"FUFOY, Angels and IT Issues"

I have had a couple of days with IT issues - I think they are now finally resolved.

One good thing came out of it I have learnt what not to do

and what I can still have a go at.

Firstly I must congratulate Susan on getting the job she wanted -

as I told you Suzie I knew you would.

This fabulous book was one of the many birthday presents Rachel gave me. It is 365 Daily Guidance entries from your Angels. It's nice to read a page each morning. She must really know me as I was actually trying to find it for myself.

I have also have a little bit of success in my FUFOY quest. Early in the week I finished my two tiny mermaids. Then on Thursday Mel and I got together to get some scrapbooking done and I actually finished 3 pages. It really does give you such a good feeling when you accomplish something that has been hanging around for ages.

Lap Counter - 16 (WOW)

"I Think I Am Addicted"

Anyone who really knows me will know that I am a bit allergic to exercise - especially running!! But I think I have actually found something I really like. As I mentioned in my last post I did some laps of the pool - it was four to be exact - I have never swam 4 lengths of a pool in all of my adult life. I really enjoyed it so on Thursday I headed down there again and to my surprise I did eight laps. I was so very proud of myself and again I had a great day. I have made a deal with myself not to do any form of exercise over the weekend and if I have a craving for some form of "not so good for you food" the weekend is when I have it. So this morning I was really looking forward to getting down to the pool. That in itself is very strange, that I actually look forward to doing exercise. Well guess what, I swam eleven yes that says 11 laps - WOW - how happy am I, and I LOVE it. It's also amazing how I have a really productive and enjoyable day after my little bit of movement. Now some of you out there will be saying - hey 11 laps really isn't that much - but believe me it is a huge accomplishment for me.

I wonder how I will go tomorrow?

P.S Good Luck Suzie for tomorrow (not that you need it).

"Happy Birthday To Me"

OK, for those of you who don't know today is my 56th birthday. I just LOVE birthdays - especially my own. My day started bright and early with water aerobics and some laps of the pool. It feels so good to do some sort of movement at the beginning of the day.

Then I went out to lunch with my daughter Rachel and 4 of my oldest friends (time not age). I have known Marjie since grade 3 and then we met Sheri & Jenny in our 1st year of high school. We have been best friends ever since. Is so nice sharing so much history with girlfriends that make me feel so comfortable. Friendship - that's REAL friendship - is probably the most important thing we can have in our lives. It keeps us happy, sane, comforted and loved. To all of my REAL friends out there - you know who you are - thank you for being my friend and I love you.

I also have to say that in my life I have the best daughter anyone could ever have. She is caring, fun and loves me - what else could a mother ask for. Oh- just in case my son Shane reads this blog - he is also pretty cool and I love him too!!

"I wish I was a glow worm as a glow worms never glum.
Cause how can you be grumpy when the sun shines out your bum"

"FUFOY Year"

With all my craft endeavours in mind I have had a lot of passions throughout my life.
My passions have included knitting, leather work, decoupage, paper tole, porcelain doll making, folk art, pottery, sewing, woodwork, patchwork/quilting, painting, calligraphy, cross stitch, jewellery design/making and many many varied misc. crafts.

At the moment the favorites would be

photography and scrapbooking.

I don't think there is anything wrong with having lots of interests through your life, cause as we grow our tastes and challenges change - but the problem with so many interests is with me being a "procrastinator" I have lots and lots and lots of things almost finished.

So my one and only New Years Resolution this year was to make 2009 a FUFOY

(Finish Unfinished Objects Year).

I made a deal with myself that any UFO's that I still have on January 1st 2010 will either be given away or thrown away. It wasn't until I listed down all of my UFO's that I realized just how many I have. Now any crafters out there would know we get really attached to our projects - even the unfinished ones. So I am trying my hardest to complete things so I don't have to face the time when I have to say goodbye to them. This could be another reason why I have started a blog - if I have to say out loud I am going to do something it makes me more accountable.
To prove to my doubters and to myself I will add the items I finish to my slideshow - so keep a look out.

P.S Happy Birthday Kaysie for last Friday -

By the way did I say it is going to be my birthday this Wednesday (25th).

"Good Days - Bad Days"

Isn't it amazing how the "bad day gremlin" can just sneak up and bite you on the bum!! Well mine snuck up yesterday. Nothing I could do would make it go away. I tried all of my positive thinking - didn't work. I tried placing my crystals in all of the appropriate places - didn't work. I tried being creative by doing some scrapbooking - didn't work. So I just put my head down and did some work (an exciting mail out) and popped myself into bed nice an early.

When I woke up this morning I thought I will get ready before another one sneaks up. I organised my work schedule early so I really didn't have to think about it to much. When I finished work I coloured my hair a different colour, took myself for a little bit of shopping, painted my nails and after I get my Dads dinner tonight I am going to sit myself down and be crafty in front of the telly. Might I also say that the "bad day gremlin" hasn't dared show her self today.

I guess we all have them from time to time, maybe we just have to do what we have to do and wait for tomorrow.

"Music Music Music"

Now I really love listening to all kinds of music, but, I have listened so much music since Friday night I really don't want to hear any sort of song today. My eardrums need a rest.

Friday nights Cadd and Morris concert was fabulous. Its so nice to spend a night singing along to songs you know every word to, such as "Little Ray Of Sunshine" and "Real Thing". If only my maths at school had been in song form I may have remembered something. I must say Russell Morris looks so so much better now that he doesn't try and hide his bald head under a hat, he is now bordering on "HOT". Also he really is sounding great - he really does have a great powerful voice. The five of us girls had a really good night out.

Then yesterday - how good were the "Sound Relief" concerts. I know some young ones out there may not agree, but some of the bands had a lot to be desired, but it was still good to listen to all sorts of music. My favorites would have to have been of course the "ONE" song by John Farnham, Coldplay were great and Midnight Oil were just amazing. I have said it before and I will say it again - we really do live in the best country in the world and we Aussies are really amazing people. We can "ALL" be proud to be Australian.

"13 March 1982 "

27 years ago today at 2.09pm I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Rachel. At the time I told myself that I really didn't mind if I had a girl or a boy, but as soon as she was born I realised I really did want a girl (already had a boy - Shane 18 months earlier). I was only in labour for 2 hours as Rachel really wanted to be in this world. We have always said she came out fast and has been fast ever since, she has always been our little hurricane. Now that she is an adult, I must say she is not only still my baby girl but my best friend. We spent the day shopping and eating today. Last week we had our nails done - how pretty do our feet look!! Now she is of to see the band "Kings of Leon" tonight. We both just love birthdays - especially our own.

Not to stray away from tradition - once Rachel has had her birthday we concentrate on mine. I am turning 56 on March 25th. So as of tomorrow I will mention it once or twice to anyone who is within earshot. Tonight I am of to see Brian Cadd and Russell Morris with a couple of friends. Thank Mos for the tickets. Should be a fun night.

Success Success Success!!!!

I am finally back from the land of the hospitals. You know it sounds awful but the one thing I don't like about hospitals is "the sick people". I have always been a wimp in hospitals - can't eat in them - can't look at any needle type things - basically I can't look at sick people - weird hey! Dad was discharged from hospital this morning. He is not totally better but he is as good as a 90 year old can be with a "dickie" heart. It is so nice to have him home were I can cook him the food that he actually likes and he can now sit in one of his three comfy chairs and sleep the day away.

Also tonight I have a bit of success on the blog front - I have finally been able to upload a slide show to my blog. It has only taken me 2 weeks!! I went onto a help forum and was helped straight away.

Oh and I also bought a new laptop today. Bought it from "Dell". I was able to upgrade it to what I need and got it for a pretty good price. There's no stopping me now - I am turning into such an "IT techo". I can hear some of you out there saying "She must be drinking" - nah haven't had one.

"My Dear Old Dad"

Not sure how much I will be able to write for the next few days as "My Dear Old Dad" is in hospital with heart problems. He went in by ambulance yesterday, almost kicking and screaming (he really did not want to go to hospital) but luckily it was his Dr. who told him he had to not me.
When you have an elderly parent (90) you try and prepare yourself for the future, but its weird how when things get tough you forget all of your so called preparation. OK I am of for an early night tonight - goodnight lovelies.

"Rain Rain Beautiful Rain"

How nice is the rain we have had. I know people living in parts of Queensland may not agree with me, but it is nice. My trees and plants (that haven't died) are almost smiling. My favorite trees are "Silver Birch" and I have eight in my small garden. As a result of the 40plus days we had all of the leaves were terribly burnt. But on my Wednesday watering morning I would get out there and give them a drink and tell them all was going to be OK. Yes, I know Suzie I am strange. But low and behold "Mother Nature" has come through and they all have lovely green leaves. Only thing is, they are going to be really confused cause it's now Autumn and they are supposed to loose all of their leaves.
Mmmmm Confused Silver Birch's.
I had to visit the post office today and while I was there we got quite a big down poor. All of a sudden the 15 or so people in the shop all looked out the door and smiled at the rain. The moment was almost in slow motion with people really appreciating the beauty of rain.
Here's hoping we get lots more.

"My Weekend"

What a weekend I have just had the range of things I did was huge. Saturday I had lunch with people I worked with 27 years ago at the Motor Registration Branch (now RTA). We had a really nice time at Stuzzi Cafe in Northcote with lots and lots and lots of chatter. It's amazing how with all of our life experiences we all have changed but basically we are still all the same people.

Then Saturday night I had a night of mystery out with Melissa, Robyn & Alice. Melissa had organised everything and not told us what we were doing. First we went out for dinner to a restaurant called "Melissa's", food was quite nice. Then we headed into the city to "HULKA MANIA", yes it is as sounds it was a Male Strip Night. Now if I was 25 I may have been really excited about the proposition of watching guys get their gear of, but at 55 I have been there and done that. Plus as my son is 28 I have always made the deal with myself of not perving on guys that are younger than my boy and they would all have been younger than him. I sort of feel like I am doing something illegal. After all the naked body excitement we headed to the Clifton Hotel for some more drinking, dancing and listening to a pretty good band. Let me just say I am getting to old to stay up until 2.30am. I was a little delicate on Sunday morning, but I know one of the girls (I won't say who) was broken not just delicate.

Then Sunday afternoon I went to Paul (my ex) and Betty's house for lunch. Yes that is right my ex's house. I can hear you asking WHY!! Because our son Shane was down from QLD, it was a chance for us both to spend time with him and our daughter Rachel. We do really get on OK, life is to short not to. It was quite a nice afternoon, Betty and I had fun pointing Pauls faults out to him. Now to today, I had the pleasure of going to the dentist. I must say I really really don't like dentists. So after all my fun and games over the past 3 days I put myself to bed this afternoon and had a nana nap. The rest of my week is pretty busy with work so that should keep me out of trouble.