ya think?

please, I beg of you, just shut up...

two posts for today. Seriously, I had to write this somewhere.

SHUT UP MARK!!!!!

OK, what am I talking about?? I'm a reality TV nut. Big Brother, Survivor, Biggest Loser... I watch em all. So of course I watch Idol.

But seriously, someone shoot Mark Holden for me? Please? ARGH!!!!! He is going to make my head explode, and soon I will have to turn off and choose to read a book instead (OK, so I have actually spent much of the semi-final week reading in between acts, so not much of a stretch!).

I would love to see just Marcia, Kyle and Dicko to be honest. I actually like them as a team and think that most of what comes out of their mouths is honest, constructive, and whilst sometimes hurtful, is stuff the performers need to hear. But Mark??? I swear he can't even construct a sentence and when he does its all drivel!!!! Someone needs to sack him and show him that he isn't 'all that' like he thinks he is. Credentials? I don't give a rats about what credentials he may have, he is still a twit, and a whole lot of expletives I can't use here!!!!

I wish they could invent an automatic mute on a TV that kicks in when the target talks or comes on screen. THAT I would pay for.

And yes, I have a life, but if you can't vent on your own blog...

K

the sweetest thing...

Having so many kids, I always worry that I have been the one to push my desire of a big family onto Michael. You see, when I first met him (he was not quite 18) he was going to be single, no kids, no responsibility. And then I came along, two kids already in tow, and ruined his entire dream!

I realised the other day that every time I see a baby or young child I smile. They make me happy. Probably one of the reasons I have had so many. Actually, babies and cats. Cats make me smile too...

But the sweetest thing is to watch Michael with that same stupid grin, and to hear him say 'I love babies', as he did today. And for him to confirm that he is as happy with our brood as I am. Makes me realise that his new dream is closer to mine that I once realised.

K

i'm no superwoman...

I can not tell you how many times over the past few years I have heard it. You know... 'OMG, I don't know how you do it' and 'You are superwoman doing everything you do with six kids' and my personal favourite, 'you must be such a great mother', hey, what an ego boost.

So. I have two words for you...

Squalor
Insomnia

OK, OK, so I use the word squalor in a pretty broad sense, but I am sure that my cleaning abilities would fall extremely short of my mother's high standards! And just a note to people who drop around - please, give me half an hour to clean the toilet and shut the laundry door. And if you bring children, who head off to the bedrooms, and I say 'I wouldn't go down there', seriously, I wouldn't go down there, they might get lost in the rubble.

Seriously though, its a pretty big call labeling me superwoman. You obviously haven't seen me at 7 in the morning directing the kids through half closed eyes from the comfort of my pillow. You obviously haven't seen me in my pyjamas all day, fending off the inevitable sniggers when the kids come home from school and realise that I still haven't gotten myself dressed (hey, they were able to do it on their own in the morning, why can't Mum??). You haven't seen my kids scrambling around the kitchen for a spoon in the morning because I 'forgot' (read couldn't be bothered) to even fill up the dishwasher the night before. And you obviously haven't seen me racing around at 2am to get uniforms washed before the kids get up five hours later.

So what prompted this post? This ever so funny, but scarily accurate read (got the link from Ngai's blog). From one mother of six to another, man this is so very true. Just add on at least one ear piercing tantrum, some stolen chocolate and a minimum of one obscenity shouted so loud that every poe faced woman in the supermarket glares at me whilst their husbands hide behind them with a smirk on their face, and there you have a shopping trip with the Quall family. I am sure every person in my neighbourhood flees when they see me walking with my entire brood to the shops. The woolies staff put in their earplugs and they have the mop and bucket at the ready whenever we come near. No wonder I avoid leaving the house whenever I can. Maybe if they don't see me, they will think we have left the suburb or something...

So, a big two thumbs up to the funniest thing I have read in a long time, helping me to bring out my best 'mother of six' sarcastic side, and tell just a few home truths about the superwoman I'm NOT!

K

it's ready!!!

I just received photos of my new bag from ZAUM.

Isn't it just divine!!!

OMG, I am so in love...

K

something I owe...

First of all, thanks to EVERYONE who posted comments and emailed me privately about my little rant on Saturday! It means a lot to know that so many people are of the same opinion as I and that I wasn't just feeling a little oversensitive! Ta!!!

Now, I mentioned when I started blogging again that I owed stuff. From a LONG time ago. And so I want to try and get some of those things out of the list of worries in my head. Last year (yes, I SAID it was from a long time ago!) I taught a class on a ribbon board. I TOTALLY underestimated how long it would take to finish the board, and we never finished the project. And so I promised to post photos, which of course I never did.

So here, at long last, are the photos of the ribbon board...

The rest of the photos are in a photo album that you will find listed over the left of this screen. Normally I would have a password for these albums, but who remembers passwords from that long ago? Seriously! So it is there for you all to take a look if you like.

If you were at that class - I am soooooooo sorry it has taken until now. And if you weren't, but know someone who was, please let them know that this is now up for everyone to see. I once had a list of people to email these to, but sadly that has been long lost and I can't contact everyone.

And please, if you have any questions, just email me. I am doing my best to keep up with my emails and will get back to you as soon as I can.

Again, my apologies, and I hope that you didn't throw the project out long ago in disgust!

K

still seething...

I thought by today I would be over it, but I'm not, so you guys get the brunt of my anger filled rant. Sorry.

So I went and saw a new Dr yesterday, trying to find someone better than my current. During the course of the conversation it was raised that Michael is aboriginal. Fair enough, not an issue. Not until she actually said to me, and I quote 'so, you mentioned that your husband is aboriginal, so I have to ask, does he abuse you?'. And not content with my adament, ah NO, she repeated the question, just to make sure.

I'm not sure who is to blame for this attitude. Is it the government who is so hell bent on destroying any last bit of respect that the aboriginal community may have, or is it the media who convince the many that all aboriginal people should be lumped in as one and all considered to be evil. Whatever it is, it is racist, so horribly racist. Imagine how I felt when I had to go home and tell Michael why I was so upset after seeing this Dr. Imagine how HE felt that someone who had never met him would even think that way. Imagine how his mother would feel if she read this, knowing that someone may think that she raised him that way.

I am so angry about this that I can't even begin to formulate my real thoughts. I have so much that I WANT to say about the attitude of people in this country and in this world, but I can't even go there because it wouldn't be fit for reading.

I just plead to those who read this - PLEASE, think before you speak. THINK about what you are saying, what you are assuming, and how your comments may offend others. PLEASE, if you honestly think those things, then say them to yourself, in private where others can't hear you. Perpetuating these racist attitudes is what is destroying the human spirit, and the only way we can break this down is for our children to NEVER hear of such evil thoughts.

Peace to EVERYONE!

K

A new baby...

I mentioned the other day that I have a new baby - a new Mac baby. Here she is!

OK, so that isn't really her, just a picture from the internet. I'm too lazy to take a photo right now! But her beautiful pink cover just arrived and she is so pretty!!!!!

I got the cover from SPECK.

And it shouldn't be long before her new bag arrives either. I am being a spoiled brat and have ordered a custom made bag. I looked at pretty much everything you can get on the internet, and this is where I chose to spend my dollars.

ZAUM

And here is what my bag will look like, kinda..

They are so good, you can pick all of your colours, designs etc. Then they send you a sample photo of what it will look like. How cool is that!!

So when it arrives we will be set to be on the move - have bag, will travel!

Still no name for my baby though. And no, I don't think I am weird wanting to name it. If people can name their cars, and I don't drive, then I can name my laptop. Still thinking...

K

Don't want to rub this in, but...

I fly out for France in 42 days!!! And I am SOOO excited! Three weeks away, two in France, come back via NZ (the rest of the days in a plane!!!). I think I need the break right now!

So really, I don't want to rub it in, I need help!! You see, last time I left without a plan. I just arrived, grabbed a map and started walking, see where it took me. I discovered some AMAZING things, but it was more by luck than good management! But I also missed out on some things. Like getting to drink a REAL hot chocolate, you know, the ones made from chocolate where the spoon stands up it is so thick! Where is the best place to get one of those? Yes, I can (and have) looked it up on Lonely Planet and find out the tourist place to go, but is it the BEST place to go?

So, if you know Paris, live in Paris, have been to Paris, where does a crafty girl like me go? Where can I find the best vintage stuff on the streets? Where can I find the funkiest stuff out there? And don't give me a general area, I need specifics! Names, streets, websites!!! I don't know when this opportunity could come around again, so I want to make sure I make the most of it this time around!

Oh, and what about just outside of Paris? Places I can go on public transport in a day, or even two??

And food spots too (I don't want much do I???). OK, so I ate more pastries than you can poke a stick at last time, but where does one get a GOOD meal?? What about a vegetarian like me? I suffered food wise last time. Really suffered. I just stuck to the basics, not lashing out AT ALL. There has to be something better than safe!!!! Tell me where to go!

Now I know that there are plenty of French girls who read this blog, as are there plenty of world wise travellers. All help is sought, wanted and NEEDED! And lots of cyber hugs and kisses will be sent your way!

I leave you with this photo from my trip last year. One of my favourites...

Now if only I could afford a spanking new camera before I left... oh dreams, they are a wonderful thing aren't they!??!?!

K

I made this...

and sold it!

Did you notice the link to the left? Yep, I have opened an Etsy store. Not to the abundance of stock and wild publicity that I have been planning for the last 8 months, but eh. Whatever. I decided to do a Nike - just do it! Rather than thinking about it and waiting 'for the right time', I just got off my ever increasing butt and started it with just a few small pieces with plans to add more as time allows. It works for me, and I am happy that way.

So, this piece is exactly as it looks! A piece of Love Elsie fabric paper, handstitched and embellished with felt, buttons and a few rhinestones thrown in for good measure. I totally loved the paper the moment I saw it and could envisage the piece before I had parted with the cash. I LOVE that! I wish I could do that more often!

And now it resides in another part of Australia. I hope the owner loves it as much as I do!

What have you made recently?

K

He makes me laugh...

every time he says it...

'oh my crap'.

Gael made that one up himself. And maybe I should be a little less amused and tell him that it isn't appropriate to be saying that at the ripe old age of 3. But he just makes me laugh! And hey, it could be worse...

K