Don't dream it - Be it

Crushed

2010-01-14T15:45:00.003+10:00

I am seriously on the verge of tears.... I went to open InDesign to add the ISBN barcode... and got this message:

"The licensing subsystem has failed catastrophically."

Now, this is what happened before... and I jumped through hoops for 2 days installing and reinstalling, and uninstalling, and running this program, then that program.

I don't think I have the heart to do it all again.

Adobe - you SUCK!!!

2010-01-13T23:12:00.003+10:00

Today I held a bound, printed copy of my book in my hands. OMG!!!! It's been years, and I didn't think it would, but MAN IT FELT GOOD!!!! No, don't get excited, it's not the published copy, just one I had printed and bound at Big Colour Works. Just wish Mum was here to show her - doesn't seem quite real until I've gloated over it with her. Mum's are great like that!!! You can share all your proud moments and know that it will thrill them, and you can revel in your happiness without feeling like a braggart.

Will take a photo tomorrow I think!!!

Emily and I had a nice kinda day together. I went up to work, to print my book, but the colour printer was broken. However, I was able to follow up on a couple of things that had been nagging at my conscience for the past few weeks, so that was good. We then went and printed out the book, and you could just see how puffed up proud she was of me, it was so ... oh, what is the right word?? Heartwarming, gratifying, special! You know, when your kid looks at you with utter awe?

Then we went and had Indian food together, and she helped me proof the page numbers between the book and the workbook - again, so nice to share this with her - made it a little bit more special. Of course I came home and showed hubby, and got the 'that's nice dear' attitude. He assumes I can do anything, which is nice, but a little excitement would be good too!

Even picked up some nice calligraphy pens for Allan - love it when he does nice writing - very artistic that way, my boy is!

Just back from Netball AGM - which can be very frustrating. People who have no vested interest in the outcome of something mocking your valid input - what do they care? And if they don't, shut up!

Ciao

Just blogging...

2010-01-13T02:17:00.004+10:00

It's good to get back into blogging after such a long time away from it. I didn't realise how much of my 'life' I capture here that my poor ole brain could never retain. Things that you're certain you will remember forever, but can't even retell the next day... lol.

I've developed some VERY bad habits over the holidays. Very late .... errr... mornings... with very long sleep ins, and just blah habits. I'm keen to get back to work, truth be told.

Feeling a lot better now that I've got the Colour Book pretty much sorted. Just have to print it all out and triple check all the page references between it and the workbook - not too bad a job.

Of course, it couldn't all go smoothly - but I feel like Xena Warrior Princess who has done battle with InDesign to wring a half decent index out of it. Apparently it WASN'T me, it was InDesign. I don't know why it all stopped working, I suspect an update in Vista or something caused a chain event of errors. Still can't get Adobe Acrobat in full working order - but don't have the energy to play IT Girl anymore.

We went to see Avatar today - and, after the shock of the entrance prices - thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I was so glad to see that the 3D wasn't some corny gore splashing out at you, but a more honest looking 3D with everything on the screen layered out. The scenery in the movie is awesome too - I was wishing I could visit!! Loved the little lizards that take off like helicopters when you touch them - very cute! We did take the glasses with us though - we paid enough - so if anyone needs a lend... lol...

Mum and Jodie are in Melbourne - and I hear there's a heat wave there - how funny is that! I hope they're having a great time sightseeing and I know they'll love watching the tennis - lucky ducks!

Been playing with PhotoBucket again, and I wanted to do a little tribute to Dad - missing him more, not less.

What would I do with my life...

2010-01-11T13:47:00.004+10:00

If I didn't spend so much time on the computer!

Hmmm..... paint, craft, read a good book, do a Wasjig.... have lots of coffee!! Of course, spend time with the family.

It's been a very long time since I printed off any photos, so I thought, while I wait for Adobe to update AGAIN - after updating it all twice already - I will use my time to sort out some photos to print up ready for the upcoming LSBS Cybercrop. Emily and I are looking forward to scrapping that weekend, and I've been visiting Ang's blog - and am loving what she is doing with paint on her layouts!

I do have quite a bit of paint spare here... lol....

I've been scrapping up a storm lately actually - just getting back into the swing of things. These are done through my quicky background method where you make up a heap of backgrounds, and THEN embellish with photos and the like.

OK... computer is telling me it wants me to restart (of course) so that's all for now!

xx
Michelle

...and it continues

2010-01-11T11:10:00.003+10:00

OK... so I updated, revised, and sorted everything, and now all I need to do is revise the index.

Went in, and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be - even added a few more entries.... but NOW every time I go to revise it, it bloody well closes InDesign down!!!!

Grrrr..... Arrrrggggghhhh....

Oh a happier note, Emily has been humming away happily, covering her school books with a bit of creativity. Nice to have a happy family member!

Michael is putting his name out for jobs - we need a reliable source of income - not what we were getting last year.

OK... signing off to go and battle with the computer again. I think a reward will be in order if I ever get this thing done!

xx
Me

Life, and computers are difficult sometimes!

2010-01-10T19:27:00.002+10:00

Why aren't things a little easier? I've been working hard over the past week or so to revise the book I've written "The Colour Book" so that it can finally be published. Busted my butt!! But, it seems that hard work isn't always rewarded.

To start with, I had to battle with my computer for 2 solid days, just to get it to install my Adobe suite of products after they decided that they would have a 'catastrophic' error!! Finally got them up and running, and went out to buy new cartridges for my printer.... much money later, I find out that it's not printing because it needs a service, NOT new cartridges. Sheesh!

Anyways, spent about 15 hours slaving through changes and updates to the book, with a nagging feeling that I'd done all this before. Got to Chapter 11 (of 12 chapters) and opened an old pdf to compare the new words with the old ones... only to see that YES I HAD made the wonderful changes I was making AGAIN! Now these were not easy, fix that typo, changes, they were rebuilding graphics to go with the text, which I was also changing.

So where did these pdf's come from, if I don't have the original InDesign files on my computer. I've already pulled my Matisse hard disk drive from storage to check there - and nope, not there either. Finally found the files on ANOTHER external hard drive!!!

So now this means I need to go through chapters 1-10 and check both documents to see what's different, and combine any changes I've made. I've saved chapters 11 & 12 over the older files, as I hadn't checked them, and in doing so, realised I'm missing FONTS. Grrr.... ARRRRGGGGHHHH!

Please, please, please, can something just work? It's so damn frustrating to be redoing everything from scratch! I seem to be constantly sorting out one thing so that I can find the next thing that needs fixing. I just want to DO IT!!!

On a positive note, the magic 8 ball says I can be confident that the book WILL be published.

2009 - a year in retrospect

2010-01-08T02:15:00.002+10:00

Hi all (and probably just me - LOL)

It's been a very long time since I've updated my post, and a lot has happened since then. 2009 has been a pretty tough year for me emotionally, with some pretty low points happening, and just not being able to 'deal' as well as I would have liked.

Looking back, I hadn't realised how much my job at the Uni was depressing me, and really chewing up my confidence. While I was finding success at the end of my time there, it was more about learning how to do things the 'right way' according to my boss, but it really conflicted with my natural way about doing things. I was fighting against myself to succeed, determined to get the A+ from someone who didn't believe in giving them.

But, like a bad relationship, it's not until you're out that you realise that how bad it really was - and although I'm just as busy in my new job - I'm a happy busy. I like being busy!

Losing Dad in May, after he was in hospital for a while made a whole lot of the things happening that much harder to deal with. I love my Dad. There's always been part of me though that wants to look after my Mum, and while losing Dad was hard, I am so glad I could be strong for her and help her through. I conducted Dad's funeral, and organised all of that - and I think that purpose, and the determination to make it something that helped to set my family on the path to peace drove me for a while there, and I just couldn't let myself fall apart because Mum, especially, needed me to stand up for her.

I still don't think I've given myself time to grieve for my Dad. It's still really hard to believe he's not there, or moreso, very easy to pretend he is. It's like I've got this shield that flashes up whenever the memories get too painful, and then I'm kinda one step removed from it all.

Starting my new job has been the upside of 2009 - and I'm grateful to find somewhere where I can thrive and grow. I've had some huge successes there, in the short time I've been working there - and the warmth of the office is really great.

I think though, family needs to be more of a focus, and I'm cutting back this year to allow me a bit more time - to use however I need to.

Anyway, that's all for me now... let's see if I can keep this up!

xx
Michelle

2010-01-02T12:06:00.001+10:00

Untitled

2008-03-11T11:25:00.001+10:00

(you might need to click on the photo to see the full story/piccy)

Yep, us girls made it into the newspaper today! I think the reporter was most impressed with Mum though - as we all are!!! Isn't it nice that this is something we all do together still? I love that Mum is still out there playing, and that Kerry is back to play with us again - and that Emily can finally join in after years of waiting!

2008 is going to be a good year!

:)

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I GOT THE JOB!!!!

2008-02-28T17:52:00.001+10:00

WOOHOOO!!!!

You are all now talking to the new Relationship Development Coordinator for Central Queensland University!

I got a phone call today offering me the job. I asked for feedback on my interview, and was simply told I was 'outstanding'. How wonderful is that???

She also said that it was obvious that I'd put a lot of preparation and thought into my application, and really understood what the job was about.

So, I start on the 25th March - just after Easter. I have SO much to get organised for Matisse before then - some big stuff, and some small stuff...

Got a bit teary at the thought of leaving Matisse too - I love this company, and the job is agreat opportunity - but I am excited in a scared silly kind of way to be taking on a new challenge!

I will post more later - we're going out to dinner!

xx

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The unexpainable

2008-02-24T00:02:00.003+10:00

At the moment, Emily, who is but a mere 9 years old, is listening to her newest most favourite song - You spin me right round, baby, right round, like a record baby, right round round round....

I'm not convinced if she even knows what a record IS!!! I have no idea why this song has become her favourite - but it is! Yes, it's from a 'hits of the 80's) type album... which we were listening to the other night... along with 'you think you're a man, but you're only a boy. you think you're a man, you are only a toy. you think you're a man, but you just couldn't see... you weren't man enough to satisfy me... '

Which, after a couple of wines, had me up and dancing - only to realise that Michael did NOT know the song!!!

And I have to confess, the past month or so, Allan has just shot up in height - and is really becoming a man now... he is nearly the same height as his Dad, and I have to be careful to make sure who's who when I see them out of the corner fo my eye.

And Kerry is HERE!!!! WOOHOOO!!!! Got plenty of cuddles from Baby Mitchell - and lots more from little Zoe - who is still a walking personality! She has gotten over giving us all the cold shoulder though - so that's nice - and it's so wonderful to hear her talking and saying 'Arr-an' and 'e-me-li' and Ahny Sally. Very, very cute.

For those that are interested, had my interview for 'Graduate Relations officer' at the Uni. It was an hour long, and I wasn't on the top of my game - but I think I did quite well. I know I hit some of the questions out of the ball park - and others - well I know I answered them all OK, just hope they weren't looking for specific phrases. They have one more person to interview next week, and then I find out.

I'm up to my neck again marking assignments at the moment (again!). I must say how much I appreciate the HD students - they make marking that much quicker - and more interesting!

And there was SUNSHINE here, and some of the good ole Rocky summer weather - which we haven't really seen much of all summer!

Just saw a draft of the netball draw... and my team has a BYE!!! That is SO NOT FAIR!!! The amount of work we have done to get the season up and going - I desperately NEED a hit out on the courts! *SIGH*

Now, I'm just procrastinating as I don't want to mark anymore assignments - perhaps I should make a reward up if I get them all done... but then I'll be too tired! LOL!

Happy happy chappies!

becoming.jpg

2008-02-20T17:05:00.001+10:00

becoming.jpg

meCanvas.jpg

Here's a couple of my latest projects - on canvas. They were so much fun to do - and relatively simple.

We are now finally moved in, and settled into our new house - although it was an extremely stressful time for us - and settlement was delayed after much ado! But, it's done now - thank goodness!!!! Having a housewarming party on Friday... can't wait to celebrate!

Tomorrow I am going for an interview for a great job out at the Uni - Relationship Development Coordinator. It is all to do with graduates, and keeping them involved with the Uni once they graduate. Would be right up my alley - and the pay is good - so here's hoping! I've nearly forgotten what it's like to interview - better bust out the refresher course!

I'm also going to be the course co-ordinator for a subject called "Marketing Promotions" - a bit step for me - but sure to be an interesting one.

Oh, and in a couple of days, my sister, Kerry will be moving back here - WOOHOO!!!

Kids are back at school, and settled in. Classes have resumed here for painting - and all is great. Netball is about to kick off next week - and it's great to see that we have 12 teams nominted this year - a 50% increase on last years! After all the stress and work, I'd really just like a game of netball now...

... that's not all... but I really don't want to get into the floods, water damage saga... today has had sunshine for the first time in ages... and I'm hoping it stays that way for a bit!

Hope everyone out there is doing great!

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A NEW house for us!

2007-12-21T08:47:00.000+10:00

Guess what! We've signed a contract on a NEW HOUSE!!!!

Here's the details:

352 Philp Avenue, Frenchville (Berserker Heights) Rockhampton
604m2 block
3 huge bedrooms upstairs
1 bedroom, one large office, and a rumpus room downstairs
Large central internal stairs
Harry Potter/storage room under stairs
New kitchen
Bathroom/toilet upstairs AND downstairs
Polished wood floors throughout
Security screens throughout
Air-conditioning in all upstairs bedrooms, lounge/kitchen, rumpus/office
Landscaped gardens with automatic sprinkler system
2 car garage - one with remote access (Open Sesame)
2 bedrooms with huge built in cupboards, 1 with a walk in wardrobe (not the main one either!)
Gas hot water/stove top
Long verandah runs across front of house - with access from lounge and 2 bedrooms
Lovely large back deck

Have a look - settlement is 5 February 2008... WOOHOO!

Done and dusted!

2007-11-23T09:25:00.000+10:00

Well, I could nearly cry... it's all over, and we're back home.

Firstly, before I recap anything, let me share with you my claim to fame...
It’s available to view on-line via the TVNZ website (free of charge): http://tvnz.co.nz/content/?o=&k=&style=tvnz&s=d&b=2007-11-31T00%3A00%3A00&a=2007-11-01T00%3A00%3A00&ct=video&ayear=2007&amonth=11&byear=2007&bmonth=11&q=finals (the story is titled ‘Netball quarter finals in sight’).

Word of warning, I don't 'normally' talk like that I'm sure... but I was very nervous!

Now, back to the recap.... as you saw from Mum's post, the Jamaicans nearly bumped NZ out of their Grand Finals chance - and were, for the most of the game, the better team. I was SO impressed at how they played - not anywhere near the normal brutal game - I always thought they'd be dangerous if they ever got some control - and they were! Luckily for both teams they also got the best umpires - which made the game about netball, not rugby, as Mum stated.

Not so lucky for the Grand Finals... what a nail biter! I heard there were 3 heart attacks at the venue - and I think that was just my heart stopping all the time! Kerry and I managed to choke the life out of FOUR of the Aussie clappers - and Mum ended up a blubbering mess at the end of the game. I'm sure Jodie has finger marks where Mum was sqeezing her!

The umpiring was ... well... let me think of a more appropriate 4 letter words.... Nup, can't... we'll go with 'inadequate' and honestly, very lopsided. Bodies flew everywhere, not call, or worse, the WRONG call. Then, there was wee little hand brushes that WERE called! Go figure????

But the girls pulled through, battered but not beaten - we were SO proud. And, you're not going to believe this, but Norma GRINNED and waved to us!!! You could see this title meant the world to Liz as she tried to compose herself before being interviewed - she was nearly as emotional as Mum... nearly!

On the bus trip home, I was nearly in tears as I realised it was all over, and our little 'routine' was shattered. No more hot bread shop, no more date scones, no more cooked breakfasts... no more Aussie, Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi! No more time with our new friends.....

However, we did finish the trip off really nicely.... we got to NZ international airport about the same time as the team did - and at about the same place - so we got to cheer them off, and give Liz a huge round of applause as she came in with the world cup with her luggage! And then, they were all drifting around the duty free shopping while we were there.... so hard not to fun up and make a scene!

Well, that's all for now.... Back to reality.... and the Runaways AGM... *sigh*...

Today's the day

2007-11-17T06:53:00.000+10:00

There was some good netball played today and some good rugby. Australia was a bit scrappy in the shooting circle but this wasn't helped by some inconsistent umpiring. Jamaica defended, shot and used space very well. They pulled ahead early on, but, after a tactical time-out, the Kiwis were able to literally knock out one of their opposition in the shooting circle and gained the upper hand. The stadium was packed to the rafters and the atmosphere was electric. Tonight there will be standing room only. Aussies and Kiwis love their netball and look on their players as superstars. I only hope that it will be netball we get to watch tonight and not rugby as I really feel that any team which resorts to strong deliberate contact designed to take out players have not "won" regardless of their nationality.
We went to a good Japanese restaurant today, the food was beautiful and the service good. The cake shop around the corner from the restaurant is totally to blame for the weight we've all put on (maybe not for Kerry's) and we've never seen sandwiches and cakes so good AND cheap. $1.10 NZ for an apricot turnover, the same for a large date scone $2.20 for a really healthy sandwich.
The breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with Vicki Wilson was a great success. The food part of the morning was unhealthily greasy, but the entertainment part was great. The Australian netball team came along and said hello and Vicki told a few stories from the past. She held a netball trivia competition and Jodie won! Out of nearly 150 people! She was given an Australian netball cap signed by the whole team!
Jo and Shell went down to the pub to celebrate getting into the finals, and were shouted drinks. They were late back, had a marvellous time and have declared that we are all going down there tonight, win or lose, old or pregnant.
It is unreal to think we are heading back to Australia tomorrow. On one hand I would love to see more of Auckland but on the other I want to go HOME.
Bye, Helen

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2007-11-16T07:05:00.001+10:00

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2007-11-16T07:04:00.001+10:00

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More Netball stuff

2007-11-16T06:26:00.000+10:00

Well, it's getting to the exciting end of things.... and the games are getting tighter! We've adopted the Botswana team - and our adoptees are proving to be VERY successful - we are very proud of them - and got a special thank you in their speech after the game.

The other big news is my shirt design... it's taken off! Yesterday we went to catch the free shuttle bus to Henderson mall (they have a bus there and back every day) ... and were told that the TV crew had been on the previous bus. We arrived at Laser Copy Design shop - which are the guys that have been doing our shirts for us... to find the TV crew in there, along with a THRONG of Aussie supporters all queuing up for their shirts.... MY shirts! WHAT A BUZZ!!!

I snuck into the corner and asked for my shirts.... but the people that were there being interviewed soon pointed me out.... and I was asked for an interview about the shirts by the TV crew - pretty exciting stuff... but very, very scary too! Didn't say half of what I wanted to! And then back at the stadium, they came and asked us for another interview about netball.... so all we need to do is find where it is online.... haven't had much success so far!

Apparently, as of yesterday MORNING they have had over 100 shirts done up. And that was without the Aussies that only came yesterday even knowing about it.... I'm SURE there'll be more! Good thing was that they GAVE me my 3 shirts yesterday as a thank you for all the business - and the publicity! Not that I asked - but the other girls did!!! It's so wonderful to see something that was just a little thing for our little group get picked up by so many people, and so many being so happy and thankful to be able to get some memorabilia of the netball.

Someone has also arranged to have our signs printed off in bulk so that come the Finals, we're a force to be reckoned with! Can't wait to see it all!v

xx
Shelly

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2007-11-14T05:36:00.001+10:00

After being bitterly disappointed at the lack of merchandising available to purchase at the World Cup, I decided to make my own! Here's the design that we're going to get put onto shirts, signs, etc. I got it put on a huge A2 sign - printed with a yellow background and green writing - and I now have about 1/2 the team signed it... working on getting more!

We left the design with the local lasercopy - and we're letting any Aussie that wants to show their support go and get it printed on a shirt that they buy. Looks like there's going to be a few.

We're off shopping this morning - Australia doesn't play today... but we'll be there. Botswana is our adopted team... :)

Anyway, must go and eat! I'm sure there'll me much, much more news on it's way...

xx
Shelly

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More Netball in Auckland

2007-11-12T10:15:00.000+10:00

Hi all,
Our dream, which we've been planning for years, came to life on Saturday. Netball and New Zealand. What could be better? A world cup win for Australia, I hear you say? We have been talking netball, watching netball live, talking netball, and then watching the games again that night on telly, and then, of course talking netball again. Most nights are late nights. There are some real netball nuts out here and I'm not just talking about us.
The first game on Saturday was New Zealand and Malawi. For the first two or three quarters Malawi didn't play with their usual flair and enjoyment which was disappointing but they seemed to relax in the end and I enjoyed the last bit. The next day the games started in earnest. Vicky Wilson (my idol) came and sat with the Australian contingent near us, and was chatting away to everyone, giving autographs. The Australians were obvious in their bright yellows and green. You could also pick them by their enthusiastic support of whichever team was underdog.
I felt the South Africans have really improved and will give the other top teams a run for their money. The other favourites are Jamaica, England, New Zealand and (of course) Australia. Only time will tell which is the better team. The umpiring is occasionally weak, but when all's said and done, the winning team will have to play to overcome any miscalls. For example when a Malawi player obviously kicked the ball out of court and got the throw-in. And that was the chap who umpired the finals at the last Commonwealth Games.
The staff at Alpers Lodge have been absolutely marvellous! They have been courteous, friendly and helpful. This is great after all the frustrations we've had in the past few days. We even have a bottle of low fat milk labelled with our room numbers.
Kerry and Jo have gone out on the town this morning, or the CBD anyway. They'll be worn out tonight. You know the girls are always getting really embarassed about the way I umpire when watching games. Well they're still getting embarassed!! But, guess what? My lovely girls were umpiring too. I even heard Ker booing. Shell was coaching the weaker teams and the whole stadium groaned when one of their players did a massive step.
Touch wood, the weather has been beautiful. We don't even wear a jumper most of the time. No rain yet but it may be coming.
Our bus comes soon, so will go and catch you another day. We don't get back till late, so bye.
Helen/Mum
ps. Miss you lots, Merv

Some Pics

2007-11-11T07:42:00.001+10:00

Dad - this one is for you.... Jodie found a nice slab of wood she thought you'd like, and Kerry found an example of a dowel she needed to show you....

:)

We got to see a great Maori performance, and view their wonderful carvings - doesn't the pic below just look too surreal?

Does this angle make Kerry's belly look big?

Still uploading the ones from the netball - but we're VERY close to the action - so there will be heaps of photo opportunities - and Vicky Wilson is within 'howdy' distance from us too! Very happy!

OK... got to go and get ready... xx

Shelly

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Now that we have had a good night's sleep.....

2007-11-10T06:07:00.000+10:00

Well, good morning.....

We arrived yesterday and after some 'interesting' events

Spent about 20 mins getting the seats we wanted - at least one window seat(we were 1st in line to check in)

We had a really nice chappy check our passports and he gave us a stamp (YAY)

Jodie & I got frisked for drugs & explosives in Australia

I got stopped as we were boarding the plane and they had decided to sit me 4 rows away from the rest of the girls (I spat chips - they move all of us to a middle isle)

We spent the flight catching up (NOT) with headphones on and watching movies
(I tell you.... the next time I fly to Rocky; I want to do it by stopping over in another country so I can watch movies that have only just been released)

Mum (accidently) threw her chicken salad over Jodie

I broke my TV screen by trying to play games

We got off the flight and all was going well...... The food & drugs sniffer dog (cute beagle) attacked Mum who pushed it away with her foot (force of habbit) and all our bags had to be checked. It liked mine and earnt itself 3 treats.

We got to the x-ray machines and Mum got dragged away because some desk dude did not fill out her arrival form. What really seemed to get to Mum is that he grabbed gloves on the way and wouldn't let anyone go with her. All OK though - gloves not needed (Phew)

Arrived safe & sound at the hotel (met people on the bus who were staying in 'our' hotel that we had paid for - and have not been refunded for). Checked in. Reservation was a little stuffed up as they tried to tell us that we would have to pay additionally for breakfast....... jodie turned purple and I was smoking from my nose.... we smiled and said we would have this all sorted by b'fast.

Decided to go out to tea and had a wonderful dinner and a leisurly walk (our luck was changing finally)

Spent the best part of 15 minutes trying to buy bottled water at a 7/11 - that's a whole nother story.

The tour 'guides' finally arrived with our stuff at around 11pm and guess what - ALL THERE AND LOOKING GREAT

CONFIRMED - OUR LUCK IS CHANGING - THE TOUR BUS ARRIVED EARLY AND WE ARE OFF FOR A FUN FILLED DAY BEFORE HEADING TO THE NETBALL!

Talk to you all soon - and don't forget to check out the pics.....

Kez

A piccy to share

2007-11-10T06:03:00.000+10:00

Here's the 3 'girls' at the wharf....

If you want to see more pics from day 1 - have a look here:
http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q226/mickeyleerobs/NetballWorldCup2007/

xx
Shelly

Netball at last

2007-11-09T19:38:00.002+10:00

Well, today's the day! We finally get to see a game of netball tonight - Malawi and New Zealand. This morning we had a good breakfast and then boarded the hop-on, hop-off bus, first stop the Auckland Museum. It was absolutely fantastic. Filled with an enormous amount of Maori culture. Everything the Maoris had was covered with carving - war canoes, whares, tools, spears and many other things. We went to the auditorium at the museum and were treated to Maori dancing, singing, stick throwing and a poi exhibition. Nearly everything seemed to be connected to warfare in one way or another. Now they carry the warfare on on the sporting fields. Hope they get defeated!!!!!
I"ll get off now. See you later.
Mum/Helen

Netball at last

2007-11-09T19:38:00.001+10:00

We're HERE!

2007-11-09T19:38:00.000+10:00

Post from Mum (Helen)
It seems so unreal to finally be in Auckland. It's so green and many of the buildings, both business and houses, are like the heritage buildings in Rockhampton. Both Kerry and Jodie were taken away by Customs in Australia to be frisked. It was quite exciting. And then when we got to New Zealand, the cutest little sniffer dog (with a young female customs officer) showed a great interest in our bags. I thought we were going to all be hauled away. After a while we were all on our way to Alpers Lodge. Two others women are here too. The rooms are pretty okay. One totally smelled of cigarette smoke, which we said was unacceptable so the management changed it. Caught a taxi to the wharf, checked out restaurant prices, when we caught our breath went hunting for something more affordable. Found a lovely place, good food, enough of it and good service. Saw a huge ferry/boat at the wharf. It was enormous. Saw some lovely Kiwi clothes, sporty type, black with white fern. Beautiful. All sizes. Our tour organisers turned up with caps, t-shirts emblazoned with Australia and best of all, our games tickets. The organizers say that the seats are very good. We'll see tomorrow. Yay!

No more days, one more sleep

2007-11-07T23:06:00.001+10:00

We're going on a holiday.... it's gonna be a big one.... I'm not scared... what a beautiful day... uh oh...

We're off to see the Netball World Cup - watch this space for reports from your avid netball reporters... photos will be placed on Photobucket...

Holy imploding tables Batman!

2007-11-07T23:02:00.001+10:00

Look at what happened when Jodie and I went out for tea tonight... the table imploded on us - we were covered in glass!!!Nope, no good reason, it just happened! We weren't doing anything that caused it AT ALL - heck we were eating fish with a fork because it was so tender we didn't need to carve it!The whole restaurant FULL of people inside all took time to take photos though... nice of them really, wasn't it?You'd have thought this would have earned us a free meal - or at least dessert... but nope! I know it was an accident, but how you deal with accidents is a way to win customers... something D's obviously didn't get taught.

This is where I work...

2007-11-02T22:00:00.000+10:00

OK Everyone, THIS is where I work! Well, kinda! It's a tour of the Matisse Derivan Factory....

Hope you enjoy! I've been having a lot of fun adding stuff to the Matisse Derivan YouTube site http://au.youtube.com/MatisseDerivan which now hosts some pretty cool Liquid Pencil videos - I'll be adding more as I can... it takes a bit of time to process it all!

So, what's been happening in my little world? LOTS!!! I seem to have been spending a more time in aeroplanes than cars lately - went to Brissy last weekend, and of course the Matisse Open Day the weekend before that! Will be on the big planes to go to New Zealand later this week - WOOHOO!!!

Got to catch up with my bestie, Crissy while I was in Brisbane - and got a wee little bit of shopping done too... OK... a lot! I DID have to get some stuff for NZ now, didn't I?

I spent a stressful, and disappointing Sunday with Netball Qld.... but that's a whole chapter in a book I think... and too negative to waste anymore time on. On the positive side, I got to know a fellow coach, and get some insight into how other clubs handle their coaching, team selection etc.

And... I confess, I'm a glutten for punishment - just signed a contract to teach 2 courses for uni online - with a total of 40 students. At least I managed to get tutoring contracts out of it - instead of 87 hours of marking!

Oh, and it looks like I might get to spend Easter in Sydney this year - hopefully we'll be planning a working holiday - I'll be working, and the family can be holidaying.... we have a big display etc on at the Royal Easter Show - and the boss has asked if I'm interested in coming down for it. Only problem is that it's 2 weeks long.... logistically that could be tricky. But I'm really looking forward to having the family down and actually sight seeing a little of Sydney for once! I know they're going to love even the little things - like riding on the light rail, and seeing Sydney Opera House etc. I really want them to see The Rocks, and some of the historic sights... and of course the Royal Easter Show!

OK... that's all for me... :)

I can YouTube to!

2007-10-25T11:12:00.000+10:00

Here's hoping this works! This is a quick YouTube video I've done... hmmm... let's see...

Yep, even thought it looks like it's not working, it IS!!!!

How exiting! This is a quick 1 minute video that I've done up with artist Catherine Harry using the Derivan Liquid Pencil. Pretty cool for the little bit of time it's taken her to do - I WISH I could paint like that!

I have more coming - but you will have to wait until I edit them - and find some better music to go with them!

Oh, and I'd really like it if some of you guys out there would become my 'friend' in YouTube... cause it's being quite rude and telling me that 'you have no friends' - bit disheartening really! I think you can also subscribe as well, so you get all the videos - it's the Matisse Derivan YouTube - so it will always be about painting!

A little netball, a little cuteness

2007-10-16T21:15:00.000+10:00

Well, once again it's been a little while. I'm a naughty little blogger! Things have been happening, but I've still be so tired that I just want to sleep!

So, what's some of the things... well... I am going to be spending a lot of time on a plane soon, as I will be jetting off to Sydney for the Matisse Open Day where I get to have a whole lot of fun and catch up with a whole lot of artists! Looking forward to that BIG TIME!!!

Runaways Netball Club (which I'm president of) had their annual presentation dinner - so that was a flurry, but it ended with eating and drinking and being merry - so all was good. I won't bore you with ALL the photos... but here's some of us...

Here's Emily receivign her perpetual trophy for "Most Dependable Member" for all the hard work she did through the year selling chocoates, pies, picking up rubbish after the games, volunteering to help in the canteen etc. She was plenty chuffed!

And here I am receiving my first EVER 'Most valuable' player trophy. In all the years I've been playing, I don't think I've ever got that. So, WOW!

And another first... me receiving the "Senior Coach of the Year" award... WOOHOO!!! Long time coming for that one - I've been coaching for the club for over 10 years now....

Enough netball... no?

OK then. Let me say that I've decided that 'why the heck not' and put my name down to play in the Premier League with the big girls this year.... Thought I'd see how far I can push myself playing at a higher level - can't wait!

We're also playing mixed - which isn't always good combo - me, Michael and netball often causes conflict.... but we should have fun. Leesa is sporting our mixed uniform above... it was awesome to see the sea of green when we turned up last Wednesday - we were IMPRESSIVE!!! Now if only we can play as good as we look!

Oh, and in November Mum, Jodie, Kerry and I are off on my very first overseas holiday... to New Zealand... Auckland (is that the closest you can get to Australia and still need a passport I wonder?) to watch the NETBALL WORLD CUP!!! Bring it on!!! We're so excited... over a week of watching netball and hanging out with the girls... could it get any better??? Nup!

Now to share some cute, cute, cute pics of my new niece, and her big bro. Charlotte Rose is such a sweetie, and I got a good couple of hours of cuddle time in on Saturday. She's a little angel. Jake on the other hand has this devilish grin... :)

How can you resist this?

That should keep you guys busy for a while!

Long Time, no post

2007-09-10T13:15:00.000+10:00

Well, I've been told people are sick of looking at my black eye, and isn't it time I posted something on my blog....

OK then... just a couple of layouts...

Hope you enjoy!

A face of many colours...

2007-07-20T10:15:00.000+10:00

I am now sporting a multi-coloured face - great for show and tell.... not so great for photos! LOL!

I coached the Rep team last night, and there were a few girls who hadn't seen it yet and they were very impressed - but would you believe I copped a hit in the head, on the SAME SIDE while coaching? Just brushed my cheekbone after collecting me on the top of the head - I was much more wary after that. Don't think I'll play mixed indoor tonight.... those men could very well give me a matching set!

What else is news... hmmmm.....

I seem to be spending my days writing on envelopes giving away Liquid Pencil sachets at the moment - we have a big giveaway announced on the discussion forum. There's a direct link from our home page - if I have't put YOUR name on an envelope! www. matisse.com.au

It's been bitterly cold here in Rocky for weeks now - something we're really not used to. I'm sitting here with 2 jumpers on, a beanie, jeans and knitted slippers (thanks to Crissy's Aunty) inside Michael's slippers..... with the heater on. And my toes are STILL cold! OK... I'm a woos when it comes to the chill factor - but I think losing weight has made it even colder!

Imagine how we felt out on the netball courts on Tuesday night! Short skirts, playing on courts that are built on a former lagoon - where the cold comes over in waves! Worse was I spent a fair bit of that time holding ICE to my face! LOL!

Oh, and yesterday I got a huge pack of goodies from the Little Scrapbook shop - yummy, yum, yum! Very, very nice stack of stuff. Some for the DT and some from stuff I ordered. I will say, if you were thinking about it - get some THICKERS - they are truly yummy! And make sure you check out the Love Elsie range in person - it's MUCH more impressive! Brilliant textures. I have so much yummy stuff I want to start the weekend early!!! Also got these really cute rub-ons for girls that say stuff like 'yeah, I hit like a girl!' and 'I wish you could throw like a girl' ... might go well with my black eye... lol...

What else, what else... I suppose a few of you know that Michael cut the end of his finger off at work - well, the corner actually. So he's had a couple days off, then returned on light duties. Finally got the OK to do normal duties yesterday. Poor bugger did it on a day I was feeling sick as a dog and was curled up in bed under 3 blankets shivering - he didn't get a lot of sympathy. I'm also pretty terrible at listening to that sort of thing - makes me want to throw up!

Allan and Emily are fighting fit - and fighting more than ever. Driving me round the bend with it all actually. I've had enough of them together... glad Em's going to a friend's house on Saturday - but I will miss my scrap buddy.... hmmm.... maybe not... it will be nice and QUIET in my scraproom ;)

Did I tell you that we're going to New Zealand at the end of the year? OH CRAP!!! I have to get passport photos!!!! OH CRAP!!! I have a black eye!!!!! (just worked THAT one out now).

I'm going away next weekend too - for Rep as coach of the Div 3 team. Will be interesting. Not a great lead up to it, and I've been less than impressed with the organisation of it all - still not told officially that I'm the coach! I don't think the players have ever been officially informed that they're on the team either.

THEN I go away in August to the LSBS retreat - woohoo!!! We're going to have some FUN with PAINT girlies!!! The boss is paying, so it's a work trip - and I'll be doing so many fun things with the girls they won't know how they lived without paint, kindyglitz and the like!

Well, better get SOME work done today... hope you are all well, and fit (unlike most of Rockyites who are in bed sick!)

Netball - the non-contact sport

2007-07-18T08:38:00.001+10:00

Shiner_9.jpg

Who said netball was a non-contact sport!

I got this shiner last night playing GD. I copped an elbow to the cheekbone, just under my eye.

And boy, did it hurt!

This pic is after having ice on it for about an hour - it was much larger before. When it first happened I had my hand over my face, as you do, and when I took it off, there was much amazement at the egg that had suddenly grown on my face!

And you know what... I got called for contact!!! I'm not sure what the umpire thought I did wrong... lol...

Will do an updated pic later - my eye is less swollen, but more black now... :)

A Bit Creative

2007-07-16T10:08:00.000+10:00

Here are some layouts I finished up on the weekend....

Yes, no, yes, no... NO

2007-07-13T16:48:00.000+10:00

Well, my tutoring has been on again and off again... and I've ended up with just 2 hours a week - which will be a bit more relaxing.

Everything else is going well - not much more to add at this time. Planning on having a relaxing weekend... well, kinda!!!

:)

News to date

2007-07-09T01:24:00.000+10:00

Well, I've been a little slack posting - just haven't had much of a commitment to it - no great reason.

Anyway, here's an update. I found out on Friday that I WILL be tutoring next term again - thought I wasn't going to get ANY tutoring due to budget cutbacks, but they've realised that the full time staff just cannot handle the current workloads! So, instead of ZERO hours, I now have SIX hours a week tutoring. Good courses too - so I'm pleased!

My health has been pretty good. Haven't lost an extrodinary amount of weight - which is kind of disheartening - because I haven't been 'naughty' either. BUT when I measured myself today, it looks like I'm losing WAIST not weight. 2 cm off my waist, 4cm off my hips, and 2 cm off my thighs - so either I'm measuring all wrong - or something's going right.

I'm going to go with the glass half full option!

I've been busy with work lately (nothing unusual there though) and we seem to be having a whole heap of new stuff happening - it's pretty exciting - but a LOT of work. One of the really exciting things is the launch of Derivan Liquid Pencil - it's liquid - but when dry, looks like a pencil drawing - really, really cool! Have a look at our website to find out more www.matisse.com.au . There's some really nice images there from artists who have been trialling it for us. I've got a bookmark here that Sue Raccanello 'painted' for me at the RES - adn you would swear it was a pencil sketch - really cute emu it is too.

What else.... what else.... hmmmm....

Michael has been away an awful lot of late. I think in the last month he's been to Brisbane 3 times - generally over the weekend, but once for the week - so that's left the other side of the bed a bit colder - and it's been really COLD here!

Kids are both doing well - see below for pics - aren't they gorgeous! I've had them home for 2 weeks holidays, and although I love them, I'll be glad to send them back to school. It's hard working from home with the constant 'Mum, can I have... '.

Well, I'd better get off to bed. Been up watching the Aust vs Jamaica game - and I'm glad I could help Liz Ellis out with some advice on how to play GK when you're a lot shorter than the opposition... lol....

(did you see the height/length of that GS from Jamaica!!!)

Sweet dreams!

Photo Shoot

2007-07-09T01:22:00.001+10:00

While Michael was away in Brisbane (AGAIN) we went for a trip to the Japanese Gardens - for a picnic lunch and a good old fashioned photo shoot. Here are some of my favourites!

gardens_9_95.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_7.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_92.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_77.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_4.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_13.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_127.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_12.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_7.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_118.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

gardens_9_110.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Small updates

2007-07-04T13:36:00.001+10:00

I haven't been totally out of it... here's a couple of recent layouts!

JakeLovinLife.jpg

primedFORsweetness.jpg

BirthdayGirl_Childof70s.jpg

BeachBabe.jpg

ThisGirlGotTude.jpg

angelCanvas.jpg

Update...

2007-06-01T00:38:00.000+10:00

Well, it was the last day of Uni for classes today - and I will gain another day a week back in my life soon.... just got to get past the mountains of assignments to mark that week 12 will bring.

I had a shadow with me today - my son. I got a phone call from his school because he'd been punched in the face!! So I had to pick him up between classes, and had him following me around all day. Poor bugger has a nice shiner on his left cheek. Apparently he'd been fooling around with someone in his home group, and provoked him a bit too much without realising - and the guy just punched him as he was turning away to talk to someone else! I think he was emotionally stunned as much as physically hurt.

Other things I haven't shared due to my life being so fully booked out at the moment....
* I got the test results back - I have mild sleep apnea - which is why I feel like crap some days and can't wake up.
* My blood sugar levels have been brilliant - NORMAL!!! My Diabetes educator says that all she can do for me now is give me gold stars ;)
* After only getting 2 and a bit games at the Sully's carnival (rained out) - my team WON on a countback - so I have a nice big shiny new trophy ;)
* My BIL has been offered a JOB here - which, if he accepts, means my sister will move back home (from Melbourne)!!!!!! This is HUGE!

Many other dramas happening - but that's what you get when you take on positions of responsibility - other people's crap! I'm definitely learning how to deal with this sort of thing a lot better, and my skin is toughening up. Good news though is that it's being noticed by the people that matter and I've been getting some really positive feedback about our netball club, so that makes it worthwhile.

On a sad note - a friend of mine's mother passed away on Sunday - heartbreaking to see a friend so upset, and know there's really not a lot you can do to make things better - just hugs and someone to talk to.

Probably lots more to tell.. but it's well past bedtime...

Have a GREAT day!

Before and after - a reflection

2007-05-30T18:05:00.000+10:00

Well, many of you might know by now... I've reached my first major weight loss goal!!! Yeehar!!

I was looking at a couple of photos of me, and I couldn't get over how much YOUNGER my face is looking - well, I think so, anyway!

Looky here...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Of course, I'm even OLDER in the second pic because I recently celebrated my 36th birthday! I decided that this year I was going to make it a full weekend of celebrations - and it was! Went out to tea Saturday night with hubby to my absolute favourite Japanese restaurant... and then had everyone over Sunday night for a family dinner. Did lots in between, and felt thoroughly lovely!

Anyways, that's all for now. Feeling bruised and sorry after a game of netball where everyone's elbows and limbs seemed to target me.... ;)

The Yin and Yang of my day...

2007-05-09T11:00:00.000+10:00

Well, what a weird little afternoon it was yesterday.

Spent about 40 minutes of it in a building anger/panic as I couldn't find my son after school. Seems that me saying to him that he could get information about cadets translated to the 13 yo mind as 'go to cadets, your Mum will know, and she will pick you up at 5pm'. Of course, I didn't know, I didn't give permission, and he had made no plans for me to pick him up later (or a location). By the time I tracked down where he was, I was in a state on near panic, which transferred to furious anger when I realised what he'd done - and that the cadets had him after school without EVER receiving written permission from me. Brought me to tears and I tore a few strips of Allan in the car on the way home. Got out of the car and had a big tearful hug - aye, aye, aye - has he no idea what a missing child does to a mother?

Then, my boss called me pretty late in the day for a long chat/meeting. Had a lot to go through with him, but also had children to get organised for netball at 5:30pm. Allan had been given the task of making tea - and handwritten notes while on the phone got the said tea into tupperware ready to take out to netball. Luckily, Mum was at my place when I'd gotten home after school (and aforementioned child search). So, she got the kids ready, and when it looked like I was never going to get off the phone in time, she took Emily to her game. Luckily, cause I didn't get off the phone until 5:20pm, and her game was at 5:30!

Of course, when I got off the phone, it was a mad rush to get ready and get out to the courts so I didn't miss too much! When I went into my bedroom, I found out my darling daughter had made my bed, and laid out my netball clothes for me - along with my shoes on the floor, with a sock on each. She'd even put a hairbrush out for me. What a darling! She'd fanned out the skirt of my bodysuit - it was just picture perfect. Bestill my mummy heart - they both touched it today!

Oh, and I got some creative stuff done too - YEHAR!!!! Will share later... work to do now...

Procrastination Station

2007-05-06T15:30:00.000+10:00

Oh, sigh! Are you a procrastinator like me? It's worse when you have a guilty conscience arguing with you. My mind is having the following argument with itself...

"I'm so sick of this... I want to go and play"
"Well, you can play... but not until you finish marking those assignments"
"But I don't want to.... I want to play"
"And if you go and play and don't get them done... "
"I will, I'll only play for a little while"
"You know yourself better - now go and mark those assignments... "
"I'll just have an apple"
"OK... but come back here to eat it while you're marking assignments..."
"Oooh... that's interesting... "
"Get back and mark those assignments. You can play tomorrow, it's a long weekend"
"But..."
"See, you're getting there... only a few more to go..."
"But, I'm so SICK of it!"
"But it's your RESPONSIBILITY - you promised to hand them back"
"OK... but I'm not going to enjoy it!!"

SIGH. Nearly done though. Only 2 to go... and then next week I get a whole bundle more!

On a lighter note, I've nearly reached my first major weightloss milestone - thought it was time to share some pics...

Not bad hey? Nearly 25kg's gone... wow!

I haven't been very creative lately though - not been letting myself while I have had assignments to mark... but going to work on that later... ;)

Hope everyone is well...

Running, and running...

2007-04-25T15:39:00.000+10:00

Last night I had a great game of netball! I was so wired at the end of it - and so darn proud of myself!

My team has always looked after me because I have been large, and quite unfit - and simply not able to play all the positions on court due to my poor fitness levels. Well, for my size I was doing OK - but couldn't hack playing too much too long.

But all that has changed now that I've lost so much weight. These legs, which were once having to run, jump and leap with an extra 23kgs are now helping me travel around the court on what feels like wings! It feels so good to really get out there and RUN. Well, at least it *feels* like running - and I'm sure it looks somewhat like running too...

For those that understand netball, I thing GD can be the most physically demanding position, closely followed by C. Depending on the oposition of course. WELL, last night I played GD for 1/2 a game and C for a 1/4!!! And THEN WA for a 1/4. We only had 6 in our team - so there was actually a bit MORE work to do.

Felt so good to be able to outrun my stick thin, younger opponent - felt bloody good! Even the opposition coach complemented me after the game! Hot damn!

My Mum still plays too (yep, bloody great for a 60 year old) and I've noticed she's running so well lately too - I think the team we have really helps.

Great to have those endorphins working for you. Wonderful actually.

Wired!

2007-04-22T09:43:00.000+10:00

Hi all! In my quest to work out why I'm so tired all of the time, I had a in-home sleep study done last night. They come over and attach wires and belts all over you, and then the machinery records your breathing, leg movments, eye movements, snoring etc. I looked a total SIGHT! wires and bits going everywhere! Going to the loo was NOT EASY!

Anyway, I'm hoping this will help work out the fatigue, because I really need to not be so tired - it makes it hard to deal with issues when they come up - and I just can't concentrate as well as I should be able to.

I'm also going to have another test for my thyroids as my last one was borderline. A normal thyroid has a result between 0-4 on this one test, and apparently mine was 4.3 - so the doctor want's to test again.

Apart from that... I have a huge stack of assignments sitting here not marked - oh, so many of them! And, I do tend to add a lot of comments - so each one is taking me over an hour to do - must cut back a bit! Sorry students.

OK... off to do some work... ;)

Don't be good.

Drama Street Grand Central Station

2007-04-19T13:00:00.000+10:00

Oh, ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH... I'm so over drama at the moment!!! I feel like wherever I am, it finds me. And no, before you think it, I'm not inviting it in!!!

I've been away for a delightful week in Sydney - to see the Royal Easter Show - for work of course - and I got to sit and paint for a couple of days - and that was just the release I needed. I started to feel in control again - and I haven't felt that way for over 2 months! I got to breathe out.

And, then, when I came home it all started again. I really don't understand how some people can think it's OK to behave the way they do - and THEN act like you shouldn't be offended/upset. Even when you've taken the time to explain to them that their action DO really upset you and WHY!

Maybe I'm too thin skinned - but these people have hides of a rhino! I have been trying so hard to be stronger and rise above it all. AND really trying hard to NOT spend all day everyday worrying and fretting about people who don't care about me. I don't have enough time in my day to do that. It's not working too well though - despite my really wanting it!

On a positive note, there are people in my life that surprise me in a very good way as well. I know that - and I need more of that. I need to be pumped up with some goodness juice so I'm fortified when those that think belittling and degrading your best efforts is a way to move forward. That when you put your hand up to volunteer to slog your guts out every other minute of your day that you're not working, that you automatically volunteer to cop abuse. I'm sorry, but that's not OK with me. It's never OK.

So, how do I stop feeling so damn upset? How do I stop myself from crying? How do I just switch off? How do I do the right thing by the people I'm responsible for? Sometimes it all feels just too hard to get it all right. Other times I'm just 'over it'.

Can I close my eyes and hope they go away?

Still alive :)

2007-04-04T23:51:00.000+10:00

Hi all

Sorry it's been so long... I've been pretty snowed under, and just not wanting to get on here and have a whinge - and there's been so many people that have disappointed and upset me in the past few weeks that I know that's what it would have turned into! So I know purge myself of all of that rot - and good riddance to it all! For all of those people who have upset me recently I refuse to give you anymore of my energy - I'm going to save that for my friends and family!!!

Talking of which, my sister Kerry has been up for the past week or so - and it's been a blinding whirlwind since she's been here. I took time off work so I could spend time with her - but really haven't had as much time as I wanted due to all my other commitments - but it's still been good.

My other sister Jodie had her 30th birthday party on Saturday night - a 70's themed afair... here's some of the pics.... click on them to see full size images!

Oh, and we bought a NEW CAR!!! I'm now the proud owner of a new Toyota Yaris YRS - midnight metallic blue 5 door hatchback (automatic). Love it!!! Just got to stop driving like I'm in the Camry now.... still allowing way too much space that I don't need to.

Anyway, that's all I'm up for tonight - got to teach all day tomorrow... so best get to bed....

Be good! I'll leave you with some random pics...

Graduation

2007-03-19T08:41:00.001+10:00

Yep! I graduated! Here I am on the hottest day Rockhampton has seen in over 12 years, actually wearing makup and a gown.... it's amazing I was able to get a photo at all before my makeup slid off! It was great to finally get this under my belt and done though! Very proud moment for me.

On the weekend Michael and I went off to the Japanese restaurant at Rydges (Yeppoon) and had one of the most delightful meals I've ever had to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary (which is today!). It was more than a meal - it was a real experience the way everything was served, and how much we were given.... it seemed to nearly be an endless supply of food coming out - and all different, creative, and fun! The service was also brilliant, and we have a really wonderful night.

However, after the wonderful night started to fade, and as we were back home starting to fall asleep, we got a call from my Mum to say Allan's earache had gotten much worse - so Michael ended up having to go out and get him, and take him up to the base hospital. He was prescribed ear drops - but these didn't seem to go INTO his ear, as it was quite a creamy drop - and by last night he was running a temp and complaining a lot about his ear, even though he'd had some nurofen already.

We decided to take him up to the Mater as they have our dr's surgery on call... costs more, but you get to see a doctor as a proper consultation. He prescribed antibiotics, and different eardrops. So, about $200 lighter in pocket.... we came home. Hopefully this lot will do the trick.

Why is it that kids get sick on weekends when you can't just visit your doctor?

I'm sure there's much more to add.... it's been a while... but I've just been exhausted lately.... situation pretty normal there!

Catching up...

2007-03-09T00:05:00.000+10:00

Just looking back through my past posts... it seems that netball has been all consuming in my life... well... um... yep - it has been! But there's been other things happening along the way too.

This week I started tutoring again at Uni. I'm doing 2 subjects I've never tutored in before - but fortunately, the course co-ordinators are 2 lecturers that are so thoroughly organised that it makes my life easier. It's still hard work, but I have a very good idea of what I need to do, and how to do it - the framework for both these courses is excellent.

So, what am I teaching? The first course, which I have 2 tutorials for, is Contemporary Photomedia. Basically photography - and it's a fantastic course. The uni agreed as they gave it a special award for teaching excellence a couple of years ago.

The second course is Web Application Development. Teaching the basics of PHP and MySQL - which is what drives a lot of the applications on websites at the moment - including discussion forums, online galleries, form submission etc.

So, both courses are very good for me too. You always learn/retain so much more when you teach something - which is great!

I realised I haven't shared anything much of late either - just been busy... so here's a rash of photos from the past month for you to look at.

A couple of Emily in the rain with her improv 'rain hat' and a some of my man Jake when I got to babysit him for the very first time (about time too!). Oh, and a layout I don't think I've shared...

TTFN!

My hair won't start

2007-03-02T14:42:00.000+10:00

Well, that's what today has felt like! Like nothing will start properly! Even though I've been working, I don't seem to be able to get into anything very well. Must be Friday!

Thought I'd just pop in to say... my son has a DATE!

Yes, you heard right a DATE! With a GIRL!

NO, he hasn't aged since last we spoke - he's only in grade 8.... and last I knew he showed absolutely zero interest in girls.... and now he has a DATE!

Did I say DATE enough.... I don't know how I kept my composure when he told me yesterday.... and I had to talk to his Dad for him so that he wouldn't spoil my best efforts by paying him out and making fun of him.

.... a DATE??????????

It's not fair - I am certainly not old enough for this!

A right to be upset...

2007-02-28T17:01:00.000+10:00

OK... I just had a phone call from my Dad saying that

"about that graduation thing of yours, I think I'll give it a miss if that's OK"

Um... NO! It's NOT OK! That 'graduation thing' is the graduation ceremony for my Bachelor of Communication with Distinction. I worked so hard to achieve it, and really wanted him there to see me graduate. It's not like he has a good excuse, just that he'd be bored.

I told him no, it was not alright, and ended up hanging up on him saying 'Well, if you're not proud enough of me to be there, then don't bother... '

I have a right to be upset, haven't I?

More computer saga....

2007-02-22T16:28:00.000+10:00

Well, at about lunch time, my computer went totally SPACK!!! Opened 63 windows for MSN, and tonnes of other things. Sure sign of a virus.

So, I hit the off button as quick as I could, and called my IT guy in a panic.

Of course, he wasn't there... and I spent an agonising 20 minutes before he called back. Not game to turn the computer back on just in case....

Had to unplug everything (do you KNOW how many plugs there are at the back of a computer?) and lug it, along with my external hard drives, up to him at the Uni.

2 hours later....

... I find I DID NOT have a virus - and everything worked wonderfully for him...... don't know if that made me happy or cranky! He did fix up my MS Office for me... which is a relief! I also had next to no room left on my C drive because of my massive Outlook files - which he moved to a different drive so it wouldn't be a problem. He was of the opinion that the lack of space on my C drive may have caused some of the problems.

SO... I lug (and I mean LUG) the computer home, after being very late picking up the kids... plug it all in... and it's working! But... where's my hard drive.... not there!!!! So jumped some more hoops and heard the tic, tic, tic again from my ext. hard drives.... OH NO!!! They definitely DID NOT do that when they went to the Dr's!!!!!

But, I worked it out! The power cord for the hard drive must be faulty, because a different ext hard drive was going tic, tic, tic....

To think that could have caused so many problems....

Things you don't want to hear from an IT guy....

2007-02-22T10:21:00.000+10:00

"That's the sound of your hard drive dying"

Nope, not something I needed to hear from the IT guy! With everything going wrong, I reached out to my old IT guy from my last job... when I told him I couldn't read my external hard drive, and when I turned it on it went tic... tic.... tic... THAT's when he said the above.

NOT HAPPY JAN!!!!

I'm going out to visit him to see if he can fix it for me... and my Excel problem.... hmm... I've got quite a list... perhaps I need to buy him a gift....

:)

What's with this computer!

2007-02-20T12:46:00.000+10:00

AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm just so cranky with the whole IT side of things at the moment - seems I should change my name to Murphy... cause anything that could go wrong has, at the most inconvenient moment.

Some additions to the computer strife...

* When I came home my LEFT mouse button would work. Click, click, clickety click... nothing, nada nope! So I switched to using my wacom tablet and pen - which worked OK for a while - then started doing weird stuff! So went off and bought a new mouse!

* Now, I've gone to open a document in Microsoft Excel... and it wants to INSTALL it! What the??? It was there when I left - all working, all singing! Must've heard I actually NEEDED it, and wanted to USE it!!! GRRRRR

* My contact list for MSN went AWOL.... some people just dropped off - or were even moved!

* ALL of my Outlook rules are gone! I've had to rebuild them.... I had a LOT!! i.e. if I get an email from LSBS - move it into my LSBS folder....

* After spending 1/2 a day adding a MOD to our Matisse Discussion forum to stop spammers, I've managed to stop the ones that are living on the naughty side of life - but there's still more coming through. So have to delete them daily! GRR!

On the plus side.... I've lost 17.4kg's! I've also gone down THREE bra sizes - WOWSERS! And netball starts tonight - can't wait to take this frustration out on the court! Watch out all you GS/GA players... ;)

A quick update...

2007-02-20T00:19:00.000+10:00

Just thought I'd better pop in and let you all know that the computer is safe - I didn't throw it at anyone....

But, I did have further problems. Just after I posted my last blog, we lost email... and of course it was up to me to fix it... but... I couldn't until I could change over to the new hosts, because the old one just wasn't talking to us... see the problem?

So, I was getting phone calls late at night, early in the morning from staff wanting their email fixed... and all I could do is WAIT until the panic line (I mean help line) opened at 8am. So as soon as it was 8am I called them, and got the impression everything would be done in the next 1/2 hour or so. So, to make sure I could get the site switched over to the new hosts, I skipped going to the gym... by 11am it still wasn't done... but eventually it all happened.

By the next day emails were coming in again - PHEW!!!!

Time enough for me to then fly down to Sydney for a meeting... so I haven't got a lot of other stuff done... The flight home was delayed - so it took me a little over 2 hours to get there, and over 4 hours to get home!! I was knackered!!!

Netball starts officially tomorrow night... YAY!!!! Can't wait to get out there and actually PLAY, instead of talking about it, organising it, and working it all out!!!

Emily is exceptionally excited to be playing! She's counting the sleeps. Been waiting for years to be big enough - and she's so THRILLED. Can't wait to see her on the court... so CUTE!

OK... that'll do for now... need my sleep!

Night!

Can I throw something????

2007-02-13T11:36:00.000+10:00

OK... I've just about had it!!! I want to pick up things and throw them at walls.... big things... brick walls....

I'm just SO frustrated.

I'm a creative type person. I'm good with working out how to use programs and finding all the little things you can do with them. I am NOT an IT person!!!! I really MISS my IT guy.....

I've spent the past few days trying to do things that are not within my areas of strength! Firstly, we need to move hosts for our website. EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING I've done has been wrong. Not really my fault... but just not working the way it does for apparently 95% of the population! So, I've had to sit here while my computer downloads 300+ MB's of information, uploads it... and then find out it's wrong! Last night I spent over 2 hours uploading something.... got to 90% done when I had an inkling it might not be right. Consoled myself that 'they' being the new hosts could surely work it out and kept it going.... at 96% uploaded.... the computer blinked from the storm outside and *blink* the connection was broken!!!!

So, I had to redo it - which, by the way, I was advised had been the wrong files anyway. So I re-did it. For 2 out of our 3 websites. One worked, and it was all unpacked and ready to go live! YAY... but... can't find the codes I need to log into the place I have to go to change it over....

GRRRR

Then this morning, I find out that the other one I'd redone was corrupted.... and could I please do it again....

.... and then my email was sending imaginary posts... keeps saying it's sending 1 of 3 messages... but there's NOTHING in there. So I googled, and found a solution.

Just turned email back on... and all my emails are GONE!!!!

So now I'm re-importing those... and wish I had and IT guy again so I could go and make a coffee while they stressed out and got it all set up for me. HATE this stuff!

OK... might find a coffee and visualise throwing things at a brick wall....

PHEW!!!!

2007-02-07T23:59:00.000+10:00

Well... gosh! I'm beat!!!!

We had a team selections tonight... well, more of a have a bit of a game, and try and work out where to fit everyone.

Thought we were doing pretty well too! Got it ALL organised!!! Well, as far as I could, anyway. The secretary of RNA said she be out to unlock for us so we could pump up balls, get tables and chairs etc.

But, she didn't turn up. So, for 6 teams we had ONE ball! ONE! and 11 flat balls!

Sheesh!

We then spent time organising teams, looking at players... and we got the A/A Res/B grade sides sorted out pretty well... but we had a bit of trouble with the rest. We had 7 players, for the final team, but they weren't a good combo for a team - very different levels, and too many of the one position, and none of others. So we literally had to pull apart 3 teams and reallocate everyone again. Not easy trying to balance everything... but we got it done.

Hopefully no-one will throw a curve ball at us and make us do it all again!

Let's see... lol...

Exhausted, sunburnt, but satisfied

2007-02-05T11:10:00.000+10:00

Well, another massive weekend for me. This weekend was the annual sign on for netball. As the new President of our club - this was the first big test - to see if we would keep the existing teams, and perhaps grow our club from last year.

We didn't have much time to get it all done - just one week - but I think we did pretty darn well for the short time we had to do it in!

We got out to the netball courts at about 9am... in time to see another club setting up like they owned the place! But we got ours all set up, and we looked pretty good. The wind was blowing a gale though, and eventually our huge 3m umbrella went over, so we had to take it down.

We ended up with MORE teams than last year - so I'm pleased about THAT! And we also got a Jnr H grade formed so Emily can play too!!! YAY!!

My Mum also, after much guilty handwringing, joined up after being with Bluebirds for 10 years - I tell you I felt so awful watching her!!! But the reality is that Bluebirds no longer have the friendly team she played with for years - and last year she played with strangers that didn't really include her in the team. She's often trained with us, and umpired for us, and feels 'at home' with our club members - but she was just so GUILTY... like she was betraying someone! Geez I felt like such a heel (no, I'm not the type of person that can 'poach' players).

All in all, a good result. But with all the worry about having everything we needed, I forgot all about sunscreen - and once the shade went down, I got a dose of Rocky Sun - and my arms are burnt from wearing a singlet shirt... OUCH!! What an IDIOT I am - I hate sunburn!!!

I came home after sign on and spent about an hour in a nice deep tub, and then went out to have a birthday dinner for my brother... came home early as the kids had school today... and fell asleep in front of the TV!!! I was knackered!!!!

Now to sort out these teams!!!

Some more pics... amazingly enough!!!

2007-01-31T17:08:00.000+10:00

So, firstly, here are the back to school pics... *sob* my little boy is now in High School!!!!

Blackie was my assistant in this photo shoot - his job was to get Allan to smile! He did it wonderfully!!!

And here's a couple more of that beautiful baby... Harrison David, or as Allan said... Harley Davidson...
With Aunty Jill

With Grandma (my Aunty Gail)

And here's a couple of our cute, lovable, gorgeous cat!
I know this one is blurry... but I just love how he came right up to the camera to check out what I was doing!

What a long weekend!!!

2007-01-29T23:21:00.000+10:00

Wowsers - so much happened over the past few days that my head is spinning!!!

Well, I've shown you some of the pics I took at the beach on Sunday - I loved how these turned out! So much so, that I scrapped quite a few that afternoon! Here's what I did... oh, and Em did one too... hopefully you can tell which one is hers... though she's getting quite good!

Then we had the AGM on Saturday, and once it was all over my head was spinning with all the *stuff* we had to get done!!!

But, I really didn't have too much time to dwell on it!

I went out for lunch with Mum and the kids... and then we went shopping all over Rocky getting pretty purple and green stars to decorate the sign on table with... and then ....

My cousin Leesa gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on Friday night - and we just had to go up and have a cuddle and kiss. Leesa is one of 8 children my Aunty had... and when we arrived on Floor 6, the proud Daddy was in the foyer with baby Harrison David Kline, because Leesa was having a shower. Now, at this stage, we (Mum and I) thought we had lucked out, as we seemed to be the only ones there... but then, it seemed, everytime the lift doors opened, out poured MORE relatives. But anyway... here's little Harry:

Then I went over to Ali's for a BBQ to welcome Julie to the hood. It was a lovely night... more so because I drank a bottle of wine... lol... but it was nice just to sit around chatting - and great to see Michael get on so well with the guys... and the kidlets all played pretty nicely together too. Very enjoyable. Made me realise how much I love that my kids are a little older now... cause I didn't have to run after them AT ALL! LOL!

On Sunday I woke up early - too excited - and had to start 'doing' something with the Runaways stuff... so I got in and updated the website quite a bit - and was then able to go back to bed for a nap without it gnawing on my mind while I tried to sleep.

Barb and Leesa came over (the new committee) and we went through all the 'stuff' from the club and sorted it all out, and tried to work out what we were doing and sort out the to do list for the sign on. I spent the night trying to get on top of some of that.

And then this morning the kids started school again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.... and my big boy started High School... *sob*....

Perhaps I'll post the photos tomorrow.... they're still in the camera for now...

OK... now to get onto the working week!!! LOL!!!

Madame President!

2007-01-28T09:07:00.000+10:00

Yes, it's true! Michael is now the First Lady!

We (my netball club) held their AGM on Saturday, with a massive turnout of 7 people!!! I nominated for President and had a couple of other members running with me for the other executive positions.

I was wary because last year I also ran for President, and there was a bit of ugliness about it all. But this year it was simple. We got the jobs.... and the 1/2 dozen boxes full of uniforms, balls, trophies etc!!!

So, you can now call me Madame President... lol...

Seriously though - this is a scary, but exciting opportunity! I've been madly updating and creating our website - which will be, I think, the only one in Rocky.

Pop in and have a look: www.runaways.brightsun.com.au

I've set up a discussion forum which is starting to take shape... all we need now are some MEMBERS!!! That will happen on the 4th... sign on day!

OK... I'm off to fill up the forum so it doesn't look bare before everyone arrives... lol...

At the Beach

2007-01-26T16:33:00.001+10:00

Just a quick one to share some photos with you all.. We went to the beach today - fun! Click on any of the pics to see a larger version....

2007-01-24T19:24:00.000+10:00

Well, it's been a while, and I've done a lot. Flown to and from Sydney for a meeting - had many flight delays **GROAN** and a thumping headache most of the weekend.

The kids are on their last week of school holidays - thank goodness! Starting to drive me nuts! I took them out to the gardens today for a picnic lunch - thinking I could score some nice pics of them both. Allan was not in a photgraphic mood though - which kinda put a damper on things - but Emily thought she was a supermodel and was striking poses quicker than I could take photos.

Here are some of my favs!

Nope - Allan barely cracked a smile the whole time I was taking photos - BOYS!!!

Isn't this just SWEET? Emily loved having her photo taken up the tree.... well everywhere actually - little poser!

Couldn't resist trying out the macro setting on this cute little daisy.

This weekend will be a big one for me. I've nominated for President of my Netball Club - and the AGM is on Saturday. The sign on for the Association is the following weekend... so that means if I'm elected I will have ONE WEEK to get everything organised!!!!!! OMG!!! Am I MAD????

Oh, and I've also been doing quite a bit of scrapbooking of late - quite a LOT actually! Had a background making frenzy - which has been great! So enjoyed doing that! Going to do some more and use up LOTS of scraps. Nothing fancy - but I'm still very happy with how everything is turning out - especially how quickly they have been to put together.

The secret is I'm trying to clean out some stash so I can justify buying some MORE! LOL!!! Got a bit to go, but having a good crack at it!

More later......

Photos to share!

2007-01-16T23:48:00.000+10:00

Well, I finally got my camera later this afternoon, and managed to snap off a few photos (read: A LOT!!!) Here's some of my favourites...

OK... there's quite a lot there... but that aint even a third of them!!!

I did end up getting a f1.8 lens - which takes great portrait with a really short depth of field (nice blurry backgrounds). Had a play with that to get the pics of Allan behind Emily - and did a reverse one (Em blurry and Allan in focus) but Allan always had this peeved look on his face!

The guy at Harvey Normans also gave me this great hard cover book by Canon called 'EF Lens Work III' with all these great images, and which lens, and settings they were taken at... which is great. I think I may just become a lens junky!!!

I've got a LOT more to try, but will have plenty of time to do that... be prepared to be bombarded!!!!

Exciting!!!

OH, and I played netball tonight and had a great game (meaning FOR ME). Got quite a few intercepts, and felt like I had boosters on my shoes - I felt FIT! Umpired the next game too, and that went well as well (hate indoor umpiring - it's very hard to get a good position to see anything!).

Can't wait to get back to outdoor though - I love that game!!!

Bring it on!!!

Here soon...

2007-01-16T10:32:00.000+10:00

Oh! How exciting!!!! The paperwork has arrived and we go and sign it at 2pm, and get the cheque for my NEW CAMERA!!! I will have it in my hands THIS AFTERNOON!!!!

Guess who will be taking LOTS of photos tonight!!! ME, ME, ME!!!

I'm going to Sydney on Thursday night, so I will spend the flight reading my manual, and working out how it all works...

So, for about the same price, we ended up with an extra:

256MB flash card
Better bag
100 FREE 4x6 prints
Lens Cleaning Kit
5 years warranty

So, it's all worked out quite well! There's still some extras I'd like to add to this, but I can do that later on, things like the remote (which will be great for product photography - I won't have to climb up and down on chairs etc), Flash, and portrait lens (but I think I'll try that out when I pick up the camera)

Exciting... now to wait until 2pm!!!

Weekend Catchup

2007-01-15T15:06:00.001+10:00

A quick post to show you all what I've been up to on the weekend. Got a couple of layouts done, and I'm quite happy with the results. The first one, 'adored' also used some stamps I designed and Judy from Scrappin' Bug Stamps made up for me... really like how they turned out!

Next is 'Sneak Peak into My Life' which has lots of 'eye' pics and lifting hidden bits... the kids enjoyed looking that this one.

ALSO, on Sunday I went to Harvey Normans to check out a NEW CAMERA!!!! Golly gee I'm a naughty girl. I've been aching to get a Canon 400D for SO long - and now I can... so I wanted to check it all out... and there, beside the Canon 400D is the Canon 30D... and I'm having heart palpitations!!!

Stayed at HN for about 3/4 of an hour just playing with the camera, and deciding if I really needed/wanted the larger camera. No doubts about it, I really WANTED it!!! But to justify the extra expense I was battling with myself... 'you shouldn't... but... oh, it's so nice... and look at how quick the camera is.... and the lens is better... but you shouldn't'... you know how it goes. But Michael decided that I should just get what I want... and I kept saying to him 'are you sure?' 'I can get the other one... but... oh, aren't the images NICE'...

Got the phone call today that our finance is approved (also buying furniture as well)... and Michael's been playing off two local camera stores with each other to get the best price!!! So far, I have a kit that includes:

* Canon 30D with BIG lens (worth $1100)

* UV and Polarising filters

* Hood attachment

* 2Gig flash card

* Bag

* Extended 2 year warranty

I also want to get a macro lens, a remote control, and a big flash... but will have to wait and see how the battle goes with the prices... lol...

Soon there will be MANY, many photos!

Sad....

2007-01-12T08:41:00.000+10:00

In the past week I've had a couple of phone calls about friends I've not seen for a long time. The first was Kai Rahnel. Kai came up quite a few years ago and did a 4 day painting workshop that I organised - we stayed in touch for a while, but over the past couple of years, I hadn't really spoken to here... figuring we've both kinda drifted away from folk art to some degree. So it was a real shock when I was asked if I'd heard anything about her death! I didn't think that not hearing would be possible - her book, 'Don't be a Goose' was one of folk art's best sellers, and I thought if something had happened, it would have been through the grapevine very quickly. But, with such an unusual spelling, it's hard to believe that the death notice I found on the net could be anyone else... which just leaves me floored!!! She wasn't that much older than me.... and there was no explanation in the notice....

Then yesterday I had a phone call from one of my painting students.... asking if I'd seen the death notice in the paper of one of my former students...

This student wasn't with us for long, and we knew she'd had cancer, was in remission and had well outlived the time allocated to her by the doctors. We saw her off on an around Australia holiday with her husband, and never heard anything again... until now.

And finally, a good netball friend of mine who is definitely not old, had a heart attack last year that totally floored me. Not a severe one, but she's way too young for all that. The Dr's at the time decided that it must have occurred due to a flu weakening her heart as all the tests came back all clear. But apparently the past couple of weeks she's had a pain in her chest - and her Dr was booked out for a week! So she just let it slide... fortunately, her sister was up visiting and wasn't willing to let it slide and called the doctor who told her to get up to the hospital ASAP. It was her heart again - not a flu - so there is definitely something wrong there, but the good news is that they will be sending her away to find out exactly what it is. Don't want to lose someone else right now....

So, it's been a bit of a sad time. Please, if you're reading this - take care of yourself... if not for you, for me!!!

Oops... a bit MIA

2007-01-11T09:52:00.000+10:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while... no good reason really! Just forgot!!!! Maybe because I have been having so much fun lately...

Last weekend two of my favourite cybercrops were on (why do they always have to clash?) . One at Embellished and one at Scrapbooking Top50. I collected ALL the challenges and promised myself a weekend of fun!!!

Which I had... lol... Here's some of my final layouts - just click on them to see larger images...

You will notice that a couple of these are quite introspective... and that's how I've been feeling lately - but in an excited way. My weight loss is finally becoming much more noticable to me, and for the first time in months, I'm not feeling uncontrollably tired! Starting to feel like 'me' again - which is great!!!!

I'm off to Sydney next week for a planning meeting - which I'm pretty excited about too! I love this sort of thing - and it will be great to catch up on all the new things we'll have going on... new colours... new ranges... fun, fun, fun.... I wonder what our Chemist has been cooking up... lol..

It was also my nephew's first birthday and we went to the Rock Pool Water park. Michael got some pretty decent photos with his mobile phone.... here's a couple of my favourites (have a look at the one of Allan bomb diving - isn't the timing amazing!)

Oh... did you check out my muscles!!!!!

Well, I'm sure there's much, much more to tell you all about.... but that will do for now... hope you're having a great start to the new year!

Giggles

2007-01-03T10:06:00.001+10:00

giggles.jpg

Here's a canvas I did up for LSBS with their monthly January kit. It's on canvas, painted with Background paing and then scrapbooked. Don't you just love Zoe's beautiful eyes?

I've been busy doing up classes at The Little Scrapbook Shop lately - having fun with paint, Photoshop and now even cameras! Hopefully soon I'll be doing a colour mixing class with the Matisse Primary Set - which should be WAY cool fun! Also working on a more hush hush art class... looking forward to that one!!!

I've also discovered Photobucket and Flock - very, very useful programs - all free! Brilliant for sharing pics and the like.

I'm back at work after a week off... where I didn't get nearly as much fun stuff done as I should have - just wasn't in the mood for being creative... lol...

I'll leave you with some more Christmas snaps.... You'll recognise Jake... and that's his Mum Becca. A pic of Michael with his Mum Barb, and my niece Letitia....

Bitty Bloggy Post

2006-12-31T12:32:00.000+10:00

Just a quick update... Hubby and kids are away, and it's been soooo quiet here.... except for the phone ringing...Michael calling generally!

Mum and I spent most of yesterday spring cleaning my office.... and it looks hardly any better for the bags and bags and bags of stuff I threw out... but it's been an inside out type clean... so more than just a tidy, things have all been taken out, sorted, allocated a specific place and put there.... it's starting to look a bit better... but my goodness! I have had some crap!

Good thing is that I've sorted all my uni stuff and put it all away... which declutters a lot... I've also finally cleaned out the filing cabinet... urk... and the piles of crap that was everywhere in here. I've now lost my mojo... but better get it back, because it's the mess before the clean stage... and I want it CLEAN!!!!

Better get to it!!!!

Twas the day AFTER Christmas...

2006-12-26T16:40:00.000+10:00

Well, it's all done and dusted for another year... PHEW!!! This is my gorgeous little nephew - Jake! What a little winner he is - absolutely adorable!!! Oh, and he KNOWS it!!!

Well, Christmas was somewhat eventful this year - actually Christmas Eve was moreso. We had to clean, clean clean for the big day - a job that doesn't get done in this household as much as it should. The house gets cleaned every week, but the corners, shelves, etc don't get touched - and things were a bit out of control. So the kids were each given areas to remove everything, dust, replace, put away whatever didn't belong. Mum was coming over in the PM to do the actual cleaning (paid gig) and I wanted it so all she had to do was sweep, mop and vac... but the kids and I were somewhat unmotivated, and Michael kept finding excuses to go to the shops... but we got most of what I wanted done, done. I spring cleaned my cupboards, my makeup - my whole bedroom! The kids did the shelves, display areas etc, and Mum came over...

Michael, thinking Mum's a superhero, or at least a big bloke, asked her for help taking our old 2-door fridge downstairs. I came out to help too, but it ended up with Mum above the fridge and Michael below it, with me watching on. Over the first step, BOUNCE, 2nd step, BOUNCE... 3 - bottom step.... d d d d d d d d d d d d dd d in a mad hurry! Looked like the fridge was trying to attack hubby! I was so worried for him, but it just stopped at the end of the stairs - with him well out of the way. I breathed a sigh of relief until I looked back up at Mum and she was clutching both shins!!!! The side of the fridge had run over both her legs!!!! I've never climbed the stairs from the outside, but I did. Fortunately, there wasn't any broken bones or anything - but some ugly skinned shins with huge black bruises and lumps around them. Had to put Mum in the recliner with an ice (read, mixed veges) pack on each leg. She was definitely shaken - and so was I! So that was pretty much the end of the cleaning for the day - and the relos would have to take what they got the next day!

(update - Mum's legs looked MUCH better the next day!)

So, Christmas came to our place - and Santa delivered to Emily, and Allan got his very first lot of pressies under the Christmas Tree (we don't give presents to people already getting something from Santa). The kids seemed to love everything they got, and Michael and I got to unwrap a few presents too that we already knew about. One I didn't know about was one the kids bought for me. It was so sweet! Emily chose a little Guide Dog puppy toy for me.... so I would remember not to eat sugar, so I don't go blind.... (sincerely thoughtful) and Allan chose an Alex Kava book (love them) and they also got me a Scrapbooking Memories pack I hadn't got. So sweet!

Much more to tell, but I have to go and play ... don't know what it's called... tennis on a stick... with my son....

More photos soon...

PHEW!!!

2006-12-24T09:24:00.000+10:00

Well, the week is over, and it's nearly Christmas... and I'm pooped!!!

On Wednesday, Michael drove down to the Gold Coast to pick up my much awaited cupboards from IKEA. When we were there for our mini break, we worked out EXACTLY what we wanted for our bedroom - and I was excited to finally have something that good looking in my bedroom. Much better than the saggy '70's duo that were in there.

But, I got a call from Michael.... they don't have this, they don't have that, and they don't have this. And of course, him trying to make me work out something else in 2 minutes while he's on the phone. But no, I'd spent hours working out what we'd get - making the most of every cm of our walls... and it was perfect! So, in the end I told him to bring back what he could, and we'd just have to make do, and add on the extras at the end.

So, after over 5 hours of construction yesterday, I now have a pretty impressive set of cupboards. Here's what I bought.... http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?cattype=sub&topcategoryId=15597&categoryId=15862&parentCats=15597*15852*15855&storeId=18&catalogId=10103&langId=-26

It's the Hopen Range. We ended up with 2 x 80cm cupboards sans doors (not by choice), and 2 x 60cm cupboards, with doors. We both have a set of the drawers as well. There were none of the corner unit we were going to add to the end of this, and no shelves! But, it's still impressive. I just can't wait to get the rest here to finish it all off. What we have is actually big enough for us - by miles - but I wanted the corner unit to take it from wall to wall. Oh well.

Now, what else has happened? Monday night wa the last night with my painting girls, and they bought be a lovely gift of Lavender body/bath type things - I love that kind of stuff... Anything that smells good. Trudy also made each of us (there's only 3 in the class) a set of 3 bottles of condiments (?). A vinegarette, a salad dressing, and extra virgin olive oil - all with rosemary and peppercorns in the bottle. Very nice! I should have taken a photo, so cute! I do love handmade stuff so much!

Not a whole lot of other news that I can think of... but spending hours putting up IKEA cupboards does tend to sap your brainpower!!!! Thank goodness I have a week off now!!!

Merry Christmas to you all! I'll leave you with our corporate Christmas Email (click on it to make it bigger). Plastered and Busted are so cute aren't they? Anne Cahill did a great job with these - and all in a couple of hours after I'd asked her for 'something'. I've painted one of them (instructions are in our newsletter), and another ornament as well - would like to do some more before Christmas, but I don't think that's going to happen!

No news... but is it good news?

2006-12-19T11:56:00.000+10:00

Well, I got the results of the last lot of blood tests back today... nothing! Nada! All clear.

So, I think I will just listen to my body a bit, and get some rest, and hope that everything picks up a bit more with more weight loss.

The diabetes educator thought it may have been something to do with sleeping, and thinks I should do a sleep test up at the hospital. I really thought I'd been sleeping quite well, but there MUST be some reason for my fatigue.

The other possibility is that my body's crashed after the toll I put on it over the past few years with Uni, study, tutoring, netball, coaching etc... maybe it's recognized that I've stopped a lot of this now, and is just taking time for a break!

Good news is I feel fantastic today!!!

More Educated...

2006-12-18T13:10:00.000+10:00

I've just been to see the Diabetes Educator - she's such a positive person, it's nice to go and see her, if only for a boost in morale!

She says that I'm doing incredibly well and is really impressed with my results. The official results from her are:

Since 11/10/2006 I've lost 8.5kg's - that's from when she started weighing me. My BMI is down 3 points, and I've lost 8cm in my waist. Too bad I didn't get her to measure my bust... I'm sure we would have seen much more dramatic reductions (darn).

I spoke to her about being tired all the time, and she said it was definitely NOT related to my diabetes. That my levels are not fatigue causing levels, and that my body would be well on top of the exercise etc by now. She said I should find out what my results are for the tests, and if there's nothing there, I should have a sleep test.

Well, I just called the Dr - and the tests are in, but he hasn't viewed them as yet - so I will need to call back this afternoon... it's good that the results are so QUICK - I only had the tests on Friday.

Tell you all more soon....

Results are in...

2006-12-18T00:18:00.000+10:00

Firstly, a couple more little projects completed. These were dual purpose - for the LSBS Cybercrop - and to experiment with the new 3D Kindyglitz - you guys are going to LOVE it when it's released! Got more projects in my little head for this product - now to find the time and energy to do them!

Well, I went and saw the Dr on Friday - and got the results of my blood tests... for those it means anything too... here they are, with the first number being my original results, and the second being my new results:

Glucose: 9.8 / 8.4

Cholesterol: 6.4 /5.7

Glycated Haemoglobin: 7.8 / 6.8 (under 7 means good diabetes control)

Blood Pressure: 100/70

So, in all, pretty good. Actually, the Dr said a few times I was doing really well - which was good to hear. But, the bad news was that he was concerned about my cholesterol levels, because I'm now considered to be in a high risk group, I need to have it down to under 4.0... and he doesn't think it will matter how much weight I lose.... it will still be too high. So it looks like I will need to a) lose more weight to get better control of my diabetes (which is working now) and b) then get the cholesterol under control.

I suppose having the diabetes has highlighted this problem - which is good in the long run - at least I can do something about it now. I also asked him about being so completely and utterly tired all the time and he said it may be just that I'm exercising more, and eating less calories - and my body isn't used to it... but, it's been 3 months - surely it's had time to get somewhat used to it??? He's ordered a couple more blood tests for me, just to check my thyroids and something else... can't remember what. Did that on Friday, so should know soon enough if there's anything else wrong with me!

I got to the Diabetes Educator tomorrow for my next appointment - so I'll be able to talk more with her about my results etc.

On other news... kids have now finished school for the year, and for Allan, Primary School is only a memory ;)

I went to pick him up on Friday after my Dr's appointment, but couldn't find him at the school - after about 3/4 hour of trekking around the school looking for him. Ended up he walked home to 'surprise' me - not realising I was at the Dr's. I tell you - I freaked out a little... not nice not knowing where your kids are! Scared the life out of me, he did!

OK... off to bed, even though I've spent a goodly time there recently... sigh... nighty night!

Bookmarks

2006-12-15T09:21:00.000+10:00

Another quick post to show you some bookmarks the kids and I made for Teacher's Christmas presents. Very quick, very simple - but I really like them. Emily liked what Allan did so much she copied him - quite well actually! We also got each teacher a voucher for the book store as well... last day today.... URK!!!!

Tip to punters - don't use tape if you are laminating - it shows up - just use a dab of glue stick!

Gift Card Envelopes

2006-12-14T07:35:00.000+10:00

Here's a couple of gift card Envelopes Emily and I made on the weekend at the LSBS cybercrop. Emily's are the ones with the snowmen on.

Proud Mum

2006-12-14T02:16:00.000+10:00

Today I got to go and sit and watch the awards ceremony for Emily and Allan. It was a special one this year as Allan was 'graduating' primary school, and we'd received a letter home saying Emily was getting an award (we weren't told what for).

So, I went. Emily received the 'Citizenship' award for her class - for being a friendly and caring student. Allan's ceremony was lovely too - and they gave each student a document folder, which contained a photo of EVERY year 7 student for the year and a few other things - it was a beautiful touch.

Allan's best friend Matt received the Dux for his class - so that was nice too, while a couple of Emily's friends also go awards.

There was a sad note though too - one of the year 7 students couldn't be there - and sent a letter for his teacher to read to the class. She couldn't get through it without crying, and it really sounded like a goodbye letter. Allan said this boy apparently has a heart condition they tried to fix, but couldn't (yep, typical boy - none of the full details). Makes you stop and think though - could be your kids.

Other news for today - OUCH!

Yep, I'm sore everywhere it seems from my fall last night. Especially down my right side - even though I fell on my left first apparently (as evidenced by carpet burn on my knee). I had trouble sleeping last night as I couldn't turn over properly - felt like I had boards strapped to me - and it was a huge effort.

I went to the gym, but couldn't put my muscles through the weights - so just did cardio - but even that hurt and I nearly stopped! I came home after the awards and lifting my arm to the computer etc was just too much. I took the rest of the day off, and spent most of it in BED! Got up for about an hour - only because Mum turned up - and then went back to bed and didn't get up until 7pm. I was tired as much as sore - but really, who needs THAT much sleep!!!

I'm getting really, really frustrated at this 'need' to sleep - I really don't want to - but I'm dog tired all the time. I'm going to the Dr on Friday - so I will grill him about my options there - it doesn't ever seem enough sleep, and coffee, Vit B, etc doesn't seem to help... I'm getting really upset, because it also affects my memory and concentration - which is no good for work - thank goodness I've finished Uni!!!

OK... had my vent - signing off now...

Coming a 'gutsa'

2006-12-12T22:31:00.000+10:00

Well today has been a bit of a ho hum kinda day. You know, a green light, but with someone waiting to turn... ;)

I had to have a blood test this morning - and I really don't like them at all. But I know it's got to be done... I have deep veins and low blood pressure, which means, when they finally find the one vein that's been trained - it takes forever for them to get the blood they need.

So today I walk in for the test, and tell the (nurse? technician?) which arm it is that she has to use.... and she spends quite a while prodding and poking.... and then asks me if I was SURE it was this arm. I show he the other, and she sees reason and rips the tip off the finger of her glove and keeps trying. Eventually she finds the one elusive vein.....

Now, I try really hard to pretend like it doesn't phase me... but it does... and I must get some sort of freaked out look on my face... (the dentist always notices it too...) because she actually looked very alarmed and asked me a few times if I was going to be SICK!!!

But it's done now... phew!

Tonight I umpired, played and then umpired netball again. And in the third quarter of my play game, I came a literal gutsa. Imagine this (for those that can)... I step deftly around my player and deflect the incoming pass using all the correct movements - perfect intercept in the making... and I go to follow through on my touch of the ball when next thing I know I've been tripped and fallen SO heavily - flat on my stomach. It was a really heavy fall - like my legs were just taken out from under me - no stumbling, not scrambling just vertical one minute, and horizontal the next - and like Wile E Coyote - with that frozen second hanging mid air, knowing I'm going down.

I hope I pull up OK tomorrow - I have a grazed knee - not too bad - but my back and pelvis are starting to complain - and really, I'm surprised my insides are still inside... but I don't want to not do gym tomorrow because I missed out today already because of the blood test. Perhaps just the walking machine if nothing else.... or the cycle... but I WANT to do the weights... I enjoy them.

Oh, and if anyone's looking for something to paint - check out the cute reindeer ornaments Anne Cahill did for the latest Hue Review (online at www.matisse.com.au ). My painting ladies and I had a great time last night painting up our own versions - way too cute!!!

OK... that's all for now...

Being creative - and LOVING it!!!

2006-12-10T00:05:00.000+10:00

OK... so let me get all the creative stuff out of the way, and then I can tell you all the gossip... or you can just head down below all the pics now... lol!

This is a layout done for Challenge 1 at the Little Scrapbook Shop Cybercrop. It was a sketch challenge that I adapted, and I've used all my new Bohemia collection papers - and OMG, do I LOVE them!!! This photo of Allan couldn't have worked better for me... I'm really liking this layout... ;)

Challenge Two was cardmaking - actually the rest of the challenges are step-by-step projects, which is really handy as a learning tool - I've already picked up a couple of tricks! For these, Emily and I actually did one each together (ohh... aren't I good Mum?) . Hers are on the right, and mine on the left. She did a great job, didn't she?

Then it was my turn to set a challenge - and these are the two 'shaker' cards I came up with for the challenge - they are way cool fun to make - and much simpler that they look. I really enjoyed these, and they just look so much more.... um... more betterer... ;) They look more 'expensive' if that makes any sense because they are so 3d.

Anyway, so that's all the creating for today. But it's been a lot of fun. I want to try and get some of the other challenges done as well - so I'll keep posting what I get done. I now have some very special Christmas cards for some special friends... or family!

Now, for the news of late....

Report cards came home on Friday - and I was pleasantly surprised with both of them! Allan has seemed a lot happier and contented at school this year (the past 2 years he had an on again/off again teacher, who actually passed away late last year - so, lots of sub teachers, and no consistency). His report card showed it, with some good improvements. Pretty evenly spaced between sound and high achievements - and when we were getting low achievements only 18 months ago, it's a big improvement.

Emily's report card was nearly perfect. I had an inkling it would be pretty good, because we'd had a 'private and confidential' letter sent home telling us that she was getting an award this year... which was so nice to get. In her report card, she got all HA's (highest) with one lonely little WC (working competently) for PE... poor thing has been blessed with my physical skills... bugger all!

I'd had the feeling for a while now that we were going to have to be very careful at report card time as Emily is quite a bright spark, and along with that she loves to learn - one of the few children I know that will ask for homework on school holidays!!! Allan's always been a step ahead, simply because he's 4 years her senior. He's a typical boy who tended to fool around in class, and not bring homework home.

But what do you do... these two are quite competitive by nature... but luckily I had Emily to myself Friday afternoon, and we had a heart to heart about the results. I explained that we needed to look at each one's results compared to what THEY'VE achieved before. That we couldn't compare them to each other, because that wasn't fair. And then went on to tell her how lucky she was to have a big brother that could teach her stuff and help her learn more.... and that under no circumstances was she to skite about her results. Luckily she's a very empathetic little girl... ;)

Moving on...

On Friday I taught a 1 hour class to a group of Yr 9 students from Glenmore High as part of a careers day at the Uni. I nearly didn't though. I was told to be there at 11am to set up and start at 11:15am. No-one there at 11... no-one there at 11:15... no-one there at 11:27... and I was about to go home when they finally turned up. I didn't have codes for the doors either, so I couldn't check out the computers to make sure they worked OK... which they didn't. Logged in OK... but the program I needed to teach them wasn't available. And neither was the person organising it - she'd left minutes after leaving the students with me. Luckily I'd written down the phone number of my favourite computer guy who rushed over and sorted things out for me - well, let us into the other computer lab - which is where we should have been booked into to start with, but weren't.

While waiting for him to turn up, I had to do an improv talk about Photoshop, what they could use it for, and other info about it.... thank goodness he didn't take any longer, because I was all out of talk!!!

But, the actual lesson went well - thankfully!

OH!!!! and BIG news - I've finally lost OVER 10kg's!!! YAY!!!! Another milestone... many more to go.... but I'm thrilled that I'm doing this - and getting the results. And poor Michael has to put up with me showing him my muscles at every opportunity I get... and if they can't be seen, he has to poke until he can feel them! LOL!

OK.... that's all for now... sweet dreams!

The weekend is over...

2006-12-04T23:19:00.000+10:00

Well, I did a LOT over the weekend! I tried to tell you all about it, but Blogger didn't like me. First it would let me even try to upload photos (took the tool thingy away) and then it pretended to upload them, but did a switcharoo with a little red cross. All seems well now though.

The first 3 layouts are ones I did for the Cybercrop over at Scrapbooking Top 5o - I love a good Cybercrop! The Little Scrapbooking Store is having theirs this weekend - so I'll be there soon enough.

I'm trying to get back into scrapbooking and stretch myself that bit more lately. I'm less hung up about creating the world's best layout, and more about trying out things to see how they work... some don't... lol!!
(see the Movie World one...lol)

It was Mum's 60th (sorry Mum) birthday on Sunday - and seen as how Dad gazumped me the Netball DVD, I made her a layout about her Mum, my Grandma. I really like this one - probably because it means something special to me. Mum loved it (she always does though).

I also completed 2 canvas' for a presentation to Spotlight to showcase Derivan Kindyglitz and our new 3D Kindyglitz. I also did a whole heap of other cards and stuff too (too many to post now). It was a big rush, rush job - and I only received the samples of the 3D KG on Friday, so I worked over the weekend to get these done, and wrote up instructions in the wee hours (2am) so that Pete could have them to present to Spotlight at his meeting this morning.

Which they postponed.

GRRRR!!!! I could have SLEPT!!!!!

But, I do love these canvas' - they've come out really well - esp seen as though I could only work with what Spotlight sold - not from my beloved stash!

I also created these fun hand painted / stamped papers for Cath at the Little Scrapbook shop as part of my new role as paint specialist. I had a ball doing these, and I think I might do more! If you want instructions - just pop over to the Little Scrapbook Store and visit my Classroom there (but not Tues/Wed as they are migrating servers).

Oh, and some other incidental news... I went to the pool with Mum and Emily as her treat for the week... and I actually got in and got wet! She loved it, and so did I. Love board shorts.

We also had everyone over for tea on Sunday night - I love it when our family gets together - never often enough! We had steak which Michael managed to get a massive fire on ( you could see the glow on the OTHER side of the verandah!) and salads - Mum's choice... but then Col and Bec brought the health food out... you know, Mud Cake (with extra choc and cream), trifle (with buried freddo frogs) and a huge bowl of cream!!!

But I was pretty good - just a spoonful of trifle (no chocolate). But damn! That Mud cake looked fine!

OK... that's all for now... oh.. one more thing...

HELLO CRISSY!!!! I'm thinking of you - just cause I love you. Hope everything's going great!

xxx

Need Sleep!

2006-12-01T10:31:00.000+10:00

There was a time, a while ago, where it would be nothing for me to spend a good part of my weekend doing work. Not complaining - it was my choice - and it was when I let myself do more of the 'creative' stuff. Nowadays though, I seem to be too tired ALL the time - and even though I want to do some work, I just don't.

So, when I said I would put together a DVD over the weekend, why didn't my brain tell me I was dreamin'? The idea being that putting together the DVD just chews up my computer and I can't do anything else while it's on but wait, so on the weekend I could start it, and just walk away.

But, I forgot. Didn't even think about it.

And last night I remembered with a start - and thought, cleverly, that I could just do it before going to bed.... so at about 10pm I sat at the computer, turned on the little TV, and started.

At 2:50am I gave up!

What's happened is that on a couple of occassions I have flown to Sydney to videotape the boss, and make up a very useful DVD all about Matisse Derivan. The first one was a factory tour, overview of products and mediums training. The boss liked it so much I came back and we did a full techniques section to add to the DVD. All good, and all done. We've even had them 'printed' so to speak to send out to various stores/art groups etc.

BUT, then we had the brainwave of putting TV/DVD players into major art stores, and having the DVD playing for customers to watch - they seemed to love it at the Open Day. The only problem was that the way the DVD part was set up - it didn't loop - just went back to the main menu when it was finished. AND, we didn't want quite as much in there. So, I thought I could just delete the sequences we didn't want, and work out how to make it play continuously - and it would all be done!

5 hours later and I still don't know why the surface prep part just seems to go for 5 seconds and then stop, and start again... GRRRRR

It will have to do though. So, if you're in the art store for that 5 seconds - please pretend there must be something wrong with the DVD player for me, will ya?

On a sad note, the kitten is gone. And not to a good home like I would have hoped. No-one claimed him, and so Michael took the poor little thing to the pound - we couldn't get anyone else to take him. Pretty sad, as we were getting quite attached (which is why I didn't want to leave it any longer). But our gorgeous black cat was rather upset about having a kitten in the house, and after the little one wet Emily's bed and soiled Allan's (both just having put on their brand new Sheridan sheets we bought) I knew we couldn't keep him - I am just not ready to be the mother of a newborn again!

Accepted!

2006-11-30T10:50:00.000+10:00

Well, I got a lovely letter in the mail yesterday... the first paragraph read...

Dear Michelle

The Council of Central Queensland University has accepted the advice from the Dean of your Faculty that you have satisfied the requirements for the award of:

Bachelor of Communication with Distinction

Yay!! Officially I am now graduating. For those planning on coming - or who might be around at the time, it will be Mon March 12 2007 at 6:30pm. Not sure where though as yet - but I do know I will have to pay $60 to be there! Oh, how exciting is this!!!

I know it's been a fait accompli for a while now, but I really hadn't felt that excited... or, well... finished. I just wouldn't sink in properly. But if you can imagine, I'm doing the happy jig *inside* at the moment.

Other news... I've officially lost 9.3kg's so far - nudging the 10kg mark... soon, very soon. I will have to think of something good to do to celebrate the achievement - I intend to celebrate every 5kgs or so. Small steps on a long journey.

Allan came home last night FILTHY dirty. He'd gone to the Capricorn Caves for a school trip. I'd thought they would be doing the guided tour - nice and safe - but no, they were commando crawling, and slithering and all sorts of things around the caves. He loved it! His clothes... well, I'm glad I don't do the washing! He had to walk home from school yesterday as he got in later than normal, and his plans with his friend fell through. Luckily we're only a couple of blocks away.

But, on the way home he found a kitten stuck in the drain outside our house. He tried calling people to see what to do, but it doesn't seem that a lot of people are available after 5pm... so he used his caving skills to get the kitten out of the drain - so we have a cute, ginger tabby kitten here at the moment. Very cute. But I don't want to keep it... but maybe Mum will, if no-one claims him. He sure talks a lot!

OK, bye for now. Don't be good.

and now...

2006-11-27T23:02:00.000+10:00

I'm not sure I've had the chance to tell you all about my latest discovery - MUSCLES!!!! Yep! The other day I was on the phone (Skype) and I was doing something and I looked down at my arm and thought... hmmm... that's weird... why is there that hollow area in my arm?

So, I touched it wondering what it could be, and all I could feel was a lump. I looked again, flexed a little, and realised what it was!!! I have bulging, gym going muscles!!!! I quickly dashed to the bedroom and stood in front of the mirror and had a good look - mainly to see if it was noticable enough to show everyone - to make sure they could see it.... and yes, very noticable!!

So, anyone that has come near me has had to admire the bulge on the correct side of my biceps - cause I'm very proud of them!

On the weekend I was a bit of scrapping frenzy. Not normally that motivated unless there's a cybercrop on somewhere - but I just wanted to create!!! I got 5 layouts completed!!! WOWSERS! Granted I had some parts 'prepared earlier' and they were fairly simple - but I still enjoyed myself and made a grand mess everywhere!

So, here are the final 3. I got to use up some of the Kindyglitz lettering I'd made up - which was kinda cool. I think I'm going to have to do a LOT more scrapping though - as I will be getting most of the Bohemiem (sp?) range in - and will need to make room for those.

Might even have to have a 'photo shoot' so I've got some new photos to match (how pathetic!)

I was asked today to do some projects up to create 'make it myself' sheets for Spotlight using Kindyglitz - and the new 3D Kindyglitz to help launch it in their stores.

Now, I generally don't get to Spotlight, and tend to spend my scrapbooking money with ... well, I DO get around, but I like the scrapbooking stores. BUT, I knew for this project that I would have to use products easily bought from Spotlight - so I tried to pick a time when I thought they wouldn't be too busy (school hours) and went in. I was so surprised at the little amount of raw chipboard they had! And the lack of most of my *favourite* types of things for scrapbooking. Made working out what to buy SO much harder - so I hope the project works out OK.

Allan is off to the school camp you have when you're not having a school camp - you know the sort - the one where they still stay home every night - but get to go on daily excursions.

Oh, and I forgot to mention - Happy Birthday Pappa Bear!!!

Night all!

Been creating

2006-11-25T23:35:00.000+10:00

I scrapped today... with LOTS of PAINT! Very enjoyable. I love hand painting my own papers - it's like making an abstract artwork.

I hand painted some papers the other night, and today I got two layouts done using them. And if I must say so, I like them very much! Don't you just love Kerry's hat???

As promised here are my two layouts that I did with Ngaire. I did some tags too - but I have to finish those off yet. I really enjoyed these workshops, and I think it has helped me get back into my scrapbooking again.

A funny story for you about Ngaire's class. We were starting the layout about ourselves (which left quite a few people uncomfortable) and Ngaire starts talking about how, if we want, we can change things to suit our photos etc, not to stress about getting things exactly like hers.

She then went on to emphasize that there was one thing she was going to insist upon. That for the first layout we HAD to use the text she used on hers - Me, Myself and I - Perfect Just as I am. Ngaire said that she knew a lot of ladies would have a problem writing those words - but they HAD to do it - and she went on to explain why it was so important to her. It was quite nice - like an affirmation actually.

The layout was passed around the entire classroom for everyone to have a look at. It got to the second last person, who then asked if "PEFECT" should have had an "R" in it.... talk about a laugh! Poor Ngaire!!! But it was just so funny that she was "PEFECT" just as she was. I'd call that a Freudian slip... wouldn't you?

So, what's new? Had a delightful day today. The kids got up and cleaned their rooms while I slept in a little (not too much though) and I got up and pottered a little. Mum came over (as she does on a Saturday) and Allan went off to play a Yu-gi-oh tournament - 4 hours for $3 - well worth the money - and literally just around the corner, so he can walk there himself.

Emily and I went downstairs and scrapped together for a while and then Mum, Em, and I headed out to Demedios for a coffee and lunch (Char grilled Chicken - YUMMO - and ultra friendly to my diabetes). My Aunty Gail called at the last minute and joined us - so we had a really nice time. Emily then headed off (with a little help from me) to a birthday party.

Oh, I forgot to mention that while we were out having lunch I ducked into Chandlers next door and bought a Sony Walkman - this cute little flash drive looking thing - and an armband so I can wear it to the gym and tune into the TV's while doing cardio.

Anyway... I digress... Mum and Gail and I came home and sat around the table with a coffee and worked industriously on the WASJIG. AND I FINISHED IT!!! YAY!

What a truly pleasant day. I hope everyone else had a good one.

New day, new me

2006-11-23T09:52:00.000+10:00

Well, today I changed programs at the Gym, and got a new instructor with it. She's SO much better!!! I can tell, because I can barely lift my arms as high as the keyboard without them turning to jelly!

I'm happy to say that I've nearly lost 9kg's!!! Pretty happy with that... only 1.3kgs of my next target weight. Got a lot more to go.. but baby steps, 5kgs at a time.

What else has been happening? Ummm... nothing too exciting, I don't think. Oh, wait, yes there is! I've been asked to be part of the Design Team for the Little Scrapbook Shop - I'm their new paint specialist, and photoshop teacher. I will basically be doing classes each week - one on using paint, one on using photoshop. Later in the new year, I'll probably start doing some photography ones too. Should be interesting!

I spent last night painting up some paper for myself in anticipation of next week's lesson - or a future project... not sure which yet. So much to tell, I've got to pace myself!!!!

Now, I'm looking for a third person to tell me their pregnant. It normally happens in threes, and two friends have recently told me they are.... so there must be someone out there not telling yet... anyone?

OK... off to work.... ;)

Losing it!

2006-11-21T11:03:00.000+10:00

Hi all

I went to see my diabetes educator yesterday - and yep, I'm definitely losing it! 6kgs in the 5 weeks since I saw her last - 5cm around the waist - and a whole point off my BMI thingy!!! She was very happy with my progress, and doesn't think I'll need medication, which is terrific!

Looking forward to turning the corner with my levels too - their definitely going down - now to keep it going!

I'll be starting a new gym routine on Thursday - more huff and puff - less weights - which is what she recommended - so we'll see. I have been feeling off the past couple of days - kinda like morning sickness - but without the whole PREGNANCY thing! Hopefully I'll be over it sooner rather than later!

Still need to take pics of my Ngaire projects - been in bed most of the past couple of days though. Hopefully soon!

Be good.

Back again

2006-11-19T09:19:00.000+10:00

Hi all

Well, it's been a while - but not as long as it might seem - you see, I DID come back and write up, with LOTS of piccys... but Blogger seemed to think I was over indulgent with the pics... and it decided to wipe them all.... and then, in an attempt to get them back, I also lost long, juicy message I'd just written.

Grr!

But anyway, here I am! There's a bit of news. No, I'm not pregnant! But a couple of friends are! We'll see how many more confess, because there's always a group of people I know that are pregnant at the same time!

Firstly, the fam and I had a really delightful longer weekend away at the Gold Coast last weekend as you can see from som of these piccys... a very nice time indeed!

This weekend I spent Saturday with the delightful Ngaire Bartlem ..... well, me, and a couple dozen of my closest friends... well, OK... I didn't know most of them... but it was still great to get out there and scrap for a while. I will share pics in another post.

And the other BIG news is that I got my final results for Uni!!! I got High Distinctions for both courses - only just - but I'll take what I can get! That means that I will graduate with a Grade Point Average of 6.882 (out of a maximum of 7)!!! This is a much, much better result than my first degree, where I would have barely managed a GPA of 4 (pass level). So, for all those 'mature aged' people out there, thinking about studying - it is much more rewarding later in life - when you know what you want to do, and are more settled, and determined to do it.

I've also been tentitively asked to tutor a couple of courses next year for Uni - Contemporary Photomedia (photography), and Desktop Publishing. I love tutoring Desktop Publishing - and I think the photography one will be a great opportunity to really start thinking about my camera again - you learn so much more when you teach something!

My students all did well this last term in a web design course I taught as well, and I was pretty impressed with some of the work they put out. It's nice to see that your teaching has an impact.

Oh, and I've lost about 7kg's so far. No rush - and with my scales, that figure can fluctuate 2kgs anyway - but I go back to the diabetes educator on Monday - so I'll have a more official result then with her big scales.

Well, that's all folks! Hope you are all perfectly wonderful, and if you aren't, I hope it's only temporary!!!!

A lucky daughter

2006-11-07T14:38:00.000+10:00

Recently a couple of friends of mine have been a bit miserable because of family issues. I am such a lucky daughter to have the Mum I have! She's my best mate and we do so much together. I couldn't move town because I wouldn't want to be away from her. The support and confidence she gives me keeps me strong, and now that I've all grown up, I hope I keep her strong too.

Love you Mum!

Still going

2006-11-06T08:58:00.000+10:00

Well, what a lovely weekend! What did I do? Bugger all of nothing - and LOVIN' IT!!!!

OK, well, I did do a couple of layouts for the Scrapbooking Top50 Cybercrop, and was going to do the Embellished Cybercrop as well, but ran out of steam... I've been way too tired lately. Feel I need a week off just to sleep... but I don't think that will even help.

So, here's what I did...
The first one is 'I wish I was a punk rocker' done with hand painted paper I painted with Derivan Students - just to use up some paints I'd had out for work. There's LOTS of Kindyglitz and Dimensional magic on there - unfortunately it's hard to photograph these!

These flowers were a plasticy foamy type one that I found at the the Warehouse - thought they were kinda funky - they definitely match the theme... lol!

The next one is a double spread I did with Allan and Emily. The whole challenge was to by simple - I think I achieved that. I'm thrilled at how this one came together, it looks very rich in real life.

I also completed quite a bit of a Wasjig... that's a backwards jigsaw - lots of fun. AND I finished reading 'As the Crow Flies' by Jeffrey Archer - very, very good read - but he's a great story teller. We watche 'Cars' and 'Over the Hedge' with the kids - preferred 'Cars' but they were both good.

Other news.... I've lost 6kg's!!! I've been to the gym a few times now as well - in fact, I'm just back from there. My chest muscles were SO sore after the last time, and my arms are like jelly again - my legs are definitely the stronger body part!

Oh, and I went shopping on Saturday morning - bought myself a heap of clothes..... wait for it.... a WHOLE SIZE smaller!!!!! YAY for me!!! Ok, nothing too exotic - there's not much point if I'm going to continue to lose weight, is there? Got myself a few pair of shorts (cheapies, but I need more for the gym, and summer in general). Also bought some boardies, and a tankini - that's a tank top/bikini - looks like a cut off pair of togs. Very good idea for the likes of me. What else... oh, some t-shirts. Like I said, nothing fancy.

We're going away next weekend to the Gold Coast!!!! Looking forward to it SOOOO much!!! Just time for us... nothing competing, no sharing, just family.

Talking of family, or nearly, my good friend told me the other day she's moving to France!!!! FRANCE!!!! I was pretty glum about it all, but then, I think it's a damn good excuse for us to save up to go overseas - I've never been overseas before!!!

OK... that's all for now... got work to do! Don't be good, be a little naughty!

Signed up!

2006-11-02T07:30:00.000+10:00

Well, I've finally done it.... joined the gym that is!!!! I went with my sister (who's lost over 25kg's BTW) and got all signed up. The fellow I had to talk to had certainly been taught the sales pitch - Jodie thought I was exagerating, or at least being a bit over sensitive, when I complained to her how often he used my name.

Sure, we can do that for you Michelle
Just come over here Michelle
And how long have you lived in Rocky Michelle
I've spoken for a few secconds Michelle

But then when I finalised everything up, we could have played bingo with the number of times he said my name. I so much hate being 'sold' things. I'd much rather be spoken to by an earnest staff member who can tell me what I need to know in an intellectual manner. I was going to buy anyway... sheesh!

I did a quick 30 mins on the walking machine - which was pretty cool. Didn't push it too hard though... but everyone forgot to tell me that I'd walk like a drunk after being on there for 30 mins! It's so weird hopping off the machine you feel like you need to cling to something to stay upright!

Well, I go in this morning to meat the trainer and get a program... so wish me luck! Hopefully I won't be too big a sweat puddle by the end of it all!

Better go and get dressed!!!!

Michelle

Catch up

2006-10-29T14:55:00.001+10:00

Well, it's been lovely lately just to do not a lot at all. I really need the break from the frantic 'must do' 'must fit in' timeframes I've had lately. I have about 8 assignments to mark, and that's the end of the Uni year for me as a student, and as a tutor. The good thing is that these assignments are pretty easy to mark - very clear, so that's good.

The kids had their school fair on Friday night, so we spent a few hours there, and they had a whole heap of rides like you have at the show there. We paid $19 per child, and they had unlimited rides - great value. Especially with Emily who we would see on one ride, get off, and then RUN to the next. All she did for 3 hours was run between rides! Allan got his money's worth too, but his class also had a stall spraypainting hair and putting on fake tattoos - he was quite the master - and even got his Dad a couple of tats... but couldn't convince him that blue hair was a good look! LOL!

One of the nicest things about finishing Uni is allowing myself the little pleasures, such as reading a book, playing cards and doing a jigsaw (actually a wasjig - much more fun). I've read two books lately - The Husband by Dean Koontz, and Cross by James Patterson. Both good easy reads, but nothing earth shattering about them. I also bought the latest Wilbur Smith book which has the Ballyntines meeting the Courtneys.... both family's stories I've enjoyed reading over the years.

Emily and I have started a new Wasjig too... they are so much fun. The picture on the front is just a clue to what the finished puzzle is, and the one we're doing is a then and now type one, so the picture shows the 'then' and the puzzle shows the 'now'. We've got the outside all done, but can't find ONE piece. I'm sure Michael will wander by and just pick it up out of the box... he's natty like that.

I've also been teaching Allan and Emily how to play Gin Rummy. I'd forgotten how much I loved playing cards as a child. We'd often pay Gin, Canasta etc as kids, and loved it. Too bad my kids are quick learners, because they're starting to beat me already!!!

OK... that's all for now ... back to assignment marking!

xx
Michelle

Complete and utter exhaustion

2006-10-26T00:45:00.000+10:00

Yep, I'm totally worn out!! The past few weeks have taken their toll, and I'm knackered!

But, it's worth it. I always love the Open Day, and the day before to be with the consultants and touch base with everyone in the office. I thought I'd just show you some of my favourite photos from the Open Day - if you want more, just go to http://www.matisse.com.au/gallery and check out all the uploaded images there!

OK... this is the new facepaint toolkits I designed up - just wanted you to check out the cute kids on the front... these will be so good to get out at Allan and Emily's 21st birthday parties.... ;)

This is outside at the Open Day - Justine (my boss' wife) and their two children, David and Isobel, being very, very cute (habitual cuties that they are). Strutting alongside is Bismark - or Bizzy - who is happiest with his stick - loves walking around with one in his mouth all the time.

This is me with my great friend Sylvia - we've been long distance friends for such a long time - and it was great to see her IRL and grab a few hugs. Would have loved some alone time with Sylvia though (she's from WA) but I'll take what I can get - because everything I get is gold. Sylvia gave me a little mushroom gourd for Emily - which she LOVES - she will be nagging me to paint it with her until I do....

OK... I'm off to bed. Catch up on some sleep perhaps!

Michelle

Nearly home

2006-10-23T15:11:00.000+10:00

Well, just a quick post to let everyone know I survived the Open Day - and had a great time - but BOY am I tired!!! We had the day before as well, which went well, with some great hands on stuff - including calligraphy - which I thoroughly enjoyed!! For those wanting to start, we used Speedball pens C1 - so much easier than the newsagency ones. I reckon I could do something half decent with them.

The day itself is all a bit of a blur - a big, happy blur.... so good. I got to meet artists I've only ever spoken to over the phone, or even by email.

Anyway, better go, I'm 'at work' in Sydney.

Michelle

Up, up and away...

2006-10-19T15:39:00.000+10:00

Well, I'm off to Sydney for the annual Matisse Open Day. It's great fun for all and something I look forward to every year. Luckily too, Virgin have started direct flights to Sydney - so I can get there in only a couple of hours - which is brilliant - and only one take off and landing too!

So, for those coming to the Open Day - make sure you say hello!!!

Bye for now!

Michelle

This is what it's all about

2006-10-16T09:00:00.000+10:00

Family!

Yep, if there's one thing I've learnt the past week is that my family are something special. Well, I always knew that, but it was nice to be remined.

This is a group shot of my Mum, Dad, brother and sisters, their children and partners (mostly).

This is me holding little man Jake - my brother's son - my nephew. I reckon this little fellow is what's known as a 'breeder' baby. They bring him out to make women (and in the case of my hubby, men) clucky. He is such a good child! Eats, sleeps, laughs and smiles. Gotta love that.

The next little man is Sam - my cousin Kim's first child (only child). He and Jake are only 4 days apart in age - and he's another cutie, isn't he? Lucky I'm all over beign cluckie, aren't I?

This is Zoe and Kerry (my sister) you wouldn't pick she's 8 months older than the other two, would you? She's lighter than both of them. Now, this little girl has TUDE. She acts a bit like a teenager - hot and cold. For some reason, she sometimes doesn't like me and will try to jump out of whoever's arms she's in if I try to take her - and other times she's all kisses and smiles. She does play hard to get - but you can't help but love her.

That's all for now - thought I'd share the happier side of things - a family coming together.

Oh, and I should say, I've now lost FOUR kilos - which is pretty darn good!!!!

Michelle

RIP

2006-10-14T01:24:00.000+10:00

Well, today was the day for my Grandma's funeral. It was a simple gravesite service and I think Grandma would have liked it. My cousin and I did the eulogy - and I know our Mum's were really happy with how it all went.

It's all been a bit of a blur since Wednesday. Things have been so busy here - and the house has been like Grand Central Station with my family, including cousins all being here and us all trying to get things organised. I managed to scan and print a whole lot of old photos of Grandma and my sister put them into a pretty notebook. She even scanned (reduced in size) her birth certificate and other documents as well. Everyone then wrote in the book today - and it was so great to see my Uncle Les reading through it with a huge smile on his face. This is the same man who was literally sick when he realised his Mum wasn't going to make it.

I also made up an order of service - just a simple one (it was a simple service) with a few photos of Grandma in it. Of course I worried if I'd done it right (never done one before) but I overheard the celebrant saying how nicely it was put together - so I must have got something right.

But with all the rush and bustle here, I haven't had time to myself to truly think about what losing Grandma means to me, and I haven't cried for her yet. I know it will come, but I needed to hold it all together to be strong for Mum and Gail - and to just get everything done I had to do with more people in our house than we can manage most Christmas'. Even at the funeral I was worrying about the music being played at the right time, and everyone being sorted, and really making sure that the service was a happier place to be. During the time for quiet reflection, I can remember looking up, seeing Grandma's photo, and just feeling happy. Well, not happy exactly.... glad. Glad that she'd been in my life. Glad that we could share that with everyone. Glad that the rest of my family were together - if only for a few days. I can remember thinking when I looked at her photo - you did good, girl, you did good. And she had. Even at the end, the reflection of her was how the family came together and celebrated her life.

And that's how I want it to be for me - when the time comes. I want my family and friends to celebrate what I have done - not what I haven't done.

But enough for now. I'll leave you with the poem I chose for the service...

She is Gone

By Anonymous

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Gone

2006-10-11T18:35:00.000+10:00

Well, Grandma passed away this morning peacefully. It still doesn't feel quite real - but I'm sure it will sink in at the funeral a lot more.

I've had various members of the family here nearly all day - our house is home base for everyone at the moment - which is nice actually. Mum and Gail have been organising everything and it's good that they can meet here and do it all. Makes me feel like we're contributing in some way.

I had to go out today to meet with the Diabetes educator - it took 6 weeks to get the appointment - so I desperately needed to go. It worked out well though, as it allowed Mum and Gail time alone with funeral director to organise the hard stuff. However, in typical Mum and Gail fashion, when I came home, the floors were washed and there were clothes on the line. But as Mum said - I wanted to do it - something I had control over.

Anyway, that's enough for today. I have to prepare the eulogy (sp?) tomorrow and create the book (what are they called - order of service or something?) for printing. Going to be busy.

Grandma

2006-10-10T01:59:00.000+10:00

This is my Grandma and my Mum. I took these photos a couple of years ago for a Uni project I did for photography called Mother Mother.

I just think Mum and Grandma look so cute together here.

Which brings me to the sad news. My Grandma is in hospital at the moment, and they have told us that it's only a matter of time before we lose her.

Which just sucks! I spent most of last night up at the hospital with her, and went up again this morning - and this wonderfully strong, noble woman is gone. She's just this shell of a person - who breathes and doesn't do a lot else. I don't know if she is aware of anyone anymore, but if she is, she doesn't seem to be able to let us know. It's sad, but what's worse is watching my Mum. That hurts - Mum and I are great mates, and I just want to be strong for her, so she doesn't have to be.

But enough of the morbid stuff. Let me tell you why I love this pic on the left. This shows things just as I remember them. They've been this way since I was a little girl. Grandma at the table, with bottles and jars of lollies, biscuits, dried fruit - many things to feed you with.

At the back is the piano - I don't know if ANYONE could play it, but it is a great place for the photos. I love looking at the old photos - especially of Mum and her brothers and sisters. I love seeing their children in their faces. And of course, Les' paintings on the wall - pride of place. But best of all - a cuppa and a chat.

Can you believe this woman is over 80 years old? Where are her grey hairs? Up until a fall a bit over a year ago, Grandma was a very strong woman. She still mowed her yard, still did the groceries, still did all Uncle Les' washing.... it's shattering to see it slide so quickly.

Only the other day, Mum was saying that she hoped she didn't ever become a burden to me - and I told her that I hoped she lived long enough to be a burden to me, because the alternative was much worse.

And, as I said to Mum, Grandma's 86. This last year has been Mum's payment for having her in her life for so long. For being so lucky. Grandad died before I was born, and I know if Mum had the choice, she'd put up with the past year to have had him until he was 85 too.

Here's to Grandma. We are all secretly hoping you'll rally around and come back to us - we know it's not a rational thought... but it keeps us going.

Love you Grandma.

One down.... one to go!

2006-10-07T01:03:00.000+10:00

Yep, I've handed in one assignment, and now only officially have one to go until I'm totally, absolutely, FINALLY finished my degree!!!!

Not sure how the one I did today is - really couldn't get into it... but the next one will be fun - it involves a bit of graphic design.

So, guess what's planned for this weekend....

;)