Nearly done

On Thursday night Ali came over and we had a lovely night gossiping while a little scrapbooking gets done. She brought over a copy of Elsie Flanagans book of challenges. We had two challenges to do - make our own chipboard embellishements and create a frame for our pic on the page. I tell you - this book is way cool! I think I could work through it from #1 to #52 (or whatever it goes through) and thoroughly enjoy it.

Here's what I came up with...

Kinda cool. I like the way my E Star came out... but there's still something not quite right about it all... but I'll live with it...lol...

Here's a close up of the E Star. I was very happy how this part turned out. Been wanting to use leather thonging for a while now!Have a look at Ali's challenge here. I gave her the orange cardstock - just to get her away from black and white... pretty fresh looking hey?

I would have posted all this on Friday... but you see, I couldn't... see that is.

I had an appointment with the eye doctor... not an optomitrist... but the other one.... opthomologist or soemthing... anyway, part of the diabetes stuff. They put these series of eyedrops in my eyes (boy do I freak out with things like that) and I am told that my pupils were so dilated by the end of it, that my iris (the coloured bit) was just a thin line around the edge. EVERYTHING was blurry and I couldn't read a thing. I suppose I've been used to good eyesight, that losing it, if only blurry was a bit of a shock. Apparently though, I have excellent (nay, perfect) eyesight though. Could read the smallest of everything easily. The Dr also said that I wasn't showing any effects of the diabetes (which apparently can cause 'leaking' or bleeding at the back of the eye). So all good news.

Oh, and let me tell you - it was a bright, bright day yesterday. Could not stand the sunshine! Everything was brighter because of the drops.

Anyway, it's school holidays, so Mum and I went shopping after the trip (not like I could do much else) and we went to Best and Less to get the kidlets some summer clothes - esp togs. Emily had to read all the sizes/prices too me - I couldn't see them! We left with quite a bit of stuff - very happy children... and ducked down to the lingerie shop to check out other clothes (you know the sort - practical stuff). And when we got there, we found out they had a 25% off sale - so Mum and I were very happy - and bought a few... garments... each.

Then we got to have lunch with our friend Jodie G. Hiya Jodie. She's moved up north, but was in Rocky for a few days - it was so nice to catch up - we used to have a coffee after indoor netball - it was a ritual, and we've missed that. Too bad Jodie has to go home. Miss ya!

OK... well that's enough of a catch up I think... better go and get some marking/assignments done... sigh... (I don't wanna!).

Only one more week of classes left!!!!!!

Michelle

Back to me

I thought I'd start this post off with a picture - I know everyone loves to see pics of something - and seen as how I've not done any arts and crafts lately - here's a pic of my little miss - it was taken at Maccas playground - where all good organised Mummy's plan to have parties (grin). It was her 8th birthday in August - wowsers!

Last week I was feeling miserable all week - but you know that. Michael took the kids out Saturday / Sunday so I could work on my assignments - and on Saturday all I did was sit and stare at the computer... dawdle around the house, and generally do nothing! I would have been better off just going back to bed and starting over, but my conscience kept telling me that I needed to get SOMETHING done while I was kid free, and that I had SO much to do. And I just couldn't. At the end of last week I was feeling like I was out of control. I had too much to do, and no energy to do it. I tried sleeping, I tried Vitamin B, I tried talking about it, and I am eating well now... but nothing would shake it. Then, Sat night I just STOPPED feeling like that and had a kick butt night - and a great day Sunday. Been feeling calm and in control ever since. I think it must have been hormones!!

It's good to be back!

I've played 3 games of netball in two nights - after not playing for a few weeks - and it was great!!! Better still, they were all pretty good games - so I got to run around a fair bit too - which has to help. I played Goal Shooter in the second game tonight - and really, you would have thought I was normally a shooter - I shot so well. Not skiting... just shocked! I normally can't get a whole lot in (being a Goal Keeper) - but I was in the zone!!!!

I'm also looking forward to stepping up and running for President of Runaways Netball Club - it's quite exciting actually. I've seen my beloved club run down over the past few years, and I will finally be in a position next year where I will have the time to do something about it. My head's abuzz with things we can do to bring the glory back... lol...

Oh! And Judy of Scrappin Bug Stamps sent me some great 'swirls' stamps I designed up - I'm loving them and will have to get them out for Ali and I if we have a play date this week... they are going to be SO much fun! I've also done up some other designs for her - so it will be exciting to see them 'online' when she gets them up.

Now, for those helping me to count down to the end of my degree - tomorrow week is my last class!!!!! I have two assignments due - and the last due date for me will be the 11th of October... so when that assignment is handed in... that's it!!!!

Breathe Michelle, Breathe!!!!

Catch ya around!

Hic!

Hi all

As some may have picked up on, I've been quite retrospective the past few days. Quite low actually - and not one thing I could point to and say - there, that's why!!! Just a low. You get that. Felt quite bad all day today - really just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep it away. Perhaps watch a soppy, cry along with movie...

But I'm over it now....

Hic!!!

Went out tonight for the netball break up. Had a few wines... and I'm happy as Larry again! Should have bought the wine ages ago!!!

It was quite a nice night, that could have been much worse. The president and I do not get on. I don't know where it started, but I certainly have no respect for the man. I mean, it's our presentation night, and we only have 6 teams - and all night he referred to the C grade team as B Reserve, and the C Reserve team as C grade. It was even on the trophies!!!

Talking of which. I got the Most Conscientious player award for the team I am in (too short and unfit to most valuable!). Aren't you proud??? LOL.

If I wanted to, I could work myself up into a state of crankiness as once again I was overlooked for the Senior Coach of the year award. You would think that after coaching for a club for 11 years - and getting teams into the finals EVERY year I could score some recognition. But it has nothing to do with my abilities, or how much effort I put into my coaching, or even how well my team does or how much they appreciate me. Nothing at all. So, I let it slide. I actually think I would have been more upset to get it - because it still wouldn't have been about my coaching.

But, at the moment, I have had too many wines to care... I enjoyed my night out with the girls -I got a lot of great feedback from them, and felt appreciated so much! Big hugs all around from my players, and from so many other people. Who needs another trophy?! Hey, I even had a good old dance tonight! I was nearly the youngest on the dance floor too! I even won a game of pool. I got ONE of our balls in... and it didn't go into the pocket I was aiming for... but it went in... lol.. it's not how well you play - but picking the right playing partner.

OK... off to bed... hopefully this good feeling will linger over the weekend as I have a couple of assignments to work on - and a lot more to mark! Only TWO more weeks of UNI left!!!!!

Happy happy to you all, and to all a great night!

What is success?

I've been thinking about what I think success is - and how do you measure how successful you are? When my school reunion came up quite a few years ago, I didn't attend. I didn't feel I had anything much to be proud of. Sure, I'd completed Uni, but I didn't get a job related to my studies (teaching) and my current work wasn't something that sounded particularly awe inspiring.

However, I know there were people who would have considered me successful. I had a family. I had a job. I had love in my life.

So, why didn't I think I was successful? Was it because other people I had gone to school with were now doctors (oh, yes, I did all the 'smart' subjects at school). Was it because I felt like I hadn't gone anywhere with my life? Perhaps. If you had asked me then though, I would have told you that I found my job challenging, interesting and worthwhile. So why didn't I think other people would see it that way. Because it wasn't paid enough - pure and simple.

Since then, I have enjoyed a LOT of success in my life. So much, so fast, that I have been holding my breath waiting for the bubble to burst! I feel like I've had the chance to start over in my career - and the speed at which it is blossoming is frightening! And exciting! I spent 10 years of my working life being told my ideas were too hard, not right... or simply too scary for the other people I was working with. I spent all my time being told no. Nowdays, I am heard, I am listened to, and I have influence in the big decisions. Sometimes I even make them!

So, what is success to me now? In my career, it's a job where I feel valuable. At home, it's balancing my life to be able to give my children what they need financially, and being there enough to give them the love they need. In the rest of my life it's the freedom to explore and learn.

Occassionally I will look to the left or right and see people that are earning more money than me, or seem to be more successful. I need to remind myself at those times that it's MY choice not to pursue my career to the detriment of my family. I know in my heart that if we moved to the 'big smoke' I could earn a much higher wage - but at what cost?

It's my choice to be successful in what I choose to be successful in - a bit of everything, and not too much of anything.

Some people just make me happy

Yesterday I was feeling quite glum. Down. Upset. And for no particular reason. I think if anyone had said anything remotely harsh to me, I would have been crying. I nearly did anyway - without provocation.

And without knowing it, today there were some people that put the light back into my soul. My best friend called me 'just for a chat' - it's so funny how we can not talk for ages, and then both be thinking of each other at the same time. It's a lovely friendship - a no judging, supportive friendship. There's no competition, and no-one cares who's turn it is to call etc. We just do it. We don't get to see a whole lot of each other anymore - but I love the moments snatched with her. Love you Crissy.

And then I received some really supportive words from another friend. I could blush with all the nice things she said ... I'm going to save that email J - for the next time I'm feeling blue - very special.

I have other friends too - and they keep me going. There are a lot of people out there that I truly love and feel great about having in my life. People I cherish.

But my best friends, and the ones I cherish the most are my family. I feel so strongly for them that it hurts some days. I miss my sister who is in Melbourne, and her little family. I love my brother and sisters so much. I must love my Dad to bits - because I'm sure I married a 'mini me' version of him - they are so alike it's scary! My Mum... she's something else. She's my rock, my support, my confidant... my friend.

Having lost a child I never got to hold, it makes you treasure all that you have, and fear losing them as well. I made up my mind a long time ago not to leave the loving unsaid. I can't bear the thought of losing someone I love an wondering if they really knew that I loved them. I say it. I do it. I love with reckless abandon.

I hope you do too.

Look at the time!!!

What sort of idiot is up at this time of night trying to get things done?

THIS sort of idiot!!! I felt so TIRED this afternoon that I could barely drag myself around and gave up at about 4:30pm and went and had a nap. I HATE feeling this way!!!! Wish I could get my blood sugars under control so that I can function better.

Which makes me think that the late nights I love are impacting on me so much more now... and I should stop. But when will I get anythign done? This is the most productive time of the night for me... well, a little earlier... but I get a LOT done when everyone's asleep. And I've got a LOT to do.

I think I'm going to try and give the Cinderella timeline a go and see how I feel ... well, that's my goal anyway. Don't know how well I'll stick to it... but I need to change something.

Good news though... I AM losing weight. I only weighed myself for the first time on the 13th (scary stuff) and I've lost about 1/2 a kilo since then. I don't really care if it's not massive weight loss... just so long as I'm being healthy. And that was done without ANY exercise because netball has finished, and I was sick. So I must be doing something right.

I have a pile of assignments to work on over the next couple of weeks - and a bigger pile to mark! Hopefully I'll get a few done tomorrow night for moderation, so I can get stuck into the rest over the weekend - Michael's taking the kids to Gladstone for the day - so I'll have the time... although I do feel lonely without them here.

OK.. off to bed dear hearts.

The look of love

Oh, no! Not another LOVE post!!! I must be feeling a bit mushy!!! OK... I won't tell you the prose I thought up last night as well... must be a sugar high or something.

I was lucky enough yesterday to win one of the continual swaps available at Embellished yesterday, and the deal is that I need to post one of my own. I thought this time I'd thin out my patterned paper stash a little as well as give away some paints (that's got to be expected) but, when I went downstairs.. I accidently did this!

Doing a layout like this has been on my mind since seeing
this layout by Alice. I know, it's nothing like mine, but it really made me start thinking about simplifying layouts. Ali, this is my late 1 hour challenge... yep, didn't take me too long to do at all! I've been loving adding a bit of old lace to things lately too - and this is the first time I've ever roughed up the edges like that - I quite like this. Not as simple as my inspiration - but the lines are quite clean.

Anyway, the working week has started.... have fun!

He loves me

How can you tell if a man really loves you? Really, truly loves you? It's easy - he proves his love to you. By watching Pride and Prejudice. Simple... he loves me!

Mum took the kids for a sleep over Friday night (oh, bliss!) and Michael and I decided to go out for tea - haven't done that for ages. So, we went to Sizzlers. I was pretty good. But I wish there was a vegetable bar, not a salad bar ;)

I'd had a go at Michael the night before and kinda dared/suggested that he couldn't stick to a diet for any more than 2 days. He proved me right. He ordered the largest steak.... with fries. While waiting for that he got the potato skins - and potato bake. Full strength Coke, of course - and then the salads covered in mayo and oils from the salad bar. Not ONE thing he chose I could have eaten - and he really didn't 'get it'. But he did decide not to have desert as that wouldn't be 'fair' (translation - he knew he'd be in big trouble if he tried). So we thought we'd spoil ourselves and go to Cold Rocks and get a nice low fat chocolate icecream...... but there was none there!!! So we went home and watched P&P.

He tries....

Oh, and I went out last night and watched the netball Grand Finals - and am happy to report that Runaways had 3 teams in the Grand Finals - and all three won!!! Nice night of netball actually. Mum's team, Bluebird Eagles, also won... very convincingly. Very happy for them too.

Not so happy about our club not organising to cover canteen duty.

But that's the end of outdoor for the year.... off to indoor....

Scrappin' Happy

Well, my little playmate came over tonight..... and watched ME scrap! Normally it's the other way around - but after nearly a week in bed - I was hanging out to play. Had one idea running around in my head all day... had to get it out!!!

So, here's what I finished off tonight.

This first one is my Grandma - who has recently had to move to a home after a fall broke her hip, and, it seems, her spirits. Such a strong woman who has had a hard life - and still thinks she's lucky. Love you Grandma!

This is the one that was running around in my head all day! And it even came out much the way I'd been thinking. I had a whole lot of little pics in my pile from testing out my new printer with various papers... and lots of other reasons... I thought it would be cool to do this sort of thing with them, as they are much to small for a layout in their own right. And, let's face it... I've already used most of them. Note to self - take more photos!

I'm really pleased with this one actually. I like how the title came together - little inspiration there from Ali - which helped. She suggested the flowers and the lettering ON the flowers. How simple, but effective.

OK.. off to bed sleepy heads!

Licensed!

I renewed my licence this morning... it was just a tad overdue... like... a LOT! I'd totally forgotten about it and Michael noticed it when he had to give it out for something (probably another mobile phone). Thank goodness I'm a pretty safe driver, and none of those unsafe ones crashed into me. I worked out I've had my licence for about 16 years now. Not one loss of points - helps that I never drive long distance (I fall asleep).

Feeling quite a bit better at the moment - still sound bad enough to get some good sympathy - but feel good enough to get some work done.

Poor Allan's been sick again. Complaining of headaches. He came home yesterday from school and went straight to bed - and didn't get up until 10:30 that night! Woke up again with a headache, and has been sent to bed.

Ali's coming over tonight - so that will be fun. Even if we just talk. It will be nice to be able to with the way my voice has been! Think I'll even do a layout or two... must make myself a challenge... like to scrap all the little photos I have or something... hmmmm.... that sounds like fun!

OK... Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go....

Now, with pictures

I've now been able to scan the layouts that Julie and Ali did - not perfectly, but as close as I'm going to get the way I'm still feeling!

This is Julie's layout - the edges have been trimmed a little, so imagine the cute white line all the way around. Emily got to choose the pics - and this is one of her, Allan, and her cousin Zoe... how cute! Julie had a few firsts this week - this was her first time at using Clear Dimensional Paint. She also fell in love with Kindyglitz - which isn't hard, is it?

This is Ali's creation - again, a little askew with the cropping! You can't see a lot of it, but there's Kindyglitz in the flower. Ali really didn't seem to like this to start with, but like a trooper, she kept going - and created a lovely layout!

Now, this is my go at the Challenge 1 for Embellished's Cybercrop. I was too sick to upload it at the time, but I did finish it off. This is a pic of my sister Kerry, with my cousin Leesa - all dressed up in wedding dresses. As usual, Leesa has Jillian on her hip. I know this photo isn't great - but it captures how life was back then.

That's all for me today.. think I'll crawl back into bed...

Sick - but with so much to do

Well, I've succumbed to the illness that has been happening in our household the past couple of weeks. Not happy about it either - I have spent most of the weekend in bed - just so I could do something each night.

Julie and Ali came over Saturday night and I set them each a challenge while I made up some new stamp pad colours for Julie. Complain, complain, complain! And that was just Ali! Their challenge was to use a COLOURED background paper (as opposed to their favourite black and white) and the scraps from the scrap box. Now, both these ladies are pretty much Chatterbox type fans.... and much of my scrapbox was Basic Grey and other bolder pieces - so it was a challenge to them. I also gave them each a small 6x4 photo - while they're used to using much larger pics for their pages. I will share pics of the results when I can get one of them - I left my camera at Alis... and they used Clear Dimensional Paint - so I wanted to let that cure properly before I scanned it.

I did my own layout too... for the Embellished Cybercrop challenge - but didn't get to upload it. I've been trying out a Kerrin Quall inspired simplified layout style lately.... so what I did with this one was very simple.... but... well.... I fiddled and I junked it up quite a bit! I like it though, so that's all that matters!

I went out last night with the netball girls I coached - in celebration of the season. They're such a lovely bunch it was good to do a bit more with them. I made them all a little bookmark that read 'Runaways Topaz {star} 2006' just to remember the season by. Leesa said some very, very nice things about me as a coach and basically told Liz (who is also the treasurer) that it was an embarrassment to Runaways that I have never received a coach's award the whole time I've coached for Runaways. She also made some other pointed remarks... I hope my Mum heard - she'd have been happy to hear that!

We finished the night at Cold Rocks icecream shop which one of the players own... they had a low fat icecream so I was pretty good, and only had it in kiddie's size... and it was very nice - especially with a sore throat.

I couldn't sleep well last night for some reason - you know the nights when you toss and turn and toss and turn... and then I got up around 9am - Michael was home and took the kidlets off to school - and then went back to bed until 11:30! Guilt free - yep, I know I'm sick when I can do that! Hopefully things will improve - otherwise I won't be able to tutor tomorrow... I can't talk! But their assignment is due at the end of the week, so they probably need me to talk.

Oh well...

Yep

Yep, I have diabetes. The visit to the doctor confirmed what we already knew. He doesn't seem too worried about it - thinks I will be able to control it with diet... and I've been very good! Didn't learn a whole lot from him though - just made up a plan and have to go and see a swag of specialists.

I had to do up a couple of goals with him though - and because I don't smoke, and really don't drink very often it wasn't too bad. He basically asked me a lot of questions, and then he worked out with me a couple of goals. One was to increase my exercise in some way - and he did say that even if I was to do a 5 minute walk - that would be 5 minutes more than what I've done before. So Ali and I are going walking on Wed nights, and I'll play netball (indoor) on Tues nights now that outdoor is finished.

The other goal was to lose weight. So I held my breath... scared of him telling me I'll need to be down to my goal weight (which I think would be 1/2 my current weight)... but he said... 3-5kg's or 1 dress size.... OK... that doesn't sound so hard... when by... December! Easy! I reckon I've done part of that already - not that I've weighed myself at all - that's too scary.

I've also got to get some sort of H1Bc... and a few other letters sugar percentage down to 7%. It's currently 7.8% so that should be OK.

Now... for other news... I think the Matisse Sets are nearly ready to roll off the press! Yep! We have some sets! I've been working like crazy getting them all ready to go to the printers... so here's a sneak peak of a few of them...

Darn!

Well, unfortunately my girls didn't make it through the first round of finals. Darn! They deserved to feel good about themselves and have a good go at things. But it just didn't work last night - I think it was nerves. The shooters couldn't shoot the first quarter - and everything looked tense. When they got their shooting together, the defence lost their edge. What a shame. But I'm still so very, very, very proud of them. They turned themselves around over the course of the season - adn they were a great team to coach. A great team.

On a positive note, I now have Sun, Tues, and Wed nights back! Well, I'm going to play indoor one night... but still!

Off to see the doctor today to find out officially if I have diabetes - but we all know that's a formality - the rest is to do a 'care plan' for me... see specialists, etc. Michael is coming with me, which is good, because he needs to understand how important it is - and what I need to do. AND to remember the stuff I'll forget ;)

Till tomorrow...

A natural high...

OK... I just had to post... I'm on a bit of a natural high after our finals game tonight. Nope, we didn't win - but, by goodness we played a darn good game! I don't know if it's the new diabetes imposed diet - but I felt like I had wings tonight! I think I moved the best I've moved in ages. Not saying I played like an A grade player - but I came off the game feeling like I PLAYED! Sounds strange, but this whole season I have felt a bit... blah in my games.

Now, all I want to do is take you through a blow by blow of the game and every little thing that the other players, umpires and I did... but I know... you don't care. Just buzzing!!! For those that care I played GK for the first half and got quite a few intercepts and took my feet to the ball. I blocked I worked it! The GS was rattled. In the second 1/4 I had her standing with her hand on her hips and her elbow out deliberately holding me off while trying to look casual. I didn't care. I sat off one quarter and came back on WA... loved that too. I'm not a small woman... actually I'm very large... and I love running past my defence like they're standing still and getting any pass I wanted - when I wanted it.

I know, I know... babbling...

Put your positive thoughts out there for my girls tomorrow night - go TOPAZ!!!

Is everyone sick in Rocky?

Everywhere I look at the moment, there's sick people! My children are still coughing, Michael just started coughing last night too, they caught this from the girls (well, women) that were sick in the netball team I coach. Then Ali's little man is sick, and I filled in for netball last night at 9:30 because my friends team had FOUR away sick! Sheesh!

I had my folk art class that I teach last night. Only a couple of die hards. One of my regulars has had to fly to Brisbane for some sort of nasty test - so I hope everything is good with her - thinking of you M. They left early so I could run upstairs, get changed and go over to Netball. I'd forgotten what it was like to play at that level - no, not high, low. I have decided that I much prefer a slightly faster paced game because by the time the ball gets down to my end I'm so flat footed as I don't want to go for the ball too early - and when they take so long to pass it to anyone, that's normally what happens!

Finals tonight for Runaways Amethyst! I'm under no illusions of grandeur... I've got a feeling we'll go under, but if there's ONE team in this grade we have a chance of beating, it's these guys. Especially with good umpiring. Not that it really bothers me if we win or lose - I don't think we have a hope in Hades of defeating the top 1 or 2 team if we were to win tonight. It's just a matter of if we pull the bandaid off fast or slow....

Tomorrow night will be the team I coach - which I do have high hopes... no... expectations for.

:)

Hi there all...

Well, the kids are still sick - coughing and coughing and coughing. Medicine provides some relief, and then it starts up again. It doesn't seem to want to go away, the poor things.

Funny thing though, last night Allan got up, looking miserable.... and incredibly BLING! He sparkled from head to toe... his little sister decided to put glitter in his bed - quite a bit by the looks of it!

I got all the assignments marked, except late submissions and uploaded with results. So I'm feeling a bit of a sense of accomplishment. Also got a layout done - YAY! Emily did TWO. She loves cybercrops almost as much as me! At least now she has her own little stash and I don't have to feel quite so protective.
She was pretty proud of herself and was heard telling me that soon she would be 'challenging' me. What I think she meant was that she thinks she's getting good enough to enter the main CC challenges! Love her confidence!

Here's her layout about her Dad. She had to list 8 reasons she loves him (because she's 8 years old). Her reasons were (in her spelling):

1. Your the best person in the world
2. You make my hart sing
3. I love you
4. You make me laught when I'm angry
5. You look after me when you can
6. You help me
7. You make me feel like a princess
8. You are the best

I love the princess one... awwww.

All this was done while her Daddy was off playing golf with my Daddy, my brother and my BIL. I think they had quite a bit of fun for Father's Day!

TTFN

Michelle

I've been good....

So... can I play now?

I have been very, very good! I've marked nearly all the assignments - only a few more to go - but I'm getting RSI pain in my arm... yep, that's how good I've been! I've been eating well - although the numbers are still high - but hopefully they'll start coming down soon.

So... can I play? There's a cybercrop on I'd like to visit... just one page... please? I've got ever so many new goodies to play with... pleeeeeeeaaaasssssseeeeee???

yes!

OK... I'll be off playing... like a good girl!

Happy thoughts

Thought I'd start this post with a happy image. Things have been a bit down for me and I need a lift! Isn't this happy?

Grand finals for netball were on last night - what a drubbing! Excellent to watch though - it didn't seem quite as one sided as the score made out.

Today is clean up your room day in our house. Both Emily and Allan have been sick - but I think they'll work through that - they love going out with Grandma.

My plans for today are to ... mark assignments. If I'm a good girl, and get them done, I'm allowed to do a little scrapbooking at the Top50 Cybercrop. I LOVE cybercrops... I can feel a real 'pull'.

OK.. Time to get organised! First to reclaim my desk!!!

Reading the signs...

Some people believe in Astrology, others see 'signs' in everyday life, in their tea leaves, the pain in their joints etc - and I'm sure there's many, many other ways people try to predict how things are going to pan out for the day.

For me, it's traffic lights.

Yep, the old red, orange and green ones.

Try it... when you're driving around town, and you come to a traffic light, what happens? Does it stay green when you expect it to turn red? Do ALL of them turn red as you approach? Do they change to orange as you approach, but always too late for you to stop?

Today, the traffic lights all changed to red for me. But I wasn't too bothered by it - I was kinda expecting it. Which I interperetted as "today things will not be all smooth sailing, everything you do will involve some sort of roadblock - you're not going anywhere fast - but you already know that' or some such.

So, I woke late and it was raining. I should have had to rush to take the kids to school, but both of them are sick with a cough (red light). Which meant I had to take them to the pathology lab where I had to have a blood test. So I dawdled a little more, had a shower etc and drove over to the southside lab (the northside one is closer, but parking is hard). You cannot make an appointment, and I had to fast for the test, so I needed to be there in the morning. When I got there the place was packed and I ended up waiting nearly an hour for a 2 minute blood test (red light). But I kinda expected that....

Anyway, I'm home and I'm tired. And I'm going to bed. I constantly 'soldier on' because I work from home, and therefore I can. But, if this was a normal day at a normal job, I'd have called in sick - either to look after the children, or to have the tests. So today, I'm calling in sick (parking the car, no more red lights please).