Hello! And welcome! Mostly...

Have a best-before-date and in my mind's eye, the perfect banana is yellow, easily peeled, slightly fragrant, soft yet not too soft with a mild sweetness to each bite.

Hence, the perfect banana looks like this...

Then before you blink, the bloody banana has brown spots on it, ooozes sweetness in each bite and smells to banana heaven!

Hence. the stinky banana...

Peeee-uuuuuu!

Gross!

I don't like to eat the bananas when they are THIS ripe and think they need to be made into a banana cake or banana bread.

If only I ate that, there would be one coming out of the oven as I type.

September 29 was 'National Coffee Day'.

*bows to the Coffee Gawds*

I didn't know that it is celebrated over here *points to North America* until today. Where the heck have I been? And me, a lover of the o'mighty coffee bean. Oh the shame of it all.

Here's some fast facts on coffee...

# 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year
# Second-most used commodity, following oil
# Coffee dates back to the Ninth Century in Ethiopia
# Each cup of coffee can contain between 65 to 175 mg of caffeine

There was a time, a gazillion years ago, when I decided that coffee was not good for me and I went cold turkey. Suffered massive headaches from the caffeine withdrawal. Screw that sezs I and jumped right back on the Coffee Band Wagon.

Here's a coffee for you...

...and a piece of apple pie!

Kisses!

More info here.

If parents are lucky enough to have money in the bank these days, they are facing a dilemma whether to pay for their children's post-secondary education or continue to save for their retirement and let their children finance their own education.

It's a tough saving choice especially in these economic times.

Parents want to ensure their children have a bright future ahead of them and save for their children to go to university or college but facing a retirement with little money is not a welcome prospect.

I can tell you that if Mr didn't pay for my children to attend university, they would have been responsible for the total cost of their education which isn't a bad option. I find that if one is required to pay for their own way in life, that journey in itself offers many lessons along the way.

And thankfully, Mr is also saving for our retirement (exclusive of our work pensions) as saving money is not my long term goal and never has been.

Post inspired by an article heard here.

...where did that nine months go?

Going to be October in a couple of days and can't quite wrap my mind around how fast time flies. And have you noticed how quickly time zips by as the years march on?

No, I am not saying you are old *smiles* but time seemed to stand still when I was a kid and never moved as fast as I had wanted. I also remember wishing that time would fly by and could hardly wait to grow up. Now that I have grown up, I wish time would slow down.

There is no pleasing me now is there.

xxxxx

Why is it that you will be enjoying a delicious meal or sipping a drink or maybe even having a slice of homemade, baked Granny Smith apple pie with a hint of cinnamon and that mouthful goes 'down the wrong way' and you spend the next 10 minutes coughing, hacking, going blue in the face and gasping for air?

And have you noticed that this typically happens when you just answer the phone or are trying to chat with someone?

It doesn't matter that you may have chewed your food a gazillion times or speak with nothing in your mouth, the food still hits that spot every now and again doesn't it?

Eeeep!

As a follow-up to the initial post, I can happily report that Mr has ordered a couple of travel books on Portugal, investigated a few web linkies in regards to a Portuguese villa and I can also announce that he believes we should book a villa in Lisbon, Portugal directly so we can have a firm base established within the city itself.

Initially, he thought he would rent a car to travel the country but on retrospect has decided that our time would be well spent within Lisbon as there would be more than enough to explore, see and do.

Now once Mr has selected a villa (which shall be reasonably priced, accommodate 6 easily and utterly gorgeous ), I will shall blog the details of the booking.

Here is how it will work...we will book and pay for the villa up front. It will be able to accommodate 6 people (me, Mr, Mira, la_spice, murphymole plus one more). If you wish to stay with us, your cost of the villa will be determined by the total weekly cost divided by the days and the maximum amount of people that could stay there to determine a daily amount. That will be multiplied by the days you want to stay at the villa.

So let's say the total weekly amount is 700 Euros. That equals a daily rate of $100 Euros for the villa rental. Now if there are 6 potential people staying there, your cost per day would be $16.67 Euros per day.

Make sense?

What will happen is that folks can give us the Euros for their daily villa rate when we meet in Lisbon in May 2010. This amount will be agreed upon before we leave so you understand what your villa costs will be.

Please know that if you choose not to come to Lisbon, there is no financial obligation for you whatsoever. Mr and I are prepared to stay at the villa with no one there and yet we welcome an extra four with open arms.

Vacations are suppose to be fun, worry free and complete bliss.

In regards to dates, we are checking out flights from Canada during the full month of May and once a week is sorted, I'll let you know the details. It seems that the prices of flights, villas and such is cheaper at the beginning of May to the third week of May. After that, prices go up. Always looking for a deal I am.

Oh, did I mention that I am cooking a kick-off dinner for the Lisbon, Portugal Blog Meet and also a goodbye dinner as well?

That would be courtesy of Mr and me.

You can bet the food and the wine will be fantastic.

All bloggers coming to the Lisbon, Portugal Blog Meet will be welcome to both occasions.

Are you in?

Mr and I have bipolar, opposite jobs if you will.

He deals in the world of business, finance, money, success, planes here, there and everywhere.

My world revolves around crisis, drug & alcohol addiction, child and spousal abuse, hydro disconnection, eviction, hunger and more.

Yet, somewhere in all of that, we meet in the middle.

He could never tolerate the world of my work and I find his, ever-so-superficial but, that middle ground gives us a common area where love blooms, worries are discussed and plans are born for he and me to take on the world.

Funny that...this never intended to be yet another love struck post by a Mala about her darling husband but there ya go.

*mwah*

I learned years ago that Mr likes his toast hot. Never mind serving it to him cold as that won't do.

By the same token, he has come to know many quirks and habits that I have and blended those into his and on we go.

That's what it is all about now isn't it?

I mean whats the point of trying to change the other as that never works.

Know what I mean?

Any type of eating habits go pear shape when you switch what you eat.

For example, I eat healthy each and every day. Come Friday nights, I break my rules, sip on the Champagne and crack open a bag of Miss Vickie's Sea Salt'n'Malt chips which are yumnmy.

Come Saturday morning, I am sick all blasted day as I have just polluted my body with some vino and greasy potato chips and it is complaining rather loudly.

*swears not to do THAT again; okay, maybe just next Friday..hahahahahaha*

Mr sezs it is because I consume too much of the wine and the chips and should spread it out.

*wags tongue*

No sezs I.

I aim to be good six days a week and carry on right over the edge on the seventh.

hahahahahahahahaha...

Guess I can laugh about it now.

No not THAT debate.

Keeps your minds outta the gutters!

..........

Mr and I have debated back and forth for yonks now and when Sammy goes to Dawg Heaven whenever that may be, Mr wants to get one of these....

...a white German Shepherd dog...to protect me in the house when Mr is travelling.

But I argue, another beeeeeg dog to care for, walk every day and generally haul my right arm out of its socket as I walk the bleeding dog three times a day is not something I want to repeat all over again.

*thinks Sammy and Molly*

I want to get one of these...

..to which Mr doesn't agree.

*sighs*

Big dogs, big troubles.

Little dogs, big troubles.

Guess ya can't win really.

Everyone has one and don`t even bother to suggest you don`t.

*winks*

Mine is my jean jacket. Ya know the one...the jacket I am wearing in the picture that shows me hugging Paddy to death.

I thought I had lost it in the move to the new digs but a persistent search showed it in the closet *wahooo* and happy days are here again!

What`s your fav jacket?

Tells me..ya know ya want to..

Remember that post on the killer spaghetti ?

Take that sauce, puree it with a hand wand, grab some dried spinach lasagna noodles (can also use whole wheat or white flour lasagna noodles), plonk some sauce in the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch pan, add three noodles, side by side, add some more sauce and repeat until sauce is finished.

I had about five layers of noodles when the sauce ran out. That is the Italian way to cook lasagna. Been to Italy a few times and the lasagna I had did not have cheese between the noodles (was in the Tuscany region). Just so you know.

Cover with foil, chuck it in the oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit for 90 minutes. Take it out to rest for about 15 minutes. Slice it up and add your favorite cheese.

Delish!

NOTE: I never cook the lasagna noodles before hand as I am lazy (hahahahaha) and prefer to add extra sauce and a few extra minutes cooking time to cook the noodles.

There was a time during my superficial years, that I could only see the physical beauty of people. Nowadays, I much prefer to seek out the beauty within which has substance and integrity.

You can always 'buy' a new set of boobs or change your physical self through diet or exercise but you can't buy substance or integrity.

Either you got it or you don't.

Ta.

There are some days that have DUVET written all over 'em.

Saturday past was just like that.

So much so that it hurt to face the sunshine *gasp* or direct light and wore my sun glasses inside the stores when out and about.

I had to do some stuff that couldn't wait till another day but boy, oh boy, I would have paid a fortune to have a Mala clone do THAT stuff and me slip under a duvet, with the lappy nearby, tv flicker in my hand and watch the hours slip by.

Know what I mean?

When you moved into a new home, did you automatically change the locks on the door?

I have lived in a few apartments and now our second home but can't recall ever changing the locks to ensure that the previous owners could not access the home.

I would wager that most folks do not change the locks.

Thoughts?

Would you buy your children... a pole dancing doll, a Shave the Baby doll complete with pubic hair, a Kid's Nipple Tassle T-Shirt, a Baby Glutton doll that allows your child to breastfeed (okay we talked about that already), stuffed STD toys called the 'Clap', 'Herpes', 'Chlamydia', the 'Pox', stilettos for your baby to walk around in or a Tattoo Toy Gun?

Okay, maybe I am an old-fashioned prude at heart but whatever happened to going outside and playing with your mates and I dunno using your imagination to build a fort in the forest or a snow cave in the snowbank?

What about a game of soccer? Football? Hide'n'Seek?

What too dull? Too boring?

Full story here.

... are the window to one`s soul dontcha think?

They tell you so much without one word spoken. They show you fear, hurt, love, anger and everything in between.

I have met only two people in my life that showed no emotion in their eyes which frightened me as that suggested they had no conscience and therefore were capable of anything without remorse.

And then, there was one fellow I met that had an evilness deep within that spilled out into his eyes which gave me pause as I knew he was capable of great harm to those vulnerable and unable to protect themselves.

Know what I mean?

This is my mug o'coffee...

...that is a MUST each and every morning or I simply won't get my heart started.

That is all.

I am not a girly girl if you know what I mean.

But every now and again, I grow my nails, paint them dark colours, put on my nylons, grab a short skirt, a dead sexy top, add a bit extra mascara to my eyes, wiggles in front of Mr and head out the door.

There is nothing sexy than a woman who feels good about herself no matter what size, shape, colour she may be.

Ta da!

Made some tiramisu on the weekend...

...who wants some?

Do you want coffee? Tea? Or some water with that?

There he is!

Most of my friends have heard me go on and on and on about the wonderfulness that is he. Can't help myself really!

Mr gave his blessing for this picture to be posted.

Just thought I would share...

Ta da!

Did you know that I cross-stitch?

This is a cross-stitch I made in honour of our (Mr and I) first date which was a picnic.

Aren't I just full of surprises?

It is a go.

Here's a linky to Lisboa.

So far, there is la_spice, murphymole, Miza-T, sweetyMon (hopefully) and ....wait for it...MR!

Mr has decided to go to Lisbon.

*boing*

We are planning to rent a villa and la_spice, murphymole and perhaps another blogger who is a definite maybe *winks* will share the villa as well. Miza-T is interested in the villa idea as well. Ta da!

Here's the progress made so far...

Miza-T *bless her cotton socks * is Portuguese, knows her native land and will be helping me bring the Lisbon, Portugal Blog Meet together.

She has suggested several websites to seek out the perfect villa for us.

They will be reviewed and a final choice made based on location, size and amenities. Price is a factor as well. Miza-T sezs that the villas are houses that have a swimming pool (most of them) and can sleep anywhere between 4 - 20 people and more!

Now, Mr and I are cool with a smaller number than 20 in a villa as our camp days are long over but between 8-10 people or less is a nice number of people to live with for a week.

But hey, if another group wants to rent a villa for 20 people to share go for it!

The week is Sunday, May 23 to Saturday, May 29, 2010. That date can be adjusted a day or two.

Mr and I plan to fly into London Heathrow via Air Canada, sleep over and head to Lisbon on the Sunday.

Here's a linky of a rental villa website. I am going to ask Mr to peruse the site and search for a villa (he has good taste).

We want luxury without too high a price (natch ) , close to transportation, close to restaurants, the seaside and Lisbon.

Now for those not interested in a villa, here's a linky for affordable rooms

Wahoooooooooooo!

*dead excited*

Some of you folks will remember my darling dog Anna who died in November 2004. Her death crushed me and Molly (the chocolate lab) taught me to open up and love again.

Pshaw you say?

Obviously, you are not a dog owner.

Back to Anna.

This is a painting of my darling Anna from November 1996. A lady I used to work with took a 5"x7" photo of Anna that I had at my desk (unbeknownst to me), took it home and painted this picture.

I refuse to frame this painting and it presently lies against the wall heading up the stairs to the bedrooms.

I love the green and the way Anna sits.

Ta.

I asked you folks what area of my house you wanted to see and 28% of you wanted to see the kitchen.

This...

...is my kitchen.

Innit nice?

First time I saw it last April, I loved it. Still do. And when you come and visit me, that's where I will cook you some food with uber Mala love.

Paddy, don't cry m'love...you will come here one day. *hugs*

Ta da!

I am not a procrastinator by nature but a super-organized Mala at best. Having said that, there are some days I just can`t be arsed to get a move on.

Know what I mean?

*has a lie down*

I will never, ever, understand how parents and specifically women can kill their children. This happens year in and year out, all over the world.

Words fail me to describe the depths of horror, repulsion, disgust and fear I feel when I hear that a woman has murdered her own child that she has conceived, carried for nine months and delivered into this world.

I got thinking about this when I was watching a tv show called American Justice last week and the episode was on the shocking story of how Susan Smith drowned her two sons and then tried to fool the nation into believing that an African-American man had committed the crime.

Susan Smith reported to police, on October 25, 1994, that she had been carjacked by a black man who drove away with her sons still in the car. Smith made tearful pleas on television for the rescue and return of her children.

However, nine days later, following an intensive, heavily publicized investigation and a nationwide search, Smith eventually confessed to letting her 1990 Mazda Protegé roll into nearby John D. Long Lake, drowning her children inside.

Her alleged motive for the deaths — to dispose of her children so that she might have a relationship with a wealthy local man who had no interest in a "ready-made" family — was met with widely held contempt and revulsion. There has been no answer from Susan Smith regarding her choice not to give her estranged husband custody of the children, instead of killing the children.

What I want to know is why?

Why do women kill their babies?

In this day and age, there is no excuse for an unwanted pregnancy or a mother killing her child(ren), when there are available resources and supports out there.

I understand that this is a complicated dynamic fraught with many intricate dimensions and often the why will never be known but we are suppose to be a civilized society are we not?

Every now and again, I insist Mr and I trek over to Chapters Indigo book store to wander up and down the aisles, to stop, pick up a book, glance through it, maybe grab a skinny vanilla latte and do it all over again.

When I think about buying a book, that is where Mr stops and won`t do it as he argues he can get the books cheaper by buying it online.

Yaaaa, okay, that may be true but, is the internet taking over every aspect of our lives? Okay, yes it is but, but, but.....

...okay he wins that one but don`t tell him I said so.

*snrk*

Wherever you are, whatever you may be doing, have a fantastic day/afternoon/evening.

Hugs and kisses!

Pure grit and determination.

Gotta love it.

Been told I couldn't too many times and have replaced that with 'just watch me'.

Sounds about right.

This is not the first time I bought a game to get a hat.

Game is Scribblenauts.

Hat is mine.

*snrk*

Mr and I went to the movies (theatre) one day last week and egads! How can people afford to take their families to an outing like this?

Two movie tickets were $25, then there is the obligatory popcorn, large coke and coffee which added another $15.00 to the price, so who the heck can afford to go to the movies on a regular basis with kids in tow?

WTF?

That's outrageous!

So if what's the price of 2 adults going to the movies in your neck of the worlds?

This...

...is kitty kitty aka Peso.

I often talk about the Trio and mention kitty kitty every now and again. Thought an introduction was needed as some friends are new and haven't met this little fellow.

He is an orange, short-haired Persian kitty that is soooo laid back.

Isn't he handsome?

Did a very mad dash at lunch and bought this game.

No addiction here.

hahahahahahaha

In other news, I had a craving for popcorn after dinner and debated whether to pop the corn as the Trio would be all over me like a tick on a dog.

I couldn`t resist so the corn was popped, I sat in my chair and watched Molly drool all over it.

*sighs*

I`ve created monsters.

Obviously.

What....

...the fook is that frickity bug?

Doing my head in at the mo as those little bastids are everywhere outside. Pic was taken as that bugger (hahahahaha) was clasped to my sliding glass doors.

They come in when the door opens as we let the Trio in and out, out and in for a wee and such.

The thing about having a gazillion bugs like this trying to infiltrate your life ad nauseum is that you become sensitized to them and I can grab one of those buggers and toss it outdoors.

Hates them in the house though.

Do you ever pay full price for anything?

I mean when you see something in the store will you wait till it goes on sale before you buy it or would you buy it if money was no option?

It depends on what it is for me.

Sometimes, I will wait to buy it as I know it will go on sale at some point but some things just won`t ever go on sale (like video games) so I buy them when I spies them!

And you?

I would LOVE to rent a villa for a week in one of these four places...

Number one....

Number two...

Number three...

Number four...

Now...those four places are Portugal, Caribbean Island, Turkey, Spain.

Which one is which, who`s coming and where do you want to go?

Ta.

Take enough fresh, ripe tomatoes to fill a 13 x 9 inch pan and slice into eighths or quarters depending on the size of the tomato (approx 1 1/2 inch in length) and plonk them into the pan.

Add some loosely chopped garlic, sliced onions, freshly chopped parsley, basil, oregano, thyme (can used dried herbs but just less), sprinkles of sea salt, cracked black pepper and olive oil and toss together with the tomatoes.

Throw this in the oven for 1 hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. After the hour, take the pan out and mash everything together so it looks chunky yet smooth like a pasta sauce.

Cook your favorite pasta noodle, drain it, mix it with the tomato sauce, top with shredded cheese and enjoy!

Nom!

NOTE: You can add sliced, cooked chicken to this dish if you wish.

Fewer children are eating the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables compared with 10 years ago, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Far enough sezs I.

Children should eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Everybody should.

But I ask you...if parents had the money to buy all these fresh fruit and vegetables, would the kids bloody eat them?

Full article here

It appears that I am in the over 40% of Canadians that can't leave my cell phone at home.

A new survey found 45 per cent of Canadians can't leave home without grabbing their cell phone or BlackBerry.

I feel nakeds without it I do.

Full article here.

*winces*

Seems like I have damaged some muscles in my right arm for one reason or another. I am thinking that doing one hundred (yes, that's right ) jumping jacks while using 5 pounds weights lifted over my head tipped the muscles off into oh-my-Gawd-that-bleeding-hurts land.

Pfft!

It doesn't help that I play my Wii, use my Blackberry, play video games and the internet for aaaages either.

*works through the pain*

My acupuncturist sezs 'thank goodness you don't have 'frozen shoulder'. Well that ain't gonna happen sezs I. I'll continue to use my right arm and try to keep it loose.

*grits teeth*

Thank gawd for herb patches, acupuncture and healing salts for the bath I tells ya.

Whitney Houston is going to tell Oprah on Monday (show was pre-taped and clips have been airing to promote the show) that Whitney's mother did not want to lose Whitney to 'Satan' and was going to do whatever she needed to do to save Whitney from self-destructing. (Whitney was in an abusive relationship with her spouse - Bobby Brown and doing cocaine and other drugs at that time).

My problem with THAT whole thing is that 'Satan' didn't put that crack up your nose, you did. Blaming someone else (Satan or whomever you choose) for what you do, is an excuse for your behaviour and until you acknowledge what the situation is, you won't change that behaviour.

You can't change what you don't acknowledge in my humble opinion.

Are soooooo easy to talk with.

Know what I mean?

1. The non-stop nibbler

You consistently sit down to a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, but less wholesome is all the snacking in between.

2. The emotional eater

You’re the one who reaches for a little comfort food when you’re lonely, bored, anxious or feeling unappreciated.

3. The fast feeder

You’re so over-scheduled that you rarely sit for meals. You gobble whatever’s handy, healthy or not, and you go.

4. The wine-and-diner

You find it hard to control calories because so many of your meals are in restaurants.

5. The sofa snacker

You eat well-balanced meals and healthy snacks throughout your active day, but by nightfall, you’re bagged. All you want to do is relax in front of the tube... with a package of potato chips.

Mala's Answer

Soooo, I have the emotional eating thingy sorted out baring any catastrophe but I am deffo a non-stop nibbler .

Nom!

Full article here.

If not, why not?

Mr and I had a will prepared years ago when the kiddies were little but now that they are grown up, we need to 'adjust' the terms and provisions of the will to reflect our wishes.

*picks up the phone*

Found this article which has some great tips on writing the will.

Good luck and do it!

Could you, would you, be willing to swap your home to another person for a week's holiday in their home?

I could not.

I would not like a total stranger or even someone I know staying in my home for a week or so whilst I was away.

That would make me feel naked, exposed and vulnerable methinks.

Some folks don't mind doing it and have inexpensive holidays as a result but swapping homes with folks in faraway lands is not something either Mr or I are comfortable with therefore Mr and I won't be doing that any time soon.

Having said that, we did rent a condominium in Hawaii from a total stranger and that property was managed by a rental company so thaaaat's different now isn't it?

the first EGAD

I was well advised to keep my cell off when visiting Berlin last May. Course I did that AFTER I had been there for a few days. Came home to a whopping $350.00 cell phone bill (but was worth every penny ).

Could have been worse though....could have had an $8000 cell phone bill like these dudes when they went to Indonesia for a week...

the second EGAD

This picture is courtesy of AP/NASA dated September 10, 2009 and is a bit of the Carina Nebula.

Amazing...

The cloud pillar in the Carina Nebula is three light-years long – nearly 30 trillion kilometres. Next to it, Dr. Richer said, our solar system would be just a small pinpoint in the picture.

Just goes to show you how insignificant we really are...in the grand scheme of things...Mr asked me what are we doing here Ma? We are just a pin dot in the universe if that. Well sezs I...we are here to enjoy one another now aren`t we Da?

Amen to that.

Has the social media (such as Twitter, facebook) and the internet made the mass media irrelevant?

This fellow thinks so.

Bob Garfield is an editor-at-large at Advertising Age and a co-host of NPR's On The Media. In his new book, The Chaos Scenario, he describes how the centuries-old traditional media landscape has been reduced to ruins in the digital era. We now live in a world, argues Garfield, where mass marketers, the mass media, even once-mighty network television are powerless. Online crowds now rule the day, with devastating, cruel and, occasionally, powerful results.

I read one newspaper each day (yes, a REAL newspaper ), read a couple of magazines a week, watch tv news show and listen to the radio on the way to work and back home again but I rely on the internet for my main news source and basic Go-To information foundation.

And you?

What do you think?

Is the internet more valuable to you than a magazine, tv, radio? Does it deliver what you need when you need it?

Thoughts?

If you buy a home and your lawyer advises you to buy Title Insurance it is well worth the $100.00 you will spend for when you find out that the previous home owners did not pay their property taxes from 2008 and back, to the tune of over $9000, and when you get your property tax bill for that very same amount (minus the bit you owe), you can call up the lawyer and ask his very nice legal assistant to 'handle' that annoying bit for you cos you bought that Title Insurance when you bought the house a few months ago.

And breatheeeee...

Any time someone walks into a dangerous situation when others are walking out, they are a hero.

Paragraph copied from 680 News - a local radio station in Toronto, Ontario.

Three fire fighters have been injured in a restaurant-liquor store inferno in Meaford, which is a two hour's drive northwest of the GTA. One of those three has been pulled out of the fire with no vital signs.

xxxxx

I was watching this show whilst running on the treadmill *as you do *

Basically it is a show that... revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again...

Sooooo...during the show, FBI dude goes to criminal's house to arrest him before he commits another murder, the wife of said criminal (who knows nothing of criminal husband's activities) was asked if FBI could search the house, she initially said no. They told her that he was suspected serial killer and probably going to kill again and convinced her to allow them to search the house WITHOUT a search warrant.

Discussed this what-to-do-if-that-happened-here with Mr and was surprised at and delighted at his response.

Mr: Oh Ma, if they came and told me that you were the suspect (all things considered) I'd tell them no and to come back with a search warrant. If they came about me, I would let them search the house to prove my innocence.

*cue some awwww'sss from me*

Me: Now Da, I would probably let them search the house because if some FBI types can to the house and convinced me that you were a serial killer/rapist (let's use our strongest imagination people as Mr is an angel and not capable of killing a fly, the gentle soul that he is), I'd let them search the house but be on them like a tick on a dog and watch their every move.

And how was your day?

the stoopid parent

Who in their right mind, would let their thirteen year old daughter sail around the world by herself?

Twat.

Obviously, the father is out of his mind.

Full article here.

the Awwww!

A two year old toddler was lost in the Yukon bush for twenty-five hours and he was accompanied by a dog that never left his side.

The toddler was found safe and sound and begged to keep the dog. The dog's owners gladly gave the little boy this beautiful animal that had comforted him on his journey.

What a great story!

All right.

Enough already.

Someone, somewhere has a video of my beloved Paddy dancing at the Hull Blog Meet and so far, no one has stepped forward to offer it for viewing.

*taps nose*

Oh I has my suspicions as Soy? BDA? Brad? NotBob?GilraenH?idontknowwhy? to who has it and I do admire your silence but enough already!

What would it take for you to send me a copy of the video with Paddy dancing? I will not share it publicly but I MUST see it.

Name your price.

And I am asking nicely.

Don't make me beg. Although I would do that too.

Now....there was BDA, Milly, Soy, Paddy, Brad, NotBob, GilraenH, idontknowwhy at the bloggity meet. Paddy sezs he didn't take it (obviously), Milly sezs she was dancing with Paddy so I have not asked grilled the others but now would be a good time to come forward.

Remember that sharing is caring and all that malarkey.

Pretty please?

I would bet that most of us have used denial as a coping mechanism to get through what we need to but this is taking it a bit too far.

Daniel Schuler lost his beloved wife, daughter and three nieces in a tragic accident that left a total of eight people dead when his wife drove 2 kilometers down a major highway, the wrong way, drunk and stoned and crashed head first into another vehicle.

Her husband refuses to acknowledge the coroner's report that his wife had equivalent of 10 drinks and "high levels" of marijuana in her blood on July 26, when she drove the wrong way on the Taconic with five children in a minivan and collided head-on with a sport utility vehicle, authorities say. Schuler and seven others were killed.

Daniel is on a campaign to clear her name and disputes medical findings and the toxicology reports as he believes someone else made a mistake and not his wife.

Wow.

I can't imagine his state of mind at the moment but I do know I would not be going on national tv to proclaim her innocence when eight people have died because of my spouse.

I think I would best cope shut away in my own world and try to deal with what the reality of the situation is at the moment.

Oh to walk a mile in his shoes....may I never know...

Is there anything worse than the state of the public washrooms alongside the highway?

Even though I limit my fluid intake and despite having a wee just before I head out the door, my bladder (being the size of a walnut) knocks quiet loudly for relief and eventually I must obey or the consequences are dire if you know what I mean.

I shudder to touch any door handles or toilet gadgetry with my bare hands *eye twitches* as I am convinced they are teeming with germs and uber nastyness.

Spent close to 7 hours total in a car Sunday and survived the trip with just one stop on the way there and one on the way back.

However, the very short time in the public loo has left me a bit off so to speak.

*has a lie down*

Every Saturday, Mr and I head to the grocery store, wander about tossing this and that into the carts, make our way through the cashier and then have a debate whether we should get the free item offered every week if you spend X amount of dollars. We usually do spend that X amount and so....

Mr thinks that if we don't need it, then we shouldn't get it.

I argue that since it is 'free' we best be taking it as we have earned that freebie and if we don't use it, then someone else can.

Who's right?

Sunday found me in the car at bleedin' 8am in the morning to be driven to a family reunion a mere 3 hour car drive away, well 3 1/2 if you count the pee breaks.

Normally, I don't wear make-up on the weekends as wearing the war paint five days per week is more than enough but I had to slap some color on my cheeks, stick some mascara on my lids and trot out the door.

Just didn't want folks we hadn't seen for aaages think Mr was now stuck with an old hag. perish the thought

Now that got me thinking *smells smoke burning* do you folks slap on the make-up before you head out the door? Not so much? Not your thing? Never leave home without it?

Tell me!

You know you want to!

xxx

He belonged to her.

Initially.

And probably still does to some degree.

And she was willing to share him with me when I announced a few years ago that he was (and still is) my virtual crush.

Now I know a few folks claim Paddy as theirs as well. No, I am not including his real life partner and love who owns his heart but others who love him as much as I do.

And I am cool with that.

I mean the more people who love you the better and that's the way it should be.

Bet none of you lot have a pic like this though...

*wags tongue*

Now I can tell you that Mr was puzzled at first how his wife could love another man so but once I explained about Paddy, he understood. I mean what is not to love?

Ta.

the blushing bride

That's Mr and me when we married aaages ago. Obviously, we have changed. Thank keeerist for that!

a waffle-y I do

The video below is a hilarious few minutes of a bride roaring with laughter when her groom sezs 'I waffle-y' instead of I lawfully..

Andrew Engstrom and Melissa Warren. They were married recently and while they probably rehearsed and planned for this day for months, the groom hit a little snag during his vows pronouncing lawfully "waffle-y." He was cute about it adding, "And pancake-y" which sent his bride into hysterics. "I've been scared of this my whole life," Andrew said as his bride cackled.

How great is that?

*smiles*

Have a fantastic Sunday!

Two sentences from this article stood out for me.

Currie points out that mosquitoes are attracted to us by our smell.

"The most powerful stimulus is carbon dioxide and body temperature."

Since I lost a ton of body fat and am freezing at times whilst battling my 'tropical' moments us mature women experience *ahem* and boiling hot flashes flit in and out, there is no wonder the bloody mosquitoes leave me alone!

*does a Happy Dance*

And as for them being attracted to my smell?

I needs to stay away from the beans!

*honks*

Hahahahahahahaha!

Have a fantastic day/afternoon whatever you may be doing.

Ta.

Now that is just nasty.

"Bebé Gloton" has ignited debate on parenting sites around the world, with experts and parents calling it everything from disturbing to silly – to a useful tool for promoting breastfeeding.

The doll, made by Berjuan, comes with a halter top for the child to wear and features strategically placed daisies where baby is supposed to "latch on." When the doll's mouth touches the flowers, sensors go into action, resulting in suckling sounds and motions. The finale: a burp.

Ewwwwwwwwwwwww!

I think that this doll maker has gone too far!

*barf*

Call me a prude then ...what do you think?

Heard that most people's brains use the same amount of energy as a 20 watt bulb.

Now that explains a lot now don't it?

I do hope on my good days I be using more than 20 watts of energy. Seems a bit low doesn't it? And I am a genius I tells ya!

Hahahahahahaha!

Have a great day/evening whatever you may be doing.

Ta

I am a morning person I am.

Start to fade after lunch but a coffee soon perks me up.

I do what a Mala does till about 10pmish during the week and then head to bed before I turn into a pumpkin.

Now thankfully Mr has the same body clock as me but I know many couples that don't have the same sleep patterns and havoc comes dashing into mix before a yawn leaves the room.

Also know some people here and off blog that are early birds people and some who are night hawks if you will.

Which one are you?

Yes, yes, that is uber sarcasm.

I detest when things don't flow smoothly because someone doesn't give a damn. This is one of my numero uno annoyances *note the sarcasm yet again* and takes me from relatively calm to spitting nails in zero to thirty seconds.

And what is the real boot in the balls, is that as time passes, there seems to be more and more people who truly don't give a rat's ass if they do the job they were hired to do.

It is shockingly appalling the cavalier way they can toss off their responsibilities and refuse to recognize that what they do impacts the lives of others. I glance around and see this both personally and professionally and enough is enough.

Let's start to care. Let's care about ourselves firstly. Then let's care about those around us. Recognize that what we do impacts others. Make some positive changes to yourself and then to someone near by and watch the ripple effect flow onto others.

You will be amazed how good you will feel about yourself and what you have done. I promise.

Ta.

BONG

Goes the anniversary clock Mr got from his employer for working twenty five plus years for them.

BONG

Goes off every fifteen, fricking minutes to let anyone within a five mile radius know that it is the hour, fifteen past the hour, half past the hour, forty-five minutes past the hour and on it goes for twenty four hours, day in and day out.

Soooooo...what does one dooooo when one hears BONG every fifteen minutes ad nauseum?

I BONG every fifteen minutes too!

When the clock BONGS I screech it from the top o'me lungs as I figure if you can't beat 'em, then join 'em!

*snrk*

Between the doody escapade of Miss Molly a few weeks back and the BONG of that blasted clock, I am certifiably mad I tells ya!

Don't you start with me you bloggers!

Like you are normal.

Pfft!

*shats herself*

There was a soft knock on the door and the Trio went off. Barking, rushing to the door, loudly proclaiming to anyone to listen that they are here and be forewarned.

I gulped and sat in my chair and REFUSED to answer that knock. As I am often alone, my Golden Rule of Soft-Door-Knocking Thumb so to speak, is to NEVER answer the door unless I know you are coming.

So there!

*wags tongue*

If I am going to be robbed, maimed or any other such nonsense, you will bloody have to come and get me as I am not coming to you.

And I am not toooo paranoid.

Ahem.

That would be moi of course.

I am never alone in my house.

Wherever I go, I have the Trio trotting alongside me and every now and again kitty kitty (Peso) boots it to a corner or couch and joins in the following.

I kinda like it as it gives me company okay, I'd be lost without them and who am I kidding? and every now and again, they get underfoot and I wants to boot them in the pie hole but of course I would never, ever harm a doggity hair on their adorable heads.

As I type this, I glance around me and spot the fish tank by my left, the birds just a bit past my toes, Puddum Pop on the sofa with me *naughty*, Sammy sleeping beside the chair and Molly just beyond that. *points to the couch*

And there is kitty kitty lying sprawled out on the kitchen chair.

The wee git.

I can't imagine my life without animals and as far back as I can remember, we always had a dog when I was a kid.

Ta.

That`s my nephew Riley (yes, yes, animals can be relatives too ya know!) enjoying a splay of water his momma gave him one summer`s day.

Oh the joys of simple living.

Now where`s my garden hose?

No not those black eyed Susans ya dirty minded lot!

These black eyed Susans...

.... remind me that Fall has arrived.

I had these flowers growing in leaps and bounds in my gardens at the old house and there is not a-one here in the new place.

Poo.

Now thankfully, I can see these delightful flowers when the Trio and I are walking around the `hood *thanks be to the Flower Gawds and the Gardening Neighbours* so I am not inclined to dig up anything as yet to create one eeny-teeny patch of garden.

Now...what means Fall to you?