Children say the WISEST things

I don't know why I haven't thought to share this before. Oh well, I'm sharing it now.

We live in a very multicultural area, and the kids go to a multicultural school (loads of migrants). This is awesome, I really love it.

Anyways, for as long as I can remember, Miss 6 has always referred to "Blonde" skin(caucasion) and "Brown" skin (as opposed to Black). Does anyone else think is is TOTALLY awesome!?!

It's more accurate for a start, as none of us actually has black OR white skin, and in true "To Kill A Mockingbird" innocent child style, it sends the message that skin colour is about as important as hair colour.

We need to start a revolution on this. Maybe kick racism in the balls once and for all. I need to get some influential people on side. Any suggestions?

Miss 6 even asked me one day (back when she was in Kindy, so 4) if she "could have brown skin like he friend B****** for her birthdy, because its beautiful"

Dear School Council,

About 3 weeks before the end of Term 4, 2010, I went to my daughters school to watch my youngest receive her first Honour Certificate (for her paper bag fish).

It was at this assembly I got to hear the school creed. WTF? I have seen it written in the admin area but I have been to many assemblies and never heard it RECITED BY THE INNOCENT CHILDREN before. It was a bit weird, because the Deputy Principal introduced it as "the new school song" and not the creed. Hiding anything???

I was more than a little bit peeved, because at this stage it looked like the school had decided to include weekly prayer recital without consulting/informing the parents! I checked with my daughter's class teacher, and she explained that it is the same lyrics as the old 'school song', but they decided to cut the singing and make this kids say it so you could actually understand the words (the song was in a very high key and after the first four words is intelligible).

I can't find the words online, but the bit that bothers me is the "promise to love myself, love others and love GOD" bit.

I wrote a proper letter including supporting documentation from the relevant education department policies and legislation outlining my concerns and officially withdrawing my children from participation in this religious ritual IMMEDIATELY.

I wrote a separate letter to the school council asking them to address my concerns and consider scrapping the recital of the 'creed' at assemblies altogether. And I asked other parents if they disagreed to write also.

I may submit this video too.

P.S. They have only had one proper assembly since I wrote the letter, and the kids were taken out of the hall for the creed as requested. I am informed by Miss 5, that Miss 6 was initially upet at being segregated, but was comforted by her teacher. We discussed why I wanted them to be outside for the creed and she seems fine with it. it hasn't been tested again since, but we'll see. I'm hoping to convince othr parents who don't gree to withdraw their kids also, so that it becomes too much of a hassle and they just drop the creed. Fingers crossed, eh?

Thanks to DarkMatter2525 for the video. I recommend his channel on YouTube, as wel as QualiaSoup and TheraminTrees

You Just Can't Trust A Theist On Christmas Eve

Hello Loyal Minions!!

I have a Christmas story for you:

First, Backstory: I do Hip Hop dancing with a couple of other Yummy Mummy’s on Friday nights. Its not serious ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ stuff, more having fun and getting exercise and adult social interaction stuff. But it’s at a real dance school and with a real (and very talented) dance teacher and everything. We even performed in the concert!

(picture has been blurred to protect the innocent)

And I got a trophy!

Anyways, my very beautiful, energetic, young, talented dance teacher, Nicole (centre) invited me on FB to a dance concert. This is the event page:

And I checked attending. (Nicole was very excited by this) I checked attending because I thought it was a dance concert. This is important later.

Fast forward the December 24th and I arrive at what my computer tells me is “Southern Cross Dance” 15 mins early and wait out the front with the others. At this point I’m feeling a teensy bit underdressed as everyone else seems to be wearing what I mockingly call inside my head ‘their Sunday best’. Never mind, the kids are dressed up AND they both have their hair brushed.

The time comes and the doors open and everyone files in and I think to myself “Huh, they couldn’t have arranged this more like church pews if they tried.” So we find some seats and I pick up a little flyer of the chair and sit down. I get the kids with their freshly brushed hair organised with snacks and rules (and consequences for breaking those rules) and I turn my attention to the little flyer (people are still finding/saving seats and the show hasn’t started).

No. No. No. Noooooooooo!!!! I have been tricked into coming to church on Christmas Eve! And I tell a couple of carefully selected friends this by sms immediately. Their responses varied from the very supportive "Bahahahahahaha!" to the very sober "I hope you've been drinking, you're going to need it".

I thought about leaving right thre and then but the kids were excited to be out of the house for one, and to watch Nicole dance. I needed a strategy if I was going to get through this. I chose "Welcome to the comedy show some people call Bible Stories".

Stage One. The All-American (stereotypical televagilist) PastorandHisWife Welcome (and the passing of the GiveUsYourMoney plate.

Stage Two (sorry this is in point form, I'm not a writer) SEVERELY watered down Bible stories. They tried to do a cool, hip "Tonight Show" modern take on the stories of Jesus life. Complete with interviewing the Holiday Inn manageress and Silus' Fish & Chips (loaves and fishes) story. The BEST part was Jesus' carpenter friend, complete with tortured kiwi accent and a neverending supply of bad puns.

So during the 'ad' breaks of this show, the 'stage directors' did some audience warm-up acts to involve the crowd. There was the usual "So, anyone from out of town?" stuff and, a game called "Finish that Donkey Line". The game involved playing the first part of a line from Donkey (of Shrek fame) and an audience member to answer/finish the line for a prize. Excuse me while I digress from my Horror story for a minute - but I won! I have seen that movie 1723 times. It was about to pay. Line 1, I knew - I waved my arm frantically in the air, but alas, I was not chosen. Line number 2, I knew, MORE frantic waving this time, even chair loosening, no go. The third line, well, 1723 viewings has to teach you something, I knew that too. The first part of the line was "...red flower, blue thorns, red flower, blue thorns, this would be so much easier...". You better believe I was waving like a madwoman. So much so, that the whole row behind me yelled out "over here!" and I WAS CHOSEN. If you don't know (shame on you), the rest of the line is "..if I wasn't colour blind!" (I even said it with my best Eddie Murphy as Donkey accent). My prize? NOT a jesus DVD. surprisingly. But a melted chocolate bar! Woo-hoo! (Steady on, don't enjoy yourself too much, It's all part of their evil plan, to lure you in with chocolate)

Back to horror story. At this stage Jesus has been born and learn to make things out of wood, yet to perform any 'Miracles'. Miss 6 turns to me and asksme "Is any of this real?" to which I answer "NO!" just a little too oudly judging by the looks I'm getting from our neighbours. Oops.

Miss 5 is bored. She REALLY wants to go home (she has her fingers stuck in her ears). Miss 6 REALLY wants to stay and see Nicole dance. We negotiate to 10 more minutes. In that ten looooonnnngggg minutes, Jesus starts performing miracles and Silus shares his Fush un Chups and Burger Rings? with thousands. Next 'ad' break, we make a run for it.

Busted. We try to duck out of the same gap in the curtains that Nicole happens to be watching from. Try to poitely explin the kids are tired (that old chestnut) and GET OUT!

But she's a theist and it's xmas eve. So she (God love her) introduces me to everyone who walks past and BEGS me to stay and watch. Kids are happy sharing some darling young christian girl's colouring book by now. So we chat. The following are some snippets.

Nicole "Carmen, this is the pastors wife!"

Me"Hi - You're too youg to be anyone's wife!" (she doesn't look a day over 16 folks)

Pastors Wife "Thanks!"(pastors wife rushes small child to the toilet)

Me (to Nicole) "God obviously blesses all his people with BEAUTY" (important sidenote here- I have noticed "christians" dont seem to "get" sarcasm)

Nicole (cuddling my daughter- I forget which one) "God makes all his children beautiful!"

Me (eye roll)

**********

Nicole "So what was it that made you stop believing?"

(if eye rolling burnt calories i'd be a slim woman!)

Me: "I never believed, so I never stopped believing"

Nicole "Which part?"

Me "All of It."

Nicole " What like, that he performs miracles or he rose from the dead or..."

Me "That "He" existed"

Nicole "Have you ever read the Bible?"

Me "Yes."

Nicole "Really? Which version? Did you read the Old Testament or the New Testament"

Me "Both. But that's neither here nor there. This is the awkward part of the conversation where the look on your face shows me you are thinking 'But how can anyone who has read the Bible NOT believe?' and I tell you I think reading the Bible is the best case for Atheism I've ever read.

Nicole "Er, ok...but..."

Me "Please Nicole, can we not have this conversation? I like you."

***********

and so on...

THEN, Nicole hd to go backstage to get ready to perform and I was wandering around and what do I notice??(at this point I am being stared into the ground by a couple of full lngth floral dress wering, small child quietening believers. They must have heard some of our convo)

Anyway, what do I notice? A wall. A wall with a few pieces of paper pinned to it. Ans in giant words painted above it "You asked....God answered". No way.

So I mosey on over in typical heathen-like fashion and have a little read. This is where the believers pin their proof, their evidence of God's everyday miracle performances. So I read, pretty standard stuff, I had chronic rthritis for 50+ years and then someone prayed and hllelujah- healed! Some even had the words 'Verified by a specialist' on them. They weren't all mega-miracles, mind. One was a young girl who hurt her shoulder at netball on Saturday and was better (after praying, of course) on Sunday. Can you say, natural healing?

One I feel deserves particular mention was of a girl who (tragically) broke the screen on her iPhone (why me, God!). She prayed for god to fix it but, alas, the next morning the screen was still broken. 3 days later however, HER PARENTS bought her a newer model, "even better" phone! "Thankyou God" she said! One presumes her parents know she gave god the credit and they perpetuate the myth by letting her believe it. An iPhone? Seriously? God would rather get you a new iPhone than feed a starving child?

And that's about it. We survived, and we went home. Atheism more intact than ever.

Awesome Logic video

Flattery will get you...

a return link!

Urban koda dedicated a post to me!

Can you say "chuffed"?



on a completely unrelated note, mainly just cause I felt you should get more than that for clicking, my hobbit name is Pearl Underhill!

You only THINK you know what is right for me.

I am currently engaged in a facebook conversation that is irking me. It is a conversation i have had with a lot of people a lot of times before. It is the "Now Carmen, just because you have had a bad experience with a man in the past, doesn't mean you should give up. There are lots of nice men out there..." conversation.

I am of above-average intelligence. Not bragging, it's fact. I am aware that there are good men out there. I even personally know some of them. I just don't want one. And that drives my female friends crazy. I have NEVER had a man question my man-hating stance funnily enough. Men let me be. Women try to beat me down and convince me that not only should I be looking for a man, I should WANT a man.

What the hell? Wasn't this the point of the feminist movement? To prove that women are equals and that we don't need men? When a man enjoys being single and makes no attempt to seek a partner, short-term or long-term, it's no big deal. So why am I constantly being berated for my position?

My friends know my current feelings towards being in a relationship with anyone, and they try to draw the debate argument out of me by constantly bringing it up. These people are supposed to be my friends??? I am already stressed about the topic, being dragged through courts because of this bad experience. Stop kicking me when i am down?

The only thing I can think is that it somehow threatens them because i don't want a man!?! I have never said I never want a man again, only that i don't want one now.

Now i am going to change tabs and end the conversation and imagine all the judgemental things my 'friends' are thinking about me.

!@#$%^&*!

This will teach me to put off posting. Now I have too much to write about.

A Queensland police officer brutally attacks 3 young victims and gets 27 months.

CCTV footage here

What is wrong with this? let me count the ways-

1. A police office is someone who by definition is in a position of authority- this makes any crime any police officer commits worse. By tenfold.

2. The officer was convicted of three separate attacks. why the hell wasn't it stopped at one? Maybe if someone had bothered to stop him after the 1st incident, it would have stopped there.

3. Other police officers were present on all 3 occasions- by not doing anything to stop him, or reporting him after the fact, they were condoning his actions. I am led to believe from the news story I watched that some are under investigation and some have resigned over it, but still, only because he was caught.

4. When one female victim tried to complain about her treatment (she was charged with assault for scratching the bully officer) she was told if she was to make a formal complaint it would take years and cost her ten of thousands of dollars. A junior officer ended up dobbing him in.

5. In one incident Mr Price shoved a running hose down his victim's throat, almost drowning him. Where is the attempted murder charge??

6. 27 months is a joke. He can apply for parole after just 9 months. He almost killed one man and abused his position of authority to seriously assault two others.

7. Any time he does spend will be in protective custody. So on one hand his crimes re serious enough to warrant protective custody, on the other hand, a slap on the wrist will do.

One commenter/sympathiser said this "his life is knackered now anyway,no job or career no prospects of employment when finally out (as his name has been freely bandied about before any conviction etc..wouldve been tainted badly even if he hadnt been convicted of anything), no pension, his circle of friends will be decimated and he will have lost everything.."

The fact of the matter is he was found guilty, because he is (video doesn't lie) and he deserves all that AND 27 YEARS.

Cops do a really tough job, but it shakes me up to learn that there are (people) like him out there.


In other news, the Western Australian government today formally apologised for the policy which saw unwed mothers have their babies forcibly taken from them and put up for adoption.Yay! It's ok for governments to make mistakes, even really big ones, when they honestly believe they were doing the right thing. It is tragic what these mothers and children were put through, but it really comforts me when they have the gonads to apologise. Even if it is a few decades too late (better late than never!)

Church for Atheists/ NonChurch/ UnChurch??

I have an idea. Hold onto your seats.

I've never been a member of a church, but I have been privy to some of the perks. The community. I've been to craft groups and playgroups run by churches and the feeling of community and friendship is awesome. Could be just love-bombing to trap me into their cult but it could be real community.


I've been a member of a single parent support/social group. That was pretty good, except the membership dwindled so much I was the only parent of young children left so I didn't have much in common with the ones left- all their kids had grown up and left home. That was good while it lasted.


And I did look into becoming a scout leader. I was a brownie/girl guide on/off during my younger years and I thought it would be beneficial to my social life, my career and my daughters. Then I found out about the promise to serve God (and all of a sudden repressed memories of me mumbling that bit during my own guide meetings came flooding back).


So what if we combined all these things and did them together WITHOUT RELIGION. Members wouldn't have to be atheist/agnostic but there wouldn't be promises to God or pressure to attend church. We could have 'Youth groups' like churches do and scout type activities, just without the shared (mandatory) prayer. We could go on camps together and fun stuff like bowling etc and get group discounts and share the fun together.


You don't have to go every week, you just get a list of activities and join in on the ones that interest you. Everyone 'hosts' an event (organises it) or two a year and we all widen or network of friends and give our children back COMMUNITY.


Whaddya Reckon?

One is the Lonliest number.

I am really depressed. I can't remember feeling this depressed for a very long time. With my history, that's a pretty big call.

I have been medicated for depression for 6 years. It took a while to get the drug and the dose right and I went to a very helpful course with other new mum's suffering depression and learnt a lot of skills to manage my depression when the medication isn't enough. Trouble is, when your feeling this depressed, you really don't want to do anything to help yourself get out of it (this is called the downward spiral).

Serious things have not gone my way recently, things that make me very anxious. Anxiety is just another form of depression we learnt. I know its bad when I can't sleep- I'm one of those 'Damn right I'm good in bed, I can sleep for days!' people (that was going to be the title of this post, but too upbeat for how I'm feeling). The last time I couldn't sleep was when our young family was seriously looking at being homeless- that's how serious it has to be before I lose sleep. I haven't slept properly at night for over a week.

Mostly the problem is I don't have a large "Support Network". I don't have a lot of friends, I had a vey small family to start with, before a lot of them turned their backs on me, and the things that usually keep me sane, work, dancing etc aren't on in the school holidays.

If you know someone with depression, or maybe someone with little or no family, call them, please.

Password Trouble :(

My computer has a virus again, not ironically from a virus protection site. Plant a virus or 17 and then sell the user your product to get rid of them. I am tearing my hair out trying to get them off but I fear I will probably just end up giving my computer to my friend's teenage son to fix. Again.

The problem is, during the virus removal, what-the-hell-do-I-do-when-Ctrl-Alt-Del-doesn't-work! battery removal state of desperation my computer 'forgot' all my remembered passwords and I can't remember them either!

Facebook it IS NOT helpful when you tell me I used an old password and do I remember making the change. It is also unhelpful to send a password reset confirmation code to my email, because, guess what? I can't remember that password either!



These constant warnings are only causing me mass anxiety and are not helpful at all and I just want to send a message to the virus that says- I don't have any money! Stop wasting your time and leave me alone!

Incidentally, this is the only place I can get onto, so any helpful suggestions would be appreciated :)

Slow and Steady

I am going to try a new stunt. I am going to try and trick myself into doing all the things I know are good for me. I am going to take a gradual,measured approach in the hope that this will make my new life improvements stick. i read somewhere that you have to do something every day for a month for it to become habit. So I am going to try something new for October. I am going to remember to take my anti-depressant meds as soon as I wake up every day. Because I forget a lot. And that is not good for me or my kids or anyone around me. I am going to make a big, bright sign for next to my bed and leave my pills and a water botlle there. And hopefully after a month it will just be habit and I won't even have to try anymore. Future challenges will include:


I will "Findy Thirty" minutes of physical activity every day- playing with the kids, walking, dancing etc.
I will drink 8 glasses of water every day- I read somewhere that being even 5% dehydrated causes your cognition to fall by over 20%!
I will do 4 pleasures every day.

any other suggestions would be appreciated. If this works I'll be perfect by this time next year!

There are no words

Landsdale Farm School

This is more of a reminder to myself than anything, and an invite!

Landsdale Farm School is having an open day on October 10th (last day of the school hols think) from 9am - 3pm. Gold Coin Donation entry. Sausage sizzle, craft demos, stalls etc.

Looks like fun! (Who says there's nothing to do in Perth?)

Quality family time :)

We've just had a lovely (half) day at the miniature tain rides in vasto place, Balcatta.http://www.ndmes.net/about.html

Run by the Northern Suburbs Model Engineering Society on the last Sunday of each month, there is only one rule- everyone must wear fully closed in shoes- even if you don't intend on taking a ride.

It costs $6 entry for everyone over the age of two, and includes unlimited rides for the kids AND adults. You can get a family of 2 adults and up to 4 children in for $24. There are a couple gas bbq's (free to use) in a fenced off kiddie safe area, a big gazebo that can be reserved for parties and plenty of picnic tables on the lawn area. There is a small kiosk selling cans of soft drink, teas and coffees and icypoles for the kids and a clean toilet block.

The model engines are true replicas running on coal powered steam, and take kids, parents, grandparents and others for unlimited rides between the opening hours of 10am til 2pm. Pack the esky with a picnic lunch and a blanket and spend a relaxed, low-cost day with the kids. I took a newspaper and the kids just went round and round and round making the most of the unlimited rides.

This is not a fancy, plastic theme park with perfect gardens and inflated prices and lots of rules. That's what I like about it. Just some model engine enthusiasts opening their gates to the public once a month to share their passion :)

See you there next month!

A theist and an atheist walk into a milk bar...

...and then the theist says to the atheist "But, what if you're wrong? What if there is a god and Heaven and hell and you've doomed yourself to live in eternal hell because of your refusal to acknowledge and worship our Lord, the saviour?"

and the atheist turned to the theist and said "but friend, what if you are the one who is wrong?"

If atheists are only clinging to morals by such a thin, tenuous thread then perhaps theists shouldn't be trying so hard to annoy them with stupid questions? If an atheist were to snap, and lose grip on their morals, finally giving in to the urge to murder, I know I wouldn't want to be the one who provoked them.

The Festival Of Life

In Australia, we have a musician/comedian named Kevin Boody Wilson. And he wrote the following song:

The Festival of Life by Kevin Bloody Wilson

Ah, the Festival of Life is 'in' to save my fuckin' soul
They don't want me drinkin' piss or screwin' round no more
But they've got fuckin' Buckley's chance I'm giving you the score
Still the Festival of Life keeps tryin' to save my fuckin' soul
It's Saturday afternoon at last, it's what you've waited for all week
Relax and put the feet up, turn the footy on TV
You're expecting Vern and Bluey round, they'll probably stay all night
A coupla mates and a coupla beers - aw, Christ, this is the life
Well, here they are already, you just heard the car door slam
You wedge yourself out of your chair, get up to let 'em in
But it's some wanker that you've never met, with a briefcase in his hand
Some prick just out of Bible school, who thinks he's God's right hand

Halleluiah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Chorus

Ah, the Festival of life keeps tryin' to save my fuckin' soul
They don't want me drinkin' piss or screwin' round no more
But they've got fuckin' Buckley's chance I'm giving you the score
Still the Festival of Life keeps tryin' to save my fuckin' soul
'I'm Elder Robbins 'n' he's Elder Pike 'n' we'd like to talk to y'all
'Bout eternal salvation, won't take but a minute or more
We got a book we think y'aII should read, 'bout how y'all should live
My, what a charmin' home y'all have - y'all mind it we come in?'
'Well, I'd love t'invite yer in yer know, but the joint's a fuckin' mess
And there's an orgy ragin' in the lounge, and every cunt's undressed!
And I'd love yer to meet the missus, Shirl, but she's a bit crook in bed
She says she's got a real sore throat through givin' too much head!'

Gobblegobble, gobblegobble, gobblegobble


Repeat Chorus

All snuggled up on Sunday mornin' and you wake up with a horn
You grab the missus on the arse, oh, Christ she feels so warm
The scene is set, the mood's just right, you're about to slip it in
Then - (knock knock, knock) - there's that fuckin' door again!

'Good morning, sir, did I get you up?
Sorry, I'm David and this is Pam
We're missionaries who've come to talk of Man's eternal plan
And to discuss the holy future and reflect the holy past.'
So you flash your dick and scream 'I'll holy shove this up your arse!'

Up your arsehole, up your arsehole, up your arsehole

Repeat Chorus

Well it's not like it's just once or twice, it's every damn weekend
Now how d'ya think they'd like it if we done the same to them?
You know, turn up on their doorstep at a time they least expect
Try and ram our way of life down their fuckin' necks!
Just imagine for a minute the reception that you'd get
With a couple of stick books in your hand and a carton on the steps
And your missus chewin' chewin' gum in a really low-cut dress
And you in thongs and overalls-you know, your fuckin' Sunday best!

What a yobbo, what a yobbo, what a yobbo

Repeat Chorus

Gidday, we're pissed-up testecostacals, I'm Kevin and this is Shirl
We've come to introduce you cunts to a whole new fuckin' world
We've come to preach the good news, we think it's what you need to hear
We'll show you more fun in five minutes than you've had all fuckin' year!
Now You, sweetheart, you come with me and I'll teach you how to sin
And Sister Shirl, old sort, 'll suck your sav until your 'ead caves in~
Aw shit, your missus just fainted, so we won't bother comin' in
We'll just piss off back to our place-just drop ten bucks in the tin

'Nother carton, 'nother carton, 'nother carton

Repeat Chorus Twice

No Lives Left...

Someone has been playing games with my life for years now. Abusive and Manipultive. For this person I have the following message:

Aussie Pride

So I was up horribly early this morning and while I was having my tea, there was an american talk show on featuring a dude travelling the world for free- story here

The interview took place outside, and in the crowd a couple of proud aussies were spotted doing their bit for tourism. They were holding up signs to the following efect:

AUSTRALIA
All the Uranium-
Tiny
Army

AUSTRALIA
8 Years without
a backpacker
murder

Makes you proud.

Affirmations

I had/have these written on little coloured pieces of paper in a pouch and I take one out and read it when I feel the need. Sometimes I carry it with me all day, or until I don't need it anymore. A girlfriend of mine put them in a jar on her kitchen bench (I made her a set) along with nice things her husband wrote about her.

1. I meet all challenges with enthusiasm and power
2. The matter at hand is in my hands
3. Dare to Dream!
4. Trust my intuition
5. I see problems as opportunities and difficulties as challenges
6. I forgive and relese all those who have hurt me
7. I draw only the best people to me
8. I bless and release all of my old pain
9. Where there is great love there are always miracles
10. I take charge of my thoughts and feelings at all times
11. Healing myself is the first step to healing the world
12. Chickens scratch, ducks flock and eagles soar
13. I believe in myself totally!
14. Others success inspies me toward my own
15. I make a difference in the world
16. I move forward when I know what I really want
17. Focusing on the present heals my fear of the unknown
18. It's my inspiration that motivates me
19. I give thanks for the lessons I have learnt
20. Abundance is mine!
21. I go within to understand what's without
22. I trust myself to make the right decisions
23. I only attract the highest experiences for my growth
24. I judge only the weather and the time
25. I know the solutions to all my problems
26. My life is a series of positive choices
27. How I see myself today is how I will behave
28. All anxiety and Insecurity dissolves from my life now!
29. Better the pain than remain the same
30. My mind is like a book-I learn nothing until I open it
31. One day as a tiger is worth more than a thousand as a sheep
32. I am creative, creating is the true essence of life
33. With one bite at time, my goal is mine!
34. Crisis is an opportunity for a new direction
35. If I have no purpose, I have no power!

14, 22, 25, 27 are my favourites from this list- I wish I could find the rest, I had 10 times the amount!

What's your favourite?

Knock Knock, Who's There?

I have a regular visitor- If you haven't guessed by now she is my local, friendly Jehovah's Witness. She keeps coming because I haven't thought of a suitably polite, but firm way of telling her not to. But i don't really mind. She is really a very nice lady, and not too pushy with the preaching, she has a chat and a laugh (even if some of my jokes border on offensive to her) and she doesn't stay long. She doesn't knock if she sees another car in the driveway and she seems to have at least a level of respect for the fact that I don't share her beliefs. It's a good relationship, I'm not rude or threatening to her, and she is the same with me. She gets to spend some of her ten hours a week here, and I like to feel that the time she spends at my house is time NOT spent at someone else's house-someone who might be tempted to fall for her fairy stories.
I am a single mum, of two young girls, so adult conversation around here is sometimes very limited. Usually, she comes over and gives me the latest publications and answers the question I had for her last time, or reads me a passage from her bible that she relates to current events, and then I ask her a question and we make small talk and she goes back to her car and writes my question in her diary to answer the next time. I grew up without any religion in my life, and it's a chance for me to learn something about them, as well as blogs ;)

All this is really an introduction for follow-up posts about the questions I ask her, and her answers. The first one, about Dinosaurs, is a doozy!

Monkey Business

So we were playing around today, dancing and imitating animals and stuff and we were doing the Monkey- you know where you put your hands in your armpits and screech and make monkey noises- and Miss 6 (Miss 5 had a birthday) says to me "Maybe that's why monkeys are always giggling! Because they are always tickling themselves!"

Now that's a revelation.

xxx

The Happiness Institute

Hey I just stumbled on this accidentally-looks great!

www.thehappinessinstitute.com

Have a look!

When I Die

So today, Miss 4 and Miss 5 were having an earnest discussion, right in front of me, about how they are going to divvy up my belongings when I die. Interestingly, the 1st thing to be decided on was my deodorant.


*And I know atheist is spelled wrong in the pic, that's the way I like it ;)

Free Spontaneous Fun is the name of the game.

So today it's raining a lot and we were looking for something to do. Pikelets! Easy to make, always have the ingredients, make 'em fun by making funny shapes or colouring a batch and try out wacky topping combinations. And we had brunch at the same time. I love the simple things (now I feel realy old).

Oh, and this morning, after seeing the weather outside, it was officially declared a Pyjama Day (Hi Maur!)

xxx

Being Sick Makes me Happy...

Today I am happy because I am sick with tonsilitis (again) and have been ignoring my kids.

Maybe I should explain.

I'm in the lounge room, fairly central to their comings and goings, wrapped in 3 blankets in front of the heater with TimTams and hot tea. I am stuffed up and have a headache and an earache and am tired. I have directed them to food and water when necessary and comforted a grazed knee (after I made her hobble to me) and vaguely been aware of them carrying things around and generally harrassing the cat.

It's past noon now and they are getting restless, so at their request, I drag myself out from my warm cocoon to 'come see something' in the front yard.

They have made a cubby/fort. Out of outdoor furniture, blankets, toys, things from the shed. It has a kitchen (with food!), beds and a dolly taking a bath.

Awwww.

new site

Everyone please welcome

www.thereifixedit.com

to my favourite sites list!

Happy Days.

Just a quick one to say I had a lovely afternoon. Planting seeds and playing totem tennis with the girls.

:D :D :D :D :D :D

Movie review

It's time for another movie review.

The Unborn- lazy plot didn't make sense- Wait for weekly

Jack & Miri make a porno- a lot better than I was expecting- New Release

Sherlock Holmes- Gold Class! I wish I had seen this on the big screen. If you like Criminal Intent or House, you'll probably like this.

Orphan- Gold Class! Now this is what I call a thriller! A bit of gore, but a top notch movie!

SERIOUS STUFF

Warning: some people may find the following offensive. If you are religious or involved with NA or AA you may be one of those people. You are welcome to disagree but please don't complain in comments if you continue to read and are offended-you were warned :)

Here are some of the reasons I don't like any religion:

Members are made to feel, inferior, defective
Members are encouraged to serve the church above all else (family, work,friends etc)
Members are told there is only one true church, no other way is acceptable
Members are told how to live, including important life choices we should all be free to make for ourselves
Members gain respect in the church only by the amount of service they do e.g. It does not matter if they cure cancer, the person next to them teaches sunday school and is therefore a better person
The church actively seeks out weak and vulnerable people to become members

there are more I don't care to think of right now

But my point is...

THIS IS ALL THE SAME THINGS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS OR NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS EXPECT!!

Fear not friends, I speak as a friend of a person with a substance abuse problem, not a direct victim. My biggest vices are Coke Zero and Chocolate :D

So my friend and I were talking and she was telling me all these things and I said "Gee, It sounds a lot like religion to me..."

And she said "I know! I've realised I've become Indoctrinated to them/by them and I have to get out but if I do what will I do about my problem???"

So we Googled it. And you know what? We aren't the only ones who think AA/NA is a lot like organised religion! There are sites and blog and services about it! AA Deconversion etc.

So she feels better because she has a solution and I feel MAD! Of all the sneaky, underhanded things! A religion in disguise!

I can't do much about it. But I can tell people. So if you ever have a friend going through the same thing, maybe you can pass on what we learnt.

Lady or Mummy?

Morning.
School & work day.
Slept in again.
Me in bathroom periodically barking instructions at Miss 4 and Miss 5.
Trying to make myself look professional in 2.1 secs flat.
Miss 5 is watching, fascinated (instead of finding her reading file like I've asked 6 times already). I say (in a moment of stupidity) "Do I look pretty?"
Miss 5 "You look like a lady"
Me "I am a lady!"
Miss 5 "No you're not, you're a Mummy!"

sigh.

Aren't they gorgeous?!!?!

On the outside, yes. But I challenge you to live with them.

Who are they? My two beautiful daughters, Miss 5 and Miss 4.

Miss 5 tends to be a people-pleasing emotional soul. Bless her she still manages her share of 'moments' though.

Miss 4 tends to be more of a cheeky character, a divine sense of humour and the braver of the two. She is also stubborn and aggressive.

Recently we wre at one of our usual favouite places to catch up with friends, the upstairs restaurant at IKEA. Nothing says happiness like small children in he creche, a bottomless cup of tea and a slice of swedish chocolate cakey stuff. right? There we were, gf and I, hastily trying to catch up on a fortnights gossip, toddler tales and man trouble before she had to rush off to a forgotten dr appointment, and Miss 4 spots the fizzy drink fountain.
Miss 4 "Mummy, can you please buy me a lemonade?"
Me "No, if you're thirsty, have a drink from your water bottle. Wht don't you go and play with the toys?"
Miss 4 "I WANT A DRINK OF LEMONADE!!!"
Me "I said No. Have water."
Miss 4 goes into pretty standard routine of jumping up and down on the spot whining "i want lemonade" in that wobbly voice over and over in typical tantrum fashion.
Mummy ignores. Miss 4 ups the ante. Mummy ignores. Miss 4 decides to test a new, as yet untested strategy in the middle of the IKEA restaurant at lunchtime on the school holidays (read packed). She screams a high pitched squeal at top volume. Over and over again. This does not go unnoticed by absolutely everyone in a 5 mile radius.
Mummy's friend sees this as her cue to leave for Dr appointment (who could blame her?). Decision time. I either cave, or go in for the long haul. I choose the latter. But I'm only human-I have to get to a new location before the looks I'm getting actually start to burn into my skull. So I move downstairs, slowly, I have a 4 year old throwing a tantrum every 5 metres.
It takes a good few minutes to make it a very small distance to kitchenware, where Miss 4 decides to step it up a notch. Cue screaming the 'F' word at the top of her little darling lungs over 10 times. And I thought the screaming was embarrassing.
My initial instinct is to curl up and die of embarrassment, followed quickly by the uncontrollable urge to laugh. So I hide behind a display and laugh. Unassuming lady custmer walks past, smiling, says to me "I'd hate to be that girls mother" I give her a knowing look- "OhmygoshImsosorryIdidn'tmean..." "It's OK. It's funny." Sort of. Loud screaming suddenly stops.Miss 4 walks over to me and very sincerely says "I'm sorry for being naughty Mummy. I'm sorry for saying a bad word. I'll be a good girl now" wipes her nose with her arm, holds my hand and walks alongside me.
Another lady customer comes to me and says quietly "If it's any consolation, that was the first word my son learnt how to write and he wrote it all over thewalls of our house. in bright red lipstick" Thankyou, angel in human form, that actually does make me feel a little better, and I say so.

The Simple Pleasures Part II

So where was I? Oh Yeah- make your pleasures count! Don't try to 'multi-task' pleasures and don't allow distractions. Coz then they're not pleasures any more.

I used to follow the 4 pleasures a day rule very well with the support of a friend and a handy list on the fridge. Then life got in the way and it dwindled. And then I forgot about it. Now I need it again and I'm trying to remember what was on that list??? A cup of Tea, sure. But the others I can remember aren't really the same for me any more. So, to make a new list! It should be fun, making a list of all the things I love doing, but it's not, it's daunting. And I'm procrastinating because the making of the list means I have to ask myself awkward questions and stuff. Like- "I know! Eating chocolate-I love eating chocolate. I think. Do I? I mean I do it a lot, but do I really get pleasure from it? No, not really, any amount of pleasure I might feel is always overwhelmed by the inevitable guilt. So why do I do it? Habit? I don't know. This is too hard!"

And then I realise I have no real hobbies or interests. I do stuff, like crafts and knitting and netsurfing, but I realy only do it to fill in time. So what makes me happy? Eww, another awkward question. I'm even questioning whether or not I'll post this now, because I feel like a tool! How hard can it be? So my list so far is:

Weeding (no laughing)
Watering the lawn
cup of tea (in peace!)
Bath 'n' book combo
internet

Now I'm no mathmetician, but at 4 a day I'm gonna need more than that. Or I am going to have to start weeding and watering the whole suburbs gardens. Time to look inside myself (Gulp) and ask the hard questions. Tomorrow - I am a procrastinator after all ;)

If you would like to share the little pleasures that help you get through your day, please comment!

The Simple Pleasures

So a couple years ago I was involved in a little self-help, support type group for new mums with depression and/or anxiety issues. We learnt a lot of really useful stuff. Oneof the things we learnt was to take time out for a personal 'pleasure' (not rude!) at least 4 times a day. I know what you're thinking- 4?!?! A day!?!? How am I going to find time for that? I know that's your reaction because that was our (loud) reaction.

So we were calmed down and it was explained that the pleasures needn't be 'big' things and they actully don't necessarily take any more time out of your day. For example, when I was asked, I said one of the things I liked to do was just to have a cup of tea in peace and quiet- I had a 6month old and 21month old at the time. If I did actually find time to make a cup of tea, I usually got distracted and didn't end up drinking it, because the wshing machine stopped or the phone rang or a baby cried. And thn when I found the cold, undrunk? tea I felt even worse - I'm so useless I can't even drink a cup of tea before it goes cold I'm so unorganised!

After a bit of probing it was discovered that get out of bed at 7am every day, put on some washing and do some other stuff before the baby wakes (between 7 and 7:30am). So it was put to me- what if the first thing I do when I get up isn't washing but to enjoy a cup of tea? The washing will still get done and I get one of my pleasures in. And it a nice way to start the day.

Another scenario- I like a cup of coffee,but now I just drink it in between getting the kids ready for school and making lunches etc. So wht if you sat down and enjoyed your coffee first? Then you could savour it and relax and then you would feel happy and refreshed and better able to deal with the morning rush.

Doing the chores during the ads of your favourite show is also a no-no. You come back one minute too late and miss a crucial part. Just give yourself permission to do nothing but enjoy the program for half an hour. Much better.

On that note, my show has just come on, so I will take my own advice and post the est of this thought later : )

1000 Awesome Things

Hello Friends!

I just wanted to draw your attention to the newest addition to my favourite sites...

Everyone Please Welcome... 1000 Favourite Things !!! It's Awesome.

Movie Review

So today I feel like doing a movie review blog- be warned, I don't use the usual 'out of 5' rating system. My system is based on how much I would pay to see it and is follows:

Gold Class- splash out for this one! Best rating possible
Full Price- Still an excellent movie, I don't pay full price often
Tight-arse Tuesday- Worthy of the whole cinema experience, but at a cut rate
New Release- Worth the full $7, probably a 3.5 on the old scale
3 Day Hire- better than weekly, not as good as new release
Wait for weekly- you know, when you're desperate to find a couple weeklies to make up a package deal and you probably won't watch them anyway? Yeah.

So I watched a DVD at home today- Charlie and Boots. I wasn't expecting a great deal, out of my usual genre but I like Shane Jacobsen. It was a good movie. I laughed, I cried, I was satisfied. Rating?...New Release

Clash of the Titans I saw at cinema (not in 3D, 3d makes me sick), again, someone else's choice but I loved it! Gold Class! 3D if you can stomach it!

Paranormal Activity- huge disappointment, like watching paint dry. Wait for Weekly.

Lastly, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, awesome movie! Gold Class again!

Keeping the blog short by not posting descriptions of each, you can google it ;)

Love to hear your opinions of my reviews or hear about great flicks you want to recommend

Public school for us, for now

So every once in a while you are involved in a conversation which makes you stop and think about major life decisions you have made. This is a good thing - people change, priorities change, times change. So I just did a quick reassessment of my decision to send my daughters to public school.

So when it came time for my eldest daughter to start kindy I made appointments, and did inspections and interviewed teachers at the local public schools. Private was not an option, finding one without a religious (patooie!) base is difficult, and to be honest, well out of the price range of a single mum. Then we suddenly had to move a week before the school year commenced and all the hard work I had done finding the best of the local schools went out the window. I made 2 phone calls with the help of a street directory and enrolled in the most convenient to me. The stress of the sudden move and rent double that of the old place far outweighed any need I felt to get the choice of school perfet. That sounds terrible, but you do the best with what you know at the time, and I'm OK with it.

So the local Steiner school had a fete/open day that year and I made an effort to go along an actually check out the school to assess whether it was right for our family. I didn't know much about the Steiner method (no internet access) but went in with an open mind. The dealbreaker? Prayers. On blackboards, in workbooks, everywhere! No, no, no, that wouldn't do.

So a show on ABC called "This is Emily Young" caused me to consider home schooling more seriously. Emily (who I presume is home schooled) goes into the real world, questions the people who work there, and participates to learn. I am excited by the method of learning. Of course the student/teacher ratio is a bonus too. But who am I kidding? While I think I am smart enough to home school my children, I also feel that they would be missing out on other important things by not attending mainstream school (the benefits of mainstream public school in another post).

Back to today, where I am reassessing my quick decision to send them to a local, convenient school. Am I happy with their school? Yes. What are they missing out on that they might otherwise benefit from by being Steiner/home schooled? Nothing really. And I think this is because (quite subconsciously) the things I like about the other schooling methods have crept into our normal home life. Everything we do is an opportunity to learn - cooking, cleaning, washing, talking, shopping, driving, even watching (Gasp!) TV. Now I'm not pretending to be perfect, my kids watch too much TV and sometimes "Because it is" is the best answer they'll get from their tired, old mum- but it works for us. And maybe in a couple years something else will make me 'reassess' and I feel good that I can objectively do this.

School Holiday Happiness

Share your free/low cost school holiday activities below:

I took my two young children to a local Garden Centre which specialises in water features and koi fish. I asked, and they gave my daughters each a small bag of food to throw to the koi in the main pond. The fish jumped out of the water and over each other to get the food, delighting the children and entertaining them for a while. It provided conversation for the rest of the day and when we got home the girls got out their textas to capture the bright colours of the beautiful animals. And it was free and local!

These are a few of my favourite sites...

(to the tune of "Favourite Things"- The Sound of Music)

When the house is a mess, When the budget bites
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favourite sites,
And then I don't feel so bad

Bad cakes on Cakewrecks and loonies on Black Bikini
post-its on Passive Aggressive Notes and horror stories on fmylife,
Texts from Last Night has some really great stuff,
These sites I log into I can't get enough

Ruminations by Aaron Karo is also good too,
David After Dentist is the best on YouTube
If you have another site
that you think I might like
Please comment below
If you want to complain about my lyrics I don't want to know

This blog is for me
to share the things
that make me smile
I hope if you like it you'll visit once in a while!