Can I just say...

how very chuffed I am that you guys are still with me!!

No-one has dropped off my followers list, even with my abysmal posting record of late. Thanks so much everyone for sticking with me, and I will have some stuff for you later today (hopefully, depends on family co-operations!!!). In the meantime, have a cute Mum (or Mom, depending on where you live) song . Enjoy...

Oh! Also, the other day I was contacted by a woman setting up a website for Gold Coasters, and she asked me to be a regular contributor!! Yay me! Might be a big ask, considering I haven't even managed to put up a blog post in the last two weeks, but I love a challenge! Stay tuned for details...

First post flashback - I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Corrine over at A Day in the Life to participate in a meme where we go back and re-visit our first ever blog post.

The idea is to see how far we've come, do we still write in the same manner etc., and examine why we started blogging in the first place.

I had been thinking about writing a blog for quite awhile before I actually put finger to keypad. My very tech-savvy sister had gotten me into the whole thing by sharing some of the blogs she followed, and it had stirred up a rememberance for my love of writing.

Plus, having recently become a Mum, I was incenced at all the bullshit out there that targeted mothers and parenting in general. So much conflicting advice, condescending "experts" and playgroup bitches out to judge your choices to feel better about their own.

Being plagued with self-doubt though, I assumed no-one would want to read my drivel and shelved the whole idea. Then a few people started interrupting my ranting and telling me I should write a blog. Then a few more. Then I decided that when the 10th person who didn't know I wanted to write a blog told me that I should, I would. They did, so I did.

I've got to tell you, even though my blog-frequency has waned of late, it is something I still really love and has saved my sanity a few times. Often I'm not even sure what I am going to say on a certain topic until I see it come from my fingertips onto the page. Certain posts have taken on a life of their own, and some have even come to me practically complete as I've lain in bed vainly trying to get to sleep. The fact that I've gotten out of bed in the middle of the night to get a post down is something I'm not sure I'm proud of or embarrassed by!

Blogging has helped me clarify my thoughts, explore my opinions, vent my frustrations, ponder my place in the Universe and meet some clever, charming, funny and just plain strange people!!

So without further ado.. my first foray into the blog-o-sphere...

Parenting and other sins

It seems just about everything we do with our children is causing them harm these days, doesn't it? Let them watch 10 minutes of Dora warbling away so you can have a shower, oops, you've stunted their IQ. Don't let them see a TV until they're 16, oh, you deprived them of so much educational opportunity! Smack them, you're a monster, don't smack them, they'll turn into little monsters themselves.

Is it just me, or have we lost our common sense? We are so desperate to "get it right", that we'll listen to anyone with an opinion, regardless of whether they have any expertise or, more importantly, any children themselves.

One of the hardest things I had to get used to when I had my Gorgeous Girl, was that loss of confidence in myself. I went from someone who was very good at my job, had clear opinions on pretty much everything, and felt capable to take on anything. Then I had GG and realised that I knew nothing. My most important job, and I had no qualifications, no experience (Irealised quickly nieces/nephews and friend's kids do not, in fact, give you a "taste" of parenthood) and no confidence in my ability. Luckily, I quickly regained my confidence that I was the best person to take care of GG, and I like to think I've done a pretty good job so far. She's certainly so delightful it makes it easy to think so.

I'm also lucky in that I have a lot of family support, and that they've respected the parenting decisions I've made, even if they haven't agreed with them. Big lucky there.

Trolling around on the internet (where I do all my important research), I noticed something... In our grandparents era, strictness was Godliness. Babies were to conform to a sleep routine, play mostly by themselves in a playpen or cot with just a few basic toys, and believe it or not, formula was seen as a scientific improvement on breastmilk. Then the pendulum seems to have swung the other way, and it was the complete opposite, feed on demand, and it better be breastmilk, sleep in a family bed, wear your baby in a sling and be at their beck and call within seconds of every whimper. Phew.

Could it be that this pendulum is still swinging, even if the arcs are getting smaller? When will we get to the middle ground, where parents feel they can make decisions about their own family and others will say "Great, glad it works for you." Obviously, some decisions are never OK - smoking when pregnant, abuse, driving drunk and getting 3 yr olds high are always going to be big no-no's, but really, is a bit of TV really so bad for kids? Will every child who has been allowed a bit of ice-cream be obese at age 30? Will a smack on a nappy-padded bottom by a loving parent really scar you for life?

I'd love to hear what you think...

There you have it folks. Oh, and if you're reading this, tag, you're it!!

That's one step closer to world domination!

I've been featured by the gracious Sharni on her wonderful site Sharnanigans as part of a new regular feature: Friday Fertilisers. The title refers to her site's motto, "...the grass isn't greener on the other side, it's greener where you water it.." well, that or she's refering to the amount of "fertiliser" I regularly spout on this little blog of mine!

Sharni started blogging around the same time as me, and has gone on to create her own website full of life lessons, interviews with inspirational and funny people like Alice Grist, Jane Kennedy and Wil Anderson. It's a site of explorations: she explores her new mama-hood, her spirituality and life as a big city gal adjusting to life in a tiny One Horse Town.

I highly recommend you go check her out, there's lots to explore over there!

After reading Sharni's impressions of this blog (and it's superawesome modest author), I've realised that maybe I'm closer to my goal of being more Zen and philosophical, rather than the neurotic mess who over analyses everything that I used to be, and am trying very hard not to be anymore.

It's funny how sometimes when you see yourself reflected back from another person's perspective, the view is better than from inside your own head. :)

I've also realised that I was right to question the name of my blog, I did wonder back at the time whether it was a bit too "huh?", but I have always loved the description of the word; wildly impractical and romantic, given to flights of fancy. Plus I regularly find myself "tilting at windmills" when I gnash teeth and rail against everything from corporate media and truth in advertising to why do they make those darn Rice Wheel packets so hard to open!!!

I also didn't want to be restricted to being "just" a Mummy blog, and it sounded suitably vague enough to cover whatever I may end up writing about!

So there's the story behind this blog's name - now go visit Sharnanigans and give her some love!

Techno-fatigue

I've been daydreaming about living Amish lately. I think it's either a sign that technology in all its forms has been intruding in my life just that little bit too much lately, or I'm having an episode of some sort. I'm going to go with the former.

Lately, I have been feeling intruded upon when I'm out and my phone rings, I have been resenting my laptops insistent little blinking lights imperoiously wondering why I am ignoring it AGAIN when GG and I are snuggled on the couch reading.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my cute little laptop, and the mobile phone does come in very handy when I lock myself out of the house for the upteenth time or can't find my husband in Bunnings. And I do still seriously love blogging, even though I have been suffering with writers block for a bit now, both here and in the book.

But doesn't it all seem a bit much lately? We've got technology everywhere we go, in every facet of our lives. In the 60's the marketing hype was that the technological age was going to make life easier, and give us more leisure time, but it feels like it done the opposite. Now we are running around like over-caffinated ferrets, trying to keep up with our jobs, family and friends and all their associated voicemail, email, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter updates and the like. And part of this is great, I have friends, very good friends, far away who I have not seen for ages, or even spoken to on the phone in months, but still can stay in touch with, share photos of our children smeared in Easter chocolate and the like. The opposite is that I haven't hugged my best friend in yonks, but know that Jane Doe is having soup for dinner. Hold the presses.

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, my family and I all went down to a local park to spend the day together. Kids swung on swings, narrowly avoided permanent injury on the monkey bars and ran around screaming til the sugar wore off. Dogs ran, wrestled and swam til they dropped. Adults barbequed and chatted, even charming the people at the next gazebo over into using their camp oven to boil a kettle for us so we could have a cup of tea. Gold. We sat around talking, we sat around playing board games, we sat around swapping family stories we've all heard a million times before, but still crack up at when they are told. It was just a simple, relaxing, fun day. I didn't pick up my phone all day, I didn't even glance at my laptop. It was awesome.

So while technology is probably a very good thing all up, I have been craving a bit of space from it, a chance to enjoy the simple things in life, and connect with people face-to-face, rather than electronically, or in fact not at all if I feel like it. I have always been one of those people that need time alone to decompress, I am comfortable in my own company, and often simply 'forget' to take my phone with me places, just so I can toddle about on my own, with no interruptions.

As a kid I would often take off on my horse for the day, usually with a friend or two, but often alone, and just... ride around. Follow the trail, see where it went, swim in a creek, dry off laying around in the sun, saddle up again and wander on home just in time for tea. This was waaaay before mobile phones, if I ever got into trouble, I was on my own to figure it out for myself. But it was sheer bliss.

I have been reminicing about those days a lot lately, and no doubt they are fairly rose-tinted and romantacised, but they represent such a lovely thing don't they? Solitude, getting back to nature, living simply and working out how to get yourself home.

Balancing Act

So you've probably noticed that I've not been posting as much.


Part of this is because I've been busy, but hey! Mums are always busy and it didn't stop me in the early days of my blog-addiction from getting out of bed at 1 in the morning after I'd just had an awesome idea for a post and didn't want to forget it. Yes, that actually happened... I'm not sure if I'm proud or ashamed of that... hmm...


Part of it is because I have been suffering from a distinct lack of inspiration and a significant dearth of post topics. Hmm.. could it be that I have finally got everything of my chest?? Heavens no, I'm much more opinionated than that - something is bound to piss me off soon, and I'll race to the laptop to frantically pound on the keyboard til the bad feelings go away.


I think mostly though, I have found (gulp) balance. That elusive middle ground that exists in between the very addictive nature I have, which had me gleefully grabbing the laptop the very second GG had gone to sleep or was otherwise occupied, and the guilt I used to feel when I ignored things that needed doing around the house, or even convinced GG to play by herself or watch a DVD so I could get that post that was scratching the inside of my head out there.


I have recently gone from two days a week to three at work, and am really noticing the difference. So is my house. I have a lovely little vegetable garden, which used to give me so much satisfaction when I would bring in my home-grown organic food to feed my family, but my last harvest was a couple of months ago, and I am yet to re-plant anything. This is partly because of the scorching summer we have just had, and partly because everything needs to be pulled out, turned over, re-planted and re-mulched, and it's kind of a daunting job.

I have also noticed that even though I am away from my Gorgeous Gal an extra day, on the days I am home, I am much more engaged, and more likely to be found sitting on the floor playing. I know she still has me four days week, and of course every morning and night-time, but sometimes I really feel like I’m not getting much time with her, and so I find it easier to be patient and calm, as well as fun and playful, and just drink in the time we have together, just us.

So now the pull of the blog-o-sphere isn't so strong; GG is getting more quality time, I will eventually sort out both my garden and the laundry pile and balance has been restored to my universe. Looks like the only person missing out is... you, dear reader.

Hmmm...

So... I got nuthin.

I'm sitting here all prepped and ready to post, GG is asleep, Hubby is still on his way home from work, so I have peace and quiet... but no inspiration. Whatsoever.

Oh sure, I have a few half-baked ideas, but nothing to flesh them out with. Me!! The chick who can prattle on about anything. Me!! The chick who holds conversations with herself, imaginary interviewers and inanimate kitchen applicances. Me!! The chick who gives a voice to her dog, just so that he can prattle on to people too.

Tell you what, I love this blogging caper, I really do. I can even talk about how I have nothing to talk about!! Oh, and I don't know if you noticed (flicks hair), but I have gained quite a few new followers in the last couple of weeks! This is a total thrill for me, every time I see a new follower, and do a little Squee!!! of excitment, clap my hands like a two-year old and click to check them out. I love each and every one of them. I am often tempted to do one of those, "Oh, when I get 50 followers I'll give away some prizes" gigs, but hmmm.... I kind of want my followers to find me on their own, and choose to follow me 'cos I'm awesome (obviously) and not in the hope of nabbing a bookstore voucher. But I'm totally not ruling it out, I really love my little posse, and want a big, big one!!!

Comments! Oh, how I love comments. I have a voracious appetite for those little nuggets of validation, support and blog-love. Ahh......

Anyhoo, I have wasted enough cyper-space with pointless drivel, I shall take my leave and go prep my house in anticipation of my in-laws and brother-in-law coming to visit tomorrow. For three days. We only have one spare bed. Hmmm... maybe I just figured out why my brain has shut down.

Oh hey! Just jumped back into this post, to add a great idea I just had. Given my limitless appetite for comments, and my current writers block, why don't I combine the two? You, yes you, leave a comment with a post topic, crazy, politically-incorrect or weird as you like. Then I'll pick the best one (or the one you all comment to say you like) and wax lyrical, on command! Awesome!! Umm. timing, right... you have 24 hours, then I'm choosing a topic.

Have fun!!!

Imagination and Inspiration

It’s entirely possible I have an overactive imagination.

One of my favourite ways to pass idle time is to sit in a cafe, sip on a latte and invent life stories for the people I see. Like the glamorous woman with the designer sunglasses but incredibly sad eyes: I invent a story of career success but love lost. Or the two women bursting into laughter after simply catching each other eyes: I see them flatting together, breaking hearts and spilling secrets over glasses of cask wine.

I try and steer away from being nasty and judgemental, but some people make that an exercise in futility.

And is it entirely wrong of me that when something bizarre or funny happens I imagine what a great story it would be when I’m being interviewed by Ellen? ‘Cos you know, I’m a famous writer/actress/rock-star/activist/astronaut now.

I started this blog after always kind of wanting too, but not quite being confident enough. Then other people started telling me I should. I decided that when the 10th person I knew told me I should, I would. Then I put it off. Then I did it, and now I love it. My husband has often told me he thinks I should write a book. Until now, I’ve often secretly thought I should too, but been crippled by feelings of inadequacy. So – baby steps. I am in the process of getting some material together for another blog, written by my alter ego, the girl I sometimes wish I could be. It will chronicle her (hopefully) kick-ass life and the hapless people who try to foil her plans for international superstardom.

Stay tuned.

I'm so excited!

Since entering the 'blogosphere' a few weeks ago, I have been suffering from Blog Envy caused by some of the beautiful blogs I have come across. Pout. Sniffle.

Since I am somewhat challenged with the more creative aspects of the interwebs, my wonderful sister (who is a bit of a blog addict herself) offered to get me a new design for my birthday! It's not til December, but neither of us are known for our love of delayed gratification!

So, stay tuned intrepid readers, cause soon I'll have a whole new look! Whoo hoo! :)