Don't say...toast.
I want a cooked brekkie ! Seriously.
I don't wanna cook it myself and I don't wanna wait.
I NEED a cook brekkie....it's like air to me.
I haven't had one since my birthday when Leesy cooked me bacon (which we never have), eggs, mushrooms etc etc.....if it doesn't happen soon - I might just have to pay for it...maybe Coffee Club or Cafe Tara. Let me just say it's gonna happen.
Don't say...keep the clutter.
You might not recall that decaying 25 year old pop-art 'Picnic' in the messy garage a couple of days ago - well - I've got a plan...and in fact, I've decided what I am going to do with all of sentimental items that are falling apart and have no use....
I am going to simply take a photo of it then send it on its way in the wheely-bin. That's it - problem solved.
This way - I have a record that it once existed but surely a photo takes up a lot less space.
To add to the collection, here are two portraits I painted of my Dad while I was in College...he's moving and doesn't want them and they are falling apart.
Don't say...my jacket is alive.
I had been home for a while when I had to go back out the front (through the messy garage) for something and struck this !
For a few milli-seconds I freaked out !
I seriously did not set this up. I just checked that the small person hidden inside still had her head and asked her to stay still till I grabbed the camera.
Freaky.
Don't say...long sleeved white business shirt.
Have a look at this...ALL OF MY WORK SHIRTS ARE THE SAME !
Either that or they are multiplying in the ironing basket. I mean, there have been a few reproductive suprises in this house this year.
I got ready to iron some shirts for the week and it hit me - I am boring - where's the razzle dazzle ? I really need to branch out and mix it up a bit.
Is it normal to have so many shirts the same ? It's not like I work in the city where it's the suit-wearing uniform. I can pretty much wear whatever I like - look what I have accumulated. I think I am in a shirt-rut.
Don't say...handsome woman.
It might have taken me 2 months to read a 200 plus page book - I did the best I could knowing that you were hanging on a book review. It's not that I am a particularly slow reader - it's just I can't keep my eyes open once I start reading. I'll never need a sleeping tablet while I have a good book to read.
I'm gonna try to tell you why it was a decent read...Dame Nellie Melba (Helen Mitchell) was born in 1861 and most of her success was at or after the turn of the century. Her descriptions of the major cities of the world in the 1900s and the luxury travel onboard the big Steamers make you think we've come a long way. She was the first international Australian Celebrity and I get the impression she knew it - I reckon she was a diva. They describe her as a 'handsome' woman and we all know what that means. She sang for 'handsome' Queen Victoria, King Edward, the Tsar of Russia and only ever recorded a few songs (and you know I have one on my Ipod). She was most famous for La Boheme in the role of Mimi. She married at 23 in Mackay, had a son George, divorced and never re-married living most of life in Paris, London and Australia.
Sounds a lot w*nky trying to give a book review but rest assured you wont get another one anytime soon.
Don't say...it's 2am and I'm awake.
Last night we had 2 of our 'Peeps' (minus Chemistgirl) over for dinner and enjoyed chicken stiry-fry and a delicious cheesecake made by "J"... deliberated over the long term meaningfulness of WYD, drank wine (thanks Pthc4) watched some US TV and went to bed.
BUT - after a couple of pages of my new book I was out for the night and Leesy tells me she spent the entire night tossing and turning...the worst night's sleep ever ! Somehow I slept right through.
Leesy is determined to get to the Northey Street Markets and then this arvie we are gonna schedule her 5 hour Kindy nap - after all it's Sunday, why not ?
Don't say...clutter.
This is MY job for the weekend. The garage shelves are beside the car and unfortunately the way we come and go from the house is through the garage so there is a constant reminder. I have tried in the past to set everything in rows, in labelled boxes, throw cr*p out but I fail in being able to keep it that way.
Ever think it would be easier to just throw it all away no matter what it is and start again ?
BUT how can I throw this stuff away :
Shelf 1 : Old rocking Horse I am going to restore for "Elemenope" (I'll explain later), tools, fertiliser, an old frame that has a crack in the glass.
Shelf 2 : Car cleaning stuff, old empty frames, more tools, old paint can about 2 mm full.
Shelf 3 : Sunscreen, dvd's, aluminium window frame.
Shelf 4 : Box full of confiscated Power Ranger toys, old decaying paper mache pop art 'Picnic' I made in 1983.
How Can I ?
Don't say...there's no champagne.
Today has been hectic...mostly after work with a Senior Personage calling asking crytically about "Those that Live in Glass Houses" and I am wondering to myself what on earth that means. Eventually, I work out that he wants me to go around to his place after work and place pebbles carefully around a garden edge...but I have to pick up the girls, feed them and we don't have champagne to take for drinks this arvie....I can feel that stress headache coming on...How am I gonna fit everything in and why do I have feel stressed on a Friday afternoon ? Why ?
We are home now and of course it all worked out (as it always does) - the pebbles were spread, we turned up on time for drinks, the champagne was acquired and dutifully consumed and the kids are eating dinner (left-overs) happily...then I went out the front to feed the guinea pigs and saw this....
Makes me think I worry too much and just maybe I should stop and appreciate the small things.
Don't say...you can't dance.
Nobody dances anymore.
Correction, people DO dance but there isn't enough dancing around the house, is there ?
Why is that ? I am NOT claiming to dance well...cleary, it's free form...it's eclectic, it's not about being coordinated, it's my 1991 Charleville RSL repetoire. There wouldn't be a day that I don't demonstrate a move or two for the 'fans' - especially if I'm in the kitchen (I have witnesses). The kids don't even flinch anymore (Leesy still reacts though)...and sometimes I can get one or two of them to join me.
Let's all make an effort to bust out a few moves in the confines of our own homes...you don't need to have the music on - coz it's not about the music - it's about the funky moves.
So I warn you to knock if you visit - otherwise you might cop a bit of MC Hammer Damo-style.
Don't say...learning is bitter.
Ducked into the Library on the way home coz 'Melba' is done (the last 6 pages took me 3 nights to read) - in search of another good book. It's gotta be non-fiction - generally I cannot stand fiction at all....anyways, I stumbled across this ridiculous quote by the philosopher Aristotle. It made me mad. If you had been there in the ailse with me you'd have told me to sh*t-up.
I cannot agree the pathway of education has to be hard and unpalatable - it infers that learning and acquiring knowledge is a pain but the benefits are the REWARD. What utter cr*p !
Do we send children to school to get down to the unavoidable distasteful daily grind becoz in 12 years time (after you've studied again for another 4 years to get some non-translatable degree) they'll have their reward - a good salary ?? Is a good salary a decent swap for being taught that learning is actually painful...why don't we wanna breed lifelong learners by teaching them that learning can actually be inspiring, challenging and personally relevant ?
Don't say...you don't have time.
Leesy and I stole a moment today to catch up for an unexpected coffee...yes, it was at Donut King and yes we earned a free coffee on the DK Loyalty Card but hey - we're not out to impress.
I was running early for a meeting and I knew she wasn't far away so texted (coz yes, finally I have a mobile phone) and although we only had 15 minutes - Leesy had yoga and I had to dash.
Don't say...they've run out !
As if I needed something else to feed my predisposition for anxiety.
In yesterdays newspaper the 2008 NRL footy collector card hysteria began !
Thankfully, someone thoughtful (who perhaps knew that footy isn't exactly my most familiar topic) got 2 books and a set of cards so that I didn't have to stress about that. What I didn't realise was that now you have to collect the token EVERY DAY for 2 weeks and get it to the newsagent before they sell out.
I started out pretty relaxed today - employing some effective self-talk - thinking to myself - How popular can this be ? Just take it easy Damien what's the rush ? Breathe deeply 1...2...3
Then a workmate comes in and tells me that the newsagent have SOLD OUT !
I am in way over my head.
Don't say...I'm stuck !
I am studying (part-time) the first year course in Anthroposophy - half way through and it's been interesting, challenging and thought-provoking.
Anthroposophy is a set of theories developed by Rudolf Steiner that touches on education, human development, art, architecture, gardening, science and interpersonal relationships. In a nutshell, he proposed that our development from birth follows a pathway through ACTIONS to FEELING to THINKING and in the same way - for example - the school day can apply this approach (in reverse) with the first session being dedicated to THINKING tasks followed in the second session with FEELING tasks (music, art, wood-work, languages, eurythmy) then finally to ACTIVE "doing" tasks (physical activity, hands-on)....but enough of that.
The sole reason I raised the Study thing is becoz it's an on-line course where the 'Lessons' are delivered via email once a fortnight. It is a very practical course and you have to not only summarise in detail the content but 'express' your understanding creatively - either through art or creating something (hey - how about a liturgical dance ??). Trouble is, I am bit stuck and I am currently 2 Lessons behind...so today I hope to do some catch-up...when I read through Lesson 14 the main task is to draft a letter to the UN to advocate for one of the violations of human rights...seriously, how can I whip one of them up in a few hours ?
Don't say...Christmas in July.
Tell you what, I really really really cannot stand "Christmas in July" !
My favourite show on TV is 'The Great South East' and they have just done a story on this very thing - "If you can't wait for Christmas then why not have it now ?"....arrgghhhh !!!
I'll tell you why not - BECOZ IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS !
Are we so impatient that we can't let anything be special anymore ? I don't really know why it peeves me so much but it would seriously be the LAST staff function I would ever attend. Standing around pretending it's Christmas - what a joke !
It's just so ridiculous - what's next - Easter In September ? (Not so far from the truth though coz it's about when they start putting the eggs in the shops).
I know - on the first of August, wanna have "New Years Eve in August ? Wanna ?
Don't say...to make it myself.
The Saturday morning ritual here for the past 6 years is 7am take-away coffees...very little ever stops it.
I reckon half the appeal of a take-away coffee is that you don't make it yourself...I am not a coffee snob and for me, at home and work it's much quicker and easier to use instant coffee. Over the years I have worked out which one I like the best and I would like to recommend to you 'Nescafe Espresso' - the one with the green lid.
Around the time of my birthday I tried a Coffee Bag....the taste is more like a brewed coffee and I like it. I was also given a box so now I take them to work. When you open the sealed foil pouch you have to stick your nose in the packet and the aroma is....ahhhhhh.
Don't say...it's not Friday !
I think I have conditioned myself to expect a glass of wine on a Friday afternoon.
If you spend 20 years consistently doing the exact same thing - eventually you go into auto-pilot and well, this afternoon was no different.
You already know, I was the dag who didn't drink at College (which I loved) when everyone else was drinking, smoking and doing 'naughty' things - I was the sheltered 'good' boy who went home to Daddy. When I got my first transfer to Mackay (which I loved) I made up for it - drinking, that is. Then Thargo (which I loved) - drank beer for the first time and didn't stop for 2 years then Charleville (which I loved) and well - here we are - it's a blink - but Fridays will always be marked by that 4pm glass of 'something'.
Don't say...Ipod.
There is an art to not revealing things that you wouldn't wanna get paid out about...however, today I am gonna take that risk knowing that what I am about to say will feed a fair amount of well-deserved ridicule.
On the drive home from work today I asked Rubes to get my Ipod out of the glove-box as it needs to be charged. I have been using it a lot lately.
Here's the thing - Leesy gave me an Ipod voucher for my birthday and I couldn't really think of anything to download - then I had that light-bulb moment - Wouldn't it be interesting to hear what Dame Nellie Melba sounded like back at the turn of the century ? Doesn't everyone wonder that ?
Interestingly, there are about 10 or 12 songs of hers on Itunes and yes - I downloaded one. Just one. So there you have it...now you know.
Don't say...savoury.
So, I am on the phone to Leesy J while I am at work today and she says that she feels like eating something 'savoury'.
"Savoury ? Who says savoury ? What kinda word is savoury ?" was my tactful response.
I think the word 'savoury' is some oldie-worldie left-over from 1955. I mean, when in daily speech does one use the word savoury ?
Speaking of 'savoury' dishes - here is our fave all-time take-away meal. Conisder this my second formal recommendation...The Phuk Deli at Indrops. OMG - seriously - there is nothing better. I have the Chicken Laska and Leesy J always has the Sugar Cane Prawn Salad. It never ever ever disappoints.
Don't say...I forgot.
I forgot to say I saw a magazine cover from March 2008 that had Erica Packer on the cover saying she was due in June (exactly 12 months after her wedding to Jamesy Packer). I wondered why we hadn't heard anything...what's going on with that I wondered ???
Breathe easy - she's due this coming week so that naturally means I will have to give you my psychic baby prediction. Here I am at Walk-About Creek receiving a psychic message.
Erica & James - a girl called....Eve.
So far, I have one right with "Brange" and one wrong with Nicole - let's just see how I end up. If you recall - my Spirit-Guides told me that Gwen Stefani would have a girl so stayed tuned.
Don't say...it's time to go.
What do you do when your pet has out-lived it's welcome ?
If you check out the blog link to "What is With...?" - you'll read that 'J' is deliberating over what to do about her crazy 13 year old labrador...this has prompted me to want to mention our chickens. (Only photo I could find was an old one of my mother with her chickens in Tully)
You see, about 3 months ago the 3 remaining chickens (Topaz, Jason & Princess of Genovia) laid their last egg...which isn't surprising as they are now nearly 4 years old. We bought them as chicks and hand raised them yet they turned on us and became savage so that not one of us are brave enough to go in the pen unarmed. What is their purpose ? They are not warm and fussy pets, they don't lay...they are simply a caged specimen living out their days in their 3m by 3m enclosure consuming vast amounts of Darling Downs mixed grain...and that's OK, right ?
One can't play God can one ? Have we made a commitment to see them thru the term of their natural life ?
Don't say...disasters !
Continuing on in the theme of things that 'turned out ok' - I'd like to talk about my Front Yard Trellis. It took some planning and I like to think I totally came up with the idea without outside influence. The climber (Sandpaper Vine which flowers like a Wysteria) took ages to get a wriggle on but it has now completely covered the frame.
Today I am taking photos of the things that didn't turn out well - My Disasters !
Don't say...it's a disappointment.
Ever have moments when you are amazed that the thing you are working on turns out well ?
This has happened to me with drawing, painting, construction and gardening...I'm gonna share some of those 'miracles' with you over the coming days. Be warned that you might not see what I see - but to me, they are soooo much better than I thought I could ever achieve.
In balance, I will show you some of the many, many things I have done which have NOT turned out well and in fact are a constant source of disappointment to me.
Ok, So Number 1 are these wall hangings. I don't typically hold a great deal of sentimental value for objects but these come pretty close. The wooden frames are very old worn railway fence spacers that I collected beside the road between Charleville and Quilpie and the pressed metal was bought from a house being renovated in Charlevlle. When I bought the pressed metal I had no idea what I was going to do with it and it wasn't until we were living in Brisbane some years later that I thought I'd try this.
Don't say...you've forgotten about the Pancake Manor.
I'd like to recommend it to you.
I know this photo isn't of the Pancake Manor - it's just our kitchen at home but 2 of the subjects were there today and NO - we didn't play Hungry Hippo either...we had lunch today at the aforementioned location with 2 of our close friends.
I take pancakes seriously - (as I do my other faves - scones, carbonara and noyce droy whoyte woyne) and I haven't been to the Pancake Manor since it was really popular back in the 90's. I was gonna have the bacon and eggs pancakes with maple syrup but caved in and just had them with ice-cream.
Let's all agree to put the Pancake Manor back on the agenda.
Don't say..."We have nothing to do".
Late yesterday afternoon, as they hung about in that manner that screams "We Have Nothing To Do !"
I took a deep breath then suggested a walk.
"Anyone wanna come ?" I said bravely. Silence. Lonnnngggg pause. Eyes darting nervously.
Then the words I had been longing for were spoken (well, they groaned them) "Ok, I'll come".
Yay ! My earlier tantrum had caused one of them to come along - NOT my intention - but hey - still the same outcome.
I have sensitive teeth. It's self-inflicted.
In 1991 when I was smoking I struck upon the idea that I could prevent any discolouration of my teeth by scrubbing them morning and night with Smokers Gel Toothpaste...and the results of that dumb idea cause my lifelong sensitivity...good one Damo ! Given my personality type, I would STILL be smoking if it weren't for Leesy's ultimatum in 1993. Thank you Leesy.
They only really bother me from time to time - like right now for example. Drinking a glass of water feels weird and chewing gum isn't much fun either. I am a little concerned about how I'll work my way through my 'compulsory' chocolate after dinner tonight.
Don't say...public transport.
Have driven Dad to the bus stop at 6.50am this morning...but that's not all...I 'accompanied' him to the Roma Street Transit Centre whereupon he planned to catch the air-train (at $13.50) to the airport for his visit to Melbourne to see his 80 year old brother, Ray.
What about driving him directly to the airport itself ?
I wonder if everyone dislikes public transport ? It's the waiting (the queing - arrgghhh), the uncertainty (What if the bus doesn't turn up ?), making sense of the complex timetables, the cranky odd bus drivers, getting in trouble for handing them a $50 note to pay for a $3 bus ride, the fight for the seat (yes, the fight), the stress of knowing when to press the red button....I avoid it whenever I can.
Don't say...I'm not psychic.
Needless to say, I AM psychic and you might recall my meditation class last year that turned out to be a "secret pre-service professonal psychic coven"...seriously. In truth it was simply a group of lunatics (including me) who sat around playing guessing games convinced they could strain and struggle and guess the colour of the card the White Witch was holding. You'd also recall how I got out of there and refused to return their calls !
As I said, I am patently, undoubtably Psychic -therefore, putting my special capacities to work -here are my up-coming Celebrity Baby Predictions :
1. Angelina & Brad - Boy called Darren & Girl called Sharon.
2. Nicole & Keith - Boy called Barnabas (coz it's a great name and should get some press).
3. Gwen Steffani & that English Actor Personage - Girl.
Don't scoff ! You just wait and see...don't blame me...I am only reporting what my 'Guides' tell me. Also, if I do NOT possess special powers how do you explain me shrinking Leesy ?
Don't say...green vest.
Can I wear this ?
It was not a birthday gift - I bought this on Ebay. Trouble is, when I saw it for real I started to question whether I should really be wearing this 'green' vest. I am a fan of the vest - especially in Brisbane when the middle of the day in Winter can still be warm but - green ? What am I ? A Tree ?
Don't say...green coconut.
July 1974
I remember this "Zoo" cake so well...it isn't every birthday that parents go to the trouble of making you a themed cake.
This cake looks tricky I reckon and clearly recall watching Mum fiddle away with the green coconut (Lisa did this on Eli's cake recently and I still don't know how you do that ? Do ya buy it green ?) Anyway, I absolutely loved it. I remember being allowed to keep the animals (but the fence around the Zoo never really went back together) and then using them to have 'super adventures' for hours in the bushes at home.
Posted in
July 1974
Don't say...fruity-bats.
Daily I have been monitoring with concern the paw-paw tree in the backyard that is heavily laden with fruit...lately they have been chewed up by 'fruity-bats' and despite the fact that Ruby is the only one that eats them here - it is pretty disappointing to see them wasted. So, under Dad's instructions I have been climbing up and pulling off ones that are still green but might be close to changing colour to rescue them.
Speaking of the paw-paw tree, I was delivered a really huge and excellent cooked brekkie (ta Leesy J) with the tray decorated by R & E with a paw-paw leaf and a camellia from Dad's garden. After I have egg I really crave something sweet to 'cut' the eggy-ness of the egg - so it cannot be a bad thing to have had a Krispy Kreme donut at 8am this morning, can it ? I was showered with wine (not literally), a cool black shirt, a tray of Krispy Kreme donuts and phone calls. Yesterday friends sang HB and baked a cake...right now I can smell a white chocolate mud cake cooking in the oven...what more can I ask for ?
Don't say...baby-sitting.
With the help of our 'horizontal visitor' Leesy and I trotted off to see Julia Morris' stand up comedy routine at QPac. Show started at 7pm. In addition to a lot of swearing (which certainly did not offend me) she explained that she was due with her second baby in November and already has a 2 year old daughter called Ruby (nice name).
Show was all over by 8.15pm so we looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and went home so Dad (our Horizontal Visitor) could go home to bed.
Just to explain the term "horizontal visitor" - Dad decided that he didn't like the term 'babysitter' and claims that all he does is lie on the couch and rest while the kids put themselves to bed so he corrects me whenever I mistakenly ask him to 'babysit'...."Eh-Hem ?" he says "Horizontal Visitor !".
Don't say..Walk-About Creek.
I am contemplating how it all went wrong...
You see, I had really good intentions when I took the kids out on a short walk to the Enoggera Reservoir earlier this morning. I thought they'd enjoy the physical activity - the fresh air, the wallabies, the ducks and the dam itself is huge and an amazing expanse of water - ALL THIS only 7 minutes driVe from home. It is truly a beautiful, peaceful place - surely the kids would love this ?
Evidently, our wholesome outing didn't go as planned...there was ample complaining, questions about how long this would take, running off and hiding, 'Can we go home yet ?', 'Can we get something to eat at the Cafe ?' (as if they deserved a reward for the torture I had just inflicted)....I found myself thinking "You'll walk and YOU'LL ENJOY IT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT !".
So as we struggled back into the car to go home I said "We are coming back tomorrow and every day until you enjoy this !".
Great work Damo - that's a reallllly peaceful way of handling it.
Don't say...calm down.
I have come to the conclusion that I like the "thought" of sleeping in. On the holidays like this - when I could easily sleep in - I just wanna get up. Having said that - so far it is 4 out of 4 successful 'Kindy' naps in the afternoon so I am very satisfied with that.
The kids regularly make Lisa and I a 'hot cottee' (which is their word for a hot drink) and bring it up to us in bed. The concept seems relaxing but how do you drink your coffee lying down ? I try sitting up to take a sip but that's not comfortable, so then I sit on the edge basically out of bed...however, I really enjoy these morning surprises.
While on coffee - I bought decaf yesterday and mixed it in equal parts with my Nescafe Espresso in an attempt to cut the caffeine....might help to calm me down.
