you talk to the person you like tonight?
I'll probably text him goodnight.

Do you have a reason to smile right now?
i sure do :)

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
Oooh this is hard.  Everything would be easier if I hadn't met the frenchman, but then I wouldn't have my frustrating eldest son.  So probably best not to go back in time.

Where were you at 9am this morning?
At work being exasperated by a care plan.

Everything happens for a reason?
Oh I guess so

Who have you texted in the last 24 hours?
Holy crap, I've texted... mum, Raihanah, Sylvia, Kellie, Stephanie, Jamie, Jocelyn, Connie and Elysha.  Thank goodness I have a high volume plan.

Do you prefer being single or taken?
I'm a married woman to a man I adore and who drives me nuts.

Are you too forgiving?
Yeah.

What was the last song you listened to?
Umm.... on purpose was You can call me al by Paul Simon.

What's irritating you right now?
The fact that I haven't gone to bed yet, and that I have another week of working 6 out of the 7 days.

What are you stressed out about?
Rosters, working too much, messy house, sick children, unfinished projects, procrastination, weight loss (or lack thereof)

In the past week have you smiled?
Yes.  My children do make me smile.  I also enjoy my patients (sometimes)

Most memorable thing that happened to you this winter?
I can;t think of a thing.

Do you think you're wasting your time on the person you like?
No.

Do you believe ex's can be friends?
No. 

What is more important, happiness or trust?
Trust brings happiness.

Do you have strong feelings for last person you texted?
That was my sister.. so I do love her.

How many kids do you wanna have?
I'm very happy with my three.

Do you think people talk about you?
Oh yes they do.

Do you think two people can last forever?
Why not.

If you could move out of the house right now, would you?
I really like this house, but I'd prefer it to be renovated and a professional cleaner in once a week.

Has someone put their arm around you in the past five days?
Marko.

Is there anything pink within 5 feet of you?
My phone cover.

Impressing myself

I did an exercise class tonight.  It was a circuit workout with FIT people.
My body is killing me.  In total I did...

300 star jumps
500 dumb bell punches
60 pushups

then it all fizzles out...
50 arm raises
50 lateral arm raises
30 burpees (they are worst exercise ever invented)
30 mountain climbers
8 crunches

It was hideous.  I'm nowhere near fit enough for that class.  But I gave it a go.  BTW I only did half of it.  I did two circuits and Adam was saying they were going to do 4 circuits.  HOLY CRAP.  Took me two hours to stop being red in the face.

Tomorrow morning I'm back.  I think my "day 3" workout is funny.
My warm up is a good paced 800m row.
First set 400m row fast as I can - break for 90 sec - repeat x 3.  At least I think that's what it is.

Lucky I get a piece of paper to tell me.

Diet is not going quite as well.  Still not quite organised enough.

Having lunch with my gorgeous mumma tomorrow.  have invited my sister too, but she hasn't responded.
 :(((

Universe aligning.

Or at least that is what it feels like.

From my previous post, I have taken a stand.

I did join the gym - have been twice so far - and am aching from head to toe.  Those exercises are HARD man.

I joined a weight loss support group - run by Herbalife and my friend Kellie, and so far they are not pushing the products... but wait for it.

I was called by my Health Insurance company to be involved in Health Coaching.  Its free.  I did the prelim discussion and set some goals.

How does this happen?

So.

My get healthy/weight loss journey has begun.
Today I am 77km and am 99cm around my belly (who needed to know that?)
I also pledge to keep my kitchen clean
I will attend the gym 3 times per week (or more)



WHAT is this nonsense about the kitchen???
- It upsets me no end that my house is messy (found out today its not as dirty as I thought it was - others are dirtier), I stress if anyone comes to visit that there is crap all over my kitchen.  I want a clean kitchen and its up to me.

The Health Coach asked for obtainable goals that will help my physical and mental health.  I was embarrassed - a little bit - to say a clean kitchen and going to the gym are my goals.

With those two done, the other areas of my life - poor sleep, anger, frustration, postponing everything should fall into line.

Planning and starting afresh

I've been down recently - like really down, bordering on depressed down.  Felt mildly suicidal* at times, but it gets sorted with a good cry.  I do health assessments on people and during these health assessments I say a certain mantra "everything is improved with diet and exercise"
Since returning from Thailand, my diet has dissolved into a puddle of peanut butter and I haven't moved.  No exercise at all.  I'm getting fatter, my tummy is bigger than my boobies and I'm exhausted.

"Everything is solved with diet and exercise"

 The time has come, the time is now.  Christy D Storer will you please go now... and do some exercise.


 If you haven't already worked it out, I'm going to exercise, join a gym, the one next to the crèche.

My promise to myself is

1. I will go to bed earlier.
2. I will wake up earlier.
3. I will go to the gym and work my butt off.
4. I will improve my eating - more vegetables, less bread
5. I will take time to enjoy my children.
6. I will take time to enjoy my husband.

*  Thought about it, no definite plan, just looking for an out.

Pictures

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.

sad stuff happening

Yesterday there were two snippets of information off the Internet that made me very sad.  I don't know either woman personally.

First is Courtney from a long favorite blog pudge and biggie. This woman with her husband has adopted two children with down syndrome. They've since had a biological child and are pregnant with their 4th child. She is an inspiration on parenting,  special needs and photography.  Anyway,  yesterday she found/was alerted to a photo of her eldest daughter with an awful caption.  someone had gone to the effort of finding LC and bullied her and her parents and people with DS generally.  It broke my heart. I was so surprised and hurt by this.  Courtney has now made her blog private (very sad about that) and she needs to recover.  Please pick on me... not my child.

Second is a girl on the sidelines of a beautiful mess. She has a young daughter whose photo has been picked up by trolls and turned into "baby slut" supposedly its funny but in reality its gross hurtful and creepy. She's a baby!!

I put my children on the Internet.  That makes me nervous.  What if my boys photos are in something like that. If I don't know about it does it not matter.

Feeling a little sick with the world today.