All for the sake of a carrot

10pm . The house is quiet. She sleeps so I'm trying to type quietly. My left hand is struggling to keep up. I almost lost my ring finger tonight in a fight between my knife and some carrots. My finger tried to save the carrots from being sliced. Last week my left thumb tried to save an onion. I think my left hand is trying to tell me it is opposed to the unnecessary and seemingly random chopping of vegetables. My right hand found a solution. A bigger knife. I'm now having to deal with a sulky left hand that is hobbling over the keyboard hitting q's instead of t's out of rebelliousness. My right hand is quick to hit the backspace key and save the day. It's a keyboard war the likes of which I've never seen before. I'm a little frightened.

I think I must bid you all a good night and hope tomorrow Left will join with Right and a shaky balance will be restored. I might stay away from knives and vegetables for a while though.

Back in 5...4...3...2...1

This has been the longest I've been gone from here in a while. I've been reading every day but my own words were struck with a case of Laryngitis. Quite simply the words I found were uninspired and dull. I needed inspiration. I needed a muse. I needed a fresh approach. Today I've been wandering around in Blogger.com and I've found some very talented, some very amusing, some very strange and some very inspiring bloggers. I got lost in the words of others for a while.

I woke this morning feeling a little anxious. I get that way when I don't write. I started reading Stephen King's On Writing memoir again. I reread this book every so often just to get some perspective. Do you read books more than once? I've got a few books I treasure and reread all the time. We're old friends that have traveled to many places together.

Do you ever leave a book unfinished? I can't. Once I've read that first page that book has me till the last page. Even if it takes me a year and I read other books in between. I don't know why I can't just put it down and give it away. I feel like I may be missing something. There was a reason this book was published. Some Editor deemed it worthy. I must be missing something and maybe that something is what is missing from my own writing. Sometimes books choose you.

So I'm back. I'm going to try a few new things. Maybe.

If there is one thing you do today...

You may recall a while back I pointed you in the direction of one of my favourite bloggers - Paige.

Read her blog today ! Very, very exciting news! I'll let her tell you about it. Just go there, go there now.

Monday Welcome Back you Beauty!

Nice of the weekend to fly by like that and bring Monday so swiftly upon us. Monday may seem like a stark punishment to some of you after the weekend you've had. Like a sulky child you belittle her, stomp your feet and tell the world how much you hate Monday.

Monday only wants the best for you. Monday appears hoping that you will use her to make a good start to your week. Monday allows you to make her the reason for your bad mood, your lack of concentration and, it has to be said, that rather unattractive scowl on your face. Maybe you'd rather be somewhere else than where Monday finds you today but is that really Monday's fault?

I say to all you victims of the Monday blues - lift up your heads, down that coffee and ask not what Monday can do for you but what you can do to make it a better Monday?

Have a happy Monday!

Another weekend is upon us...

We've been living in Australia for almost 3 months now. I can't believe how quickly this year is passing us by. Seems like just yesterday since we said goodbye to everyone in South Africa, Christmas shopping, celebrating, since my birthday, his birthday, Valentines day. It's almost Easter. I'm not saying it's been a bad start just a flying one.

Another weekend is upon us and I'm thinking a trip to the movies may be necessary. After watching the Oscars on Monday I've been craving some popcorn and you have to eat popcorn in front of a giant screen. I've also long been a Jeff Bridges (the dude) fan so I think - given that he has finally won an Oscar for Best Actor - Crazy Heart is my first choice. Otherwise there is always Johnny in Wonderland. I mean Alice (Who the?). I ask you who is more suited for the role of the Mad Hatter than Mr Depp?

Next week is threatening to be a busy, productive and situation changing one. I'm quite excited.

I will say no more.

For those of you whose Friday is drawing to a close - Rugby (Stormers rule) and Sundowners time. For those of you who are just starting the day - coffee, more coffee and Rugby for you.

It's mine, all mine!

The long awaited day arrived - my new laptop arrived this morning. She is a beauty -all shiny and red. I'm not going to get into the technicalities here but she is fast, very fast. I've been giving her lots of love and attention all day so I think I've earned her loyalty. I'm going to have to name her. This will take some careful thought - a name stays with you your whole life. Any suggestions?

My eyes are starting to get cross-eyed from staring at her True life screen all day -so I'm logging off.

Oh for some entertaining reading - check out http://theoatmeal.com/comics - if you don't already know about this guy that is. One of my favourites: 8 Ways To Tell If Your Loved Ones Plan To Eat You.

Bring on Friday.

The sun is too bright in the morning!

This is an early blog for me. I was awake before the call of the birds today. I had to check in the mirror to see it really was me and pinch myself a few times to check I wasn't dreaming. All that got me was a fright and some new bruises on my arm. Note to self: Never look in the mirror before you've had a cup of coffee.

For years I'd been thinking that my family knew not to speak to me too early because I'm a grumpy cow in the morning but now, well, I must face the face in the mirror and the truth she is grimacing at me - I'm just scary in the morning.

Have a happy Hump day!

I love Monday Monday!

As promised.
So I hereby declare Monday the 8th March 2010 to be the first of many I love Monday Mondays. I really do feel that Monday is the victim in her reputation and not the cause of it. So in order to help boost the self esteem of Monday I propose that we post to the world why Monday is so fabulous.
Monday is considered the first day of the week according to the international ISO 8601. The day most of us have to go back to work after a 2 day weekend. This is the unfortunate fate of Monday. Though in the Middle East Saturday is the first day of the work week and in Israel Sunday.
Songs by the Carpenters ("Rainy Days and Mondays"), Boomtown Rats ("I don't like Mondays") and The Bangles ("Manic Mondays") have all added to the anti- Monday sentiment.
As much as I love dear ol' Garfield - he really did hate Mondays.



Thanks to Garfield.com for the comic strip above.

For some reason I feel like a cup of coffee and maybe I should make some lasagna for dinner. I digress.
I love Mondays because it is the start of a new week which means a clean slate. Last week is in the past. Monday brings me one day closer to Friday - my favourite day.
So tell me what you love about Monday? Remember we are trying to boost the self esteem of Monday so if you have nothing nice to say it is best to say nothing at all.

Happy Monday Monday Lovers!

No pain no gain... right?

So it's late on a Saturday night and I thought I'd stop by with a few words. I've felt better. I've taken a beating. My whole body feels bruised and broken. I've only got myself to blame. I did this to myself. I deserved every punch and every kick. It felt good in a way. I deserve the sweat, the blood, the tears. I will emerge victorious. I'll do another set Billy Blanks! And one day I'll try the advanced class. Tonight I must surrender and answer the call of my bed. My soft bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Hump Day People!

Today I've tried something new. I opened up an eBay account and am about to sell my first item. Well, I hope so anyway. For years I've been hearing about it, about people who do it so while I've got this time on my hands I thought I'd give it a try. Why the hell not? Maybe make a few bob while learning a new skill.

It's been a very exciting day all round. The last of our boxes arrived from South Africa today. Spent the morning unpacking and tripping all the way down Memory lane and back again. Lots of photos you see. Lots and lots and lots. I've got photos that may date all the way back to 1989. I do indeed. My photo taking skills have improved somewhat I must say and I seem to pull less funny faces these days - if you don't include sucking in my cheeks and pouting my lips to give me that high cheekbone, collagen lip look that every girl secretly desires. Most of the time I just look like I've eaten something sour or someone makes me laugh so my demure pout is an open mouthed guffaw which is rarely attractive on anyone.

Best get back to my store. Should have left a 'Gone blogging. Back in 5 minutes sign.' I'll have to learn how to do that.

Tuesday! Who would have guessed it?

First off I have to tell you about the most enthusiastic person I've ever met. His name is Tim and he sells TV's.

Tim the TV guy loves TV technology like I love Beacon Chocolate Marshmallow Easter eggs. We weren't even shopping for a TV just having a look around and my techno junkie man asked Tim the TV guy about something new. 35 minutes later I wanted to buy a TV from Tim the TV guy. Tim the TV guy sounds more Australian than Ricky Ponting. He threw in 6 dozen 'okay', half a dozen 'bloody oath mate', a few 'champion' and rounded it off with nicely with a 'No worries mate'. Shaggy haired, jean clad, energetic, friendly, professional- if I didn't already have a gorgeous fiance (I'm collecting *BCMEE* points here) I might find myself smitten. If there was a election for TV guy of the year Tim would get my vote. Picture Go Tim dance now.

Now moving along swiftly to *Beacon Chocolate Marshmallow Easter eggs*. Mmmmm. 5 weeks ago my friend blogged about purchasing a whole box of these and I've tried, oh how I've tried, to get them out of my head. It isn't happening. I may have tracked down a supplier. I'm hoping to have a box in time for Easter - a month away. Feel free to send a box my way. I'm open to accepting charity. I do believe in the Easter Bunny so if any of you know the furry fella drop him a box to hid in the garden for me. I've been good. I've lost 8kgs. I think an Easter treat is deserved.

Wha'd'ya reckon?