Time is not on my Side

Hi everyone, i hope your Easter break was peaceful :)

I have decided to take a wee break from blogging. Over the last 12 months, time just isn't on my side anymore, and instead of taking the cheats way out and posting photos, or something from my "Inbox", i think i need to do the respectable thing and take a break. My blog is a place for me to speak about issues that i feel are newsworthy, ones that affect me, and lately i have not had the time to write about such things due to work, family and university commitments.

From time to time i will post when time permits. I am keeping the blog in hope that you will still stop by and say hi :), i also hope to gain more time to visit you all, something i have done of late.

If you feel the urge, my email address for those who don't have it, is on my profile.

Thanks heaps for your continuing friendship, it means a lot :)

M xxx

It would make me quit!

Current mural in a smokers lounge!

History in the Making

Well, it appears the US will make history this coming November when it elects its new President. There is no point comparing the Australian process with the American, its like comparing apples and oranges, its the key outcome we are interested in.
I'm a Hilary girl, however if she loses out in Texas and i think Ohio ( correct me if i'm wrong), then its all over for her. I have seen a number of interviews with Obama, one in particular involved him talking about Australia..........what he had to say was not favorable. Whether this was because our new Prime Minister had not been elected at the time, and he was referring to policies of Howard, i'm not too sure, but i found him to be rude, arrogant and quite dim when it comes to Australian knowledge. Australia has always enjoyed a cordial relationship with the States, i can only hope this continues if he is elected.
I have to wonder though, just how much influence does Oprah have over this man??

AWOL but returned!

Life has seen me absent from the blogging world for well over a week. Finally i am getting some time to make up for my going AWOL. So, whats been happening in my world??

# After having 5 weeks off work, i resumed back inside the court room as of last week. After 5 weeks off you'd think i would have felt rested and at peace.....................right!!

# University studies resume in 2 weeks time. Half of me is looking forward to getting back into it, the other half is pissed off knowing it will be back to reading academic literature instead of the novels of my choice.

# My precious 12 yold began her first year of High School last week. After trying to convince me that home schooling would be preferable than having to spend the next 5 years in a foreign class room, with feral kids that look like they've just left the set of an American gangster movie, her first week has been a reasonably satisfactory experience for her! As for me, if i survive these next 5 years without having to take perscription medication......it will be a miracle!

#I bought myself a new laptop. I gave my old one to "A", figuring she'd need it for school. It wasn't the laptop i really wanted.....i'd love an APPLE ibook..........but it will do as a second computer for me.

# I have begun writing bits and pieces on the book i hope to publish. I am still debating whether or not to tell my boss i'm writing it. Permission has been given by those whom i hope to utilise and thats the main thing.

# I had a job interview this week. I forgot just how nerve wracking they can be. I believe i performed quite well, however given that i don't have an education ( teaching ) background, i feel as though i probably will miss out on this particular position. I'm not upset over it, it is 25 hours a week where as i would prefer a little less as i would like to remain in the position i already hold.....just work a lot less in it.

So my friends, what have you all been up to??

Aliens?

No, not an alien, just a "Praying Mantis" :o) ( taken with a macro lens)

School 1960 vs School 2007

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.

1960 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up mates.


2007 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. Mobiles with video of fight confiscated as evidence. They are charged with assault, AVOs are taken out and both are suspended even though Johnny started it. Diversionary conferences and parent meetings conducted. Video shown on 6 internet sites.


Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.

1960 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.


2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Counselled to death. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra funding because Jeffrey has a disability. Drops out of school.


Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.

1960 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.


2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. Psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mum has an affair with the psychologist. Psychologist gets a promotion.

Darwinism gone mad!

Hmmm, a "Koalelephant"?

" Squirreloo"

"Cruck"!

Jeez, i go on vacation for a week and look whats happened to our local wildlife!!

For Women of all Ages.....

A Michigan woman and her family were vacationing in a small new England town where Paul Newman and his family often visited.

One Sunday morning, the woman got up early to take a long walk. After a brisk five-mile hike, she decided to treat herself to a double-dip chocolate ice cream cone. She hopped in the car, drove to the center of the village and went straight to the combination bakery/ice cream parlor.

There was only one other patron in the store. Paul Newman, sitting at the counter having a doughnut and coffee.
The woman's heart skipped a beat as her eyes made contact with those famous baby-blue eyes.The actor nodded graciously and the star struck woman smiled demurely.
Pull yourself together! She chides herself. You're a happily married woman with three children, you're forty-five years old, not a teenager!The clerk filled her order and she took the double-dip chocolate ice cream cone in one hand and her change in the other. Then she went out the door, avoiding even a glance in Paul Newman's direction.

When she reached her car, she realized that she had a handful of change but her other hand was empty. Where's my ice cream cone? Did I leave it in the store? Back into the shop she went, expecting to see the cone still in the clerk's hand or in a holder on the counter or something. No ice cream cone was in sight.

With that, she happened to look over at Paul Newman.

His face broke into his familiar warm friendly grin and he said to the woman,"You put it in your purse."

The Place i Call Home

Ok, if you look real careful you can see me! Ok, well not me, but my house, in the middle section :)

A Day at the Beach in China

Jeeez, lucky it was an overcast day, otherwise it would have been *really* busy!!

As you can see from the above photo, things are keeping pretty quiet here in my part of the world. I personally feel NYE is over rated, and am well past having the "drunks" maul me at 12.01. I didn't welcome the new year till 6am, and it felt like any other day......hot and steamy!

We're enjoying some time off, catching up on some movies....dvd's...books.....and of course, water. We are off for a week away further north of here, should be bliss to do absolutely zilch and be pampered. I must remember to pack the trusty camera for some "happy snaps"!

I wonder what the new year has install for us? For me, well i need to get serious about changing jobs. I have had enough of my boss, and my negative attitude towards her and the boards incompetence was/is beginning to manifest into other areas. It's not good for me to be like that, or, for me to be like that around my clients. Sadly, my firm has lost sight of what it actually stood for, preferring to raise its profile and concentrate on the all mighty dollar. One positive that did come out of the last 6 months, is that mine ( and others) client base has fallen, meaning either very little reporting OR which i suspect is the real reason, a lower rate of sexual assaults.
However, it is the "silly season" and school holidays, traditionally reporting rates in December- to February are our highest for the year..........uncle johnny or step daddy peter have few too many drinky poo's and assume its their god given right to feel up their nieces skirts.
2008 should also see many offenders face court here in Oz and the USA on charges re cyber porn and morphing. I have lost count of how many millions of childrens photos and videos Australian Federal Police and Interpol have confiscated, last count was up to 5 million. I know i am sick to death of seeing photo evidence in court. If there is one message i can push home to you.......be careful who you let view photos of your kids on line. I would hate to think i have seen your kid in a compromising position being the source of joy to some fithy peadophile ring.

So, i am finally making my way round to you all, catching up on all your news. What interesting lives we all live :o) I have noticed however, i am not the only one to slow down with the blogging, many of you have also sucumbed to work pressures and life, with some having 6 months between posts!!

I do wish you all, great health and happiness for 2008, may it bestow wonderful things :o)

Merry Christmas

My dear friends, just where has this year gone? I know many of you are struggling to find time in your busy days to post as am i. I am aware just how neglectful i have been of many you, for that i apologise profusely. My days are just so full and when it comes to the evenings, these days i'm preferring the lounge over the computer.
For me, this year has been one full of highs and lows. My most recent high came by way of watching my 12 yold daughter graduate 7th Grade, awarded with a runners up award for "Academic Excellence", gaining a very handsome trophy and book voucher. Not bad considering she was one of a possible 43 students, a great way to begin her new life at High School in 2008.

So my friends, hows your year faired?

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your kindness, patience and comments. I may not post as much as i'd like, i sure don't visit you all as much as i'd like, however, not for one minute does this mean you're not in my thoughts.
I wish each and every one of you and your families, a safe and happy Christmas, health and of course happiness in 2008.

Offspring & its maiden flight!

Welcome Boarder