Thinking & Feeling

“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” Horace Walpole

Thursday 29 April 2010

Brain Sex - Take 2

I found this while searching for something else today and was again intrigued by it, so I decided to take the test again to see if my 'brain sex' has changed at all in the almost 4 years since I last took the test. I know my LIFE has chance a great deal in that time... It seems I have become overall more MALE! ;)

Try it out for yourself here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/add_user.shtml

My new results are:

Your overall performance
The scale below is an indication of where you fall in the male-female brain continuum. The results are based on the angles, spot the difference, 3D shapes and words tasks.


Bear in mind that your performance may be affected by many factors in addition to gender, like age and intelligence.

Your personal brain score:
Average score for MEN who've taken this survey:
Average score for WOMEN who've taken this survey:
 Your score for each task


 Part 1

 Angles

This task tested your ability to identify the angle of a line by matching it with its twin. This is a spatial task, which looks at how you picture space.
Your score: 19 out of 20
Average score for men: 15.1 out of 20
Average score for women: 13.3 out of 20

What does your result suggest?

If you scored 0 - 12: You have more of a female brain. Scientists believe that people with a female brain find it more difficult to judge the slope of a line because they're not wired for spatial tasks. In past studies, 65 per cent of people who scored in this range were women.
If you scored 13 - 17: You found this test neither hard nor easy. This suggests your brain has male and female traits when it comes to spatial ability.
If you scored 18 - 20: You have more of a male brain. On average, men outperform women in this task and those with more mathematical knowledge tend to score quite high as well. In past studies, 60 per cent of the people in this range were men.
Interestingly, men's testosterone levels fluctuate through the seasons and studies have shown that men's scores are lower in the spring, when their testosterone levels are at their lowest.
Do our cave dwelling ancestors offer us any clues about why men and women score differently on this task? 
 Spot the difference

This task tested your ability to identify which objects changed position. You lost points, if you incorrectly identified objects.
Your score: 43%
Average score for men: 39%
Average score for women: 46%

What does your score suggest?

If you scored between 0 - 33%: You may have more of a male brain. Scientists say men tend to under perform in this task. The corpus callosum, the part of the brain that links the right and left hemispheres, is a fifth larger in women. This means women can process visual and other signals at the same time more easily than men. There is also a theory that oestrogen levels in women give them an added advantage in spatial memory.
If you scored between 34 - 66%: You may have a balanced female-male brain.
If you scored between 67 - 100%: Those with a female-type brain generally score in this range. Your ability to remember where objects are may serve as an advantage to you when you're trying to find your way around places. You're more capable of recalling landmarks to get from one place to another.




 Part 2

 Hands


You said your left thumb was on top when you clasped your hands together.
Right thumb on top: This suggests the left half of your brain is dominant. Many studies have tried to establish whether there is a relationship between handedness and brain dominance. Some scientists believe that if you are left brain dominant, you would be more verbal and analytical.
Left thumb on top: This suggests the right half of your brain is dominant. Some studies theorise that as a right brain dominant person, you may excel in visual, spatial and intuitive processes.
However, these theories are debatable and leave much to be said about the small percentage of people who are ambidextrous.




 Part 3

 Emotions and Systems

This task looked at whether you prefer to empathise or systemise.
Empathising

Your empathy score is: 9 out of 20
Average score for men: 7.9 out of 20
Average score for women: 10.6 out of 20

What does your result suggest?

Empathisers are better at accurately judging other people's emotions and responding appropriately. If you scored 15 and above, you are very empathic and would be an ideal person to comfort people in a time of crisis. Women in general are better at empathising.

Systemising

Your systemising score is: 12 out of 20
Average score for men: 12.5 out of 20
Average score for women: 8.0 out of 20
What does your result suggest?

Systemisers prefer to investigate how systems work. A system can be a road map, flat pack furniture, or a mathematical equation – anything that follows a set of rules. A score of 15 and above suggests you're good at analysing or building systems. Men in general are better at systemising.
Scientists are keen to learn more about people who score high or low on both tests. They want to find out whether or not empathising and systemising are linked. Is a possible to make yourself more empathic?
Some scientists claim that our empathy and systemising abilities can be traced all the way back to prehistoric times. 

 Eyes

This task tested your ability to judge people's emotions.
Your score: 7 out of 10
Average score for men: 6.6 out of 10
Average score for women: 6.6 out of 10
What does your result suggest?

If you scored 0 - 3: Do you think you're good at judging how another person is feeling? Your score suggests this doesn't come to you quite so naturally.
If you scored 4 - 6: Your result suggests you have a balanced female-male brain and find it neither easy nor difficult to judge people's emotions.
If you scored 7 - 10: Your result suggests you are a good empathiser, sensitive to other people's emotions. Women generally fall into this category.
Professor Baron-Cohen at the University of Cambridge says that people usually perform better than they expect to on this test.
Men often think a person's eyes are sending signals of desire when that's not the case at all.





 Part 4

 Fingers

We asked you to measure your ring and index fingers. Your ratios came to:
Right Hand: 1.04
Left Hand: 1.03

Average ratio for men: 0.982
Average ratio for women: 0.991 It's thought that your ratio is governed by the amount of testosterone you were exposed to in your mother's womb. The ratio of the length of your index finger to the length of your ring finger is set for life by as early as three months after conception. Even during puberty, when we experience intensive hormonal changes, the ratio stays the same.
Men generally have a ring finger that is longer than their index finger, which gives them a lower ratio than women, whose ring and index fingers are usually of equal length.
Studies have found that men and women with lots of brothers generally have more masculine finger ratios. 





 Part 5

 Faces

This task looked at how you rate the attractiveness of a series of faces. The images you looked at were digitally altered to create slight differences in masculinity.
Your choices suggest you prefer more masculine faces.
Highly masculinised male faces possess more extreme testosterone markers such as a long, broad and lower jaw, as well as more pronounced brow ridges and cheekbones.
Interestingly, women's preferences are said to vary across the menstrual phase. A more masculine face is preferred during the 9 days prior to ovulation, when conception is most likely.
A typical 'attractive' female face possesses features such as a shorter, narrower, lower jaw, fuller lips and larger eyes than an average face.





 Part 6

 3D shapes

This task tested your ability to mentally rotate 3D shapes.
Your score: 11 out of 12
Average score for men: 8.2 out of 12
Average score for women: 7.1 out of 12
What does your result suggest?

If you scored 0 - 6: Do you find yourself having to physically rotate a map to point in the direction in which you're travelling? This might explain why you scored in the lower range in the 3D shapes test. Twice as many women as men score in this category. Previous studies suggest that those with a female-type brain or with an arts background fall into this range.
If you scored 7 - 9: In past studies, 50 per cent of the people who scored in this range were women and 50 per cent were men.
If you scored 10 - 12: Are you an engineer or do you have a science background? People with these skills tend to score in this range. Past studies have concluded that people in this range have a more male brain.
Nearly a third of men who took this test got full marks, whereas less than 10 per cent of women managed the same.

 Words

This task looked at your verbal fluency.
Your score: you associated 19 word(s) with grey and you named 13 word(s) that mean happy. We are assuming that all the words you entered are correct.
Average score for men: 11.4 words total
Average score for women: 12.4 words total
What does your result suggest?

If you produced 1 - 5 words: You are more of the strong, silent type with a male brain. You probably find it easier to express yourself in non-verbal ways, preferring action rather than words.
If you produced 6 - 10 words: Most people in this range have a female-type brain.
Women are said to use both sides of the brain when doing verbal tasks while men mainly use their left side. Studies have shown that girls develop vocabulary faster than boys. This difference in brain power is caused by levels of pre-natal testosterone.

 Ultimatum

This task asked you how you would divide money.
If you had to split £50 with someone, you said you would demand £26
So far on the Sex ID test, men have demanded 51.6% (£25.80) of the pot and women have demanded 51.0% (£25.50), on average.

What does your response suggest?

Sex differences are small in this task. Demanding less than 60% of the pot (ie £30) is more typically female. Demanding more than 65% of the pot (ie £32.50) is more typically male.
Scientists believe that people with lower testosterone levels tend to take fewer risks so they are probably more willing to keep less for themselves. Those with higher testosterone levels tend to drive a harder bargain and are less compromising.
Men's testosterone levels fluctuate over the seasons and are at their lowest levels during the springtime. This is said to influence their bargaining power.

Quinn ear update - 6 days post-op

Unfortunately Quinn has developed an infection in the operated-on ear which is now seeping puss. :( He is on a strong course of antibiotics for 5 days to treat this. We are also concerned that his ear seems to be ejecting the bandaging which is stuffed in his ear canal, and the drilled out cavity behind, it which is meant to to stay in there to support it and keep it open as he heals. He may need to have more of this inserted soon to ensure the ear stays properly supported and open. The Doctor also said he has done a skin/muscle graft inside his ear cavity. as the drilled out section needs to develop a skin/muscle lining and this may be compromised by the infection he currently has. Not very good news...
Then although his left ear is stable and has been for 6-12 months now, the doctor feels there is a strong possibility that this one also has a Cholesteotoma growing behind it, based on what he saw through his microscope yesterday and the CT scan results,.

For now he just wants to focus on getting the right ear healed and stablised, for about 3 months, and then we'll deal with the next steps on that ear and the left ear as needed.
On the plus side he does still seems to have some hearing in his right ear, so that's good news. But he definitely hears better with his left ear so we will need to make sure he is able to sit in class with his left ear facing the teacher.

The doctor agrees with me that it is best to keep the head bandage on while his ear is leaking so much.

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Live Earth - Run for Beer ... I mean WATER!

So not only did we run the Spar Ladies Race on Sunday 18 April, but then I found out that there was a Live Earth - Run for Water event that same day at Spier. But that's not all, there was also an exclusive Parlotones concert for race entrants only! Being the groupie I am, I quickly checked the start times and decided, 'What the heck lets make a day of it and do that as well!' I mean why not!?

The Spar 10km was scheduled to start at 07:30 (but actually started at about 07:45) the Live Earth race was starting at 10:00. So pretty tight timing then - considering it's about a 45 minute drive from one venue to the next, and takes about an hour to run the first 10km race - but I am nothing if not enthusiastic about doing stuff which seems a bit mad!

Anyway, I decided not to stress about getting to Spier on time, since they had allowed a very generous 2 hours to complete the 6km before the concert started, so I knew we'd have plenty of time to get it done.

As it turned out we wasted little time leaving the Bellville Athletics Stadium and headed off to Spier, arriving in good time to register and get ready for the 10am start. Sadly there seemed to be way less than the 2000 limit on entries. I don't think the race was very well publicised at all. I only found out about it by chance.

The race was a 6km trail around the farmlands behind Spier. The reason it was 6km was because that is reportedly the average distance rural people have to walk every day for their daily water. Also, because this was a water awareness event, no water was supplied en route. There were tables of juicy fruit to be had though, which was welcome and quite delicious at that point in the day and after being up and active since 05:40.

We headed off at a moderate paced trot but at the 3.5-4km mark, and with the heat of day and loose sand bogging me down, I decided I was tired and needed a walk to catch my breath. After a few minutes of walking I felt able to run the last 1km or 2 back - which was a welcome down-hill most of the way. We passed Louis and co. doing a leisurely stroll of the route. I yelled some encouragement (or it may have been abuse!?) to him...

Mr Fox challenged me to a final sprint to the finish. So the last 100m was a comical flailing hurtle to the end (and beyond in my case). My boys assure me I crossed the line first, and I maintain they are completely impartial and unbiased and so I'll take the nano-second victory thanks! Even if it is just a token gesture. (The boys were duly rewarded for their loyalty).

With the 2 races over, we felt quite in need of a clean-up so we made our way to the Spier hotel swimming facilities where they have very civilised and well appointed bathrooms where we could have a hot shower complete with soap, shampoo, body lotion etc and best of all soft fluffy white towels. The shower was fabulous and with change of clothes and renewed energy we were ready for BEER and the concert (yes, in that order).

Once a handful of cold beers were secured we found a spot near Louis, Jess and friends and settled in for yet another rocking Parlotones concert. They are brilliant and never fail to impress me. It was my 8th time seeing them and I have loved every single time. Like a true and loyal fan I was wearing my Parlotones t-shirt for the concert, and Quinn managed to get it autographed by the band at the end... It previously only had Glenn's signature on it from when I got it. SCORE!
Once the concert was over we trundled home and collapsed on the couch to watch a movie (Smart People) and ave a nap.

It was a really fun and memorable day!

Monday 26 April 2010

Spar - Goodies for you!

Last Sunday I ran my 5th Spar Ladies Race. This was my first ever 10km race back in 2006 and I ran it again in 2007, 2008 and also in 2009 where I ran my 10km Personal Best time too.

I still really like this race. It is fun, festive, busy, well supported, well organised, and a good course. I agree the start is congested. Especially this year with a record turn out of reportedly over 16 000 entrants. The goodie bag was once again more than worth the entry fee (of +-R50 with a temp license), it was jam packed with all sorts of cool goodies, and the bright (binne-poes)pink t-shirts were nice and festive - but again way too big for me so mine has been relegated to the boy's race-shirt pyjama collection.

The start was better handled than before with people channeled down to the start and the 5km entrants were kept well to the side, instead of getting mixed in with the 10km entrants. Still the race did start 10+ minutes late due to the volumes and battling to get everyone to the start on time, and by the time we got to the start it was FULL. I wanted to do my usual sneak to the front and mingle, but this year that proved much more tricky and the 'girl' I was with thought pushing in would be rude.

I finally convinced him of my 'seeding' theory: It is not rude to start in front of someone if you are going to STAY in front of them for the whole race. Right? Right!? This is my theory and I am sticking to it. Besides if you start behind 10 000 people there is no way to compete for a PB, you have to give yourself a fighting chance. Look, if you are slow or a walker pushing in WOULD be rude. But I finish in the top 5%, I should be in the front. (Just smile and nod, m'kay?!)

Anyhoo so somehow we managed to sneak into the club runner's pen RIGHT in the front, as in with the competing athletes. Ironically it was easier getting in here than anywhere near the front anywhere else. Still this was a serious competition we had going with beer, breakfast and ....erm possibly a nurses outfit or something at stake. See fully legitimate reasons! I soon found Adele, Heidi and Bennie in there though, so that was cool. We posed for photos by Bennie and then it was time to get ready and set off.

I told Goldilocks s/he did not have to feel obliged to stay with me and he told me he'd 'warm up' at my pace. PAH! How rude. I was running at HIS pace and it was slower than my usual starting pace. At 4km he was apparently 'warm' and well that's the last I saw of him...

I plodded on feeling quite strong until 7km where I ended up stopping 3 times, once to pee, once to drink and once to let a stream of traffic pass. GAH. After that I motored down the hill towards the end and tried to make up some lost time and managed to come in at a respectable but not brilliant 52:58. (1.5mins shy of my goal)

Ms 'Goldilocks' Fox came 113 finishing officially in 49:11, but that was only because s/he wasn't convincing enough as a girl and was stopped at the stadium entrance and had to wait for 100 actual females to finish first (see you should have shaved those legs!), so I am sure actual time was even more impressive...

I guess I will have to reluctantly concede that I was well and truly beaten! THIS TIME!

The results are out already, they can be found HERE

Overall it was a good race and I enjoyed it. The boys had a great time in the stadium where there was some supervised entertainment and activities including sack races, jumping castle obstacle courses etc etc. I had to drag them away from the fun and games as we couldn't linger for too long as it was time to dash of to Spier for another race!...

________________________

My results over the 5 years I have run this race are as follows:

Spar Ladies Race 2006:
Total number of 10km finishers = 4351
- Me - #469 = 00:58:12 - so I just missed the top 10%.

Spar Ladies Race 2007:
Total number of 10km finishers = 3957
- Me - #204 = 00:54:16 - so I shaved nearly 4 minutes off my time, even though the course was tougher. I finished in the top 5.5% :)

Spar Ladies Race 2008:
Total number of 10km finishers = 4847
- Me - # 177 = 00:52:26 - top 3.65%


Spar Ladies Race 2009:
Total number of 10km finishers = 4667
- Me - # 148 = 00:51:35 - top 3.17%  <--My Personal BEST :)

Spar Ladies Race 2010:
Total number of 10km finishers = 6509
- Me - # 212 = 00:53:02 - top 3.25%

Saturday 24 April 2010

'Cause I wish you were here

Owl City- Vanilla Twilight

The stars lean down to kiss you
And I lie awake and miss you
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere
'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly
But I'll miss your arms around me
I'd send a postcard to you dear
'Cause I wish you were here

I'll watch the night turn light blue
But it's not the same without you
Because it takes two to whisper quietly
The silence isn't so bad
Till I look at my hands and feel sad
'Cause the spaces between my fingers
Are right where yours fit perfectly

I'll find repose in new ways
Though I haven't slept in two days
'Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone

But drenched in vanilla twilight
I'll sit on the front porch all night
Waist-deep in thought because when I think of you
I don't feel so alone

I don't feel so alone
I don't feel so alone

As many times as I blink
I'll think of you tonight
I'll think of you tonight

When violet eyes get brighter
And heavy wings grow lighter
I'll taste the sky and feel alive again
And I'll forget the world that I knew
But I swear I won't forget you
Oh, if my voice could reach back through the past
I'd whisper in your ear,
Oh darling I wish you were here

Quinn Ear Op Update

CT Scan before surgery on Thursday morning.


After surgery and a 2-hour nap to get through the first round of pain.... doing much better already.


Quinn was MUCH better after a nap. Griffin* and I went back to see him at 7pm he was still sleeping. We waited until 8 before waking him up. When he woke up he was far more lucid and clearly had less pain. They were able to give him some pain killers shortly after when he started hurting again and that helped a lot. He was not able or wanting to eat because opening his mouth and chewing hurts too much. (He is still only willing to try liquids and soup etc.) We left him at about 9:30pm as he was sleepy and I needed to get G home to bed. Quinn wanted me to stay with him, but I had to come back home with Griff. I wish I could have stayed! (Being a single mom has its tough moments).

I went back before 8am on Friday. He was sitting up and smiling at the nurses when I got there. He'd been up and had dug out some of the sweeties in his bag and eaten them despite the discomfort. A good sign!

He was also cheerful and full of stories about various life insurance packages I can buy. Thanks to an infomercial he watched. *rolls eyes* This child remembers every detail! :) Dr R met us a few minutes later while I was joking with Quinn about whether he still had an ear under the bandage, and that he looks like Van Gogh etc.

Dr R removed the pressure bandage, but then put another lighter one on because he is quite swollen and has a lot of fluid buildup and seepage.

We were discharged during the morning. Thanks to the pain meds working almost too well, he said he felt fine and could go straight back to school! I think he wanted to go to his school so his friends could see his 'war wounds' ;) So we popped in to say hello to the class for 5 mins. He started getting a bit dizzy (lack of food most likely) so we didn't linger. But the class were so sweet and concerned and all gave him earnest pats on the back and wished him well. He was given a piece of cake by one boy too. (Later Griffin came home with a wad of cards the class had all made for him!).

After that we went home and I installed him on the couch where he could watch movies and play computer games. He mostly 'feels' fine physically. Just a bit unbalanced, dizzy and sensitive. He can't turn his neck much, hear much or chew, yawn etc.

After about 2-3 hours he told me he was 'bored'. Ironic considering he is always moaning when I try to tear him away from the PC usually. Turns out it's only fun when you are competing for a turn and showing off your skills to someone else then...?  ;)

In the afternoon the neighbour came over the play PC games with him and then he was happy.

He has to keep his head bandage on for another few days to control the fluid leakage. The doctor told us the surgery he had and recuperation required is about equivalent to a car accident head trauma. So calm quiet week-end to follow by order.

He is on strict orders to rest and take it easy now after being a bit too gung-ho yesterday with the little outings. I also took him out again when we collected G from cubs.We bumped into his doctor (awesome guy) there. Remember we met him through cubs in the first place. I saw that he looked pretty worried when Quinn complained that his ear was leaking a lot.

He phoned me later and told me he was concerned about the volume of leakage and feared that he may have CSF (brain fluid) leaking out his ear which could/would cause meningitis. Not something to mess with...So we are taking things much slower now and just resting at home. As we are supposed to!

-----
* I thought it was very sweet that even when Q was in agony and struggling to cope, when I asked him if I should come back alone or bring G with me he immediately said he wanted his brother there. When G was given the choice of staying with the neighbour where he was playing and watching a movie or come with me, HE immediately chose to come be with me and his brother. *sniff*

Thursday 22 April 2010

C-toma op update

Sjoe hectic.

He went into theatre at 13:00 and was in till almost 17:00 - close to 4 hours!

The doc said it was WAY worse than he thought it was going to be. He is feeling quite sad about it. Because he feels sorry for Quinn! Not a good sign... He says we are 'going to be friends for a long time'.

The Cholesteotoma cyst was about as big as it could have been and was everywhere. It has eroded a lot of his bones etc and done a lot of damage. While extracting the c-toma he had to sacrifice a bit of his 'tasting' nerve. So his taste perception on the right side of his tongue will be affected.

He also found a problem in the left ear when looking at the CT scan and was going to investigate it. But 'forgot' in the end after dealing with the right one. He was under for too long anyway though so exploring that one today wasn't a good idea.

Quinn was ok when he woke up, although he really struggled to wake up. But then the pain set in and he was really battling. He was totally not performing but was visibly in agony. So hard to see and deal with. He wasn't allowed to drink anything or have any meds. He's had too much stuff during the op and it needs to work it's way out first.

I needed to soothe him to sleep so he could stop feeling the pain.

I've popped into home to grab a jersey, bite to eat and get Griff and we go back to see him shortly.

I am finished!

Wednesday 21 April 2010

ZOMG I am a NERD GOD!

Ok, I knew I was a nerd but I had no idea how terminal it was... Jonathan did this quiz and I thought it would be fun to do it too.

I totally did not expect to be MORE OF A NERD than Jonathan! Quelle horreur!! 

Gawd, there really is no hope for me is there...?!

Overall, you scored as follows:
2% scored higher (more nerdy),
0% scored the same, and
98% scored lower (less nerdy).
What does this mean? Your nerdiness is:

All hail the monstrous nerd. You are by far the SUPREME NERD GOD!!!


I am nerdier than 98% of all people. Are you a nerd? Click here to take the Nerd Test, get nerdy images and jokes, and write on the nerd forum!

Random Q&A

Several ppl have done this... and I am uninspired...

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?

   2x Rolos.

2. Where was your profile picture taken?

   At home, in my room.

3. Can you play Guitar Hero?

   I have never tried. Probably not very well.

4. Name someone who made you laugh today?

   Mike & Tyrone at work.

5. How late did you stay up last night and why?

   I went to sleep at about 23:45. I go to sleep between 23:00-00:30 most nights.

6. If you could move somewhere else, where would you?

   This is my home. I'd move house but not city.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks?

   Not that I remember.

8. Which of your friends lives closest to you?

   My yoga teacher lives 3km away.  

9. Do you believe exes can be friends?

   Yes I do. I am friends with all my previous relationships except for 2. The 2 I felt the most for and gave the most to incidently!

10. How do you feel about Mountain Dew?

    Apathetic.

11. When was the last time you cried really hard?

    19 Feburary.

12. Who took your profile picture?

    Myself.

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of?

    Quinn & Griffin.

14. Was yesterday better than today?

    Yes. I have felt a bit sad and lonely today. Yesterday was more fun.

15. Can you live a day without TV?

    YES! Our Tv aerial has been broken since last June!

16. Are you upset about anything?

    Yes, but there's nothing to be done. So I accept and move on.

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?

    Yes, but it can be hard not to give up when you keep giving 100% and more and then being hurtbadly and unfairly. But still it worth it to have a glimpse of something good. As much as I am good at being alone, having someone to share experiences with is invaluable.

18. Are you a bad influence?

    Sometimes yes. I am cheeky and rude and inappropriate...

19. Night out or night in?

    Night out. I have been in too much recently. In fact it is my birthday next Friday and I have realised what I REALLY want for my birthday is a few nights/week-ends off.

20. What items could you not go without during the day?

    I can go without everything. I don't NEED much.

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?

    Quinn tomorrow, else my freind Suzanne and her son Wouterjie when I took them fudge last year.

22. What does the last text message in your Inbox say?

    From the bank showing how much I spent on dinner for the boys and I.

23. How do you feel about your life right now?

    Accepting, bordering on content.

24. Do you hate anyone?

    I hate what they did to me, but I don't hate anyone.

25. If we were to look in your Facebook inbox, what would we find?

    NOt much, I cleaned it out recently removing all traces of someone I wanted to forget.

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?

    Yes, totally. Strongest drugs I have had in 2 years is couple of Panados.

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?

    Once, long ago. He was lying...

28. What song is stuck in your head?

    'Don't touch me on my studio' ;)

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?

    I would not like a surprise like that. It would mean someone had broken into my yard.

30. Wanna have grandkids by the time you’re 50?

    I have no opinion on that, it's not up to me.

31. What do you have to do tomorrow?

    Take Quinn for his CT Scan and Cholesteatoma op!

32. Do you think too much or too little?

    Too much.

33. Do you smile a lot?

    Yes I do. A lot, most of the time.

Friday 16 April 2010

I finally took a real stand

Maybe not in the most classy or dignified way, but it was a stand none the less. I stopped compromising, playing nice and allowing myself to be used.

I forced my hand causing a big rift, meaning that I now look despicable to some. I wasn't sure exactly why I did it, until I gave it some thought and I realised that subconsciously I wanted it all to end properly. To stop being able to think about 'what ifs' and 'maybes'. To stop being played and pursued. To stop being manipulated.

I wanted to make sure it was completely broken and destroyed and irredeemable.

I wanted to stand up properly for me and make it clear that what happened was NOT ok with me and I will never allow it again. If I had to make some enemies to do that, then so be it. In this case it was worth it. I am worth it.

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life". ~ Winston Churchill

Wednesday 14 April 2010

I'll taaach you on your studio!

The funniest week in SA politics has just played out, and thanks to the wonders of the Internet and some awesome senses of humour and talent, not only has the buffoonery been made into the funniest thing I have seen and heard in a long time, and a classic catch phrase, but it's also a flippen koel treffer too.

If you have no idea what I am talking about, it is related to 2 incidents, the first dear old Andries Visagie behaving like a knob on eTV whereby much unsolicited touching on various studios happened. *gasp* How rude...

Watch this You Tube clip to bring you up to date…



And then Julius Malema threw a 'dirty agent. Bastard' out of a press conference.

Now you have to go listen to the song. It's super catchy. I love it!

Click To Hear the song... DONT TOUCH ME ON MY STUDIO!

What have you done!?

I think I have done this one before... but here we go again.

(Items in bold I have done, and italics are half done's)


1. Started your own blog - yup back in 2005 with posts dating back to 2003.
2. Slept under the stars - of course. Love it!

3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower - yep goes hand in hand with #2
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - that would be stupid I think. I give but not more than I can afford!
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain - yep Lion's Head, Mount Majuba, little bits of the 'Berg and the one by Greyton/Genadendal. Still need to do Table mountain!
9. Held a praying mantis - whenever I get the chance. I love them.
10. Sang a solo
11. Bunjee jumped
12. Visited Paris - twice and I LOVE it.
13. Watched a lightning storm. Often. I grew up on the high veld, loads of thunderers there.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - I taught myself to knit, crotchet, do calligraphy, yoga, birthing, baking, still need to learn to paint one day!

15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - yep.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own veggies - yep tomatoes, herbs, carrots, green peppers, beans etc.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre – yep on the first Paris visit. It is much smaller than you'd expect.
20. Slept on an overnight train - yep done the JHB - CPT over-nighter quite a few times.
21. Had a pillowfight - yes of course!
22. Hitch hiked
- yes in Thailand, but only out of desperation, and a we got a lift on a bike.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not sick - once or twice (I didn't get paid since I was a contractor anyway) to attend kid's school stuff.

24. Made a snow fort - no never had the opportunity but I have made forts from bricks, wood, mud etc.
25. Held a lamb - yes I love lambs!
26. Ran a marathon - well no but I've done several halfs, so I have half done this one.
27. Went skinny dipping - I do this often at home!

28. Rode in a gondola in Venice - I'd love to do this!
29. Witnessed total eclipse - of the moon yes, and from the top of Lion's head too!
30. Seen a sunrise or sunset - yep lots. Beautiful.

31. Hit a home run
- yes I played softball in highschool
32. Been on a cruise - not a proper long one but been on dinner and sunset cruises, does that count?
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace/ home of your ancestors - yep been to Sterkfontein caves/Maropeng and Scotland where my family was from originally.
35. Seen an Amish country
36. Taught yourself a new language - a bit of Thai, some French.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - I am not driven by money, I am easily satisfied. A walk on the beach with someone special is more valuable to me than most things.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - mostly bouldering, but I did the harness and abseiling climbing once, would love to do more of it.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke - yes but I sing badly!
42. Seen Old Faithful erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - a blind date who made me pay!
44. Visited Africa - I live here! But I want to explore Africa MUCH more still.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - of course.
46. Taken a ride in an ambulance - sadly yes. Just once, but it was for 3.5 hours and it was not a pleasant experience.

47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower - I've been under it twice and climbed the first section. I need to go all the way one day!
50. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - snorkeling in Thailand. AWESOME!

51. Kissed in the rain - yum.
52. Played in the mud - often.
53. Gone to a drive-in theater - love it, wish there was one in CPT still.

54. Been in a movie – well in the credits, does that count?
55. Visited the Great Wall of China - no but I really want to.
56. Started a business - the Birth Buddies doula business. It's most dormant now.
57. Taken a martial arts class - Does kata boxing count?

58. Visited Russia
59. Worked at a soup kitchen
60. Sold Girl Scout cookies
61. Gone whale watching
62. Gotten flowers for no reason - I love getting flowers. Of any kind, even a daisy from the side of the road. Something that says 'I was thinking about you' or 'you are special to me' makes my heart mushy.
63. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma - Not yet but I want to and will one day. I have low BP and slight aneamia so it's not that easy to achieve though.
64. Gone sky diving
65. Visited Nazi concentration camp
66. Bounced a check
67. Flown in a helicopter - nearly got a chance, but it never happened. Bummer.
68. Saved a childhood toy - a doll and some teddies.

69. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
70. Eaten caviar - several times
71. Pieced a quilt
72. Stood in Times Square
73. Toured the Everglades
74. Been fired from a job
75. Seen the changing of the guards in London - yep I have, we tried to make them laugh too/
76. Broken a bone
77. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

78. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
79. Published a book
80. Visited the Vatican
81. Bought a brand new car - had 2000km on the clock, and was only 3 months old. new enough for me.
82. Visited Jerusalem
83. Had your picture in the paper - yep several times
84. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
85. Visited the White House
86. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - no but I would if I had to.
87. Had chickenpox
88. Saved someone’s life - I have helped at accidents and 'been there' for people, but I doubt I have seriously saved a life. Besides my own.
89. Sat on a jury
90. Met someone famous - several.
91. Joined a book club - weirdly no.
92. Got a tattoo - yep! I love it.
93. Had a baby - 3

94. Seen the Alamo in person
95. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
96. Been involved in a law suit - yep a divorce
97. Owned a cell phone - several
98. Been stung by a bee - a few times

99. Swam in the Black Sea

That makes 56.. Same as Sally-Jane go figure :)

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Come along and take that ride

Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere 

Well we know where we're going
but we don't know where we've been.
And we know what we're knowing
but we can't say what we've seen.
And we're not little children
and we know what we want.
And the future is certain
give us time to work it out.

We're on a road to nowhere
come on inside.
Takin' that ride to nowhere
we'll take that ride.
I'm feelin' okay this mornin'
and you know.
We're on the road to paradise
here we go
here we go.

We're on a road to nowhere
come on inside.
Takin' that ride to nowhere
we'll take that ride.
Maybe you wonder where you are
I don't care.
Here is where times is on our side
take you there
take you there.
We're on a road to nowhere -
We're on a road to nowhere -
We're on a road to nowhere -

There's a city in my mind
come along and take that ride

And it's all right
baby it's all right.
And it's very far away
but it's growing day by day

And it's all right
baby it's all right.
Would you like to come along
you can help me sing this song

And it's all right
baby it's all right.
They can tell you what to do
but they'll make a fool of you

And it's all right
baby it's all right.

There's a city in my mind
come along and take that ride

We're on a road to nowhere - We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere - We're on a road to nowhere.



“If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.” ~ Lewis Carroll


“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Use it, don't use it.... ;)

Thursday 8 April 2010

The c-toma op is scheduled

Quinn will be having his Cholesteotoma op on Thursday 22 April from 12:00.

It will take anywhere from 3-6 hours.

It's REAL now....

Wednesday 7 April 2010

My hope is in you...

Youssou N'dour - My Hope Is In You
I never know
But now I know
Some day we'll see
All the possibilities
My hope in is you
I wanna watch your spirit
Touch the sky
So much more we can do
My hope in is you
If you take your love and fly away
I know you'll make it through
You'll make it through
Drop your guns and go to school
Do you hear me brother?
Some day we'll know
Just how far we can go
My hope in is you
I wanna watch your spirit touch the sky
So much more we can do
If you take your love and fly away
I know you'll make it through
Feel the earth beneath your feet
So much more that we can be
I know you see, I know you see
Your future is shining
Ohhhh
My hope is in you
I wanna watch your spirit touch the sky
So much more we can do
My hope is in you
If you take your love and fly away
I know you'll make it through
You'll make it through 

Sunday 4 April 2010

Cooler As Ekke

I freaking LOVE this song! :)
Cooler As Ekke - Jack Parrow
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ekke, want jy rook Yves Saint Laurent sigarette
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ekke, want jy’t ‘n tattoo van ‘n slang op jou tette.
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ek, want jy’t ‘n plakkaat van Led Zeppelin bo jou bed
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ek, want jy’s elke jaar by die J&B Met.

Jy’s ou nuus, ek kom met rou beats
Jy lê en wag, ek gan soek iets
Jy’s ice tea, ek’s witblits
Jy’s lite bier, ek’s spirits
Jy’s die ou met die new fresh look
Ek’s die ou met die Pep Stores broek
Ek watch jou, jy koekeloer oukes
jy forward nog Vernon Koekemoer jokes
Ek’s fantasties, jy’s spasties
Ek vat an poppies, jy raak an klein kids
Jy’s Tim Voster, ek’s Chris Edwards
Jy’s innie bosse, ek rol innie vet shit
Jy’s boring soos liedjies ommie kampvuur
my styl slick sneak suutjies soos ‘n vampier
jou styl kak sag soos ‘n pink marshmallow
meisies skree vir net “one night in parow”

Jy dink jy’s cooler as ekke, want jy hang saam met models en ek hang saam met slette
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ekke, want ek’s ‘n rapper en jy sing in falsette
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ek, want ek ry op met die bus en jy vlieg op met ‘n jet
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ek, want jy ry in ‘n Peugeot twee nul ses

Jy rol met ‘n selfoon in jou pen
Ek rol nog met ‘n 3310
My styl gooi sexy korrek
Jy dra nog fokken Mr Price Red
As ek instap skrikkie hele fokken bar
Jy kry nog fokken geld by jou ma
Ek los die hele jol papnat
As jy instap begin die hele jollie pad vat
ek’s Amerika, jys Irak
ek bomb jou lat die kak slap spat
Ek’s ‘n Bic pen, jy’s ‘n Mont Blanc
Jy loop rond met fokken skuim op jou mond-rand
Ek’s original jy’s gecopy
Ek’s ‘n flash drive jy’s ‘n floppy
Jy maak of jy alles het ma jy’s fake
Jack Parow bra ek lewe soos n straatmeit

Jy dink jy’s cooler as ekke, want jy drink by Ku De Ta en ek drink by De Dekke
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ekke, want jy’s die gentleman, bra eksie prette
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ek, want ek hou vakansie in Hartenbos en jy hou vakansie in Quebec.
Jy dink jy’s cooler as ek, omdat jy die nuwe issue van One Small Seed het

Jack Parow bra ek’s n poes woes
Jy eet caviar en couscous
Ek drink Klipdrif, jy drink Peroni
Jy’t vriende in Swede, ek het vriende in Benoni
Ek koop al my klere by die local Pep Stores save more
Jy koop al jou fokken klere by a store
Jy dra net fokken Polo shirts
Shame, jy luister na die Dirty Skirts
My naam’s Parow, dik heavy uitgeskollie
Jy lyk soos Jeremy de Tollie
Jack Parow, die life van die party
Jy dra net fokken Issey Miyake
Jy’s too cool for school, eks mos kief
Ek’s grasshopper, jys Lacoste sportief
Jy lat die koek flop, ek lat die huis rys
Jou meisie het ‘n foto van my piel op haar Space Case