Tropical Mum

A Day With No Plans

2012-05-28T07:55:00.000+10:00

There were no plans for the Sunday. It was an early rise nevertheless. Puppies needed to perform their ablutions and decided that 5 a.m. was the perfect time to do so.

The youngest child started the whole thing by taking it upon himself to tidy the play room that had been in a state of disarray for a week or more. Pride filled his mother's heart for his initiative, replacing the disappointment she felt that her children had chosen to leave their space in that state for so long. It was getting so bad that the children started to move their play into other rooms, because there was no floor space left in their play room that was free of Lego landmines - anyone who's stepped on one in bare feet would understand the origin of the moniker.

The mother sat down to sort out the toys with her son, the older son avoided work by choosing to put away toys that lived in other rooms. Then he would conveniently forget to return to the room in which work was being performed, until his mother came to find him.

This early morning sorting-of-toys started the ball rolling, next was sorting out the children's clothes. Ankles, wrists and tummies have been peeking out from their outfits for some time and it was time to do a cull. Every item of clothing was tried on and sorted into piles of 'For Donation', 'Last-ditch-attempt-at-stain-removal', 'Too Far Gone' and 'Mending'.

Eucalyptus oil and dishwashing detergent were used to remove the glue stains from school uniforms, the usually forgotton pre-wash stain remover was used on everything else. Time and a spin through the washing machine will tell whether the efforts will be rewarded with clean clothes.

Next was the mending. Sitting in the front room with a strange mixture of instrumental jazz, Supertramp and Fleetwood Mac helped the job to seem somehow enjoyable. The youngest wanted to learn how to sew. There were promises of "Not today, but definitely one time in the future" and secret pride that the child had the desire to learn a skill that would serve him well when he was older and didn't have his mum nearby to ~~avoid~~ do the mending.

The hive of activity swirling around him must have motivated the man of the house to do some organising as well. Unfortunately for the older son, it meant his area was subjected to scrutiny. The oldest boy spent time in his room, under his father's careful supervision, sorting through his special box of treasures. The box of treasures had started to become a dumping ground for the debris that had no home or hadn't ever made it to the bin.

The younger son was not immune to the father's organising fervor, so while it was his turn to sort out his own treasure box, the older son frolicked outdoors with the pups, thankful to be free of any organising duties.

In between the long-put-off jobs, the family had to eat. There were boiled eggs, toast and tea for breakfast, freshly made broccoli soup with homemade croutons for lunch and a chicken and rice dish, whipped up from the remaining contents of the pantry, fridge and freezer. A grocery shop was long overdue, but would have to wait until the beginning of a new week.

By eight o'clock that evening, the children were tucked in their beds, the dogs snoozed on their mat, the mother snuggled under her doona, after having read only one paragraph of her book, and the father was asleep in front of TV. All were exhausted by a day with no plans.

Friday Funny: Toilet Sketch

2012-05-25T06:00:00.002+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

I've been wanting to share this clip since I started sharing funny things on a Friday. Finally, I'm getting around to it. You may have seen it before, but it's worth watching again!

No matter how many times I see this clip, it makes me laugh, but each and every time I think to myself, "but they didn't wash their hands!" Must be the mother in me.

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

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Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

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Puppy Talk

2012-05-22T19:55:00.000+10:00

I've become her again. I cringe as I remember when I first became a mother, and all I ever talked about was the baby. My every thought was of the baby, of his bodily functions, of his feeding, of his sleeping, of my sleeping (or lack thereof). My non-parent friends are saints for putting up with my chatter.

It is natural to talk about this new element of your life, so I don't begrudge new parents their baby chatter. Parents 'get' it, but I should have taken the cues when my friends continually fell asleep in my presence, that I perhaps took it a bit too far.

And now, that I have two new puppies, I'm back there again. When I'm out, I think about them and how long they've been confined. I think about their bodily functions, their diet, whether they've been chewing on Will's shoes or digging up the garden. At night, I wonder whether Will remembered to give them their 'last call' jaunt outside before he came to bed. During conversation with non-dog-owners I am 'littering' my conversation with anecdotes about my puppies and once again, I'm talking about poo and wee. On Saturday, as the eyes of my cat-loving dinner guests started to glaze, I should have taken the hint and spared them the story about the morning I woke to a corridor scattered with wee and poo landmines.

All joking aside, I never knew that there was something missing in my life, until these two came along. No, that's not right. It's not that there was something missing, it's just that they add something more. In such a short time, there is already unconditional love, and they need me.

As the children learn to do things for themselves, I realise that they just don't need me as much anymore. They are not, despite acting otherwise when the task is not desirable, helpless any longer.

These pups are fulfilling my need - my need to be needed, and somewhere deep down, I must have missed subjecting my friends to conversations that revolve around bodily functions.

Friday Funny: Belated Mothers' Day Humour

2012-05-18T06:00:00.002+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

I'm kind of kicking myself that I didn't remember about these funnies last week when Mothers' Day was approaching. Never mind, I had such a nice relaxing time on Mothers' Day that I vote we make it Mothers' Week. So in keeping with the motherhood theme, here are two clips you might have seen before, but I found them funny enough to watch again.

Hope all the mothers enjoyed this week's picks, and even if you aren't a mother, I'm sure you've heard some of the phrases that were in that first song!

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

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The Pitter-Patter of Little Feet

2012-05-16T13:00:00.000+10:00

Got a call yesterday afternoon. It was Will, wrong number, he didn't intend to call me. I said sweetly, "I must have been on your mind". He said in a jokingly sarcastic way, "Yeah, that must have been it." We hung up. Not one minute later, the phone rang again.

"I remembered why I called you. My mate says that he rescued two Maltese-looking dogs and he's looking for a home for them. Should we go take a look?"

You should know that I've been pestering Will for eight months about getting a dog. I want the boys to know the love of a pet, and a rhino beetle and two angel fish don't count as real pets in my book. There is always someone home, our travel days are over, the boys are a bit older and we live in a place that allows pets. Now is a perfect time to adopt a dog. Will has been dragging his feet, always coming up with one excuse or another. When he asked me about having a look at these two dogs, I recognised my opportunity and I pounced with a lightning quick reply in the affirmative.

Will has always said that he didn't want a yappy little dog. He wanted a 'manly' dog. He never said it in so many words, but I know he was thinking it. When we got there, I was fully prepared not to take the animals, because I knew that Maltese were small dogs, and I really wanted a medium-sized dog that I could take on my walks/runs. Nevertheless, I didn't think it would hurt to take a look.

The minute I set eyes on those little furballs, my heart melted. They were so very affectionate, and they were only young puppies--a piece of information Will neglected to give me earlier. My arsenal for resistance was not up to challenge of puppies. They were found cowering at a roadside, trying to cross a busy road, no collars and as scrawny and dirty as can be. They were not loved nor wanted, and were most likely abandoned. I don't know how people could do that to any animal. My inability to resist puppies was coupled with my bleeding heart for runts and underdogs--I was putty in their little paws.

So once again, there is the pitter-patter of little feet in our house. I'm back to dealing with poo and wee, making the home safe for little beings, constantly supervising their activities, and I'm charged with teaching them the ways of the world.

I took them for a little walk today, and they literally ran circles around me, because they have not a clue how to walk on a lead, and I have not a clue how to teach them. But, after walking about 200 metres, they were completely exhausted and have been asleep for the last two hours. Looks like I will need to keep my trial membership at the gym, 'cause I'm not going to get a whole lot of exercise with these two at my side.

There are benefits to having puppies instead of more children. I can get a full night sleep, I can leave them for a couple of hours without a sitter and they won't learn to talk back and roll their eyes at me.

Here is Master6weeks (just kidding, his name is Oscar). He is a rascal and we can already see he is bolder than his sister. He's already escaped our yard every time we put him out there. We should have called him Harry as in Houdini, and because he looks a lot like Harry McLary, but we've agreed on Oscar.

And here is Lucy. She is a little lady and doesn't get up to the antics of her brother, unless he persuades her to join him.

I am smitten.

Growing up, it was always my parents who looked after our dogs, and Will and I totally don't know what we're doing, so if anyone has any sage advice on puppy training, I'm definitely open to receiving it!

A Musical Hug

2012-05-15T06:56:00.001+10:00

Sinuses are doing leaky gross things, head is aching and self-pity abounds. I'm getting a cold, and when all I want to do is climb back into bed and pull the doona over my head, I am forced to soldier on. The kids have to get to school and there is plenty of work waiting for me today.

When I'm sick, all I want is my mom. As she's no longer with us, I have to settle for things that remind me of her. One of her favourite musical artists was Nat King Cole. In my early twenties, I would often spend my weekends out at the property where my folks lived. We used to spend our evenings sitting in front of the fire, with Nat King Cole on the stereo and the dogs warming our feet, chatting until evening turned to night and we could keep no longer keep our eyes open. This song brings back that warm memory and wraps around me like a hug from my mom.

The Gift of Letting Go

2012-05-13T09:10:00.001+10:00

Today is Mother's Day. My children seem to have missed the memo about mums getting to sleep in on their day. On the dot of 6 a.m. they were at my bedside willing me to get out of bed to embark on the treasure hunt they had prepared. After treasures were discovered and my morning coffee was prepared by eight-year-old hands, I had some time to think about my own mother.

It seems a good time to tell you her story, or as much as I know of it.

Her Story

Image

She was only 15 years old, a Cree girl in a frozen northern town, practically a baby herself. What she was thinking at the time, I'll probably never know, but now that I am a mother, I can try to imagine.

On the day I was born, I imagine that if she got to hold me in her arms, she would have looked into my eyes, felt the softness of my newborn skin and touched my dark hair that was the same shade as her own. The smell of newborn baby would have filled her senses; nature would have enveloped us and the bond between mother and child would have been formed. This is why I always think that she never was given the opportunity to hold me, that they whisked me away to be wrapped in blankets with not even an opportunity for her to set eyes on me. I think that if I were in her situation, I would want it that way too. It would be too hard to let go otherwise.

She must have been tortured by her decision. She probably wondered whether I was leading had a happy life. Was I being treated well? Were my new parents kind? Did they love me as their own? Did they care for me better than she could have?

She will be turning 57 this year. Does she still wonder about me? Did her giving me up enable her to finish school and lead a better life? Does she have children and grandchildren now?

My Story

My side of the story is clearer. I spent the first three months of my life in a receiving home. My mom always told me that she was able to choose from the babies who were up for adoption. She said that out of all the babies, I was the ugliest. Thanks Mom. I had this shock of black curly hair that covered only my crown, and I was the scrawniest. Mom had a soft spot for the runts. But I was the only one who was raising my head and looking around. I was strong and alert. I was the one she chose to take home with her. My name, given to me by the nurses at the receiving home was Michelle, after the Beatles song. It vetoed the "Shawna" my mom had in mind for me.

Mom always was straight with me about my adoption. I knew I was adopted for as long as I could remember. I guess she had no choice but to tell me early, seeing as I looked so different from the rest of the family and from every one else in our community. My slanted eyes, high cheekbones and darker skin gave me away--the bane of my life throughout elementary school.

When people find out I was adopted, they always ask me if I have any desire to seek out my birth mother, and my standard response is that I don't have that curiosity. There was a paperwork mix-up and my adoptive mother was sent papers that were intended for my birth mother. It turned out my mom and my birth mother worked in the same hotel. I know my birth mother's name and I know what her circumstances were, that she was so young. Her reasons seem obvious to me.

My mom always used to say that my adoption wasn't about being given away, but about being wanted. I had a mother who loved me with all of her heart. She raised me. She was there when I scraped my knee and when the mean kids would tease. She told me that I could do anything I set my mind to. In my heart and soul I felt that this was person my mother, that it didn't matter that we didn't have the same colour of eyes.

Now that Mom has passed away, I have slightly more curiosity about my birth mother, but only if it were possible to have a view from afar like a window into her life rather than an open door to a relationship; although, I would love her to know that I'm OK. Someone once tried to make me see things from her point of view, that although I don't have a yearning to find my birth mother, she must have a need to know that she made the right decision and that I'm happy.

Heartfelt Thanks

To the woman who gave me up almost 42 years ago, I owe a debt of gratitude. I admire her selflessness and strength in giving me a chance for a better life. I am surrounded by people who love me and I have been all my life. I am truly happy and I hope she is too. Happy Mothers' Day to Christine.

Friday Funny: Mitchell and Webb

2012-05-11T06:30:00.001+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

You can get more than just books at the local library. Yesterday, I found a That Mitchell & Webb Look DVD and decided to share some of their comedy with you here. Here's an example of the wrong way to network at social functions.

The next clip portrays how different advertising can be when its geared for women rather than men.

This sketch is about someone who only just realises what the 'x' means at the end of text messages. [Warning: Mature Content]

And last, but not least, a sketch about what happens when the writers of a medical drama neglect to do any research.

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

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Aspiring to Be Artsy Fartsy

2012-05-07T06:00:00.000+10:00

Recently, I shared a vision I had as a young person, a vision of what my future would hold as a grown-up. What I didn't mention is that my vision had two versions. The second version involved my pursuing an artistic career and becoming a graphic artist. This vision was way fuzzier, I admit.

Throughout high school, I always evenly distributed my course load between academic subjects, so I could get into university one day, and art classes because I was always good at art. Good, not great. If I was great at art then I wouldn't feel the need to hedge my bets with the academic classes would I?

The problem with my artistic endeavours was that I was a perfectionist, and I couldn't just let myself be free with my drawing and painting. If it wasn't 'picture' perfect, it just wasn't good enough, and it crippled my creativity. I would spend tortuous hours, drawing and rubbing out, painting and painting over, everything I did. It was so I didn't really enjoy the craft. I did it because it was a fairly easy way to get good grades. Even the subject matter wasn't really something that I felt deep within my soul. It was simply chosen to satisfy the criteria of my assignments. I wasn't a true artist, and it is probably all well and good that I never really chased that dream.

Painting of St Basil's Cathedral done in Year 12.
See that top spire? It's lopsided, but I'm learning to ignore it.

I met my Grade 12 art teacher on the street a couple of years after graduation. During the course of our conversation, I felt the inexplicable need to tell him that I was no longer doing art. What did I think, that he would be pleased to hear that his art students were so uninspired that they dropped art the minute they left the classroom? Why did I feel the need to say it? It's because I wanted him to tell me that it was some grand mistake and that I should be nurturing my talent and that I should go back to that canvas and paint, Shelly, paint! I wanted him to stroke my ego. He didn't. In fact, there was kind of an awkward silence. We struggled for something further to say, and we parted ways with a small wave.

Was I right not to go after a career where the assessment of your work is so subjective, where my perfectionism would be a hinderance? Probably, but I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to be in a more creative role today. I love to look at artwork and I appreciate the effort it takes to create it.

"Rainbow Web" - A drawing I did for the boys' playroom.
I liked everything except the actual spider.

Now that I am older, I'd like to have a crack at drawing and painting for the sake of it, allowing myself to make mistakes, to rip off the page or paint over the canvas and start again, or heaven forbid...leave the imperfection there. So I'd like to start with drawings on scrap paper so I won't care if I make a mistake and have to chuck the paper in the bin. Who knows? With practice, I might be able to create something that I like. Mr F, you can rest easy, I won't let this extraordinary talent go to waste! I know you were worried, for the sake of art lovers everywhere!

Do you have any talents that are lying latent? I reckon it's never too late to stoke that fire, unless you wanted to become a child actor, I'm afraid it's too late for that.

Friday Funny: Men in Coats

2012-05-04T06:00:00.003+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

There was plenty of laughter in the other room just now. Will was showing the boys a humorous video on his computer. When I popped my head in to see what was so funny, this is what I found them watching.

I'd found my Friday Funny for this week. My job was done, thanks boys!

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

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It's that simple.

How Do I Get That Can't-Sit-Down Gene?

2012-05-02T12:46:00.000+10:00

Will's mum is visiting.

It seems as if whenever we've spent time with Mum, there have been things going on that caused her life to be super busy. Last year she was in the throes of organising a family reunion for more than 150 relatives. A few months prior to that, she arrived on a moment's notice look after my family while I flew to Canada to say my goodbyes to Dad. Before that, she looked after the boys and me while I was undergoing radiation treatment. Every single time, she's been run off her feet with looking after us.

This time, I promised myself that her stay would be restful. I planned to do all the cooking and looking after my own children and keeping up with housework while she sat back, watched daytime soaps and ate bonbons. She would not have to lift a finger.

It doesn't recognise me anymore.

What I didn't plan for was her inability to sit still. Mum has to be doing stuff all the time. She's started giving the boys their breakfast in the morning and making their lunch, she's been doing the laundry, and today I caught her cleaning the walls. She assured me it was because she was looking for something to do, and made a joke about doing some painting if I had a brush and some paint. She cooked dinner last night and she's got dinner planned for tonight.

I wish I had that can't-sit-down-gotta-keep-busy gene. Given the opportunity, I would certainly sit back, with feet up and coffee in hand, to watch Dr Phil.

The real problem with Mum's helping out so much, is not that I feel like my housewifing (it is a word if I say it is) and mothering is being shone in a bad light, but that I might get used to it, and I won't let her go home. I'll hide her airline ticket. Or worse, my family will get used to it and expect me to maintain the same level of care that they've been getting from their Nana/Mum.

And before you ask, she is my mum-in-law and you can't have her.

Are you someone who can't sit still and do nothing? If so, how does one catch that bug?

Friday Funny: Children's Show Parodies and Humour

2012-04-27T06:00:00.000+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

Not sure how I happened upon these clips, but one thing led to another, and this is what I ended up with: children's show parodies and humour. So be warned, despite what you might think, these are not for little eyes and ears, unless you want to have to do a whole lot of explaining.

I love Elmo's interviews, and this next one is the outtakes of an interview he did with Ricky Gervais.

For the last one, if you don't appreciate adult humour, I suggest you finish it here and come back next week. I won't be offended if you skip this one as it's a bit naughty.

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

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Visit some of the other bloggers who've linked up and spread the comment love.

It's that simple.

Yesterday I Was on Fire. Today Not So Much.

2012-04-24T13:19:00.000+10:00

Dusting Off the Iron

Yesterday, I was awesome. I did something that resembled 50 loads of washing, drying, folding and putting away. I ironed. Let me say that again...I ironed.

To illustrate the significance of this, recently, a friend drew (very badly I must add) an iron on Drawsomething. When I complained that her drawing looked like a cigar with a nipple ring (like that exists), she retorted jokingly that it's just because I never use my iron and that I don't know what one looks like. Touché. She had me there.

Well, yesterday I ironed, and - make sure you're sitting down when you read this - I mended. My husband's shorts with the split up the rear are fixed. The missing button on his shorts has been sewn back on, and it wasn't even a necessary button. It was just one of those annoying ones they put in prominent places so that it will pop off at the first opportune moment, but actually serves no purpose.

Dinner was on the table by six, not seven or later. The boys ate seconds of it, without fuss. The table was cleared away, with the help of my husband, immediately after we left the table.

Every chore that had to be done during the day was done, and then some. I was on fire, I tell you.

Today, in contrast, is turning out to be a total wash. The kids were ratbags in the morning. My oldest morphed from the lovely child that he's been for the last couple of days into the one that will do every thing in his power to slow things down, rile his mum up and annoy his brother. The youngest wasn't much better with his whingeing because I wouldn't take him to Toys R Us to buy a Star Wars Lego set. (Thanks Dear Hubby for that little precedent-setting while I was away in Melbourne.) Was happy it was a school day today, honestly.

Dealing with the kids' less-than-exemplary behaviour this morning has set the tone for the day, and it seems that I'm being a bit naughty also. Nothing's getting done. I have a little bit of work that I will save to the last minute. I've been ignoring the bathroom that needs cleaning, and I walk right past those dust bunnies that need rounding up and that plant that needs watering.

I guess it's a bit of yin yang. I couldn't possibly expect to keep up the pace of yesterday and besides, I don't want the family to get their expectations up. Can't have my husband expecting ironed and mended clothing every day of his life. He hasn't even noticed yet (in his defense, he doesn't wear his casual clothes to work, but when I do mending, I like praise). But you can bet when I sat down at 8:30 pm after everything was done, he made a comment about my playing games on my phone. There's just no pleasing these people.

Friday Funny: Rowan Atkinson

2012-04-20T05:30:00.001+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

You can't go past the comedy of Rowan Atkinson for a good laugh. Whenever I see this scene from Mr Bean, I always think of my children and how they might be tempted to hide their food when it is something they particularly don't enjoy. I've yet to find mushrooms and capsicums in the pot plants so...so far so good!

The next clip is a study on Elementary Dating. Embedding is disabled, so you'll have to have a look and come back to check out the funnies from others who have linked up. Here is the clip.

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

Visit some of the other bloggers who've linked up and spread the comment love.

It's that simple.

The Road Not Taken

2012-04-19T07:47:00.000+10:00

As a teenager, I had a clear vision of my future.

There was this old grey building with an ornate exterior and flower boxes at the windows. It was located in Downtown Vancouver, and to me it looked like it was the oldest building in the city. I liked its character because Vancouver, being a relatively new city in comparison to those on the east coast of Canada, had little in the way of characterful buildings. This was where I planned to live, in an apartment on the second floor.

I would live alone in this apartment, surrounded by beautiful art and elegant furniture. I even purchased a limited edition print once I was working full time, with the intention of placing it prominently on the wall of my future apartment on the second floor.

I envisaged revelling in the solitude. On Sunday mornings I would dress in smart casual clothing, read the papers, drink good coffee and listen to classical music. There would be fresh cut flowers placed around the room. I had sophisticated tastes for a young person. In my vision, it was raining outside, because it is always raining in Vancouver, but I would be cosy and comfortable in my apartment.

Money wouldn't be a problem, because I would work in an office at some unknown occupation that would surely be lucrative. I would be a manager of some sort and people would come from far and wide to seek out my expert knowledge in my chosen field, whatever that may be.

I wouldn't marry until I was at least 30 and children were something I would consider when the time was right, but certainly not before I had established a career and travelled the world in my spare time from said career.

So did any parts of my vision come to pass?

After my schooling, and as soon as I was able to afford it, I found myself a small studio apartment in Burnaby. It was a fair distance away from my coveted downtown apartment, but it was a start.

What I didn't count on was the fact that I would be desperately lonely living on my own and that I would spend most of my weekends with my parents out at the remote property where they lived. I would do anything to avoid spending time in my apartment alone.

In the end, I decided that I couldn't afford an apartment and a car, and I didn't admit it to anyone, but I also couldn't stand living by myself, so I answered an ad for shared accommodation - sharing a house with four others, all guys (an interesting bunch, I'll tell you about them one day).

I met my husband through one of my room mates and followed him to New Zealand. In the years that followed, we travelled the world together, eventually settling in Australia - so very far away from that apartment in Downtown Vancouver.

We didn't marry until one week after my 30th birthday so that part did come true, but it was after eight years in a committed relationship.

My IT career was in its fledgling stages when I became pregnant three years after we married and we decided I would stay at home with the bubs.

When Child Number Two came along, we moved to the tropics. Now the rain that falls outside our window is monsoonal.

I work from home as a Virtual Assistant and because of my family commitments, I am restricted to part-time hours. This means that money is tight, so we don't spend it on elegant furniture and fresh cut flowers. The only fresh cut flowers around here are made with paper, glue and scissors.

Do I have any regrets about the road not taken? Well, it all depends on what time of the day you ask me. If you were to ask me at the beginning or the end of the day, when I've just had wonderful cuddles with my sons, then my answer would be an emphatic, "no way". If you were to ask me when I'm feeling guilty about spending money on a cup of coffee or when one of my children rolls his eyes at me or when I can't hear myself think for all the caterwauling going on in my household...well maybe just a little bit. The solitude and the financial security in my vision sometimes seems very appealing.

All in all, a lot of the things that I envisaged did come true, like world travel and my home is filled with beautiful artwork (left to me by my Mom, and that limited edition print sits above my desk where I work and blog), but they came about via a different route than what I had originally planned.

I'd love to hear from you. Did you have all sorts of grandiose plans when you were younger? Has your life turn out like you planned? Are you happy with the way things are turning out so far?

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

~ Robert Frost

Foisting My Childhood Memories on My Offspring

2012-04-16T14:08:00.000+10:00

The Sound of Music was aired every year of my childhood, and I sat with my eyes glued to the television screen each and every time it aired. So when I was at the library recently browsing the DVD selection for something to watch with the kids, this movie jumped off the shelf into my hands. THIS was a movie that my children needed to see. This was the stuff of my memories, it was something I wanted to share with them.

I used to love each and every one of the songs, and I could sing them by heart, albeit very badly. In fact, when my oldest son was just a baby, I did sing 'My Favourite Things' to him. My youngest son was spared my off-key warblings. Lucky him.

Of course when it came time to watch the movie, my children had different ideas. They would rather watch Megamind or some other contemporary tale. I asked them, "Do you want to watch The Sound of Music?" and they declined politely. I persisted, "Are you sure? It's a really good movie, I'm sure you would enjoy it." "No thanks, Mum" was their reply.

Yesterday, I gave up asking them, and plunked the DVD into its slot and sat back to watch Julie Andrews weave her magic with the von Trapp children and their widowed father. I was fully prepared to watch it by myself, but I thought that if I started watching it, they might take interest in what I was doing, as they usually do.

Slowly, once the lovely melodies filled the room, the boys, along with their father, tucked themselves next to me and sat rapt for the next few hours while the story unfolded. Of course MasterSix's attention span was shorter, so he spent a lot of the time doing headstands on the couch, but he refused to go do something else. He continued to watch, even if it was from an upside-down vantage point.

We spent the afternoon watching this classic movie together as a family, and I shared with my boys a fond memory from my childhood, even if I did have to be sneaky to get them to watch. Hopefully it will perpetuate into a fond memory of their own one day.

Do you have a favourite movie that you used to watch as a child that you would like to share with someone close to you?

Friday Funny: Michael McIntyre on the Scots

2012-04-13T06:30:00.001+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

I've never met a prouder Scot than my dad. On every special occasion Dad would don his kilt. Our family coat of arms was always displayed prominently in his home. His forearms were tattooed with a Scottish highlander on his left arm and a Scottish dagger on the right.

When I came across this week's clips from Michael McIntyre, I immediately wished I was able to share these with him. Here's a bit of humour about the Scots. [Warning: Mature content]

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

Visit some of the other bloggers who've linked up and spread the comment love.

It's that simple.

Acting Like a Tourist

2012-04-12T16:17:00.002+10:00

Today we saw one of my mothers-in-law off at the airport. Have I ever mentioned that I have two? Will's parents were divorced and both remarried. So I am fortunate to have not one, but two mothers-in-law, and I'm not saying that with one iota of sarcasm. I really did strike erm...the mother lode when it came to reasonable in-laws.

For the last six days, we've been keeping Diana busy with lots of activities. On Saturday we enjoyed a barbecue on the beach, and the moon made an appearance in its full glory, making her beach barbecue experience all the more special.

Much relaxing was done on Easter Sunday, after the Easter Bunny pulled an erm...rabbit out of the hat, by sneaking the eggs into the house while the boys were told to stay in their room. The Easter Bunny is losing his touch, clearly; in past years, the eggs would have been placed in plenty of time for waking children, so not the case this year. We enjoyed a roast dinner and afterwards just rolled on the floor, grasping at our tummies and groaning at the excessive chocolate eaten during the day.

On Monday, we drove up to Kuranda and showed Diana the markets, before heading to Lake Barrine to enjoy a hurried Devonshire Tea. We had to rush so that we could make the last ferry around the lake, only to find afterwards that they tacked on another trip round the lake for some latecomers so there was never any need to rush. Many dodgy photos were taken of reflections off the water while trying to snap pics of the turtles. I have umpteen million photos of this duck who followed the boat around the lake.

On Tuesday, we visited the Botanical Gardens and the Tanks Art Centre. This was a treat, because I've never actually been to the Art Centre before. There wasn't much going on but now I can say I've been there, and that's gotta count for something.

Yesterday, we braved school holidays at the shopping centres, with two bored boys who were mostly well-behaved until the last half an hour or so when their behaviour declined rapidly. Then I just pretended they weren't mine.

We caught up with the boys' three-year-old cousin in the evening and went to a nice restaurant in Trinity Beach for a meal. The rain, which I had naively thought was gone until next wet season, made another appearance, so we had to shift our seats numerous times to avoid the pelts of rain coming in sideways at us.

The downpour is persisting today, but we were so very lucky to have a break from it for the majority of Diana's stay. She's going back to 11 to 19 degree temperatures in Wellington while we remain in the balmy 28 degrees of tropical Cairns.

It's been a lovely visit, and I hope that she will be able to come visit again soon.

Next month, my other mother-in-law, Will's mum, is coming to visit, so we have something else to look forward to! I love having people to stay, especially the kind who will help to look after my darling offspring and give me an excuse to eat, drink and pretend I'm on holiday too.

Friday Funny: The Big Bang Theory

2012-04-06T07:16:00.000+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

The Big Bang Theory is my current favourite TV sitcom. The local television plays this programme to death, and I still go back for more. I hope it doesn't end up being like Seinfeld for me. Channel 10 played Seinfeld everyday at 6 pm for something like a decade, and then it was the Simpsons. I can't stand those shows anymore. Although having shared a scene from Seinfeld a while ago, I must admit I'm finally becoming able to watch it again...just.

The Big Bang Theory has something different. I'm sure it will be funny to me in the years to come. What is it that I enjoy so much about the show? As someone who often gets tongue-tied and forgets what the words are for things (I chalk it up to Mummy Brain) I have a real appreciation for the number of complex words and the speed with which these actors need to speak them. So the first clip this week is a glimpse at just how hard it is to pull it off.

Because they've played so many episodes on the TV, I thought it would be nice to find one that you might not have seen. It is the opening with Craig Ferguson on the Late Late Show.

Sheldon doesn't struggle with trying to get along in society, he just doesn't care to. This next clip shows Sheldon having to cast aside his apathy for romance and come up with the right words for his quasi-girlfriend, Amy, if he wants to avoid losing her to Stuart.

The next clip demonstrates Sheldon's unique sense of style. Unfortunately embedding has been disabled, so once you've seen the clip don't forget to come back to check out the other links in this week's link up. Here's the link to the clip.

Do you enjoy watching The Big Bang Theory? If so, who is your favourite character and why?

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

Visit some of the other bloggers who've linked up and spread the comment love.

It's that simple.

Letter Written to My Pre-DPCON12 Self

2012-04-03T13:56:00.001+10:00

If I had a time machine and could get a message to myself one week in the past, this is what it would say:

Dear Shelly,

I thought I would just drop you a line from the future to help allay your fears about the upcoming Digital Parents Conference in Melbourne.

I know that you are crapping yourself right now; you think that there's a possibility that you've paid all this money to attend and you'll be hanging by yourself for the whole conference. You're worried that your inability to make small talk will paralyse you with fear, or if you do make the attempt to mingle you will offend someone or come off as a complete dork.

Don't worry so much, you will be fine. When you step off the plane, the friendly and outgoing Kristy from The Imperfect Mum will tap you on the shoulder and introduce herself.

You'll meet other bloggers in the lobby of the hotel and everyone will arrange to join up and make their way for a bite to eat and on to the pre-conference drinks. You will not feel excluded, you will feel included.

You'll walk to the pre-conference drinks with your conference buddy Denyse Whelan and you'll learn that she is just as lovely and warm in real life as she seems online. Once there, you won't hang out with just one group, you will mingle, albeit a bit awkwardly, but you'll do it. At this point, you will still be shy about saying hello to some of the 'bigger' bloggers, but you needn't be, trust me.

With Ness (my DPCON buddy who
couldn't make it) and Suzy

With Norlin, fellow lover of music

Having got through the first night of socialising, you'll find it easier once you get to the conference. Everyone will be quite open to conversation, and by this time, your room mate, Caz from The Truth About Mummy will have arrived so you will have another buddy. Again, in real life, you'll find Caz is as open and friendly as she is online.

With Kirsty of My Home Truths

Darren from Problogger speaking
about Blogging for Social Good

You'll enjoy the sessions of the conference, but you'll wish you had attended Nic Avery's Blog Boost session instead of the Working With Brands one. By the end of the day, you will feel exhausted from all the concentrating but you will feel exhilarated about the upcoming gala dinner and drinks. This is where the fun will really begin.

At the dinner, there will be no moments of shyness about dancing, everyone will be on the floor almost immediately. You'll think that it is so refreshing to see not a moment of time wasted. At the end of the night, you will have had a wonderful time, but you will be sensible and be in bed before midnight, which is good because you have the blogging BBQ to attend the next day.

With Caz from
The Truth About Mummy

At the BBQ you will chat fairly easily with most people that you encounter, because by this time you will have met them a few times already and you'll have free goodies to discuss!

When you say goodbye to your roomie, Caz, who will head back to her family after the BBQ, you'll walk back to the hotel lobby and come across a few more lovely bloggers. You'll forgo a rest in your hotel room for some great conversation and a glass of wine or two.

Then some of those bloggers, who you were so terrified to greet on the first day, will plunk themselves down next to you and strike up a conversation. You will wonder why you were so shy to say hello earlier in the weekend. Wine and conversation will flow and laughter will ensue. It will be a lovely way to finish off the weekend.

With Mrs Woog

Shae from Free Range in Suburbia
and Kristy from The Imperfect Mum

With Zoey from Goodgoogs

The next morning, you will share a cab with the party from the evening before and you will be on the same plane with Kristy, but unfortunately not sitting together due to a mix up with itineraries (when you see her at breakfast that day, let Kristy know that you are indeed on the same flight and that she should get her bags packed pronto). On landing in Cairns, you will bid farewell to Kristy with the promise of a catch-up on a fairly regular basis with this someone who 'gets' blogging.

When you walk into the arrivals hall of the airport, you will be bowled over by two exuberant children who will be so happy to see their mum. You will find tears in the corner of your eyes because you realise just how much you really missed them and their dad.

So Shelly, don't worry so much about it all, you will have a few palm-to-face moments, but you won't be a complete bumbling fool and you'll have a great time. Just a note though, I definitely recommend changing your baggage allowance to accommodate all the free loot you'll bring back from the conference.

Lots of Love,

Shelly Too

Thumbs Up For Staying on Task

2012-03-28T11:46:00.004+10:00

Last week we had parent-teacher interviews. The interviews went well and the teachers confirmed that my sons are geniuses, geniuses I tell you!

MisterEight's teacher said that he has wonderfully creative ideas, but he gets distracted easily. It must be the brilliant ideas bouncing around in his head that cause him to be distracted and not the fact that he comes from parents who have been known to lack focus on occasion. Often Will will start fixing something in the house and I'll find him five minutes later mowing the lawn, the fix-it job forgotten, as the open tube of superglue dries on the bench. As for me, I have two words for you: social media. Need I say more about my inability to focus? His distraction certainly can't be attributed to the fact that my boy's a normal eight-year-old who has to be told 50,000 times to put his shoes on and can often be found playing with a favourite toy when he's supposed to be brushing his teeth. Certainly not.

Anyway, on the drive home from the school, rather than give him a hard time about his lack of focus, I thought I would give him some tips on how to keep to task, because I am so good at it myself. Oh look there's a butterfly...

I started to tell him that when he's doing a job, he should repeat what his job is over and over again in his head, as in, "I am brushing my teeth, I am brushing my teeth, I am brushing my teeth." But then I realised that if he has to use his brain for something like schoolwork, he can't be using his brain power to repeat the phrase over and over in his head.

My solution was to tell him to put up his thumb and remember that it represents the one thing he needs to be thinking about until that job is done, kind of like the old tie-a-string-around-your-finger trick. He would put his thumb up and every time he'd look at his thumb, he'd think, "My one job is to brush my teeth." With one hand on the steering wheel, I demonstrated extending my thumb with the other hand, while I imparted my words of wisdom. He seemed to be taking on board what I was saying until his father started waving to oncoming traffic and laughing his head off.

Puzzled, I asked Will what he was doing. He said that because I had my thumb up, all the drivers in cars going the opposite direction were waving at us. They must have thought I was giving them the thumbs up and thought it rude not to respond with a wave.

When I heard this, I started to laugh so hard that I lost my focus and Will was seriously worried I might crash the car. Like mother, like son, I guess.

Sunday Session: Marvin Priest

2012-03-25T12:50:00.000+10:00

On Sundays, I join Thea at Do I Really Wanna Blog? in popping some music on the blog. The rules are: there are no rules!
Old or new or in between. Related or not.
But always songs you love!
Here are my picks for this week.
You can play along by linking up with Thea.
Happy Sunday!

It seems I'm continuing my love affair with the music of Marvin Priest. A few weeks ago, I got my hands on his album, Beats & Blips, and I've been listening non-stop. I've shared some of my favourite Marvin Priest songs here before, but since I've been listening to the album, I have new favourites. Here's Take Me Away.

And I loved this song the first time I heard it, She Got Me.

These are great tunes to get you moving. What are your favourite moving and grooving songs?

Friday Funny: Carol Burnett

2012-03-23T07:30:00.001+10:00

It's Friday, a day for winding down, for looking forward to the weekend. It's a great time to share a laugh and a giggle, so on Fridays I like to share something funny with you, and I hope you'll join in the fun.

So, the idea is to share anything that is humorous. It can be a funny post you've written in the past or present, a video you've found, a joke you've heard, a funny picture...anything that tickles your funny bone.

A few weeks back, I included a clip from The Carol Burnett Show with the promise of sharing something else from this talented comedienne.

The first one is amusing, it's about a VERY busy couple.

Here is a video of Tim Conway telling a story about some circus elephants that is sure to make you snort your coffee. [Warning: Coarse Language]

I love sketch comedy shows. Did you ever watch Carol Burnett?

So, if you want to link up, here are the rules:

If you're new here, follow Tropical Mum via RSS Feed, email subscription or Google Friend Connect.
Share your funny on your blog and link up below.
Don't forget to put the Friday Funny badge on your side bar or in your blog post.

Visit some of the other bloggers who've linked up and spread the comment love.

It's that simple.

Nanaimo Bars

2012-03-21T09:45:00.000+10:00

MasterSix's class has a Harmony Day celebration today, and I was asked to contribute something Canadian to the menu. In Canada, or at least in Vancouver, you can get these delicious Nanaimo Bars ready-to-eat in your supermarket bakery section, but for those who don't live in Canada, you just have to make your own.

I had a business meeting last night, and I completely forgot about the fact that these were due today, so I started making these at 9 pm and finished up just after 10 pm. Considering I was tired, they came out pretty well, if I do say so myself. I know from licking the bowl that each layer was scrumptious. The ultimate verdict will be reached when the kids hoe into them later today.

I've adapted the original recipe I found in The International Cookie Cookbook, by Nancy Baggett, for use with Australian measures and ingredients (1 tblsp = 20ml)

Ingredients:

Bottom Layer

4 tblsp unsalted butter
100g dark chocolate melts
1 1/2 cups grated or shredded coconut
1 1/2 cups biscuit crumbs (I used Arnott's Granita biscuits and my food processor)

Buttercream Layer

1 large egg yolk
3 tsps milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups icing sugar

Top Layer

115g dark chocolate melts
1 tblsp Copha

Method:

Line a 20cm square flat baking pan with baking paper.
To prepare the bottom layer, melt the butter, stirring occasionally, in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to very low and stir in the chocolate. Warm, stirring, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Immediately remove from the heat. Stir in coconut and the biscuit crumbs and continue stirring until evenly distributed. Turn mixture out into the baking pan, and press it with fingertips or spoon out over the pan bottom to form a firm, evenly thick layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or until cool to the touch. (To speed up the cooling, place the pan in the freezer instead.)
To prepare buttercream layer, beat egg yolk and milk in a small mixing bowl until well blended. Add butter and vanilla and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Gradually add icing sugar and continue beating until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Using a blunt knife, evenly spread the buttercream layer over the bottom layer. Cover baking pan and return it to the refrigerator (or freezer) until the buttercream layer is cool and firm but not hard.
To prepare top layer, place the chocolate and the Copha in a small heavy saucepan and warm over lowest heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Cool until just barely warm to the touch. Pour chocolate over the buttercream layer and, using a blunt knife, spread it out into an evenly thick layer, working quickly, as the chocolate will quickly begin to set. Cover and refrigerate until the chocolate sets but is not yet hard. Then using a sharp knife, cut through the chocolate to mark into bars. For small bars, mark and cut into 8 sections horizontally and 4 sections vertically. For larger bars, mark and cut it into 8 sections horizontally and 3 sections vertically.
Cover and refrigerate bars for several hours, or until very cold and firm. Remove them from the pan using a spatula.
The bars may be stored, refrigerated, for up to a week. Freeze for longer storage.

A bit messy, but scrummy!

What's your favourite treat from your country of origin?

Road Closures Cause Children and Husband to Stay Home

2012-03-20T15:35:00.000+10:00

Had the kids home from school yesterday. It happened last year, the highway into town closed due to flooding over the road, and yesterday was no different. Despite there being an alternate route, our traffic system couldn't cope with the numbers of cars having to divert to just one way into town from the north. People spent hours waiting in their cars to travel a few metres up the road.

Luckily for us, after last year's experience, we recognised the situation for what it was and turned around at the roundabout nearest our home. Nobody was going to school it seemed.

The kids were ultra-pleased. I guess now that they're in Years 1 and 3, the novelty of school has worn off, and just like grown-ups, they're ecstatic at the prospect of having the day off from the daily grind.

They played on the computer and on the Wii, scattered toys in every room of the house, and in the afternoon, after I had done my work for the day, we all sat down together and watched a B-grade family movie and ate popcorn. The movie sucked, but the boys enjoyed sitting down together with me to watch it.

Meanwhile, outside the rain poured down, and Will worried that he wouldn't be able to make it home from work. He did, thank goodness.

The Oval at the School

Today, most things were back to normal, so the kids had to go back to school, but then Will came home early. The highway closures down south stopped the trucks from getting through, and when you work in the freight industry like Will does, this means long periods of thumb-twiddling, so they sent him home.

As I type this, the boys are going to be surprised by their dad picking them up from school. When he gets back I will finally be able to get the grocery shopping done, the shopping I have been meaning to do since last Friday.

It's funny how a little, or I should say 'a lot of', rain can disrupt the family routine. You just have to 'go with the flow', I guess.