80's Disco Party at work

The 80s called... they want their bad taste back!

So we had an 80's Disco Themed work event (about 2 weeks ago already!). I contemplated not going as I wasn't feeling that well on the day, but then decided to just do it - since the boys were away for the week-end and I had no one/nothing better to day anyway. I literally threw an outfit together at the last minute, from what I found lurking in my wardrobe. I ended up in the girls 'best dressed' dance-off. OMG how embarrassing! Nearly all the the others at work are all like 20-24. I felt like a major dork.*cringe*

Quinn in the paper (again)

Quinn was in the local newspaper again. (I think it's the 3rd time now)

This time for doing the Junior Argus as part of his Cub/Scout group:



Sweet!

Q has a 'criminal' record

So Q has now officially 'done time'.

And to be honest I think it was largely unfounded and rather unfair.

Now I am the first one to support something like this if it is founded and if the child did wrong... I mean if a kid lies, cheats, steals, swears or is obnoxious or disobedient, sure throw their asses in jail...er I mean detention. ;) If they don't do their homework multiple times, again lock them up I say...but in this case the reasons are:

- 'Not handing his project in' . BUT HE DID! It was due on the Monday and he handed it in on the Friday before. The teacher in question mislaid it! She finally found it about a week later - but the demerits remained in place. He had done 1.5 of the required 2 bracelets and did do the paper work part of the project. So it wasn't perfect but it was done and handed in...early nogal!
- Not having his glasses occasionally. I explained to his class teacher that he DOES NOT NEED THEM EVERYDAY. The optometrist even said not to get into the habit of wearing them too much as it will just make his eyes weaker. He actually does wear them almost every day now though. I explained this to the teacher after she wrote a nasty note in his dairy about it one day.
- His diary not being signed. Yes this has happened a few times and at least half the time it's been MY fault. The homework has been done and ticked off but the initial is just sometimes left out. Sue me!
- Leaving his PT clothes at home ONCE (Last week the day after Angelique's birthday) ... and Tiny is supposed to help with this but she's been a bit distracted and caught up in herself.

I was quite annoyed and despondent about it because he has really really really tried HARD this term. I mean he has gone from his readiness to even be in Grade 4 being questioned to getting:
- 36.5/40 for his maths test
- 24/25 for History
- 27/30 for Science
- 19/20 and 15/20 for Afrikaans spelling
- 14/15 for English spelling
- 16.5/20 for his first oral
- 10.5/20 Xhosa etc.

I mean he is doing WELL.

He has improved his writing dramatically and is really applying himself. He is well behaved at home and does his homework EVERY day at after-care and then again at home. So I felt a bit deflated that it was really not justified and he deserves praise for the effort and achievements he has made and not to be chastised for a few minor and inconsequential things.

So I really don't think it was fair. Luckily he is a robust and resilient child. I spoke to him and asked him if he wanted me to contest it, and he said no he'd just do it and get it over with.

The big day was yesterday. Afterwards I asked how it went and he said, 'Oh, quite fun'. He said they had to write out the school's 'Code of Conduct' and had to write as much as they cool in and hour, so he 'just wrote really slowly'. Hahahaha. He then went on to say it was a good thing he went and saw what it was all about because 'Imagine getting to Grade 7 and getting your first detention then, and totally not knowing what to expect!?'. Um, ok if you say so...

So ja our term ended with his first detention session. But I don't think he was too traumatized by the experience at all. ;)

Spirit is the new Black

I have been loving the local SA band The Dirty Skirts for quite a while. I have seen them several times at Rocking the Daisies all 3 times, at the Nokia Trends Lab and recently at a Kirstenbosch Sunset Concert too - where Dom from Goldfish played with them and they all ROCKED big time.

Some of my fav songs are: Feeling The Pressure, Homewrecker, Is This It?, Stereo, Daddy Don't Disco, Spirit Is The New Black, Happy Ending and now the new hit:

The Dirty Skirts - Rolling Like Thunder ***

Waste my time
Lost your thunder
Everything's been said
And it's done
Better of being

She's snowing outside
We were always winter
We'll be spring.

Ahhh Ahhhhhh
I think you'll be amazed again
Cos we're rolling like thunder

Ahhh Ahhhhhh
I think you'll be amazed again
Cos we're rolling like thunder

Broken You
After everything you've been through
Oh the miracle is
You're still open

Can't....(?***)
Time to leave the ice
You were always winter
We'll be spring.

Ahhh Ahhhhhh
I think you'll be amazed again
Cos we're rolling like thunder
Ahhh Ahhhhhh
I think you'll be amazed again
Cos we're rolling like thunder

Shut-up dup dup
Shut-up dup dup
Shut-up dup dup
Shut-up dup dup
Shut-up dup dup....

*** Ok, does anyone know the actual lyrics to this song? I have tried transcribing them, but don't actually have the song and some of them are not clear, and now last fm will only let me hear a 30-sec clip. :/

----------------

Is this it? ;)

Operation Shit-Storm!

We were all knocked by some kind of tummy bug over the week-end. I just felt crampy, lethargic and a bit spaced out from when I woke up yesterday morning, and G had a crampy tummy too (J's daughter was apparently vomiting all day too).

TANGENT: I actually had the scare of my life yesterday morning, I bought a bottle of ice cold sparkling water as I was feeling crappy and thought some water would help. As I was driving away from the shop with Q, I opened it and took a large sip while stopped at a red light. As it hit my diaphragm my chest totally spasmed, I doubled over and could not breathe or move or even see properly. I got cold and sweaty and just WEIRD. I gasped and told Q though pants that I was not sure if I could drive... luckily no one was behind me so I was able to hessitate for a while. I finally managed to pull away. I rounded the corner and then pulled off the road as soon as I could, to get out of the traffic. I was fairly sure I was going to pass out actually. It really felt like it. I opened the window and lay back for a few minutes trying to breath and get the cramping to subside. I think I must have had wind trapped under my diaphragm, from the tummy-big thing, and the cold water must have reacted badly with it. It was incredibly scary, all-consuming, and what I gather a heart attack must feel like (you know those ppl who rush to hospital and then get told they have indigestion? It must be THAT). Damn it freaked me out. Anyway so that's the kind of day I'd had...Tangent over.

Quinn had been fine all day. Until I heard a very weird noise and came out of a super deep-sleep last night at 12:15. I wasn't sure what I'd heard but I just knew it was a weird noise IN the house. I ran to the passage to find only darkness. I called out and no one replied... So I walked down the passage a few paces and saw that the bathroom door was closed. So I turned on the light and flung it open to find...

Q quivering in the bathroom (in the dark) literally covered in shite.

TG he made it to the bathroom - but only JUST. He stood just inside the entrance to the toilet and just literally exploded. Uuuurgh!

I'll spare you any MORE details but OMFG that is by far the worst mess I have ever had to deal with EVAR. I can not describe how much it grossed me out, and I have changed PLENTY o nappies....I totally freaked out. Had to get Q and clothes into the shower and he dealt with that and his clothing and I had to clean the bathroom floor....

*erases memory*

NOT a good way to wake up. I must say the morning came far too soon and the thought of a day in bed appealed A LOT. But I logged onto my work email from home last night (first time ever actually, it was mostly to test and see if a personal email had been repsonded to) to find a message to all from the CEO announcing salary and head-count freezes across the board and 9 more retrenchments... So I thought it was best to just get my butt here and do my job with a smile on my face!!!

The book of love is long and boring

I have realised in recent weeks that I really want to be meaningful to someone. The thing that moves me the most in movies, songs, and stories is when a depth of feeling is expressed for someone. I do not think I have evoked really deep feelings of love in anyone. Ever. It makes me feel quite sad.

Of course this is nothing you can force. Or even really look for. It either happens or it doesn't. But wow, wouldn't it be wonderful to be adored. To know that you really move someone and take their breath away. That you are ENOUGH for them.

That's what stood out for me in Slumdog Millionaire. The depth and breadth and all-consuming love that he felt for her is simply breathtaking. It literally makes my heart ache.

I am a romantic at heart, truly. I believe in love.

I had not heard this song before today... but I would love someone to feel like this about me...
I'd love it if someone read to me.

Book of Love - Peter Gabriel

The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing

But I
I love it when you read to me
And you
You can read me anything

The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb

But I
I love it when you sing to me
And you
You can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know

But I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings
And I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings
And I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings
You ought to give me wedding rings

Griffin 'arrested'

Griffin was invested as a fully fledged cub tonight



He knew his 'Cub Law' and 'Cub Promise' perfectly and took it so seriously. It was adorable!

SOTD - just be patient and don’t worry

As you know I have like 1000 (at least) songs on a random play play-list at work. I get interrupted at work OFTEN so end up listening for about 25-35% of the day probably.

Today THIS song came up no less than 3 times! I tried to ignore it but then I went for a run and was listening to the random shuffle on my iPOD and what played, you guessed it...

So I guess this is my song of the day today.

Coldplay - Death And All His Friends (<-watch this video it's amazing)

All winter we got carried
Away over on the rooftops, let's get married.
All summer we just hurried
So come over, just be patient and don't worry.
So come over, just be patient and don't worry.

So come over, just be patient and don't worry.
And don't worry.

Try.
Try.
Try.
Try.

No, I don't want to battle from beginning to end.
I don't want to cycle, recycle revenge.
I don't want to follow death and all of his friends.

No, I don't want to battle from beginning to end.
I don't want to cycle, recycle revenge.
I don't want to follow death and all of his friends.

And in the end we lie awake
and we dream of making our escape.

And in the end we lie awake
and we dream of making our escape.

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In other news: Apparently I am a mango....

You Are a Mango

You are unique, sassy, and a lot of fun. You are definitely not uptight in the least. You take a whimsical approach to life. You believe in finding your bliss. Other people find you enchanting and alluring. They want to capture some of what you've got. You're downright radiant. You follow your passions and do what you love. Because of it, you glow.

What Tropical Fruit Are You?