What a week

First of all today I turned the big 36 and to celebrate I went grocery shopping. I also bought a new bra and my Aunt seemed to think that was really exciting ... yay! She needs to get out more.

I had my first week back at work last week which was boring because they haven't put me on the phones yet. Got some great gaming time in on facebook though (if you are reading this at work - shhh). Finally convinced them to let me on the phones today.

I have just finished my dare for January which is based on the theme hot. I did not scrapbook at all but I painted instead. Keep an eye out for it on the Aussies Dares sight early next month.

Yesterday was Australia Day. A lot of people get agro about it because it celebrates the day that the first fleet arrived in Sydney and therefore marks the invasion of aboriginal grounds. Seriously I am tired of those people who live in the past. This is now. The government and the Australian people have apologised. Move on and get on with life. There is not one country in the world that has not been invaded and taken over by another at some stage. Look at the Jews and what they have been through. There are many cultures living here in Australia now. Many of them have come here to escape atrocities in their own home. To them Australia Day is about being thankful for a country they can walk down the street in without getting shot at or have their house blown up. I personally look at the day as one of everyone uniting to celebrate a wonderful country despite our differences. Those who live in the past will also be bitter and not learn to forgive. I am not responsible for what my ancestors did, but I am responsible for now and it is about time we all take responsibility for moving forward. So get over it, learn from the past, be thankful for the future and work together to make it a better country.

Ok lecture over though I could have said a lot more. Anyway yesterday was also Chinese New Year and mum and I were invited to a Chinese New Year/Australia Day Party. It was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had a little giggle when I saw the Philippino kids running around with the Aussie Flag tattooed to their arms upside down ... does that make the Southern Cross the Northern Cross then?

Not sure how many blog posts I will get done in the next few weeks as I have a wedding album to create and exercise to do every night.

Home Alone for 2 weeks

My mother stayed in Qld for an extra two weeks and will not be home until this weekend. I have been back at work for a week and it has certainly opened my eyes to all the little things my mother does for me:

By the time I get home I have 4 hours before I go to bed (remember I need as much sleep as possible due to sleep apnoea). You would think that 4 hours would be sufficient to get things done. Nope!

1. I am not a gardener so the garden is lucky that the retic is working otherwise the lawn would be dead! The plants are going ok (just). I water them every two nights and when they look like they need it (not that I would know - I dehydrate cactus').
2. Give Rambo a tablet and then get the dogs dinners (thank God I don't cook them).
3. Get my own dinner, normally spend a good 15 minutes staring into the cupboard or fridge wondering what I feel like and what can be made in small portions. The same thing every night gets boring.
4. Catch up on emails why my dinner settles before organising myself for some exercise.
5. Have a shower.
6. Let the dogs out for a wee time :) and then organise myself for work the next day. Depending on how much there is I may even do the dishes.
7. Let the dogs in and give Rambo 2 more tablets - it was easier when it was just one a day but now he has 4 a day and he is starting to get really snarly. I have taken to wrapping it in peanut butter. That worked for the first 3 days now I have to shove it down his throat as well!
8. Somewhere in there I have been shopping twice for supplies and started a bad head cold.

WHERE IS MY DOWNTIME?!

WHERE IS MY CRAFT TIME?!

THANK GOD I JUST HAVE ANIMALS AND NOT KIDS!

Kitty and Lucas' Wedding Photos

I took over 400 photos at the wedding. This is just a selection. You may want to click to view them in a different screen. They are bigger then as well.

Wii

I have finally come into the technical age and bought a Wii. It was a good decision because I have once again started a diet (yeah I know) and I have been playing tennis. It is just what I need for my back and arms. When I have the money and when it is in stock I will get the Wii Fit. Believe it or not it was my mother who convinced me to get it. She who tells me off for spending too much time on the computer. She wants the Wii fit to help with her balance.

As for the diet I am more determined than ever to do this. I hate being this size, I have Carmen as my diet buddy, my cousin Maree who promised to keep in touch if I lose weight (actually she is terrible at keeping in touch but I told her that she had to in order for me to lose the weight because it was both our new years resolution) and an Aunt promised me $100 when I have lost 10kg. I told her to wait until I had lost 30 because that is just over the half way mark.

I have been exercising all this week and have been enjoying it (even in this heat wave). I can already feel a little more flexible in some things and the old rump doesn't hurt so much on the bike anymore.

The only downfall to losing the weight is that I might suddenly find I have wrinkles to go with my greying hair!!!

Tessa the Traitor

While mum and I have been away Jackie's brother in law house sat and dog sat for us. Yes it was a man, and yes my dogs don't like men. We were uncertain as to how Tess especially would go considering she can take a week to stop growling at them when they stay here.

I phoned Jackie 2 days into my holiday to check up on things. Apparently Tess realised that James was the food provider rather quickly and was no longer growling. When I got home this week I got the full story. My dog is a traitor! She slept on James' bed with him, she snuggled up to him at night. How could she replace me so quickly!

When I got home though she was really excited. Her tongue went into hyper drive for the first two days licking me whenever she got the chance. I would love to get James back here to see if she will growl at him again. Such a turn coat she is, but she's mine.