Long Time, no post

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...

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

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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

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

Yes, no, yes, no... NO

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

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

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!

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Small updates

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

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Update...

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

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...

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

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...

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!

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

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 :)

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...