Status Symbols

I'll admit it.  I'm a sucker for the apple.  As in Mac.  


Completely obssessed with that white logo.  So crisp and identifiable.   I have coveted a MacBook Pro for many many years.  I am a laptop girl.  Always have been, always will be.  I love clacking away in any room of the house.  Except the loo of course.  That's just nasty!


Earlier this year, my dreams finally came true.  I happened upon a great deal.  48 months interest free.  I mean hello???  I could not pass it up.  No way.


So on my way home from work, I stopped over and spoke to a salesperson at the store.  I asked a billion questions, but he knew.  He could tell by the look in my eyes that it was a done deal.  I just had to convince my husband.


So I made that phone call. 


Me:     Guess what babe??  I've found an awesome deal to get my mac (or words to that effect)
Him:   What do you mean good deal?
Me:     It's like 48 months interest free babe.  I mean, 4 years to pay it off.
Him:   Wouldn't you be better off getting a pc laptop?  All of our stuff is pc.
Me:    You know I've always wanted one.
Him:  Yeah, but they are so expensive.
Me:   I know, but it's something I'll be using all the time.  I mean, I need a laptop now I'm back at uni.
Him:   Why don't we go to Harvey Norman this weekend and check out some other options?
Me:    S I L E N C E
Him:  Babe?
Me:    What?
Him:  Well how much will it cost a month?
Me:   Only $ 75 a month, but I'll try and pay it off quicker when I can, I'll pay more.
Him:  You sure we can afford it?
Me:   Yes babe, this is the perfect way to get it.
Him:  Well, ok.  If it's what you really want.
Me:   YAY!!!!!!!!


I have to say, it was worth the wait.  I love love love my baby.  Although if I'm honest, he seems to spend more time on it than I do!!


What is it about status symbols we feel the need to have or own?  I mean, I was seduced by a plain white apple logo.  I mean logically I know I could probably have bought about 4 laptops for the price I paid for mine.


But I wouldn't change a thing.  I work hard.  We both do.  I don't think it's a crime to indulge every now and again.  It makes life worth living.


Now if only I could buy magazines again.  I love a good mag.  It's something about the smell of the very expensive paper they use.  So shiny, glossy and smells......  expensive.


Maybe one day...  when the kids are off our hands :-)

Chick Flicks

Love them.  

They don't have a deeper meaning, they don't try to save the world.  It just affords me some time so sit and enjoy.  Get a handsome man, a beautiful woman, throw in some obstacles they need to overcome, but at the end of the day, they end up together and everyone ends up happy.

Some time ago, I sat in class surrounded by some very young students and one ego maniac of a tutor.  He claimed in class that anyone who indulges in romantic comedy has no life.

Ummmmm  what?

Most of my classmates were very quick to agree and the discussion turned to 'serious' movies, you know, the kind that 'intelligent' people prefer.  That kind of attitude really pisses me off.  Wait until you've got some life experience before you cast such a broad and offensive statement.

What's wrong with wanting a couple of hours of lightness, bubbles and happy endings?

NOTHING!!!!

I watch other types of movies too, but the other day I was tortured by watching The Road.  By the end of this movie, I felt like taking a hot bath and then rocking in the corner in the foetal position.  It's spectacularly depressing and not a movie I'd recommend to anyone who may be in a fragile state of mind.

Life is shitty enough without having to resort to watching further depressing plots and the possible future that awaits us.

I'll stick to my movies, the ones that make me smile, the ones I can share with the kids.  Demonic possessions, armageddon and zombie producing viruses can find a home somewhere else.

What... This old thing?

You know I never imagined I would be one of these women who hides things from their husband.

I was working for over 15 years by the time we met and fell in love.  So I was very accustomed to doing what I wanted, when I wanted.  And buying whatever took my fancy...  within reason of course.

Now, with a large mortgage, two children to educate, life's very different.  Every purchase needs to be second guessed and considered, especially the bigger stuff.  Lucky for him, I'm neither a clothes horse, I don't go out with the girls, neither of us drinks or smokes.  My only weakness will forever be handbags.  Leather.  Always leather.

So a few months ago, I came into some money.  As did he.  It's called tax time and this time my agent really earned his fee!

So I did what any normal red blooded woman would do.  I bought myself a gorgeous red Oroton.  Ok, well not just one.  I also got the brown hobo too.  I've earned it!  I work my arse off, I juggle being a full time parent and a full time employee while juggling part time studies.  Something's gotta give; don't you think?

So there they lay, in the back of the wardrobe, wrapped in their protective bags, waiting for their day in the sun.

Be patient my pretties.  Your time is coming, sooner than you think.

And when he asks, I'll reply; "What?  This old thing?  I've had it for years."

Another Saturday night.

Twenty years ago, I could not fathom staying home on a Saturday night.  Back then, nothing happened until after 10pm.  These days if I'm conscious at this time there's something very wrong.


I've been loading my itunes with all of my old cd's.  Each one carries a special memory; some good and some not so good.  But all of them helped shape the person I am today.  I love my music.  I am a massive fan of pop and anything with a beautiful lyric, melody or harmony.  I don't do angry music.  I don't see the point in listening to anger and angst and all the other weird shit people write songs about.  I have no problem with anyone who favours this type of music, but it's not for me.


I prefer to surround myself with happy songs that make me smile and at times, help me through a really bad times.


There's nothing like hearing an old song that triggers a memory and suddenly, I'm back in my bedroom at Mum and Dad's place.  I'm 16 again, yearning for a boyfriend to love me, dreaming about what might be.  My heart skips a beat and the past twenty odd years fade away to nothing.


I still remember taking a long leisurely shower, rubbing perfumed moisturiser all over me.  Stressing about what to wear, how to style my hair, the make up and of course the handbag and shoes.  Back then, spending $300 for a pair of shoes was nothing.


I'd crank up the latest release and sing away as I got ready for whatever the universe would put in my path.  It was all about matte lipsticks and Poppy King was THE lipstick queen.  I was blessed with a serious pout.  And a red pout was hot.  Mummy had it going on back in the day, although to look at me know, you'd never know it. 


By 10pm, I was in my car, showered in Poison or Lou Lou, on my way to pick up my then best friend...  a person I thought I'd never live without.  


We've drifted apart now.  I miss her.  I miss the freedom of being young and crazy.  When life was a blank canvas and anything was possible.


Now my idea of a perfect night is dinner with the kids and my hubby.  Watching a dvd or falling asleep in front of a dvd.  How life has changed.  


I miss the old days sometimes; when life is crazy and there are a million things I need to do.  But when I put my kids to bed, and they are sleeping like angels, my heart constricts with pure love.


Sssssshhhhhhhhhhh...  Don't wake them!

An apple for the teacher.

So I've gone back to uni this year, after 20 years.

I have to say, I'm loving it.  My fellow students, however, kinda irritate the crap out of me; particularly the school leavers.

In my class, there is a group of young boys, who continually stare and smirk at the old chook (me) in the tute.  I'm not exactly what it is about me they find so funny, but it's all there on their faces.

Sure, I may have twenty years on them, age wise, but seriously boys, I'm actually not an alien. I wonder if they've even stopped to consider that I was once as young and stupid as they are.  It's hard to relate to someone with life experience when your slate is clean and wide open and you have yet to make the kind of mistakes that shape the adult you will become.

And then there's the two students that spend the entire class on facebook and twitter.  I mean, why?  What's so important that can't wait until you're free?  I'm a massive fan of the internet, but there's a time and place for everything don't you think?

So while they sit across from me and smirk and laugh at what I have to say, I'll roll my eyes inwardly and just eyeball them.  In 20 years time, you'll know what I mean.  Ditto for the internet twins.

A form of torture.

Sleep deprivation.


It's still a common form of torture, and as a parent you readily surrender yourself to this torture without a thought.


I have been sleep deprived for about 5 years now.


I don't get kids.  During the week, mine carry on about being tired and wanting to sleep, but on the weekends they are up and ready for trouble at 6am.  If I'm lucky, I get to sleep in till 6.30am.  Woooohhoooooo  bonus.  NOT.


I wonder what part about sleeping they don't get??  They get cranky and moody if they don't nap during the day but actually getting them to relax and rest is like pulling teeth.


Seriously...  all I seem to want to do at the moment is SLEEP.  There is nothing more delicious than laying in bed and floating in that warm fuzzy place while life goes on outside your window.  I need some one on one bonding time with my doona and pillow.  


I've decided that when the kids are ready to sleep in till noon on the weekends, I'm going to crank up the ABBA tunes and also Milli Vanilli.  Payback's a bitch and so is Mummy.

God helps those who help themselves.

I am pissed off.  In a very big way.

I like to think I'm open minded enough to rise above the usual bullshit and still offer help to those that need it.  I will not, however, knowingly allow someone to continually blame me and the world for their lot in life.

At some point in life, you have to step up and accept responsibility for your own life.  I am so fucking over this percieved sense of entitlement that people seem to have.  I am therefore I deserve. AAhhhh no actually, you don't.

Here's the thing.  Regardless of what you think the world owes you, the only person responsible for you is YOU!  Wake up to this and everything will be much easier.  It's really easy to blame everyone else for the fact that you aren't cutting it in the big ole world but at the end of the day... what are you actually doing to better your own situation.

These days it's all about mental health and depression and anxiety.  That's all well and good and I know that some of these issues are extremely debilitating.  But if someone extends you a helping hand, don't bite it then whinge and moan at how hard your life is.

Today I saw first hand a person so crippled by rage and percieved injustices that they could not see the help that was there all along.  And I'm sorry, while I understand that life has dealt you some knocks, blaming everyone around you is not going to get you the help you need.

Sometimes in life you just have to say...  Ok guys, I fucked up big time.  Is there a way forward from here? 

I'll be more inclined to help you if you're honest.  If you blame everyone else, the door will close.

I need a laydown.  And some Bex.  With a nip of sherry.