Good times...

DS is having a blast with his cousin. He is loving it.

We went out for a bus ride this afternoon, and the boys watched Spaceballs when we got home. We had dinner, then they farted, burped, farted again, and played army men till bed time.

The local (are there any other type?? LMAO) pigeons have decided that my AC unit is a great place to have sex / fight / nest and so on. All I can hear is "Coooo..... Cooooo... Cooooo" If I scream PIGEONS loud enough I hear a great fluttering of wings, and I have silence for about 10 minutes. The boys think this is HIGHlarious, and for the best part of the day they have been cooo-ing at me, or yelling PIGEONS!!

Bloody pigeons.

I have a family of 4 again!!

When we went up to SIL's to pick up DS, we brought Mr almost 11 home with us. We have him till the end of the school holidays on the 5th of October.

I think the boys are having a great time. And it warms my heart to see DS enjoying himself so much!

For my birthday

I got breakfast in bed (coffee and toast) earrings from DS, a gift card from Nine West (my favourite shoe store) $50 from my MIL (bless her heart, she knows exactly what to buy me!) and of course, DH took me to see Miss Saigon last Friday night.

We took MIL out for her birthday on Friday night (her b'day was on Friday, mine on Saturday) we had a lovely night. We managed to get 94 year old FIL out for the night, and he was so happy that we were able to organise everything for him (I spent the day buying a present for him to give her. She ended up with Paris, the perfume, and a bunch of lilies, she was very touched) I think he is afraid this will be his last year. So it appears he is making the most of it.

DH and I (photo by DS)


My handsome men


Me, MIL and FIL


I also ended up with 3 extra boys. DS is hosting a sleep over with 3 of his cousins. Mr. almost 11, Mr. almost 10, and Mr. just turned 8. They are having a ball. And staying pretty clean and tidy. This is slightly worrying. I have no idea why they are being so good! LMAO I am taking them home tomorrow, and DS is staying at his cousins place for a couple of nights. So I will be child free for two whole nights! YAY, I mean, ahem, I will miss my darling boy madly!

All and all, I had a good birthday. Thanks for the birthday wishes ladies!!

They guys are out

Buying my birthday present, I have the housework done, 2 weeks worth of lunch sandwiches made and put in the freezer, and I have finally oiled the deck!

All that is left to do is for the loves of my life to get home, have dinner, then DH and I will put our feet up and watch some telly!

It has been a very good day!

Oh, I needed a good laugh

I got called "Ugly" on Lap Band talk today! I snorted when I read it. How juvenile!

I got told (I will copy and paste) "By the way miss Chickie you look better fat............your ugly !"

I find that people who pick on looks tend to be very insecure about themselves.

Eh. Sticks and stones.

Know how I was supposed to be paid for that story?

5 weeks later, and nothing. I for filled all of my obligations; the interview, the photos, and the radio interviews that the didn't tell me that I had to do till after the fact (and there was no mention of this in the contract either)

Gee. What a surprise.


It wasn't about the money, but gosh, if you say you are going to pay for a story, print it with the article that I got paid for it, PAY ME FOR IT DAMMIT. I am going to have to pay tax on this money, so it would be nice to actually get it.

Happy Birthday Sarah.

Although we don't talk any more, don't think that I don't love you, and think about you.

Happy 22nd Birthday little sister.

Some people need a slap with a dead fish. I swear.

Lesbian sues over IVF twins

A lesbian woman felt violated and devastated when she learned she was pregnant with twins, after she had told a Canberra obstetrician she wanted only one child through IVF, a court heard yesterday.

In what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the ACT, the former Canberra woman and her female partner are suing obstetrician and gynaecologist Sydney Robert Armellin for the wrongful birth of one of their twin girls, now aged three, claiming more than $400,000 for the cost of raising her to the age 21.

They claim the twins' birth mother had told Dr Armellin minutes before she was sedated and implanted with two embryos that she wanted only one embryo implanted. They had previously told him they wanted only one child.

However, an embryologist under Dr Armellin's supervision implanted two embryos, resulting in the birth of non-identical twins.

The birth mother, now working in Melbourne as a social research and planning consultant, wept as she told the ACT Supreme Court how hard it had been to cope with the unplanned twin pregnancy.

"I remember sitting on the couch and feeling devastated, absolutely devastated," the 40-year-old mother said.

She and her partner, who were living in Watson at the time, had planned to go to England after the birth, but their plans were scrapped when they discovered they would be having twins, jeopardising their careers, relationship and health.

She suffered pre- and post-natal depression, could work only a few hours at a time because of the pain, and she and her partner needed relationship counselling for about 18 months.

"We argued and we had a terrible time with the stress of what we had expected to be a time of great joy."

They also had to confront the options of aborting one of the embryos, or giving up one of the children for adoption. They decided to keep both children as an abortion would have put the other child at risk, and adoption would have been too painful.

"The experience of my pregnancy was so far removed from what I had anticipated that I was in relationship counselling, in a great deal of pain, and someone was suggesting that [adoption] was an option."

The women's names were suppressed until today, when visiting judge Justice Annabel Bennett will make a ruling as to whether to permanently conceal their identities.

The women's barrister, Hugh Marshall, SC, argued it could be distressing for the children to discover several years down the track that their mothers did not want to have them both.

The birth mother told the court she earned more than $100,000 in the recent financial year, and her partner also worked full time.

They had first gone to Dr Armellin, who has a private practice in Deakin and also does work for John James Hospital and Calvary Hospital in December 2002, seeking artificial insemination treatment. They chose to use sperm from a Danish donor, as the father of one of the women was German.

After three unsuccessful treatments of artificial insemination, Dr Armellin recommended in-vitro fertilisation.

The mother told the court she and her partner had told Dr Armellin and a nurse at the Canberra Fertility Centre that they wanted only one child.

However, they had been under the impression that they could only decide how many embryos to implant on the day of the procedure, depending on the quality of the embryos.

They had signed a pre-admission form two months before the procedure, saying they consented to one or two embryos being implanted, but claimed the nurse at the fertility centre had said: "Just put 'up to two' and you can let us know any time up to the procedure."

Consequently, the mother had told Dr Armellin she only wanted one embryo implanted only minutes before she was sedated, in November 2003.

As well as seeking damages for the cost of raising a child, the birth mother is claiming about $17,000 for lost earnings as a result of an extra two months' maternity leave, and for the physical problems and medical expenses incurred as a result of carrying twins. She was rendered almost immobile in the second and third trimesters of the pregnancy.

Dr Armellin's barrister, Kim Burke, told the court her client admitted being told by the birth mother shortly before the procedure that she wanted only one embryo implanted, but this did not amount to negligence.

"The defendant's position is that the duty of care did not extend to preventing or avoiding multiple births," Ms Burke said.

"The conversation [minutes before the procedure] is not a negligent act because there was a document signed saying one to two embryos."

Yeah. I bet that kid ends up well adjusted. "Mummy and I only wanted your sister. That's why we sued the doctor"

RIP Anita

As some of you might know, last week, Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, died of a brain haemorrhage age 64.
http://tinyurl.com/2qwjkb

This lady did so much for free trade, and helped real women feel good about their bodies. Remember the Ruby campaign?







I spent the weekend watching the docco's she did for Discovery Health. She was a fab lady. She will be missed.

Could we see me in this?

http://tinyurl.com/2mf42h

I think we could. Apparently it is a size 6 (a vintage 8-10, so it proves my point about vanity sizing), I am asking the seller for measurements to be sure, but it is silk and chiffon! I am drooling.

I have a few events over the next few months I could really see myself wearing this to!

Shopping for shoes to match will be fun! Maybe a fab coloured satin heel. Ohh, def a drop side point toe. Don't ask for much do I? And I would have to wear my curls up... With a sparkly type comb in my hair.

Oh. I don't know that I could wait for opening night of Phantom to wear that! The Nutcracker is on just before Christmas. That's not too dressy for the ballet? Right?

And another just beautiful dress!


How is THAT for beautiful? Smart casual, and oh-so-me.

I think I need to have a wardrobe clean out, and eBay off the clothes that are too big, and just buy it. I can justify it then. I think.

My kittens (heels) would look divine with that dress. And my black clutch, hair up, with dangley earrings.

What was the fashion like at the theatre?

It was very interesting. The men and women seemed to dress slightly differently. It was almost black tie for the men (much like my DH, some wore ties, but not many), and it was full evening wear for the women. There were quite a few floor length dresses with shawls and so on.

One outfit that I saw that I really want to try for myself was a wide strapped silk cami in aqua, tucked into a black high waisted pencil skirt that finished mid calf, she was holding a simple clutch, and wearing shoes almost identical to my drop side kitten heels. She looked stunning. Consertive, yet so sexy. I really need to try to replicate that look.

We plan on bying tickets to the opening night of Phantom of the Opera (tickets go on sale next week, I think, I will have to check) And apparently, opening night is black tie. No exceptions. So I will have to put some thought into my outfit. It will be mid Feburary. So it will be hot.

Good thing I have a few months to think on this.

Am I boring you yet? LMAO

Oh, and those shoes!

Black, 3.5 inch heel, peep toes! I wub them!!


(excuse the zombie feet)

They are also going to look super cute with a seersucker strapless dress I brought a couple of weeks ago. All I need now is a strapless bra (in my current size, I have several that don't fit!). I ordered it about 3 weeks ago, I think. I am going to call the store Monday and find out when they are getting it in. It's getting hot here ( 30*C today, and apparently 32 tomorrow!) So, I have the dress, the shoes and the weather, but no bra! I could always go bra less.

At least we would know what direction the wind was blowing if I did that!!

Oh, and do we remember the strappy sling backs I brought to go with the suit first off? They are adorable with tailored shorts. So I kept them. Actually, the strappy sling backs will look cute with that seersucker dress too.

Yes. I know. I have issues with shoes.

Holy COW!

Do we all realise that we have only just over 12 weeks to Christmas?

That means my birthday is just around the corner. I am not sure I am ready to turn 27. Because 28 becomes 29. 29 becomes 30 and so on. I feel like I wasted my 20's with my obesity, and to a lesser extent, I lost my young adulthood to parenting DS. I feel like I am just starting to enjoy being young and alive.

I know getting older is not the end of the world. I only have to look at my husband who is 13 years my senior (or 14 depending on the time of the year) to see that life really does start at 40. Why does it still look scary?

The only thing I can think of, is that getting older means I have to grow up.

Maybe it means that despite having given birth at barley 16, getting married 11 weeks after my 17th birthday, and "growing up" as a result, I was still immature (and I am sure I was, and still am)

Does finally realising that I know nothing mean I really am growing up? Maturing? Shit. I was planning on staying 15 mentally forever.

As grown up as I get, I cannot imagine my shoe fetish getting any better. No. Can't see that happening. It can only get worse. Much worse.

It's 1.06 am, and we just got home

And Miss Saigon was amazing!

Here are DH and I, all bleary eyed from the fog machine that was used (the boy child took the photo, with my Rebel no less. He is actually getting pretty good with the camera)


And me on my own (for a better look at the suit! Not because I like posting photos of my self, or anything!)


I ended up with some fantastic shoes (wich you cannot see due to the fact that my legs are super short, and the pant leg was super long) I shall take a pic when I get up and post for your viewing pleasure.

Jodi!! I got your card and photos of your Princess! I burst into tears! You do know I am coming to Canada to see you one day? Right? ((hugs)) and much love!

So. After a full day's shopping

This is the best I could come up with. And they fucking suck.

They go back tomorrow.

And at AUD$60 they are a rip off.

I was actually *wearing* better shoes when I went shopping


Ignore the scrape on my ankle. I dropped a plank on it last Monday when I was mowing the lawn (don't ask) and boy did it hurt! It was swollen and went a fetching shade of blue! I should have taken photos. It was very cool.

Yeah, and that eBay dress came. And how do I put this. Umm. It's fucking hideous? I wouldn't clean my floor with that rag? I wouldn't let my husband put me out with it if I was on fire? Uh. Yeah.

Just when I thought it was all over....

I get a huge envelope in the mail.

It is FILLED with letters and emails that the magazine had sent to them, for me.

I wish, oh how I wish that they had mentioned that the reason my surgery was only 5K was that I have private cover. Half of the letters I have read so far ask me where I got it done that cheap.

One letter was very sad. Form a girl of about 14 who weighs 107kg. She is desperate to lose weight. I am not really sure what she wanted from me. Maybe she just wanted to tell her story to someone who would understand. I am thinking about writing her a letter in reply. Not too sure of what I am going to say, so I will think on it for a while.

But for the moment, my head is swimming. I am very overwhelmed by the letters, and I am less than half way through.

To take my mind off things, I might go shopping! LMAO Some retail therapy is not cheaper than regular therapy, but it sure is more fun!

Oh Shit

DH needs a new suit. He tried on his trousers, and they fell off. The jacket was a joke. Has it really been so long since he wore it last that he could have lost *that* much weight?

So. He needs a new suit, and I only have Thursday and Friday (his days off this week) to take him shopping.

Lets hope they have his leg length in stock!

Oh yeah, and those shoes were a no-go, as pretty as they are, the heel just isn't high enough! Bummer. I guess I will just have to subject myself to torturous hours of shoe shopping! *Insert evil laugh here*

Two questions I must ask myself

So it really looks like it will be this Friday night for the theatre.

Two question. Hair up or down? Dark glasses, new glasses, or contacts?

I don't know yet....

But we could be going to see Miss Saigon this Friday!

How very!

Honestly. How old do I look?

I was asked for ID today when I put fuel in my car (you have to be over 17 to fuel up at some service stations here)

So. Honestly. How old do I look?

Things that make you go "Hummm..."

Now, I am not a feminist by any means. But what I realised about myself this morning during my run surprised even me.

I dress for my husband.


In the "real" world, no fuckin' way would I have spend close to $500 on a white suit (that's not counting the $120 shoes I am eyeing off, and the $89 clutch that I like to go with the dammed thing)

Why did I buy white? My husband likes me in white. I agree that I look nice in white, but is it a practical colour? No. Will it need dry cleaning every time I wear the dammed thing? Yes. Will I get more than half a dozen wears a year out of it? I don't think so.

Am I setting the feminist movement back?

Edit to add at 1.40PM
Upon reflection. Fuck it. Me liking to look beautiful for my husband is not going to send us back to the turn of the century. It's not going to change the fact that I am an equal partner in our relationship.

Why should we feel like we have to be such hard asses, and not give a shit what our partner thinks of the way we look? Why shouldn't we try to please them? I know my DH works very hard to give me the lifestyle we have, so why shouldn't I try to please him too? Be that keeping our home tidy, keeping our child clean happy and healthy, and me looking nice. I am not talking pearls and an apron here (although pearls, and an apron and nothing else might be the way to go one night where we are alone) I am talking about the basics. Partnership. Love and respect.

I think I think too much.

And my random thought for the day.

I like the shape of my face now. I never did when it was a blob. I guess it was hard to get used to my "new" face. I almost look pretty these days.

Is this what one wears?

I went out and brought this beautiful white pants suit. I think I was just waiting for an excuse to buy it.

I am loving the black silk cami. The stone things are so much prettier IRL, and they do the cover the back the same way they do the front. So it looks balanced when the jacket is off.

I am thinking with these shoes


And maybe this bag


I have to go into Nine West (where I found the bag and shoes online) to try them on, because my foot is so wide, sometimes my feet look like sausages stuffed into dainty little slippers. It's a pity I can't just buy them online. *Sigh*

DH loves me in white. He knows I think it is a total pain in the ass to wear, so he KNOWS that this is a big deal for me. I think it may bring back fond memories for him... I wore a white skirt suit when we announced our engagement.

I also brought this dress online (eBay, naturally!) to wear on my birthday


I shall post pics of me in it when it arrives.

And how's this for a random thought? When did Justin Timberlake get all sexified?

I was out for my run this morning, had my iPod on shuffle, and on came "Love Stoned"

Oh. My. The lyrics. It took all my will power not to knock the phone out of DH's hand and have my wicked way with him right there when I got home. Not that he would have minded, but the call *was* important.

But yeah. When did JT start singing songs that didn't have the word "Mickey" in it?

What does one wear?

When one goes to the theatre to see Miss Saigon in mid spring?


While the midget is at his yearly school camp October 10 to the 12th, DH and I will be checking into the Royal on the Park again (like we did last year), and going to see Miss Saigon!!

Now I have just over 4 weeks to shop for something to wear to the theatre!

Also, while I was checking out the list of what's coming up at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, I noticed that this year there will be a limited run of The Nutcracker! So, being as impulsive as I am, I booked us some tickets for December 21st.

I am also trying to convince DH that we *need* to see Bjorn Again (an Abba tribute group) That would be a blast. I might just book the tickets and tell him we are going.

So? What do I wear? I am thinking either a pant suit, or a pretty floaty dress? Thoughts? Suggestions?