OrganiSed Chaos » Beginnings

Achieve

anonymum — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:02:56 +0000

Throughout the year, Kelly has done To do lists.
As each item on the list is completed, she goes back and crosses it off.
I’ve always thought it a great idea because it gives a person not only some purpose, but things to aspire to.
On New Years Day, Kel did another one.
You’ll find it here.
At the bottom of that post, there is a line that grabbed me.

Feel free to write your own list. If you do, please be sure to let me know. Who knows, if there are enough of us I may devote a page to it and get a webring/blogroll happening for it…

Sounded like a good idea to me, so I thought I’d give it a go and do my own list.
Like Kel, these are not resolutions because I don’t do them, so I’ll say “these are the things I want to achieve this year”
None of them are impossible or unrealistic, so there is no reason I can’t do them either.
{A couple of them are the same, but then we are mother and daughter so it’s not that surprising, and these are in no particular order}

not

badly

Certainly not lofty ambitions, nor are there a lot of them, but they’re more than enough of a challenge to keep me occupied throughout the year.
If you want to play along, feel free, and if you let Kelly know that would be a bonus.
For now, I’m off to check out what TAFE have on offer in the culinary skills department.

Wandering

anonymum — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:33:29 +0000

As the new year begins, I’m sure many people look forward to better things than the year just gone had to offer.
Hope envelopes them with that sweet feeling only hope can create, making them all warm and fuzzy inside, buoyed at the thought of life being gentle, and easier.
I’ll admit I tend to do the same and rarely look back, however at this time of year I become reflective and take the odd walk down memory lane.
When I think about the year that was, it’s mostly with fondness and a smile, as opposed to anything else.
2009 bought much for us.
The bulk of it was good, with only a few little speed humps to traverse.
There were highs and lows, but that’s life isn’t it?
I’m realistic enough to admit my life was never meant be smooth sailing from beginning to end.
Yes, there were times last year when all I wanted was to go to bed and not wake up, but they were few and far between.
In general, I look for the polish on life.
Others tend to turn things over, and around, looking for the tarnish, however I see little to be gained by doing that.
Some of the highlights from this year were welcoming a new grandson in Lucas, taking our first trip overseas to discover some of the most amazing people you could ever wish to meet, Mark {finally} getting the promotion he worked so damned hard for, me getting my job under some semblance of control, and with the year being rounded out by close to the best Christmas we could have asked for.
Among those highlights were the odd worries.
Lucas had problems with his kidney which gave us some sleepless nights, the trip overseas, as good as it was, proved to be decidedly disappointing in some ways, we had an atrocious 6 weeks before Mark got the promotion, I nearly resigned my job before it came good, and Christmas could have been better had we manged to get all the girls and kids together, but do you know what?
None of those things matter, because the good outweighed the bad in every single case, and the end result of them all, was just what we wanted.
Lucas is now fine and has no need for a specialist until next year, and then it’s only to check things are as good as they currently are.
The trip overseas gave us more than we ever thought we could get from 2 weeks, and the disappointment was, as it transpired, quite unimportant compared to the gain.
Mark now has the job he wanted and is thriving in it.
My job is just what I thought it could be once I got my head around it {and the staff that gave me so much grief are now working well and with me as opposed to against me}
Christmas was fabulous regardless of not having them all with us, because we got to see and spoil those we rarely see and rarely get to spoil.
On the radio yesterday there was some twit holding forth about the terrible year that was.
Death and destruction, bush fires, floods, devastation worldwide in some cases.
And he’s right, there was.
But there were many, many good things that happened as well.
As with my year, for every bad thing that happened, there was a positive that had the bad fading.
In the coming year, when life hands you a gold coin, enjoy it!
Don’t turn it over looking for the tarnish, just enjoy it.
Deal with the bad when it gets there, sure, but don’t look for it.
You may get a pleasant surprise and never have a bad part to deal with.

Organised soɐɥɔ

anonymum — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:00:55 +0000

The title of this post is the normal state of my life, so I felt it nothing less than appropriate I call my second home just that.
It was a flippant comment made by Kelly one night when we were discussing what name was best once I’d decided to change the name of my blog.
It struck a chord, and seemed more than fitting for the place where I’ve logged some serious hours.
When I say serious, I mean serious.
If I added the time up, it would be staggering, without a doubt.
For the inverted text in the tagline, I thank ~m.
He sent me the link some time ago, and I’ve been waiting for the right time to use it.
Given Australia is considered “down under” again I could think of nothing more appropriate.
Not only that, it adds to the chaos I think {in an organised way of course!}
I thank the same person for being my sounding board in relation to the theme.
His and my idea of how a blog should be just so are very, very similar, so who better to pick the shit out of it as I fiddled to get it right in the last few days?
So there you have it people.
Organised chaos it is, and soɐɥɔ pǝsıuɐƃɹo it will stay.
As well as this change, I’ll be making an attempt to be a better blog buddy this year.
The last few months have been mad, mad, mad for me, but I’m hoping to see that turn to some semblance of normality with the new year {whatever normality is, of course!}
I want to get back to posting, and visiting, daily.
There was a time when I did not miss a day to visit and comment and that’s the way I like to be, so let’s see how I go shall we?
No, it’s not a resolution because I don’t do them, but it is something I want to do.
Please let me know what you think of the name and the theme.
Feel free to let me know if you find a 3 column, dark theme with a customisable header as well.
I’ve been looking for one for God only knows how long, so I’m pretty much over it.
Maybe the original theme whore will manage to find one somewhere??
That’s me, I’m off to do some visiting!
Oh, and Happy New Year!
There are fireworks for the occasion as well, and don’t forget to check out the rotating header images!
Wicked!!
I hope 2010 is good to you and brings all you hope for, and deserve.

If that’s Christmas, we’ve had it

anonymum — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:07:36 +0000

So Christmas 2009 is done and dusted.
We had a good one.
Went and did Santa with the part of the family we weren’t spending it with before we left, and made 2 children very, very happy, plus delivered a very special teddy bear, to a very special little boy, from some very special friends.
On the plane the next day to see those we see far too little of in normal times.
Santa came to Mark and I throughout the year, so we didn’t do the present thing for each other.
Between a trip to America {which included a Christmas in July}, a new laptop and flights down south we figured we were out close to 20k, so we decided being together with family was enough for us this year.
Given we’re also going back to America this coming July as well, we thought that would add to the booty we already have/had!
Sounded like a plan to us anyway.

We will hold in our memories and hearts both the brilliant time we had in July and the wonderful time we had watching 5 of our 8 grandchildren rip open their presents on Christmas morning, and the priceless gift of being grandparents to those same 5, who we don’t get to spoil very often, and then of course there was a madcap Skype call!!

It was fabulous to see my Dad too.
I’ve not seen him in close to 3 years, so as you can well imagine I enjoyed the few short hours we had.
With Christmas out of the way, my mind turns to the New Year, and what awaits us.
First and foremost, for me anyway, will be a new blog name and tagline, plus a new theme to play with.
That will happen at midnight on December 31st.
The New year for me heralds a new beginning and a whole year to enjoy life and whatever it has to offer as I thank the stars I’m alive with a wonderful husband and family to share it with.
Work holds much before the end of February with 3 stock takes to be done, and all that after end of half year.
Hmmm. Thinking about it that way makes me wonder if I need to add another vitamin to my morning collection??
Could be an idea.
Before the end of December we have little miss Zoe’s birthday {tomorrow actually} Caleb is in early January, as is Isaac, and it also sees a good friend have a birthday, so I’m sure there will be some mayhem to create there!

February will see Mark and blondies birthday {on the same day} Wil’s, March has us into Sarah, Stella, Kelly’s and Steve’s birthday, April will bring Melissa’s, May is mine, our anniversary and Mother’s day all within a week of each other.
Mid June sees Lucas turn 1, then on top of that I’ll have end of financial year at the end of June, then we’ll be on the plane to Boston in mid July, so before we know it half the year will be gone again!
Scares the bejesus out of me when I think about it that way, but that’s life I guess?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
Time is a predator.
It waits for nothing and noone.
It stalks us until it decides there is none left for us, one by one.
Other than the new blog name, I don’t think there will be another post before the new year, so I will take the opportunity to wish everyone the best for 2010, and I hope all your dreams come true.
I’ll try to do the rounds before then, however make no promises other than I will do my best.
I hope your Christmas was everything you wished for, and that Santa was good to you with nothing less than you all deserved.

Christmas past

anonymum — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:07:57 +0000

As we hurtle towards Christmas, my mind, as it generally does, has gone into reflection mode.
It turns to times when all was well within my world, there were no family arguments, nor was the phrase “dysfunctional family” coined.
A time when family was first and foremost, no matter what.
Everyone was talking to everyone else, and whilst disagreements may have occurred throughout the year, we would always forgive and forget when Christmas rolled around.
In the true spirit of the season, anything from the previous 12 months was buried amidst our love for one another.
Goodwill abounded and, in the interests of seeing people we care about happy, forgiveness was rife.
Family came together as one, regardless of any perceived, or real, transgressions that had been visited upon one another since the previous year.
Slightly ashamed looks may be seen, heartfelt apologies made, and there were sometimes many, many tears, but there was not a recrimination to be seen. They were banished from the house.
I was bought up to believe that family must come first, and they must stick together.
I was also taught that whilst some things may seem unforgivable at the time, every dog deserves a second chance.
Maybe not a 3rd one, but absolutely a 2nd one.
As I grow older, I realise there is little point in carrying something on forever, because one day, the people involved {be it me, you or someone else} will be gone.
With their passing, also gone will be the opportunity to tell that person how much you loved them, regardless of how it may have seemed at times.
Without going into detail, know that I have first hand experience regarding these things.
Very close first hand experience.
I’ve been the one to make the first move when needed, and it’s quite the pleasant feeling to know I did the right thing.
Trust me on this.
Don’t let too many Christmas’s go past before you realise what someone means to you, and that whatever happened isn’t really that big a deal, no matter how bad you think it was.
You never know how many Christmas’s you have left to do it.
Besides, is Christmas not about a birth?
A birth is a new beginning, so there really is no better time, surely?

Weighty matters

anonymum — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:42:43 +0000

After being in America for 2 weeks, Mark and I both came back carrying a few extra kilos {read more than is good for us}
The food was so damned good, and plentiful, it was bloody hard to say no.
So we just said yes!!!
What can I say??
Anyhow, Mel and Steve started this diet, which is not dissimilar to the Atkins diet, but not as rigid.
As it’s working well for them, I told Mark about the basics and he was more than agreeable, which was quite surprising actually, because he’s never been big on anything I’ve suggested before.
I’ve always struggled to get him to agree on a diet because most of them are based on eating very little and have quite rigid guidelines.
Plus he loves his bread and beer, which has always been a stumbling block.
Trying to get him to give up these things would be like finding rocking horse shit.
Impossible!
I prefer to think of this as a life style change as opposed to a diet anyway.
Diet is one of those 4 lettered words that don’t sit well with me if the truth be known.
You hear the word diet and automatically think of lettuce leaves and carrots I find.
The one I refer to is based on few carbs, little sugar, and lots of protein.
Now, with the influx of low carb, low sugar boutique beers on the market these days, beer has turned out to not be the problem it has in the past.
Taste is not compromised as is generally the way with these things, so we’ve managed to find one that follows the guidelines, and he normally has one with dinner of a night.
He’s happy with that.
We get one day off a week when we can eat or drink anything we want to, however that means nothing but protein the next day.
Meat, bacon, eggs, chicken, fish, whatever, so long as it’s protein.
Limited portions yes, but more than enough to keep us satisfied.
Even if we have a little more than we should, it doesn’t hurt because it’s protein.
A normal day consists of protein portions and snacks, plus unlimited salad and vegies.
Given you need to have 2 protein snacks a day, some days it seems like all you do is eat.
Breakfast was my biggest worry.
I just don’t do the food thing until I’ve been up for at least 2 hours, so that was quite the challenge for me.
Now that I’m used it though, it’s no chore at all, and I quite enjoy it.
The delicatessen people see me coming and draw straws to determine who is going to serve me however.
Whoever gets the short one cops me and my requests.
You see, I have all cold meat portions done at that point to save me having to do them at home!
Given I need, some weeks, 10 servings for lunches, by the time I leave, they’re ready to throw a party!
Tuna, salmon and crab meat have become firm friends, as have steak, fresh fish and chicken.
I’m amazed at the ways vegies can be mixed and matched, and zucchini, capsicum, onion, tomatoes, garlic and chili are things that go so well together, I could eat them every night.
Salads also are unlimited, and we love salad as well, so it’s all good.
We even get to have a piece of bread in the morning, or a piece of fruit, pus our protein of course.
Mark is doing well because he can still have the odd beer, knows he can have bread, plus lots of meat.
Being a butchers son, he was bought up eating lots of meat, so he’s loving it!
In fact his determination has surprised even me, and last week he cleaned out the fridge and freezer of all the “naughty” things because he is so determined.
The results thus far?
Mark approx 8 kgs {18 lbs before you head to the conversion chart}
Me, around 5.5 kgs {12lbs}
Well worth the time and effort let me say.
Hope your weekend is treating you well, and don’t be forgetting Malarky Monday tomorrow.
I have one of Youtubes latest sensations for you, and it’s a blinder!

All puffed up is what I am

anonymum — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:11:22 +0000

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there has been much happening in our lives, and I can assure you, most of it has been pretty shitful.
I won’t go into details, suffice to say the past 6 weeks have not been a happy time, nor has it been easy.
There have been a few times when it was close to falling apart, but as I said not too long ago, we do what we must.
Yesterday, things changed, with a dismissal.
Today it just got better, because Mark got exactly what he’s worked so hard for in the last year.
That one word {yes} will change many things for us, and for others.
The pride I feel tonight is quite extraordinary.
I wouldn’t even know where to start telling this man how proud I am of him, or how much I love him.
Sweetheart, your ethics, integrity, and the things I know you’re going to do from here on in make me smile broadly, and merely reinforce all the reasons I fell in love with you 14 years ago.
I just know how well you’re going to do this, and I look forward to seeing you bounce out of bed in the morning, ready to tackle the day that awaits with the passion I know you have.
Congratulations sweetie.
You earned this one the hard way.
Now I come to think about, I earned it too!!!
Honey, as proud as I am, know this.
You might be a big wig at work, but here at home you’re still just my husband, so you’d best be leaving the big boy boots at the front door my precious!

I love you more than you will ever know, and I’m so proud I’m almost bursting.
Enjoy.
Lord knows you’ve earned it!

Colour me Evyl

anonymum — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:56:32 +0000

Many have been waiting for this post, I know, however life has been kicking my butt since we got home, and I’ve had a lot on my mind, but slowly, I’m getting there.
Onwards.
It was time to be gone to the Cape once showers, coffee and donuts were had.
Found the house, got the tour, time for lunch.
What else but seafood??
Damn it was good! Every word you hear about New England seafood is 100% accurate.
Plus I had my first root beer!
Interesting to say the least.
A cross between creaming soda and sasparilla if I had to describe it.
After lunch {and me being presented with my first souvenir, by Pam..thanks sweetie!} it was to the market.
Another eye opener for yours truly.
How bloody cheap are groceries over there???
I was like a kid in a lolly shop, all bug eyed and not sure where to look first.
Get the shopping done, onto the bottle shop, where we promptly gave the credit card a bit of a nudge {no surprise there I guess??}
Food? Check
Alcohol? Check
Full bellies? Check
Back to the house, unpack the groceries, unpack clothes, and finally…time to plant our arses and pour a drink!
Fast forward to midnight, by which time we were almost deliriously tired.
After extracting promises from everyone to NOT let us sleep beyond 8.00am, it was time to fall into bed for our first nights sleep under northern hemisphere skies.
I vaguely remember getting to bed, and whilst I have no recollection of my head actually hitting the pillow, I can just about guarantee you, I appreciated that pillow more than any other I’ve ever put my head on!
Promises were kept and promptly at 8.00am, we were woken up.
My first thought, even before my eyes opened?
Evyl arrives today!!!! Most exciting.
Soon we would be 4.
Now, Evyl had a plan where the destination was Hyannis, on the Cape, thus making it quite easy for Michael to collect he and Joyce.
The best laid plans of mice and men….
First plane was late, thus they missed the connecting flight.
Eventually, after much toing and froing with phones calls between he and Michael, we ended up at Hyannis airport around the time we worked out the plane was due.
Evyl, being the details man he is, omitted to give us a time the plane would actually LAND.
{Yeah goodonya mate!!}

Now, you have to remember here, none of we 3 waiting at the airport have ever met Evyl.
Seen pics yes, but pics when he had hair, and these days he has a nude nut.
The obvious thing to do was {drum roll please} LOOK for the nude nut, of course!
Damn, do you know how many fucking men in Hyannis airport have nude nuts????
SHIIIIIIIIIT!
1 plane, 2 planes, 3 planes, more planes!
From around {I think} the 5th plane emerged a large, bald man with a wrist brace on.
Knowing he had recently broken his wrist, we look at each other, raise our eyebrows and one of us says “Mac?”
We were greeted with a HUGE smile, and the words.
“How you doin’”
Well, that’s what people told me he said anyway, because he has a broad Texan accent, and I mean BROAD, and let me assure you, Joyce is just the same.
I spent most of the first couple of hours saying “FFS you 2, speak English, because I can’t understand a damned word you’re saying!”

It was quite the source of amusement for those around us let me say!
If you’re an Aussie and you’re reading this, don’t ever let anyone tell you we’re hard to understand.
I’ve spent a week with 2 Texans and it’s like a whole new freaking language.
We may speak fast, yes, but we are understandable.
Eventually {read, after about 2 days} I could catch 99% of what was being said, with just the odd blank look at someone to say “What the hell did he/she say???”
Cannot begin to tell you how good it was to finally meet, and hug, the man who has been one of my most staunch supporters in not only blogging, but is there every single time something goes wrong and a shoulder is required in the quiet way he has of doing things when a person is in any type of distress or has something troubling them.
Next to Michael, which is how I found him, no other man has been as loyal, and I freely admit I love him to bits.
This is THE most laid back man you could wish to meet.
More than willing to go along with anything suggested, happy to do anything anyone wanted to do, and let me add, this man CAN cook!
He did some chicken on the barbie {sorry guys…grill!} that is like nothing I’ve ever eaten before.
It was to die for.
As laid back as he is mind you, urban legend has it that when the Evyl one drinks tequila, he climbs trees!
Yes, trees, and if he didn’t have a broken wrist, something tells me we would have actually seen just that happen.
And damn, can he drink!
There are few people I’ve come across that can give Mark a run for his money, but I met him here.
One stubby as an appetiser, chase it down with a shot of tequila then settle with another stubby every 10 minutes, and tequila chasers in between.
Every female in earshot is darlin’ in that damp inducing Texan drawl {may be hard to understand till you get used to it, but shit it’s good all the same!!}
Mrs Evyl is quite the woman, let me tell you.
Many say she deserves a medal being married to one of the biggest pistols in the blogosphere, and in some ways, yes, she does, but overall, she gives as good as she gets, and damned well let me say!
I can say, with all honesty, I’ve seen our Evyl quite stuck for words.
Quite the thing to see.
There is more to come on this remarkable man and his {long suffering} wife including an experience NOT to be missed in this life {playing The Red Neck Game of Life} plus Celebrity Heads, fire pit stories, mini golf and more.
Once we were 4, it was time to start the fun and games that was our time on Cape Cod.
Photos are to come yes, and the minute I find time to scan them in, they will appear on a page of their own with links to each post.
I’m trying hard to get these posts done quicker, but as I said earlier, life has been mad.
3 stocktakes {the first being Tuesday} in 2 weeks is not helping my cause either.
It’s taken me 3 days to get this done.

More to come people.
Much more to come.

All roads led to Boston, with a speed hump along the way

anonymum — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:44:17 +0000

Once on the plane to Boston, we decided to try and sleep.
Fat chance!
I was wide awake and jumping out of my skin, as I had been for some days before we left, on the plane to the states and the whole time we’d been in LA.
The chances of me being able to sleep were slim.
Mark on the other hand could sleep through a nuclear holocaust, and pretty much slept all the way.
I managed about half an hour, but the rest of the 6 hour flight {that seemed like 26 hours BTW!} was spent thinking about what, or more the point, who awaited us in Boston.
More on this shortly….
Once we eventually landed at Logan airport {quite late I might add} disembarking was reasonably quick, yet still not quick enough for me!
I wanted off, I wanted our luggage, and I wanted in the car Michael had booked to take us to his place, and I wanted it R.I.G.H.T N.O.W!!!!
I was a woman on a mission!!
Suitcases and bags were reasonably prompt.
Annie got hers, we got ours, and the only thing we were waiting on was the didg as it had to come though special luggage.
I went around to the collection area just as the guy was closing the roller door after putting everything out where it could be collected.
“Hang on” says I, quite innocently, “Ours is missing”
“What was it” he says.
“A cylinder about 4ft long, it has a didg in it”
“A what???”
“An indigenous Australian musical instrument. It’s not here”
“I’m sure I got everything off the plane, let me go check”
{small amount of nerves are creeping in at this point}
Waiting, waiting, waiting…
Eventually, he’s back.
“Sorry ma’am, there’s nothing left on the plane. That’s it. You sure you bought it with you?”
Well no, fuck knuckle, because of course, I’m a dick wad who has no fucking idea what she did and didn’t bring 10,000 miles!!!!
As I shot him a withering look, I headed to the customer service office, telling Mark and Annie what the problem was as I went past.
Mark got “that” look on his face, and decided to leave it to me.
Wise move I thought.
Enter one condescending, patronising airline employee.
Whislt I’m in there explaining the situation, Annie has rung Michael and let him know we were in Boston, but there was a small problem.
{~m did a post about it here, to get his perspective}
I explained the problem to the woman in the office, and at this point, I was quite calm.
Her reaction was indifferent to say the least.
She had the whole “I really don’t want to be here, and really don’t give a shit about your luggage, but I’ll do what I have to in order to shut you up” look on her face.
Even after explaining the importance of this luggage to her, the fact this really is irreplaceable, and I’m quite distressed by it’s absence {all quite calmly} her reaction, as I said, was quite indifferent.
“Ma’am, I understand your concern, but it’s really not THAT big a deal. This happens all the time….” in that condescending, patronising tone that seems to be par for course with any type of airline employee.
Mistake, lady.
Big mistake!
“Well no, I don’t think you do understand, and I don’t really like your “I don’t give a damn” attitude. If you put a million of these instruments side by side, no 2 would be the same. It is U.N.I.Q.U.E. Do you understand the word unique? Never mind that we had it custom made, don’t even mind the monetary value, it’s fucking unique!! Do you get that??? It C.A.N.N.O.T be replaced. Not E.V.E.R! Now would you please explain to me the process you’re going to follow to find my damned luggage, and how long you think it will take, or even if you have any idea of how freaking important this thing is now????”
This as I’m starting towards the desk to rip this woman’s head off and shit down her throat.
I’m not calm anymore…..
Enter Annie.
She stepped between me and the desk {read the cow I was going to murder} and bought a level of calm to the situation that I simply wasn’t capable of at that time.
In what seemed double quick time, our details had been given, phone numbers taken, descriptions written down, and we were assured that once it was located, we would be notified, and it would be delivered by courier to the house down the Cape.
By this time, I’m in tears, Mark is pissed because I’m upset, and a driver is still waiting patiently out the front to take us to Michael and Pamela’s.
I guess having been up for over 24 hours and the anticipation wasn’t helping my cause.
Nor was the fact that if they had lost anything else, it wouldn’t really have been that bad.
But not the didg.
It was THE one thing we could never replace.
Eventually we’re in the car and headed to the burbs.
I’m still in tears, close to inconsolable, Mark is telling me it’s going to be fine and Annie is trying to bring some semblance of normality to what is, a rather tense situation {to say the least}
The driver is telling us all about Boston, pointing out landmarks, giving us some history, Annie is talking to him, and things are starting to settle down a little.
After what seemed like hours, and many windy roads, the car stopped outside a quaint little house.
We’d been waiting 15 months for this remember.
For different reasons, once again a small amount of nerves were creeping in here.
The first time face to face with someone is always nerve wracking, no matter how well you get along with them.
I’ll struggle to describe the emotions that ran through me as I stepped out of the car, so I’m not even going to attempt that one.
Pamela.
Not only a gorgeous woman, but the most amazing person you could wish to imagine.
Her patience in relation to mine and Michael’s friendship will never cease to amaze me.
Cannot begin to put into words how good it was to finally meet her.
I’m thinking she was just as happy to see me though, because she came close to fracturing a rib hugging me!
Hannah.
I was told she would be the welcome wagon, and she was.
What a fabulous kid she is! Turned out to be quite the little surprise package in more ways than one!
Finally, Michael.
As I said, we’d been waiting for this for 15 months, and what did I do you ask?
Well hell, I burst into tears like a 2 year old of course!!!
I hung onto him like someone possessed and sooked all over his shirt {I think I managed to avoid snotting on his shirt though}
What else could I do??
Watching Michael come face to face with Annie was quite something too.
These 2 have been friends for close to 10 years and never met.
How could this meeting in suburban Boston be anything less than special in more ways than one?
Mark was as emotional and teary as the rest of us were, and given I spend almost as much time talking to Michael as I do to him, his patience too has been nothing less than remarkable, for which I thank him more than I can ever say.
Once we settled down it was inside to meet Sarah and Jenna who are both as gorgeous as their mother, and just as welcoming.
I have no idea how our luggage got inside, but it did, and apparently Mark tipped the driver {he deserved it after waiting as long as he did}
Damned if I saw either of these things happen.
A shower and clean clothes were the first order of the day.
I was heartily sick of the ones I had on let me tell you.
Above the window in the kitchen are blocks with letters on them.
Someone had fashioned them into the following:
Welcome Mark, Moe, Annie
Next to those words was just one other word.
Australia.
It was as close to coming home as a person could ask for, and it felt like home too.
The next chapter in our little adventure will see us at the Cape eating some wonderful seafood, drinking lots of bourbon, getting some much needed sleep, and the one thing many have been waiting for, I know.
The introduction of that hunk of spunk we all know and love…Evyl!!
Stay tuned folks, we’re just getting warmed up.
Trust me!

Beginnings

anonymum — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:59:04 +0000

Finally they say!
At long last, she speaks!!
Please know I’ve started, and deleted, 15 posts before this came to being.
I shit you not my friends.
15!
There is so much my mind is trying to process still, and I’m struggling badly to instill some semblance of normality to life since we’ve been home, that I’m all over the place!
Eventually, I thought the beginning would be the best starting point.
I can hear you all now.
Well DUH Maureen!!!
So.
We got to Sydney fine {even though it cost us 160.00 in excess luggage} had dinner with Kelly {best lasagna you could ask for} and spent the night at blondie’s place, where we had a brilliant time, and I might add, a brilliant brekky.
Our long suffering husbands spent most of their time shaking their heads, and her kids will never be the same again, but we had a good time didn’t we honey??

So far so good.
Got to the airport fine {for which I thank the aforementioned blondie enormously} had a coffee, managed to check in, found duty free shopping {yes Tasha, I know how jealous you are my sweet!} traversed customs without any drama, and into the boarding lounge.
Mark did have an interesting experience with a coffee that had a badly fitting lid, and he had a white shirt on, so we should probably gloss over that do you think?
Onto the plane, which was our first pleasant surprise of the trip.
Roomy, comfortable, and wonderfully bright, cheerful on board staff.
Take off was smooth {not without butterflies, given my aversion to flying} and we were away.
After what seemed like hours I asked Mark the time, to be told it was only 30 mins after take off.
Hmmm. Who gets the idea here that it was going to be a looooooooooong flight for yours truly???
Our next surprise was the in flight food.
Talk about gourmet meals.
Damn they were good {yes Tasha, again I know just how jealous you are!}
I’m not normally big on airline food, but this was great.
Managed to get around 5 or 6 hours sleep, so that was a good thing, and I did it without drugs, of which I am enormously proud let me add.
Not one pill and not one drink.
A nicotine patch, yes, but that was it.
Fast forward to 4.30pm Friday July 17th when we touched down in LA.
Quite off putting knowing we arrived 3 1/2 hours before we left I must say.
Bizarre to say the least.
Our next surprise was immigration.
Quick, efficient and friendly. Not one of the horror stories we’d been told came to pass, for which we are eternally grateful btw!
Fingerprints done, retina scan done, passports stamped, and onto the next step, collecting our luggage.
Waiting an hour and a half for our luggage was a bit if a shit, but we were in high spirits, so there wasn’t a lot of bitching.
Well, maybe a little.
Eventually got our hands on all of our luggage, so it was onto customs.
This is the part I was dreading the most.
The horror stories we’d been peppered with before departure had me somewhat antsy, and I had extracted from Mark 1000 promises he would behave.
I can tell you after he saw the way these people are armed, there was little chance of him being anything less than straight faced.
They had more fire power in that airport than I’ve ever seen in one place.
Americans take homeland security very seriously it seems, and I guess with good reason, given history.
So, up we rock to the desk.
Customs, with a smile {indicating the didg} “Strangest looking pillow I’ve ever seen”
Me “Yeah, it’s bloody hard too!!”
Cursory glance at our declaration cards and passports.
Customs “You’re right, welcome to the United States. Enjoy your holiday”
Me {looking like a stunned mullet} “That’s it?”
Customs “Yep! Have a great time!”
Not needing to be told twice we headed off, quite buoyed by the thought we were actually IN America.
LAX isn’t really as bad as people say.
We had no trouble finding our way through to the outside world, where we promptly removed the patches, lit a smoke and made our first phone call.
First one was to Annie.
I got the impression she’d been waiting with bated breathe when she answered with “Is it you????”
After confirming it was indeed me and that we had our feet firmly planted on American soil, I then promptly had my eardrum pierced.
Well, close to it anyway.
The scream that came through the ear piece was rather loud and excited.
It’s fine hon, we have great ear, nose and throat people here in Oz.
I’m sure they can find the hearing in my right ear for me.

Our next call was to ~m’s place, where the phone was answered by Pam.
Her excitement was also evident, but fortunately she didn’t take my eardrum out.
Michael was out working but she promised to let him know we had arrived safely and on time.
Having said that, she had been checking on the net to make sure we landed ok, so the Murphy house was pretty much keeping up with where we were at.
I’ll leave it here for now, but be assured, this was not the end of the beginning.
Stay tuned for posts about the meet and greets where you will find some fascinating stuff, such as Maureen being lifted {literally} off the ground by something other than a plane, many, many tears and some quite unexpected, unsettling events.
All will be revealed in time people.
I promise.