tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102699472024-03-07T18:22:02.037+11:00jen's blogJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.comBlogger661125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-90716738315940535222014-06-02T09:08:00.000+10:002014-06-02T09:08:21.112+10:00The dilemma of STUFF<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've always been someone who cares about the environment. When I was in year 11 my friend Erika and I started the "Environmental Club" at school with the view of raising awareness of what we can do to help the planet. We didn't do a whole lot but the ideology was what mattered more at the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And ever since, I've tried to do my bit. We donate money to <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/">Greenpeace</a> and the <a href="https://www.wilderness.org.au/">Wilderness Society</a>, and up until recently (when we got solar panels*) paid the extra money for 100% green power. We recycle nearly everything, compost food scraps, buy recycled loo paper (<a href="http://au.whogivesacrap.org/">Who Gives a Crap</a> - seriously worth it, check 'em out!), don't believe in air conditioning (which is horrid on those 40+°C days), and generally try to be good environmentally-friendly citizens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, there's a downside to all of this. I have a tendency to <i>not</i> throw stuff out. We have boxes of clothes which we've been storing to give to a good home. Atti mostly wears Dante's hand-me-downs, Elora wears (some of) Atti's hand-me-downs, and we have friends with a little girl and now a wonderful one year old nephew who will be the recipient of many items. But storing and sorting the clothes is a bit of an issue. We have boxes of the stuff cluttering up our upstairs hallway area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there's furniture. After witnessing the old family lounge being crushed to smithereens in the council garbage truck one year (I thought the council would take it away for charity or something) I'm reluctant to put out anything useful or in fairly good nick in the Council Cleanup. In any case, our council has changed from a twice yearly "everyone put things out at the same time = local community scavenge weekend" to a "book your pickup" which means there's no opportunity for people to pick up second hand items, and possibly save a treasure from landfill. Instead it all just gets CRUSHED in the compacting garbage trucks. It makes me cry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hence we have a garage full of old furniture... Some of it ours, some of it my parents', some of it my brothers' (I think, but probably not as much any more). Dan refers to the garage as "the shed". There's no room for a car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, the original point of this post was going to be this: I'm torn between my desire for nice things and a nice house with matching furniture and hand made items and beautiful artworks, and my in-built core belief of "don't throw it away if it's still good"... where "good" means still useful and doing its main task. For example, we now have three sofas in our lounge room. None of them match. One is the pair to my parents' leather lounge set - the other is at their place. Dan hates the leather, and it's a hideous very '90s peach colour, but it's comfortable to lie on (for me anyway, being shorter). I can't bear to throw it away. Our other lounges are Ikea ones, one a sofa-bed and the other a hand-me-down from a friend. They're comfy but ratty. Still doing their main task of being a place to put one's bum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And so on. The kitchen, which was put in by my father in the '90s using recycled materials from a house he was renovating (so probably early '80s vintage cabinetry). The bathroom (what was it with the love of peach-coloured things?) has cracked tiles and shower screen. Get the idea?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know what to do. How do I reconcile these two opposing feelings? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">* More in another blog post</span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-27886618907695173772014-01-07T00:55:00.001+11:002014-01-07T00:55:38.602+11:00Burns on two wheels (mostly)My kids are addicted to screens. The boys especially. I think, perhaps, they may not be the only ones in the world who are affected by this problem.<div><br></div><div>So I try to make sure they have some screen-free time every day. Not just while they're sleeping, and especially during the holidays. Every afternoon from 2 o'clock they have electronics-free time for two hours or so. And Sundays are No Computer Sundays in our house.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTdsvCr2XDG19ez_plMAwUPrJf2Ym_tljsCI1r825vIaAtaSPJOGdb2BEGWlyXXdSwBG4PEw_r0RKZq0xKcUVJUPx09dENL4BceTi_muXU-B0K94Ejr3i8P8fiUI_1vCPxkbesg/s640/blogger-image--2010686327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTdsvCr2XDG19ez_plMAwUPrJf2Ym_tljsCI1r825vIaAtaSPJOGdb2BEGWlyXXdSwBG4PEw_r0RKZq0xKcUVJUPx09dENL4BceTi_muXU-B0K94Ejr3i8P8fiUI_1vCPxkbesg/s640/blogger-image--2010686327.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday I took it a step further and took the family out for a bike ride. Elora got her own bike (with training wheels) for Christmas - she's been super eager to use it (more than just around the back yard) - and it means that we can now utilise the fantastic bike paths around our suburb as a family. The most surprising part was that even Atticus was willing to come. He is usually reluctant to do ANYTHING that involves leaving the house (except going to school, and if he can bring his iPod).</div><div><br></div><div>The park wasn't far - would usually take me about twenty five minutes to walk there - but it was sunny and hot and it was the middle of the day. We got there eventually, after many rest stops. These guys needs more exercise! After a pleasant lunch, some sitting around in the shade and playing on the flying fox, we rode home, almost perishing from the heat. Funny how the trip home always seems so much faster.</div><div><br></div><div>Not an overly exciting excursion now that I look back at this post, but the start, I hope, of more adventures on two wheels (plus a couple).</div><div><br></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-36709134268954590782014-01-05T09:41:00.002+11:002014-01-05T09:41:52.948+11:00First finished sewn itemIn line with my new-found productivity (having tidied the sewing room somewhat during the Christmas break) I present my first finished item: an <a href="http://oliverands.com/liesl-and-co-patterns/OLV-LC005ES-D.html">Everyday Skirt (pattern by Liesl+co)</a><br />
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I cut out the pieces when I went away with friends in October. That weekend I made a skirt using size M which was a trifle big so cut out a size S for my next try. Unfortunately we ran out of time and then the end of the year happened and it didn't get done. Until yesterday!</div>
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The pattern is simple and instructions easy to follow. It didn't take me long to sew it together, even with the unpicking when I accidentally sewed the back piece on backwards.</div>
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The fabric is a cotton/spandex print I picked up from Spotlight. The pattern makes me think of windows in an abandoned warehouse. I went to a little bit of trouble to make sure the pockets matched up. Pretty happy with that minor detail. </div>
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Also, I have to say I love that this skirt had pockets and an elastic waist band. No zippers!</div>
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I wear my first skirt to work on a regular basis and can't wait to add this one to the rotation. I've got a few more of these skirts planned as well. A great addition to the wardrobe. </div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-56328240956972627512014-01-01T21:29:00.001+11:002014-01-02T09:33:37.784+11:00To do: 2014<span style="font-family: inherit;">It appears 2013 went by and not even a whisper came from me to this place of writing. I'll try to post some more about it if I can, but in short:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- I started (another) new job in January</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- It's permanent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- I've really enjoyed the year learning the ropes and getting to know the team</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- It was four days/week but I'll be full time from 2014 onwards</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Dante started high school in 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- It was a challenge at the start - no one from his primary school went to his new high school - but he'd settled by the end of the year</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- He grew over six inches in height over the course of the year</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- He's doing well there academically too</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Atticus has seriously come out of his shell now that he's out of his brother's shadow at school</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- It's such a relief</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Elora is a star in her class, loved by all</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- It was the year for her birthday party</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- She won the Citizenship Award at the end of year Assembly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Her school report said "future SRC material"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- I went away to Craft Camp twice this year</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Did some sewing and knitting and crocheting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Made plans for many more craft projects</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Enrolled in a Certificate IV TAFE course (online delivery)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Blinked and the year was over</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So now I'm putting myself on the road to hell, as the saying goes, as I am full of good intentions for 2014. Resolutions, even. And once again in point form, in no particular order:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Sew more clothes for myself. I've been pretty happy with the few things I've made and can't wait to make more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Sew more in general</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Run. I did the City2Surf a few years ago and loved it. Then I hurt my knee and can't run much any more. Gonna try and get that sorted out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Start/finish my TAFE course. I enrolled but I haven't started!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Read more</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Write more</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Umm. I'm sure I had a lot more in my head when I started writing this but of course now they've gone. Or maybe they just don't seem as important now as they did at the time. I think I've listed plenty to keep me busy!</span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-80911667715275036302012-08-13T10:40:00.001+10:002012-08-13T10:40:11.252+10:00GlidingThe kids and I have been bitten by the ice skating bug in recent times, if such a thing exists. D was invited to go with some friends during the July school holidays and I decided to go along seeing as the last time I went was about 24 years ago!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/73168907@N00/7770034746/'><img src='http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7770034746_6cfb3c4ee8_b.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Oh boy were we bad. The boy stuck to the sides like glue, except for when his friend's parents took pity and helped him round several times. I was able to move from the edge eventually. Only fell the once (but boy did it hurt. That ice is harder than I remembered! And as someone commented, I surely DO have more padding than I used to.)<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/73168907@N00/7770036730/'><img src='http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/7770036730_a0768917fd_b.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />So after the holidays I looked up lessons and we've been going Saturday mornings ever since, and often on Thursday nights too.<br /><br />The best thing is that it is not only D and me but the other two have joined in as well. Atti especially. He flails about and constantly falls (you should see his knees - almost completely purple) but he perseveres. I have never seen him try so hard at something. It's a joy to see!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/73168907@N00/7770060662/'><img src='http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7770060662_feabeab6a4_z.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-81598653963095927422012-01-22T12:45:00.003+11:002012-01-22T13:00:25.094+11:002012 and the Year of the DragonSince I didn't pop in and say hello at the start of the calendar year like 'most everyone else, I thought I'd get a few words in today, at the end of the lunar new year. Tomorrow is Chinese New Year, the Dragon year.<br /><br />We're busy today tidying up the homestead. I think it's actually a Japanese tradition but I got it into my head one year that I must have a clean house for the start of the new year. It's always too difficult to do it for the calendar year, what with Christmas only just being over and the house full of new toys and the body recovering from the over-indulgence. Chinese New Year (CNY) seems a better time to start. And when I was growing up my father always took the day off work on CNY, with the idea that you shouldn't do any work that day or you'll be working your butt off for the rest of the year... And what you do on CNY you'll be doing for the rest of the year. So no fighting or arguing or boring housework!<br /><br />However this year I'm not as stressed out by it all, unlike other years. I think the main reason is that I've finally bitten the bullet and HIRED A CLEANER! And they're coming tomorrow! For years I've thought about it but could never justify the expense - paying for someone to do something I can do myself. But I've come to a point where I'm fed up with the mess. I am working full time and I don't want to spend the weekend cleaning. I don't want to be embarrassed and stressed if I'm having guests over. Of course there's still a fair amount of tidying involved with cleaners - more than I initially imagined...but I'm paying them to CLEAN, not pick up after the kids. They're certainly old enough to pack away after themselves.<br /><br />Speaking of which, it's ridiculous how quickly those three munchkins have grown up. I'm way behind on posting photos (on flickr). You wouldn't recognize them. I'll see what I can do.<br /><br />For the record... Dante is nearly 11 and about to start year 6! We are in full swing preparing for the Selective High Schools Entrance Exam... So frigging competitive these days. He's got the smarts, just needs the exam technique and to put in a bit more hard work. It's rough going, to say the least. It will be an interesting year for him - his closest friends in the last couple of years have always been in the year above him and that means this year they're moving on to High School. Hopefully they'll manage to keep in touch - it would be sad if they lost contact, although with the way they email each other I don't think there's too much danger in that! At least it's cheaper than the billion phone calls I used to make when I was a teenager!<br /><br />Atticus will be 7 next week! He's such a different personality to his big brother. Much more easy going and has an in-built coolness about him. In a trendy way, not a standoffish way. Minecraft is his poison. Utterly addicted. Will play for hours if he's allowed, and then will happily watch his brother play for hours, if he's allowed. That computer game has caused much woe in this family, what with my efforts to and limit how much they play, through to fights over each others' constructions. But as Dan says, at least it's a constructive game. You don't go around shooting creatures or blowing up stuff. The basic premise of the game is to BUILD. Very much a plus in this Lego-obsessed family.<br /><br />And the little miss is going to 5 in a few weeks. Starting Kindergarten in one week. Very quickly catching up to her next brother in height! Always singing, eager to help, especially my mother with the cooking. She's certainly very ready for school - and we have no doubts that she will be completely fine and settle in easily. Last year at pre-school was a huge plus. Nearly half of the 60 kids (3 classes) will be staying on at the school this year. And she is not lacking for friends!<br /><br />And now I'll leave you with a photo of all the grand kids, taken last week at our pre-CNY Eve dinner (as one of my brothers won't be coming for dinner tonight). Look at these larrikins, aged 4½-nearly 18!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/73168907@N00/6739420329/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6739420329_2b5c6a8c1c_b.jpg" border="0" width="300" style="margin:5px" /></a></center>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-20142878155890639212011-11-02T09:42:00.002+11:002012-01-22T12:13:34.784+11:00Something somethingSome miscellaneous ramblings. In point form because that's how my brain is working these days. <br /><br />- There are only two months of the year left. How on earth did that happen?<br /><br />- Today I start my new job. Got here nice and early and am waiting for my colleague/boss to arrive to show me the ropes. Too eager!<br /><br />- It helped that there is a stop work meeting at school today. The kids don't start until 11am.<br /><br />- Speaking of school, we had our biannual fete on Saturday. A great effort and wonderful but tiring day. Lots of money counting since I'm the treasurer of the P&C.<br /><br />- I'm still going to TAFE one day a week. There are only about 4 or 5 weeks left and then I'll get my Certificate. Joy!<br /><br />- Yesterday we learnt about impedance and the effect frequency has on it in RCL circuits.<br /><br />- We still haven't done enough soldering though, in my opinion.<br /><br />- During the last school holidays we went on a family trip to Hong Kong! It was awesome. Kids were great (mostly) and loved it.<br /><br />- We did an <i>awful</i> amount of shopping there! Lego, soft toys, clothes. Had to buy a bag to bring it home again.<br /><br />- In August I ran the City2Surf for the second time ever. I was pretty pleased with my result! 84 minutes, down from 103 last year. Or something like that.<br /><br />- I've not done any real running or training since then though! So lazy.<br /><br />- And I went down to Melbourne to Craft Camp at the end of that month. It was absolutely wonderful. Inspiring people and sewing.<br /><br />- I was so inspired I bought an overlocker. My birthday present from two years ago. (I never got around to choosing one at the time).<br /><br />- I miss writing on this blog. These days you can find me hanging around Twitter more than anywhere else.<br /><br />- I miss having a computer to sit at that's all my own and easy to access. My iPhone has become a (limited) substitute.<br /><br />- Hmm. Hungry now. That will be all for the time being. Maybe I'll see you again another day soon.<br /><br />- I might even post some pictures :)<br /><br /><br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-54631711173270635132011-05-16T11:38:00.006+10:002011-05-16T12:11:37.796+10:00A fresh startToday is my first (week) day being unemployed. Yep. In the blink of an eye my 12 weeks' redeployment period has ended and my employment has ceased.<br /><br />I have to admit that I was a bit of a mess last week. Especially my last day, Friday. I hadn't told many people that I was leaving - you'd think my boss would have kept track but he came to see me at 10am asking what was happening. Competence in action, huh? (A colleague told me that I should be careful not to "burn my bridges" but if I can't be frank on this here blog then where can I?) I was in a state of constantly being on the edge of tears - and all too often slipped off that edge, mostly at inopportune moments unfortunately. My closest colleagues brought in cake and we had a small afternoon tea. I went around and said 'bye to a few of the nicer people in the building and sent an email to the rest around 3pm.<br /><br />I was exhausted by the end of the day - the stress of the last several months, weeks and days was draining. I got home and Dan mentioned an email that one of our best friends had sent to a mailing list of IT folk in the Uni. It was so incredibly sweet - I'd already cried when I read it that afternoon but just having it brought up again when I was trying so hard to be composed in front of the kids and my parents caused me to break down and I had to go to another room for a good hard sob.<br /><br />After that, the weekend seemed to improve. Saturday I did NO housework. Just sat around crocheting. And the usual running around with the kids for their Saturday activities. Sunday was Dan's birthday. I bought him a new computer (27" iMac - yay for spending my redundancy money before it arrives) and we went out to yum cha with his mum and sister and her husband. The afternoon was spent chatting and eating cake with my brothers and co. who were at my parents' place for the usual fortnightly tennis day. It was all very pleasant. To top it off I dragged my mother-in-law (<i>twisted her arm, I did</i>) to Spotlight and bought a bunch of threads (floss) for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68425110/pixel-people-the-eleven-doctors-pdf?ref=pr_shop">this cross-stitch pattern</a> which I am excited about starting.<br /><br />And there it is... Excited. I realised after that craft supply top-up that I wasn't sad any more. Well, still a little sad but not crying and moaning and upset any more. I am starting to get excited. I'm making plans, to do lists, thinking about the future. Thinking about craft projects that I may actually complete in a timely fashion. Thinking about cleaning up the house, sorting and de-cluttering. Spending time with the kids. More time with the kids. Reading books. Writing! I feel like a weight has finally lifted.<br /><br />Of course I will probably have to go back to work at some point in time, even if it's just to satisfy the lego habit, but for now I'm happy to be a stay-at-home-most-of-the-time (still going to TAFE one day a week) mum. Happy. It's a nice feeling.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-27564116562804352212011-04-27T08:36:00.002+10:002011-04-27T08:38:15.586+10:00Extreme knittingI spent a good chunk of the weekend knitting, trying to finish a cardigan for Elora. And then this morning I was sent the following... All I can say is "Wow!".<br /><center><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VVRfVEONxJQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></center>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-26986847683625277952011-04-26T16:53:00.003+10:002011-04-27T08:34:32.637+10:00The end of Easter<center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5656919460/'><img src='http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5656919460_142e364a40_d.jpg'></a></center><br /><br />Our incredibly long Long Weekend has drawn to a close and it's back to work for me tomorrow - Dan and the kids still have another day off.<br /><br />The holiday has been almost epic in its length, or apparent length! The kids have been on school holidays for nearly three weeks. And we've done so much. A trip to the Australian Museum, the Royal Easter Show, birthday parties, play dates... Jam packed, I tells ya!<br /><br />I hope I'll get a chance to write more about it in the next short while. There are certainly a lot of photos to be processed and uploaded.<br /><br />But today I think I'll just leave with a thought from a friend. A bit of a philosophy of life, and a good one I might add. Especially now that I'm a little bit out of my "job funk"... I actually finished my resume last week. At long last. <br /><br />And thus I write:<br /><br /><blockquote><i>Don't judge your success by what you haven't achieved.</i></blockquote><br /><br />I need to practise this quite a bit more!<br /><br /><br /><small>Photo of the sunrise over our local park, earlier this month.</small>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-38192034026765752732011-03-17T22:28:00.001+11:002011-03-17T22:38:16.331+11:00Growin'Tomorrow my first born turns ten. Double digits! I'm in shock.<br /><br />Tonight at dinner I looked across at my three munchkins and was shocked by how big and grown up they have suddenly become.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/73168907@N00/5534603260/'><img src='http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5534603260_74ea494e02_b.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Elora turned four last month. She started preschool this year and is loving it, with only a couple of clingy days in the first week. She has her little group of friends, loves to go to music and the library and has such an incredible <i>understanding</i> of everything that goes on. She is observant and a little bit bossy, a little "mother" at times. Nearly as tall as her next brother. Smart, funny and gorgeous as all hell. I know we will be fighting off the boys when she is older. Or maybe her brothers will do that. In any case, it has already begun. The other day when I dropped her off she was almost immediately surrounded by three little blonde boys and yesterday she informed us that Matthew is her boyfriend.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/73168907@N00/5534603496/'><img src='http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5534603496_a8bcc3c252_b.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Atti turned six at the end of January and is now a big Year One kid, loving school (with a terrific teacher once more). He is reading everything in sight and asking for more challenging maths problems. Our boy with hidden talents is coming out of his shell, academically speaking.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/73168907@N00/5534022793/'><img src='http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5534022793_1ace3e49e0_b.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />And that ten year old I mentioned earlier. Dante. He's only half a head shorter than me. Working hard this year with the prospect of high school looming not too far off in the future. Struggling with his emotions, causing me to struggle with mine (especially my patience, wearing thin lately). He talks and thinks like a typical teenager, to a certain extent. Or perhaps he just talks back. At times he causes me unbearable pain, somewhat like he did all those years ago in that labour room with the wood panelling and the hospital bed. (Room number 8, I recall. Lucky in Chinese.) At times, in all honesty, I just want to send him away to boarding school.<br /><br />And yet at other times, I am bursting with pride at how clever he can be. Mature, gentle and calm. Patient, caring and helpful. Not always at home around me, but at school and around others. I want the world for that boy. I want him to succeed and be happy and everything a parent wants for their child. I want it more than anything because of his potential. I don't want him to waste his talents. Am I projecting my own regrets into him? Of course. Because I have the benefit of hindsight. I just hope that he'll appreciate it one day.<br /><br /><br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-11947898504318522542011-03-07T19:56:00.001+11:002011-03-07T19:58:14.054+11:00Procrastinatin'I've always been a bit of a world champion when it comes to putting things off. Seriously. My entire life I've never been able to shake this undesirable trait.<br /><br />But I feel like today, this week, this month, it's getting a bit ridiculous. I've been trying to write my resume for four weeks now. At least. I have a shell but no details. The clock is ticking. I have ten weeks to find a new job.<br /><br />Normally when I have something that big and important I find other more interesting big and urgent things to do. Like sewing quilts or knitting booties for newly arrived babies. Or any other craft.<br /><br />However I'm so deep into my procrastination rut that I'm even putting off the fun stuff. Instead this weekend I did laundry. Every single item of dirty clothing or bedding washed, hung out to dry, folded and put away in cupboards. All in two days. Unprecedented.<br /><br />The kitchen is clean. Dishes done and put away. I have even done the dishes from <i>tonight</i> already.<br /><br />I rearranged some furniture in Elora's room. I vacuumed. I ironed. The house would be spotless if it wasn't for the very busy, very chaotic, very efficient little munchkins who reside in the house. And their three cousins who visited yesterday (but they did all get along so marvellously while they created havoc).<br /><br />At least it's productive procrastination, right? Maybe I'll get onto the resume tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-24857584644288301942011-02-14T21:09:00.003+11:002011-02-16T14:35:25.804+11:00Learnin'This is my new home on Tuesdays for the rest of the year.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5444915752/'"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5444915752_d24b62f9a8_b.jpg" border="0" width="400" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br /><br />It is Building L at the TAFE Sydney Institute. The carving above the entrance says "Engineering".<br /><br />I have enrolled in a Certificate II in Electronics!<br /><br />Eight hours a week for one year. The "two" part of the title indicates how complex a course it is. This one has no prerequisites and few hours. It's not too involved!<br /><br />Last week was our first day. Basic atomic structure and electrical properties in the morning and OH&S in the workshop in the afternoon. Pretty dry but a good easy introduction to get my brain in gear again. It's been nearly twenty years since I did any of that theory!<br /><br /><small><i>Gawd, I sound old. I feel it a bit. A couple of the kids in the class (and there's only six of us!) are fresh out of school. I'm nearly old enough to be their mother. They are certainly closer to my own kids' ages than mine! Eek. I think I'd better get off that train of thought. It can only lead to despair. Well, not </i>despair<i>, but something unhappy!</i></small><i></i><br /><br />The hands on stuff in the workshop was good though, if a little scary. I would say that I have a "healthy respect" for electricity, especially after all the teacher's terrifying "anecdotes". It was great to finally get my hands on the equipment I've seen used every day in the mechanical workshop at my work!<br /><br />So why electronics? I've been getting that question a lot.<br /><br />Definitely fueled by work. Our electronics guy retired at the start of the year but before he left I started contemplating the possibility of taking on his role, or some of it. It turns out my work is looking for an "advanced" electronics person so I don't come close to fitting the bill (unfortunately) but the seed was planted.<br /><br />My eldest brother always tinkered in electronics (how many boys do you know with oscilloscopes in their bedrooms) and eventually became an electrical engineer. I like to think (and hope) that some of that skill rubbed off onto me, and plus, it makes me think of him. I still miss him, after 12 years.<br /><br />I was also inspired by another woman at Uni working in IT who did this course a few years ago. She told me about it with such relish that I never forgot it, and decided that if Jenny (that was also her name) could go do Electronics at TAFE then so could I. Perhaps I should email her to let her know how she inspired me. Perhaps I'll wait until I'm doing well enough to know that I won't flunk it!<br /><br />Anyway, that's one of the many things that I've been up to of late. Getting my learnin' hat on. Gotta start somewhere!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-62195979298190953382011-02-11T09:23:00.004+11:002011-02-12T19:49:16.190+11:00Caught in the headlights<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/4848637376/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; height: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4848637376_5b0d5757e1_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We are well into the new year already! Both 2011 and the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. It's my year this year. Jen the bunny. Turning a multiple of 12.<br /><br />I feel a bit like a rabbit, lately. Caught in the headlights. Frozen in fear, trepidation, anxiety, worry, stress. You've heard me go on about it before. My life is still in limbo. My father's illness. Work (or impending lack of work) stress. Raising three boisterous children. Every day I think about blog posts to write, things I want to share or get off my chest. And the words, they appear in my mind and then flutter away before I can do anything with them. It makes me sad - I love to write and create - but I just haven't been in the write headspace for it.<br /><br />Things are gonna change, though. I've found a new iPhone app called "blogpress". Allows me to write and save drafts locally and online. I could just use the regular blogger interface but this one seems a lot more user friendly, plus the font size is much kinder to my deteriorating eyesight (which is not really <i>that</i> bad, thank you very much). The main advantage is that I can now write anywhere, anytime because I carry my iPhone with me everywhere. So if a thought occurs to me while I'm in a lift or on the loo (is that too gross?) I can write it down straight away. A big bonus, in my books.<br /><br />So expect more posts from me in the near future. There's been a lot going on and I want to write about it!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-55960357767374690972010-12-31T22:23:00.006+11:002010-12-31T23:08:41.683+11:00DecemberThe month of December has gone in a flash, somewhat like the fireworks going off around my suburb and around my city as I write. Work and all that associated stress. Recovering from Dante's Schools Spectacular weekend of horror (which wasn't too bad in the end). Dan going overseas to Saudi Arabia and Jordan for two weeks. The end of the school year. Christmas and presents.<br /><br />But really, for us, December this year has been all about this man. My father.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5309494818/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5309494818_3bd24f43d8_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />In November I went away for a weekend's respite. On the last day I found out my father had been admitted to hospital. Two days later we found out he had a large gastric ulcer that had been bleeding.<br /><br />A week later we found out that it was actually a form of stomach cancer and my father was readmitted to hospital for an exploratory gastroscopy. Following that and a visit to an oncologist it was decided that he'd have surgery followed by chemo so a week later he was back in hospital for the big operation. Two thirds of his stomach was removed.<br /><br />His recovery was good to begin with but slowed due to his age (he's 78) and a few complications. After two weeks we thought he'd be home but then another setback kept him in hospital for a few more days.<br /><br />Finally, though, he is home. He came home on Christmas Eve afternoon after three weeks in hospital. Frail, weak but home and never happier to be here. A great Xmas present for us all!<br /><br />I sent out calls for good thoughts (and prayers if that's your thing) via Facebook and twitter and all the good will was wonderful. Thank you, all, for your supportive words and hopeful wishes.<br /><br />The new year will still present many challenges for us. My father still has to undertake a round or two of chemo. I've got to find myself a new job, unfortunately, probably. Elora will be starting preschool. Dante heading to the more serious end of primary school (Yr 5) with thoughts of high school looming. Atticus, well, he's doing pretty darn well. And hopefully everything is gonna turn out okay.<br /><br />Here's hoping 2011 brings you much joy and prosperity. Thank you for sticking with me as I try to sort out this hectic thing called life and neglect my poor ol' blog here. Every year I say I'll try harder to write more but I think I know not to make such promises this year. I honestly don't know what lies ahead. Hopefully more good than bad! And hopefully I will take more time to share it with you and record the moments of my life for posterity like I originally intended.<br /><br />We shall see.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-29368712723589978062010-11-12T14:54:00.003+11:002010-11-12T15:02:38.977+11:00Work - an updateA few folks have asked me how things are going with the whole work situation. I just thought I'd update y'all.<br /><br />At the beginning of October we had a big meeting and determined that we would have a month of "data collection" to see just how much work was out there for my colleague and myself. That ended last week. <i>I</i> thought it went quite well. We were quite busy during that time and I managed to enter a fair few number of jobs into the system. We hadn't heard anything about how things were going though.<br /><br />Then today, just before lunch, the manager asked me if I can attend a meeting with him and the Head of School next Monday at 3pm. Just the three of us. No indication of why, but anyone with a bit of a brain (which surprisingly includes me!) can guess that it's about "The Restructure" and my Women's Intuition tells me it ain't gonna be good news.<br /><br />So, yeah. I'm about to head off on a "girl's weekend" with some other mothers from the kids' school. 48 hours of child-free, husband-free leisure time in a freshly renovated historic house in the Southern Highlands. And instead of relaxing, now it will be a stress-filled teeth-clenching grey-hair-making two day wait to find out if I have a job or not. What timing.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-51553701193842110212010-11-10T16:00:00.010+11:002010-11-12T12:33:24.534+11:00Wool. Giant balls of wool.There was a sale. I couldn't resist. I bought a bucket load (or a very large bag, anyway) of 200g balls of wool from <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/">Bendigo Woollen Mills</a> last month. Curse them and their discounts. (Still on sale until the end of November, by the way!)<br /><br />It was wonderful seeing the package waiting for me on the door step after a treacherous drive home on a very stormy Sydney afternoon. I couldn't wait to rip it open. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5157053327/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/5157053327_5c0f373d13_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />"Ginormous balls of wool," Elora exclaimed when she saw them. Followed by "The pink ones are for me and the blue ones are for the boys."<br /><br />Right she was. 5 colours for a blankie for Atti, 6 for her. "Luxury" 8ply 100% wool 200g balls<br />For the boy: Leaf, Ice, Ghost, Lake, Junior Navy<br />For the girl: Frost, Lavender, Purple Storm, Baby Pink, Ruby, Pink.<br /><br />My intention is to make squares from my new book, <a href="http://www.betterworldbooks.com/200-crochet-blocks-for-blankets-throws-and-afghans-id-1931499683.aspx">200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws and Afghans by Jan Eaton</a> (bought from <a href="http://www.betterworldbooks.com/">Better World Books</a> - I highly recommend them) to make blankets for the two youngest kiddies. I feel a bit bad that I'm not making one for the biggest boy, but, he's nearing 10. He's not so keen on my hand made items anymore (except for Halloween costumes... more on that another day I hope).<br /><br />Tragically, in my eagerness to open the packet, I got a bit overzealous with the scissors. Wah! I cut up my gigantic ball of wool! Well, a few strands.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5157663564/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1393/5157663564_5071792481_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />But I think I can live with it.<br /><br />Now to get to the crocheting!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-31319701439987290692010-11-05T20:42:00.002+11:002010-11-05T21:01:33.172+11:00Snail mailBack in June I took a photo of what our mail looks like when I hadn't checked it for a few days, or a week. Or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/4766929090/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4766929090_32bce28467_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Pretty funny, I thought. Proper "snail mail".<br /><br />But in recent weeks the problem started getting worse. Possibly because of Spring? I don't know. I took this photo inside the mailbox today. Those junk mail leaflets had only been in there for a day, two at most. It is mostly unreadable. Some other mail was barely holding together it had that many holes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5148269160/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/5148269160_25453babf6_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Now, I'm not a fan of snails. I absolutely <i>detest</i> slugs, and snails are pretty much slugs with shells, right? Eeyuck! Eeyou! I HATE them. <br /><br />Something had to be done.<br /><br />So I went into the pantry and found a 1kg bag of cooking salt. And poured it into the mailbox. Not all of it but probably about half. There was a good 5-7mm thick layer on the bottom. So pretty, like snow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5148269546/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/5148269546_fb3527294c_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />No more snail mail for this family.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-4450358024833079962010-11-02T15:52:00.003+11:002010-11-02T16:00:23.539+11:00First Tues in NovemberThere was some big <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Cup">horse race</a> here today. I was feeling crook this afternoon, so I sat in the comfy chair in my office and played a highly addictive <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr03CIfjK4I">ipad game</a> instead. Naughty, naughty, but why should I be working when everyone else in the <i>entire country</i> downs tools for five minutes or so at 3pm?*<br /><br /><br />* <small>Just so you don't think the worst of me, and in case my boss reads this (ha!), I actually put in for a half day of sick leave today - around lunch time I realised I just couldn't take it any more, with my throbbing head and twisting insides. But I had to stick around at work since Dan wasn't able to pick up the kids after school (well, not without major inconvenience) and heck, I can catch up on some blog reading and writing while I'm here, as well as curling up in my comfy chair (which isn't really that comfy but good enough when you're feeling unwell)!</small>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-74173438401610254532010-11-01T23:06:00.002+11:002010-11-01T23:14:24.247+11:00Busy times aheadNovember: second last month of the year.<br /><br />Month of the NSW Schools Spectacular which Dante is dancing in for the second time. Lots of early starts culminating in three long days with two extremely late nights... <br /><br />Which coincides with Dan going away to Saudi Arabia for a couple of weeks for work (hopefully with a chance for some sightseeing included - so close to Petra!)...<br /><br />Which means he'll miss the annual Thanksgiving lunch which his family have celebrated for the last twenty three or so years...<br /><br />But will be back in time for December - the craziest month of the year.<br /><br />Fun times ahead for this gal and her brood.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-17498579654348532302010-10-20T20:47:00.003+11:002010-10-20T21:16:08.680+11:00Dinner from HamburgWell, not really <i>from</i> Germany... We got home early from school/child care today (4:30pm instead of the usual 6:30pm) so I decided to cook hamburgers for dinner (mostly at Dante's request). I didn't have all the ingredients - Dan had to get hamburger buns on the way home - but I made do.<br /><br />500g beef mince<br />1 carrot, grated<br />Handful of mushrooms, finely chopped<br />1 large onion, finely chopped<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />2 slices old bread, soaked in water until really soft then squeezed out<br />½ packet French onion soup mix<br />1 egg<br /><br />Sauté onions and garlic until slightly browned.<br />Put everything into a big bowl and mix well.<br />Shape into patties and cook in a fry pan until done.<br /><br />Serve on toasted buns with cheese and lettuce from the garden.<br />And tomatoes if your family will eat them. Mine don't so I had to go without.<br /><br />Sorry, no pictures.<br /><br />A hit with the boys. Elora "helped" and hence knew about the hidden veges and refused more than a mouthful of the meat. Ate lots of bread and cheese though!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-50002443509808008702010-10-19T16:44:00.003+11:002010-10-19T16:51:23.843+11:00Want!Saw <a href="http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/gazelle-2010-collection/basic.html">this bike</a> a few weeks ago at a bike store and have been seriously drooling over it. So nice! But perhaps a little bit big for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/gazelle-2010-collection/basic.html"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 166px;" src="http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/images/180_toer_basic_r3t_d_276_09ss.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Then I found <a href="http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/gazelle-2010-collection/bloom-2009.html">this one</a> on their website and while it's not as graceful-looking as the first, comes in a smaller size and would be perfect for this not-so-confident-on-the-streets cyclist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/gazelle-2010-collection/bloom-2009.html"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 160px;" src="http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/images/2010/10075_10084-10086_bloom_d_457-637.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Sigh. Both well above the amount I'm willing to spend on a bicycle right now, alas.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-52010662426607107172010-10-12T14:39:00.001+11:002010-10-12T14:41:36.970+11:00Snowed underEver get so busy and stressed that you <i>can't</i> get it together enough to actually get things done?<br /><br />That's the way I'm feeling at the moment. At work (eep! Still struggling/fighting to keep my job!), at home (housework), at leisure (craft stuff)...<br /><br />ARgh.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-66961080933195553932010-09-23T12:24:00.003+10:002010-09-23T12:30:12.626+10:00100 and counting!I've had several comments lately about how tall this girl is getting. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenburn/5015759537/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5015759537_bf1bfea71e_b_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />So I measured her this morning.<br /><br />100cm and growing! She's grown 4cm in the three months since I last measured her. That's 1½" in the Imperial scale.<br /><br />Wow!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10269947.post-4476567594663231472010-09-14T14:59:00.005+10:002010-09-18T07:53:35.552+10:00Listening to. Reading.I'm so sick of seeing that complaining post - about time I update this here blog with something more interesting. (Things haven't gotten any worse here at work... maybe there is a bit of hope? I don't know. Trying not to think about it too much, spent a chunk of the week writing up a two page document, "Twenty reasons to keep employing Jen" or something to that affect, which I hadn't written earlier because I'd been trying not to think about the possibility of losing my job and almost made things worse. Ack. Talk about downward spirals. Anyway.)<br /><br />So just quickly. Because now it's the weekend and I've got a zillion loads of washing to do and another zillion other household chores to get through.<br /><br />This song has been stuck in my head recently. I just can't get enough of <a href="http://www.theymightbegiants.com/">They Might Be Giants</a>.<br /><center><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e6h7LEru69U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e6h7LEru69U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /></center><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Need_to_Talk_About_Kevin">This book</a> has been stuck in my hand constantly. When I'm not reading it I am thinking about it and when I will next get a chance to read it. Even so much that I read in the car the other day, and I am <i>very</i> prone to motion sickness (but was willing to risk it)! Will write a full review when I'm done. But let me just say, "Wow. In a confronting and thought provoking way."<br /><br />That will be all.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04719585174074059113noreply@blogger.com1