Tuesday
I know, it’s not a very imaginative title. I’ve been spending some time after school this week getting my computer and blogs up to date with back end stuff. Andy’s Poohduck is getting lots of hits, but the stat’s weren’t working and other things so I thought I’d better finally get round to doing something about that. He’s been taking some wonderful photo’s lately. I also have had more time available to me to potter around with these things. I’ve got my school blogs almost under control lately. See below for the reasons!
I’ve been catching up with heaps of stuff this week with no year 10 classes. The school ground is so empty. I am going visiting starting tomorrow. I was given a list of students to visit and made some calls today to make times to visit them. I am looking forward to it and wish I could visit every student I’ve taught, but that would be most of them, and I don’t have enough hours in the day. Some of them are in Melbourne with newspapers or architects, so I guess it’s not practical to get around that much in a week.
Darin has a new, more time consuming role at work. A couple of people at work have told me how wonderful the food is where is chef. I felt very proud of him, but I certainly already knew how great his food is. He’s working long hours and talking menu’s at home. Last night the conversation made me hungry. I decided I would wait and cook dinner and eat with him tonight. Just steak and veges, nothing as yummy as what he was talking about. Steak and veges will be good though and it’s better than getting stuck into cheese and biscuits at some awfully late hour! My waistline is expanding lately… what with all the chocolate and lemon tarts I’ve been practicing on and just a greater focus on food in general I guess. I do try to give the tarts away and I have done a lot of that, but you always have to eat some, just to make sure it is ok 
.
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This Weekend
I have been an absolute sloth this weekend. I have slept a lot. I just haven’t been able to get motivated. I went to see ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ on Friday night. I was hoping to get some tips! It was ok, but not that funny really to me.
I did get to see Reuben last night who I was worried about last weekend. He and his family and home are fine. It was great to see him in person. We laughed because lots of people were asking Tom about him and he’d said he’d call us if something went wrong… but how would he? Funny now though.
I notice in the news the fires are still burning at Wilson’s Prom. I didn’t get there this summer. I intended to. I was hoping to take a friend from overseas there, but it just didn’t happen. We cancelled our year 7 camps there this week. There were fires there only 4 years ago.
Last night I was thinking about the last time I drove to Inverloch around New Years Eve. I drove through Mirboo North and remember thinking how beautiful it all was and appreciating all I saw. It was still green at that time. I was thinking about how I’d likely be overseas next summer and was really making a conscious memory of this area that I know so well and love. I’m not sure I want to see it burnt and devastated.
I talked to Andy on the phone on Friday night. We looked at properties at Carrajung a few years ago. They were beautiful places. I have no idea if they are still alright. I hope so. I haven’t been out of town. The news never tells me what I want to know… so I’ve given up on that earlier in the week. Some kids at school mentioned on Friday they had been to look at Jeeralang, but I don’t think I could. They are best left to the people who need to be there I think.
I went to Revver to find some of my old clips of these areas, but I think Revver is on the blink again. I could get to my newer clips, but not the old ones. I hope I have backups! Now I am posting my clips through tubemogul and posting them to a variety of sites, but I have only been doing that in the past year or so, so I may have lost all those old ones. A bit unfortunate! Small things though compared to what many have lost and I feel pathetic mentioning it.
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My Australia Day
I had a brilliant day yesterday. I drove the kids into Flemington, they were all enthused and it was infectious. A great sunny day and lots of laughter. Arrived at Wilma’s and immediately jumped in the pool. It was a perfect afternoon of swimming and horsing around in the pool with delicious food and wine in the company of good friends.
Starting back to school tomorrow comes with a little regret for all the jobs left undone. In reality though I’ve had a very lovely holiday and enjoyed a good balance. I’ve spent time with my family and friends. I’ve enjoyed the beach and swam a bit… although could do with more of it and intend to continue till summer ends. I’ve got the painting jobs finished and packed up a bit of my stuff. There’s always more you could do.
I’ve opened a twitter account these holidays. I’m not really up to speed with it though to be honest. I’m just watching the stream of comments go by mostly. I wanted to make some changes on my blog, but haven’t got around to it. I guess I will… eventually. I did manage to change the template on poohduck, so that was something. Andy’s post about Ella today was beautiful, she was a real presence.
I don’t know what else I’ve done really, but it’s been good.
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Hanging Out With Jane
Yesterday I drove to Jane’s sisters house out in the hills behind Warrandyte. What a fabulous location! I’d never been there before. She lives in a mud-brick, multi level home that is unique and reflects the owners well in it’s expressive, earth-loving, vibrant nature. It was the most blissful day! I met the Jessa, latest addition to her family and watched her two beautiful girls interact and reveal their precious natures to me.
We watched Obama and shared the joy and hope he’s brought to the world. We saw an Echidna snuffling along. Rosie shared her joyful song about the saucepan stars. Jackie plied me with the yummiest homemade food. The perfect way to break a spell of not being able to eat properly. I watched her prepare food – it was a treat.
I get to catch up with Jane usually once a year and it always fills me up again. She knows me. We’ve been mates since we were six years old. That is a lot of witnessing one anothers lives and choices and mistakes and loves and heartbreaks and messes and triumphs. Our friendship is one of the treasures of my life.
Andy has been really caught out by Mercury Retrograde this transit. His internet service was disconnected. He’s back online now with some great photo’s about his recent beach visit. Too cold to swim in Tassie though. Glad we can here!
I also caught up with Tim and we briefly considered going to see Glenn Hansard who was playing in Melbourne last night. We are both huge fans and really wanted to… but resisted. It was nice to entertertain the thought for a little while. I also caught up with Wilma on the way there and on the way back and had a brief but lovely phone call with a man I adore. It was great to have a social day and now it’s back to the to do list. The phone interview went well I think. Today I need to keep sorting through my possessions and deciding what’s in and what’s out.
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Downtime….
Andy’s phone line is down so I have taken this opportunity to have a guest post on Poohduck. How mercury retrograde is that! I have just changed the template on Poohduck and I like it. He hasn’t seen it yet, due to not being online since the changes were made… so hopefully he will approve.
I think I have shingles. I know I should go to the doctors, but from past experience I know they can’t do anything and the last thing I feel like doing is sitting in a waiting room at the doctors. I don’t need a medical certificate, I’m on holidays. I am resting. The achey pain in my ear/jaw/neck has not responded to the penicillan the dentist gave me, although my gum has reduced in swelling. I thought I was all better until the panadol wore off. I am optimistic about such things. It stands to reason though, when I stopped taking vitamins because I was holidays, have been eating poorly, haven’t exercised or done any of the things I do to stay healthy. I have spent the last 6 weeks partying like an 18 year old and staying up late. Then I began doing massive physical jobs around the house, that it’s possible I was going to get a bit run down! When will I learn?
I have been feeling sorry for myself because I have so much I want to do. The friends and family are pitching in and helping a lot. Mum and dad have been especially wonderful, but I still feel frustrated and annoyed that I can’t do all the things I want to do. It will stop hurting when the pain goes away!
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Stripping Wallpaper
I’ve spent most of the day stripping the second layer of paper from the walls of the upstairs spare bedroom today. When I first moved into my home, the three bedrooms had really disgusting vinyl wallpaper on them. Not anything that I could live with, that’s for sure. I got straight into ripping off the outer vinyl layer of paper. I then spent a lot longer soaking and removing all the paper and glue traces in my bedroom.
Asha’s room was finally completed last year when Tom moved in there and he and his dad prepared it for painting, and then painted it. My ex-husband is always very particular about his handyman jobs so it was very well done. I’m not sure how I managed to get away with that, but I think Tom’s super influencing abilities won him over. Whose ex-husband paints a room in their house for them?
As I am preparing my house to let it out whilst I am away, I have to paint my bedroom and the other bedroom upstairs. There was wallpaper on the ceilings of those upstairs rooms and I can’t tell you how much my arms ache from a day of it. I’m not finished yet either. My dad called in to help and brought me a step ladder. That helped a lot actually because I’d been using a rocking chair cause I was too lazy to bring a more stable chair upstairs. I’m like that. A health and safety nightmare.
I really appreciate my parents. They are so supportive of each of us to achieve whatever it is we want to do. I watched mum stress about Kate being away and I know she’ll fret about me just as much, but they still support us to do what we want to do. I feel unconditionally loved by them. All six of us live very different lifestyles and some hugely different to theirs and yet we are all helped out in different ways. I’ve only recognised that and appreciated it lately. I used to think everyones parents were like that.
I moved into this house 5 years ago and did plenty in the first year. Then I met Andy. He distracted me! I did pay someone to paint the kitchen whilst he was here, but in all honesty my redecorating came to a virtual standstill during this period. We were always going away to interesting places during the holidays and I rarely have enough left over energy during the term.
I kind of like doing it though. I like seeing the improvement. I think a lot. Today I was thinking about the things that room has seen in the years we’ve lived here. I had my music up loud and I was remembering when Tom was learning the baritone saxophone and how the noise (and in the beginning it was just noise) would fill the whole court. I was remembering how relieved I was when the old guy on the corner told me he was in the city band and loved hearing the sound of the kids practising their instruments. Asha learnt the drums and flute so there was a lot of practising sounds. I can’t say I loved them.
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My 2008
I am reflecting on what I have achieved this year. December 2007 seems like a lifetime ago. It has been a pretty full year for me and an enjoyable one mostly.
We’ve got through Tom’s last year of going to school and now my work is done in child rearing. Now I’m a spectator in my adult children’s lives. He was disappointed with his VCE score, but it wasn’t so bad. The pain only seems to last a couple of days. I saw a kid at the movies last night and she struggled to remember hers. I find it all very amusing really. Asha has finished her second year at Uni and has made a good life for herself in Melbourne. Both my kids have two good jobs and are very independent, but fun to be around so I’m pleased with how it’s turned out.
My family are all well and happy. Kate’s moved to the UK and whilst I miss her I love hearing how much she’s enjoying it. It has inspired me. She split up with her boyfriend who is still in Melbourne over Christmas and yet she is still pretty upbeat. It was inevitable I guess.
I moved my blog to my own domain this year and have dropped a pagerank with google, part way through the year. I’ve managed to hang in the Top 100 Australian Women’s Blogs by the skin of my teeth (currently at 99), although I dropped out for a month or so at one point. I’ve had over 21,000 views this year. I must admit I like WordPress, but I haven’t blogged as regularly or put as much time into it this year. I’ve taken very few clips for Revver and have participated less on line and more in real life this year. I think it’s a good balance though. I’ve enjoyed staying in touch with people through Facebook.
Andy and I started Poohduck in May, he is doing most of it now. I love his photo’s. I’m glad we’ve stayed friends. We’ve had our moments, but all in all I have a lot of love and respect for him.
At school I have survived a year as Year 9 Co-ordinator and made the big decision to move next year. I’m heading overseas to work. I have always wanted to travel so I’m taking this opportunity of an empty nest to do so. I’m leaving in July. I need a change. I haven’t loved my school this year as much as I have in the past. I don’t want to sit around in a big old empty house doing the same old stuff. I’m excited and nervous and don’t really have a solid plan yet, just a firm decision and strong intention.
My social life has gone off (as they say) this year. I think being single has provided a lot more social opportunity and I caught up with an old school friend in October who is also separated, so we have made an effort to go out more and socialise. It’s been fun. I have made some great new friends this year also.
So many other things, good films, great music, interesting places…. but it’s all here on the blog. I’m off to the beach for a couple of days. Happy New Year everyone. I’m looking forward to 2009. I think it’s going to be amazing.
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I Love Summer
Today has been very busy. I’ve caught up with my second cousin, Laurie, at my Auntie’s passing through on his way to Tasmania. I haven’t seen him since my grandfathers funeral last year and that was a blur. I visited Andy’s sister… who is also heading to Tassie and I dropped some stuff off for her to take to him. I enjoyed her gorgeous son, who is less than a year old. He was such a contented baby and it was peaceful to hang out with them.
I went to Wilma’s for a swim in her pool… and to spend time with her. It was blissful swimming the afternoon away. I took this photo when I got out with wrinkly fingertips after soaking too long. I checked out my beautiful spare room there, that I intend to spend plenty of time in. We had a lovely steak and salad barbie, which was tasty, due to the swim induced hunger I reckon. I love spending time with her. Old friends are great are they not?
I had to come home tonight cause Tom is going to Pyramid Rock thingy and I wanted to see him before he goes. I don’t know why he can’t just stay home and watch TV on New Years Eve, would be less stressful for me!
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Solar Eclipse/New Moon in Leo – Friday August 1st 2008
I read on Yasmin Boland’s weekly horoscope(link below) today:
“Remember that doors which slam shut at the time of an eclipse rarely open up again.”
I remembered the eclipses that occured around this time last year with a bit of flash and realised that I didn’t take that advice on board for a while and I struggled with the changes that came on me last August for months to come. There were things that were quite obvious in the way they were heading such as my pa’s illness and Andy’s departure from my home, but I refused to see or accept them until they were on top of me. I hope this eclipse is not so dramatic for me! The February one wasn’t quite as intense earlier this year, although it did have it’s challenges.
I am quite tired tonight. We farewelled the Mexican’s last night with a music festival at school that went for over 5 hours and then some light partying afterward. Well light for me, as I excused myself shortly before midnight…. other members of the party made a marathon out of it! I need to get my home and my thoughts in order now as all this coming and going of the last week or so has created a little chaos. It’s been a lovely experience though, and well worth the time and energy spent. I learnt a lot about Mexico. I want to go there, it sounds great.
How do you like your astrology?
If you just want to know how it could impact on your particular sign, I would recommend you check out Yasmin Boland’s weekly horoscope, or any horoscope from your favourite astrologer. I expect they will all be discussing this week and next the changes occuring due to this eclipse.
The Aquarius Papers contains a big picture, technical overview containing links and connections with the many other astrological patterns and past eclipse effects.
If you like a reflection on this current astrological weather Lynda Hills Sabian Symbols and my regular favourite This New Moon will both fit that bill as well as containing more information about the details of what is occuring in the sky.
Stay peaceful!
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The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
This book is a delight. It’s uplifting and made laugh during the sad bits and sniffle when things were rosy. The central character, Lily, an innocent, imaginative and optimistic young girl with a hunger for love that leads her toward it in magical ways. I adored it and just have to quote some of my favourite bits to share what a treat it is:
” ‘You know, some things don’t matter that much, Lily. Like the color of a house. How big is that in the overall scheme of life? But lifting a person’s heart- now, that matters. The whole problem with people is -’‘They don’t know what matters and what doesn’t,’ I said, filling in her sentence and feeling proud of myself for doing so.‘I was gonna say, The problem is they know what matters, but they don’t choose it…’ “(p183)The surprising candid insights into human nature in this book are so refreshing.
Later Lily is anguished about revealing who she really is, but hesitant to share due to bad timing…..
” ‘..And then it would all come out. Whatever terrible things might happen, would. When I peered up at her, though, she was brushing tears off her face, looking for a handkerchief in her pocket, and I knew it would be selfish to pour this into her cup when it was already to the brim with grief…’ (p250)I also enjoyed the secret life of bees that was shared although the title alluded to this, I had no idea how facinating and beautiful it would be….“According to August, if you’ve never seen a cluster of beehives first thing in the morning, you’ve missed the eighth wonder of the world. Picture these white boxes tucked under pine trees. The sun will slant through the brances, shining in the sprinkles of dew drying on the lids. There will be a few hundred bees doing laps around the hive boxes, just warming up, but mostly taking their bahtroom break as bees are so clean they will not soil the inside of their hives. From a distance it will look like a big painting you might see in a museum, but museums can’t capture the sound. Fifty feet away you will hear it, a humming that sounds like it came from another planet. At thirty feet your skin will start to vibrate. The hair will life on your neck…’ “(p354)
It is full of facinating facts about honey and bees. Just before I began reading this book, I’d purchased a rose and honey in olive oil balm for dry skin and I’ve enjoyed using it so much more after reading this book. Bees and honey have replaced pomegranates during this winter as what keeps reappearing in my world. Andy took an amazing photo of a bee that I posted on our blog earlier this year also, and it’s been the most popular photo on the site.
There is a whole lot more going on in this book that I haven’t even touched on. For teachers wanting to share this book with students here is a link to some great resources. This book is not on the CBCA list. I am not as motivated to read the list this year and have read hardly at all lately. Not sure why!
Popularity: 11% [?]
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