A reason for fatigue

Well, my Aunty Gail was just over for our Hot Date Thursday lunch... I was talking to her earlier today about being very, very tired all the time - even when I've had a good sleep! So, she came in today and brought her diabetes tester with her (I had gestational diabetes with the kids - so I am at risk for it now) and we did a finger prick test..... 13.8!!! OK... for those that don't know.... that's high! Should be 4-5 before a meal, and hopefully under 6 after a meal!

So, I'm off to the doctor's this afternoon, and I think I'll be spending my Thurs night shopping for sugar and fat free foods.

Funny thing is that I'd been planning on going on a diet soon. But I had just wanted to wait until Uni was done, and I had time to start it all properly - it was going to be my next big challenge. Will have to see if my sis wants company at the Gym... because I know exercise and weight loss helps - so I have LOTS of potential.

It's actually a kind of relief. I know that sounds silly - but I've been wanting to diet for a while now, but not found the time. I know with this, I will do it - and I will have 6 months of it before the next netball seasons starts - and my A grade mind won't be held back so much by me E grade body. OK, I'll still be short - but hopefully a lot faster and fitter.

It's a good thing.




Sort of....

Finals!

OK... now this is important! Friday night is the Grand Final for the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in Netball - should be a most excellent game between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Sydney Swifts - who have been undefeated the whole year. The coach of the Thunderbirds has been quoted as saying that the Swifts are unbeatable - but on more than one occassion - so I'm thinking she's playing some sort of tactic... I certainly wouldn't put it past her!

Also, I think all of the Runaways Netball Club teams are in the finals starting next week - GO YOU GOOD THINGS!!!!

The team I play in, Amethysts, are in 3rd place - so we've done quite well, considering! The team I coach, Topaz, won again last night - and they're getting their wins in at the right end of the season after a frustrating start!

It looks like there's no play for Ali and I tonight... which although a bit disappointing is also a bit of a relief... I think I just want a night at home to ... watch TV or something! I got a fantastic pack of fun stuff from Nicole today too... love it when I hear someone come up the stairs yelling 'Parcel Post' to me... It has this cool grey pen that you use to write like Heidi Swapp... so I'll be trying that one out soon!

OK... so, it's only 5 more weeks of Uni..... 2 more weeks of netball... until I get my sanity back...

I thought I'd start today off better than yesterday - with a coffee!!! I love this photo I took when Kerry and I went to (hmmm can't remember the name) a lavender farm just outside of Dalesford where we had the most gorgeous meal, followed by this coffee... beside a REAL fireplace... nice!

I'm very sore today - played netball last night - think I'll need new shoes soon - because I wasn't huffing and puffing, but my feet were aching the whole game! Now my body is. We played a LOT out of position last night, as it was the final game of the season - barring finals. My GD and I got to play in the shooting end, and I tell ya, we're pro's! She hadn't had a shot at goal, and got a penalty wide out in the circle, so I told her I'd take it (so I could pass it to her under the post). So, I did this lovely lob to her... and she just watched it!!!! We both laughed and laughed because she had forgotten she was the GS! But we did OK... we got ONE goal in each!!! The shooters did much better in defence.... lol...

Tonight is the last game for Topaz (the team I coach) who are hitting some good form ready for finals. They were 'convincing in thier win' on Monday night (they won by over 20 goals) and are showing some real talent on court. Not always consistently - but if they string together 4 good quarters, they can beat anyone above them - it will be up to them to win or lose the game, I think.

OK... lots to do today... where's that coffee?

A quick one...

Sometimes you're given signs that you should listen to in life...

I got a sign this morning that told me I shouldn't try to do anything too important until after a coffee...

What was the sign and how did I know?

Well, I KNEW it whenI started pouring diet Coke over my Vita Brits....

;)

STOP THIEF!

Please, take my advice, DON'T leave everything until the last minute... because there's a thief going around stealing them! I know I left my assigment till too late - but for some reason I thought I had a full week left to work on it. So, I needed to look up a database of journals so I could collect research... and BAM! just like that the last minute theif turns up and takes away time from me by running 'scheduled maintenance' on the database so I couldn't use it anymore.

And then, last night, after working all day, then coaching netball that night, I knew I had to submit my assignment - but I'd wanted to read through it again to double check... and I knew I didn't have a whole lot to do... so I wasn't rushing... I had a good couple of hours to get it done and dusted... until Midnight... I would even have it done a little early...

Until the thief came and robbed me of those couple of hours by turning off the electricity!!!! ARRGGGHHHH!!! I was on such a roll too - literally only had to finish a sentence and check through for typos and formatting.... but of course.. no electricity.... no computer... no email.... LOTS of frustration!

And you know, I gave up and went to bed, and it didnt' come back on until after 12:30... Damn you thief!

Next time I promise to get things done earlier.... Good news is that I finished the required amount of assignments marked that I needed to - and moderation (where the lecturer checks to make sure I'm marking consistently with other tutors, and doing a good job overall) went well.

Now, I promise to try and get things done a bit ahead of schedule!

Mondayitis

Are you suffering from Mondayitis... I know I am... it's a condition where you wake up and know, intellectually at least, that the weekend's over - but it feels like it should be just starting! I got the majority of my assignment done - just want to proof etc again before I will announce it finished! Part of this assignment was to have an annotated bibliography, and wouldn't you know it, just as I was getting somewhere in the databases ... they decided it was time for maintenance... but that's what you get for leaving things I suppose.

Kids are off to school... which is nice. I love them, but it IS hard to work with them in the house - I like my routine. They went off to see Pirates of the Carribean yesterday, and just as they were coming home, I was leaving to go to netball training. It was a fairly simple session for the team - I don't want them body weary for tomorrow nights game. Again it reminded me how rewarding it is to coach a team that has mature, committed players.

Not too much more to say..... I'm feeling a little droopy around the edges, and I'm off to make myself a strong coffee. I'll leave you with the more 'finished' version of the gumblossoms. When I showed it to Steve he liked it.. but thought it needed more punch in the corners (it's to go on some packaging) - so I've added some of my favourite - Australian Red Violet - I LOVE that colour!

I think I'm over it all...

Well, I really do think it's a good thing this is the last term of study for me... cause I'm really over it! All I can think about is what I'll do when I'm finished.... you know, have a life! I probably shouldn't have taken on tutoring 2 classes this term - but I am really enjoying it... except the whole marking thing... but I do find it quite rewarding! What I don't like is that my working week is so fractured - it makes it that much harder to achieve what I want... and so I start doing a bit on the weekends, and late at night... which is silly because it puts me under even more pressure to do the other things in life.

Talking of which, Michael, bless his soul, is about to take the kids out for a few hours so I can finish writing up this assignment (I actually got quite a bit done yesterday - but I need to spend some time making it 'smarter' by adding some supporting research etc). I also have to mark some assignments and I've decided that preparing to teach for Tues/Wed can wait a little longer, as can writing up the exercise for my class..... they will be gravy if I can get them done today, but I'm not going to run myself silly getting them done.

This morning was nice - I went to bed early(ish) and got up early (for a Sunday). Emily insisted I go back to bed so she could make me brekky in bed - a hearty bowl of porridge - our little treat. So, when the porridge was boiling, I dashed back to bed so she could treat me. We ended up lighting candles at the dining table (yep, it's fun watching the wax drip) and sitting together eating brekky, doing the crossword ... well, she's 8... so I do it, and help her work out the clues... but she loves it.

Now I need to go and do some study. The netball training is planned for this arvo - which is good, it's not playing on my mind anymore. I'm feeling nearly OK about everything... nearly in control... ;)

I'll leave you with happier thoughts... Only 6 weeks of Uni left until I graduate!!!! Only 2.5 weeks of the netball season...

Attitude adjusted

Just a quick note to say that Allan's attitude has done a complete 180 and he is back to being the sweet, thoughtful boy I love. He got his room cleaned, and even earned back some of his Lego by being selfless and nice (as opposed to selfish and nasty). You wouldn't know it was the same child.....

Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the right thing as a mother... then sometimes I know. This morning was hard for me - but I'm determined to teach my children to act, not just react, and to be thoughtful of how their actions affect others, and most of all - to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

I find myself saying to Allan when he tries to tell me that the way Emily behaved caused him to act out (and vice versa) that IF Emily was responsible for HIS behaviour, that I'm sure she would have him playing dolls with her, not yelling at her.... ;)

GRRRR ARRRRGGGGHHH

Well, I'm sitting here NOT in a good mood! Last night I did myself up a 'to do' list for the weekend, to make sure I got everything done that I needed to, and got organised for the week to come - which is probably going to be a killer!

I was feeling quite OK... so, I had a heap of assignments to mark... so, I had an exercise to do for class on Wednesday, so, I have to create the ideal training session for my girls to get them ready for finals.... so!

SO... I forgot that I had another assignment due on Monday!!!! ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! So, it's only 1500 words.... I only have to work Monday, and my team only has to play a make up game that night... SO.... I'm currently in a mad flap trying to get as much done off the to do list to clear a space to do the assignment... oh... and what was it.... actually, it could be quite interesting, and I don't think it will be too hard... but just has to be done! Don't even know if I submit it electronically, or have to take it out to the Uni... or mail it.... can you tell I normally do classes internally......

So, in the midst of all this panic, Allan decides to act like a prat - a right royal one at that. Every Saturday, if the kids have their rooms clean, then they take turns in choosing somewhere to go out for lunch with Grandma. Which, BTW, is normally MacDonalds or some other similar high class establishment. This week however, Emily chose a lovely coffeehouse - and Allan didn't like it... so he decided he wasn't cleaning his room... and said and did some things to basically make Emily feel guilty about her choice. So.... he now has considerably less Lego... and I have considerably more.... and, if his room isn't clean in 10 minutes, he'll have considerably less Yu-Gi-Oh cards as well. Yes, I'm a mean mother - but he picked the wrong day to be a prat!

So, now that I've had my vent..... I'm going back to remind him of my promise to take the cards... and to see if he knows why I'm so upset about the way he acted....


GRRRRRRRR....... ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Play time - and Loving it!

Well, Ali and I had a play date last night, which as per usual consisted of me wondering where I put everything, and Ali actually achieving something. Doesn't bother me, it's great to have a night that's just play time for me. No-one relying on me to finish something, nothing having to be perfect, and plenty of talk time. I've realised that I really do need to give myself some fun every so often - because with work, uni, family and all the other responsibilities, I can tend to be so focussed that it might be months before I allow myself some time.

Of course, when things get too busy, it's the fun, just for me stuff that gets shelved.

Last night, at the last minute I decided to try out one of the Kerrin Quall layouts I'd done in her workshop on the larger 12x12 size. Ali was amazed that I actually got a layout done! So was I. Of course, in the bloodrush, I thought I knew how to spell... and got Epitome incorrect. Fixed it this morning, but you'll have to imagine the 'e' there now... ;)

I've also nearly finished a painting I've been working on for work - Some gum blossoms. I've been trying very hard to make it not look to 'folk arty' and it's looking quite good in person... but it's not photographing quite as well - darn! This pic looks like it's got a white haze over it that isn't there. GRRRR.

Oh, and it's nearly the weekend... did you know??? Don't forget to watch the netball finals tonight on ABC2 or tomorrow on ABC!!!

Michelle

Rediscovered

Isn't this just the sweetest? I rediscovered some photos I took of Emily on her Birthday when we had the traditional birthday dinner with the family. I love the candle glow in these - not many turned out due to me not having my tripod - but a couple did, so it was worthwhile.

Good news is that 'my girls' (as I refer to the team I coach) won last night. It wasn't pretty, or inspiring.... well, the defence were brilliant, but the attack end lacked some inspiration - but we can work on that. We've been a bit touch and go as to if we would make it into the finals - but Michael was told last night we were sitting in fourth - above the team we beat - so that would help cement fourth for us - only one game to go....

I've not had Uni to run back and forth from this week, which has been very nice - but for some reason I've been feeling more tired then ever. Been to bed early and up later - and still not feeling on top of it all. Grrrr!

My friend Ali should be coming over tonight - so that should be nice. She brought over her new camera last week - and I'm just a wee bit jealous!! Takes gorgeous photos, and handles like a film SLR. Really good fstop range which mine doesn't have!

Well, the weekend is rushing upon us - so I will need to achieve something this week. Oh, I have, but not all that I wanted to - so I'm off to work on that. Till tomorrow!

Michelle

Sore but not sorry

Well, my body is telling me I played netball last night ;) I'm sure it wouldn't feel this way if I was just a little fitter (OK, a LOT) but then I guess I would run around MORE on the netball court and still feel a bit creaky the next day.

We're out to netball again tonight because the team I coach will be playing at 6:15. It's very frustrating to know that this team has been simply great to coach - and that they're not getting a fair crack at the finals. It seems each year that if there's a glitch in the draw, it never favours the teams I coach. There was one team that was being beaten every week - which for one reason or another my team never got to play (and therefore earn easier win points). On the ONE time they were scheduled to play them, another team from our club didn't supply an umpire, so RNA took ours, and our match was rescheduled! But they never got to play them as the team pulled out of the competition. AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!

Anyway... best go and do some painting and work... well, both!

Michelle

Ho hum

Well, nothing much has been happening since I started my blog. I've been to the Home Show - and was disappointed to say the least. I mainly went for the stitches and craft expo that was being held in conjunction with the Home Show - because I'm not too interested in buying a new tank, blinds or water filters. But I am interested in arts and crafts. So, when I found that the Stitches and Craft Expo only had about 6 stalls all up (and 4 were devoted to patchwork/sewing) I was very disappointed. Luckily I got to talk to Anne Mitchell about the Matisse Open Day

Had coffee with my sister, came home, and then had coffee with Mum. Anyone'd think I would have been on a coffee buzz - but I wasn't - I was exhausted by the early evening and went to bed. Didn't get any of the 20 assignments marked that I wanted to.. oh well.

This week is a week off Uni for me - it will be strange to have 5 days in a row to work - but it will be good - I'll be able to finish off some jobs that have been hanging around like bad smells I hope. I have to paint up some gum blossoms for work - which I'm looking forward to, but can't help feeling guilty for having fun at work.

Emily and Allan both have a big day at school today - the year 3/7 tests - everyone in the state does them to benchmark their learning. Predictably, Emily is excited, and has been doing a sleeps countdown, while Allan told us yesterday that he had a test like that too. Boys!!

Michael has his day off today, which is always nice. So much nicer to wake up with hubby still there, and someone to chauffer the children AND pick me up Macca's coffee.

Well.... there's work to be done.... and it looks like I have to do it... sigh!

Till next blog...

Hi all (or one)

This is my first post to my first ever blog. I'm hoping this will be a place to share my life with my friends and family - and capture events that I think I will always remember, but seldom do.

Michelle