OrganiSed Chaos » life

Someone should have warned me

anonymum — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:48:57 +0000

Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual.
You go along, day after day, doing the best you can and making the most of what you have.
I have no desire to know the future be it good, bad or otherwise, but there are a few little snippets I would have been happy to know about, before they happened.
So I could have been prepared, if you know what I mean?
Here are a few of them.
Grey pubic hairs!
FFS, the cultural shock of finding one is an experience I would have been more than happy to pass on!
After 45 no matter how hard you try not to, you are going to put on weight.
Ok, it may not be a lot, but it’s still there!
Begone you foul beast!!! If you keep this up, my arse will need a post code all of it’s own!!
Your tolerance level for arse hats, fuck wits and morons hits lower than rock bottom.
Whilst some see this as a good thing, there are others, like me, who already had a low tolerance level for the aforementioned species of people, so I’m a little concerned about the results should it go any lower!
Whilst controlling my bladder has never been an issue for me, it seems in the last few years it’s capacity has lessened.
What other explanation is there for the 2 trips to the loo throughout the night, even when I don’t drink anything in the 2 hours before I retire?
Getting out of a comfortable lounge chair becomes a challenge as big as scaling a freaking mountain.
It seems as if every bone in your body is protesting at the monumental request you’ve made, and it’s not letting you know about said protest in a non confrontational manner.
The need to have lists for everything from shopping to what you need to do on any particular day.
I’m dreading the night I feel the need to put a note next to my bed in order to be reminded I have to go to work in the morning.
Nightmare scenario that one is!!
These are merely a few of the things my late 40′s and early 50′s have bought quite unexpectedly.
There are many, many more, but I though it only polite to leave some for others who are brave enough to let us know their little unexpected surprises as they move towards being older.
Please note I said older, NOT old!
Your turn….

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.

{Trying to} Ignore the madness

anonymum — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:25:28 +0000

It’s only the middle of November, and already the madness has begun.
Starts happening earlier every year, I know, but hey, when there’s a buck to be made, money grubbing retailers have no scruples, we all know that.
Ads are rife already.
They tell us what children need under the tree, and let me add, it was decided many months ago, what is in for Christmas this year.
Ordinarily, what’s in has a price tag that could feed a 3rd world country for 6 months.
Apparently kids have got to receive it under the tree, or their lives will be forever ruined and in post Christmas months, parents will be forking out for therapy bills the size of a national debt, because the children will feel ~~depraved~~ deprived.
Amidst the madness, why we actually have Christmas is lost, that’s the sad part.
I’m not an overly religious person, but the meaning behind Christmas is certainly not lost on me, not by anyone’s standards.
This year we’re going to Victoria.
We’ll spend 5 days with family we don’t see nearly enough of, we’ll eat, drink and be merry, but before we go I have things to do, and buy.
Yes, we’ll leave presents behind for those we’re not spending the holidays with, but there are other presents to buy as well.
For many, many years, I’ve bought gifts for people less fortunate than us, and I put them under the Wishing Tree, and in fact, until about 3 years ago, Mark didn’t even know I do it.
As our family has been blessed, and grown with grandchildren, the amount of gifts I put under the tree has also grown.
For every grandchild we have, I put a present under the tree.
This year there are 8 presents to be bought and wrapped.
Our grandchildren are lucky to have been born into a close knit {albeit somewhat disfunctional} family, and are surrounded by people who love and cherish them, but many are not so lucky as we all know.
Before we board our plane on December 23rd, I will have purchased the following gifts.
2 for 9 year old girls
1 for a 7 year old boy
2 for 6 year old boys
1 for an almost 3 year old boy
1 for an almost 2 year old girl
1 for a baby boy, a year or less old
I have no idea of who they will go to, but I’ll buy them all the same.
These gifts will be nothing like what’s in this year, nor will they cost a squillion dollars, but I can tell you this.
They will go to children far less fortunate than our grandchildren.
Children who don’t have the advantages every child should have.
Children who were born without the choices I know our grandchildren will have as they grow, and born to parents who are either unable, or unwilling, to do what should be done for every child born.
To me, it’s things like we do every year that Christmas is about.
Thinking of those less fortunate, and making an effort to brighten their lives just a little.
Whilst I detest the commercialisation of Christmas, the thought of any child having nothing on the day, breaks my heart.
Every child deserves at least one gift, even if it’s only a teddy bear.
I tell you this not to have people say “Good on you Maureen!!” but in the hope that they will remember what Christmas is about.
A celebration of life and family and a time to reflect on how lucky some {read Mark and I} are in comparison to many.
As uncharitable as it may be to say this, the retailers can go to hell and shove their what’s in this year gifts clean up their arse, because I want none of it.
I’m trying hard to ignore the madness and merely do what I’ve always done.
Enjoy our family and be bloody grateful for exactly how lucky we are with the family and friends we have, because it’s these people that make the day as good as it can get.
That’s what Christmas is about.
It’s got nothing to do with the garbage sprouted by slimey money grubbing retailers, nor has it got anything to do with how much you spend.
It’s about what you do, and appreciating what, and who, you have in your life, and being grateful for them.
I’m more blessed than I could ever have imagined I would be, and I appreciate it more than I can ever say.
I can but hope there are 8 kids who’s Christmas will be brightened just a little this year too.

It’s been hard work

anonymum — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:16:36 +0000

Some 8 years ago, we decided we needed a sea change.
At the time we had no idea of where we wanted to go, but had enough trust in fate to know somewhere would present itself when the time was right.
The only thing we knew for sure was it needed to be near the water because we both love it so much.
That was the only set criteria we had.
A year or so after the decision was made, we came to Townsville in order to spend Christmas with 2 of the girls and one grandchild.
After less than 24 hours of being here, we knew.
This is it.
This was where we wanted to be.
It wasn’t only the tropical weather {although that played a big part} it was the more laid back life style, the beaches, just the general feel of the the place.
We felt comfortable, the price of living was reasonable, plus there was a small part of family here, so that was a bonus.
If we’d found somewhere that had no family and felt as comfortable, we would have moved there though.
That family were here was just a bonus.
One of us had to stay behind and keep earning a living while the other went forth to the unknown in order to get a job and establish some sort of base for us, so Mark packed some clothes, hired a car and set off for Queensland.
He stayed with the aforementioned family and set about doing just that.
It took a while, but he got one.
7 months later, I threw my high paying job in, he flew down and collected me and enough stuff to give us a start.
What we bought with us fitted into a 7 x 5 trailer, and it was the bare basics.
We had no intention of spending what money we had on removalists, so we sold, gave away or left behind what we thought we could do without.
Some we put into storage, but not a lot.
It took me 8 months to get a job.
8 long months where we made do with 5 parts of bugger all money, car payments and rent to pay, and still had a need to eat, buy petrol and cigarettes, all the things that go into life.
Since I got that first job, I’ve had another 3 jobs, and I’m into my 4th.
Mark has had just as many, if not more, and finally…finally, we’re back where we started 7 years ago, just before we left Sydney.
We have good, secure, well paying jobs, and in fact Mark has just gotten a promotion and a decent pay rise, I’m a manager in a job I love, and life is on an even keel.
I can assure you, it has not been easy for the last 7 years.
It’s been bloody hard work.
We’ve had to borrow money from our family, and at times, from our children.
There have been times when we’ve come close to separating because of the stress, we’ve fought and argued, and we’ve almost ripped each other apart.
Yet, we persisted, because it’s just what we do.
It’s life, it’s marriage and it was a choice we made, with our eyes wide open.
We wanted to do it.
Would I recommend doing this to anyone else?
Hell yes.
There has been the odd moment when I wondered about our intelligence I have to say, but would I do it all again?
In a heart beat!!!

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!

Such intensity

anonymum — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:00:24 +0000

I understand that life is quite the serious business.
When I say that, it’s meant just as it sounds.
It’s not tongue in cheek, nor is there any humor intended in it, as much as it may seem otherwise.
I mean, think about it.
The alternative is death, and whilst we all know it comes to each of us, it’s not something many people look forward to is it?
{As an aside to this post, I will say my belief is that the thought of death is probably far worse than the actual event itself.
Really, what more is death than a permanent loss of consciousness?
We’re not going to know we’re dead are we?
It does however, disturb me that people may be upset at my demise}
I digress.
Again!
Sorry.
Where was I?
Oh yes!
Whilst I acknowledge that life is quite serious, I want to know when living became the same way?
When I was a kid, living was far less serious than it appears to be these days.
Perhaps it only seemed so because I saw it through the eyes of a child as opposed to an adult who has been around the block a few times, or with a child’s optimism, and through those rose coloured glasses all babies are {seemingly} equipped with at birth?
Surely life is for living?
In recent weeks here in Australia there have been some “interesting” items hit the headlines.
Now if I was a good blogger, I would give you links, but it’s late and I need to get these thoughts out of my head before I lose them, so that train has left the station I’m afraid.
It seems the fun police have taken hold of variety shows and want to put a halt to that great Aussie tradition of taking the piss out of anyone and everyone {including ourselves probably} because Harry Connick Jnr took offence to a skit about Michael Jackson, and Australia has now been branded a racist country all around the world.
On this morning’s breakfast show, people are complaining because somewhere down south, some little people had the nerve to say “Yes, we’ll play jockey and jump on others people’s backs so they can race down the straight at the local horse track, because it looks like fun”
On the same show, there was a report of some people, who apparently have more time than they know what to do with, and they did a study that concluded children under the age of 2 shouldn’t watch television lest it affect their development, and if that’s not enough, once they’re over 2, don’t let them watch more than an hour a day.
This is but a small selection too.
There are many, many more.
My concern is that people are becoming so damned intense about life that they’re forgetting to actually live.
What is life for, if not to live?
When will people stop worrying about what “might” happen if they do this or that, and worry about what “is” happening, here and now?
When will the so called “evolved thinking” people lighten the fuck up, and let people actually live, as opposed to bombarding them with do’s, don’t's and doom and bloody gloom, so that we can all have a life as opposed to an existence?
Who died and made some of these so called experts, God?
At what point did some elements of society become a bunch of opinionated, whinging, whining, hairy arm pitted, chardonnay drinking, tree hugging twerps that seem to have balls the size of sultanas?
Perhaps I’m getting old and cranky, because these days, every time I hear some “expert” on the TV or radio holding forth {in that freaking nasal tone which seems to be par for course these days} about the newest theory, or study, on what people “need to do” or “what’s good for them”, my immediate thought is life was a lot less intense, and much more fun 40 years ago.
I guess I’m meant to be grateful for the people with all this fabulous advice that I’ve manged to live without for all these years.
How the hell did I manage to get all the way to 52 without them?
*sigh*
Life is for living, not just existing.
Maybe I should have just posted that line?
Would have saved some time in my existence I suppose.

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!

168 hours

anonymum — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:33:33 +0000

That’s the amount of time each of us has to live life in a full week.
Now, many would say that’s a lot, but for those of us who live in the real world, we all know, it’s nowhere near enough.
There are some people who are, seemingly, of the opinion they’re entitled to a chunk of my 168 hours, regardless of the circumstances in my life.
They don’t just want apparently, it seems they seriously consider they’re entitled.
This has been driven home in the last couple of weeks, not by things that have happened, more it’s those that haven’t, and things unsaid.
Silence is sometimes much louder than words, I’m sure you would all agree.
This post is to assure everyone other than my husband, family and employer, that you are absolutely not entitled to one more thing than I have time to give, or indeed, I’m inclined to give.
My employer pays me to work.
That’s an entitlement.
My husband and family, purely because they’re my husband and family, have an absolute 150% entitlement to me at any time of the day or night, even above and beyond my employer should push come to shove.
My landlord has an entitlement to have their house {our home} neat and tidy, right down to the lawns, which of course falls to Mark and I.
Noone else, and I mean noone, is entitled to any part of me and mine, regardless of their thoughts, expectations, or even their desires.
One of my favourite expressions is to have an expectation invites a disappointment.
I’m a person who will do anything for anyone, and never ask for a thing in return, and I’m damned proud of it.
However, when it becomes an expectation, and there is no give and take, I’m not doing it.
Not any more.
Deal with it, don’t deal with, either way I really don’t care, but know this.
I’m done with trying to keep all of the people happy all of the time, no matter the cost to me and mine.
After work, husband, family, and I’m done with shopping, banking, eating, sleeping, getting to where I need to go and back, doing housework, and even peeing, then I’ll fit in everything and everyone else, and not before.
If you’re sitting here reading this and have a clear conscience, good!
I’m pleased, and you know I’ll get to you when I can yes?
If you’re reading this and squirming, thinking it relates to any one person, or any one thing, then you need to take heed of the paragraph a little above this one.
First word of that paragraph is “noone”
I will do as I need, and indeed, please, with my 168 hours, so you’d best be getting used to it.

My next post will return to the amazing adventures of Morky and Marky, and, as promised, the Evyl one will make his entrance.
I simply needed to say a few things, and feel much better for having done just that.

So much to say, and no idea where to start!

anonymum — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:27:00 +0000

As I type, I am currently sitting on the back deck at Michael and Pamela’s place.
The sun is shining, the birds are singing and life is damned good let me tell you.
I have so much in my head it’s hard to process it all.
I will begin by saying we had the best week a person could ask for at Cape Cod. Some rain on one or two nights, but let me say, nothing brings people together more than sitting huddled under an umbrella to have a smoke.
Brings you close if nothing else!

Having said that, we had some brilliant nights around the fire pit too.
Many things were spoken of, much bourbon, beer and good Aussie rum were consumed, and friendships that will stand the test of time, were forged.
I guess the easiest thing to do at this point is try and summarise and highlight, just so you have some idea of why we’re all been so damned quiet and where we’ve been.
Firstly, the internet connection was slower than a fucking wet week, and we decided after spending hours trying to make it workable, that we would simply need to do without it.
Mobile service was, at best, intermittent.
Next time we come over {probably next year} I’ll be shopping around for a better provider I can assure you!
Brilliant food, just brilliant! Every word you hear about New England seafood is 100% accurate.
I am officially hooked on cheeseburgers and pink lemonade.
If I keep eating them the way I have been, I’ll need an extra seat for my fat arse to get home! I shit you not.
I can still feel the tears running down my face, and the pain in my stomach from laughing so much.
Snort and stamp is all I’m saying about that one!

Don’t ever let anyone tell you Americans are anything less than friendly, helpful and more courteous than you can ever imagine.
If you come across a loud, brash American as we sometimes do in Australia, please know they’re not all like that.
I say this from first hand experience. They are wonderful, wonderful people.
Fenway Park! Good God, what can I say to describe the feeling of standing outside the home of the Red Sox?
That’s just going to get better because tonight we go to a ball game!
Can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The people we’ve met.
That’s another subject I will struggle to verbalise.
These are people who are so damned real it’s just beyond comprehension.
Given the way we came together, it seriously defies any logic that comes to mind.
There will be much more about them at a later date, but for now, suffice to say they are people we could spend an inordinate amount of time with.
Geography will mean little, however that’s always been the case I think.
This trip simply reinforced that fact.
I had a feeling it would comfortable, and it was. Still is actually.
Christmas in July.
Another subject there will be more about, but know that for many reasons, it was a Christmas that will never be forgotten.
Not ever.
There was almost one disaster, however it was narrowly averted when the missing luggage was delivered by a courier on the Monday night.
Quite the experience let me say, and one I am NOT inclined to repeat at any time soon.
There was only one irreplaceable thing the airlines could have lost, and can you guess which one they lost?
No prizes for the correct answer there!
Waiting an hour and a half for luggage at LAX is not something I’m in any hurry to repeat either.
Having said that, the horror stories we heard about US customs did not come to pass, and it took us all of 25 seconds to clear them, so that more than made up for the luggage.
Handling the Evyl one’s smalls, having the same person drop their jeans to model said smalls, one liners flying thick and fast around the table, enormous amounts of bourbon, plus the table and deck of knowledge will all be the subjects of future posts, I promise.
Mannequins with the biggest tits I’ve ever seen, the disorientation of driving down the wrong side of the road, stores that seemed to have come from the last century, just so many things to say, and still clueless on where to start!
I will tell you I’m more relaxed than I ever thought I could be, and I’m not the slightest bit homesick.
There’s a statement that will scare the bejesus out of some daughters we know!
For now however, I need to be gone.
Much to do, even more to see, and only another 5 1/2 days to do it in, so I need to move my cheeseburger and pink lemonade enhanced arse.
There will be another couple of posts before we come home people, and before one person asks, yes, there will be pics!
Would we do this again?
Hells yeah!!

Welcome to America!

michaelm — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:41:58 +0000

Yes, I hijacked Moe’s blog, hence the snow . . . :O)
Got a call from my wife on my way home from my gig and she was
overly excited knowing that Maureen and Mark had made it here safe.
They are currently @LAX due for a flight at midnight and will arrive in Boston tomorrow morning. (with WriterChick!)
Although I hear thunder off in the distance as I type this,
I know that whatever the weather is tomorrow, the sun will be shining.

Welcome to our ‘home sweet home’.
Enjoy yourselves, although I already know you will.

Michaelm (badsneaker.net)