OrganiSed Chaos » Friends

I’m an Aussie and bloody proud of it!

anonymum — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:30:10 +0000

It’s Australia day here today.
That day of the year when we celebrate living in this magnificent country of ours.
For the non Aussies among us, I give you some history on the day itself, so you have some idea of what I’m waffling about.
We have many, many reasons to be grateful in our country, and many have explained it far better than I ever can, so this is just to say:

AUSSIE
OI
AUSSIE
OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!
OI OI OI!!!

Celebrate being Australian!
If you’re short of a quid, knock on the next door neighbours front door, cos he’s sure to have a few snags on the barbie, and will doubtlessly share them, whether he likes you or not.
It’s just the Australian way after all.
Have a fabulous day people.

Welcome Home

michaelm — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:15:07 +0000

Wanted to welcome the two of you home.
I’m hoping that Christmas was fabulous for the both of you and all the family.
We so enjoyed the Skype call on Christmas Eve!
Crazy though, huh?

Miss you both and praying you make it home safe.
*Moe, your plugins are up to date as is the new 2.9 version of Wordpress.
Didn’t want you working too hard when you came home.
btw- check your plugins. I uploaded a little surprise for you.
If I had admin on Oz, I would have done the same.
Malarky Monday can wait until next week!
Welcome home, folks, welcome home . . .
Later gators

A little song while you’re unpacking

Malarky Monday

anonymum — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:10 +0000

Indeed, the time has come when we make a small attempt to brighten your lives with a little giggle, or, if we’re lucky, a damned good belly laugh.
This week I have a small joke for you in honour of that wonderous time of year we know as Christmas.
Stay with me here, it may not seem like it’s a Christmas joke, but all will be revealed in the fullness of time.
I found a little Christmas image for you as well.
It made me smile and hopefully it will make you do the same.
Once you’re done here wander over and see my co conspirators in Mark, ~m and Muffy for some more Monday mirth.
Boobs and Willies
A family is at the dinner table. The son asks his father, ‘Dad, how many kinds of boobs are there?’
The father, surprised, answers, ‘Well, son, a woman goes through three
Phases. In her 20s, a woman’s boobs are like melons, round and firm.
In Her 30s to 40s, they are like pears, still nice but hanging a bit.
After 50, they are like onions’.
‘Onions?’
‘Yes, you see them and they make you cry.’
This infuriated his wife and daughter, so the daughter said, ‘Mom, how
Many kinds of ‘willies’ are there?’
The mother, surprised, smiles and answers, ‘Well dear, a man goes through Three phases also.
In his 20s, his willy is like an oak tree, mighty and Hard.
In his 30s and 40s, it is like a birch, flexible but reliable.
After his 50s, it is like a Christmas tree’.
‘A Christmas tree?’
‘Yes — dead from the roots up and the balls are just for decoration.’

A serious addiction

anonymum — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:07:37 +0000

I spend hours on the net, and when I say that, I mean serious hours.
Anyone who knows anything about me will realise that every morning I turn on my laptop before my eyes are open properly.
Before I pee, even before I put the kettle on.
THE only thing I do before I turn it on is get out of bed.
Literally.
Mark turns the news on, I turn the laptop on.
*shrug*
It’s simply the way it is.
I’m a bit of a night owl too, so most nights find me with laptop firmly planted and me trying hard to catch up with all that has been happening while I was at work.
In my early blogging days, I would comment on every single post anyone on my blogroll had done, and then some.
{This new job has kicked my arse since I started and I’ve been slack since then, I know, but I’m working hard on changing that}
I’ve seen blogs come and go, started over, started other new blogs for people, seen others delete and have decided this is simply the nature of blogging.
The very last thing I do before I go to bed is check my email before turning my baby off.
I have Twitter, Facebook, Skype, God only knows how many blogs, thousands of items coming into my reader, plus I stumble, I read, I wander, and so the list goes one, but I’m sure you get the drift of what I’m saying.
If it can be done on the net, I’m there!
There is a point here, so stay with me {actually, it’s a question}
When does this type of thing become a time waster?
When does it become a problem?
I don’t have a family at home to worry about, there is only Mark and I, so that’s not a consideration.
I’ve turned doing housework into something compatible with surfing, so even that doesn’t count.
Hell, you should see me fly through a few items in my reader as I zip past with the vacuum cleaner.
It’s a thing of beauty, and an art I have perfected!
I can Skype, chat with 3 people, do a post, and watch TV all at the same time.
Until recently I was heavily involved with a bloggers forum {we closed it down due to lack if traffic} I look after my blog, Marks and several others, plus I’m always on the look out for new ideas.
I own more domain names than you can poke a stick at, and one day every last one of them will be hosted somewhere, for some purpose.
I’m particularly lucky in that I have a {long suffering} and indulgent husband who never complains about the time, nor the money I spend in pursuit of my hobby.
Because that’s what it is to me.
A hobby.
It’s broadened my mind, and my horizons.
Blogging has been responsible for us meeting some of the most wonderful people a person could ever wish to have in their lives, it brings the world closer, keeps me in touch with family thousands of kilometers away, and amuses me no end with it’s infinite wonders.
I don’t see it as a problem at all, but I know that’s not always the case.
There are some who have been hurt immeasurably by the internet because of some strange happenings, people have been stalked and harassed, and of course, there are the sickos who inhabit cyberspace, so don’t get me started there.
Overall I see it as a way of staying connected with family and friends and the rest of it, such as blogging and all of those things are an added bonus that I happen to enjoy.
How about you?
I realise there may be some like myself who are, quite frankly, addicted, and then there are others who seem to come and go like the wind.
Where do you fall in this?
Addicted?
Not addicted?
Take it or leave it?
See it as a time waster?
Speak up.
I can admit I have a serious internet addiction, so don’t be shy.
Tell Aunty Moe all about it!

The Fairy of Joy

anonymum — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:11:34 +0000

I really need to get ready for work, but felt I should so a quick post for those following the trials and tribulations currently being experienced by our little boy.
It seems the Fairy of Hope and all the prayers worked, so today I have the Fairy of Joy for Mel and Steve.
Lucas has had his surgery, and all is well.
After an agonising 2 1/2 hour wait, Mel was told she could go down to recovery and see their precious little munchkin.
20 mins later he was back in his room, and whilst still feeling the affects of the anesthetic, he was ok, and that’s what counted.
What needed to be done had been done, so all was well.
They were told he wouldn’t want to feed until today, but in true fighting Aussie spirit, he proved them wrong and at around 8.30 last night, I received a text message saying he WAS feeding.
This morning I’m told he’s all smiles for his Mum, which in turn makes her smile, and helps her forget the exhausting, emotional day they had yesterday.
Cannot even begin to tell you how much we all appreciate the comments and emails we’ve received.
Mel and Steve have asked I pass on their thanks to everyone who has expressed their concern, and sent their good wishes.
They’re quite amazed at the level of support shown by everybody, but grateful all the same.
As for me, well, it’s times like these I’m reminded why blogging keeps calling me back, every time I think I’m done.
You guys are the absolute best!

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.

Welcome Home

michaelm — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:39:40 +0000

Miss you guys already.
Glad you’re finally DownUnder . . .
Just dipped my finger into the Vegemite jar you so graciously left behind.
YumYum, Pigs Bum . . .
Welcome home.
{{{hugs}}}
~m & p

Please don’t be sad

anonymum — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:30:03 +0000

This was written and scheduled on Friday afternoon {Boston time} and it’s a very special thank you post, for some very special people.
People who we always knew would affect our lives in ways that would be nothing less than magical.
It wasn’t an expectation, we just knew what it would be like.
People who about an hour before this published, we cried like babies with, because it was time for us to leave.
We will have clung to each other as if we were drowning, not wanting to let go, yet knowing we had to.
Life, and reality, call. As do responsibilities, commitment, and that most precious of all things. Family.
They all speak to us in the same way they do to every adult person alive.
Loudly and insistently.
They cannot be ignored can they?
Michael and Pamela.
Mark and I thank you deeply for the privilege you afforded us this past week.
We thank you for allowing us into your life and your home, but mostly we thank you for taking us into your hearts.
You took in 2 people who were essentially, strangers, and let us stay with you as you would have people you’ve known your whole lives.
I cannot begin to tell you what that meant to us.
If I wrote 10 million words, it wouldn’t come close.
Please know, if ever you come to Australia, our home is your home.
For as long as you wish.
Like us, you do not admit people to your lives easily, so we fully understand how big a thing this was for you to do, and we appreciate it more than you will ever know.
Pam, I’m smiling because I just know you’re smiling as you read this, albeit with tears still.
{and you have your living room back and you can see your hope chest again!!}
Your endless patience and willingness to accept 2 crazy Australians into your home has astounded us.

Sarah, Jenna and Hannah.
To the 3 of we also say thank you for the welcome you gave us.
The patience you exhibited when we 4 old farts were sitting up late at night talking and drinking and laughing and drinking and generally behaving like maniacs was appreciated immensely.
Your father has never spoken of you all in anything less than glowing terms, and now we know why.
All of you are as special as the parents who created you.
Sarah, keep at your studies and you can become anything you want to be. With Jon by your side and your family behind you, there is little you cannot face, regardless of what it may be.
Jenna, keep dancing to the beat of your own drum. It’s what makes you the remarkable individual that you are, and one I’m enormously proud to know.
Hannah.
Our very own little tour guide.
What would we have done without you honey?
You made us laugh, you spent more time with us than you did with your parents, and lit every last one of days for us in ways we never expected.
You were an absolute delight to spend time with.
Please try hard not to trip in your journey through life though.
You trip on everything else, and that’s more than enough for me !!!
Sheesh!!

Mark will miss his little buddy badly, I know. He won’t have anyone to play with now.
Please know we will miss you more than it’s possible to describe, for so many reasons.
I also thank the 3 of you for being so willing to share your parents in the most unselfish way possible.
After all, it was your holiday as well.

We enjoyed our time with the 5 of you enormously, and will be counting the days till we can do it all again.
Please don’t be sad that we’re gone.
Look forward to the day we return, because we will return.
Make no mistake about that.
We love all of you to bits and just wanted to let you know
Love
Moe and Mark

Anticipation

anonymum — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:30:17 +0000

By the time anyone reads this, Mark and I will be around 30 minutes into a 14 hour flight to LA.
Our destination is one that has been discussed for a long, long time, and the culmination of 15 long {and, at times} trying months.
In that time we have had to traverse many, many things, for many, many reasons.
Suffice to say it was quite a trying, anxious time, however we have never lost sight of the purpose we had in mind.
For what seems the longest time, we’ve been driven to make this happen.
Driven sounds quite odd, I know, but that’s what this “thing” has done to us.
I’ve spent so much time mentally, emotionally and physically on this trip, that there was a Skype call ended in tears on Saturday because the sheer depth of emotion has been, simply put, over whelming.
I can’t deal with it.
I struggle.
Badly.
Reality hit home last Saturday in the most intense possible way.
For someone who ordinarily keeps her emotions inside, this outpouring is quite the experience.
Some might think this is a bad thing, and looking back on what I’ve said here, that’s understandable, but it’s not.
It’s good thing.
Others might wonder why we would do this crazy thing, which in a nutshell, is spend close to 10k on flying to the other side of the world to spend time with people we’ve never met.
Firstly, it’s not like we can duck into a coffee shop to meet them as you would ordinarily with other bloggers, now is it?
These people are, literally, on the other side of the world!
There is no real answer, not to that question, nor to many others in my own mind, let alone others minds.
The only thing I can tell you is deep waters cannot be ignored regardless of the lack of understanding or the confusion it creates in your mind.
The only thing I know, deep inside me, is that we’re meant to do this {seemingly} crazy thing.
It refuses to be ignored, and it feels the right thing to do.
My instincts have stood me in good stead my entire life, and I was not about to questions the ones that led to this decision.
We found this to be quite the logistical nightmare once the decision was made.
The coordination, arrangements and actual doing has been quite the monumental task.
Without a doubt, it’s the single biggest thing either of us have ever done.
However….
It’s going to be worth it.
Every single tear, sleepless night and anxious moment will be forgotten by 11.00am Sunday morning.
That’s when the last little piece of this puzzle will fall into place.
Even before that last piece is seen though, there will have been many, many more tears, hugs and emotions to deal with, for many, many reasons, none of which make an ounce of sense to either myself or Mark.
We can see light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s getting bigger by the minute.
Added to all this emotion will be seeing 2 daughters, a granddaughter and another very close blogging friend, none of whom we have seen for quite some time and, again for many reasons, there is enough emotion just in that, let alone the rest of it.
I will tell you, this post was done last Saturday afternoon just after the aforementioned, tearful Skype call ended.
I did this and scheduled it while my head was in a place where I could do it.
I needed that intense emotion to put it together.
Much of this emotion is being driven by the name of the post.
Anticipation.
Strange as it may sound, I love it!
Catch you in the first of 2 of the most magical weeks a person could ask for.
Keep an eye out for some blogging fun too!
I’m sure I don’t need to point you in the direction of the blogs in question, now do I?
I can guarantee you know which links they are!