You are currently browsing the archive for the random category.
Brenda is one of the funniest, wittiest, cleverest bloggers on the internets. And today, after months of chatting and a couple of weeks of planning, we met up and had lunch together.
And we laughed and cried. Seriously! And made plans to take over the world together! (Well, maybe not so much of the last bit, but HEAPS of the laughing and a tiny bit of the crying.)
And I feel as though I have made a lovely new friend.
As I’m sure pretty much the whole bloggy-world knows already, the incredible Martin (XBox4NappyRash) and his wife ET had a beautiful baby girl named Sanne last week. They’ve been struggling to conceive for a LONG time, and the WHOLE of their faithful internets followers have been leaping with joy at this exciting news!
Dan, over at All That Comes With It, compiled this celebratory video to help us all do just that. Be sure to check out the dorks 3mins and 56secs into it!
********
I know things have been pretty silent here lately. I’m not sure what’s stopping me from documenting this latest lead-up to a family court mediation, but something sure is.
Toto is not coping very well with it all. Well, to be honest, none of us is, but he’s the one who seems most demonstrably upset. Then again, that could well be puberty talking.
DH has told the boys… yes TOLD the boys… that he will be having them during the week very soon. Both boys are incredibly distressed by this, as they want to actually take away the Sunday nights that they spend with him. It’s mainly to do with having to be organised for school on Monday, but also has a lot to do with DH’s temper when stressed out by mundane parenting acts such as ensuring that homework is finished and uniforms are on and breakfast is had and lunch is ready.
The boys meet with their own lawyer again next week, and both are going to tell her exactly what they want, and what they don’t want.
Hopefully this time she’ll take more notice of that.
I’m incredibly anxious about it all. Debilitatingly anxious if I’m to be honest. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but my experiences so far have been so negative that I’m having trouble maintaining my optimism.
Still, I know that we’ll survive, whatever the outcome.
I’m just pretty sure that we won’t be able to agree on anything at this mediation, and will therefore be heading back to Family Court for another expensive and devastating hearing. (insert sound of sanity and money flying out the window here)
… jiggity jig.
…………………… and despite a couple of sunburned shoulders (mine), all is well.
********
Toto and Boo both went back to school this morning.
Boo could barely contain his excitement at seeing his friends again.
Toto could barely contain his anxiety at the prospect of a change of teachers, classrooms and being away from me.
********
Missed you all. The 800+ posts in my Google Reader are quite daunting. Please understand if my commenting is a bit on the slow side.
It’s good to be back.
xoxo
We’re languishing in our haven of sun, sand and sea.
The weather is ideal and each day seems more idyllic than the one before.
Our dear friend Ewan is here, and took Toto on a long, relaxing and ultimately unsuccessful fishing expedition this afternoon. Apparently they saw a lot of trees.
Toto and Boo are clearing the plates from dinner as I type this on my beloved iPhone.
I don’t want to ever have to return to reality.
Every year at the end of January, my boys and I pack up and head to the South Coast of NSW for 10 days of R&R.
No internet… no telephone reception… no deadlines… no obligations.
Just sun, surf, sand, boardgames, bikes and kangaroos.
********
See you on the other side…
xoxoxo
Has it really only been 2 years? It really feels as though I’ve been sharing this journey with all of you for much longer than that.
Three different sites, three different formats, same crazy confused authoress.
Thanks for coming along for the ride, my friends.
(and thanks, Teena, for reminding me of the significance of today’s date)
This is always a tough time of year for me. Cellular memories seems to bite me on the bum… DH left on Jan 11, and even though it’s 12 years ago, and I wouldn’t have him back if I was being paid $200,000,000 to do so, something inside me remembers the sadness and shock of that event.
My boys have been texting and calling me (in secret) begging me to let them come home. Crying and heartbroken. And there’s nothing that I can do about it other then remind them that we will have the next three weeks together before school returns.
On a FABULOUS note… she is out of hospital and feeling really REALLY great! She’s still having tests and being prodded and poked to try to ensure that her “turn” didn’t leave any nasty or dangerous legacies, but emotionally she is shining through all of it!
And my boys come back tomorrow!!
And those last two things will make my world just as it should be.
If there’s one thing that I’ve heard this year, over and over and over again, it’s “Don’t forget to put the oxygen mask on yourself first”.
Now I’m sure you all know where that phrase comes from… You know… the safety speech that aircraft cabin crew give you just as you’re taking off…
“All persons travelling with small children and the elderly … put the oxygen mask on yourself before attending to those around you” (or something similar).
And this has been the year where I have needed to heed that advice more than any other.
But what does it really mean?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this, as this tremendous and tremulous year comes to an end.
HOW do I do this?
I know how I’ve been trying to do this, but I’m not that sure that it’s been working.
I’ve been trying to spend “me” time without feeling guilty.
I’ve been trying to work towards a successful and HAPPY career that will eventually get me out of all this legal debt.
I’ve been trying to focus on those that I love and who add to my life, and removing myself from those who take take take emotionally from me without giving me anything in return.
I think the problem word here is “trying”.
I think I need to really “be” in all of those moments. And somehow find a way to fill my emotional tanks up with all of them so that I can still give to those around me who need my strength.
I have to find a way to be necessarily selfish. Without guilt.
And it’s hard.
*sigh*
Am I making sense?
Anyway.. that’s my new years’ resolution. To fill my emotional tanks up with enjoyable and productive tasks. To do this SO WELL that I will still have plenty left over to continue to support and love those around me who are not doing as well as me at the moment.
********
So, from mine to yours….
May all of your emotional tanks be filled with love, strength and laughter in 2010.
I bow my head to you all. I can’t tell you how much I admire and respect and appreciate my wonderful bloggy friends. I’m not always very good at letting you all know that. So there it is.
love, Fe.
and Toto…..
and Boo….
… shepherd’s delight…
If you believe the old wives’ tale, tonight’s dramatic sky means that the last few days of rain should clear, and we will have fine weather tomorrow.
To take the adage one step further, “she” is much better and has a release date of next Saturday!!!! She telephoned me tonight to let me know, and I can’t wipe the grin off my face.
********
This time of year seems to move at it’s own speed.
I miss the boys. But I’m catching up with dear friends, and organising myself for the new year.
(I’m also spending an inordinate amount of time training myself on the brand new Christmas Wii in preparation for the boys’ return!)
********
What are you up to?
xoxox
Lot’s of love and thanks to all of you, my bloggy friends, for your unending friendship and support throughout this past year.
However and whatever you celebrate this holiday season, I hope that your cheeks ache from laughing. Constantly.
xoxoxox
********
She’s been moved back to the psychiatric hospital. They do not know what caused her “turn”, but it has resulted in some damage to her heart.
Recent Comments