yay!

I'm now on annual leave for just over a week - woohoo!

I solemnly promise to sleep-in several times, to see a movie or two, do some beading, blog about some very random stuff, catch up with friends and generally do nothin' much at all.

As you can probably tell, J can't get time off so we're not going away or anything.

driving home today...

I'm stopped at traffic lights listening to the radio. Over the radio I can hear the beat of some very loud music right next to me. I figure it's some hoon in his hotted up car with his 'doof doof' music, loud enough for all to hear. So, I casually glance over at the car (I didn't want to make eye contact).

Wha?? The car is a white station wagon with the logo for a local plumbing centre on the door. Huh?

I steal another glance and there's a grey haired guy grooving to the music...

Intrigued now, I muted my radio to listen to the music. It's some wurlitzer organ version of the Animals' House of the Rising Sun.

Ooh-kay then...

Kids can be funny

I'm still chuckling about Chickie's reaction to something, from the other day.

Chickie has been totally resistant to cheese for as long as I can remember. I think he tasted it once and then refused to have anything to do with it after that. He's eaten it in stuff, but by itself, well put it this way - superman's reaction to kryptonite is a mild dislike, in comparison.

So anyway, his dad made himself a cheese sandwich on the weekend and Chickie decided he'd have a bite. Then he decided he'd have the whole sandwich, thank you very much! Since then cheese has changed from kryptonite to the most delectable ambrosia in the universe. Chickie now has to have it everyday.

I was driving him home from childcare the other day and cheese was on his mind, I guess, because he asked how it was made. I started to answer 'well, you know milk comes from cows, and what they d...' I didn't get much further because this startled 'WHAAAAA!?!?' came from the back seat. I repeated 'milk comes from cows' and he just said 'that's a bit strange' (in a very disbelieving voice). I had to try very hard to not burst out laughing.

Now, it's not like he hasn't heard this from us before. Not to mention that he has several books with that very statement in them. I guess it just didn't register clearly with him until now. I wonder where he thought it came from?

I never did get to tell him how cheese is made either...

Spending lots of money!

I've been on a bit of a spending spree this weekend. The weather's been great here so I finally succumbed to the shops' displays of new clothing. I bought myself two pairs of capri pants and a crinkly type shirt - the sort you twist up to dry and don't iron (heh, that's my type of shirt!).

I also bought a new pda. My old Palm Tungsten E is about 3 years old and it's been great. I use it a lot. Unfortunately it's developed a high pitched hum/buzz when turned on, the screen is losing sensitivity and, this week, I've noticed the button to turn it on is dodgy, taking quite a few presses to actually get it to turn on. I figured I'd better sync it and upgrade.

So, I did a bit of thinking about what I wanted in a pda, did a bit of research and came up with... the Palm Tungsten E2. Yep, pretty much the same thing as before. I bought it, it's just what I want. I'm happy.

I can't help but wonder if this means I'm a bit resistant to change, though. Not only have I just bought the newer version of the pda I've had for the past three years, but I did the same thing a few months back with our microwave (ours was on the way out, we had a look around and settled on one in the right price range with all the features we wanted, got it home and it's the same model as our old one - just updated).

I know I don't welcome major change, but perhaps I'm a little more entrenched in my ways than I thought.

Updated links

I've updated my links again because some very nice people have linked back to me. Thank you very much for the links everyone! Make sure you check out their blogs.

If you have a link to my blog and I don't have yours here, please let me know.

misdirected emails

Robin over at the Internet Institute for the Easily Amused has an amusing post about a misdirected email. Email is such a handy thing but can go oh so wrong if you're not paying attention.

I have many email addresses and one of them happens to be a very common name. As you might imagine, I get many emails sent to me by accident. Usually it's because the person with the similar email address gives it out incorrectly.

Some of the emails include boring stuff, like 'will you pick up Steven on the weekend?' and 'Joe, are you going to be at soccer on the weekend?' or I'll get a gazillion test emails 'just to see if this works'.

Others are more amusing. One was from someone who did uniform orders and was corresponding with someone about mistakes made in a school order. The first couple itemised the mistakes the employees were making, the last sounded like the poor writer was about to have a nervous breakdown. Not surprisingly since the mistakes in the school's order were pretty major. Sounds like the company sent uniforms in a range of sizes, including a large number of women's size 22, 24 and 26 (for those outside Australia those sizes are very very large). Then there were hats in sizes that were equivalent to a 1 year old and 2 year old's head size. To top it all off the embroidery was done in the wrong colours!

I think the most amusing misdirected email though, was the person who did an online IQ test. The results came back as:

Hello Joe (name changed to protect the identity)

Your age adjusted IQ score is 98 and the average score is 100.

Your IQ score is the result of a formula based on the number of
questions answered correctly on the test. This score has been further
adjusted to account for the differences in capabilities among various
age groups. Your percentile score means that you scored higher than 45%
of the people who took this same test.


Your Grade:Lower Average

Total number of questions:30
Questions answered:27
Questions not answered:3
Questions answered correctly:13
Questions answered incorrectly:17
Percentage correct answers:43%

Surprise, surprise - the other thing he got wrong, was his email address.

You know, I often wonder if he even realised that he'd given the wrong email address and was just sitting there anxiously awaiting the results that would reveal his brilliant IQ.

No decision required.

I rang the lady about the jewellery course and apparently they didn't get the numbers - so no class this term.

I'll wait and see what happens next term.

decisions, decisions

I'm tossing up whether to go to jewellery class again this term. I did enjoy it but last term I felt like sometimes it was a waste of my money.

About half the class was entirely new and the people who'd done the term before (including me) felt that we couldn't get the teacher's attention enough to get on with what we were working on. I understood that the new people needed a lot of initial instruction, but the things we were working on used new techniques too. I didn't get my project finished and I would like to finish it off, but is it worth the money if it's just going to be the same as last time?

The other thing they've done is move the class to a different TAFE campus. Now it will take me twice as long to get there.

Ah, I don't know. I'm kinda leaning towards not going this term and perhaps go next term instead. I have to make up my mind today though.

I'm 'chucking a sickie' today...

at my manager's suggestion. I did ask for a day's annual leave but he said it was easier to just have a day out of my sick leave than to have last minute annual leave approved. I haven't used much of my sick leave so I'm fine with that.

The reason for it, is that I went home with a migraine last Friday and since then, I've had a mild continuous headache. It just won't go away. I think it's more a tension headache though, since it has that feeling of a tight band around my head. I'm hoping that with a couple of days relaxing it might just leave me alone. Particularly since I have today all to myself.

I thought, if the weather was nice, I might take a nice stroll around the neighbourhood. Unfortunately it looks like it might rain (and it's been so sunny all week!), so I'll skip that, I think. I might go visit a friend who is pregnant and on bedrest (she's in danger of giving birth very prematurely). I have another massage booked this afternoon. I also plan to get off the computer after this (and stay off for the day). So hopefully a relaxing day will fix my head.

Any other suggestions for relaxing welcomed!

Census

Census night tonight in Australia and jeez the questions are nosy!

They want to know all sorts of things besides the usual how many people in the house, what religion are you all, are you working type of stuff. Things like, did you look for work in the last week, how did you get to work today, how much time did you spend on housework, did you look after any children this week.

The ads say it's to help plan the services required for the future (hospitals, transportation etc). Umm... so where does the housework amount come into things?

I wonder how many people will lie in this form? Particularly given that last time there were a surprising percentage of jedi knights living in Australia. Interestingly though, apparently Australia has one of the highest census counts in the world, well according to channel 10's news anyway - they reckon the last census covered 98% of our population.

Governments are so damned nosy...

Signs of things to come?

Normally Chickie is an early riser. Way too early for J and I. I wonder though if that will last when he's a teenager.

He has this little alarm clock since he's very interested in learning to tell the time at the moment. Anyway he must have switched the alarm on at some stage. He's been in bed for about half an hour or so (so probably not yet into his deepest sleep, I'd imagine) and the alarm went off. It's not hugely loud but I could hear it with his door almost shut (I just couldn't figure out where it was coming from).

I went in there and, at a quick glance, he looked to be fast asleep. I was surprised he hadn't woken up. I turned off the alarm and double checked him and nearly laughed out loud. He was fast asleep - with his hands over his ears!

Oh, these teenage years are going to be fun. Good thing I have 9 years to prepare!

Domesticity

It's a glorious sunday afternoon. Sunny with a slight breeze, around 18 degrees (about 64 for those who use Fahrenheit) and this weather is making everyone feel that spring is coming soon.

Yesterday was similar and it was quite funny to go shopping and people watch. We sat down at our local Yiros place (we often share a yiros on a plate before doing the grocery shopping) and watched as people wandered by. The lovely temperatures meant a very wide range of clothing. I saw one lady bundled up in a thick coat with fluffy hood, then another with a short denim skirt and shoestring top. Neither was really the best dress for the day, if you ask me.

Spring is definitely coming. Both J and I are feeling the urge to spring-clean. J's been clearing out the shed so we can actually use it as a proper workshop and I've been madly washing clothes (to take advantage of the sunshine), sweeping, mopping and vaccuming. I've got all the windows open wide, with all the usual sunny sunday sounds coming in. Lawnmowers in several yards, kids riding their bikes up and down the street and the birds singing at the tops of their voices. Domestic bliss...

All a bit traditional, I guess. Mind you, I'd much rather do the mopping and washing etc than clear out the shed - way, way less cobwebs to deal with!

Updated my links

I've been meaning to do it for ages and now I've finally done it. Please check out the links over on the left hand side. There are a lot of interesting people out there.

Dear dieters

How do you keep your cravings in check?

I have type 2 diabetes, so I need to eat a balanced diet, eat healthy, eat small portions often, leave the junkfood alone... blah, blah, blah

What do you do when you just don't feel satisfied?

I'm in a mood tonight, I think. I'm not hungry but I'm not feeling satisfied by what I'm eating. I'm a bit sick of healthy food tonight too. Fed up to here (picture me with my hand waving around eye level) with vegetables. What I feel like is a pack of plain potato Tasty Jacks or paprika flavoured Pringles (it's probably a good thing they don't make these anymore, I think - I loved them!). By the way, the reviewer on both those links didn't really think much of either of these items - but they're my favourites anyway.

So, I'm obsessing over food tonight. Feeling in crunchy, salty kind of mood. An 'mmmmm.... potatoes' kinda mood. I've had to make do with a handful of salted cashew nuts. Again yummy, but not exactly what I'm craving.

I'm sure I never thought this much about food - well, junk food - before I was diagnosed with diabetes. I ate it sure - but obsess, nah...

What to do about the cravings then huh?

Big Bother.. er Big Brother is over for another season

And Jamie has won. I have to admit I didn't watch the finale, but I did hear an interesting tidbit/soundbyte this afternoon.

A bit of background - Jamie and another housemate Katie got very close (even had a mock wedding apparently) though she was evicted several weeks ago. Things were supposedly all still on even though, they've been separated for weeks.

On the radio I heard about how Katie ran up to Jamie and said something like 'We're rich!'. I thought that was a bit presumptive. I mean, they've had a very short relationship - in a weird situation that may not stand up to the pressures of day to day normality. Why would she assume that she's getting half? Sure Jamie might want to share the prize winnings, but that's his choice.

I think Rove said it best. The housemates were all on his show tonight - except John and Ashley who were removed after the turkey-slap incident. One of the housemates mentioned he was disappointed they weren't included and Rove said he would have had them there but he wasn't allowed. The housemates said that he could have them on next week and Rove said that by next week no one will care.

Hate to say it guys - I reckon it's true!

Shopping Vent

We went shopping today. One of the things I was after was a plain white longsleeve t-shirt type top for Chickie. I found a total of zero longsleeve shirts in plain colours. Plenty in short sleeves but not what I wanted.

I wish retailers wouldn't bring in the summer stock so early. There's still a bit over a month left of winter and even in early spring it's not warm enough to wear the shortsleeve stuff. With Chickie growing so quickly (as kids are wont to do), the winter clothes I bought at the beginning of the season are starting to look like 3/4 sleeves. So some plain, cheap winter basics would be handy right about now. There's still a selection of more expensive stuff out (character stuff, fashion stuff etc), but basics are all oriented to summer now.

I guess I could just buy the next size up as well, at the beginning of the season, but there's really two problems with that. 1 - I can't really tell how much he's going to grow at the beginning of the season. This kid seems to grow in fits and starts. 2 - I'm pretty much buying a whole new wardrobe (shoes included) each winter/summer so it's kind of a hit to the wallet already. Buying the next size up as well, just in case would be costly - especially if he doesn't grow as much as I estimate and then never gets to wear them!

I don't quite understand why the retailers get the new stuff in so early. I used to work for a clothing store in a town where it used to snow in winter. I remember unpacking the new summer arrivals, while it was snowing out, many many times. The new stuff didn't usually sell for a long time (till it started to warm up natch) and then we'd have the questions from customers about stuff they wanted now for winter!

Oh well, I'll keep looking.

The other thing I saw, while shopping, was - The Wiggles Toddler Wipes... The only thing I could think of was The Simpsons and how Krusty has his brand on everything! Wiggles - say it ain't so!

Can money buy serenity?

Perhaps...

Once a month I have a day off on a Friday (I work Sundays instead). So Chickie's at childcare, J's at work and I have the day to myself.

Today I slept in, cleaned the bathroom/toilet (they sparkle!) and went to the movies. I saw the Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. It was sweet - I'm a sucker for chickflicks (heck, I'm a sucker for a clean-shaven Keanu too, hehe).

Last thing I did was have a massage. 45 mins of relaxation - well sorta... I've had problems with my left knee. If you read back a bit, I've been on anti-inflammatories, I've had x-rays and at least it's not an arthritic problem, but no one really knows what it is. It started as a sore muscle down the outside of my left knee but the docs have said both my knees were swollen (I haven't had a noticeable problem with my right knee though). After a lot of weeks I'd say it's about 85-90% back to normal. Much better than it's been but still gives out on me occasionally and aches if I do too much with it.

So the massage therapist concentrated a bit on my leg muscles and hoo boy, I thought I was going to jump off that table a few times! After a bit, he sprayed something called cold spray on it and got right in there. I have to say it feels so much better! In fact my left knee feels better than my right. He says it's the illio-tibial tract that seemed to be giving the most reaction. Hopefully I've spelled that correctly since I'm off to google it in a moment.

As I was heading out of the building I saw one of the guys I work with. He said I was looking very serene. So, I guess money can buy serenity - well at least for a while ;)

Tough girl!

I saw a dietician today. She says I'm doing the right things - in fact she thinks I might be too tough on myself. What she had to say did seem to feel right.

I've been testing my blood glucose levels after eating various foods to see how they affect me. A lot of the levels just don't make any sense. I could eat the same thing (ie: cook one meal then halve it) one day and have a reasonable blood glucose level after 2 hours. Yet the rest of the meal the next day would send my levels to the quite high mark. Some days my levels don't always seem to have a lot of relation to what I eat. It was like that when I had gestational diabetes too (and I ended up on insulin injections fairly quickly then).

She said that if I had random highs even when eating properly, then I may need to speak to my doctor about medication. *sigh* I really don't want that though. I feel like it's admitting defeat.

I have this sinking feeling it might happen sooner rather than later though. My morning (fasting) bgl's are way higher than they should be, then they seem to go fairly low (for me low is around the 5 mmol/ml mark) before lunch. I spend a lot of mornings feeling like crap.

She thinks my levels may actually be going too low overnight, the liver then pushes out glucose to (possibly over) compensate, which then pushes up my fasting bgl's. Then when my body finally gets around to processing that glucose, it's going low enough to make me feel awful.

For now she wants to make sure I have a snack before bedtime to see if that helps keep my levels steadier overnight. Then if my body isn't pushing out too much glucose, there isn't as much insulin required to process it, so I won't go so low before lunch. I'm hope it works - I hate the feeling of low bgl's.

I shouldn't have said anything!

A while back I commented on this post about dreams on Sean's blog. My comment was that I don't remember my dreams. So last night - I had a dream I remember.

It was more a nightmare really. I don't really remember much. Something about someone snatching Chickie and wanting to hang him. I grabbed Chickie and curled my body around him to protect him while J fought off the bad guy with an axe.

I feel sick at the thought of someone trying to hurt my Chickie, and this dream's been on my mind all day. So, I looked up a dream dictionary to see if there's any meaning behind it. This is what I found at Dream moods:

• To dream of being abducted, indicates that you are being controlled by your circumstances or by someone. To dream about witnessing an abduction, foretells of unexpected news.
• To watch a hanging in your dream, represents your feelings of insecurity. Consider also the image as a pun for something in your life which you have left hanging or unfinished.
• To dream that you are protecting someone, suggests that you are putting up an emotional wall or barrier between you and others around you. Consider who or what you are protecting for clues as to what aspect of your own self you are afraid of letting out and letting others know.
• To see an ax in your dream, indicates that you are overly controlling. It is symbolic of destruction, hostility, and the frustrations that you are experiencing.

So what does all that actually mean? I'm overly controlling and put up a barrier between myself and others? I'm also insecure, have unfinished business, and I may be getting some unexpected news?

I don't know... the dream was pretty unsettling, is all I know.

I love talking on the phone...

and I hate talking on the phone.

I'm on the phone pretty much all day. A lot of the time I like it. I love chatting to people, helping them out with their problems. Some people can be so nice and friendly even when they're having problems with their phones or internet.

Some people are all business. They just want to get on to you quickly and get the problem fixed or reported and get off the line. I have no problem with that and will do my best to be as quick as I can.

Some people are angry at the circumstances of their problem but they take pains to let you know it's not you personally they're angry with. For those people I will do whatever I can to help out.

Then there are others. Others I really don't want to talk to. Others that are rude. Others that think they're the only person who deserves help and therefore want to jump the 'queue'. Others that hurl abuse at you because they think that making a big stink will get you to do whatever the hell they want and fsck anyone else that is ahead of them. Those I don't want to help at all. For these people I will do what my job requires but I will not go out of my way to help. These people get the absolute minimum I'm paid to do.

I don't understand why people treat others this way. I've been on the other end - waiting for ages in a queue, had problems with services, had to wait my turn and been annoyed by things. Is that any excuse for poor manners though? There are ways to communicate your displeasure that don't leave the rep, you are speaking to, wanting to reach down the phone line and slap you stupid.

It may seem silly but, to this day, I will not get pizza from a certain pizza company because of a customer I spoke to over 5 years ago. This particular guy had his franchise in my area and he was so rude that I decided we'd never buy anything from that chain ever again (and J buys a lot of pizza! He'd have it several times a week if I'd let him). That particular customer may not even be involved with that place any more, but I don't care. I don't care that it's just my little protest and it probably makes zero difference to them.

I do want to say thank you to the nice, friendly, even angry but polite callers out there. Thank goodness you're in the majority or I'd have quit a looong time ago.