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I which I promise to become firm...

I suspect that I may need to add a new resolution to my list.  If/When it gets added it will have been a long time coming, and not a moment too soon.

It's one of those self centred ones that I hesitated to add the first time around, because it sounds so harsh, so un-giving, so mean.  But it's also one of those resolutions where time and again it's proven to be the best way, and much *pain* can be avoided if only the resolutiong was followed in the first place.

Make decisions for yourself, based on your own needs, and think about yourself first.

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posted by: blytheswideshut at January 12, 2007 07:20 | link | comments |

tooth less

My tooth surgery went well on Monday.  Nice and quick, and I have been feeling well.  Although I have developed an interesting rash, and what I suspect is a raging infection...but aside from that I am doing fine.

My new years resolutions aren't doing too well at this stage.

Craft: Nil.

Procrastination: Some.

Neighbours:  I got furious angry with them on Sunday afternoon, and went over to let them know that the noise is driving me bonkers.  Turns out their 14y/o has been hitting baseballs!!!! at the fence, and that's what has been making such a racket.

The noise has stopped for the time being.

Worry: none.

Tax: stalled until I can concentrate a little better.

Stay healthy:  I am actually taking steps, consistent, forward steps.  It feels good.

Out of all the resolutions - and there were a lot of them, the one that is bothering me the most is the crafting.  I just haven't done anything lately - and I'm starting to get antsy about it.

posted by: blytheswideshut at January 09, 2007 20:57 | link | comments |

swapsy

I hate Vistaprint as much as I love it.  Actually I love the idea of Vistaprint much more than I love the reality of it.  Their postage and packaging is erratic and SLOW, their finish quality is inconsistent to say the least, and their customer service is, shall we say, hopeless.

But...but...but...I love to make cheesy Christmas Cards with pics of my dogs on the front.  The cards came out great, they just arrived in January.

So in order to get rid of them I've started a swap on Swap-bot, so if you've got extra Christmas cards lying around, then join up and share the post-holiday love.

posted by: blytheswideshut at January 07, 2007 11:03 | link | comments |

dental drama...

Get this tooth OUT.  I didn't sleep a wink last night.  Up, down, up, down...every ten minutes.  The infection that is running riot in/under/around the site of my "broken down tooth" is almost beating me.  I don't have a temperature yet, so I suppose I can thank heaven for small mercies.

New Year's resolution tally:

Tax: no change, but still in better shape than last year.

Procrastination:  a little - but the pain, the pain!

Sewing/Crafty: none.

Everything else is pretty much humming along ok.  I had intended to start making a knitting needle roll for my Auntie, and a fabric cover for my handbag diary - but nothing.  I just can't seem to concentrate at the moment, I'm so preoccupied with "The Tooth".

I also want to keep track of our noisy neighbours.  I am getting so petty about it, because it is literally driving me nuts.  Among other things that drive me nuts is the "soccer" that goes on.  They appear to have a young son - about 13 or 14, and his main outdoor activity is to kick a soccer or rugby ball into the fence.  Over and over again, with varying intensity for hours on end. 

This may sound innocuous, but we have colourbond fencing.  So the sharp "BANG" sound of the ball hitting the flimsy, old, metal fence can startle you then proceed to drive you to distraction.  These people rent this property, and the fence between the two properties is owned by their landlord and us.  The amount of visible dents that are accumulating is getting ridiculous.  Clearly they have no respect for the fence - I mean it's not their fence is it?  So who cares, right?  But DAMNIT! it's my fence, and if those people wreck it, the owner of that property is going to come after me for 1/2 the money to replace the fence. 

I can't believe I am turning into the enraged, indignant, complain-y neighbour.  But the NOISE coming from over there is sending me batty.

posted by: blytheswideshut at January 06, 2007 08:35 | link | comments |

the wheels on the bus...

New Year's resolutions checklist:

Tax:  receipts sorted, BAS should be complete 5/1/07

Crafty stuff: nil

Procrastination: none at all

Worry:  a little - does in your dreams count?  My dream last night involved me (the queen of stationery supplies) struggling with a dried up bottle of white-out.  Trying to invisibly fix something or other, and failing miserably because of my goobery, boogery 10 year old whiteout.  I can't recall anything else from the dream at this moment.

* after re-reading above, it appears to me that the dream is trying to tell me there is no point in covering something (and I think I know what it's getting at) up, because even if you can, there will always be something to give it away.

Spend less, reuse, repurpose, recyle: Hmm.  No, yes, yes, yes.  Spending has been a little bit of a problem these past few days.

Diary/Calendar:  going well, everything diarised appropriately.  Although I can't seem to find the 2007 calendar I bought...it has be around here somewhere...:)

crosswords:  fail!

Updating is going well, looking after myself is going well (it's easier when you're on holidays!), and I've already started "giving" to family day care - in more ways than one...

So the spending thing.  We visited Ikea and bought stuff (well, who doesn't really?), and we bought supplies and bits and pieces for the "new year" organisation jihad that happens around here.  But the biggest problem is that we bought a new car today.

Scott gets a fairly generous tax free car allowance - all he has to do is spend it.  He gets to choose his car, and it's his (once he finishes paying for it).  About 18mths ago he got a Honda Accord Euro, which is a gorgeous car, sporty, still new smelling - but lacking in one major area.  Headroom.  But not for us, for the Motch.

So he has been talking about getting a Honda CRV - but we went today to look at one, and it was very disappointing.  It seems we've become accustomed to a certain level of ...ahem... luxury, and the CRV had none, it was very spartan, and somewhat uncomfortable.  Then we saw the Honda Odyssey Luxury...it was all downhill from there.

So we drove it, and they're bringing it to us tomorrow morning for Motch testing.  If he can climb into it, and find a comfortable place to sit, then it's ours.

It sort of felt funny doing the deal, but it's essentailly done now.  It's a beautiful car, like a mini luxury liner, but I can't help but feel that we're getting old.  What with buying a bus-like car to tote our dog around in.  It's a great looking car, and it has everything right - but I can't help thinking it's just a little bit uncool.  Being the hipster, cool chica that I am.  not.

posted by: blytheswideshut at January 04, 2007 22:32 | link | comments |

IKEA gave me something...

A headache.

Ikea was fun, busy but enjoyable.

I picked up some more of their fantastically well priced fabric.  I found some lovely medium-weight textured cotton/linen blend that is very close to what I have been searching for to use as bodies for dolls.

The bane of my ablutions has been our make-shift shower curtain arrangement - $20 fixed it all up today. 

I conquered procrastination with my visit to Ikea.  We sorted the bathroom, I actually bought the fabric I wanted, and we found a solution to an annoying little kitchen issue we've been trying to ignore.  Friday we head back to get a TV unit to fix another problem we've been griping about but taking no steps to resolve.

It feels good.

Now to my tax...

posted by: blytheswideshut at January 03, 2007 20:55 | link | comments |

Easter already?

As much as I love having Scott around when he's on holidays, there are certain aspects that can get a bit...strained?

I had a whole swag of things to do today - health insurance claims, medicare, investigate swapping to different health insurer, post office, a general zipping around to do a million things in the shortest possible amount of time.

This is the sort of expedition he hates.  He does not like to visit more than one shop.  He hates comparison shopping.  He loathes medicare and the post office.  He finds buying 75% off Christmas wrapping paper embarassing.

Instead of staying tucked up in bed, schnorring his head off, he ambushed me as I was about to leave the house!

"Do you want me to come with you?"

- This is a question to begin a war.  Really there is only one answer to this question, but it is not the answer that avoids a war.  My answer to that is "NO", but the answer he is looking for is:

"Yes of course, I am so co-dependant that I need you to come with me and push the trolley, and vet every purchase, and turn your nose up at every new store I approach, but of course I really really want you to come with me."

He came with, and was not allowed to say anything.  He was fairly well behaved, and may be allowed to accompany me on further outings.  Stay tuned.  Tomorrow: IKEA, Scott's number 1 most hated retail outlet.

I love the "after Christmas period", because it is only a matter of time (and that time period decreases every year) before the Hot Cross Buns are out.  Today they were sitting there waiting for me at Woolies.  Untold goodness and soft yeasty bun happiness waiting for me to eat for breakfast each morning.  I bought an 8 pack.

posted by: blytheswideshut at January 02, 2007 14:15 | link | comments (1) |

pinch and a punch for the first day of the month...

The start of a new year is always like the first page of a new book to me.  I get all excited and can't wait to read on.  I like to take stock, focus and be ready for everything to unfold.

I like to be organised, tidy and ready for the new year.  I have a personal superstition that my new year's eve will dictate how my new year will be.  So I generally like to clean out the old, change over all my calendars and diaries, create space and organise.  It's a cathartic gesture that brings a feeling of peace and order to my psyche.  Doing this I believe augers well for the new year to come.

Secretly I also like to formulate resolutions.  I'm not much good at following through on them, and generally I don't even record them, but this year I'm going to, and this time next year I'd like to look back and compare what I hoped my year will be, to what it actually was.

For The Year To Come: (in no particular order)

Organise and complete my tax.

Update here at least weekly.

Sew more.

Worry less.

Take more photos.

No procrastinating.

Spend less, reuse, repurpose and recycle more.

Write everything in my diary.  No more forgotten appointments, or "I think it's on Monday at 12 o'clock?"

Give 100% to Family Day Care, no slacking.

Remain objective, work hard not to make everything personal.

Stay healthy in mind and body.

Make new friends, reach out to old ones and maintain current relationships.

Be interested and interesting.

Crosswords. (do them many and often, maintain brain health!)

Live mindfully.

posted by: blytheswideshut at January 01, 2007 22:09 | link | comments |
resolutions

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