Category Archives: Thoughts

My God, Where Have I Been?

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I have no idea. Just not writing, I guess. Sorry.

So, what’s the craic…we had snow and ice. Adam managed to go to school for an entire week after missing at least one day a week since Christmas. Some illness, some weather related.

My family, except us, got together to celebrate my step dad’s 80th birthday, which is actually next Thursday. A good time was, apparently, had by all.

I’m 44 this coming Tuesday. Adam thinks my birthday cake should be blue. We are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate said birthday.

And Adam has started insisted he’s not a baby. He’s Adam.

Indeed.

My Week In Review:

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Monday: Usual day, Adam off to school, Simon off to work. I started to design the new Designed To A Tee Website.

Tuesday: Adam woke up with a horrible rash all over his face and a fever. Off to GP. Not impetigo, thank god, but not sure what. Put this cream on and send him back to school if fine on Wednesday.

Wednesday: Adam back to school as perfectly fine. I clean the house from top to bottom. It *so* needed it.

Thursday: I’m about 10 minutes from Adam’s school after dropping him off, heading for coffee and minor surgery when school calls. He’s pooed himself. I turn around and go clean him up. I then head straight to GP’s office to have the mole on my neck removed. Simon took the day to work from home so he could sort Adam after my procedure. Wasn’t too bad, but my neck ached and it wore me out.

Friday: Horrible weather. For the first time ever Adam and I take a taxi to school and it waits and brings me back. I had a horrid nights sleep thanks to my neck and my brain being stupid again. I spend the entire day doing *nothing*. Simon goes to get Adam, in the middle of a snowstorm!

By bedtime our back garden looks like this:

Saturday: Wake up to slightly melted snow. Get text from Adam’s coach that the physical education centre is closed because it’s flooded. YAYAY!

So we’re spending the day at home.

And that was my week.

Let’s Talk About The Right To Bear Arms, For Just A Minute

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Tonight comes the news of a horrific tragedy in Newtown Connecticut, just 20 miles north of where I grew up.

And so the gun laws will be brought up again. And they should be. And people will say “Well, we have a right to bear arms. It’s in the Constitution.”

No, it isn’t.

What is in the Constitution is:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

A specific reason to bear arms. Not so some 20 year old asshole can walk into a kindergarten class and open fire on babies. So that the United States can defend itself against enemies. Whose enemy were those children?

I am so angry. With the shooter. With the US government. With the fucking gun lobby who will say “Hey, if the teachers had been armed, it would have ended differently!”

Yes. With  many more dead.

And don’t get me started on what the State of Michigan passed this week…

My prayers going out to all of the families and the children and the community of Newtown Connecticut.

Being an Introvert

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If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you may become aware that I am an introvert.

Many many people don’t realize what this actually means.

Does it mean I am anti-social? Not at all. I love going out for a coffee or a drink with a friend or a group of friends

Does it mean I am shy? Yes, in my case it does, but not all introverts are shy.

What being an introvert really means is that after I’ve had a coffee or a full day with my son or a long day at a client’s, I need to be quiet for awhile. I need to stare at the internet or write in my journal or just stare into space for a bit.

Simon and I are perfect mates because we are both introverts. And can find our quiet while being in the same room. Often after Adam goes to bed barely a word passes between us as we both recharge from our days. And the words that do pass? Are usually important, not just idle chit chat.

I’m actually having my quiet time right now. I sent the son and the husband to get the Sunday papers and a treat or two while I cleaned the bathroom. Yes, cleaning the bathroom is quiet time. Sometimes folding the laundry on a Sunday morning is my quiet time.

And a bath is definitely my quiet time.

Although I hear a key in the lock and it’s about to end!

11 Years Ago Today…

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I was living in California. I was home from work but up at my usual time as my grandmother died on the 10th and I was trying to decide if I should sort a flight to Boston.

I had my usual radio station on. My favourite DJ said ‘We’ve had unconfirmed reports of a small plane hitting the Twin Towers in NY.’

I scoffed.

And then turned on the TV.

And then called my sister in law who was down The Bay from me, home alone with my now 12 year old niece, because my brother was in Boston for business. And we sat, on the phone, not speaking, watching the towers fall…

The 2012 United States of America Presidential Election is Looming…

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in case you’ve been living a cave, I thought I’d mention that.

In any case, today I received, via email (21st Century FTW!), my absentee ballot and voting papers.

And that inspired this, which I am reprinting from my Facebook. Cuz I can…

I just feel the need to say this as it’s been brewing in my mind for awhile. The problem I have with all the political ‘memes’ on FB right now isn’t reading them. They are funny, informative, what have you.

The problem I have with all the political ‘memes’ on FB is that those of you posting them, which is a good number of people whom are very good friends of mine, in real life and online, and whom I love very much, are preaching to the choir and the balcony. Those that should read them and think about them and, maybe, get their mind changed, aren’t seeing them. And never will.So feel free to inundate my wall with them up to and including Election Day.But if you want to change someone’s mind? Go find them and talk to them. You know…in person.

Which I would be doing, if I lived in the US and/or knew any local voters who weren’t going to vote for Obama in two months.

And this is probably the first time ever I have felt strongly enough about an election to say that. I just wish I could do it. So, could one of you be me and go to a Republican meeting and make some noise?

Thanks.

Also, think about this:

“If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and measures you want to vote for… But there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong. If this is too blind for your taste, consult some well-meaning fool (there is always one around) and ask his advice. Then vote the other way. This enables you to be a good citizen (if such is your wish) without spending the enormous amount of time that truly intelligent exercise of the franchise requires.” – Robert Heinlein, speaking through Lazarus Long in Time Enough For Love

I’m Not Doing Very Well…

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Adam has been having nightmares, which he seems to sleep through, but once I hear one I can’t resettle to sleep until I’m sure he’s moved through it so I wind up awake for at least 20 minutes, sometimes an hour.

We think something is going on at his daycare, although they say there isn’t. He’s only there for 5 more sessions and then it’s child minder and school so we’re just going to plow through.

Anyway, lack of sleep is making me sore and grumpy and not feeling like doing anything except sleep and eat. Really great for the eating plan, no?

So there you go. Now you know why no updates.

Hopefully I’ll get some sleep this weekend.

Sunday Sunday….

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Posted as part of One Topic / Forty Opinions via The Belfast Bloggers Network.

Sunday. What can I say about Sunday?

It used to be so different, when we started living in City Centre. Nothing was open before 1p. Well, things were open, i.e. Primark, at 12:30, but you couldn’t actually buy anything until 1p. True fact.

Then the Tesco Express opened on Dublin Road. Just around the corner from our flat. And it was open at 7. Very handy when we had a small boy and had run out of milk. Or needed some croissants. Especially chocolate filled ones.

Because the opening laws are based on square feet, you see, and that was the right size. The law hasn’t changed.

And I was a bit sad, handy as it was. It had been, for years, that, unless you were going to church, highly unlikely in this Jewish/Atheist/Something house, you not only had no where to be but no where you could be.

You had no choice but to be lazy in bed. Or on the sofa. Cruising the ‘net, watching a movie, eating a huge breakfast, what have you. Until after lunch.

Now, living here in Finaghy, several stores are open on Sunday morning. And Simon likes to run and get the Sunday papers. Sometimes Adam can be convinced to join him.

But he really is my son.

He’d rather watch a movie on the sofa with Mummy and wait to turn on the kettle when Daddy gets back with the paper…and apple cake…

Finally, The Lawn Is Mowed and The Windows Are Washed…

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Am I the only one who realizes there’s a recession on? Because getting the two things in my title accomplished has taken, literally, months.

Why?

Because of people not returning calls, that’s why.

I left messages and/or emails for about four window washing companies. One called me back. They got the job.

I left message and/or emails for about eight lawn service companies. One got back to me and then never showed up to give me a quote. The person who just finished Simon grabbed from next door! He said he’d drop off a quote. He did. He got hired. And will continue to do the lawn every two weeks until the end of August or until I tell him for sure we’re staying in the house.

Which is another group of people who never call me back. Our estate agent.

Is it me? Is it the way I say ‘Hello, this is Robyn Fraser and I am looking for a window washer/lawn mower/if my landlord will renew our lease’?

Is it my accent?

Or do people not want work? Goodness sake, I’m tapping every avenue I have looking for work and these people have me calling and they are ignoring me! I would rejoice if someone called me!

But now the lawn is mowed and the windows are washed.

Now if the landlord would just let us know if we can stay in the house…