The stone's not rolling

Sunday, 21 April 2013

Avoidance & Distraction - sooooo close now

Arghhh – 9 days until my exam and I’m loitering dangerously on the thin line between nervous wreck and, well nervous wreck! On Thursday and Friday I managed to spend my study time wisely except for one moment of weakness that saw me download The Corrs album for old times sake.

Given this current head space I may just break my 4 month sober record post exam. Yes, I admit I got quite merry last week, and perhaps even a little merrier Friday night, but with no memory loss, no spews, no losing my legs and no having to be carried - I’m still calling myself sober. The times they are a changing...here’s to going home in a trolley and actually remembering it!

Seriously though – I’m squeezing in every painful study minute I can find and missing out on lots of fun in the meantime. I’ve passed up trips to Pingelly, trips to the beach, and trips to the park all for the cause. I did however manage to find time to put together an IKEA box after I got sick of looking at it.

Despite what I’ve missed I’m also trying to strike a balance with play time and have managed to squeeze in lots of fun days and nights out during this study block. I normally say no to everything in April but couldn’t resist a ball, a night out with the girls, and a wedding…could I? I guess the exam results will speak for themselves after my April shenanigans.

While we're on the night out with the girls, this girl has impeccable taste in sisters! And the other, impeccable taste in blazers! I was supposed to instagram this photo for my yellow blazer buddy but I can't remember her name!

One thing I haven't deprived myself of during the study period, is food. Why must I insist on constantly chewing to get me through the hours? I’ve been like it as long as I can remember. When I was 8 months pregnant with Lachy, and in my final semester of full time Uni I nearly left Kris during a last minute cramming session because he refused to go to IGA and buy me a jam roll. At the time I didn’t even like jam rolls but during that pregnancy sugar was my BFF. (Purposely leaving out Rolo story here Tones and Elle!) I had to drag my own fat ass off to the shops for my jam roll so you’ll be pleased to hear I didn’t share it with Kris, or the Whistler chocolate licorice logs. Looking back now I can’t believe Lachy didn’t come out looking like a Whistler log.

The iPhone has yet to hit the tea towel drawer but I can feel it coming. (Yes I sang those words like Phil Collins - hope you did too?) Without it these past 11 weeks I’d have been lost. During the week I was toying with the idea of a room ‘clean’ off just to avoid study. Thankfully my studdy buddy Cass and I decided beer sounded better. Phew that was close though :-(

Next weekend is my last chance to master Strategic Management Accounting. I’m having a lock in, and may just move the bar fridge into my room so I don’t have to get out of bed to get a coke? Sounds like a plan….I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my progress!

In other news - I often overuse the old !!! I'm tempted to go back over my blogging history and see how many I've let sneak in as the weeks have rolled on. (I just deleted 9 from the text above!!) I promised myself at the start of this blogging adventure I WOULD NOT OVERUSE THEM! But damn it everything I have to say is just so bloody exciting!! I think that doing a countback of !!!! is a great study distraction and as such I'm saving it up for October when I'll be doing this bloody study thing all over again!!!!!!! Back to the books for now...

Sunday, 14 April 2013

Project Life 365 - March

Wow - a quarter of the year down! Time flies when you're having fun. I must admit I'm looking forward to the winter months so things can settle down a little...well I hope so anyway. Here are my fave pics for Project Life 365 for March.

Day 1: You today - a selfie in Dunsborough

Day 4: Big personality - my Wilby

Day 6: Daily commute - always in the bloody car

Day 8: Dreamy - how nice to be in winter PJ's

Day 9: Contained - it's a study lock-in

Day 10: Doodle - Em's wall doodling in the toy room. Yes I played this one safe...Kris is a good sport but he wasn't up for this one!

Day 12: Roam - Lachy roaming the countryside on Tash

Day 13: Message - Good luck message from Nanna and Pop

Day 15: Beware - did somebody say SALE?

Day 17: Cheers - a sneaky drink or two with Anna

Day 20: Fresh - I'll be glad when Kris STOPS making these

Day 21: Weather - always pays to keep an eye on the local weather - just never know when I'll be off

Day 22: On the wall - My favourite wall in our house - family pics by Shari & Pebs

Day 24: Currently reading - hmmm - not very far in, will let you know how I get on with that

Day 27: Book - "THE" book

Day 29: My peeps - yep that's us

Day 31: Renew - I will renew my committment to Michelle Bridges one day soon

And on to April we go!!!

Thursday, 4 April 2013

A love story...when Molly met Bruce

It is hard to believe that this time 15 years ago I first met ‘Bruce’. I remember going home from the nightclub (I shouldn’t have been at) and waking Mum up to tell her I’d met a guy (actually not just a guy but THE guy!!) – but I didn’t really like his name. 'Bruce' was out and about in Mandurah with a few Dwellingup boys and I was pleased to hear a few days later that he had been asking around town about me. I was also pleased to hear his name was actually Chris – oh wait - Kristion. Who cares what his name is, he was tall, dark and handsome and it was love at first sight! His version of the night we met is almost the same – except he always tells me how sticky my lips were from the red Sub Zeros I was drinking! Oh wait – AND he remembered the song that was playing when we met and went and bought the CD. How romantic!!

Fast forward a week or so and he had tracked down my address and called in one Thursday night when I was out. This note was my confirmation that I had indeed met Kris, not Bruce and I have never been able to throw it out. Keen to pay him a visit I called in a favour from my mate Coza and arranged to catch a lift with him up the hill in his Datsun 120Y. This trip coincided with footy training so I sat on the edge of the Dwellingup oval and watched Kris strut his stuff. Coza then took me for a drive past his place, told me he had a cool car (VN Commodore) and in general approved of the match! If Coza says someone’s OK you go with it – he has always been a wise man and pretty much says it how it is.

The groundwork was done - a few days later I caught the school bus up the hill and went to Kris’ house for my first visit. The rest as they say, is history, but here are a few moments from the memory box.

In August 1998 we went to my school ball – look at all that hair! The necklace I'm wearing Kris bought me for my 17th birthday and I rarely took it off. In 2010 it fell off in the Captiva and I have never been able to find it. So as long as I keep the car forever I should still have the diamond forever.

Obviously things were a bit different back then and he woo’d me with words. Here is my first and only valentine’s card, post card while he was away for work and anniversary card. I’m glad I kept all these things – I didn’t know at the time they would NOT be annually added to my collection.

Things progressed and so in 1999 I moved back to Dwellingup and moved in with Kris. Scruffy (my cat) was part of the deal and got along well with Tiger the Jack Russell thankfully. Over the years in the CALM share house we had many housemates and often would be cooking meals for 10, rather than just us two. So when Kris started looking at places to transfer to, the thought of it just being us two was a bit daunting. He now admits at the time he thought he’d either have to break up with me, or keep me forever! I’m so glad he chose to keep me.

In January 2001 we made the move to Katanning. Kris transferred to CALM there and I got a job with RSM Bird Cameron. Neither of us knew at the time just how long we were going to stay.Katanning will always hold many special memories for us. We got engaged, married, had two babies and bought our first house in our time there. Not to mention the arrival of Tessa the wonder stray in July 2001. Before we knew it our 3 years had turned into 8, but eventually the lure of the trees, and being closer to family before the kids started school won out and we moved to Harvey in December 2008.

So in April 2003 after 5 years together we officially said “I Do”. Back then digital photography was still very new and our wedding DVD was an optional extra. The video was standard but I’m thankful I had the foresight to order the copy on DVD for something crazy like $60! I used to make Kris (and anyone else in the house) watch our wedding DVD each April 5. I can remember watching it once here in Harvey so I’m guessing April 2009 might have been its last run. I’ll be sure to dust it off for 2013.

I just have to stop my train of thought to insert a random paragraph here! It might be 15 years but he hasn’t lost the ability to surprise me! I just got a Facebook friend request from Kris Narducci – what the fuck! This will be fun – now I can declare my love for him online for the world to see! He’ll love that! God I hope we don’t break up now – the thought of having to change our relationship status on FB is scarier than the ‘who gets the couch’ in the custody battle. Seriously though, life as I know it will now be over. EVERYONE loves Kris – I won’t even get any Facebook lovin’ anymore as ‘my’ friends gradually make the transition to him. This could spell disaster!

Back to the memories…where was I? Somewhere along the way, Kris started to lose his hair and we managed to keep adding kids to the family although we are both convinced we’ll stop at three. We’ve said goodbye to Tiger, Scruffy and countless fish and hermit crabs but Tessa the wonder stray remains…for now.

Over the years we’ve wrangled a few kid free holidays, and taken them all on holidays with us at times too. As the years roll on the memories all start to blur and we resort to thinking about possessions to remember times and places. We started our life together with cream couches, followed by green couches, blue couches, red couches and now THE couches, so a quick glance at the couch usually tells us roughly when and where we were.

While we’re on the boring stuff you may be interested to know in our 15 years we’ve been through 3 dining tables, 3 washing machines, 3 dryers, 2 fridges, 4 computers (3 still in use) and only 2 beds! Although getting rid of our first bed was a big call and it’s still in the spare room so we can sneak in for old time’s sake and a good night’s sleep when our bed is overrun with kids.

We’ve decided to celebrate the 10 year anniversary by taking the kids to Bali. I’m still not sure we made the right decision, I’m sure it would have been much more romantic just the two of us! Watch this space for an update when we get back in May. And never fear -just in case the holiday is shit I've bought myself a 10 year anniversary ring as a backup. Thanks Krisso xxx

I may nag him, pick on him, laugh at him instead of with him but all in all, I'm a very lucky girl and I'm thankful he chose me almost every day! Looking forward to the next 15 years!

Saturday, 30 March 2013

Mmmm Chocolate - Happy Easter

Sometimes even I'm speechless! Chocolate...enough said!!!!

Happy Easter everyone from all of us xxx (I'm off to crack another egg and my fifth cup of tea!)

And just because I can't resist the sound of my own fingers on the keys (much like my voice) I'll type a little more down here.

And then just one more line so if you have a quick glance at the blog this week you won't think I've cheated.

That's it - I'm done.

But surely someone will take the time to scroll down the page and find this?

And if you scrolled again and found this - I hope you are smiling? You should know you are way too much like me and should seriously consider investing in a life. Love your work!

Monday, 25 March 2013

Giddy Up - Take Two

After the roaring success of my last encounter with the horses I decided a day at the races was in order.

First things first - I'll be needing a frock. I hate dress shopping at the best of times but the economist in me was excited this time around. I have three events coming up within 4 weeks (with different groups of people) so as long as I don’t plaster Facebook with pictures I’d be able to make do with ONE dress for all three events. Hmmm - stuffed that one up didn't I?

I had full intentions of getting something different this time, and hit the MYER sale in Perth. 18 dresses later I was amazed that I walked out without a black dress! Yes folks, I stuck to my guns this time and mixed things up a bit with… navy.

Then the drama really started…I couldn’t find any shoes that I’d be able to walk in in any colour other than black so resigned myself to having boring black accessories instead of the bright yellow I had in mind. And do you think I could find a fascinator either – things were not looking good! I had a whinge about it to the gorgeous Anna and before I knew it she introduced me to Esther. Isn’t she a beauty…

The day before the big day in a bid to avoid study I turned my focus to the form guide. It was very overwhelming, I couldn’t for the life of me find out which race Black Caviar was in so I went straight to my racing insider (who tipped me the Melbourne Cup winner) and asked for a tip. Her advice for the day: Don’t bet and maintain adequate fluid levels! I chose to follow one of those. In case you're wondering - she didn't tip the winner. (Thanks Mrs M!)

Anyway, bets sorted and Essie on board it was time to hit the track. I decided to go for the classy, dignified, corporate, pretty woman style for the day. Yes I can hear you all laughing, and I’m the first to admit I wouldn’t be able to pull any of those off under the influence but guess what…I drove! Yes, the new responsible, blogging instead of writing herself off me, is making good choices. That and the small matter of 3 children who I needed to get to school and daycare on Monday.

I decided to make my arrival at the races with the gorgeous Reynolds sisters. I love catching up with these two, admittedly we usually drink way too much but it’s always so much fun! This catch up was one to remember – literally, which makes for a nice change. Despite our loudest cheers Von didn’t manage to snag the $3000 diamond in fashions on the field but we took down plenty of tips for next year and plan to use them on our husbands to win a BBQ – who needs a pink diamond anyway? Late afternoon the beautiful Stace and Von surprised me with my thongs! They had packed them in the picnic hamper and boy was I glad. The final dash around the course to track down an unnamed Reynolds boy was done in absolute comfort (and style) and I’ll forever be grateful to the girls for their thoughtfulness.

I also got to hang out with the beautiful sober sisters in our very own exclusive trackside gazebo. These girls are so much fun and conduct themselves with absolute dignity and poise at all times which is why I love them so much. Not even a stray bit of loo paper can bring these girls down. I honestly don’t know anyone else who can turn a fascinator into a fancy-nator without even one sip of champagne. Noice!

And then there’s my old horsie friend Houghknuckles. 150 photos later and the selfie queens gave up, neither of us were drinking enough to get the shots we wanted! Next year could be our year Houghy?

The day flew by far too quickly as all good days do and before we knew it I was driving us all home. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say that before? Stace and I decided to end the day on a high - some quality time on the couch with a can of coke and a steak burger. That girl really knows the way to my heart.

Despite the blisters, lost kids, lack of alcohol, losing bets, and being knifed in the leg by Stace I can’t wait to do it all again! My hot tip for next year…take 20 pairs of Havi’s and sell them for $50 a pop after Race 8. I may just be on to something…