Australian Idol

I haven't really been watching this show much. A bit here and there. I did watch the show on Sunday night though and then Monday's elimination show (well, some of it). I was a bit curious to see who'd be eliminated. And it was Bobby.

I have to say, I just don't get the whole Bobby Flynn thing. Everywhere I hear or see anything about him, people are raving about how talented and how unique his 'sound' is. Yeah, he can sing and all, but they all can (have to, to get this far, wouldn't they?).

Honestly, anything I've seen of him, he sounds exactly the same. As far as I'm aware, the show tries to showcase different musical 'styles' (within the pop type genre) but honestly, to me, Bobby always did everything his way. All very well, but I don't think it shows much versatility.

I really am a bit confused as to how he got onto Idol in the first place. In my opinion, his talents (and I'm not denying he has some) don't lie in the pop genre.

And then Mark Holden's reaction, when he was eliminated? Devastated doesn't cover it. I just don't get it...

Note to self:

When Chickie says he's flushed something down the toilet, clarify exactly what it is that he's talking about.

Scene:

Chickie went to the toilet and said "I flushed mumble mumble down the toilet"
Me "What did you flush?"
Chickie "That" and points to the toilet paper holder
Me (stupidly assuming) "Toilet paper? That's ok"

Turns out that, no it wasn't toilet paper, it was the cardboard tube bit in the middle. And yes, the toilet is backed up a bit. Of course it's now a Sunday so getting a plumber out will not only cost an arm and a leg, but a kidney, three fingers, two toes and an ear.

J's about to have a go at it with the plunger - wish us luck!

Update: Looks like the plunger's done the trick. A very good thing, since I really didn't want to get a plumber out on a Sunday!

something new

Another new look. What do you think?

The flower is a photograph done by a friend over at splendor-solis. I think his flower photography is just lovely. Thanks heaps for letting me use it, Ian!

search hits

In the last week or so I've been getting quite a few hits from search engines using the terms Big Brother Australia and turkey slap.

It's quite funny what can come up sometimes. If you read Tom Reynold's Random Acts of Reality, you'll see he has a little comment that he's the number one search result for womble porn (I wonder if by mentioning it, I can be number two?? heh). I've also seen other bloggers talk about their search hits and how mentioning sex tends to get some really random hits. Makes me wonder if I should just add in some random sex-related terms to see what comes up.

Now, I posted about the turkey slap incident on our Big Brother months ago, so I don't quite understand the sudden interest in it now. The hits seem to be mostly coming from the U.S. but I have had some from Europe as well. Can anyone enlighten me at all? Is the Australian Big Brother being shown in other countries? (and if so, WHY??)

Excuse me while I rant a while...

I hate hate hate it when other drivers sit right up my backside. Take this afternoon:

I'm finishing work and, to get home, I have to merge with a very busy main road. There's a set of traffic lights right on the corner and I have to use the slip lane to get into the traffic.

Now usually it's busy, so most of the time you have to wait for the traffic lights to get a gap. Sometimes you can get lucky but as it's in a 80km zone (with a 100km speed limit just up the road a little) traffic is usually travelling pretty fast - and my car is not the biggest or the gruntiest (0-60 in two weeks is the usual joke).

Then this idiot, in his minivan, gets right up my butt. Given that I don't have a big car and his is huge, you may not be surprised to hear that I don't move out into traffic immediately when a gap emerges. Mainly because I can't see a damn thing past his van!

So, I hear you ask, why didn't you just move forward a bit so you could see? Well, I did - several times, in fact, until the slip lane ran out. Unfortunately this guy immediately filled the gap.

So a break in traffic happens, I still can't see it so he zooms out - honking his horn at me! Then to top it off I can see him ahead of me and he's weaving in and out of traffic, causing other drivers (in both lanes) to brake suddenly several times.

Bloody rude drivers!

Summer is coming - I can smell it!

J, Chickie and I went to the supermarket last weekend to do the weekly grocery shopping. We chose a trolley and wandered into the fresh fruit and veg section and I said "I can smell mangoes". I looked around and saw the paw paw and pineapple next to me and felt disappointed. I figured it must have been these that I could smell.

J went on ahead while I got some apples, then he called me over and waved a mango in the air. I nearly danced for joy! I adore mangoes. In my mind, the smell of a mango means summer.

I remember, when I was a kid, we'd go visit our cousins who lived in Queensland. They had a mango tree and we were able to eat as many as we liked. We'd have fun throwing the overripe ones at each other (our parents must have hated doing the laundry) and we'd climb the tree and just hang out. We had so much fun in that tree.

It was such a long time ago now, that my memories are a bit hazy. I do remember the feelings and smells though. This is why the smell of a mango represents summer to me.

So, a question for you. What smells do you associate with summer? For those in the northern hemisphere, what about winter? What smells mean winter to you?

A health update

J took Chickie to the doctors again - basically as a follow up for the pneumonia that Chickie had.

Chickie's still coughing so the doctor's given him another round of antibiotics and we need to take him back once that's finished. J, on the other hand has bronchitis and he has antibiotics too. Once those are finished, he needs to go back and if he still has symptoms, he'll need a chest x-ray.

I'm the only one healthy!

A very good thing to hear from Chickie...

a few minutes before my alarm was due to go off (at 6.30) this morning:

"Hey mum! I stayed in bed until the sun came up!"

So what do you think?

This is going to be a work in progress, I'm sure.

I like this template but it's not perfect. It feels a bit squished in the middle to me. What do you think? What do you like and what don't you like about it?

Oh, and no - the girl in the picture is not me.

Opinions requested

I've opened another blog - mainly just to fiddle about with templates and things. You can find it here.

The template there is a premade one that I'm thinking of using here. I plan on adding my title to the picture eventually, but otherwise I think I like it. What do you think?

Eventually I'd like to play around and create my own, but at this stage I'm just learning. I have a friend who is an excellent photographer and he's going to let me use one of his photos here. If you'd like to see his work, please do go visit!

Updated links again

I've updated my links again. If you link to me but I haven't put your link in bold, please let me know and I'll correct it.

Also - feel free to recommend any blogs I don't have listed. I'm always looking out for more :)

I'd also encourage you to visit the nice people who link to me - a great variety to read and you may just find yourself a favourite!

Happier post as promised!

I found the upside to having lower levels than usual - it made me feel better about being a bit naughty (food-wise)!

I'm still on the lower side of things today, so with lunch I had a whole bread roll. I adore fresh white bread and bread rolls, but I've found that's one thing that my body can't handle too much of. Today though, I had a roll with my lunch and then my manager was handing out donuts (cinnamon sugar) and I figured 'why not!'. I haven't had a donut in aaaages. Two hours later and I was at 7.1 [127] - smack bang in the middle of the range I aim for.

Not to mention - it's the weekend!!! Gotta love that :)

As for plans - not much so far. I was thinking of going to see 'The Devil Wears Prada". Anyone seen it? Is it good?

weird day

I've spent most of today feeling not quite 'right'.

I have type 2 diabetes and my blood glucose levels normally seem to be higher than they should be (dietician keeps telling me that perhaps I should be talking to the doctor about medication).

I'm meant to aim for under 5.5 [99] before breakfast and between 6 and 8 [108-144] two hours after meals. Normally I average 6.5 [117] before breakfast and closer to 8 [144] after meals - sometimes higher. I also start feeling a bit strange at around the 5ish [90] mark (hard to concentrate, shaky, hungry, very sleepy and just plain weird), though since I'm not on medication the doctor says I don't have hypos, but I know that I feel strange if my levels get lower than usual.

So far this week, I've managed to be under 6 [108] all week before breakfast. This is unheard of for me, so to be so close to 5.5 [99] four days in a row is very surprising.

This morning I woke up and tested my level - 5.4 [97] - pretty good. I have some breakfast (same stuff as always) and off to work I head. I test myself before lunch because I don't feel quite right - 5.6 [100] - good level so I shouldn't be feeling odd. I have my usual lunch and then an hour later, I feel even less 'right'. 4.8 [86], ok so I figure I can pinch a few hot chips off a mate at work (mmmm, hot chips with chicken salt are the best!). A bit later I test again - 4.2 [72]. This is not usual for me so I have some chocolate and some almonds (all I had handy) and test 20 mins later - 5.8 [104] - good! Forty five minutes later I test again and I'm 4.7 [84]! I'm home again now and just tested at 5.1 [91].

I have spent the whole damn day feeling 'wrong' - feeling like I have to force myself to stay awake and really concentrate, shaking my head to get rid of the wooly brain feeling, shaking my hands since my fingers feel funny, as well as trying very hard to remain calm - I've been very grumpy and even had an urge to throw the phone through the window at one stage. I've had lower readings than today (I had a 3.9 [70] two days ago) but these weird feelings usually don't last very long - unlike today. It's very confusing (and damn hard on the fingers!). It's also a bit depressing to think that my levels today are closer to what is normal than the levels I usually get.

Ok whinge over... I promise to make the next post a happier one.

A quick update

Chickie is fine. Phew!

We took him back to the doctors, as they wanted to keep an eye on him, and apparently he has a mild case of pneumonia which is responding very well to antibiotics. We had to keep him quiet for a few days (not easy - even when he's sick, he's always been an active kid) and then he could pretty much go back to usual activities. We do have to watch him to see if he starts acting 'flat' or his energy levels drop, or if he develops a fever - then we have to take him straight to hospital. The doctor doesn't expect this to happen though, he says Chickie is doing really well.

I'm back on to the phones and after 2 days, I'm already tired of arguing with some people.

There's a charge to investigate a phone fault IF the problem turns out to be the customer's equipment (or deliberate damage by the customer), otherwise there's no charge. This is charged by the wholesaler (not our company, we just pass it on). You would not believe how many people refuse to pay this.

I personally think it is reasonable - the fee is expensive, yes, but the theory behind it is reasonable. Why should the wholesaler send a tech out - free of charge to the customer - when the problem is that the customer's handset (that couldn't possibly have anything wrong with it because it's worked fine for the last 50 million years) now isn't working? Why would it be reasonable to get a FREE tech out to investigate a problem when the wholesaler's network/equipment is working as it should but the customer's equipment isn't?

For goodness sakes people - things break! How many times have you had a hair dryer or a toaster that just suddenly stopped working? I know it can be inconvenient to do the testing sometimes but honestly, wouldn't you rather do a little bit - just in case it's a matter of unplugging one bit of equipment so that you get your service back now and not have to wait a couple of days? GAH!!

Ok, rant over... just had to get it out of my system. I have just 13 more actual days of this to go. I can make it (I just have to keep telling myself that).

Yipes!

Chickie has been coughing for a couple of weeks. Nothing too major, we thought, though we did notice he was coughing a lot at night. This morning he had a bit of a coughing fit though. He was coughing so hard, he almost threw up.

J had to go to the doctors today anyway (he's had an x-ray and blood tests done as he has a painful foot and the doc didn't know what it was), so he decided to take Chickie to the doc's too. Luckily it's a walk-in type place, so no appointment necessary.

So anyway, I get home to find out Chickie has pneumonia! Good grief - other than a cough, he seems fine. He's happy, very very active and no temperature. Only other symptom is a slight runny nose. How the heck did he manage to get pneumonia??

He's had a chest x-ray done and apparently the doc rang after it was done to let J know what it was. He said if Chickie starts getting 'flat' or runs a temperature, we need to take him to hospital. We also have to take him back to the doc's tomorrow. J says I should get checked out too, as not long after Chickie started coughing, I did too. I do have a nasty cough, but I feel fine otherwise. Is pneumonia contagious - anyone know?

As for J - well the doctor still doesn't know what's wrong with his foot. All the usual tests came back normal. He's on anti-inflammatories and the doc wants to see him once the box is finished. He's had this problem before - mystery pains in his feet and the doctor could find no cause. It's odd...

On my side of life - the week's training is over. The presentations have been done (and we did ok). Some of the teams put in an amazing amount of effort - one team even put together a bound booklet of their presentation! Mind you, some of the most interesting didn't rely on much more than a printed sheet with points on it.

Back to work on Monday... but I have to say, I have not missed those phones one iota!

My brain is mush

I've been doing a training course all this week and tomorrow we all do a presentation on the topic. I'm working with another person, so we'll have to speak for about 20 mins all up.

I'm not worried about the actual talking in front of people (I've done so many presentations to people in my centre lately that it feels second nature to me now), but I'm hoping we're on the right track with the subject info. I kinda feel like I'm missing the point somehow.

Oh well, hopefully all will go well and then it's back to work on Monday. I kinda like doing the training though. Even though there are some occasions where it's hard to give my full attention (lots of info = mushy brain thing).

Another thing, I'm quite excited right now - my counter will shortly hit the 1000 mark! My thanks to everyone who visits :)

I just love it...

when Chickie asks me to drive home a different way (he loves his little 'adventures'). I'll be approaching our street from the other end (to usual) and he'll throw his hands in the air and cheer, saying 'Yay! We made it!'.

I'll readily admit to having poor navigation skills, but surely they're not that bad!

trying to be creative

Not very many interesting things to talk about lately, so here's a picture instead. These are my first two efforts to make bracelets with memory wire. I'm quite pleased with these, for first attempts.

MY car

The bank no longer has a partial share in my car! Yup, today I went in and paid out the loan (two and a half years early!), so it's alllll mine now.

It's a good feeling.

I missed an anniversary

It's been just over a year since I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. I got the official diagnosis from the doc on the 7th of September, but I really knew on the 26th of August.

I had gestational diabetes when I had Chickie (2002). I was on the diet for two weeks and, after that, insulin until I gave birth. I have to admit I was pretty freaked out by the whole thing. I managed to prick my fingers ok for the many blood glucose level tests, but the insulin was a whole 'nother ball game. I had to get J to do it for the first um... several times. It probably didn't help that I was told to do the injections in my stomach (lower sides) and there was that whole pregnant belly to account for.

My levels, while pregnant, were all over the place. I had the occasional low (around 3, or 54 for those in the U.S.) and the more common high (10, or 180) - I was aiming for no higher than 7.7 two hours after meals. Generally the levels just kept rising, as did the insulin dose. I was told my levels should return to normal shortly after the birth but they took their time to come down. People were starting to make noises about me having more than just gestational diabetes. The levels did come down though, thank goodness.

I had to have regular tests afterwards to ensure my levels were normal - and yes they were, until the test on the 26th of August. At that test my bgl was so high that they wouldn't do the test. I went to the doctor and she did another test - the HbA1c. For that one the doc said the cutoff for a diagnosis of diabetes was 7 - which was exactly where I was. I found that out on the 7th of September 2005.

So, I missed my 'anniversary'. Not that it's something I want to celebrate anyway. The only thing to celebrate about this part of my life for the last year is that I've lost 12 kgs (26 pounds). People tell me I'm fading away (ha!). I'll need to lose another 6 kgs (13 pounds) before I'm within my ideal weight for height (I'm just slightly too short, you see ;) hehe).

On the whole that side of my life, this last year, has been quite confusing. What with figuring out what and when I should eat, what foods affect my blood glucose levels and trying to like exercising every day. Hmm... I don't really have any of those down pat yet.

At least my HbA1c levels are ok - last one was 5.8 - so I guess I must be doing something right.