Here's wishing all of you the most wonderful year ahead. May 2007 see all your dreams come true - wilder than you can imagine. Happiness in abundance. Every good thing.
You know, I think it's gonna be a great one... :-)
Still alive!!
Yes, I know it's been a while... and by now all that's going to show up on this page could be archives! :-) But that's what happens when offline life takes over.
It's been quite a busy week - I've spent most of it not knowing what day of the week it is, but just going through the hours as they come.
Both our guests arrived safe and sound. I picked up Mandy in Cape Town on Wednesday, and immediately went on a mini-road-trip to pick up a free hi-fi across the mountain range. On the way, an idiot pigeon flew straight at the car, and with combined forces of car and bird in opposite directions, it shattered one of the headlights completely - and stuck there (as we discovered later). I had the non-joyous task of picking bits of bird out of the front of the car back home, not lekker at all. Being the week between Xmas and New Year, of course no-one had any spare headlights in stock, so we're looking very strange with a bare bulb and a taped-up light (clear packing tape to provide some protection from whatever we may run into, literally). The new year will see a few extra hundred bucks found somewhere and a light installed.
Greg arrived later that evening, and the house filled up! The dogs are used to it now, and we've all settled into an easygoing routine, picking up where we last saw each other (in Mandy's case about 20 years back..). She and my son are getting along famously, simply because she's not taking crap from him and seems to inspire him to actually do stuff. :-) Last night she taught him how Soduko works - and they made a pretty good team.
So we've done some tourist things - a trip to Franschhoek, some wine-tasting at Boschendal (but not for me, I'm really not into wine) and lunch at Spier. We had hoped to get to Chapman's Peak / Hout Bay or the opposite direction to go duning in Betty's Bay - but guess what, it's cold and raining. Again. Yesterday wasn't too great a day for touring around either. Instead we relaxed, read, did the grocery shop and chatted all day.
And now the year's nearly over. Second-last day of 2006.
I've found myself somewhat pensive, doing some thinking behind the scenes as to what I want from 2007. I've blogged my plans and hopes before, but they've become cemented into definites in the last few days. Mandy's inspired me with a life lived extraordinary - along with her year off to travel at the moment. Greg's given me pause for thought as to living while time allows - he has some serious health issues to face in the new year.
I've realized I've somehow acquired a peaceful and settled soul, one that no longer dashes around in confusion, one that is still amid the chatter around me. I'm building on that, and seeking more - perhaps I'll write all about that soon. There's much to say... and I'm still collecting my thoughts.
Today though it's another indoor day. The others are into a game of Uno, and I think I'll go beat the stuffing out of them! :-)
It's been quite a busy week - I've spent most of it not knowing what day of the week it is, but just going through the hours as they come.
Both our guests arrived safe and sound. I picked up Mandy in Cape Town on Wednesday, and immediately went on a mini-road-trip to pick up a free hi-fi across the mountain range. On the way, an idiot pigeon flew straight at the car, and with combined forces of car and bird in opposite directions, it shattered one of the headlights completely - and stuck there (as we discovered later). I had the non-joyous task of picking bits of bird out of the front of the car back home, not lekker at all. Being the week between Xmas and New Year, of course no-one had any spare headlights in stock, so we're looking very strange with a bare bulb and a taped-up light (clear packing tape to provide some protection from whatever we may run into, literally). The new year will see a few extra hundred bucks found somewhere and a light installed.
Greg arrived later that evening, and the house filled up! The dogs are used to it now, and we've all settled into an easygoing routine, picking up where we last saw each other (in Mandy's case about 20 years back..). She and my son are getting along famously, simply because she's not taking crap from him and seems to inspire him to actually do stuff. :-) Last night she taught him how Soduko works - and they made a pretty good team.
So we've done some tourist things - a trip to Franschhoek, some wine-tasting at Boschendal (but not for me, I'm really not into wine) and lunch at Spier. We had hoped to get to Chapman's Peak / Hout Bay or the opposite direction to go duning in Betty's Bay - but guess what, it's cold and raining. Again. Yesterday wasn't too great a day for touring around either. Instead we relaxed, read, did the grocery shop and chatted all day.
And now the year's nearly over. Second-last day of 2006.
I've found myself somewhat pensive, doing some thinking behind the scenes as to what I want from 2007. I've blogged my plans and hopes before, but they've become cemented into definites in the last few days. Mandy's inspired me with a life lived extraordinary - along with her year off to travel at the moment. Greg's given me pause for thought as to living while time allows - he has some serious health issues to face in the new year.
I've realized I've somehow acquired a peaceful and settled soul, one that no longer dashes around in confusion, one that is still amid the chatter around me. I'm building on that, and seeking more - perhaps I'll write all about that soon. There's much to say... and I'm still collecting my thoughts.
Today though it's another indoor day. The others are into a game of Uno, and I think I'll go beat the stuffing out of them! :-)
Aftermath
Another Christmas come and gone, and life rushes on...
It was a good time with family and friends though, some pretty decent food, lotsa prezzies, and a good deal of craziness. I took it so easy this year, and still everything worked out OK. I think I'll make a habit of it!
This morning I'm on to other things - the last stuff before the guests arrive. One should be here late tonight, the other I collect in Cape Town tomorrow morning. I was counting on a hot, dry day to do some washing etc - and guess what, it's cold and raining - no, I don't own a dryer. (A most excellent day for sleeping in, but not too late - pity, I need it) It's WINTER! Murphy's law kicks in again. But we will prevail and plans will be made.
In the meantime, I'm struggling to find place for some of the gifts I received. I got quite a bit of kitchen-type stuff, but the cupboards there are pretty much full already, and the only other cupboard in the house is the stuffed-packed one in my room that has to house everything else. I should put up extra shelves in the kitchen, but not an option right now.
Anyway, today I'm working through the house room by room (all 4 of them! bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and lounge/otherbedroom/everything else), taking excess goods to the garage for storage (perhaps they can stay there permanently? pare down to mere essentials again?), rearranging what I can to create the illusion of space - and trying to get that bedding dry in time for use tonight.
Onwards and upwards..!
It was a good time with family and friends though, some pretty decent food, lotsa prezzies, and a good deal of craziness. I took it so easy this year, and still everything worked out OK. I think I'll make a habit of it!
This morning I'm on to other things - the last stuff before the guests arrive. One should be here late tonight, the other I collect in Cape Town tomorrow morning. I was counting on a hot, dry day to do some washing etc - and guess what, it's cold and raining - no, I don't own a dryer. (A most excellent day for sleeping in, but not too late - pity, I need it) It's WINTER! Murphy's law kicks in again. But we will prevail and plans will be made.
In the meantime, I'm struggling to find place for some of the gifts I received. I got quite a bit of kitchen-type stuff, but the cupboards there are pretty much full already, and the only other cupboard in the house is the stuffed-packed one in my room that has to house everything else. I should put up extra shelves in the kitchen, but not an option right now.
Anyway, today I'm working through the house room by room (all 4 of them! bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and lounge/otherbedroom/everything else), taking excess goods to the garage for storage (perhaps they can stay there permanently? pare down to mere essentials again?), rearranging what I can to create the illusion of space - and trying to get that bedding dry in time for use tonight.
Onwards and upwards..!
Christmas Eve
Every year it's become tradition that my brothers, myself and our families gather together for Christmas Eve dinner. This year was no exception. But it was a bit different. Instead of dinner in Cape Town, along with a rather restless sleepover at brother's house in Seapoint, which resounds the entire night with police cars, tow trucks, barking dogs and noisy neighbours - this year it was a bit closer to home. They're house-sitting about 15km away in Strand, so we can rest in our own beds tonight. Still heading to Cape Town tomorrow for lunch with others though.
It was a bit of a different meal too - a braai instead of full-on supper. And one more big difference is that we finally went somewhere in Olivia!
Yes, after the last oil-related goodies were checked this afternoon (I still smell like EP90 in spite of a good scrubbing), we finally took her out onto the roads to meet the relatives. Two tons of mechanical beast hurtling off the mountain and into traffic, with a one kilometre turning circle. Adrenalin Rush! :-)
The trip there was slowish (still getting used to driving her), but good - no hassles whatsoever. The trip home - well, we discovered that we either have no lights, or very bright lights - nothing in between. And also, having to head uphill to get home, I found out that there are a few other things I need to have a squiz at to boost power and help her along. We did struggle up the merest of hills, screaming along in 3rd or faltering if 4th was tried. There has to be a happy medium and perhaps a bit of tweaking will do it.
But I did get to show her off to some amazed brothers and their wives, who couldn't resist poking around and climbing on top. This is the start of her travels - baby steps :-) I think we garnered a few double-take glances, but was too busy driving to notice.
We came home with loads of loot of course - presents covered both my birthday and Xmas, so it's a good thing we took the Landy.
And what am I still doing up, near midnight? Well someone has to stuff them stockings, hey! The kid still thinks Santa does it, though he's not too sure. We'll keep up the mystery for one more year. Next year he's likely to scoff at such things.
It was a bit of a different meal too - a braai instead of full-on supper. And one more big difference is that we finally went somewhere in Olivia!
Yes, after the last oil-related goodies were checked this afternoon (I still smell like EP90 in spite of a good scrubbing), we finally took her out onto the roads to meet the relatives. Two tons of mechanical beast hurtling off the mountain and into traffic, with a one kilometre turning circle. Adrenalin Rush! :-)
The trip there was slowish (still getting used to driving her), but good - no hassles whatsoever. The trip home - well, we discovered that we either have no lights, or very bright lights - nothing in between. And also, having to head uphill to get home, I found out that there are a few other things I need to have a squiz at to boost power and help her along. We did struggle up the merest of hills, screaming along in 3rd or faltering if 4th was tried. There has to be a happy medium and perhaps a bit of tweaking will do it.
But I did get to show her off to some amazed brothers and their wives, who couldn't resist poking around and climbing on top. This is the start of her travels - baby steps :-) I think we garnered a few double-take glances, but was too busy driving to notice.
We came home with loads of loot of course - presents covered both my birthday and Xmas, so it's a good thing we took the Landy.
And what am I still doing up, near midnight? Well someone has to stuff them stockings, hey! The kid still thinks Santa does it, though he's not too sure. We'll keep up the mystery for one more year. Next year he's likely to scoff at such things.
An International Christmas
How 'bout we do something different here - provided there's still life in cyberspace?! :-) See how many different countries we can collect in the comments on this post. Leave your location - name and website too if you wish.
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On a seperate but seasonal note, I shouldn't be sitting here. I have a million and one things to do today. I've already done two loads of washing, the dishes, and am waiting for a dark chocolate / butter mix to cool so I can pop a Fallen Chocolate Mousse Cake into the oven for tonight's dessert. While that bakes I have wooden blocks to sand down (final gift needing doing) and the kid's gonna help paint them, then I have to whip up a linen drawstring bag with a painted name on to house them.
Last night / yesterday involved the Xmas vegetarian turkey-making, lemon-condensed-milk pie (for tonight too), last-minute grocery shopping, gift wrapping, fudge attempt (one batch in 10 of course will fail, especially when intended for gifts and guests) - and a bit of sunburnt reading while the weather was great.
That said - publish it is, and back to the baking! Thereafter, the final oil bits on the Landy (and a thorough wash inside and out), which will be transporting us to Xmas eve dinner tonight, where my brothers will get their first live look at her.
--
On a seperate but seasonal note, I shouldn't be sitting here. I have a million and one things to do today. I've already done two loads of washing, the dishes, and am waiting for a dark chocolate / butter mix to cool so I can pop a Fallen Chocolate Mousse Cake into the oven for tonight's dessert. While that bakes I have wooden blocks to sand down (final gift needing doing) and the kid's gonna help paint them, then I have to whip up a linen drawstring bag with a painted name on to house them.
Last night / yesterday involved the Xmas vegetarian turkey-making, lemon-condensed-milk pie (for tonight too), last-minute grocery shopping, gift wrapping, fudge attempt (one batch in 10 of course will fail, especially when intended for gifts and guests) - and a bit of sunburnt reading while the weather was great.
That said - publish it is, and back to the baking! Thereafter, the final oil bits on the Landy (and a thorough wash inside and out), which will be transporting us to Xmas eve dinner tonight, where my brothers will get their first live look at her.
Solstice
Happy Solstice! Whether you're celebrating a winter one or a summer one, it's still something to mark and something to note. We don't live with the seasons much anymore - perhaps pausing to align ourselves with the way the planet functions is a very good thing. From here on out the seasons start to turn again, the world around us changes subtlely. For some it's a time to look toward increased light, for others it's a turn toward winter and battening down the hatches. Celebrate it though, whichever side of the earth you're on.
And while you're at it, don't forget to aid world peace... :-)
And while you're at it, don't forget to aid world peace... :-)
Not much of anything
* It feels like the internet is slowly closing down for the festive season. My email lists and forums have gone silent, Skype garners little or no response, blogs are seldom updated. It's a bit like sitting in a big office block and seeing the lights going off until all that's left is one over your desk, illuminating the one person with an inflated sense of importance, who feels the entire corporation will collapse unless they stay on.. :-) Heck, even the spammers appear to be taking a break! So I guess there's nothing to it - I'm going to have to get a life after all.
* I'm never paying a few hundred bucks to have my couches cleaned ever again. All it took today was a bit of effort to drag them onto the lawn, some elbow grease (and Omo), a hosepipe and a hot afternoon sun - and they're looking good as new (almost). I just need to time it with a good day, and I'm sorted.
* What is it with early-teen boys and hygiene? My son has a daily bath and brushes his teeth during school terms, but come holidays and I'm lucky if I can get either of those out of him once a week! I hope an interest in girls will change all that, but right now I'm at my wit's end trying to beg/bribe/plead/threaten him into taking a good scrub and brush. Any other parents out there struggling with 13 year old boys??? Or have I got a unique specimen on my hands?
* One feature of this new Blogger thing is REALLY bugging me. If I post after midday, it refuses to acknowledge a 24-hour time and labels my posts as 12 hours previous! In other words, posting now (9pm) means my posts are labelled 9AM! Unless I physically go change the post time. Quite irritating. It won't take the 24-hour setup from my computer clock, or the fact that I'm "GMT+2", nor is there anywhere on settings to change it. Perhaps if I complain loudly enough...?
* I have been very lax in my exercise routine this week - instead I've been busy at home, at the shops, doing other things than walking for an hour and a half. Still moving, but I actually miss the slog around the 10km or so route. It could be just as well though, as it's been very hot in the afternoons. Not good walking weather unless you're trying to drum up a spot of heat exhaustion.
* I'm itching to get some woodwork done lately. I wish I could inherit a huge pile of planks and strips and logs, a few chunky pieces of tree and a circular saw. I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head that I want to try out. The only things lacking are cash - and electricity in the garage. I've asked for it to be checked many times, but no luck. Perhaps I should take my drill to someone in a threatening manner? :-)
* I'm getting old. Barely gone 9 and I'm ready to crawl into bed... Afternoon naps are very attractive too these days. Or maybe it's just the end of year slump. Thus saying, I am the weakest link - goodbye.
* I'm never paying a few hundred bucks to have my couches cleaned ever again. All it took today was a bit of effort to drag them onto the lawn, some elbow grease (and Omo), a hosepipe and a hot afternoon sun - and they're looking good as new (almost). I just need to time it with a good day, and I'm sorted.
* What is it with early-teen boys and hygiene? My son has a daily bath and brushes his teeth during school terms, but come holidays and I'm lucky if I can get either of those out of him once a week! I hope an interest in girls will change all that, but right now I'm at my wit's end trying to beg/bribe/plead/threaten him into taking a good scrub and brush. Any other parents out there struggling with 13 year old boys??? Or have I got a unique specimen on my hands?
* One feature of this new Blogger thing is REALLY bugging me. If I post after midday, it refuses to acknowledge a 24-hour time and labels my posts as 12 hours previous! In other words, posting now (9pm) means my posts are labelled 9AM! Unless I physically go change the post time. Quite irritating. It won't take the 24-hour setup from my computer clock, or the fact that I'm "GMT+2", nor is there anywhere on settings to change it. Perhaps if I complain loudly enough...?
* I have been very lax in my exercise routine this week - instead I've been busy at home, at the shops, doing other things than walking for an hour and a half. Still moving, but I actually miss the slog around the 10km or so route. It could be just as well though, as it's been very hot in the afternoons. Not good walking weather unless you're trying to drum up a spot of heat exhaustion.
* I'm itching to get some woodwork done lately. I wish I could inherit a huge pile of planks and strips and logs, a few chunky pieces of tree and a circular saw. I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head that I want to try out. The only things lacking are cash - and electricity in the garage. I've asked for it to be checked many times, but no luck. Perhaps I should take my drill to someone in a threatening manner? :-)
* I'm getting old. Barely gone 9 and I'm ready to crawl into bed... Afternoon naps are very attractive too these days. Or maybe it's just the end of year slump. Thus saying, I am the weakest link - goodbye.
Wind-down
I don't know about the rest of the planet, but motivation for work is in very short supply today. It's a marvellous day outside, there are loads more interesting things to be doing (gotta wash the darn couches too), and for goodness sake it's nearly the holidays! Our offices are closed down next week completely, and that attitude is seeping over into Thursday. I hate to think what Friday's gonna be like!
Well, I got up the effort last night and started to bake a Christmas cake - one of the few things I attempt annually. The other being vegetarian turkey (will be made on Saturday, it needs to be reasonably fresh). Why? Not because I'm into the whole baking/decorating thing, but because this is when the ingredients are available, and it usually has snack value for at least 2 months hence! :-) YES I like fruitcake - you would too if you tasted my moist, divine version. No heavy blocks of dry crumbs in sight.
However, there's a strange phenomenon going on with fruit mince. Last year Safari made bottles that were more "gel" than "mince" (as a Food Techonolgist I know they put a whole lot of filler starch in there, and a whole lot less decent ingredients). This year there's not a single bottle of the stuff to be had anywhere! Perhaps demand has simply evaporated and people are paying the exorbitant amounts charged for ready-baked fruit mince pies? Anyway, if this is going to be a trend, I'm going to finally attempt what I've been threatening for ages - I'm going to concoct my own! I've got some awesome recipes for the stuff, traditional, full of nuts and fruits and all that stuff, but it's going to take a few months to mature, so I'll have to get to it early on.
But so much for Christmas baking. All the effort is going instead to feeding guests on really lekker stuff - and making sure they leave me having upped a clothing size.. :-) That way I look thinner next to them.
Anyway, let me go look busy again. Though typing furiously does make it appear that I'm working. As if!
Image above courtesy Demotivators.
Skills & Products
While on the way back from spending my second-last buck on a final Xmas gift and 3 food items, I got to thinking about financial recovery in the new year. I know that between now and then I'm going to have to tread very carefully in order to make it through to January's (inevitably late) paycheque. I've got a double insurance payment coming off right after New Year, there are still cheques for schooling and car services that are going through, and we need to keep the car's tank topped up now and then (unless I go with horsepower for a few months). I haven't even thought about things like school books for next year, or school shoes (the old ones are now completely kaput). Fortunately the same uniform applies for both high and primary school for boys - and the kid's still fitting into most of it.
With careful planning we'll be OK - but then I started to ponder my plans to get business off the ground and head toward self-employment. With capital basically non-existant what are my options?
Well - I have two. Sell products, or sell skills.
Products I've come up with and sold in the past. They need an initial cash injection though (the old adage "you have to have money to make money"), and it's often hard to find that niche to fill that means your products are sustainably in demand.
Skills on the other hand can be expanded, developed, sold for a price. That's going to take an injection of confidence and putting a value on what my time is worth - things I haven't been too great at in the past. But there is no real capital needed, I can simply build on what I'm good at, what I enjoy doing, and let my work speak for itself.
Upping the skills does fit into my plan for the year ahead, and that will help make some things I already do more marketable. My main issue seems to be folk who are interested in what I have to offer, but who then never get back to me once intial contact is made! I've had that happen in two different areas recently, both of which I'd been investigating for a business start-up. I could aggressively push for their business, but that's not me. I've never been a good salesperson.
Anyway, as I tend to do, I thought I'd blog this while it's still on my mind - adding to aspects of life that are getting a whole lot of consideration.
With careful planning we'll be OK - but then I started to ponder my plans to get business off the ground and head toward self-employment. With capital basically non-existant what are my options?
Well - I have two. Sell products, or sell skills.
Products I've come up with and sold in the past. They need an initial cash injection though (the old adage "you have to have money to make money"), and it's often hard to find that niche to fill that means your products are sustainably in demand.
Skills on the other hand can be expanded, developed, sold for a price. That's going to take an injection of confidence and putting a value on what my time is worth - things I haven't been too great at in the past. But there is no real capital needed, I can simply build on what I'm good at, what I enjoy doing, and let my work speak for itself.
Upping the skills does fit into my plan for the year ahead, and that will help make some things I already do more marketable. My main issue seems to be folk who are interested in what I have to offer, but who then never get back to me once intial contact is made! I've had that happen in two different areas recently, both of which I'd been investigating for a business start-up. I could aggressively push for their business, but that's not me. I've never been a good salesperson.
Anyway, as I tend to do, I thought I'd blog this while it's still on my mind - adding to aspects of life that are getting a whole lot of consideration.
Cow poop and tomatoes
See these lovely little baby tomatoes, fresh-washed with rain? They were part of last year's crop, grown right in my garden - organically of course.And what makes tomatoes grow big, sweet, dripping-juicy? Kraalmis - cow poop. The kind you buy in big bags from garden centres. Tomatoes love it! So do roses, and most other flowers and veggies.
I've just been up to my elbows in kraalmis again. The last of the veggies are planted out, ready to burst into colour and life and keep us in things yummy for months to come. New in the ground are two kinds of tomatoes, bush-beans, cucumbers, chilies and echinacea. Already doing their thing are onions, lettuce, basil, potatoes, strawberries, parsley, thyme, rosemary and chinese garlic chives. We've been gathering ripe plums and figs from nearby trees. One of the simple pleasures in life is delicious organic foods picked and munched within seconds. I'm hoping for a nice big crop of tomatoes especially this year.
Now one can draw all sorts of morals out of the act of gardening. Today's is this: after a year filled with cow poop, good things are growing. Deliciously enticing, fresh and enjoyable things that make me shiver with delight just thinking about them.
Sometimes all it takes a bit of cow poop and time to produce beauty.
Laid-Back
This has to be the most laid-back festive season I've ever had. Mostly, I just couldn't be bothered! :-) The decorations and (fake) tree are staying in storage, the presents have been left to the very last minute (still one thing to find - but I also seem to have forgotten a few folk on the way), and I'm not rushing around trying to accomplish a million and one things before the end of the year.
What's different this year? I dunno - apathy perhaps, or I'm festively worn-out after years of effort. I haven't done any kind of Xmas baking, though I do need to do the vegetarian turkey later in the week (a tradition at the various meals-with-relatives, and takes so long to make that it only gets done once a year anyway). I've done minimal just about everything! It may have something to do with not taking any leave around now. I've transferred my last 7 day's worth to next year, so am working right up to this weekend - next week offices are closed, but I'm back to full-day on 2 January. I haven't had the off-time to occupy myself with whatever I could have been doing. With guests arriving just after Xmas, my focus has been more on preparing for them than for the 25th. Though I haven't done much of that either.
I'm just completely mellow. No guilt over not having done anything. No urge to up the schedule and make any effort. No large to-do lists. Nothing whatsoever.
And I like it! It's much better than rushing here and there, putting up things that only have to be taken down again shortly thereafter, using up huge amounts of cash on stuff for us and others, or braving the madness of the mall.
I'm thinking about a couple of new traditions for the festive seasons from here on out - ones that don't involve the general insanity that has become Xmas time. Not quite sure what that will look like yet, but the brain's ticking over...
What's different this year? I dunno - apathy perhaps, or I'm festively worn-out after years of effort. I haven't done any kind of Xmas baking, though I do need to do the vegetarian turkey later in the week (a tradition at the various meals-with-relatives, and takes so long to make that it only gets done once a year anyway). I've done minimal just about everything! It may have something to do with not taking any leave around now. I've transferred my last 7 day's worth to next year, so am working right up to this weekend - next week offices are closed, but I'm back to full-day on 2 January. I haven't had the off-time to occupy myself with whatever I could have been doing. With guests arriving just after Xmas, my focus has been more on preparing for them than for the 25th. Though I haven't done much of that either.
I'm just completely mellow. No guilt over not having done anything. No urge to up the schedule and make any effort. No large to-do lists. Nothing whatsoever.
And I like it! It's much better than rushing here and there, putting up things that only have to be taken down again shortly thereafter, using up huge amounts of cash on stuff for us and others, or braving the madness of the mall.
I'm thinking about a couple of new traditions for the festive seasons from here on out - ones that don't involve the general insanity that has become Xmas time. Not quite sure what that will look like yet, but the brain's ticking over...
I will
My latest issue of House and Leisure magazine has just arrived - the only mag I subscribe to on an annual basis, usually for the pure wish-list drool value! :-) It's the new-year copy, and lists "10 resolutions for creating the home of your dreams", namely:
Anyway, their list has inspired me to do another kind of "I will" list, as this year draws to a close and I fine-tune my life to make way for the awesome possibilities of the future. There are a few silly, small things on my list, and some big ones too. As I start listing them, I'm pretty sure there are more than 10. But here goes:
Funny how stating "I will" instead of "I hope to" or "I wish I could" makes it seems completely possible to achieve.
1. I will have a tidy kitchen with room to work...which of course is all good and well, and lovely to aspire to. They've even provided loads of inspiration with each "I will", along with suggested products and prices on most things. And each item has drool-worthiness, quite my taste in decor and functionality. But there's only so much one can do with a one-bedroom rented flat.. :-)
2. I will have a statement-making living room.
3. I will have a space to work at home.
4. I will have a sleep-inducing bedroom.
5. I will have a bathroom I want to spend time in.
6. I will have a fantastic kid's room.
7. I will have an entertainer's dining room.
8. I will have a spruced-up outdoor living space.
9. I will have room for friends to stay over.
10. I will have my family photos on display.
Anyway, their list has inspired me to do another kind of "I will" list, as this year draws to a close and I fine-tune my life to make way for the awesome possibilities of the future. There are a few silly, small things on my list, and some big ones too. As I start listing them, I'm pretty sure there are more than 10. But here goes:
1. I will learn Spanish, and travel to Spain to speak it - the Camino still calls. But that's not all. I will attempt to learn a language each year and travel to a country where it's spoken officialy - French is up in 2008.OK, that sounds like a big enough list of "I will"s for the coming year - right?! If nothing else, that's where my thoughts are headed, in those directions and with determination not to tread water through each day.
2. I will ensure that wholesome food, crafted with care, love and enjoyment, will be the bulk of what we eat. I will organically grow as much of it as I can myself.I will expand my bread-making repertoire into the kinds of things "artisan bakers" sell, and bake more often. (This may sound like one of the silly ones to most of you, but there's nothing as divine as both making and eating top-class bread - something that says "home" to me)
3. I will not be afraid to love - life, other, myself. I will open up my heart to feel fully, embrace living in it's many variants and revel in each moment as it happens, without living in either future or past. I will hope and dream and believe that I will have hands big enough to receive what is being sent my way. I will have a soft heart that is open to experience, not a self-protective cold hard one. I will make room in my life for family and friends - more than just the occasional obligatory get-together.
4. I will finally finish turning my living space into a welcoming, warm, comforting home. (I will probably be inspired by my latest House & Leisure mag on this one.. :-) ) I will have a garden that gives pleasure, and a house that breeds serenity. I will not be hesitant to invite anyone inside, or to stay.
5. I will live mindfully, in harmony with the earth and the creatures that inhabit it - human and otherwise. I will thus do nothing that harms another, whether it be through what I eat, what I wear, what I say or do, or how I choose to spend my leisure time.
6. I will dare. I will dare to speak up, to live all-out, to say what I think, to express what I feel. I will not cower in fear of what others may say. I will dare to dream and will not give up on a single one, no matter how way-out it may seem.
7. I will learn - not half-way, but all there is to know about things that fascinate me. Whether it's web design languages, a passion for Land Rovers, companion planting or how to be a better parent-of-teen, I will set aside time and effort to exploring hidden corners and dusty shelves of every aspect until I know it well.
8. I will take up paint and pen, brush and charcoal and camera again - and allow my hands to remember their artistic expression, my thoughts to remember their stories, my eyes to see things differently and capture it. I will create for me, not to impress others, but simply to express myself. I will rediscover music and learn how to use that talent in a new way - one that builds on and goes beyond the narrow channel in which I've used it in the past. I will try to learn a new instrument.
9. I will expect abundance, and let that guide me toward a better future financially. I will not be motivated by materialism, desire, need or jealousy - but instead follow my heart and soul toward that which is both fulfilling and rewarding, a perfect fit for who I am.
10. I will have adventures - not only the big ones, but the every-day kind that would pass you by if you didn't seek them out. I will fine-tune my perspective on what each day brings, and discover the miraculous in the mundane.
Funny how stating "I will" instead of "I hope to" or "I wish I could" makes it seems completely possible to achieve.
Educating the Son
An article on AskMen.com mentioned good manners and chivalry when it comes to dating. And reminded me of a conversation I had with my son this weekend.
I may not be able to teach him some things (like shaving his face) easily, but one thing I can do is help him stand out from the crowd when it comes time to get into the dating scene. Being a chick, I know what girls like, and what kind of things make a bloke different in a good way. Much of it does have to do with the chivalry/good manners mentioned in the article above.
Although it's not expected these days, it's nice to have the door opened for you (when it comes to cars, I reciprocate by leaning over and opening his door for him before he gets there - much to the surprise of some! :-) ), to be treated with respect and consideration. It's small things that make you feel special - and those I can pass on to my son. Instead of the bumbling, lumbering, awkward teen stuff, perhaps I can guide him toward confidence and "mindful" dating - doing those little things that make all the difference.
Lucky for him, I also possess a girl's mind - so can interpret a lot of the mixed signals teen girls tend to give out.. :-)
He hasn't yet shown an interest in getting a girlfriend, though I can see he's thinking about it. Many of his friends are already hanging out with arms around some chick or other, but he's a "late bloomer". Perhaps if he didn't spen quite so much time on the computer..? :-) I suspect once school starts up again - high school years - we'll see a few changes. I only hope he'll still feel he can talk to me about anything and everything then.
I may not be able to teach him some things (like shaving his face) easily, but one thing I can do is help him stand out from the crowd when it comes time to get into the dating scene. Being a chick, I know what girls like, and what kind of things make a bloke different in a good way. Much of it does have to do with the chivalry/good manners mentioned in the article above.
Although it's not expected these days, it's nice to have the door opened for you (when it comes to cars, I reciprocate by leaning over and opening his door for him before he gets there - much to the surprise of some! :-) ), to be treated with respect and consideration. It's small things that make you feel special - and those I can pass on to my son. Instead of the bumbling, lumbering, awkward teen stuff, perhaps I can guide him toward confidence and "mindful" dating - doing those little things that make all the difference.
Lucky for him, I also possess a girl's mind - so can interpret a lot of the mixed signals teen girls tend to give out.. :-)
He hasn't yet shown an interest in getting a girlfriend, though I can see he's thinking about it. Many of his friends are already hanging out with arms around some chick or other, but he's a "late bloomer". Perhaps if he didn't spen quite so much time on the computer..? :-) I suspect once school starts up again - high school years - we'll see a few changes. I only hope he'll still feel he can talk to me about anything and everything then.
Silent...Day?
You'd expect a whole lot of Silent Night around this time of year - but it's a very very quiet day here at work this Monday. Many folk are on leave, we're down to half-day duties, and most are already in holiday spirit mode.
With shortened hours though, it's amazing how much you get accomplished in the time you have available. You tend to not spread the tasks out over the day, but get to them immediately. Knowing you have an afternoon off to do other things means you can buckle down to get the normal work duties out of the way quickly.
And that's precisely what I'm doing this morning. Tearing through website updates, paperwork, everything lying around wanting my attention.
And blogging, of course - I do have my priorities right! :-)
With shortened hours though, it's amazing how much you get accomplished in the time you have available. You tend to not spread the tasks out over the day, but get to them immediately. Knowing you have an afternoon off to do other things means you can buckle down to get the normal work duties out of the way quickly.
And that's precisely what I'm doing this morning. Tearing through website updates, paperwork, everything lying around wanting my attention.
And blogging, of course - I do have my priorities right! :-)
Foxmarks
I'm in the process of shifting computers - a new one at work means a transfer of data onto a clean system, while the old one comes home with me and the current one at home gets a transfer elsewhere. Confused? :-)
Yeah - so were my bookmarks. With all these machines, I had multiple instances of things I'd added as favourites (or Bookmarks as Firefox calls them), some repeated across sytems, others unique to the two different machines I currently use.
Until today! I decided to give Foxmarks a whirl, not quite knowing how it would work out. From the write-up it seemed all my bookmarks would be internet-accessible via an account I set up, but I wasn't sure if I'd have to go to their site to access them, while my on-screen ones faded away.
Well I was pleasantly suprised. I first set up an account from work and Foxmarked everything. Then when I got home I logged in after installing Foxmarks, and synchronised the bookmarks I have here. Voila! They're ALL on both machines! And whatever I change here will show up there. Whatever I add here, will be added there. If I edit there, it appears edited here. If I'm on neither machine but need to access a link, I simply log into my account at Foxmarks and a mirror of what I've stored is there too!
I LIKE!
When it comes to moving all these computers around, reinstalling things and restoring settings, Foxmarks is seriously going to make my life easier. No more rebuilding a database, or trying to find in which folder my links are stored so I can back them up. Nope, everything's right there, available for me the second I need it.
Now if only I had the same option for the rest of the hard-drive/s...
Yeah - so were my bookmarks. With all these machines, I had multiple instances of things I'd added as favourites (or Bookmarks as Firefox calls them), some repeated across sytems, others unique to the two different machines I currently use.
Until today! I decided to give Foxmarks a whirl, not quite knowing how it would work out. From the write-up it seemed all my bookmarks would be internet-accessible via an account I set up, but I wasn't sure if I'd have to go to their site to access them, while my on-screen ones faded away.
Well I was pleasantly suprised. I first set up an account from work and Foxmarked everything. Then when I got home I logged in after installing Foxmarks, and synchronised the bookmarks I have here. Voila! They're ALL on both machines! And whatever I change here will show up there. Whatever I add here, will be added there. If I edit there, it appears edited here. If I'm on neither machine but need to access a link, I simply log into my account at Foxmarks and a mirror of what I've stored is there too!
I LIKE!
When it comes to moving all these computers around, reinstalling things and restoring settings, Foxmarks is seriously going to make my life easier. No more rebuilding a database, or trying to find in which folder my links are stored so I can back them up. Nope, everything's right there, available for me the second I need it.
Now if only I had the same option for the rest of the hard-drive/s...
The Quests for the Guests
My credit card is lying on the floor, twitching with the most awful spasms after an afternoon spent acquiring things.
First up I was on a quest for blow-up beds - not the kind that explode on drifting off, but the kind you inflate. Sold out in shop one - but did get kid's Xmas goodies there. Next shop - no luck, but bought one duvet inner and two pillows. Next shop - nothing, thank goodness, 'cos the queue for the tills was stretched right across the shop. And it's a BIG shop. One furniture store - nope - and one bedding place - not a chance - , and I ended up at an outdoor/camping place, where I finally threw the credit card at the till one last time for the day, and came away with two single mattresses and a foot pump. The latter is cheap and rubbery, but we ain't gonna use it that much. The kid is all enthusiastic about seeing how they work, so perhaps I need to use that and get him to blow them up a week early before all enthusiasm dissapates? :-)
Other than food and petrol, we're sorted for our guest's now. And any other folk who turn up to overnight (and don't want to share with either the kid or me). That will make (next week) 4 people, 2 dogs and a fish in a one-bedroom apartment! Thank goodness for ground floor, garden, and a Landy that can take a few more if need be. It's going to be a nice squash! :-)
Also this afternoon I stopped by the mechanic who serviced my car last week, and he reset the timing which was completely out. Unfortunately he also diagnosed the source of the horrible rattle I've heard while accelerating - my viscous fan is wobbly, needs replacing... I can see the credit card cringing already. I think it's something I can tackle though, early next year when I have the cash. The diff backlash the mechanic can handle.
To tell the truth, our current finances scare me. I still have some put away, but we're running way too close to the edge at the moment, digging increasingly into credit limits to simply survive. Not the way I want to see in the new year. I'd like to have a buffer zone of cash - something I'll be working hard for in the new year. The thing is, you can only work with what you're given, and I don't get much. I'm below what one news reader reckoned was minimum pay in a squatter camp!
Anyway, somehow this got completely off topic. The kid is blowing up a mattress at the moment (the foot pump sounds like a mix between a donkey braying and a giant farting...), we're sorted for bedding, and don't need to go near the madhouse they call the mall until well into the new year.
Bring the guests on! :-)
First up I was on a quest for blow-up beds - not the kind that explode on drifting off, but the kind you inflate. Sold out in shop one - but did get kid's Xmas goodies there. Next shop - no luck, but bought one duvet inner and two pillows. Next shop - nothing, thank goodness, 'cos the queue for the tills was stretched right across the shop. And it's a BIG shop. One furniture store - nope - and one bedding place - not a chance - , and I ended up at an outdoor/camping place, where I finally threw the credit card at the till one last time for the day, and came away with two single mattresses and a foot pump. The latter is cheap and rubbery, but we ain't gonna use it that much. The kid is all enthusiastic about seeing how they work, so perhaps I need to use that and get him to blow them up a week early before all enthusiasm dissapates? :-)
Other than food and petrol, we're sorted for our guest's now. And any other folk who turn up to overnight (and don't want to share with either the kid or me). That will make (next week) 4 people, 2 dogs and a fish in a one-bedroom apartment! Thank goodness for ground floor, garden, and a Landy that can take a few more if need be. It's going to be a nice squash! :-)
Also this afternoon I stopped by the mechanic who serviced my car last week, and he reset the timing which was completely out. Unfortunately he also diagnosed the source of the horrible rattle I've heard while accelerating - my viscous fan is wobbly, needs replacing... I can see the credit card cringing already. I think it's something I can tackle though, early next year when I have the cash. The diff backlash the mechanic can handle.
To tell the truth, our current finances scare me. I still have some put away, but we're running way too close to the edge at the moment, digging increasingly into credit limits to simply survive. Not the way I want to see in the new year. I'd like to have a buffer zone of cash - something I'll be working hard for in the new year. The thing is, you can only work with what you're given, and I don't get much. I'm below what one news reader reckoned was minimum pay in a squatter camp!
Anyway, somehow this got completely off topic. The kid is blowing up a mattress at the moment (the foot pump sounds like a mix between a donkey braying and a giant farting...), we're sorted for bedding, and don't need to go near the madhouse they call the mall until well into the new year.
Bring the guests on! :-)
One Year Ago
One year ago today my mom lost her battle with breast cancer after a brave 8-year fight. In some ways it seems like yesterday - and at the same time it feels like it's been forever.
It's been a tough year for dad, but he's coping remarkably well - keeping busy, staying on the run. After over 36 years together she's left a big blank space in his life.
Now there's a "history of breast cancer" in my family, yet I'm still hesitating on getting that check-up, hoping that whatever was of concern last time has disappeared...
Pirates
Unless you want a silly song stuck in your head on permanent repeat, DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK!
Men I've Known
No, not in the Biblical sense, silly! :-) Geez, wouldn't want this blog relegated to the "blocked for adult content" category, now would we!!!
I've been thinking about some of the guys I've known lately - one or two of them have played a part in night-time dreams, actors in the scene or repeats of the kinds of things we'd get up to together. Usually voices out of the past - except for last night, which starred a voice from the present. Sometimes they bring to the fore things I've been thinking about, playing them out as my brain processes them during my sleep. And I realized I've been blessed to know some amazing guys in my lifetime.
I've always gotten along better with men than women, so my best friends have often been guys. Most have never gotten into a "relationship" beyond a deep friendship, and many endure to this day as a close bond that simply picks up where it left off when we last saw each other. One friend in particular springs to mind - my best friend through the last years of high school and into tech days. We did everything together, we were constantly rolling around laughing at some joke we'd made or some strange thing only the two of us found funny. We'd write letters to each other in rhyme, making stuff up if we couldn't find a word that fitted. We'd be goofing off in malls and between classes, setting each other strange competitions or simply talking for hours about everything under the sun. When we saw each other recently after a few years, we were right back into it with barely a pause.
Another I've known for 32 of my 35 years. I nearly married his brother! I can't recall us ever getting into a tiff, we've just had a constant deep friendship that spans years, distance, circumstance. He's more brother than non-relative, and we can talk about absolutely anything without having to pick our words.
Many women don't get the deep connection I can develop with some blokes - they see it as strange, sinister, that I may have "alterior motives". But it's not the case.
This week a dream led me to remember three guys in particular.
Brendan Bubb was a high school friend. Built like a gymnast with classic broad shoulders and slim waist, he had the kind of muscles you wanted to run your hands over to feel them move (and was an excellent kisser... ;-) ). He dated quite a few of my friends, but he and I were mostly just buddies. He was the kind who'd give you a shoulder to cry on during those awkward teen years, make you laugh, or just be there to hang with. He thought nothing of going out of his way to see that you were doing OK, or sit and chat when the clique circle shifted past you and left you alone. He knew my secrets, I knew his - and it made for an easy-going friendship with nothing to hide. We lost contact after school. And then a few years ago news reached us that he'd been killed in an accident. There's a blank spot in this world without his unique personality.
Roderick Wright (jokingly called Mr Right) was another friend that went back aways. I think we knew his family when we lived in Zimbabwe, or something - details are lost in the fog of the past. But we kept running into each other every few years and kept in touch by occasional letter (in the days before email) or greetings through mutual friends. One youth camp in Bloemfontein saw me, him and Dueps (another nutty bloke) running around all over the place - freezing our butts to metal slides in frosty playgrounds late at night, attempting to find any sort of nightlife (impossible in Bloemfontein) and checking out the talent at the camp, on both sides of the gender divide. He told us tall tales of forays across the Angolan border while in the army, of meeting up with terrorists by mistake while looking for the horses under his care - and coming back with an "A" shaved into his chest hair by them.... but no other damage. And then 10 years ago I heard that he, too had been killed in an accident. Another gentle, crazy soul that leaves an empty space now that he's gone.
Craig Cooper was the golden boy in our church group. One of a family of good-looking guys, all the girls would go nuts over him. A really nice guy though, and at some stage we did become friends. His path took him in a different direction - although I sometimes heard news of his family and what they were up to, I didn't see much of them, or hear about Craig. Until 2 months ago. He committed suicide, leaving behind an ex-wife and three small children. What would make a guy who seemed to have it all do that? How desperate had he become that death was the only way out? I wish I knew, and wish I had known enough to see if I could help while there was still a chance.
These three are remembered, and lost. In my life for such a short time, but they left a lasting impression that even now shows up in dreams and thoughts.
I've been honoured to know many other amazing men too. Ones that still fill this world with their incredible personalities and presence. They're unique, awesome, crazy, fun - and friends. They enrich my life in ways I can't describe, filling in the ebb and flow of the journey with insight, wisdom and richness. Many I feel a deep affection for, a respect and admiration that has nothing to do with the usual girl/guy stuff. Some I may even love - usually platonic, but sometimes I slip up thanks to their complete and utter deliciousness... :-) (hey, I'm only human!). One or two of them I think are simply the bees knees, the best thing since sliced bread.
But whatever role they play in my life, I'm thankful they're there. I'd hate to be without them.
I've been thinking about some of the guys I've known lately - one or two of them have played a part in night-time dreams, actors in the scene or repeats of the kinds of things we'd get up to together. Usually voices out of the past - except for last night, which starred a voice from the present. Sometimes they bring to the fore things I've been thinking about, playing them out as my brain processes them during my sleep. And I realized I've been blessed to know some amazing guys in my lifetime.
I've always gotten along better with men than women, so my best friends have often been guys. Most have never gotten into a "relationship" beyond a deep friendship, and many endure to this day as a close bond that simply picks up where it left off when we last saw each other. One friend in particular springs to mind - my best friend through the last years of high school and into tech days. We did everything together, we were constantly rolling around laughing at some joke we'd made or some strange thing only the two of us found funny. We'd write letters to each other in rhyme, making stuff up if we couldn't find a word that fitted. We'd be goofing off in malls and between classes, setting each other strange competitions or simply talking for hours about everything under the sun. When we saw each other recently after a few years, we were right back into it with barely a pause.
Another I've known for 32 of my 35 years. I nearly married his brother! I can't recall us ever getting into a tiff, we've just had a constant deep friendship that spans years, distance, circumstance. He's more brother than non-relative, and we can talk about absolutely anything without having to pick our words.
Many women don't get the deep connection I can develop with some blokes - they see it as strange, sinister, that I may have "alterior motives". But it's not the case.
This week a dream led me to remember three guys in particular.
Brendan Bubb was a high school friend. Built like a gymnast with classic broad shoulders and slim waist, he had the kind of muscles you wanted to run your hands over to feel them move (and was an excellent kisser... ;-) ). He dated quite a few of my friends, but he and I were mostly just buddies. He was the kind who'd give you a shoulder to cry on during those awkward teen years, make you laugh, or just be there to hang with. He thought nothing of going out of his way to see that you were doing OK, or sit and chat when the clique circle shifted past you and left you alone. He knew my secrets, I knew his - and it made for an easy-going friendship with nothing to hide. We lost contact after school. And then a few years ago news reached us that he'd been killed in an accident. There's a blank spot in this world without his unique personality.
Roderick Wright (jokingly called Mr Right) was another friend that went back aways. I think we knew his family when we lived in Zimbabwe, or something - details are lost in the fog of the past. But we kept running into each other every few years and kept in touch by occasional letter (in the days before email) or greetings through mutual friends. One youth camp in Bloemfontein saw me, him and Dueps (another nutty bloke) running around all over the place - freezing our butts to metal slides in frosty playgrounds late at night, attempting to find any sort of nightlife (impossible in Bloemfontein) and checking out the talent at the camp, on both sides of the gender divide. He told us tall tales of forays across the Angolan border while in the army, of meeting up with terrorists by mistake while looking for the horses under his care - and coming back with an "A" shaved into his chest hair by them.... but no other damage. And then 10 years ago I heard that he, too had been killed in an accident. Another gentle, crazy soul that leaves an empty space now that he's gone.
Craig Cooper was the golden boy in our church group. One of a family of good-looking guys, all the girls would go nuts over him. A really nice guy though, and at some stage we did become friends. His path took him in a different direction - although I sometimes heard news of his family and what they were up to, I didn't see much of them, or hear about Craig. Until 2 months ago. He committed suicide, leaving behind an ex-wife and three small children. What would make a guy who seemed to have it all do that? How desperate had he become that death was the only way out? I wish I knew, and wish I had known enough to see if I could help while there was still a chance.
These three are remembered, and lost. In my life for such a short time, but they left a lasting impression that even now shows up in dreams and thoughts.
I've been honoured to know many other amazing men too. Ones that still fill this world with their incredible personalities and presence. They're unique, awesome, crazy, fun - and friends. They enrich my life in ways I can't describe, filling in the ebb and flow of the journey with insight, wisdom and richness. Many I feel a deep affection for, a respect and admiration that has nothing to do with the usual girl/guy stuff. Some I may even love - usually platonic, but sometimes I slip up thanks to their complete and utter deliciousness... :-) (hey, I'm only human!). One or two of them I think are simply the bees knees, the best thing since sliced bread.
But whatever role they play in my life, I'm thankful they're there. I'd hate to be without them.
Savour
Can you imagine if all food were just meant to keep us alive? Fuel for our cells? It wouldn't need to look good, taste good - we could have a nutritious drip inserted into our veins and still keep going full-strength.
Instead it's absolutely marvellous sometimes to truly relish the good food we have. I know not all of it is necessarily the healthiest, but there are some things that are just goooood!
I've got a favourite "comfort food" - a triple-decker sandwich layered with good-quality white cheddar and sliced sweet & sour pickles, microwaved for a minute until the cheese is just melting. Thinking of it has my mouth watering - though it's not something I'd live off of.
Lemon sorbet on a hot day - how divine is that! Or fresh-picked home-grown baby tomatoes, still warm from the sun and bursting like a universe of flavour in your mouth. Sweet watermelon - not grainy, not over-ripe, just perfect. Or a fresh focaccia steaming with herbs and olives right out of the oven.
Last weekend I got into baking mode and made pizza bases (my special recipe) - topped them with a mixture of crumbled feta, olive oil, rosemary, garlic and calamata olives. We ate that with a tomato-smothered pasta. Pure heaven.
And, on the more sinful side - what about a fallen chocolate cake - the kind that is merely dark chocolate, eggs and a smattering of flour, sinking into mousse at the bottom with a crisp thin crust on top. Too rich to eat in quantity, but a teaspoonfull melting in the mouth is ecstasy!
In winter there's nothing like the smell of a curry or thick stew simmering on the stove, or a tray of roast potatoes with thyme in the oven. The aroma of bread just baked, smothered in real farm butter and chunky strawberry jam.
I'm so glad we don't live with nutritional liquid drips feeding us what's needed to keep our bodies going. Instead we get to savour a myriad of marvellous tastes, textures and smells, revel in enjoying a meal or indulging in the ultimate treat.
Instead it's absolutely marvellous sometimes to truly relish the good food we have. I know not all of it is necessarily the healthiest, but there are some things that are just goooood!
I've got a favourite "comfort food" - a triple-decker sandwich layered with good-quality white cheddar and sliced sweet & sour pickles, microwaved for a minute until the cheese is just melting. Thinking of it has my mouth watering - though it's not something I'd live off of.
Lemon sorbet on a hot day - how divine is that! Or fresh-picked home-grown baby tomatoes, still warm from the sun and bursting like a universe of flavour in your mouth. Sweet watermelon - not grainy, not over-ripe, just perfect. Or a fresh focaccia steaming with herbs and olives right out of the oven.
Last weekend I got into baking mode and made pizza bases (my special recipe) - topped them with a mixture of crumbled feta, olive oil, rosemary, garlic and calamata olives. We ate that with a tomato-smothered pasta. Pure heaven.
And, on the more sinful side - what about a fallen chocolate cake - the kind that is merely dark chocolate, eggs and a smattering of flour, sinking into mousse at the bottom with a crisp thin crust on top. Too rich to eat in quantity, but a teaspoonfull melting in the mouth is ecstasy!
In winter there's nothing like the smell of a curry or thick stew simmering on the stove, or a tray of roast potatoes with thyme in the oven. The aroma of bread just baked, smothered in real farm butter and chunky strawberry jam.
I'm so glad we don't live with nutritional liquid drips feeding us what's needed to keep our bodies going. Instead we get to savour a myriad of marvellous tastes, textures and smells, revel in enjoying a meal or indulging in the ultimate treat.
Braving the Wilds
I admit it - I still haven't done a stitch of Xmas shopping! And I'm still completely uninspired as to what to give the relatives...
However, this afternoon I'm going to have to suck it up and brave the Mall. We need food for the week to come, I have some payments to make and a bank transfer. All of which can't be done at the mini-mall just down the road. We have to head into the Wilds of the Big Mall.
And believe me at this time of year it's WILD. With our out-of-towners descended, the Xmas madness taking consumerism to a whole new level, and dire warnings of price increases ahead, you can bet the cash changing hands in that one place alone is immense. Add in crowds - and my pet peeve, those who not only walk, nay wander, 10-abreast, but stop unexpectedly and block foot traffic - and it's going to be more stress than fun getting our shopping sorted today.
As to the Xmas gift shopping - I really don't know when I'll get that done. Perhaps I should sneak down early one day before the holiday masses awake, with a list in hand and a concrete plan, do a run-through and then retreat.
My past strategy has been to stock up on non-perishables weeks in advance, get the perishables from a small store nearby, and have the Xmas shopping out the way by the end of November. I must have slipped up badly this year! :-)
Anyhow - if you don't hear from me this weekend, please send a search and rescue team to haul me out of the crowds and fix me up. Just look for the disoriented chick standing in the middle of nowhere with confusion all over her face, clutching a bag of groceries.
::update::
Well, that wasn't so bad! The mall was a whole lot emptier than I expected, and I actually did all my Xmas shopping (bar one thing that I must get without the kid) in about half an hour! It's nothing fancy, but it's gifts, and useful ones at that. Can you believe, I actually forgot it was payday... :-)
Next week we are definitely working half-days, so any remaining things can be done in the afternoons. Like taking the newly-serviced car back to the mechanic to find out what's rattling in the engine, why it won't start easily and why it's jerking now and then. It's actually worse than before it was serviced!!! I've had a look, and although I recognize even more engine parts than I did the last time I looked under the bonnet, I can't see the problem. Only he knows what he fiddled with. This will probably be the last trip to him (bar sorting out backlashing diffs in Jan), so I'm going to have to get my hands greasy in two cars hereafter.
Talking of which, have just done one thing in the Landy that has me smelling like fuel again... kinda clings to the skin! :-)
However, this afternoon I'm going to have to suck it up and brave the Mall. We need food for the week to come, I have some payments to make and a bank transfer. All of which can't be done at the mini-mall just down the road. We have to head into the Wilds of the Big Mall.
And believe me at this time of year it's WILD. With our out-of-towners descended, the Xmas madness taking consumerism to a whole new level, and dire warnings of price increases ahead, you can bet the cash changing hands in that one place alone is immense. Add in crowds - and my pet peeve, those who not only walk, nay wander, 10-abreast, but stop unexpectedly and block foot traffic - and it's going to be more stress than fun getting our shopping sorted today.
As to the Xmas gift shopping - I really don't know when I'll get that done. Perhaps I should sneak down early one day before the holiday masses awake, with a list in hand and a concrete plan, do a run-through and then retreat.
My past strategy has been to stock up on non-perishables weeks in advance, get the perishables from a small store nearby, and have the Xmas shopping out the way by the end of November. I must have slipped up badly this year! :-)
Anyhow - if you don't hear from me this weekend, please send a search and rescue team to haul me out of the crowds and fix me up. Just look for the disoriented chick standing in the middle of nowhere with confusion all over her face, clutching a bag of groceries.
::update::
Well, that wasn't so bad! The mall was a whole lot emptier than I expected, and I actually did all my Xmas shopping (bar one thing that I must get without the kid) in about half an hour! It's nothing fancy, but it's gifts, and useful ones at that. Can you believe, I actually forgot it was payday... :-)
Next week we are definitely working half-days, so any remaining things can be done in the afternoons. Like taking the newly-serviced car back to the mechanic to find out what's rattling in the engine, why it won't start easily and why it's jerking now and then. It's actually worse than before it was serviced!!! I've had a look, and although I recognize even more engine parts than I did the last time I looked under the bonnet, I can't see the problem. Only he knows what he fiddled with. This will probably be the last trip to him (bar sorting out backlashing diffs in Jan), so I'm going to have to get my hands greasy in two cars hereafter.
Talking of which, have just done one thing in the Landy that has me smelling like fuel again... kinda clings to the skin! :-)
Snippets for Thursday
* This is too weird. I usually hang around as "invisible" on Skype and am left in peace (bar the odd question as to whether I have a private office.. ;-) ) - but in the past day I've had 3 strangers wanting to get chatty. OK, with my blindingly brilliant personality and photo (of a deserted road), perhaps they can't resist my magnetic pull. Yeah right... Anyhoo, the weirdest thing of all is that their messages were left yesterday, but have appeared today. Either I'm stuck in a time-loop or our internet is WAY slower than I thought! LOL (And no, I'm not providing any photos of me, especially half-nekkid ones)
* Male circumcision is a very debateable topic, and one that could be argued both for and against equally vociferously. One news item online today says circumcised men have a 50% less chance of contracting HIV. I know that in recent years many have decided against circumcision for their sons. A few decades back it was an accepted thing to do. My son is circumcised - I insisted on watching the procedure - but I'm still not sure whether it was the right or the wrong thing to do. The debate rages forth...
* This morning we discovered the quickest way to work through an agenda at meetings. This time there were snacks provided for after the meeting - what would normally have taken 2 hours took a mere 45 minutes! :-) I've never seen such quick moving and seconding and voting happen!
* I've finally got Overland stickers for my vehicles! I've been a part of the forum for a few months now, and decided it's time to "brand" the cars so we can be recognized en route by other members. I may, however, have the only Ford Sierra with an Overland sticker on the entire forum.. :-) Yes, the Landy got one too. And I have 2 spares, just in case.
* The blogosphere appears to be slowly shutting down for the festive season as folk leave their regular computer access and head off into holiday mode. I'm starting to feel a bit like the last blog outpost! :-) Also getting that feeling at work, where most have either disappeared for their holiday, or are doing so come Friday. I'm working through, having transferred my leave to next year to squeeze all I can out of it when I have better things to do with the days off. I shall remain and guard the fortress!!!
* That said, my work load has far from diminished - but at least I have some peace and quiet in which to attempt getting through everything.
* I think Google's having a bad day, or their attempts at world domination are being undermined. I've had endless problems with Gmail, Reader and Blogger today - signing me out randomly, not loading properly, not recognizing settings. Or maybe they're upgrading to another New & Shiny? Who knows.. There are things that happen in the etherworld that are anyone's guess.
* Male circumcision is a very debateable topic, and one that could be argued both for and against equally vociferously. One news item online today says circumcised men have a 50% less chance of contracting HIV. I know that in recent years many have decided against circumcision for their sons. A few decades back it was an accepted thing to do. My son is circumcised - I insisted on watching the procedure - but I'm still not sure whether it was the right or the wrong thing to do. The debate rages forth...
* This morning we discovered the quickest way to work through an agenda at meetings. This time there were snacks provided for after the meeting - what would normally have taken 2 hours took a mere 45 minutes! :-) I've never seen such quick moving and seconding and voting happen!
* I've finally got Overland stickers for my vehicles! I've been a part of the forum for a few months now, and decided it's time to "brand" the cars so we can be recognized en route by other members. I may, however, have the only Ford Sierra with an Overland sticker on the entire forum.. :-) Yes, the Landy got one too. And I have 2 spares, just in case.
* The blogosphere appears to be slowly shutting down for the festive season as folk leave their regular computer access and head off into holiday mode. I'm starting to feel a bit like the last blog outpost! :-) Also getting that feeling at work, where most have either disappeared for their holiday, or are doing so come Friday. I'm working through, having transferred my leave to next year to squeeze all I can out of it when I have better things to do with the days off. I shall remain and guard the fortress!!!
* That said, my work load has far from diminished - but at least I have some peace and quiet in which to attempt getting through everything.
* I think Google's having a bad day, or their attempts at world domination are being undermined. I've had endless problems with Gmail, Reader and Blogger today - signing me out randomly, not loading properly, not recognizing settings. Or maybe they're upgrading to another New & Shiny? Who knows.. There are things that happen in the etherworld that are anyone's guess.
Language Skills
A few weeks back I bought a Spanish language-learning pack. 4 CDs and a pretty comprehensive book. They've been sitting on my desk looking at me with an accusing eye ever since... :-)
I could have used some Spanish skills yesterday. I had a phonecall from Peru, someone wanting information on a few things. I could understand what they needed - but couldn't answer! I had to call in my German boss - who also speeks Spanish - to help them out.
So why Spanish? Well, I'm still planning to do the Camino, though I haven't said much on it lately. In addition, many queries I get in my work line are from Spanish-speaking countries. And it's used worldwide. It's not a difficult language to learn. There are similarities to English if you look and listen properly. Written Spanish makes sense to me, and if I string together the words I do understand in spoken Spanish, I know what the general gist is there too. It should be easy to pick up.
Yet I keep putting it off... Why? Because it's like many things I need to do - I want an uninterrupted block of time to get to it, and that kind of thing is in very short supply. I'd have it running in the background at work, plugged into my ear, if I didn't have phonecalls to answer and people dropping in constantly. I'd have it running at home if I didn't have general household stuff to do at the same time.
But then I really should stop finding excuses. It's a language I've wanted to learn for ages. I'd better just get to it.
As soon as this upcoming meeting is done. (If I had a CD player I'd plug in an offside ear during it, as my dad used to do for the live cricket score with a pocket-size radio.. :-) )
I could have used some Spanish skills yesterday. I had a phonecall from Peru, someone wanting information on a few things. I could understand what they needed - but couldn't answer! I had to call in my German boss - who also speeks Spanish - to help them out.
So why Spanish? Well, I'm still planning to do the Camino, though I haven't said much on it lately. In addition, many queries I get in my work line are from Spanish-speaking countries. And it's used worldwide. It's not a difficult language to learn. There are similarities to English if you look and listen properly. Written Spanish makes sense to me, and if I string together the words I do understand in spoken Spanish, I know what the general gist is there too. It should be easy to pick up.
Yet I keep putting it off... Why? Because it's like many things I need to do - I want an uninterrupted block of time to get to it, and that kind of thing is in very short supply. I'd have it running in the background at work, plugged into my ear, if I didn't have phonecalls to answer and people dropping in constantly. I'd have it running at home if I didn't have general household stuff to do at the same time.
But then I really should stop finding excuses. It's a language I've wanted to learn for ages. I'd better just get to it.
As soon as this upcoming meeting is done. (If I had a CD player I'd plug in an offside ear during it, as my dad used to do for the live cricket score with a pocket-size radio.. :-) )
Interpreter of Dreams
I've been plagued by the strangest dreams lately! Well - not plagued as much as just finding myself dreaming things every night that seem to follow along a particular theme.
They say that dreams are your brain's way of processing all the thoughts, worries, plans, events and experiences of the day. While your body is in rest mode, the brain kicks in to sort the information and make sense of it. That's probably why the most brilliant ideas happen in those seconds before you fall asleep - unfortunately most of them are forgotten by morning!
If I were to go on the above theory of day-processing, I may start to worry about the content of my dreams and what it says about the subconcious head-space I'm in! What I dream is certainly not things I'd usually do or even consider doing during daylight hours. They involve surprising people and situations, completely disconnected from reality.
Perhaps they're mere expressions of needs and desires under the surface, things I didn't know I wanted or needed. Those that I can remember in the morning have me dissecting each one, picking apart what makes sense and can be confirmed from what is just fantasy filling in the blanks.
Whatever they're caused by, they're not nightmares. For that I'm thankful! During times of extreme stress or uncertainty I've had one recurring very bad dream, the kind that has you gasping in your sleep and scared to wake up in case it's true - but that hasn't happened for many years.
There are some dreams I'm tempted to act on - to probe into real life and see if they stand up to questioning. I know better than to do that though. They're really all just in my head, waymarks of thought to point me toward some introspection or perhaps a lightbulb moment. They inhabit the dark, the imagination, the back shelves of my brain. Most would shrivel into colourless imitations of themselves if exposed to reality.
In the meantime I'm kinda enjoying my mind-cinema and what it produces each night. Pretty entertaining stuff! :-)
They say that dreams are your brain's way of processing all the thoughts, worries, plans, events and experiences of the day. While your body is in rest mode, the brain kicks in to sort the information and make sense of it. That's probably why the most brilliant ideas happen in those seconds before you fall asleep - unfortunately most of them are forgotten by morning!
If I were to go on the above theory of day-processing, I may start to worry about the content of my dreams and what it says about the subconcious head-space I'm in! What I dream is certainly not things I'd usually do or even consider doing during daylight hours. They involve surprising people and situations, completely disconnected from reality.
Perhaps they're mere expressions of needs and desires under the surface, things I didn't know I wanted or needed. Those that I can remember in the morning have me dissecting each one, picking apart what makes sense and can be confirmed from what is just fantasy filling in the blanks.
Whatever they're caused by, they're not nightmares. For that I'm thankful! During times of extreme stress or uncertainty I've had one recurring very bad dream, the kind that has you gasping in your sleep and scared to wake up in case it's true - but that hasn't happened for many years.
There are some dreams I'm tempted to act on - to probe into real life and see if they stand up to questioning. I know better than to do that though. They're really all just in my head, waymarks of thought to point me toward some introspection or perhaps a lightbulb moment. They inhabit the dark, the imagination, the back shelves of my brain. Most would shrivel into colourless imitations of themselves if exposed to reality.
In the meantime I'm kinda enjoying my mind-cinema and what it produces each night. Pretty entertaining stuff! :-)
For the Record...
.. I could really do with a pair of strong hands working my shoulders tonight! I thought an hour-and-more walk would relax them, but no. I guess the day took more strain than I thought.
One thing left to try, and that's a long, hot, bubbly bath. If that doesn't work I may have to budget a monthly amount and just hire someone! :-) (Preferably someone who comes with a tropical island and waving palm fronds - or a cozy fireplace and sheepskin rug, either way just as long as they have magic hands)
One thing left to try, and that's a long, hot, bubbly bath. If that doesn't work I may have to budget a monthly amount and just hire someone! :-) (Preferably someone who comes with a tropical island and waving palm fronds - or a cozy fireplace and sheepskin rug, either way just as long as they have magic hands)
Surviving the Teen Years
I hope my son survives the teen years. Not because of any teen angst or raging hormones. Oh no - I hope he survives me!
He's been going out of his way to irritate the heck out of me lately. He discovered long ago that I hate the whiney voice that moans and begs - so now he uses it constantly, no matter what he's saying. And he doesn't say that much. But more and more what he does say is also irritating me - it's one moany whine after another, nothing serious, but just the kind of thing that makes me want to grind my teeth or move out.
Tonight he was going on about something I had no control over, just because he could - a video disk didn't want to play on either of our computers, so he upped the "why" factor in his nasal tone and kept at it until I was ready to shout at him, adding in moans over supper and why it wasn't ready yet (when he chose to have breakfast at lunchtime and then not have lunch at all). I didn't shout at him - but I was so close.
I think I've bred a monster too... It's been easier for me to simply do stuff than to goad and prod him into helping - so I've ended up doing everything. He has basically no chores (my bad), expects meals and stuff to just come to him, and spends his entire day sitting on his butt ordering things. OK - to be fair, he does get helpful now and then, but not that often. I've tried to bribe him with an allowance increase, I've left things to fester (literally - like his toy piles and shoes in the corner), I've asked nicely, I've asked not so nicely. Sometimes things get done, sometimes they simply don't. And I end up p'd off. (On a side note, our neighbour and IT guy mentioned that if he cleaned the space next to the computer, he'd have more room for gaming stuff - it was done within minutes! I have a good mind to give our IT guy a list of other things I want done... :-) )
Unfortunately for all involved we're merely starting out with this whole teen thing. He's just turned 13 6 months ago and we have a loooonnng road ahead still. These are still mini-tremors, the big one/s are on their way.
Tonight I'm wondering how I'm going to cope. I've had it quite easy up to now - no messy divorce or custody battles, no real hassles with him, nothing. We've had a good understanding and gotten along more as equals than parent/son. Now he's testing his boundaries, and I hope he doesn't flatten me in the process.
Or me him...
He's been going out of his way to irritate the heck out of me lately. He discovered long ago that I hate the whiney voice that moans and begs - so now he uses it constantly, no matter what he's saying. And he doesn't say that much. But more and more what he does say is also irritating me - it's one moany whine after another, nothing serious, but just the kind of thing that makes me want to grind my teeth or move out.
Tonight he was going on about something I had no control over, just because he could - a video disk didn't want to play on either of our computers, so he upped the "why" factor in his nasal tone and kept at it until I was ready to shout at him, adding in moans over supper and why it wasn't ready yet (when he chose to have breakfast at lunchtime and then not have lunch at all). I didn't shout at him - but I was so close.
I think I've bred a monster too... It's been easier for me to simply do stuff than to goad and prod him into helping - so I've ended up doing everything. He has basically no chores (my bad), expects meals and stuff to just come to him, and spends his entire day sitting on his butt ordering things. OK - to be fair, he does get helpful now and then, but not that often. I've tried to bribe him with an allowance increase, I've left things to fester (literally - like his toy piles and shoes in the corner), I've asked nicely, I've asked not so nicely. Sometimes things get done, sometimes they simply don't. And I end up p'd off. (On a side note, our neighbour and IT guy mentioned that if he cleaned the space next to the computer, he'd have more room for gaming stuff - it was done within minutes! I have a good mind to give our IT guy a list of other things I want done... :-) )
Unfortunately for all involved we're merely starting out with this whole teen thing. He's just turned 13 6 months ago and we have a loooonnng road ahead still. These are still mini-tremors, the big one/s are on their way.
Tonight I'm wondering how I'm going to cope. I've had it quite easy up to now - no messy divorce or custody battles, no real hassles with him, nothing. We've had a good understanding and gotten along more as equals than parent/son. Now he's testing his boundaries, and I hope he doesn't flatten me in the process.
Or me him...
Resurrection! Well - sorta..
I was quite surprised to see an Olive Thrush today hopping around the place where one was squashed yesterday. I thought perhaps it had been resurrected, re-inflated and glued back together - but it seems it was a case of mistaken identity.
There was indeed an Olive Thrush mown down by a speeding car, but it wasn't the one I usually see. He's still alive and well, and thriving on a variety of insect life in his usual place.
Sad to see the other dead one still there, but I'm glad there's still another around.
There was indeed an Olive Thrush mown down by a speeding car, but it wasn't the one I usually see. He's still alive and well, and thriving on a variety of insect life in his usual place.
Sad to see the other dead one still there, but I'm glad there's still another around.
Peace
Music: "Untitled" from "God Shuffled His Feet" - Crash Test Dummies
Yes, I'm aware I need a tripod! :-)
Deer in Headlights
You know that feeling you get when you look at all the stuff you need to do, and it's really really a big pile - so big that you can't figure out where to start, so you don't start at all?
Yeah, that feeling. I've totally got it today.
It's not like I haven't done a lot of work. It's just that there a gigantic job waiting for me that's complicated and will take 100% brain power. And I'm not sure I have 50% brain power post-lunch! Between the heat and the food hitting the stomach, I really just want to flop down somewhere comfy and bugging-insect-free and doze. I'm all for the concept of siesta! Winter or summer.
So if you happen to see me today, kindly ignore the caught-in-headlights look on my face. And then give me kick in the right direction to just get going. Or I may end up putting this entire thing off permanently.
Yeah, that feeling. I've totally got it today.
It's not like I haven't done a lot of work. It's just that there a gigantic job waiting for me that's complicated and will take 100% brain power. And I'm not sure I have 50% brain power post-lunch! Between the heat and the food hitting the stomach, I really just want to flop down somewhere comfy and bugging-insect-free and doze. I'm all for the concept of siesta! Winter or summer.
So if you happen to see me today, kindly ignore the caught-in-headlights look on my face. And then give me kick in the right direction to just get going. Or I may end up putting this entire thing off permanently.
Boxes
If you didn't think me strange before, you're certainly gonna now!
I can never resist a good cardboard box. Our computer department has just had a huge delivery of monitors, keyboards and the like delivered, installed - and now they're chucking out boxes. Guess what I've swiped! :-)
Thing is, I've gotten really tired of buying boxes and packaging, especially when it comes to posting things or storing things or whatever. Why pay some inflated price when the stuff is lying around free? And these are very nice boxes - right size and shape, decent quality to prevent things being damaged in transit. No ways I'm gonna let them end up on the landfill. Well, some of them anyway - no chance I'll give all of them a home.
I guess it's the frugal scavenger in me that appears when I see stuff lying around that can be reused, or still has some life left in it, or can be repurposed. Or my great-aunt Geraldine's genes coming through. A true hoarder if ever there was one! :-)
So today my office looks like a storage facility. Nifty boxes piled up, just waiting to head home.
Yes I'm weird.
I can never resist a good cardboard box. Our computer department has just had a huge delivery of monitors, keyboards and the like delivered, installed - and now they're chucking out boxes. Guess what I've swiped! :-)
Thing is, I've gotten really tired of buying boxes and packaging, especially when it comes to posting things or storing things or whatever. Why pay some inflated price when the stuff is lying around free? And these are very nice boxes - right size and shape, decent quality to prevent things being damaged in transit. No ways I'm gonna let them end up on the landfill. Well, some of them anyway - no chance I'll give all of them a home.
I guess it's the frugal scavenger in me that appears when I see stuff lying around that can be reused, or still has some life left in it, or can be repurposed. Or my great-aunt Geraldine's genes coming through. A true hoarder if ever there was one! :-)
So today my office looks like a storage facility. Nifty boxes piled up, just waiting to head home.
Yes I'm weird.
Music in the Morning
There's some music that just goes with certain days. Today it's a slight party spirit and the heat of summer. So here's what's on my playlist first thing this morning:
Does your mother know - ABBA (woke up with this in the head)
Texas - Chris Rea
Ordinary World - Duran Duran
Insomnia - Faithless
Hotel California - Eagles
Al le die berge nog so blou - Johannes Kerkorrel
In the air tonight - Phil Collins
Something about you - Level 42
Down under - Men at Work
Beds are Burning - Midnight Oil
Africa - Toto
Unchain my heart - Joe Cocker
This Kiss - Faith Hill
Drift Away - Dobie Grey
Desert Rose - Sting
Another Universe - Arno Carstens
All songs that say "summer!", and give the perfect backtrack to start the working day with. Hope my colleagues agree!!! :-)
What's on your playlist today?
--------------
Hmm... I think I'm gonna be really nice and actually link these up - just in case you want them on your playlist too. Right-click and "save target as" or however your browser does it. Limited time only! :-)
::update::
And after a bit of head-banging Seether to get me through some heavy coding for the website, now we're on to a run of orchestral & classical! Yeah, I have varied tastes.. :-)
Does your mother know - ABBA (woke up with this in the head)
Texas - Chris Rea
Ordinary World - Duran Duran
Insomnia - Faithless
Hotel California - Eagles
Al le die berge nog so blou - Johannes Kerkorrel
In the air tonight - Phil Collins
Something about you - Level 42
Down under - Men at Work
Beds are Burning - Midnight Oil
Africa - Toto
Unchain my heart - Joe Cocker
This Kiss - Faith Hill
Drift Away - Dobie Grey
Desert Rose - Sting
Another Universe - Arno Carstens
All songs that say "summer!", and give the perfect backtrack to start the working day with. Hope my colleagues agree!!! :-)
What's on your playlist today?
--------------
Hmm... I think I'm gonna be really nice and actually link these up - just in case you want them on your playlist too. Right-click and "save target as" or however your browser does it. Limited time only! :-)
::update::
And after a bit of head-banging Seether to get me through some heavy coding for the website, now we're on to a run of orchestral & classical! Yeah, I have varied tastes.. :-)
Post-day Thoughts
It's been one of those Days today - one I hope will not set a trend for the next year! I was busy all day, but not the kind of productive busy. Nope, most of the day was spent caught up in meetings. Ones that either went around in circles, or in which I didn't have too much to contribute. Such are some working days...
But it's a hot one too, and I have to admit I debated whether to go walking after work or not. As I started out, I debated what route to take - I ended up doing the long one, and sure suffered for it! A small breeze right at the end was the saving grace that got me home. I really need to get a swimming costume so I can hit our half-Olympic size pool on days when it's too hot to walk. Mine has perished elastic in a few vital spots and I wouldn't want to flash the locals. At least I got up and going today though, heat or not. And feeling better for it too.
One thing that made me sad was the discovery that an Olive Thrush had been flattened by a speeding car while I was walking. I've seen the same bird every day, and had gotten to the point where I didn't frighten it off when I passed. But it's territory is in a blind spot for cars motoring up the hill, and many of our drivers don't care for birds and lizards. I only hope it didn't have a nest full of young to care for.
As the day winds down there's still so much I would have like to accomplish. But if I've learnt anything, it's that sometimes you gotta let things slide (though not too often), and realize you're not superhuman. If you get some sleep, eat, work, play... then you've done well for your allotted 24 hours. You've lived - even if your to-do list is as long as when you started.
Since I've had a watch on my arm again, I've been struck by time and how it goes by whether you like it or not. If I'm leaning my head on my hand, there's the sound of seconds disappearing, right near my ear. It's made me stop and think more than once - how have I spent these past few seconds? OK, you don't need to crowd them with activity all the time, but it's good to think now and then on what you are doing as life ticks by. Living those dreams? At least working toward them? Appreciating your surroundings and the feeling of aliveness coursing through the veins? Or merely existing in a nothing-space?
Thus said, I think I'll go spend a few more seconds in the great outdoors, toes in the sun on the little wall around my verandah, appreciating my summery surroundings.
But it's a hot one too, and I have to admit I debated whether to go walking after work or not. As I started out, I debated what route to take - I ended up doing the long one, and sure suffered for it! A small breeze right at the end was the saving grace that got me home. I really need to get a swimming costume so I can hit our half-Olympic size pool on days when it's too hot to walk. Mine has perished elastic in a few vital spots and I wouldn't want to flash the locals. At least I got up and going today though, heat or not. And feeling better for it too.
One thing that made me sad was the discovery that an Olive Thrush had been flattened by a speeding car while I was walking. I've seen the same bird every day, and had gotten to the point where I didn't frighten it off when I passed. But it's territory is in a blind spot for cars motoring up the hill, and many of our drivers don't care for birds and lizards. I only hope it didn't have a nest full of young to care for.
As the day winds down there's still so much I would have like to accomplish. But if I've learnt anything, it's that sometimes you gotta let things slide (though not too often), and realize you're not superhuman. If you get some sleep, eat, work, play... then you've done well for your allotted 24 hours. You've lived - even if your to-do list is as long as when you started.
Since I've had a watch on my arm again, I've been struck by time and how it goes by whether you like it or not. If I'm leaning my head on my hand, there's the sound of seconds disappearing, right near my ear. It's made me stop and think more than once - how have I spent these past few seconds? OK, you don't need to crowd them with activity all the time, but it's good to think now and then on what you are doing as life ticks by. Living those dreams? At least working toward them? Appreciating your surroundings and the feeling of aliveness coursing through the veins? Or merely existing in a nothing-space?
Thus said, I think I'll go spend a few more seconds in the great outdoors, toes in the sun on the little wall around my verandah, appreciating my summery surroundings.
Fly Swatter...?
I guess chopping your food right at the bin does make it easier to kill any flies landing on it. In fact, you can simply open the lid, scoop and direct them inside! You may struggle to keep them there though.
IOL does it again. I wonder how much they'd pay a spell-and-image checker for their newsletters?
Good old days
Gotta link this one - it's got me all nostaligic today!
Perhaps a reason why The Dangerous Book for Boys is such a best-seller...
Perhaps a reason why The Dangerous Book for Boys is such a best-seller...
Birthday resolutions
Some folk make New Year's resolutions, but not me. I tend to use my birthday for that each year. It's close enough to the end of the year anyway! :-)
So as I hit the 35-year mark, what's up for the year ahead?
* As mentioned before, it's going to be a year of magnificence. In as many aspects as I can manage. I'm already working on the body (and have been told I look stunning today - a good start! :-) ), I've sorted out the mind-set toward expecting abundance and good things, I'm finding new energy to achieve goals I was willing to give up on. Who says someone half-way to 70 can't be magnificent? :-)
* In the coming year I'm taking back my power. I refuse to be intimidated by those who know more than I do, have brains that work better than mine, are more beautiful or passionate. I'm also not going to be intimidated by those who are mean or petty or wish me no good. I will not let circumstances intimidate me, leaving me feeling helpless. I will not let finances (or a serious lack thereof) intimidate me neither! I feel it in my bones - I've got the first grip on control again.
* It's going to be a year of big changes in many ways. I've got a business (or two) to get completely off the ground, a new place to live to find, probably new income-generation (work), and some up-the-parenting to do on the teen. Oh yes, things will indeed change. And for the better of course.
* I will get laid. Oh yes I will! Laugh if you will, but hey - 10 years is just a little bit too long to not be getting any! :-) Or, preferably - I will do some laying. (And that's all I'm going to say on this subject here - because sometimes too much information is a bad thing)
* I'm going to up my skills in a number of areas (unrelated to the immediately-above paragraph of course!!! LOL) - things I already enjoy doing, and can do reasonably well. I'm going to become a master of them and so pave a solid path into the future.
* I'm not going to give up. Not on my dreams, not on my desires, not on my goals - not for a single day. Granted, there will be dips - there are always dips - but they will be blips on the screen, nothing more. I will not be making any excuses for a lack of success in any area, instead I'll pour all I have into achieving what I know in my heart is just waiting to be done.
* I'm getting back out into the world, no longer hiding behind closed doors. I'm going to expand my circle of friends, get a social life at last, and hang out with people more than hang in with my computer. I'll no longer be invisible in society.
* This will be a year of adventure. Big ones, small ones, ones far afield and ones close to home. A year lived looking for adventures and experiences, seeking them out to relish and revel. I'll do my best to pass this attitude on to my son, who has become a serious couch-potato computer geek lately, and needs to rediscover the wonder of the world.
I'm pretty sure other subtle "resolutions" will pop up as the year progresses, but this is where I'm starting from.
Here's to being 35! Somehow old and young all at the same time, but a very good place to be.
So as I hit the 35-year mark, what's up for the year ahead?
* As mentioned before, it's going to be a year of magnificence. In as many aspects as I can manage. I'm already working on the body (and have been told I look stunning today - a good start! :-) ), I've sorted out the mind-set toward expecting abundance and good things, I'm finding new energy to achieve goals I was willing to give up on. Who says someone half-way to 70 can't be magnificent? :-)
* In the coming year I'm taking back my power. I refuse to be intimidated by those who know more than I do, have brains that work better than mine, are more beautiful or passionate. I'm also not going to be intimidated by those who are mean or petty or wish me no good. I will not let circumstances intimidate me, leaving me feeling helpless. I will not let finances (or a serious lack thereof) intimidate me neither! I feel it in my bones - I've got the first grip on control again.
* It's going to be a year of big changes in many ways. I've got a business (or two) to get completely off the ground, a new place to live to find, probably new income-generation (work), and some up-the-parenting to do on the teen. Oh yes, things will indeed change. And for the better of course.
* I will get laid. Oh yes I will! Laugh if you will, but hey - 10 years is just a little bit too long to not be getting any! :-) Or, preferably - I will do some laying. (And that's all I'm going to say on this subject here - because sometimes too much information is a bad thing)
* I'm going to up my skills in a number of areas (unrelated to the immediately-above paragraph of course!!! LOL) - things I already enjoy doing, and can do reasonably well. I'm going to become a master of them and so pave a solid path into the future.
* I'm not going to give up. Not on my dreams, not on my desires, not on my goals - not for a single day. Granted, there will be dips - there are always dips - but they will be blips on the screen, nothing more. I will not be making any excuses for a lack of success in any area, instead I'll pour all I have into achieving what I know in my heart is just waiting to be done.
* I'm getting back out into the world, no longer hiding behind closed doors. I'm going to expand my circle of friends, get a social life at last, and hang out with people more than hang in with my computer. I'll no longer be invisible in society.
* This will be a year of adventure. Big ones, small ones, ones far afield and ones close to home. A year lived looking for adventures and experiences, seeking them out to relish and revel. I'll do my best to pass this attitude on to my son, who has become a serious couch-potato computer geek lately, and needs to rediscover the wonder of the world.
I'm pretty sure other subtle "resolutions" will pop up as the year progresses, but this is where I'm starting from.
Here's to being 35! Somehow old and young all at the same time, but a very good place to be.
Socks - take 2
Is this the image of the promised Washable Sock Holder? Nope - not unless you plan to use your socks to age wine. I'm starting to wonder if anyone checks IOL's newsletters before they go out...
Harp or Guitar?
I've never seen one of these in my life before - a harp guitar. One of the blokes on the UK Landy forums bought one today, and posted a pic, then had to explain to the rest of us rough types what it was! (Which goes to prove not every Landy bloke is a Neanderthal.. :-) ) He also posted this clip, so we could see it in action:
Absolutely amazing. I've always wanted to learn how to play the harp, but this could just be another option. Gotta investigate.
Absolutely amazing. I've always wanted to learn how to play the harp, but this could just be another option. Gotta investigate.
Google Owns Me
I've just "updated" to the new Blogger Beta, sooner rather than later. 3 hours and 46 confirmation emails later, here I am! Can you see a difference? Nope - you probably won't at the moment. Except the "labels" at the bottom of the the post, if I remember to add them.
While waiting for all 2,000+ posts here (and about 150 elsewhere) to drift across, I realize Google totally owns my butt. I'm on Gmail, GChat, Google Reader, a couple of Google Groups, using the Calendar feature (thought not fully), GoogleEarth, and somewhere there's a Google Analytics and Google AdSense account set up in my name. Blogger is Google-owned, as is YouTube. I use Google to search. Only deviation from the norm is my Flickr account - which Yahoo manages - FireFox, and Skype. I'm a good customer evangelist too - I've signed up my son for GMail, a colleague who finished working with us today, and a few others.
Back in my superstitiously-religious past, we used to discuss what form the Anti-Christ and his associated 666-Mark of the Beast would take. Revelation mentions a mark in your hand and on your forehead. I reckon it's Google - in your brain and under your fingertips, subtlely gathering info from every single account or sign-in you have with them, totally owning your life! :-) (update:: And that "you won't be able to buy anything without the mark" thing? Ever heard of Google Checkout? :-) )
I'm convinced it's part of a plot to take over the world. A good one too - especially if they keep on coming out with really cool must-have free stuff (which results in you giving away even more of your life over to our Overlords...!). Pretty easy to track a whole lot of who you are, hey!
But here's to a new Blogger interface in the meantime. And 40 unread RSS feeds. And a few Gmails. And my location plotted exactly thanks to Google Earth - included in my Gmail signature. I'm totally owned.
::update::
And to prove that Google is tops, this post keeps jumping to the top of the page - new post/s below... :-)
While waiting for all 2,000+ posts here (and about 150 elsewhere) to drift across, I realize Google totally owns my butt. I'm on Gmail, GChat, Google Reader, a couple of Google Groups, using the Calendar feature (thought not fully), GoogleEarth, and somewhere there's a Google Analytics and Google AdSense account set up in my name. Blogger is Google-owned, as is YouTube. I use Google to search. Only deviation from the norm is my Flickr account - which Yahoo manages - FireFox, and Skype. I'm a good customer evangelist too - I've signed up my son for GMail, a colleague who finished working with us today, and a few others.
Back in my superstitiously-religious past, we used to discuss what form the Anti-Christ and his associated 666-Mark of the Beast would take. Revelation mentions a mark in your hand and on your forehead. I reckon it's Google - in your brain and under your fingertips, subtlely gathering info from every single account or sign-in you have with them, totally owning your life! :-) (update:: And that "you won't be able to buy anything without the mark" thing? Ever heard of Google Checkout? :-) )
I'm convinced it's part of a plot to take over the world. A good one too - especially if they keep on coming out with really cool must-have free stuff (which results in you giving away even more of your life over to our Overlords...!). Pretty easy to track a whole lot of who you are, hey!
But here's to a new Blogger interface in the meantime. And 40 unread RSS feeds. And a few Gmails. And my location plotted exactly thanks to Google Earth - included in my Gmail signature. I'm totally owned.
::update::
And to prove that Google is tops, this post keeps jumping to the top of the page - new post/s below... :-)
Multitasking
Why spend your weekend at home washing socks? Simply stick them in the kayaks on your car roof and head for your nearest water-way! Ensure you splash plenty of water around to mimic your faithful washing machine, and don't forget the soap. Got no room in your cupboards for your socks? Leave them in the kayaks!
(yet another IOL image/caption mixup)
Uninspired
I've hit a totally uninspired blank patch today. Just drifting with a blank mind. Although I have quite a bit of work to do, I don't have the passionate energy required to get into it whole-heartedly. And it's Friday. The offices here are basically empty - those that are officially around have pushed off somewhere or other. Just adds to the whole atmosphere.
I seem to be suffering weird dreams too lately. You know how when you dream about someone it colours the way you see them the next day - even though they've done nothing to you in "real life"? Well I had a strange dream about my boss last night! :-) I had a whole pile of other crazy dreams, half-remembered, but that was the one I woke up with. I've had to work hard to shake it off this morning and "act normal" (yeah right, like I can do that easily, weird dreams or not!).
I'm also very uninspired with the whole festive season thing. Still at step one in Xmas prezzie planning/making/acquiring (but there are rumours we're going to half-day at work from Monday, which will give me more than enough time to do stuff). I haven't even looked for the decorations, and doubt we'll be putting any up - again. It's been 3 years since we last did, I think. We tend to spend Xmas with my brothers and my sis-in-law's parents anyway, so why decorate a house we're not around? This year I have those two guests arriving - and we're going to need every inch for accommodation, including the space we'd stick a tree in. The most we'll do is put up the nice flashy light things around the windows, I think, if they're still working. (Oh, and get the carpets and lounge suite cleaned - but that doesn't count as Xmas decor)
I'm completely uninspired about the upcoming birthday. Haven't planned a party, or a celebration, or anything - haven't even invited the relatives around for a meal. I'm probably going to treat it as just another day - and haven't even considered the presents/cake option. This after thinking I could make a big deal of it this year - again, haven't done for a few years. I guess after a certain age it doesn't matter that much?
It's just one of those totally static-filled, nothing days. Definitely not a good day for blogging! :-)
I seem to be suffering weird dreams too lately. You know how when you dream about someone it colours the way you see them the next day - even though they've done nothing to you in "real life"? Well I had a strange dream about my boss last night! :-) I had a whole pile of other crazy dreams, half-remembered, but that was the one I woke up with. I've had to work hard to shake it off this morning and "act normal" (yeah right, like I can do that easily, weird dreams or not!).
I'm also very uninspired with the whole festive season thing. Still at step one in Xmas prezzie planning/making/acquiring (but there are rumours we're going to half-day at work from Monday, which will give me more than enough time to do stuff). I haven't even looked for the decorations, and doubt we'll be putting any up - again. It's been 3 years since we last did, I think. We tend to spend Xmas with my brothers and my sis-in-law's parents anyway, so why decorate a house we're not around? This year I have those two guests arriving - and we're going to need every inch for accommodation, including the space we'd stick a tree in. The most we'll do is put up the nice flashy light things around the windows, I think, if they're still working. (Oh, and get the carpets and lounge suite cleaned - but that doesn't count as Xmas decor)
I'm completely uninspired about the upcoming birthday. Haven't planned a party, or a celebration, or anything - haven't even invited the relatives around for a meal. I'm probably going to treat it as just another day - and haven't even considered the presents/cake option. This after thinking I could make a big deal of it this year - again, haven't done for a few years. I guess after a certain age it doesn't matter that much?
It's just one of those totally static-filled, nothing days. Definitely not a good day for blogging! :-)
More than Me
Via Mike, via Dave, and from this website (as the internet tends to be) comes the story behind a video I spotted on YouTube a while back, and one which HAS to be shared here:
There hasn't been a whole lot of what should be flowing out, not in. There hasn't been a determination to better those around me, the world around me - without in some way benefitting myself in the process. It doesn't even need to be something Big or Extreme, just a life lived giving instead of getting.
Tonight this story has given me a stop sign - a brick wall that my thoughts have bashed up against and said "so... how about a not-ME life?".
I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.I've gone on and on about my dreams here. About MY vision for MY life, the one that will make ME happy and fulfilled, all about what the Universe is handing to ME. A lot of my life has been ME-centric too, in spite of apparently convincing myself I've sacrificed a lot for my child. I haven't sacrificed like this father has - nor have I done anything that really gets in the way of ME. Even my choice to be a single mom, to not marry, to not date, not to open my heart to widely or give much of myself to anyone - it's all been about ME. Every experience I strive for, everything I work toward, whatever I write here - it's ME. Even the "unselfish" love and affection I mete out - there's a whole big chunk of "what's in it for me" usually lumped in.
But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he’s pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he’s not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars - all in the same day.
Dick’s also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much - except save his life. This love story began in Winchester, Mass, 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
“He’ll be a vegetable the rest of his life,” Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. “Put him in an institution.”
But the Hoyt’s weren’t buying it. They noticed the way Rick’s eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. “No way,” Dick says he was told. “There’s nothing going on in his brain.”
“Tell him a joke,” Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? “Go Bruins!” and after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, “Dad, I want to do that.”
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described “porker” who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. “Then it was me who was handicapped,” Dick says. “I was sore for two weeks.”
That day changed Rick’s life. “Dad,” he typed, “when we were running, It felt like I wasn’t disabled anymore!”
And that sentence changed Dick’s life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
“No way,” Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyt’s weren’t quite a single runner, and they weren’t quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.”
Then somebody said, “Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?”
How’s a guy who never learned to swim and hadn’t ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.
Now they’ve done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15 hour Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don’t you think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you’d do on your own? “No way,” he says. Dick does it purely for “the awesome feeling” he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 - only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don’t keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
“No question about it,” Rick types. “My dad is the Father of the Century.”
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. “If you hadn’t been in such great shape,” one doctor told him, “you probably would’ve died 15 years ago.” So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other’s lives.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father’s Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
“The thing I’d most like,” Rick types, “is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.”
There hasn't been a whole lot of what should be flowing out, not in. There hasn't been a determination to better those around me, the world around me - without in some way benefitting myself in the process. It doesn't even need to be something Big or Extreme, just a life lived giving instead of getting.
Tonight this story has given me a stop sign - a brick wall that my thoughts have bashed up against and said "so... how about a not-ME life?".
Safe?
The Cape Argus has a story on page 2 about a friend of mine today - who was shot at by police last night on his way home from work (sorry for the small image - will try get a bigger one with the full story later). It's one of many stories coming out recently involving those who are supposed to be keeping society safe and crime-free.
Understandably, the poor guy is very traumatized. It was his first day back at work after some health issues, and the attack has literally opened up old wounds again. He's struggling to sleep, and is feeling very fearful.
Yes, I know South Africa is crime-ridden, and that we have issues with our police force (not enough of them, work stress, underpaid... the list is endless). But something like this deeply concerns me. It's one thing to be a victim of crime - it's another to be a victim of the police.
Yet it seems to be a worldwide problem. Recent news reports have an 18 year old being shot for suspected theft of a PS3 in the USA. A groom gunned down (again by police) outside a club on his wedding day. Every day another story emerges.
Is there anything we ordinary folk can do though? It seems not... not when we're outgunned by the men in uniform...
Understandably, the poor guy is very traumatized. It was his first day back at work after some health issues, and the attack has literally opened up old wounds again. He's struggling to sleep, and is feeling very fearful.
Yes, I know South Africa is crime-ridden, and that we have issues with our police force (not enough of them, work stress, underpaid... the list is endless). But something like this deeply concerns me. It's one thing to be a victim of crime - it's another to be a victim of the police.
Yet it seems to be a worldwide problem. Recent news reports have an 18 year old being shot for suspected theft of a PS3 in the USA. A groom gunned down (again by police) outside a club on his wedding day. Every day another story emerges.
Is there anything we ordinary folk can do though? It seems not... not when we're outgunned by the men in uniform...
Sinking
I dunno if it's just a Thursday-and-not-feeling-well thing, but I've got a serious "sinking feeling" in the pit of my stomach today.
Usually it would be my gut telling me something's wrong. Something I can't define, but know is off. Like impending disaster foretold in the stars kind of stuff - though not much comes of it generally speaking.
Sometimes it's the result of "interpersonal conflict", when you know there's something not right between you and another, or you're waiting to be dumped on from a dizzy height for something that may or may not be your fault. Or just a sense of unease over a friendship or relationship that you're not too sure about.
Perhaps it's tied in with knowing I've fallen behind in some stuff at home - and the Xmas shopping! :-) I like to be organized, to know that I've got control over everything. When I lose that, I start getting the sinking feeling.
Or it could just be the effects of a thick head, tiredness etc - definitely flu/cold and not at all hayfever!
Whatever it is, I hope it goes away before my insides end up inhabiting the floor below me.
Usually it would be my gut telling me something's wrong. Something I can't define, but know is off. Like impending disaster foretold in the stars kind of stuff - though not much comes of it generally speaking.
Sometimes it's the result of "interpersonal conflict", when you know there's something not right between you and another, or you're waiting to be dumped on from a dizzy height for something that may or may not be your fault. Or just a sense of unease over a friendship or relationship that you're not too sure about.
Perhaps it's tied in with knowing I've fallen behind in some stuff at home - and the Xmas shopping! :-) I like to be organized, to know that I've got control over everything. When I lose that, I start getting the sinking feeling.
Or it could just be the effects of a thick head, tiredness etc - definitely flu/cold and not at all hayfever!
Whatever it is, I hope it goes away before my insides end up inhabiting the floor below me.
More Gadgets!
Yesterday's jaunt with the Italian/Swiss/German family netted a gift on our return. I finally have a watch! :-) (Also netted a bit of practice understanding their languages - the wife's English is not too good, but we coped) It's taking some getting used to having something on my wrist again, but it's a very smart device. I've always like the somewhat masculine timepieces, and this is just that - black and silver, minimal design, functional and comfortable - branded "Diadora", so distinctly Italian-sport. Nice...!
I've also heard I'm getting a (slightly used) GPS for Xmas from a friend. Cool! My gadget list is growing - and all of them both free and slightly second-hand. I'm not at all complaining. I'm not one for the latest and greatest (though I may drool over some of them) - as long as it works well, I'm happy.
So here's to an increase in gadgetry! Woohooo! :-)
I've also heard I'm getting a (slightly used) GPS for Xmas from a friend. Cool! My gadget list is growing - and all of them both free and slightly second-hand. I'm not at all complaining. I'm not one for the latest and greatest (though I may drool over some of them) - as long as it works well, I'm happy.
So here's to an increase in gadgetry! Woohooo! :-)
Sjoe!
It's been one of those Days...! I landed running - but with a bout of constant sneezing and sniffling that could only be hayfever... or could it? Around 10 I had to dash off with a carload of Italians, a family who arrived here yesterday and needed to do a good few things in order to settle in. Ever one to help out where I could, I played taxi to the bank, the bed-selling place, the mall - and tourist to where to get this and that. (Realized I need to book the car in for a service - it's not sounding/feeling too great and I have international visitors arriving within weeks)
Lunch fell by the wayside as a result, and I went straight back to work once we were done, it being mid-afternoon and all. Again, landed running - and still hayfeverish. Messages on the phone, the screen, the desk, under my door... A number of fires to stamp out. Such are some working days.
But now the day is ended. With a lack of lunch, it wouldn't be wise to attempt a long fast walk this evening on an empty stomach. So am taking a day's break. I'm still sneezing, but it's starting to sound/feel more like the beginnings of a cold/flu than hayfever - another reason for a day off exercise. I'm not surprised - it's been a while since I wore down and needed a recovery space. Yet I can't really afford to be off sick - and home is no longer a quiet resting area thanks to school holidays! :-)
I'm also not going to be taking any leave in December. At all. We close between Xmas and New Year (I'm back at work on the 2nd), and are likely to have half-days for the week after the 16th, but that's it. I'm transferring what I would have had over to next year and soldiering on through my office's busy time while everyone else hits the beach, the mall, the pool.
Talking of malls... while helping out our Italians today, we had to make a turn by the shops. It was PACKED, mostly with our upcountry brethren, who are conspicuous in their sunburns, shorts and slops (sandals) - plus the inevitable language thing.. :-) I start to avoid shopping from around now every year, and only venture back once they all go home again. Unfortunately I've done NO Xmas shopping - except buying wood for toys for the nephew/s. I'm going to have to brave it sooner or later - preferably sooner. Within a few weeks it's going to be a madhouse there!
In the meantime though, I've got an extended evening at home without my usual hour and a half walk. I'm going to get a decent meal made, the dishes finally finished (they've been languishing due to lack of interest) and see if this hayfever thing clears up or not.
This is one day I'm glad to be done with!
::update::
This is definitely more than hayfever. I'm feeling progressively worse and worse, circling the drain ever faster, feeling like I just need to crawl into bed and sleep.... Not good!
Lunch fell by the wayside as a result, and I went straight back to work once we were done, it being mid-afternoon and all. Again, landed running - and still hayfeverish. Messages on the phone, the screen, the desk, under my door... A number of fires to stamp out. Such are some working days.
But now the day is ended. With a lack of lunch, it wouldn't be wise to attempt a long fast walk this evening on an empty stomach. So am taking a day's break. I'm still sneezing, but it's starting to sound/feel more like the beginnings of a cold/flu than hayfever - another reason for a day off exercise. I'm not surprised - it's been a while since I wore down and needed a recovery space. Yet I can't really afford to be off sick - and home is no longer a quiet resting area thanks to school holidays! :-)
I'm also not going to be taking any leave in December. At all. We close between Xmas and New Year (I'm back at work on the 2nd), and are likely to have half-days for the week after the 16th, but that's it. I'm transferring what I would have had over to next year and soldiering on through my office's busy time while everyone else hits the beach, the mall, the pool.
Talking of malls... while helping out our Italians today, we had to make a turn by the shops. It was PACKED, mostly with our upcountry brethren, who are conspicuous in their sunburns, shorts and slops (sandals) - plus the inevitable language thing.. :-) I start to avoid shopping from around now every year, and only venture back once they all go home again. Unfortunately I've done NO Xmas shopping - except buying wood for toys for the nephew/s. I'm going to have to brave it sooner or later - preferably sooner. Within a few weeks it's going to be a madhouse there!
In the meantime though, I've got an extended evening at home without my usual hour and a half walk. I'm going to get a decent meal made, the dishes finally finished (they've been languishing due to lack of interest) and see if this hayfever thing clears up or not.
This is one day I'm glad to be done with!
::update::
This is definitely more than hayfever. I'm feeling progressively worse and worse, circling the drain ever faster, feeling like I just need to crawl into bed and sleep.... Not good!
Taste of Summer
I extolled the virtues of Salad for Supper last week (I think). Allow me to go one further. There's nothing like summer, with fruit for supper!
I've been feeling heavy and energy-drained lately, so this weekend I plonked down R300+ at Fruit & Veg City for so much fresh stuff that I can't fit it all in the fridge! There's no way in hell the watermelon's going in there, for starters.. but the apples, spanspek (melon), lemons, nectarines, apricots, litchis and bananas are also out and about - some of them parked conveniently next to the kid's computer screen for munching purposes. Talking of whom - he's just gotten back from raiding the neighbour's plum tree, but says they're not quite ripe yet. I see the figs are nearly ready too.
Also unable to be fridged up are potatoes, onions, butternut and gemsquash - with a bag of curry powder and another of crushed dried chilies on the side. Stuffed into the fridge are a variety of peppers, tiny Roma tomatoes, celery, lettuce, cucumber, an insane amount of carrots (been snacking on those constantly), broccoli, garlic, ginger, some really good feta, olives, pesto, local cheese and other goodies. Yum!
So supper tonight has been heavy on the fruit. I've hauled a lot of it outside, and chucked the peels, pips and inedible bits straight into the fern bed (it's called "closing the loop".. :-) ), while watching the pre-frontal clouds turn light tinges of orange and golden purple on the horizon as the sun sinks. Just the kind of thing to end off a hot day - and it was hot. I did only half my usual walk route, knowing that if I went the whole hog I'd end up not in good shape at all. Turns out it was a good call, made it home on the last of the energy.
But I do love summer. With a cool breeze coming in the window, the world quietening down, and really good food to eat - nothing stodgy or heavy. Add in my ongoing sense of settled contentment, and life is pretty peachy (or nectariney, or apricoty, or perhaps watermelony?).
Love it.
I've been feeling heavy and energy-drained lately, so this weekend I plonked down R300+ at Fruit & Veg City for so much fresh stuff that I can't fit it all in the fridge! There's no way in hell the watermelon's going in there, for starters.. but the apples, spanspek (melon), lemons, nectarines, apricots, litchis and bananas are also out and about - some of them parked conveniently next to the kid's computer screen for munching purposes. Talking of whom - he's just gotten back from raiding the neighbour's plum tree, but says they're not quite ripe yet. I see the figs are nearly ready too.
Also unable to be fridged up are potatoes, onions, butternut and gemsquash - with a bag of curry powder and another of crushed dried chilies on the side. Stuffed into the fridge are a variety of peppers, tiny Roma tomatoes, celery, lettuce, cucumber, an insane amount of carrots (been snacking on those constantly), broccoli, garlic, ginger, some really good feta, olives, pesto, local cheese and other goodies. Yum!
So supper tonight has been heavy on the fruit. I've hauled a lot of it outside, and chucked the peels, pips and inedible bits straight into the fern bed (it's called "closing the loop".. :-) ), while watching the pre-frontal clouds turn light tinges of orange and golden purple on the horizon as the sun sinks. Just the kind of thing to end off a hot day - and it was hot. I did only half my usual walk route, knowing that if I went the whole hog I'd end up not in good shape at all. Turns out it was a good call, made it home on the last of the energy.
But I do love summer. With a cool breeze coming in the window, the world quietening down, and really good food to eat - nothing stodgy or heavy. Add in my ongoing sense of settled contentment, and life is pretty peachy (or nectariney, or apricoty, or perhaps watermelony?).
Love it.
Feeds and FireFox
Right, so I've been doing the FireFox thing for 2 weeks now and the RSS reader thing for about a week. Here's the good and the bad - the test report card.
FireFox rules. Really it does. I love the tabbed browsing (constantly got Gmail and GReader open, yet still room to browse), the "restore session" when you have to restart your browser, the little add-on things, and how quickly it loads pages. What I don't like is that the site I designed looked terrible! :-) Well, not that bad - but some of the layout was dodgy in FFox, where it was OK in IE. Now fixed.
My biggest gripe about FFox though is the Bookmarks. In IE you can "personalize" them, so that the ones you visit most regularly show up in a shortened menu and the others are hidden. But not so in FFox - everything shows, and in my case that means trawling through scrolldowns until I find what I want. Hoping FFox will have an add-on to change that sometime, or an update of some sort.
RSS - well, what can I say. Google Reader works very well and is easy to manage - though it does take a bit of time to update new items. As of this morning I've got a Reader Notifer for FFox installed, similar to Gmail's notifier, so new stuff pops up to tell me it's arrived. I realize that readers have completely messed up many of our blog stats 'cos people don't drop by anymore, but read remotely. Ah well, these things happen! :-)
The bad? Well I've become what one friend termed a "feed whore" - I keep adding stuff to my list, in the hope that every time it updates I'll have new stuff to read. Already got over 100 things first thing in the mornig, but is that enough? Nooooo ... :-) Bit of an addiction.
But I also don't like the loss of the "surprise" factor - of clicking through to a website and seeing "hey! there's something new! cool!!". I don't like missing out on the whole effect a site design conveys - the text/images in a reader just don't give you that feel for the site. I enjoy seeing site tweaks - new icons, new layout, a colour change, or updates that don't flow through on a reader screen. So I still do click through to some sites, just because that's the fun part of surfing the net.
Will I go back to IE and no RSS? Hell no. Minor irritations notwithstanding, it's been a good move.
Next up? Well I've been told I need to get with the times and figure out del.icio.us.. :-)
FireFox rules. Really it does. I love the tabbed browsing (constantly got Gmail and GReader open, yet still room to browse), the "restore session" when you have to restart your browser, the little add-on things, and how quickly it loads pages. What I don't like is that the site I designed looked terrible! :-) Well, not that bad - but some of the layout was dodgy in FFox, where it was OK in IE. Now fixed.
My biggest gripe about FFox though is the Bookmarks. In IE you can "personalize" them, so that the ones you visit most regularly show up in a shortened menu and the others are hidden. But not so in FFox - everything shows, and in my case that means trawling through scrolldowns until I find what I want. Hoping FFox will have an add-on to change that sometime, or an update of some sort.
RSS - well, what can I say. Google Reader works very well and is easy to manage - though it does take a bit of time to update new items. As of this morning I've got a Reader Notifer for FFox installed, similar to Gmail's notifier, so new stuff pops up to tell me it's arrived. I realize that readers have completely messed up many of our blog stats 'cos people don't drop by anymore, but read remotely. Ah well, these things happen! :-)
The bad? Well I've become what one friend termed a "feed whore" - I keep adding stuff to my list, in the hope that every time it updates I'll have new stuff to read. Already got over 100 things first thing in the mornig, but is that enough? Nooooo ... :-) Bit of an addiction.
But I also don't like the loss of the "surprise" factor - of clicking through to a website and seeing "hey! there's something new! cool!!". I don't like missing out on the whole effect a site design conveys - the text/images in a reader just don't give you that feel for the site. I enjoy seeing site tweaks - new icons, new layout, a colour change, or updates that don't flow through on a reader screen. So I still do click through to some sites, just because that's the fun part of surfing the net.
Will I go back to IE and no RSS? Hell no. Minor irritations notwithstanding, it's been a good move.
Next up? Well I've been told I need to get with the times and figure out del.icio.us.. :-)
For the record
I just wish to state, for the record, that I totally love JavaScript!
I've been sitting with the website I'm in charge of, trying to figure out how to put in a footer. But not just any footer. One that is actually an external file, simply "linked/inserted" into the page, so that if I change that external file, it changes across the entire site. Instead of having to copy/paste the changes onto every page - and there are a lot of them.
I've spent months searching on websites for answers to this one, the nearest I found being things to do with both CSS and PHP - which I'm not totally up on yet, but learning.
Until a few minutes ago. One blessed expert suggested a simple little JavaScript code. I tried it, and it WORKS! Yay yay yay! Now to go figure out how to create a CSS template file for everything, that includes that small piece of code.. :-) But I'm getting there.
And I truly love JavaScript! :-)
I've been sitting with the website I'm in charge of, trying to figure out how to put in a footer. But not just any footer. One that is actually an external file, simply "linked/inserted" into the page, so that if I change that external file, it changes across the entire site. Instead of having to copy/paste the changes onto every page - and there are a lot of them.
I've spent months searching on websites for answers to this one, the nearest I found being things to do with both CSS and PHP - which I'm not totally up on yet, but learning.
Until a few minutes ago. One blessed expert suggested a simple little JavaScript code. I tried it, and it WORKS! Yay yay yay! Now to go figure out how to create a CSS template file for everything, that includes that small piece of code.. :-) But I'm getting there.
And I truly love JavaScript! :-)
Of (South African) Men - and the Dating thing
So I'm traipsing round my walk route today (which is up to about 12km now, at a pace), and doing my usual "speck out the neighbourhood" thing - Landy spotting (14 today), bird seeking (REALLY close Gymnogene), hi to the regular walkers and joggers and labourers going home - and I realize that every second car has a damn-fine South African man driving it.
Which made me realize I don't appreciate our South African men nearly as much as I should. I mean, you walk the length of the mall and by the time you're done, you should be leaving a drool trail! I remember flying back from the USA, where I saw no good-looking men in an entire 3 1/2 months (sorry USA readers.. :-) perhaps I was in the wrong place/s), and as I boarded the SAA flight London to Cape Town, a stream of the most delicious men with South African accents filled up the plane! I remember thinking "man, I'm glad I'm South African"... :-)
So while I was walking and realizing I don't appreciate our men enough, it also hit me that perhaps I need to start dating these creatures again. I mean, it's been ten years for goodness sake. OK - it was time-out that I needed in many ways, but I've also been a total dating wimp. I've struggled to date and parent - so simply chucked the dating in favour of full-on parenting. (Didn't help that my last date stood me up, nor that I've been told repeatedly "guys don't go for single moms".) Too much hassle, too much time and effort required, and I had long ago outgrown picking up weirdo's in bars and clubs. The only "dating" I've done in ages has been long-distance online stuff, and that probably doesn't count. I mean, if you don't feel like talking to the guy, you can just tell him your internet connection failed... for days.... :-) Instead of dealing with the everyday back-and-forth effort that a relationship takes.
But now my son's a teen. He's probably going to end up with a girlfriend within months as high school hits - half his friends are already at it, and have been for some time (he did mention "getting a girlfriend" as one of the few reasons he may want to attend high school). So I'm going to have to play taxi soon, then amuse myself for a couple of hours while he does his thing. Other moms are in the thick of it, my turn's coming! Which will leave me with time on my hands, and I don't think I should be twiddling my thumbs all alone. Then there's the fact that he doesn't need me quite as constantly as he has in the past. Although he says "no, you can't date", he's at an age where I could without causing a huge upset, and besides, it's my life... :-) It's about time a couple of things changed around here anyway - no more sitting home and being anti-social.
OK, so I'm not going to go out man-hunting. Not at all my style! Nor am I looking for a husband, or a dad for the kid - or even a very serious relationship. Nah - just a toe in the water, an openness to the idea if you will, seeing what's out there and being available for a change.
The thing is, I've discovered a new energy lately, a new "lus" for life, a new shot of confidence - the kind that makes you lift your eyes from the ground and notice what's happening around you, gets you more involved in human interaction and the pulse of the planet. And yes - I'm noticing that we are indeed blessed with some fine male specimens, some of whom I wouldn't mind getting to know a bit better. I've made a couple of new connections in various ways, and it's nowhere as hard as I thought it to be.
We'll see though - there's still the dilemma of where and how to meet people without hanging out in strange and dodgy places (or scaring them by being forward and saying "hey - wanna grab a coffee?"). Heck - I'm not even sure I could define what I mean by "dating" right now! Other than a shift in perspective on my part - being present in society more than home wearing slippers. Gotta let go of a few damaging self-perceptions too, one of them being that I'm not worthy of anyone amazing whom I may aspire to know better. So what if I'm not perfect - who is!?
Perhaps getting out and about in Olivia is a start. That vehicle's a total guy-magnet!!! :-)
::update::
OK, OK - before I have half the female population on my back, I do realize not all South African men are yummy. Some are downright frightening! :-) However there are also those who merely border on delicious, who you may not ogle outright, but who have more than a little endearingness to them - and sometimes the marvellousness that they are totally overrides any outward appearances. I'm objective - I'm not shallow. We'll see what happens. :-)
Which made me realize I don't appreciate our South African men nearly as much as I should. I mean, you walk the length of the mall and by the time you're done, you should be leaving a drool trail! I remember flying back from the USA, where I saw no good-looking men in an entire 3 1/2 months (sorry USA readers.. :-) perhaps I was in the wrong place/s), and as I boarded the SAA flight London to Cape Town, a stream of the most delicious men with South African accents filled up the plane! I remember thinking "man, I'm glad I'm South African"... :-)
So while I was walking and realizing I don't appreciate our men enough, it also hit me that perhaps I need to start dating these creatures again. I mean, it's been ten years for goodness sake. OK - it was time-out that I needed in many ways, but I've also been a total dating wimp. I've struggled to date and parent - so simply chucked the dating in favour of full-on parenting. (Didn't help that my last date stood me up, nor that I've been told repeatedly "guys don't go for single moms".) Too much hassle, too much time and effort required, and I had long ago outgrown picking up weirdo's in bars and clubs. The only "dating" I've done in ages has been long-distance online stuff, and that probably doesn't count. I mean, if you don't feel like talking to the guy, you can just tell him your internet connection failed... for days.... :-) Instead of dealing with the everyday back-and-forth effort that a relationship takes.
But now my son's a teen. He's probably going to end up with a girlfriend within months as high school hits - half his friends are already at it, and have been for some time (he did mention "getting a girlfriend" as one of the few reasons he may want to attend high school). So I'm going to have to play taxi soon, then amuse myself for a couple of hours while he does his thing. Other moms are in the thick of it, my turn's coming! Which will leave me with time on my hands, and I don't think I should be twiddling my thumbs all alone. Then there's the fact that he doesn't need me quite as constantly as he has in the past. Although he says "no, you can't date", he's at an age where I could without causing a huge upset, and besides, it's my life... :-) It's about time a couple of things changed around here anyway - no more sitting home and being anti-social.
OK, so I'm not going to go out man-hunting. Not at all my style! Nor am I looking for a husband, or a dad for the kid - or even a very serious relationship. Nah - just a toe in the water, an openness to the idea if you will, seeing what's out there and being available for a change.
The thing is, I've discovered a new energy lately, a new "lus" for life, a new shot of confidence - the kind that makes you lift your eyes from the ground and notice what's happening around you, gets you more involved in human interaction and the pulse of the planet. And yes - I'm noticing that we are indeed blessed with some fine male specimens, some of whom I wouldn't mind getting to know a bit better. I've made a couple of new connections in various ways, and it's nowhere as hard as I thought it to be.
We'll see though - there's still the dilemma of where and how to meet people without hanging out in strange and dodgy places (or scaring them by being forward and saying "hey - wanna grab a coffee?"). Heck - I'm not even sure I could define what I mean by "dating" right now! Other than a shift in perspective on my part - being present in society more than home wearing slippers. Gotta let go of a few damaging self-perceptions too, one of them being that I'm not worthy of anyone amazing whom I may aspire to know better. So what if I'm not perfect - who is!?
Perhaps getting out and about in Olivia is a start. That vehicle's a total guy-magnet!!! :-)
::update::
OK, OK - before I have half the female population on my back, I do realize not all South African men are yummy. Some are downright frightening! :-) However there are also those who merely border on delicious, who you may not ogle outright, but who have more than a little endearingness to them - and sometimes the marvellousness that they are totally overrides any outward appearances. I'm objective - I'm not shallow. We'll see what happens. :-)
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