Monday, November 24, 2008

Merry (Early) Christmas!!!

Which one do you prefer?

Charleston....
Send your own ElfYourself eCards


Country....
Send your own ElfYourself eCards


Or Disco?

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Lighter

Don't know why but things feel better - yesterday was the first good day in a while. The boys behaved themselves which was cool. I spent the morning doing absolutely nothing - watching Lipstick Jungle and eating Pringles while Oz was at school (and ignoring the guilt over the pile of washing....). Picked Oz up and we had lunch (and I hung the washing so guilt gone). Then picked up Toby and we all went to Rascals with my lovely friend Liz and her son.

After a couple of misbehaviours (actually initiated by a brat of a little girl who was teasing and annoying Oz so he retaliated but then she left), Oscar and Sam played wonderfully together. Oz invented a game called Splat, Cap Sir Parrot where you squawk loudly, then throw yourself on the floor. No idea where that came from but they found it hysterical.

Came home and got an email saying my Icesave account had been activated so I could transfer our christmas money back into my main account - should be there on Monday. Relief! Then I realised my free gift that I should have had ages ago for taking out a subscription to HEAT magazine had arrived - £30 worth of Maybelline makeup - all in lovely colours that I will actually wear - mineral powder foundation, blusher, super lip gloss, black liquid eyeliner, super plumping mascara and beautiful bronze eyeshadow.

Then Moxie introduced me to Qype - a website where you review local businesses. It's really easy and quite fun - you accumulate points for reviews (20 for reviewing somewhere that no one else has reviewed yet and 8 for adding to other reviews). If you get 1,000 points you get an Ipod shuffle! And they've got an offer at the moment that if you review 50 things before the end of November you get £50 Amazon voucher. I joined yesterday and have done 30 reviews already and accumulated about 450 points. So that's cool! If you want to join click here and I'll get extra points for you too!

So I felt quite happy yesterday! For the first time in ages. And tonight I'm doing a market research focus group for Saros and getting £60 in cash. Which gives me ample spending money for MY DAY OFF on Friday - I can't wait! Abeno here I come - it's my favourite restaurant and if you want to know more about it - read my review on Qype!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My new theme song....

I caught the legend that is Cleo Laine singing this song on Paul o Grady last week - and loved it. I couldn't get her version on ITunes, even though as she was adamant to point out on the show, she was the first to record it. I have Diana Krall's version instead.....here are the lyrics - it's how I feel at the moment! (apart from the non PETA friendly fur references of course)

Peel me a grape, crush me some ice
Skin me a peach, save the fuzz for my pillow
Talk to me nice, talk to me nice
Youve got to wine and dine me

Dont try to fool me bejewel me
Either amuse me or lose me
Im getting hungry, peel me a grape

Pop me a cork, french me a fry
Crack me a nut, bring a bowl full of bon-bons
Chill me some wine, keep standing by
Just entertain me, champagne me
Show me you love me, kid glove me
Best way to cheer me, cashmere me
Im getting hungry, peel me grape

Heres how to be an agreeable chap
Love me and leave me in luxurys lap
Hop when I holler, skip when I snap
When I say, do it, jump to it

Send out for scotch, call me a cab
Cut me a rose, make my tea with the petals
Just hang around, pick up the tab
Never out think me, just mink me
Polar bear rug me, dont bug me
New thunderbird me, you heard me
Im getting hungry, peel me a grape

Ah to have a personal slave......

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Remembering Adele

I went to the funeral of a wonderful woman today. Adele was a fellow mum - I hadn't known her very long - only about 6 months - but she was wonderful and she will be missed. There were so many people at her funeral today that it was standing room only. It was emotional and tragic but there were moments of laughter and hearing her sister laugh brought me to tears as it was as if Adele was in the room. She'll live on in all our hearts but especially in her daughter. I just wanted to post this poem - as part of her service. I'm not sure who wrote it but it was so beautiful and says everything I would have wanted to tell her.

No one knew the torment
that you were going through
We only kept on seeing
What we really wanted to

We saw the outward smile
But not your inner pain
We never really dreamt
That you would never smile again

Forgive us if we failed to see
What we could to to aid
Or if we failed to comprehend
How much you were afraid

We pray your mental anguish
WIll now forever cease
And that your deep anxieties
Will be replaced by peace

We'll remember all the happiness
The joy and not the tears
The assurance and the confidence
And not the hidden fears

Our lives have all been better
Because you have been there
So now we leave your memory
In God's all-loving care.


Goodbye Adele. I hope you're at peace and watching down on your little girl. You're missed.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Dark

It's been a bit tough around here recently. Everything seems dark...not just the weather. A friend died by her own hand, leaving her little 2 1/2 year old daughter. That was and still is horrible. Another friend lost her father. The news is full of horror like Baby P and 2 little boys stabbed by their own mother....

At home it's not been that rosy. Rob had his bike stolen which was crap (though on the positive, the new one he bought is much better). Toby is testing me....he's had a horrible cough for the last few days so really broken nights. He's tantrumming worse than ever. Raging like nothing I've experienced.....Oz's behaviour is deteriorating to the extent that his preschool teacher asked to speak to me today to see if there has been any "change" at home that might be leading to this behaviour. Wish I could have pinpointed it. He's tearful, ignoring adults, hitting and pushing other children - and no matter how much I talk to him or time him out, it seems to continue. No idea why.

I've had little joy from my children in the last few weeks. Little joy from anything really. I've put some weight on which pisses me off but also makes me think "fuck it" and reach for the chocolate bar. I'm trying to up my exercise but things keep getting in the way - like having 4 hours sleep last night so going back to bed this morning instead of swimming.

Next week I've booked a day off - Rob has Friday off work and I'm officially OFF duty - and luckily have been chosen for a market research thing the night before where I get paid £60 cash in hand. So I'm going to spend it. On ME. That's something to look forward to.....

Argh. Doom and gloom. I'm sorry. More perkiness to follow I promise....

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

I'm not one for politics normally...

But how could I note post how happy I am that the USA has elected Barack Obama as their president. He's a man I believe in first and foremost, a man who is undoubtedly intelligent, fair, honest and a great leader. And of course, as the first man of colour to be elected to be leader of the free world it's amazing. He's a figurehead, an inspiration to everyone.

However I'm not happy about Prop 8. It seems like it's going to go through. How? Why? I can't understand the hideous unfairness of it. How can a country elect someone who spoke of "young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America." and who seems to be all about equality and then turn around and be bigoted and discriminatory.

Enough politics. It's been a bit of a hideous week here - a friend died - I don't want to go into it online out of respect for her and her family but needless to say it was a horrible shock and my heart goes out to her family and her young daughter. Another friend lost her father, suddenly through a cardiac arrest. More love to her, her son and her mother and brother. And then to cap it off, on a more trivial note, Rob got his bike stolen. All in one day.

But today I'm trying to be positive. Hoping that Obama will be able to do something about Prop 8 - my ignorance of US politics and legislation is fueling this optimism. I hate that my sister and her wife look like they'll never be recognised legally in the country they call home. I hate that she'll not be able to claim a green card even though she's been with her partner for 14 years. I can't abide it. I can't understand it. Shame on those who voted for Prop 8. Shame.