I am convinced that the people behind JRE's and Java, those Sun people set out to make things as difficult as possible. Seriously, I have spent the last 2 hours installing, uninstalling, reinstalling, standing on my head whilst doing it. Netbeans 5.5 comes bundled with JDK 1.6 but we are supposed to use 1.5. So we have to tell it to look for 1.5. Do you think it listens? At all? Nope. Stupid thing. I shouldn't really give out, the machine does exactly what we tell it to do. One of my problems was the 8 other versions of the JRE that was installed on my machine. It seems a lot happier since I removed them. Well, whatever you would think a happy machine looks like.
The day has improved slightly from the morning. This morning was spent in a foul humour. I can honestly say I'm a fairly rational person, perhaps other people wouldn't agree but I think so and that's all that matters :) I don't get really angry, like really furious. I think I have done on 3 occasions throughout my life. You know the whole hands shaking, can't form a sentence anger. The sister K was on gchat and so listened while I ranted. Ranting is good for the soul as is sunshine! I am sooo excited about Westlife! Stop rolling your eyes at me and mentioning musical taste. I like them!
Yesterday evening I went training. Twice in one week, I must be unwell. The mate J was supposed to come along but the poor thing was wrecked. I mean she was asleep on her feet when I met her. She had been up since 6 and in work from 8 onwards. All she wanted was a bed and not boxing gloves. The class was really good. Except for the part where I lost my wedding ring. The only time I take the thing off is when I am training as my hands get sweaty inside the gloves and so I put it in my wallet. I went to get it and put it back on as I was on my home and couldn't find it. I was not impressed with myself. Mammy2 is dropping into the gym today to see if they still have it otherwise we are going shopping for a new one. Thankfully Mammy2 wasn't too peeved. The poor thing has been so wrecked lately with the whole Dad being sick thing.
The kid's mood thankfully has improved. Not sure if its the Meds or what, but whatever it is we'll take it. Although yesterday she was a bit of a handful. As it turns out her oral is today and not yesterday so yesterday she had to come home sick. Of course. As per when I get home she takes my phone, replaces my SIM card with hers and uses the phone. I didn't realise the phone saves txt messags to its memory as well as to the SIM card's memory. Look at me, talking as if I know about these things! Anyway, I mentioned to her that the sister K has booked the hostel, and she came back with "Oh yeah I know, I was deleting the sent messages and noticed that" She also read the message that I sent to Mammy2 along the lines of "I can't reach her on the landline, can you txt me when you get home.She better be at home" Thankfully, she didn't have the phone any other day, god only knows what I might have written about her :)
I got in from training and was asking her about her day, she was a tad chattier and in less of a mood then when I got home from work. She's worried about her subjects. She gets like this and then we go through her subjects one by one and talk about them and then she feels better. See what a good parent I am?! Just got a txt from her, she had her irish oral and she's feeling faint. Surprise surprise. No mention of needing to forge a note though. Thank feck.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Le Oral Francais.
See how good I am with languages. I was once told I spoke it like a native, just not of that country. Ahem. I think I was being mocked. The kid has her french oral today. She's as calm about the whole thing. Where's the stress? The cramming? The panic? Not with her. Its more of a nonchalence. She casually said to me last night:
"Shelly, would you call me and remind me to get up tomorrow morning as I have the french oral? Thanks" That's how casual she is about the whole thing. I opted not to go training last night. I was supposed to be setting one of my websites live, but the client changed their minds again about content so the going live date has been pushed out. As a result I had a free evening! I pottered around the shops for a while..Fancied a sit down and a natter so I rang the mate J. She was just finished work and she met me. I managed to persuade her to come training with me tonight. God bless her cottens. It should be fun and will hopefully be the motivation for me attending training at least twice a week. We had a chat about everything from politics to domient females. Don't ask. She's great to talk to though. Got home to the kid on the PC 'studying'. She has strategically placed books and notes all over the place to ensure we see how hard she's working.
Mammy2 was out visiting her dad. He's doing great. They removed part of his bowel and got rid of all the cancer. He won't need a bag at all which is a relief. He's in great form, was chatting away to everyone. Mammy2 spent the evening out with the clan.
This morning, I kicked the kid out of the bed. Made her lunch was horrifed to find a clump of hair on the floor. Being a fan of asian horrors, such as The Ring and The Grudge, I took no chances. I threw the bin out the window, nailed the washing machine shut and padlocked the fridge. The kid arrived out halfway through my precautions and just looked at me. Asked if I'd make tea and handed back into the room to finish doing god only knows what with her hair. She has annouced that she wants to go up to Cavan to hang with the ex M. I have to do some work though to find out if M knows the cad S and if so, what are the chances of the cad S being up there as well. Because there's no way in hell. Then she mentioned the bank holiday weekend. She knows all my weaknesses. The chance of a full long weekend
without her. Lots of quality time, with the exception of an angryPotato meet. I told her I'd talk to Mammy2 about it.
We were working on trying to organise Rome. Mammy2 rang Dun Laogahire to find out when letters were being sent out to prospective students and when registration takes place.
As it turns out, she would be registering, assuming she got an offer, the same week we were planning on going to Rome. We can't travel July/August as its just way too expensive. Its back to the drawing board. I suppose there's always the boat. If our work places gave us like 3 weeks off.
"Shelly, would you call me and remind me to get up tomorrow morning as I have the french oral? Thanks" That's how casual she is about the whole thing. I opted not to go training last night. I was supposed to be setting one of my websites live, but the client changed their minds again about content so the going live date has been pushed out. As a result I had a free evening! I pottered around the shops for a while..Fancied a sit down and a natter so I rang the mate J. She was just finished work and she met me. I managed to persuade her to come training with me tonight. God bless her cottens. It should be fun and will hopefully be the motivation for me attending training at least twice a week. We had a chat about everything from politics to domient females. Don't ask. She's great to talk to though. Got home to the kid on the PC 'studying'. She has strategically placed books and notes all over the place to ensure we see how hard she's working.
Mammy2 was out visiting her dad. He's doing great. They removed part of his bowel and got rid of all the cancer. He won't need a bag at all which is a relief. He's in great form, was chatting away to everyone. Mammy2 spent the evening out with the clan.
This morning, I kicked the kid out of the bed. Made her lunch was horrifed to find a clump of hair on the floor. Being a fan of asian horrors, such as The Ring and The Grudge, I took no chances. I threw the bin out the window, nailed the washing machine shut and padlocked the fridge. The kid arrived out halfway through my precautions and just looked at me. Asked if I'd make tea and handed back into the room to finish doing god only knows what with her hair. She has annouced that she wants to go up to Cavan to hang with the ex M. I have to do some work though to find out if M knows the cad S and if so, what are the chances of the cad S being up there as well. Because there's no way in hell. Then she mentioned the bank holiday weekend. She knows all my weaknesses. The chance of a full long weekend
without her. Lots of quality time, with the exception of an angryPotato meet. I told her I'd talk to Mammy2 about it.
We were working on trying to organise Rome. Mammy2 rang Dun Laogahire to find out when letters were being sent out to prospective students and when registration takes place.
As it turns out, she would be registering, assuming she got an offer, the same week we were planning on going to Rome. We can't travel July/August as its just way too expensive. Its back to the drawing board. I suppose there's always the boat. If our work places gave us like 3 weeks off.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Mammy2's dad is on the road to recovery. The operation was yesterday and they managed to remove all of the tumour. They have sent it off for testing and will then know how to proceed with treatment. He's in great form according to the mother in law, asking after everyone, telling them not to worry. Basically, a typical Dad :) Thank god the op went well, I know its been on Mammy2's mind and she's been worrying. Its been good news all the way since yesterday.
I arrived home and was convinced I stepped into some sort of alternate universe. Firstly, there was post. Of a non bill variety. From the Revenue giving us money back for all the money we've paid on meds. Secondly, and this is possibly even bigger, I arrive into the apartment to find the kid hoovering and Mammy2 relaxing on the couch. Apparently the kid had cooked dinner for Mammy2 and herself and was now busying herself making the place clean and doing her chores. I pinched myself a couple of times. I feel like Alice when she went down the rabbit hole. Something was not quite right with the picture.
The kid had her doctor's apppointment yesterday morning, he put her in different anti-depressants. I reckon he put her on happy pills because she was in such a good mood. It was mad. After cleaning the place from top to bottom, she started studying. Yes, studying. I had to do a bit of work online and then she offered to cook me dinner. At this stage, I checked the room for POD people. I declined saying I wanted to cook something for myself. I decided to go training and see if the people who had kidnapped my kid would return her once I left the building.
Home from training, a great workout but chances are I won't be able to walk tomorrow, and sure enough she's still sweetness and light. It helps that she has my phone. Her own phone went on the blink last week and so a new one has to be purchased. Until then, when I get home in the evenings she uses my phone. I hardly ever use it anyways, I'm not a huge mobile phone fan. We both got an early night, taking advantage of the fact that she was in good form. At around 12 , she knocks into us to tell us she's heading to the court yard, as she wants a break from the apartment. Nothing unusual there, she used to often drop down to the courtyward of an evening when she first moved up. She'd sit for hours beside the fountain sketching. She was in her jammies and had her long cardigan on her. I however got suspicious when she mentioned putting make up on. To go to the court yard. Mammy2 said that she was fine and wouldn't be up to anything in the courtyard. I awake at 2.15 and she's still down in the courtyard. At this I know she's not by herself, Mammy2 txts her telling her to get her ass up to the apartment whilst I pace in the living room, plotting the demise of that S character. I know its him, none of her other 'friends' would be in the courtyard after 1 at night.
He's such a fecker, sniffing around her all the time. He needs a good walloping. She arrives in all innocent and I confront her. I told her I had gone out to check on her and saw her and someone else. The thing about is titches and I'm still unsure if its a good or a bad thing is we cannot lie. We can try, but ultimately we are honest. About everyone. She says she headed down for some space, her new favourite word. I'm looking into buying her a planet, she can have all the space she feckin wants. Chances are S will be in the vincity of the planet, just happened to be shopping in Jupiter or some other cock and bull story.
She had been txting S, the worthless pile of poo. He said he was in town. Conviently again. He's always in town. What is he? Homeless? Does he hang around outside our apartment block waiting for her to get some space? What sort of a muppet is he?! So he dropped around because she needed someone to talk to. Through grinding teeth, I explained that there is no hanging with anyone mid-week. Regardless of who they are. I told her we were extremely disappointed in her and from now on all hanging in the courtyard would monitored. For monitoring, read me sitting with the baseball bat right next to her. Lets see if S, the cad, has the nerve to show his face then. You know, she's dated a fair few guys and girls, and there was only 2 I genuinely disliked. One was T, who could barely stand upright. The relationship lasted all of a week. Thank feck. And the other was this S, she was mad about him, he didn't want to know. Plied her with alcohol one night , then left her by herself because he had to play a gig. Don't get me wrong, I know the kid is well capable of being bad on her own. He's just not the type of guy I want her seeing. At all. If she
has to date someone, let them be a halfway decent sort. Its not too much to ask. Its true what they say I think. Girls go for bad boys.
I arrived home and was convinced I stepped into some sort of alternate universe. Firstly, there was post. Of a non bill variety. From the Revenue giving us money back for all the money we've paid on meds. Secondly, and this is possibly even bigger, I arrive into the apartment to find the kid hoovering and Mammy2 relaxing on the couch. Apparently the kid had cooked dinner for Mammy2 and herself and was now busying herself making the place clean and doing her chores. I pinched myself a couple of times. I feel like Alice when she went down the rabbit hole. Something was not quite right with the picture.
The kid had her doctor's apppointment yesterday morning, he put her in different anti-depressants. I reckon he put her on happy pills because she was in such a good mood. It was mad. After cleaning the place from top to bottom, she started studying. Yes, studying. I had to do a bit of work online and then she offered to cook me dinner. At this stage, I checked the room for POD people. I declined saying I wanted to cook something for myself. I decided to go training and see if the people who had kidnapped my kid would return her once I left the building.
Home from training, a great workout but chances are I won't be able to walk tomorrow, and sure enough she's still sweetness and light. It helps that she has my phone. Her own phone went on the blink last week and so a new one has to be purchased. Until then, when I get home in the evenings she uses my phone. I hardly ever use it anyways, I'm not a huge mobile phone fan. We both got an early night, taking advantage of the fact that she was in good form. At around 12 , she knocks into us to tell us she's heading to the court yard, as she wants a break from the apartment. Nothing unusual there, she used to often drop down to the courtyward of an evening when she first moved up. She'd sit for hours beside the fountain sketching. She was in her jammies and had her long cardigan on her. I however got suspicious when she mentioned putting make up on. To go to the court yard. Mammy2 said that she was fine and wouldn't be up to anything in the courtyard. I awake at 2.15 and she's still down in the courtyard. At this I know she's not by herself, Mammy2 txts her telling her to get her ass up to the apartment whilst I pace in the living room, plotting the demise of that S character. I know its him, none of her other 'friends' would be in the courtyard after 1 at night.
He's such a fecker, sniffing around her all the time. He needs a good walloping. She arrives in all innocent and I confront her. I told her I had gone out to check on her and saw her and someone else. The thing about is titches and I'm still unsure if its a good or a bad thing is we cannot lie. We can try, but ultimately we are honest. About everyone. She says she headed down for some space, her new favourite word. I'm looking into buying her a planet, she can have all the space she feckin wants. Chances are S will be in the vincity of the planet, just happened to be shopping in Jupiter or some other cock and bull story.
She had been txting S, the worthless pile of poo. He said he was in town. Conviently again. He's always in town. What is he? Homeless? Does he hang around outside our apartment block waiting for her to get some space? What sort of a muppet is he?! So he dropped around because she needed someone to talk to. Through grinding teeth, I explained that there is no hanging with anyone mid-week. Regardless of who they are. I told her we were extremely disappointed in her and from now on all hanging in the courtyard would monitored. For monitoring, read me sitting with the baseball bat right next to her. Lets see if S, the cad, has the nerve to show his face then. You know, she's dated a fair few guys and girls, and there was only 2 I genuinely disliked. One was T, who could barely stand upright. The relationship lasted all of a week. Thank feck. And the other was this S, she was mad about him, he didn't want to know. Plied her with alcohol one night , then left her by herself because he had to play a gig. Don't get me wrong, I know the kid is well capable of being bad on her own. He's just not the type of guy I want her seeing. At all. If she
has to date someone, let them be a halfway decent sort. Its not too much to ask. Its true what they say I think. Girls go for bad boys.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Perfect Weekend
Its hard to describe the last 2 days, except that I've relaxed a lot. Not a sign of any chest pains and lots of sitting around, reading the paper and hanging with the clan. Friday night was great fun, got the hair finally sorted by our fabulous hairdresser, heading for a meal with Mammy2. She has recently discovered the joy of Indian food, she always assumed it was too spicy and with her ulcer she couldn't eat it. However, lately the odd time I get a takeout she has been sampling some of it.
We headed to Monty's, a place that she has been going on about for ages. I am reluctant to try new places, but I was hungry and they did have some potato related dishes. I am a creature of habit. The only qualm I had the place was we were seated downstairs and it was quite claustrophobic. I would have prefereed upstairs or ever near the stairs but right in the back was quite cramped. Well, Mammy2 has been raving about the place since. I thought her choosing it might have something to do with Mr Tom Doorley raving about it but she claimed she didn't hear any of the amazing reviews it got.
Onto to Front Lounge to meet with the mate S. Except she wasn't there, a phone call later , we find out there are some issues with getting into the FL. As we were meeting J there, we told S to drop down to us. The mate J arrives a tad late, its her party piece I reckon. The Front Lounge was hopping with lesbians. It was great. The music was really good as well, some of the tunes even I recognised. A txt from the kid mentioned something about Kiss being cancelled. She had gone to the cinema with a mate. I wasn't sure where she got her information from, but we told her we had heard it too. I know, I'm bad. I wasn't in the mood for babysitting my kid on a night out, and walloping off god only knows what sort of women from her. I'd end up getting barred from the place. So we told her we stayed out in the Front Lounge.
In Kiss, we caught up with S and her mate J and a random girl they picked up enroute. J was rude to the point of me wanting to wallop her.Seriously, I'm not sure what that girl's problem is with me, but I wasn't impressed. I can take a slaggging as well as the next person but jumping to personal insults is not on. At one stage we ventured into the dance area, my lord. I feel like I was in some trance movie. I've never been to the dance section before. The DJ is up on the stage with some sort of large projection images behind her and her hardcore mix of god only knows what causing vibrations in the floor. Its a strange sensation being relatively sober amidst the mass of drunken bodies. I eventually showed my age by telling the mate J I would wait outside the dance area for her as it was too loud. Yes, I am that old. I wanted a seat and to finish my beer without it ending up on my top.
Got home after 3, but really enjoyed it. We have arranged to have dinner with S next week, she
loves Luigi's as much as we do so I reckon we shall be sampling the delights of the place.
Yesterday can be summarised as lazy mornings, cleaning and bonding with the child. She wants to learn about Photoshop. I am beyond excited. Seriously if she gets into Photoshop at all, with her arty talent, it would be brilliant. I tried not to act like the over enthuastic parent teaching the child. She wanted to make a collage of various pictures she has in her folder. I say various, there are over two thousand. No wonder the printer cartridge is gone again. The mate K called down and they headed off to hang. Not before she ranted about needing space from everyone. She's been going on about this space thing for a while now. I don't get it. I mean, she was home on Friday night and had all Saturday morning to herself and she's still going on about it. Must be a teenage thing.
I had some work to do for one of my websites which are going live and as a lot of the bug testing was done, I had a fair few bugs to get through. Finished that, and decided to cook dinner whilst Mammy2 chilled out. She had went over on her other ankle the previous night and is hopping around the place. Its werid to see her walk normally these days :) I went over to Fresh and picked up the paper, some cheese and some hearty non-floor-of-abbatoir sausages. Its hard to look at the meat counter through fingers over eyes. Needless to say the person behind the counter thinks you're a weirdo.
I cooked bangers and mash with gravy. Yes there are potatoes in there, luckily Mammy2 likes them.
I don't think we would have lasted this long had she not. Settled on the couch, watching a couple of movies, we heard the gentle sounds of the teenagers arriving home, well before they were supposed to.Gentle sounds being, the crash of the door, the giggling and laughing and the noise of her colliding with most of the objects that appear to fall when you enter her room. I'm convinced she has set up some sort of obstacle course that only she knows the safe route through to avoid us entering the room.
While I welcomed the fact that they weren't wandering the streets of Dublin after dark, there went the plans of a romantic night with Mammy2. However, they stayed in the room. Without being asked to. I had a feeling they were up to something. Sure enough, at one stage I stook my head into to see what they were at and its hard to describe the scene. K was sitting with a bowl in her hand and some horrible looking cream thingy. The kid had a bandana tied accross her face and her hair had some weird streaks in it. Quite lost for words I merely asked if they wanted tea. Apparently, the kid
was bleaching her hair. She was sick of looking like a minger. Or something. The bathroom looked like something from a slasher movie. There was a pair of glooves, covered in red hair dye, a bowl in the sink and a bunch of pretty scared looking rubber ducks. I think they feared there was worse to come. They were right.
A couple of hours later, we're heading to bed, I opted to check how the bleaching was going. It had turned into blood red. A raised eyebrow from myself and a question about where the red hair dye came from was greeted with some mumbling about her 'finding' it. On the shelf in a chemist obviously. I had such a relaxing day, I didn't want to get into an argument about hair colours and school rules. K showed me how her hair was all red, except for the back which was blue. Having no terms of reference to how one greets such news, I merely commented
"That's lovely, make sure you don't mess the bathroom and try not to stay up too late" I am SO OLD. I nearly slapped myself when I heard myself utter those words? I ran to bed horrified.
I got up this morning to be greeted by, in no particular order, a pair of knickers on the toilet floor, an empty bottle of coke on the table in the living room, a buch of clothes thrown onto the nearest
armchair and a calendar of goth babes, the actual name , on the couch. We had left the living room tidy when going to bed. Why I was even surprised by her trail of destruction I don't know. She's
gone off to hang with the ex M, from Cavan. Apparently, he still loves her as a friend and needs to spend time with her. She claims had she known he was such a lesbian, she would never have gone
out with him. I had hoped we could do something family oriented today. Like a trip to Glendalough and do a walk. However, with Mammy2's ankle out of action and the kid wanting to hang with
her male lesbian friend I guess it will have to wait.
Mammy2's dad is heading in either today or tomorrow to have his operation. I hope everything goes okay for him. According to Mam's surgeon at the time, Professor Ryenolds, the bowel is an extremely difficult area to work with.
We headed to Monty's, a place that she has been going on about for ages. I am reluctant to try new places, but I was hungry and they did have some potato related dishes. I am a creature of habit. The only qualm I had the place was we were seated downstairs and it was quite claustrophobic. I would have prefereed upstairs or ever near the stairs but right in the back was quite cramped. Well, Mammy2 has been raving about the place since. I thought her choosing it might have something to do with Mr Tom Doorley raving about it but she claimed she didn't hear any of the amazing reviews it got.
Onto to Front Lounge to meet with the mate S. Except she wasn't there, a phone call later , we find out there are some issues with getting into the FL. As we were meeting J there, we told S to drop down to us. The mate J arrives a tad late, its her party piece I reckon. The Front Lounge was hopping with lesbians. It was great. The music was really good as well, some of the tunes even I recognised. A txt from the kid mentioned something about Kiss being cancelled. She had gone to the cinema with a mate. I wasn't sure where she got her information from, but we told her we had heard it too. I know, I'm bad. I wasn't in the mood for babysitting my kid on a night out, and walloping off god only knows what sort of women from her. I'd end up getting barred from the place. So we told her we stayed out in the Front Lounge.
In Kiss, we caught up with S and her mate J and a random girl they picked up enroute. J was rude to the point of me wanting to wallop her.Seriously, I'm not sure what that girl's problem is with me, but I wasn't impressed. I can take a slaggging as well as the next person but jumping to personal insults is not on. At one stage we ventured into the dance area, my lord. I feel like I was in some trance movie. I've never been to the dance section before. The DJ is up on the stage with some sort of large projection images behind her and her hardcore mix of god only knows what causing vibrations in the floor. Its a strange sensation being relatively sober amidst the mass of drunken bodies. I eventually showed my age by telling the mate J I would wait outside the dance area for her as it was too loud. Yes, I am that old. I wanted a seat and to finish my beer without it ending up on my top.
Got home after 3, but really enjoyed it. We have arranged to have dinner with S next week, she
loves Luigi's as much as we do so I reckon we shall be sampling the delights of the place.
Yesterday can be summarised as lazy mornings, cleaning and bonding with the child. She wants to learn about Photoshop. I am beyond excited. Seriously if she gets into Photoshop at all, with her arty talent, it would be brilliant. I tried not to act like the over enthuastic parent teaching the child. She wanted to make a collage of various pictures she has in her folder. I say various, there are over two thousand. No wonder the printer cartridge is gone again. The mate K called down and they headed off to hang. Not before she ranted about needing space from everyone. She's been going on about this space thing for a while now. I don't get it. I mean, she was home on Friday night and had all Saturday morning to herself and she's still going on about it. Must be a teenage thing.
I had some work to do for one of my websites which are going live and as a lot of the bug testing was done, I had a fair few bugs to get through. Finished that, and decided to cook dinner whilst Mammy2 chilled out. She had went over on her other ankle the previous night and is hopping around the place. Its werid to see her walk normally these days :) I went over to Fresh and picked up the paper, some cheese and some hearty non-floor-of-abbatoir sausages. Its hard to look at the meat counter through fingers over eyes. Needless to say the person behind the counter thinks you're a weirdo.
I cooked bangers and mash with gravy. Yes there are potatoes in there, luckily Mammy2 likes them.
I don't think we would have lasted this long had she not. Settled on the couch, watching a couple of movies, we heard the gentle sounds of the teenagers arriving home, well before they were supposed to.Gentle sounds being, the crash of the door, the giggling and laughing and the noise of her colliding with most of the objects that appear to fall when you enter her room. I'm convinced she has set up some sort of obstacle course that only she knows the safe route through to avoid us entering the room.
While I welcomed the fact that they weren't wandering the streets of Dublin after dark, there went the plans of a romantic night with Mammy2. However, they stayed in the room. Without being asked to. I had a feeling they were up to something. Sure enough, at one stage I stook my head into to see what they were at and its hard to describe the scene. K was sitting with a bowl in her hand and some horrible looking cream thingy. The kid had a bandana tied accross her face and her hair had some weird streaks in it. Quite lost for words I merely asked if they wanted tea. Apparently, the kid
was bleaching her hair. She was sick of looking like a minger. Or something. The bathroom looked like something from a slasher movie. There was a pair of glooves, covered in red hair dye, a bowl in the sink and a bunch of pretty scared looking rubber ducks. I think they feared there was worse to come. They were right.
A couple of hours later, we're heading to bed, I opted to check how the bleaching was going. It had turned into blood red. A raised eyebrow from myself and a question about where the red hair dye came from was greeted with some mumbling about her 'finding' it. On the shelf in a chemist obviously. I had such a relaxing day, I didn't want to get into an argument about hair colours and school rules. K showed me how her hair was all red, except for the back which was blue. Having no terms of reference to how one greets such news, I merely commented
"That's lovely, make sure you don't mess the bathroom and try not to stay up too late" I am SO OLD. I nearly slapped myself when I heard myself utter those words? I ran to bed horrified.
I got up this morning to be greeted by, in no particular order, a pair of knickers on the toilet floor, an empty bottle of coke on the table in the living room, a buch of clothes thrown onto the nearest
armchair and a calendar of goth babes, the actual name , on the couch. We had left the living room tidy when going to bed. Why I was even surprised by her trail of destruction I don't know. She's
gone off to hang with the ex M, from Cavan. Apparently, he still loves her as a friend and needs to spend time with her. She claims had she known he was such a lesbian, she would never have gone
out with him. I had hoped we could do something family oriented today. Like a trip to Glendalough and do a walk. However, with Mammy2's ankle out of action and the kid wanting to hang with
her male lesbian friend I guess it will have to wait.
Mammy2's dad is heading in either today or tomorrow to have his operation. I hope everything goes okay for him. According to Mam's surgeon at the time, Professor Ryenolds, the bowel is an extremely difficult area to work with.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Hanging in there
According to the gospel of Wikipedia Karma is defined as follows:
Karma (Sanskrit kárma, kárman- "act, action, performance"[1]; Pali kamma) is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Dharmic religions understood as denoting the entire cycle of cause and effect described in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist philosophies.
I have always believed in the idea of it and I'm starting to wonder if its the cause of all the current crap. Because I messed up somewhere along the line, everything is now gone to hell in a handbasket?
Perhaps I am thinking too much, I try to avoid it where possible. I believe you can actually give yourself a brain meltdown by pondering things. For me, things are as straightforward as you want them to be. Life is as straightforward as you make it. That's just my humble opinion.
I am at home sick today from work. A combination of being exhausted, a tad strung out and not able to face the day was the result of me staying in bed. We caught up with the mate S yesterday. It was great to chat to her and hear all the stories of where she's been, the characters she's met and the sights she has seen. She looks so well, I guess 6 months enjoying life will do that for you. I had to head home early as I was tired. For a change. Pasture beckons. Lately, Mammy2 has lasted longer then me of an average night. That's how bad things are. I arrived home to an empty apartment. The kid had her french grind and obviously then just left. It as nearly 12, well after curfew. Many txts later, don't you love txt messages? I HATE having a conversation over them. However, she wasn't answering the phone. Very mature. I will summarise a 15 minute long txting conversation. She needed 'space', some time to get 'her head' together. She was tired of being a burden on us. Conviently, the cad S found her whilst she was wandering around the city at that time of the night. Again, she obviously thinks we came down in the last shower. He just 'happened' to be wandering around the same area as her.
He is bad news and if she starts dating him, he will set foot in this apartment over my dead body. I now have a baseball bat, granted its quite small but I reckon it could still turn him into a enuch pretty quickly. Twat that he is. Its obvious she's coming down off the meds, as her mood switches so quickly. One minute she's laughing and chatting, the next she's talking about suicide and dropping out of school. If we make it through the next month, I reckon I'll be commited. Mammy2 came home to find me sitting on the couch in a panic about her. Mammy2 is of the opinion to leave her to it and she'll come home when she's ready. I, however, would not be able to sleep with that worry. Sometime after 3, we heard the door. We decided to leave any conversations for today as I wasn't able.
I decided to stay and home and try and relax. I hope to find some time to relax later, she's on her way back from seeing the counseller. Her phone is fecked so she had to head to the Meteor Store to see if she could get a new one to replace it. If they don't replace it, chances are we'll have to get her a new one. To be without the phone is inconceivable for a teenager. We are supposed to have a talk. I can't wait. I have booked her in to see the Doctor on Monday and I can only hope he'll put her on something because I don't think we will survive all of this.
I managed to find a place for when we head to Athlone in a month's time, it looks nice enough and not too expensive. I also finally rang the Aunt. She's on the other side of the family, but the only one
we really want to keep in touch with. We were supposed to visit her at christmas, but as I was working for most it, we didn't get the chance. I mentioned the kid's 18th and would they be interested in coming up for it. Not really expecting them to say yes, but they sounded interested. I want to make sure the kid has a great day and party/dinner with all the people she wants there. She gets on really well with most of our mates, we would consider close friends of the family, family or framily, the lovely american term :) She is going to have a fab birthday, surrounded by the people who love her.
Its going to be a big occasion considering the last 3-4 years.
As a complete aside, never type the following into google images "apron" duster. Don't ask why I wanted an image of that. Let's just say I was looking for some sort of housework theme. That sort of
housework I can do without. I was shocked!
Tonight , I am supposed to be heading to Kiss. The kid got wind of it and is mad to try out her false id. Can you just see me, bringing the kid on the pull? Seriously. Can you imagine?
Karma (Sanskrit kárma, kárman- "act, action, performance"[1]; Pali kamma) is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Dharmic religions understood as denoting the entire cycle of cause and effect described in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist philosophies.
I have always believed in the idea of it and I'm starting to wonder if its the cause of all the current crap. Because I messed up somewhere along the line, everything is now gone to hell in a handbasket?
Perhaps I am thinking too much, I try to avoid it where possible. I believe you can actually give yourself a brain meltdown by pondering things. For me, things are as straightforward as you want them to be. Life is as straightforward as you make it. That's just my humble opinion.
I am at home sick today from work. A combination of being exhausted, a tad strung out and not able to face the day was the result of me staying in bed. We caught up with the mate S yesterday. It was great to chat to her and hear all the stories of where she's been, the characters she's met and the sights she has seen. She looks so well, I guess 6 months enjoying life will do that for you. I had to head home early as I was tired. For a change. Pasture beckons. Lately, Mammy2 has lasted longer then me of an average night. That's how bad things are. I arrived home to an empty apartment. The kid had her french grind and obviously then just left. It as nearly 12, well after curfew. Many txts later, don't you love txt messages? I HATE having a conversation over them. However, she wasn't answering the phone. Very mature. I will summarise a 15 minute long txting conversation. She needed 'space', some time to get 'her head' together. She was tired of being a burden on us. Conviently, the cad S found her whilst she was wandering around the city at that time of the night. Again, she obviously thinks we came down in the last shower. He just 'happened' to be wandering around the same area as her.
He is bad news and if she starts dating him, he will set foot in this apartment over my dead body. I now have a baseball bat, granted its quite small but I reckon it could still turn him into a enuch pretty quickly. Twat that he is. Its obvious she's coming down off the meds, as her mood switches so quickly. One minute she's laughing and chatting, the next she's talking about suicide and dropping out of school. If we make it through the next month, I reckon I'll be commited. Mammy2 came home to find me sitting on the couch in a panic about her. Mammy2 is of the opinion to leave her to it and she'll come home when she's ready. I, however, would not be able to sleep with that worry. Sometime after 3, we heard the door. We decided to leave any conversations for today as I wasn't able.
I decided to stay and home and try and relax. I hope to find some time to relax later, she's on her way back from seeing the counseller. Her phone is fecked so she had to head to the Meteor Store to see if she could get a new one to replace it. If they don't replace it, chances are we'll have to get her a new one. To be without the phone is inconceivable for a teenager. We are supposed to have a talk. I can't wait. I have booked her in to see the Doctor on Monday and I can only hope he'll put her on something because I don't think we will survive all of this.
I managed to find a place for when we head to Athlone in a month's time, it looks nice enough and not too expensive. I also finally rang the Aunt. She's on the other side of the family, but the only one
we really want to keep in touch with. We were supposed to visit her at christmas, but as I was working for most it, we didn't get the chance. I mentioned the kid's 18th and would they be interested in coming up for it. Not really expecting them to say yes, but they sounded interested. I want to make sure the kid has a great day and party/dinner with all the people she wants there. She gets on really well with most of our mates, we would consider close friends of the family, family or framily, the lovely american term :) She is going to have a fab birthday, surrounded by the people who love her.
Its going to be a big occasion considering the last 3-4 years.
As a complete aside, never type the following into google images "apron" duster. Don't ask why I wanted an image of that. Let's just say I was looking for some sort of housework theme. That sort of
housework I can do without. I was shocked!
Tonight , I am supposed to be heading to Kiss. The kid got wind of it and is mad to try out her false id. Can you just see me, bringing the kid on the pull? Seriously. Can you imagine?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Longest week ever
This week is offically the longest week ever. Offically in my book and no-one elses. I woke up this morning and thought it was Saturday. Pretty pants feeling. Of course there was no movement from the teenager. She was fairly sick yesterday and in a foul mood. Noticing a trend at all? Yesterday was a bit more relaxing as she wans't in school and so I wasn't dreading the whole txt messages. It actually cause my stomach to drop. I think I may need help in that regards! I am great at dealing with stressful situations.
Did a lot of work yesterday on the aP redesign as well as my day job. Even though I did a lot of work, there's still nothing to show for it. Over 40 pages need to be re-done,each page consisiting of over 300 lines of code. Joy. I got home to an empty apartment, not usually a bad thing except for 2 things.
1) She was supposed to be home 'studying' seeing as she didn't go to school yesteday.
2) It was 5.55 and her maths grind was at 6.
As if on queue, the doorbell rings and its her maths grind. I make small talk with the woman whilst trying to reach Satan on the phone. She was in fine form, with lots of cursing and whinging. She barreled back into the apartment with the mate K in tow. I had words with her, left the money and ran screaming from the apartment. The neighbours looked on bemused.
We met with the mate J and heard all about her new job. She seems to be settling in well and enjoying it. I think she's perfect for the job and will definetly make a difference. She's just that sort of person. she doesn't give out or whinge, she just gets on with it. Tonight we are catching up with the mate S, who's finally returned from the wilds of the west. We haven't seen her since she got back from travelling the world so we best prepare ourselves for an overload in information.
I'm having zero luck trying to get accomodation for Athlone in May. There must be some festival or something as everywhere is booked out. Last year, we were in a guest house with a bunch of Opus Dei type characters. Breakfast was such fun with them.
Did a lot of work yesterday on the aP redesign as well as my day job. Even though I did a lot of work, there's still nothing to show for it. Over 40 pages need to be re-done,each page consisiting of over 300 lines of code. Joy. I got home to an empty apartment, not usually a bad thing except for 2 things.
1) She was supposed to be home 'studying' seeing as she didn't go to school yesteday.
2) It was 5.55 and her maths grind was at 6.
As if on queue, the doorbell rings and its her maths grind. I make small talk with the woman whilst trying to reach Satan on the phone. She was in fine form, with lots of cursing and whinging. She barreled back into the apartment with the mate K in tow. I had words with her, left the money and ran screaming from the apartment. The neighbours looked on bemused.
We met with the mate J and heard all about her new job. She seems to be settling in well and enjoying it. I think she's perfect for the job and will definetly make a difference. She's just that sort of person. she doesn't give out or whinge, she just gets on with it. Tonight we are catching up with the mate S, who's finally returned from the wilds of the west. We haven't seen her since she got back from travelling the world so we best prepare ourselves for an overload in information.
I'm having zero luck trying to get accomodation for Athlone in May. There must be some festival or something as everywhere is booked out. Last year, we were in a guest house with a bunch of Opus Dei type characters. Breakfast was such fun with them.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.
Another one bites the dust
The new boyf is on the way out. Well, it would take a strong man to survive PMT, no anti depressants and a stressed out woman. He doesn't sound like a strong man. The kid was giving out about him yesterday because she claims he's too clingy. She was in okay form , considering she had her irish oral. Thank god she didn't miss it. Its a miracle. She txted a few times yesterday saying she wasn't able for it, but I talked her into staying and getting it over with. Thankfully, she did stay and did it and thinks she got on okay at it. Needless to say, in her book this was cause for celebrations. She wanted munchies and coke. We were also to all hang out and talk about how wonderful she was. Considering I had nothing planned for the evening, we agreed. I got home to her celebrating by sleeping. When she eventually arose, she wasn't in the best of form. PMT has a habit of playing with your moods. She went online to bash the boyfriend for a while , whilst we hid behind the couch. The poor boyf. I actually feel sorry for him. His latest crazy idea is that she got back on the anti depressants. Not so crazy until he tells her his idea. I reckon there's easier ways to get through life and these would involve bungee jumping, white water rafting and taking a walk into a Lion's den whilst he's looking peckish. The kid wanted to dump him last night. He was too clingy, all this I love you shit doesn't cut any water with her.
She needs her space. I asked how much more space she needed then the miles between Cavan and Dublin. She glared at me and went back to berating him. He was obvlious and retaliated by telling her he loved her and was going to stick by her.
Please bear in mind, they have been seeing each other for the last 2 weeks. She says she can't dump him because he may kill himself. How does she find these people is what I want to know. We decided to watch a movie and leave her talking to the screen. She was online to some wiccan who was having trouble telling her parents she was a witch. One of her friends on myspace or Bebo or some other site she frequents looks like a porcupine. He dyed his hair blue. She thinks this is a great idea. She also thinks getting a tatoo and sticking a safety pin in your ear is a great idea. She's pretty pissed off at the moment for a number of reasons, you name it, she's pissed off about it. The latest is one of the ex-mate's got called for an interview for Dun Laoghaire. Granted its a different course, but the kid is still panicked over the fact that she may not get in. I wish they would just send a letter one way or the other and put us all out of our misery.
We're catching up with the mate J tonight, we haven't seen much of her with her starting her new job and the antichrist replacing our kid. She seems to be settling in really well in the job. She has no online time at all though and I really miss having a natter to her over email or gchat. I can't understand how people can't be online all the time :) Although I am doing better with my online addiction. I now don't go online once I finish work unless I really have to. Thankfully work has calmed down a lot. All that's left is the aP redesign which is taking forever, there are so many pages in the forum and I need to check them in various browsers. Its such a headache. It will be worth it when its finished but at the moment, its driving me insane.
She needs her space. I asked how much more space she needed then the miles between Cavan and Dublin. She glared at me and went back to berating him. He was obvlious and retaliated by telling her he loved her and was going to stick by her.
Please bear in mind, they have been seeing each other for the last 2 weeks. She says she can't dump him because he may kill himself. How does she find these people is what I want to know. We decided to watch a movie and leave her talking to the screen. She was online to some wiccan who was having trouble telling her parents she was a witch. One of her friends on myspace or Bebo or some other site she frequents looks like a porcupine. He dyed his hair blue. She thinks this is a great idea. She also thinks getting a tatoo and sticking a safety pin in your ear is a great idea. She's pretty pissed off at the moment for a number of reasons, you name it, she's pissed off about it. The latest is one of the ex-mate's got called for an interview for Dun Laoghaire. Granted its a different course, but the kid is still panicked over the fact that she may not get in. I wish they would just send a letter one way or the other and put us all out of our misery.
We're catching up with the mate J tonight, we haven't seen much of her with her starting her new job and the antichrist replacing our kid. She seems to be settling in really well in the job. She has no online time at all though and I really miss having a natter to her over email or gchat. I can't understand how people can't be online all the time :) Although I am doing better with my online addiction. I now don't go online once I finish work unless I really have to. Thankfully work has calmed down a lot. All that's left is the aP redesign which is taking forever, there are so many pages in the forum and I need to check them in various browsers. Its such a headache. It will be worth it when its finished but at the moment, its driving me insane.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.
Yesterday was a fun day. The kid did get up and did go into school, but you know when you have that feeling. You just know that at some stage, the phone is going to ring, or you're going to get a txt from her. Sure enough, after lunch, a txt asking me to ring her. I rang her, she was hysterical. There was no talking to her, she had an incident in school and she wanted to go home. I unfortunately picked that exact moment to not handle things and said I would get Mammy2 to talk to her. I wasn't able for her, for whatever bizzare reason. I rang Mammy2 who thankfully took over. Within an hour, the kid had calmed down, wrote herself and note and was on the way home. Missing her actual Irish Oral. When Mammy2 told me about the irish exam, I got even more stressed. At this stage, I thought my head was about to explode. I was having chest pains, a really bad headache and was feeling nasuous. Pasture was beckoning, I considered writing my will. Then I rememebered I had nothing in the bank account. I decided not to leave the 20 odd euro to Mammy2, unless she got a cheap undertaker.
The rest of the day was pretty much a blur, I entertained notions of leaving work early, but I didn't think of a valid reason to give. "Sorry boss, I think I'm having a stress related attack of some kind," Sounds pathetic. I left work and took a slow stroll to my bus, enjoying the evening sunshine. There's a lot to be said for the countryside and music. Met with Mammy2 who managed to talk me through my panic. We got home to the kid with half her hair dyed. She's making an effort to get rid of the red hair dye and so its now half black and half red. I didn't dare ask. I got a bite to eat and went to bed. Bed at 8 of a sunny evening. What a wuss! Of course, the kid was in great form. Except she wanted me to make an appointment for the doctor and for the eye person to get her eyes tested. I waited to see if she had any more appointments up her sleeve but no. Thankfully. She went back to sleeping. That kid spends more time in bed then anywhere else. She's going to try and talk to the teacher today about her oral. I don't hold much home.
At 11 I awake to the sound of a bath being run. She has decided to run a bath for the mate K who's staying over. At 11. I didn't realise it was possible to make so much noise whilst running a bath. The rubber ducks must have put up a fight. I felt like the grumpy parent asking her to keep it down. In fairness she was laughing and joking as opposed to being upset. I asked her how the 'studying' was going. She has this thing of leaving books scattered around the place, to lull us into a false sense of security that she has been studying. Being on Bebo involves research into the social networking phenomenon obviously. As it turns out my original 6 weeks countdown is moot. She informed us yesterday she'll be finished in 4 weeks. They're letting then finish early to study. I responded
"Excellent stuff, so you'll have 2 weeks to focus on your work"
The patented teenager 'You must be joking look'
"I'll be working SOME of the time, but I'll need to take a break from the stress of it all" she says burrowing back into the bed for another hours sleep?What stress? I reckon the Leaving Cert will be the death of me but she'll be fine.
The rest of the day was pretty much a blur, I entertained notions of leaving work early, but I didn't think of a valid reason to give. "Sorry boss, I think I'm having a stress related attack of some kind," Sounds pathetic. I left work and took a slow stroll to my bus, enjoying the evening sunshine. There's a lot to be said for the countryside and music. Met with Mammy2 who managed to talk me through my panic. We got home to the kid with half her hair dyed. She's making an effort to get rid of the red hair dye and so its now half black and half red. I didn't dare ask. I got a bite to eat and went to bed. Bed at 8 of a sunny evening. What a wuss! Of course, the kid was in great form. Except she wanted me to make an appointment for the doctor and for the eye person to get her eyes tested. I waited to see if she had any more appointments up her sleeve but no. Thankfully. She went back to sleeping. That kid spends more time in bed then anywhere else. She's going to try and talk to the teacher today about her oral. I don't hold much home.
At 11 I awake to the sound of a bath being run. She has decided to run a bath for the mate K who's staying over. At 11. I didn't realise it was possible to make so much noise whilst running a bath. The rubber ducks must have put up a fight. I felt like the grumpy parent asking her to keep it down. In fairness she was laughing and joking as opposed to being upset. I asked her how the 'studying' was going. She has this thing of leaving books scattered around the place, to lull us into a false sense of security that she has been studying. Being on Bebo involves research into the social networking phenomenon obviously. As it turns out my original 6 weeks countdown is moot. She informed us yesterday she'll be finished in 4 weeks. They're letting then finish early to study. I responded
"Excellent stuff, so you'll have 2 weeks to focus on your work"
The patented teenager 'You must be joking look'
"I'll be working SOME of the time, but I'll need to take a break from the stress of it all" she says burrowing back into the bed for another hours sleep?What stress? I reckon the Leaving Cert will be the death of me but she'll be fine.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Six weeks to go
I can't believe it, in 6 weeks time she will be finished school and starting on her Leaving Cert. Despite all the stuff she's been through, I have a feeling this 6 weeks are going to be toughest for her. She's off her anti-depressants at what is consider by some the most stressful time of her life. Granted, what she has gone through in her young life is more then the average teenager by right now she is an average teenager and has the stress of exams to look forward to. She got up this morning, when I was convinced she wasn't going to go in. Its a start. She is also going to complain to the principal about the bullying and hopefully things will improve to a certain degree.
She was in Cavan on the Friday and back on the Saturday night. She's like a Jeckell and Hyde character at the moment, one minute she's sweetness and light, the next she's hell on toast. The fun of being a parent to a teenager. Friday night, we caught up with the mate A, who lives in Athlone. We see her once every 6 months or so. We were supposed to be going out for the mate S's bday, now that she has returned from travelling the world. But we couldn't reach her at all. It was a nice relaxing night and took Mammy2's mind off the news about her dad. The results of the colonoscopy came back and it is a malignant tumour on his bowel. The doctors are quite hopeful and reckon they can
remove it safely and he will need some chemotherapy afterwards but that he should recover fine. Mammy2 was quite shook on the Friday evening. Naturally enough. I had said we could cancel meeting up with A if she wanted, but I think she wanted to meet up rather then sitting at home pondering and thinking over stuff.
It was the nephew's birthday on the Saturday. Lots of fun and frolics with Mammy2's family. 5 kids, 8 adults and a lot of noise. I took pics as I usually do and left the playing to Mammy2 and her clan. I'm not great with kids that are below my height as I tend not to do baby or cutie talk. The kids in return don't know what to make of me, which suits me. From the kids bday bash to the lesbian pub quiz, it was all go. We picked up with mate J enroute and headed straight to the George. The quiz was really good fun despite me sitting on an slightly uncomfortable seat and wanting to kill the lady who was collecting the answer sheets. I mean, I can appreciate that Mammy2 is an attractive, intelligent and sexy woman. As such she may get the odd bit of notice, but this girl was pratically across the table and in her lap at one stage. The old
"You're from Raheny, aren't you" didn't fool me for a second. Apparently, she lives out Mammy2's way. I explained to Mammy2 that making your stalking seem slightly more legal by buying property out there is not the same thing. She didn't give up though, even when Mammy2 pointed out that the name of our team was as a result of her partner's website. Some people. I did manage to restrain myself from walloping her though so I reckon my jealousy has improved. Slightly.
The mate R wanted to do something culture related so last night we were in the Nation Concert Hall watching Die Fledermaus. I have to say, it wasn't anything like I imagined and I did enjoy it. Even when mister tights came out. I surpressed the urge to giggle. Its the schoolkid in me.
She was in Cavan on the Friday and back on the Saturday night. She's like a Jeckell and Hyde character at the moment, one minute she's sweetness and light, the next she's hell on toast. The fun of being a parent to a teenager. Friday night, we caught up with the mate A, who lives in Athlone. We see her once every 6 months or so. We were supposed to be going out for the mate S's bday, now that she has returned from travelling the world. But we couldn't reach her at all. It was a nice relaxing night and took Mammy2's mind off the news about her dad. The results of the colonoscopy came back and it is a malignant tumour on his bowel. The doctors are quite hopeful and reckon they can
remove it safely and he will need some chemotherapy afterwards but that he should recover fine. Mammy2 was quite shook on the Friday evening. Naturally enough. I had said we could cancel meeting up with A if she wanted, but I think she wanted to meet up rather then sitting at home pondering and thinking over stuff.
It was the nephew's birthday on the Saturday. Lots of fun and frolics with Mammy2's family. 5 kids, 8 adults and a lot of noise. I took pics as I usually do and left the playing to Mammy2 and her clan. I'm not great with kids that are below my height as I tend not to do baby or cutie talk. The kids in return don't know what to make of me, which suits me. From the kids bday bash to the lesbian pub quiz, it was all go. We picked up with mate J enroute and headed straight to the George. The quiz was really good fun despite me sitting on an slightly uncomfortable seat and wanting to kill the lady who was collecting the answer sheets. I mean, I can appreciate that Mammy2 is an attractive, intelligent and sexy woman. As such she may get the odd bit of notice, but this girl was pratically across the table and in her lap at one stage. The old
"You're from Raheny, aren't you" didn't fool me for a second. Apparently, she lives out Mammy2's way. I explained to Mammy2 that making your stalking seem slightly more legal by buying property out there is not the same thing. She didn't give up though, even when Mammy2 pointed out that the name of our team was as a result of her partner's website. Some people. I did manage to restrain myself from walloping her though so I reckon my jealousy has improved. Slightly.
The mate R wanted to do something culture related so last night we were in the Nation Concert Hall watching Die Fledermaus. I have to say, it wasn't anything like I imagined and I did enjoy it. Even when mister tights came out. I surpressed the urge to giggle. Its the schoolkid in me.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
The Demons within...
There are times when you forget the years gone by and you get used to the reasonably happy go lucky teenager that graces your presence most of the time. Its easy to forget the crap, you want to put it behind you and forget those nights you were awake wondering when it was going to be okay, when she was going to feel better and how was the rest of her life going to work out for her. Its time like that you need your mother. And I was no substitute for the great Mama Titch. Yesterday, I felt like we had taken a step back. The mood in the apartment was extremely low. After the incident on Saturday night, I had felt a lot of damage control was done over the next few days with regards to making sure the kid knew she could talk to us and let us know what's going on with her.
The kid's mood contines to go up and down. I was baffled. Mammy2 had tried talking to her yesterday after the
dentist and all she got was an earful about no food in the house and how we promised her phone credit and now
we can't get it and so on. Mammy2 is not able for her right now I feel. She's been fighting off a bout of depression
herself to dealing with an unruly teenager is not going to help her case at all. I blessed myself and rang the kid.
She answered the phone with her usual greeting.
"Wha?"
I asked her how the dentist went, there was mumurs of a filling and that she would wait for me to make the next appointment. Even though I had specifically asked her to tell the dentist she wanted to go again this morning for another filling. Next came the rant about the lack of food. Just to clarify the 'lack of food' situation. It means we are without munchies. Needless to say I gave that the five minutes attention it was worth and moved on. I explained to her she needed to be in the apartment for her maths grind tonight. More murmurs about not needing grinds etc. She's such a joy to deal with at times. I asked her what she was up to for the day.
"Lying on the bed being a moody teenager" I appreciated her honesty.
The brother and his gf were up yesterday, he had bought us easter eggs. He's knows the best way to approach the kid. We had a bite to eat with them and chatted about all the deaths in the local area. Seems like all the neighbours
are popping their clogs. He asked again about the meal after Mam's mass and mentioned something about wanting the cousins there. I was confused as I thought it was just family and as I don't get on with most of the cousins, there was no way I wanted them at the meal. As it turns out, the brother was confused as he thought we were all going out for a meal for his birthday, which unfortunately for him falls on the same day as Mam's anniversary. There was a few
confused looks and then the gf took over and said that it was no problem that they would go out with the cousins and other mates on the Saturday and the family on the Tuesday. It was still a bit shit, but I will book the restuarent and organise a cake and all that.
So hopefully that will make him feel a bit better. He also bought the playstation off the kid, she's 150 euro richer now. And is heading straight to the tatoo place this morning. Mind would it gain interest in her money tin.
Once they had left, the kid's mood changed again to one of hell and brimstone. Into the bedroom to 'tidy', all you could hear were books being flung around the place and curses. I had a bit of work to do but wasn't in the mood as the mood in the apartment was so depressing. I decided to go bed. On the way, I stopped and asked her why she was in such foul form. She mumbled something about not knowing and other stuff and then I caught the tail end of her mumbles:
"And those anti-depressants are crap if you ask me, they're not working at all. I'm glad I stopped taking them" This of course stopped me in my tracks. When quizzed as to when she stopped taking them, she mentioned last week. Suddenly things were starting to make sense. The mood swings, Saturday night's episode, all the tantrums.
How do you convince her that they do work? I mean, eventually we obviously wanted her off them, but in a controlled environment and with the doctor's recommendation. Not just stopping when she feels like it. How do we get her to keep taking them? If she's been off them for over a week now then chances are she's not going back on them. I left the conversation for another day when I would have more energy to deal with it. Around 3 o'clock I was awoken to her talking loudly and lots of curses. I asked her to tone it down a bit, she started giving out again. Muttered something about not going back to school. I waited for her head to turn fully around but it didn't happen. Perhaps things aren't as bad as they appear. I was too tired to argue and just pottered back to bed.
According to Mammy2 she is sushine and light this morning. All chat , apologised for her mood and is off to spend her money on a tatoo. She has enough to get the nail of a dragon tattoed to her right arse cheek and that's about it I think. Its always fancy designs she wants. Unless she wants the latest boyf's name of something cheesey.
The kid's mood contines to go up and down. I was baffled. Mammy2 had tried talking to her yesterday after the
dentist and all she got was an earful about no food in the house and how we promised her phone credit and now
we can't get it and so on. Mammy2 is not able for her right now I feel. She's been fighting off a bout of depression
herself to dealing with an unruly teenager is not going to help her case at all. I blessed myself and rang the kid.
She answered the phone with her usual greeting.
"Wha?"
I asked her how the dentist went, there was mumurs of a filling and that she would wait for me to make the next appointment. Even though I had specifically asked her to tell the dentist she wanted to go again this morning for another filling. Next came the rant about the lack of food. Just to clarify the 'lack of food' situation. It means we are without munchies. Needless to say I gave that the five minutes attention it was worth and moved on. I explained to her she needed to be in the apartment for her maths grind tonight. More murmurs about not needing grinds etc. She's such a joy to deal with at times. I asked her what she was up to for the day.
"Lying on the bed being a moody teenager" I appreciated her honesty.
The brother and his gf were up yesterday, he had bought us easter eggs. He's knows the best way to approach the kid. We had a bite to eat with them and chatted about all the deaths in the local area. Seems like all the neighbours
are popping their clogs. He asked again about the meal after Mam's mass and mentioned something about wanting the cousins there. I was confused as I thought it was just family and as I don't get on with most of the cousins, there was no way I wanted them at the meal. As it turns out, the brother was confused as he thought we were all going out for a meal for his birthday, which unfortunately for him falls on the same day as Mam's anniversary. There was a few
confused looks and then the gf took over and said that it was no problem that they would go out with the cousins and other mates on the Saturday and the family on the Tuesday. It was still a bit shit, but I will book the restuarent and organise a cake and all that.
So hopefully that will make him feel a bit better. He also bought the playstation off the kid, she's 150 euro richer now. And is heading straight to the tatoo place this morning. Mind would it gain interest in her money tin.
Once they had left, the kid's mood changed again to one of hell and brimstone. Into the bedroom to 'tidy', all you could hear were books being flung around the place and curses. I had a bit of work to do but wasn't in the mood as the mood in the apartment was so depressing. I decided to go bed. On the way, I stopped and asked her why she was in such foul form. She mumbled something about not knowing and other stuff and then I caught the tail end of her mumbles:
"And those anti-depressants are crap if you ask me, they're not working at all. I'm glad I stopped taking them" This of course stopped me in my tracks. When quizzed as to when she stopped taking them, she mentioned last week. Suddenly things were starting to make sense. The mood swings, Saturday night's episode, all the tantrums.
How do you convince her that they do work? I mean, eventually we obviously wanted her off them, but in a controlled environment and with the doctor's recommendation. Not just stopping when she feels like it. How do we get her to keep taking them? If she's been off them for over a week now then chances are she's not going back on them. I left the conversation for another day when I would have more energy to deal with it. Around 3 o'clock I was awoken to her talking loudly and lots of curses. I asked her to tone it down a bit, she started giving out again. Muttered something about not going back to school. I waited for her head to turn fully around but it didn't happen. Perhaps things aren't as bad as they appear. I was too tired to argue and just pottered back to bed.
According to Mammy2 she is sushine and light this morning. All chat , apologised for her mood and is off to spend her money on a tatoo. She has enough to get the nail of a dragon tattoed to her right arse cheek and that's about it I think. Its always fancy designs she wants. Unless she wants the latest boyf's name of something cheesey.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Mortgages - :O
Its the start of a slipplery slope I think. We met with a broker type person last night who took all our details, gave us a rough estimate how much a bank would give us and asked us for all sorts of certs and forms and salary slips. Let the headaches commence. The main reason for looking, we're not in any rush to buy , is for the kid. She's had so much turmoil in her life, she needs stability right now. Renting is fine if we were definite of our place for the next few years but we're not. You never know when the landlady could just change her mind and turf you out. The kid has so much stuff, we need a place we can stay and rely on.
Financially, we're okay. We should get a decent amount. Its a case of looking and searching and all that horrible
stuff. The one thing I have made Mammy2 to promise to is we are not and I repeat not turning into one of 'those'
couples who talk about skirting boards and tiles and all that other housey stuff. I told her if I hear myself saying that
then I will wallop seven shades out of myself.
The other worry is Mammy2's wage. Its not guarenteed. With the way her work place is at the mo, nothing is definite.
This is a worry from the incoming finances. The kid has no concept, and rightly so, of money with regards us. For example, after the meeting and anaylsing our bank accounts and giving myself a headache, she reels off the following:
"I have the dentist tomorrow, I also need to pick up my trousers that I left into the tailors and I need my 20 euro credit as I ran out of free txts. Have you talked about Cavan yet?" Another 20 euros. With her , money barely pauses in the account.
She wants to head up to the new man on Friday and stay over. We have to talk to his parents and all that. Yes we are over protective and I am aware she is 17 but this is the way we do things! She's been doing much better since the Saturday night thank god. No sign of any more incidents and her form seems to be good. Mammy2 is fighting a bout of depression though, our place is like Dr Quin Medicine Woman's home at the moment, I've got a cold and the clan are fighting off depression. Its a fun place to be at the moment, our apartment!
I've organised rounders for the team in work, I thought it might be a good idea for a laugh and to blow off some steam and do something non-alcohol related. Everyone seems on for it, so we're all heading to play at 4.30. People however are starting to take it seriously. I feel another headache coming on.
Still no word from the mate C. I used to think it was because he was a bloke and blokes have difficulty maintaining friendships, close friendships with woman. Stupid excuse I know. Then I was talking to someone else I worked with in my old place, he's a bloke, married and he meets up with his friend, a female at least once a week. So the bloke thing has no weight whatsoever. I guess, I just really miss him. He was good to talk to. But I think at this stage I should probably give up on him.
Financially, we're okay. We should get a decent amount. Its a case of looking and searching and all that horrible
stuff. The one thing I have made Mammy2 to promise to is we are not and I repeat not turning into one of 'those'
couples who talk about skirting boards and tiles and all that other housey stuff. I told her if I hear myself saying that
then I will wallop seven shades out of myself.
The other worry is Mammy2's wage. Its not guarenteed. With the way her work place is at the mo, nothing is definite.
This is a worry from the incoming finances. The kid has no concept, and rightly so, of money with regards us. For example, after the meeting and anaylsing our bank accounts and giving myself a headache, she reels off the following:
"I have the dentist tomorrow, I also need to pick up my trousers that I left into the tailors and I need my 20 euro credit as I ran out of free txts. Have you talked about Cavan yet?" Another 20 euros. With her , money barely pauses in the account.
She wants to head up to the new man on Friday and stay over. We have to talk to his parents and all that. Yes we are over protective and I am aware she is 17 but this is the way we do things! She's been doing much better since the Saturday night thank god. No sign of any more incidents and her form seems to be good. Mammy2 is fighting a bout of depression though, our place is like Dr Quin Medicine Woman's home at the moment, I've got a cold and the clan are fighting off depression. Its a fun place to be at the moment, our apartment!
I've organised rounders for the team in work, I thought it might be a good idea for a laugh and to blow off some steam and do something non-alcohol related. Everyone seems on for it, so we're all heading to play at 4.30. People however are starting to take it seriously. I feel another headache coming on.
Still no word from the mate C. I used to think it was because he was a bloke and blokes have difficulty maintaining friendships, close friendships with woman. Stupid excuse I know. Then I was talking to someone else I worked with in my old place, he's a bloke, married and he meets up with his friend, a female at least once a week. So the bloke thing has no weight whatsoever. I guess, I just really miss him. He was good to talk to. But I think at this stage I should probably give up on him.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Highs and Lows of a weekend
Long weekends are fab, just when you think its time to go back to work, a bank holiday Monday makes a welcome appearence. Lots of family time, time with friends and just relaxing. Very little in the way of work which is why I will probably spend this morning catching up on all my outstanding tasks. Good Friday was spent with the mate J and B watching an L word marathon and putting the wrongs of the world right. It was great fun. We haven't seen the mate B in a while, she was off in New Zealand for a month and is one of those people that you can see every six months and its no big deal to catch up. She's not hard work at all. A lovely person. Of course the kid is in love with her. She thinks its hilarious. Thank feck! Its terrible having a pervy kid and trying to explain to her why she shouldn't be checking out your friends as it might make them feel uncomfortable.
Mammy2 got a phone call though from her Mam about her Dad. He has to do into hospital on Thursday for a biopsy. They found a lump and they want to investigate some more. Mammy2 is fairly upbeat about it but I can tell she's worried. Naturally. I really hope they check it out and remove it and that will be the end of it. Apparently its fairly normal for a man of his age, 66. I'm not so sure I'd trust doctors after the whole Mam thing but they are the people who know best. Allegedly.
I left the girls to their L word marathon as I was exhuasted and had a big day shopping with 2 teenagers the following day. Why I suggest these things I do not know. Saturday morning, 10.30, I'm standing in a shop with bags whilst the kid and the mate K argue over a pair of trousers and a hideous belt. I was glad the kid had company though,as I am useless when she holds up what she considers to be a nice top. It takes all my willpower to say
"Yes its lovely" rather then "What on earth is it supposed to be?"
We dropped in Sasha, the kid sometimes likes their stuff. The mate K was aghast.
"Only people with a mid-life crises shop here"
"I shop here sometimes" I responded. She went red and merely said
"Oh, em.." Another woman in the shop was chuckling to herself. I told the kid what the mate K had said to which she responded
"Your ma is a midlife crises" This is her latest. You say anything, she responds with your Ma. She finds it hilarious. The woman who was browsing beside us eventually stopped and said
"Right, I have 2 boys your ages" indicating the kid and K "I'm not shopping in here" and left with a smile. I'm sure the woman behind the counter wasn't impressed with the kid scaring off potential customers.
Two hours later, I am laden down with bags, sitting outside some dressing room, exhausted. In fairness, we had stopped in every second shop from the Irish Life Mall to Pennies at the end of Henry Street. Just about finished, they wanted to go look at Debs dresses. I was about to cry. I told them I needed lunch and to sit down for more then 5 minutes. Thankfully, they took pity on my distressed state and we had lunch. At that moment I was the best big sister ever. The bank account thought I was the worst person ever.
I went to see Deliver us from Evil Saturday night. Extremely disturbing and thought provoking documentary. Not exactly Saturday night entertainment. When I got home Mammy2 was in bed but still awake. She told me the kid had come home extremely upset and had cut herself again. She didn't get out of her what was wrong but she reckoned the kid had been drinking. She had went to a gig, the same band as last week and I have a feeling that the gang of people that she hangs around with are the same gang she used to hang with years ago when she was going through all that shit. I don't know if she should hang with them again. Not if the end result is her getting drunk and cutting herself.
The following morning, we bounded into her room with her easter egg. We decided that she could eat it before breakfast. Don't ask, Its a constant battle in our place to get breakfast into her before munchies. She had plasters all over the area she had cut. I asked Mammy2 about it and she said the kid had taken apart a razor and cut fairly deep. Its heartbreaking to think of her doing this to herself. Especialy when there's nothing you can say or do that will make any difference.
We decided that we would hang out for the day together. I gave the mate J a shout, I was supposed to be going to the new lesbian night out Spice but I didn't want to leave the kid. J was great, very understanding. Once the kid was dressed and full of chocolate we headed to the Zoo. The sun
was shining and she was in great form. Taking pictures of everything that moved. We spent a couple of hours there with her, I got to see the meerkats so I was a happy camper. But the trip was for the kid, right? ;) Back into town and to Bottecellis for dinner. She loves that restaurent. Home for a
DVD and munchies on the couch and by that night she was doing much better. She hearts her family! I think we did okay. I have made her promise to call C, her counseller tomorrow and make an appointment. I definetly think she should start seeing her again. Its important. Although any time
I stress the importence of talking to a counseller she gives me that look that implies the whole pot and kettle conversation.
Mammy2 got a phone call though from her Mam about her Dad. He has to do into hospital on Thursday for a biopsy. They found a lump and they want to investigate some more. Mammy2 is fairly upbeat about it but I can tell she's worried. Naturally. I really hope they check it out and remove it and that will be the end of it. Apparently its fairly normal for a man of his age, 66. I'm not so sure I'd trust doctors after the whole Mam thing but they are the people who know best. Allegedly.
I left the girls to their L word marathon as I was exhuasted and had a big day shopping with 2 teenagers the following day. Why I suggest these things I do not know. Saturday morning, 10.30, I'm standing in a shop with bags whilst the kid and the mate K argue over a pair of trousers and a hideous belt. I was glad the kid had company though,as I am useless when she holds up what she considers to be a nice top. It takes all my willpower to say
"Yes its lovely" rather then "What on earth is it supposed to be?"
We dropped in Sasha, the kid sometimes likes their stuff. The mate K was aghast.
"Only people with a mid-life crises shop here"
"I shop here sometimes" I responded. She went red and merely said
"Oh, em.." Another woman in the shop was chuckling to herself. I told the kid what the mate K had said to which she responded
"Your ma is a midlife crises" This is her latest. You say anything, she responds with your Ma. She finds it hilarious. The woman who was browsing beside us eventually stopped and said
"Right, I have 2 boys your ages" indicating the kid and K "I'm not shopping in here" and left with a smile. I'm sure the woman behind the counter wasn't impressed with the kid scaring off potential customers.
Two hours later, I am laden down with bags, sitting outside some dressing room, exhausted. In fairness, we had stopped in every second shop from the Irish Life Mall to Pennies at the end of Henry Street. Just about finished, they wanted to go look at Debs dresses. I was about to cry. I told them I needed lunch and to sit down for more then 5 minutes. Thankfully, they took pity on my distressed state and we had lunch. At that moment I was the best big sister ever. The bank account thought I was the worst person ever.
I went to see Deliver us from Evil Saturday night. Extremely disturbing and thought provoking documentary. Not exactly Saturday night entertainment. When I got home Mammy2 was in bed but still awake. She told me the kid had come home extremely upset and had cut herself again. She didn't get out of her what was wrong but she reckoned the kid had been drinking. She had went to a gig, the same band as last week and I have a feeling that the gang of people that she hangs around with are the same gang she used to hang with years ago when she was going through all that shit. I don't know if she should hang with them again. Not if the end result is her getting drunk and cutting herself.
The following morning, we bounded into her room with her easter egg. We decided that she could eat it before breakfast. Don't ask, Its a constant battle in our place to get breakfast into her before munchies. She had plasters all over the area she had cut. I asked Mammy2 about it and she said the kid had taken apart a razor and cut fairly deep. Its heartbreaking to think of her doing this to herself. Especialy when there's nothing you can say or do that will make any difference.
We decided that we would hang out for the day together. I gave the mate J a shout, I was supposed to be going to the new lesbian night out Spice but I didn't want to leave the kid. J was great, very understanding. Once the kid was dressed and full of chocolate we headed to the Zoo. The sun
was shining and she was in great form. Taking pictures of everything that moved. We spent a couple of hours there with her, I got to see the meerkats so I was a happy camper. But the trip was for the kid, right? ;) Back into town and to Bottecellis for dinner. She loves that restaurent. Home for a
DVD and munchies on the couch and by that night she was doing much better. She hearts her family! I think we did okay. I have made her promise to call C, her counseller tomorrow and make an appointment. I definetly think she should start seeing her again. Its important. Although any time
I stress the importence of talking to a counseller she gives me that look that implies the whole pot and kettle conversation.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Why be difficult when with a bit of effort you can be impossible?
Its nearly time for the long weekend to commence. I can't wait. Even though I have a few things on, its still great to be off work. This week has been a bit busy, this morning for example I wasn't able to go online until at least 11.30. Madness. Pure madness. Yesterday evening was so lovely walking home. Everyone was in good form, even the roughians who usually like to throw bricks instead of bread at the swans seem to have mellowed. Bless their cottens.
I was so tired and sick and sore yesterday, but the sun did manage to cheer me up. Until I hit town and had to go to a number of shops. I wanted to get Mammy2 a pressie. It's been 2 months since the whole work place confronting her on her illness and the ultimatium. She's been doing so well, no really big episodes to talk of. So I felt the occasion deserved marking. I tried the bodyshop for a perfume she likes. It turns out its been discontinued. What's the
story with discontinuing perfume? I don't get it. As it turns out I asked for moonshine as opposed to moonflower. No wonder the woman behind the corner looked at me strangely. I moved onto Plan B. Something Leinster related. To Arnotts, deftly avoiding the women and their "Would you like to be covered in some horrible smelling perfume that will make you feel like her" and they point out random poster of a woman, who in fairness lookes to be enjoying
herself. I passed. No Leinster stuff. Plan C. No present and no card, this gift business was tough.
I decided a last resort. The perfume Shop in the Illac Centre. Rude does not begin to cover the thick cow behind the counter. I was so close to tell her to shove the perfume somewhere which cause some sort of facial reaction. But I was at Plan C. I got the perfume, Hugo Boss for women, its really nice and went to Marks to buy some potatoes. Mammy2 had offered to cook dinner as the mate S had cancelled the the kid was off hanging with the new man. We had the place to ourselves. Whilst in Marks recovering from the rude woman, I spotted an Easter egg shaped like a tractor. I was chuffed. Obviously I didn't buy it for myself. You don't buy Easter eggs for yourself. I don't like easter eggs as it takes me ages to eat them and Mammy2 and the kid end up suffering because I have the egg
still in the fridge weeks later. Its not really fair. I will get Mammy2's tonight or on Saturday.
She was delighted with her present and card. She didn't think I'd notice. I told her I notice a lot of things and was well proud of her. She loved the perfume as she'd been saving the stuff she had. I think I did well and it was worth the rude cow in the shop. She cooked a lovely dinner of roasted sea bass with some garlic and leek. I'm getting the impression she's trying to get me to try new things food wise. Good luck to her. Thankfully, there were new potaoes. It was yums and I managed to eat most of it. Although I get scared with fish that have bones. I am convinced one day that's what will kill me. How embaressing? Imagine."How did she die in the end?" "Oh a fishbone" Terrible stuff. Hence I am wary of them. And they have so many fecking bones?
A relaxing evening on the couch chatting then. Once we had evicted the kid. The boyf had to get the 7.30 bus at home so hence loud music and incense as we entered the apartment. We told her she could get a DVD and she moved a bit faster into the bedroom. I love chatting with Mammy2, she's one of the few people who I can talk to without feeling stupid. I am mates with some intellingent individuals. Sometimes I feel like an idiot when talking to them. With her its never like that,one of the things I love about her.
I was so tired and sick and sore yesterday, but the sun did manage to cheer me up. Until I hit town and had to go to a number of shops. I wanted to get Mammy2 a pressie. It's been 2 months since the whole work place confronting her on her illness and the ultimatium. She's been doing so well, no really big episodes to talk of. So I felt the occasion deserved marking. I tried the bodyshop for a perfume she likes. It turns out its been discontinued. What's the
story with discontinuing perfume? I don't get it. As it turns out I asked for moonshine as opposed to moonflower. No wonder the woman behind the corner looked at me strangely. I moved onto Plan B. Something Leinster related. To Arnotts, deftly avoiding the women and their "Would you like to be covered in some horrible smelling perfume that will make you feel like her" and they point out random poster of a woman, who in fairness lookes to be enjoying
herself. I passed. No Leinster stuff. Plan C. No present and no card, this gift business was tough.
I decided a last resort. The perfume Shop in the Illac Centre. Rude does not begin to cover the thick cow behind the counter. I was so close to tell her to shove the perfume somewhere which cause some sort of facial reaction. But I was at Plan C. I got the perfume, Hugo Boss for women, its really nice and went to Marks to buy some potatoes. Mammy2 had offered to cook dinner as the mate S had cancelled the the kid was off hanging with the new man. We had the place to ourselves. Whilst in Marks recovering from the rude woman, I spotted an Easter egg shaped like a tractor. I was chuffed. Obviously I didn't buy it for myself. You don't buy Easter eggs for yourself. I don't like easter eggs as it takes me ages to eat them and Mammy2 and the kid end up suffering because I have the egg
still in the fridge weeks later. Its not really fair. I will get Mammy2's tonight or on Saturday.
She was delighted with her present and card. She didn't think I'd notice. I told her I notice a lot of things and was well proud of her. She loved the perfume as she'd been saving the stuff she had. I think I did well and it was worth the rude cow in the shop. She cooked a lovely dinner of roasted sea bass with some garlic and leek. I'm getting the impression she's trying to get me to try new things food wise. Good luck to her. Thankfully, there were new potaoes. It was yums and I managed to eat most of it. Although I get scared with fish that have bones. I am convinced one day that's what will kill me. How embaressing? Imagine."How did she die in the end?" "Oh a fishbone" Terrible stuff. Hence I am wary of them. And they have so many fecking bones?
A relaxing evening on the couch chatting then. Once we had evicted the kid. The boyf had to get the 7.30 bus at home so hence loud music and incense as we entered the apartment. We told her she could get a DVD and she moved a bit faster into the bedroom. I love chatting with Mammy2, she's one of the few people who I can talk to without feeling stupid. I am mates with some intellingent individuals. Sometimes I feel like an idiot when talking to them. With her its never like that,one of the things I love about her.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The fabulous Dixie Chicks
The fabulous Dixie Chicks
As many of the long suffering friends will testify, I am a big music fan, although the definition of music is quite flexible in this instance ;) I have also discovered this whole lyrics malarky. Its been a real eye opener. For example, the boy bands all sound quite similar when you listen to their lyrics. I won't even try and listen to any of the eurovision lyrics because there's no point. I have always loved the Dixie Chicks and their latest album is fab. This song, in response to the complelty OTT reaction to their criticism of George Bush is just great.
Not Ready to Make Nice
Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting
I'm through, with doubt,
There's nothing left for me to figure out,
I've paid a price, and i'll keep paying
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should
I know you said
Why can't you just get over it,
It turned my whole world around
and i kind of like it
I made by bed, and I sleep like a baby,
With no regrets and I don't mind saying,
It's a sad sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should
Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting
If you haven't heard it
Powerful stuff, I'm watching their website all the time in case they decide on another world tour and come to Ireland. They are one act I would not want to miss. The last time they were here I wasn't really into them. Tired just does not cover my current state. The kid commented on the state of me when I came in last night, and before you think it, I wasn't hoping off walls tiddly. I was strangely sober, it was one of those nights that was quite sobering. I feel emotionally and physically exhuasted. Then again I am PMTing..Someone throw chocolate at me for the love of god.
Just a small bar, I can't manange much more. Mammy2 was joking last night that she was going to get me an easter egg but they were all too big so I told her that a kinder egg would do just fine. Its titch sized and probably all I could manage. Speaking of easter eggs, there was loads around on Monday evening and its as if the Easter bunny raided
every single shop in town. There's not an egg left in the city. Thankfullly Mammy2 got the kids when she was doing the grocery shopping yesterday. I still have to get Mammy2's. She claims she doesn't want one but how could you not want an Easter egg, espeically if you're one of those chocolate fans? Seriously, it makes no sense!
The kid made me look at various pictures from her gig on Saturday night. She was able to put names to the hair with guitar doing some sort of strange dance. Moshing I believed she called it. Its funny because in various pics of the crowd, you can see her red hair standing out a mile. The boyf is up today, she chanced her arm yesterday by asking if he could stay over. She knows him all of 2 weeks. Teenagers. They're such chancers.
As many of the long suffering friends will testify, I am a big music fan, although the definition of music is quite flexible in this instance ;) I have also discovered this whole lyrics malarky. Its been a real eye opener. For example, the boy bands all sound quite similar when you listen to their lyrics. I won't even try and listen to any of the eurovision lyrics because there's no point. I have always loved the Dixie Chicks and their latest album is fab. This song, in response to the complelty OTT reaction to their criticism of George Bush is just great.
Not Ready to Make Nice
Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting
I'm through, with doubt,
There's nothing left for me to figure out,
I've paid a price, and i'll keep paying
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should
I know you said
Why can't you just get over it,
It turned my whole world around
and i kind of like it
I made by bed, and I sleep like a baby,
With no regrets and I don't mind saying,
It's a sad sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should
Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting
If you haven't heard it
Powerful stuff, I'm watching their website all the time in case they decide on another world tour and come to Ireland. They are one act I would not want to miss. The last time they were here I wasn't really into them. Tired just does not cover my current state. The kid commented on the state of me when I came in last night, and before you think it, I wasn't hoping off walls tiddly. I was strangely sober, it was one of those nights that was quite sobering. I feel emotionally and physically exhuasted. Then again I am PMTing..Someone throw chocolate at me for the love of god.
Just a small bar, I can't manange much more. Mammy2 was joking last night that she was going to get me an easter egg but they were all too big so I told her that a kinder egg would do just fine. Its titch sized and probably all I could manage. Speaking of easter eggs, there was loads around on Monday evening and its as if the Easter bunny raided
every single shop in town. There's not an egg left in the city. Thankfullly Mammy2 got the kids when she was doing the grocery shopping yesterday. I still have to get Mammy2's. She claims she doesn't want one but how could you not want an Easter egg, espeically if you're one of those chocolate fans? Seriously, it makes no sense!
The kid made me look at various pictures from her gig on Saturday night. She was able to put names to the hair with guitar doing some sort of strange dance. Moshing I believed she called it. Its funny because in various pics of the crowd, you can see her red hair standing out a mile. The boyf is up today, she chanced her arm yesterday by asking if he could stay over. She knows him all of 2 weeks. Teenagers. They're such chancers.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
You are my sunshine...
Isn't the sunshine fab? Okay, so its not 18 degrees and people have beach balls and shorts out everywhere, the latest weather report from Holland courtesy of the the sister, but the sunshine makes everyone seem so much happier. Be gone SAD and all that jazz. Its when the weather is like this I toy with the idea of getting a bike and cycling to work. Then I watch the traffic and the nutters that are the car drivers and I have visions of me being stuck to the front of the 130 the whole way to town. So perhaps not. Its a nice idea in theory, in practice, I'm a nervous enough pedestrian let alone pedalling like the clappers down a main street. Not going to work I'm afraid.
Yesterday I had to attend a launch with Mammy2. She had to schmooze and didn't want to go by herself. And her
work crew are...Well don't get me started. I went along as trophy wife. It was the launch of the gay theatre festival which starts next month. I stood around and sipped my wine whilst she air kissed and darling everyone. She's quite good at schmoozing even though she hates it. I think another bout of the old depression is coming up though. She's doing her best to fight it, but I can't even imagine how tough it is for her. If we can get to Thursday, then I will make her stay in bed all weekend. Not like that, ya dirty feckers! To rest. I was supposed to have nothing planned for the Easter but as it turns out there's something on most days! Good Friday is an L word marathon, come on, we're lesbians, what else are we supposed to do? Sit around and wait for eternal damnation? Might as well enjoy ourselves whilst we are at it!
Saturay is the long awaited clothes shopping trip with the Kid. On Saturday for around 2 hours, I will once again become the "best mammy ever". This title is directly proportional to the size of your bank balence when you go shopping with her. It should be fun though, its been a while since I spent the day with the kid. We might even head to Quirkys. The madness. The brother rang the other evening for a chat. And to tell me someone down home had died. His social calender is very active these days with funerals and removals. He's very old fashioned. Its one of the things I never liked about living in the country. Funerals are a social outing and you have to attend even if you didn't know the person. I remember my uncle and granny heading to the wrong one once and only realising it when they arrived up to sympathise with the family.
The brother wants to know if we are staying over when we travel down for the mass, it hadn't crossed our mind, but he suggested we all head out for a family meal afterwards. As he's making an effort, we told him we would. I just need to find somewhere for the lot of us to stay now as the kid wants her mate K to come along.
Yesterday I had to attend a launch with Mammy2. She had to schmooze and didn't want to go by herself. And her
work crew are...Well don't get me started. I went along as trophy wife. It was the launch of the gay theatre festival which starts next month. I stood around and sipped my wine whilst she air kissed and darling everyone. She's quite good at schmoozing even though she hates it. I think another bout of the old depression is coming up though. She's doing her best to fight it, but I can't even imagine how tough it is for her. If we can get to Thursday, then I will make her stay in bed all weekend. Not like that, ya dirty feckers! To rest. I was supposed to have nothing planned for the Easter but as it turns out there's something on most days! Good Friday is an L word marathon, come on, we're lesbians, what else are we supposed to do? Sit around and wait for eternal damnation? Might as well enjoy ourselves whilst we are at it!
Saturay is the long awaited clothes shopping trip with the Kid. On Saturday for around 2 hours, I will once again become the "best mammy ever". This title is directly proportional to the size of your bank balence when you go shopping with her. It should be fun though, its been a while since I spent the day with the kid. We might even head to Quirkys. The madness. The brother rang the other evening for a chat. And to tell me someone down home had died. His social calender is very active these days with funerals and removals. He's very old fashioned. Its one of the things I never liked about living in the country. Funerals are a social outing and you have to attend even if you didn't know the person. I remember my uncle and granny heading to the wrong one once and only realising it when they arrived up to sympathise with the family.
The brother wants to know if we are staying over when we travel down for the mass, it hadn't crossed our mind, but he suggested we all head out for a family meal afterwards. As he's making an effort, we told him we would. I just need to find somewhere for the lot of us to stay now as the kid wants her mate K to come along.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Nipple Rings
The kid wants to get her nipples pierced. I mean, I started with a "Ya what now ?" You know I consider myself quite the liberal parent. For example, the fact that she did a DIY piercing in her ear with a safety pin, I let pass. Okay, not so much pass as
"Is that a safety pin in your ear"
"Yeah, so?"
"So, take it out. Are you mad?"
"No and no. I want it there."
"You want a safety pin in your ear? Is this in case your burst a thread or something and can quickly replace it?"
Lots of eye rolling followed.
Sunday dinner always provides hours of entertainment. She thinks we're bonding.I'm pretty sure my eyebrows can't get any higher. The false ID for the gig worked, she was head banging with the rest of them. Some guy took his penis out and waved it around. She thought it was very funny. I was worried what sort of gigs she was attending. Her head was sore all day yesterday from moshing. I think she expected sympathy. She had some to the wrong place. I worked for most of the morning and then cooked sunday dinner for the clan. Mammy2 was wrecked from her trip out to the burbs to watch the Leinster game. She just about managed to cook the veg for the dinner. Of course, the kid raced through dinner , leaving potatoes behind. According to Mammy2 and the kid, I ALWAYS cook too many. Ungrateful feckers.
Dinner over with, the bonding over the washing up commenced. With her making as many faces as possible whilst drying. She was also yabbering about going to Galway. And heading to the Wicklow hills to camp with her school friends. This caused us to stop in our tracks. Its all up the air at the moment and I hope its stays up there. Mad fecker. Can you just see a crowd of teenage girls stuck to the side a mountain freezing their pierced nipples off? Having to resuced by helicopter because they lost the map?
The evening was so relaxing, its the first time in ages I've decided not to work the day and instead spend time with the clan. Watching Meerkat manor and reading is great for the soul. Granted the family think I'm mad. The kid decided to go online whilst watching the telly with us. Its a talent apparently only teenagers possess, the ability to watch telly with their back to it. She muttered again about Galway. She wants to go and spend a few days in Galway and you'd think we'd be shipping her off on the first bus there. We are a tad more sensible then that. We like to think. The mate is called K. She met him online last year and hung out with him at Slayer. He's a grand total of 15. I've no idea what's got planned but I am pretty sure its not hanging with a 15 year old for that time.
We laid out the terms and conditions.
- The best mate K has to go with her.
- We need to speak with K's mother to ensure she is actually going down.
- We need to speak with K, the galway dude's parents to ensure he actaully exists.
By speaking to his parents , we mean his actual parents and not his 12 year old best friend, who's voice hasn't broken yet. She glared at me.
"He wasn't 12, he was 16"
We've been through this talking to the 'parents' malarky with different mates. Except the 'parents' always sound like one of her mates. Strange that eh? So those are our terms. She was up at 7 this morning , straightening her hair. I think her sleeping habits are only surpassed by time spent in front of the mirror, preening herself. She's in Cavan with M. I have a feeling his days are numbered.There's this guy, S, a complete tool, who she was mad about but he wasn't really interested in a relationship and so she moved on. Now, all of a sudden because she was single, he might be interested. I'll give him interested if I ever meet him. He was one of the tools around during her passing out at Central Bank in a pool of vomit days. Nice guy. Helped her get acohol. All round good friend really. Like I said, he starts sniffing anywhere near her and he's going to get an earful.
"Is that a safety pin in your ear"
"Yeah, so?"
"So, take it out. Are you mad?"
"No and no. I want it there."
"You want a safety pin in your ear? Is this in case your burst a thread or something and can quickly replace it?"
Lots of eye rolling followed.
Sunday dinner always provides hours of entertainment. She thinks we're bonding.I'm pretty sure my eyebrows can't get any higher. The false ID for the gig worked, she was head banging with the rest of them. Some guy took his penis out and waved it around. She thought it was very funny. I was worried what sort of gigs she was attending. Her head was sore all day yesterday from moshing. I think she expected sympathy. She had some to the wrong place. I worked for most of the morning and then cooked sunday dinner for the clan. Mammy2 was wrecked from her trip out to the burbs to watch the Leinster game. She just about managed to cook the veg for the dinner. Of course, the kid raced through dinner , leaving potatoes behind. According to Mammy2 and the kid, I ALWAYS cook too many. Ungrateful feckers.
Dinner over with, the bonding over the washing up commenced. With her making as many faces as possible whilst drying. She was also yabbering about going to Galway. And heading to the Wicklow hills to camp with her school friends. This caused us to stop in our tracks. Its all up the air at the moment and I hope its stays up there. Mad fecker. Can you just see a crowd of teenage girls stuck to the side a mountain freezing their pierced nipples off? Having to resuced by helicopter because they lost the map?
The evening was so relaxing, its the first time in ages I've decided not to work the day and instead spend time with the clan. Watching Meerkat manor and reading is great for the soul. Granted the family think I'm mad. The kid decided to go online whilst watching the telly with us. Its a talent apparently only teenagers possess, the ability to watch telly with their back to it. She muttered again about Galway. She wants to go and spend a few days in Galway and you'd think we'd be shipping her off on the first bus there. We are a tad more sensible then that. We like to think. The mate is called K. She met him online last year and hung out with him at Slayer. He's a grand total of 15. I've no idea what's got planned but I am pretty sure its not hanging with a 15 year old for that time.
We laid out the terms and conditions.
- The best mate K has to go with her.
- We need to speak with K's mother to ensure she is actually going down.
- We need to speak with K, the galway dude's parents to ensure he actaully exists.
By speaking to his parents , we mean his actual parents and not his 12 year old best friend, who's voice hasn't broken yet. She glared at me.
"He wasn't 12, he was 16"
We've been through this talking to the 'parents' malarky with different mates. Except the 'parents' always sound like one of her mates. Strange that eh? So those are our terms. She was up at 7 this morning , straightening her hair. I think her sleeping habits are only surpassed by time spent in front of the mirror, preening herself. She's in Cavan with M. I have a feeling his days are numbered.There's this guy, S, a complete tool, who she was mad about but he wasn't really interested in a relationship and so she moved on. Now, all of a sudden because she was single, he might be interested. I'll give him interested if I ever meet him. He was one of the tools around during her passing out at Central Bank in a pool of vomit days. Nice guy. Helped her get acohol. All round good friend really. Like I said, he starts sniffing anywhere near her and he's going to get an earful.
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