The Power of the BUNNY!!

It's been ages since I posted on my blog... I somehow lost my mojo.  Nothing inspired me.  Nothing was worth writing about... until now!

 

Over the past 24hrs I have been involved in helping a little boy find a bunny double to replace the bunny he will lose when he goes for Radiated Iodine therapy.  The story started as a blog post and then just escalated from there!  Soon the whole country was involved in helping Nic find a replacement bunny and the story got posted on the YOU Magazine website. 

 

As luck would have it... we had the bunny Nic was looking for! 

 

We have a special story behind our bunny (and its cousin) and I will post more information about our bunnies later next week.

 

But what got my mojo working again was how a simple blog post can set something in motion that at this stage is just gaining more and more momentum as the hours go by.  It also put a lot into perspective when it comes to what is REALLY important in life - in particular... a child's life. 





Emma and her Bunny!

In the end its not about the expensive toys, the over the top games and all things technological ..... it simply comes down to the comfort and security of a 10yr old rabbit.

Keean (Emma's Cousin) and his Bunny!





Investing in me..a.k.a Taking a Break!

My daughter was born nine years ago and that's when it started - the cycle of interrupted sleep.  Now a very very (very) conservative estimate would be that over the last 9 years I have lost about 6552hrs of sleep (an average of 2 hrs a night over 9 years).  I'm tired. But more than being tired... I also think I've lost myself.  Now, The Husband (TH) would argue with this and say that in general it's very easy to locate me... according to him, I'm always in bed!!??  Well with 6552 hrs of lost sleep.... he would be too!

But that's not what I'm talking about.  Between being a mother, wife, employee, friend, class rep and a myriad of other things... I think I've forgotten who I am.. who I REALLY am.  So like Pixar... I'm going to metaphorically speaking,  "Find Nemo".

I see this as an investment... an investment in me!  Now I can see TH rolling his eyes as he reads this.  After all will this "investment" also end up being advertised on Gumtree  (treadmill/exercise bike et. al) - well I sincerely hope not!   As far as I'm aware there's not a huge market for sleep deprived moms!  Perhaps they are all on OLX???

So the first thing I've decided to do is work less.  Now again, I can see TH thinking "How much LESS can she possibly work???"  Granted, I am only billing my employer about 50hrs a month at this stage...... But......well....... ok, I've got nothing.  It's just something I want to do.

I know that my income does allow us to enjoy some luxuries... electricity and running water for example.  But hey, a bath every second day and regular braais never hurt anyone, right?

Again, TH would argue that I nap over weekends... ok, so yes, I nap on Sat morning and again in the afternoon and then if I'm lucky, I squeeze in a nap on Sunday.  So in total - let's say 6 hrs over the weekend.  Over 9 years that's ONLY about 2808 hrs... so technically I'm still owed 3744hrs of sleep - and I plan on claiming those back!

But this is more than just about claiming back lost sleep... it's about claiming back the "me" that has got lost along the way and like Stella, I plan on getting my groove back!

Things that annoy me - a.k.a FFS people!

Descartes said "I think, therefore I am."    His point was really that the very fact that you are able to wonder if you exist, is proof that you do exist because you have the ability to think.  Now that may be all good and well, but to be honest, that's like so 17th Century!  This famous line should really have been "I moan, therefore I am."  I mean let's face it... there are so many annoying people out there that it's really really easy to moan about the ridiculous things (dumb) people do/say.  .... and to be honest, the fact that I can moan about dumb, stupid people and the things they do - makes me know that I am very very (very) much alive!

Things that bug the crap out of me:

• People who get into a lift (particularly on the Ground floor) before the existing occupants have got out.  I mean - WTF!  Do the people getting in think the existing occupants are riding up and down for fun... surely we need to get out and it's a whole lot easier doing it without an influx of people squashing you further and further into the lift.
• On that note - people who insist on standing on top of you in a lift, even if you are the only 2 occupants.  ??  Pick a corner dude - there are four!
• Oh and while I'm on lifts... people who insist on greeting everyone in a lift when they get in.  We are all strangers - there is no need to be friendly.  Get in, shut up and stare at the buttons as they light up like the rest of us.
• People who start a sentence with "Sorry....!"   "Sorry, but can I help you?", "Sorry to ask you this but...."  If you're so sorry to be asking me, then don't ask.
• If I offer you something, I mean it, otherwise I wouldn't be asking... so don't say "Only if you're having", "Are you making" etc.  I'm offering - either say yes or no or shut the ^&%$ up.
• Something that I'm sure annoys the majority if us - people who insist on standing up against you in a queue.  Personal space buddy - personal space.  What's even more annoying is the more you move forward trying to escape the more the person creeps along with you.  WTF?
• People who insist on touching me when they speak.  Now, I don't mind a friend doing this but when a stranger feels the need to emphasise each point with a touch on my arm makes me want to casually mention I carry a flick knife and if his hand touches me one more time he's likely to loose a digit or 10.
• Couples who dress the same.  Enough said.  There really is nothing more one can say.  Nothing. Except.. it's even worse when they wear matching tracksuits.  I mean, there is nothing sexy about a tracksuit - ever - and it's even less appealing when it's unisex.  Enough said.  Really. I get worked up just imagining same dressed couples!
• People (Mom) who have conversations with other people (Dad) while you are talking to them on the phone.  Yes, even multitasking has a limit.
• People who only start scratching for their wallets when the teller says "R395 please."  I mean WTF - they have know all along that they are going to have to pay for their stuff.  When the cashier starts scanning your items, take out your damn wallet and get your card/cash ready.  It's not going to be free, so you are going to have to get your wallet out at some point - rather sooner than later, which will allow the rest of us who have a life to get on with our business.
• Drunk people who say "I've had too much to drink." - we know you have.  It's obvious. You don't need to tell us.
• People who come up to me AT WORK and say "Are you working?  Sorry to interrupt.... BUT....."  WTF? Yes I'm working.  If you're sorry to interrupt why did you interrupt in the first place.  The only "BUT" I am interested in is seeing yours as you walk away. Now leave my WORK area dumb ass.

... and speaking about work, I had better get to my job before they fire my dumb (complaining) ass!

Oh, wouldn't the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at? ~W.S. Gilbert

 

La Croix Sweetie.. La Croix!

In my hey day (varsity - circa 1994) I loved the show Absolutely Fabulous.  I was a fun loving party going student and was pretty sure I would end up like Patsy and Eddie... absolutely fabulous - well without the drinking, drugs and promiscuity! But I thought I'd age absolutely fabulously!  How wrong was I.

Men have a mid-life crisis to look forward to.  Sports Cars, Hair pieces, Younger Models (and I'm not talking about the Sports Car!) What do women have to look forward to - Menopause?   Hot Flushes. Night Sweats.  Mood Swings. WTF? Thanks Mother Nature.  Bitch. 

I'm too young to be going through Menopause and since I'm female - I can't use a mid-life crisis as a reason for the way I'm feeling.  Perhaps I'm going through an identity crisis.  As I approach 40.. I find myself reflecting on my life and thinking "Is this it?".  Who am I?  Between being a wife, mother, employee, class rep, friend and chief cook and bottle washer, I think I may have lost myself somewhere along the line. And this is perhaps why I've been thinking about Absolutely Fabulous lately. 

In one memorable episode (on turning 40) Eddie said "This is something that is happening to me. This is something that I've got to deal with, alright. I'm sorry if that sounds selfish, but it's me, me, me!" 

As a mom (working or not) when does it become all about "Me, Me, Me!!"

The other night I was feeling rather crap.. so He Who Can Do No Wrong said he'd give me a make-over.  I was pretty keen.  I'm not a big make-up wearer - but when I do wear make-up I find it lifts my mood and makes me feel a whole lot better than I'm actually feeling.. So I was pretty keen.

My Make-Over - Take 1

I tried not to appear too disappointed - was this really how my son saw me?  So the next day I asked him to do another make-over.  The result:

Take 2





So either  HWCDNO was able to see into my soul and artfully project exactly how I was feeling (crazy psycho 80's throwback hillbilly) or he was just really a crap make-up artist. So I decided to give it one last try.

Take 3

(I have subsequently given up on the make-overs.)

Instead I think I need to perhaps drown my sorrows with My Friend With a Life and do some shoe shopping this weekend -   " La Croix Sweetie, La Croix!"

Just call Mary... Mary Poppins!

Mary P and I have something in common. No, I don't float around gracefully using a big black umbrella, nor do I believe that "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down".  Its just that Miss P and I both have bags containing interesting contents... granted mine doesn't hold a coat rack or an indoor plant BUT it does contain some rather interesting goodies that would make Mary very very proud! (To be honest I'm glad I make one Mary happy because lets face it, Mary Holroyd is pretty unimpressed with me right about now!)

The other day My Friend With A Life (MFWAL) was commenting about my lack of fashion sense (again) and naturally my big brown bag became the topic of conversation.  Like my black shoes that I wear with everything (everyday), I also carry my brown bag everyday.  Pale yellow dress - black shoes, brown bag.  Jeans and red top - black shoes, brown bag.  Night out on the town - black shoes, brown bag. I kid you not. 

My big brown bag is practical.  It goes with pretty much everything (Well at least I think it does).  And it holds everything I need or might need during the day.  So when I got home I decided to empty the bag and peruse the contents.  This is what I found:

1.  A used knife:  I had breakfast at work.  Originally my bread and the jar of peanut butter were also in my bag, but I left them at work because I knew I'd have breakfast there again the next day. 

2.  Toothpaste:  Now this is a conundrum.  There's no toothbrush and I generally don't brush my teeth during the day??  So why the hell was I carrying toothpaste around?

3.  Green Highlighter:  I haven't highlighted anything since I was in varsity 15 yrs ago.  So who knows why the f%&^% I have a highlighter.

4.  Orange Cold Drink Lid:  No sign of the bottle... but I'm guessing its lieing somewhere in my car! (The contents of my car... now that's a whole other post!)

5. Red Lid from Pen:  ?? Where's the pen?  Who uses a red pen anyway??

6.  Push Pencil:  I haven't used a pencil since Sub B (Grade 2 to those who went to school after 1994.)

7.  Very Old Empty chewing gum wrapper:  I guess I ate them?? In 2010 perhaps?

8.  A see through bead:  Don't know where its from and why I'm carrying it.

9.  Nail Polish:  Another conundrum since I only wear nail polish on high days and holidays and tea with the Queen.

10.  My Diary:  I'm trying really hard to be organised this year and not rely on the diary of Bronwyn Dryden.  My poor friend is not only responsibility for making sure her 2 boys are where they should be... but also updates me on whats happening when and where with regards to all things "School".

11.  10 Go Go's:  I'm a mom - go figure.  But I seriously don't know how these suckers ended up in MY bag!

12.  Empty wallet:  Well every bag needs a wallet, regardless of whether its full of money or not!

13.  A very old slip.... circa 2009 I believe:  I'm guessing that I am way past the last date to return whatever the item is that belongs to the slip.

14.  Empty Sunglasses Case:  My sunglasses are everywhere BUT in their case.

15.  An empty zip lock bag:  I'm thinking that it contained food at some stage???

16.  Another empty sunglasses case:  WTF? I only own one pair of sunglasses.  SO where are these glasses and who do they belong to?

17.  A watch strap:  One half of a cheapy MacDonald's/Wimpy/KFC toy.

18.  Mascara:  Why this would be in my bag is a mystery.  I seldom where make-up and when I do I put it on in the bathroom in the morning.  I NEVER reapply make-up! 

19.  A Memory Stick:  Well there must be at least 1 sign in my bag to show I do actually work!

20.  An industrial size tape measure:  Well they say size counts and I guess I'm just prepared for the time when I need to measure and make sure!

21.  2 Expired Aquarium Cards:  It's funny I have the 2 expired cards but have NO IDEA where the new ones are. 

22.  15c in change:  I think I might be able to buy 1 half of a sniff of petrol fumes with that. 

and last but not least:

23.  Happy Pills:  Because lets face it, the contents of this bag is enough to given anyone anxiety!

P.S.  It's funny ... more than half the contents of my bag are either old, used or empty.  I seriously hope a handbag isn't meant to be a reflection of ones life!

Robin beat me to it!

I was busy writing an awesome post this morning and then saw that I had new email.  So I checked it out and there was my weekly email from my bud Robin Sharma. 

I read his mail...... and lo and behold he had written (almost word for word) EXACTLY what I had planned on writing for my first blog entry for 2012!! Ai tog... Great Minds and all that!

So since Robin beat me to it, I thought I'd rather just put a link to his post... since his wording is a bit (only a bit) better than mine!  Seriously... I did think of these 35 points first! he he.

Robin (and my) 35 Tips to make this the best year ever....Tips to the best yr ever!  Enjoy!