I offficially give up!

There is no point belonging to a site you cannot utilise. For months now I have had issues with the Aussie Mummy Bloggers site. I have limited time and would rather be involved where I can actually USE the site.

Seriously, over it. Done.

Faarrrrrrrrrrrrrrk!

A very pissed off !

Disqus, Envy and a Little Procrastination...

Sitting here just a little envious this morning. The amazing Mrs Woog of Woogsworld fame (or is that infamy?) is off to lunch with Google! Yes, you read it right  - GOOGLE! You really know you've reached the pinacle of all blogicleness when Google want to wine and dine your arse! So I told her I wanted to be her! Yes, a little stalkerish. Okay, a lot stalkerish, but hey, wouldn't it be worse if I sat and let my jealousy fester unvoiced behind a false smiling facade? And that leads me to my next point. Disqus. No false smiling facade on MY comments in Disqus. No facade at all - I am faceless. Must admit the envy was creeping insidiously in about this one too. I would sit, muttering madly under my breath "She got a photo. Why does she get one and not me. Who does she think she is? How did she get on the inner? What have I ever done to Disqus to make it treat me with such obvious disdain? Why aren't I in the cool group? *Sob*" every time I commented and had to enter e-mail, enter username, enter first born son's right testicle...

But then I noticed something. A little thing that soothed my jaded spirit. I was not alone. The uber-cool Allison from Life in a Pink Fibro was sitting a couple of comments away SANS photo! So maybe I am in the cool group. and the other is the uncool group! Well, that's my premise and I'm sticking to it.

And now we come to the procrastination bit... As you may have read in my other post, I won Challenge 67 on Blog This. Which meant I had to come up with a topic for Challenge 69 (I know, I know, okay?). After no help from you lot I came up with a topic:

What would you do if you won the big one. Not one million, or even two million, but a division one prize of 52 million dollars? Would you go public, remain anonymous, use it for good of others, or on family only? If all your financial issues were swept away, what would you do with the rest?

Yeah, not brilliant but all I had at that moment (being put on the spot kinda thing ya know). Now I am avoiding as only someone as consummate a procrastinator such as moi can. You'd a thunk if I was the one coming up with the challenge that I'd have some ideas about it, huh?

Lucky I'm a fly by the seat of my pants sorta gal. Because that's what I'll be doing. For this challenge entry and for Muse Wars I would say. Cest la vie.

Oh, and drop over and check out Challege 68 - Valentine's Past. Vote for your favourite - and I'll let you know I was lucky, for this one I had already written an apt post way back last year.

Okay, no more stuffing around. I'll get stuck into it, I promise. Right after I just go and...

Muse Wars 2011

Originally started by Melissa @ The Things I'd Tell You, the Muse Wars continued through eight challenges and then faded into oblivion. I did attempt to kick start it again but failed dismally. But I'll try once more.

Rules:

• Open to all and sundry, you need to link below in comments. First to list sets next challenge. Anyone can join in, you just need to write a story as your interpretation of the photo in 500 - 1000 words. Can be of any genre - let your mind fly free.
• First to link sets new photo for next challenge. Or can pass it on to next on list but MUST be passed within 24 hours of previous challenge closing.
• Next challenge must be set within seven days of completion of previous challenge.
• Will allow 5 days to complete - so starts Sunday evening, ends Friday night.

Oh, and I have not worked out a new linky tool. Post your entry in my comments and I'll edit this post to show each link. If there are any. Okay?

Here we go:

MUSE WARS 2011

Challenge #1

Go for your lives!

Come back to add: extended to Sunday, and to add our first entry (and the Muse War Challenge 2 organiser):

Kakka - menopausal mumma

Madmother - Little Woven Words

Suzi - Under The Windmills

Sunday Sessions with Thea - Sickness Sunday

As Thea says:

Sundays I pop two favourite songs onto my blog.

An oldie but a goldie.

And a newbie, fresh from the charts.

Here are my picks for this week.

You can play along by linking up below.

And grab the button on the side bar if you want.

Can't wait to hear your picks.

Happy Sunday!

I have a vey sick little man today. Boy 2 has been hit like a ton of bricks by a virus, he has high temperatures, sore throat and feels miserable. So my Sunday Session today is with the young man I love so much in mind.

It sucks when your child is hurting and you have no mummy magic to make it all go away...

Oldie:



Newie (sort of):
To my darling little boy, feel better soon my sweet.

Weekend Grateful: Happy To Be Me.

After a week of wonderful blog finds, a little drama and some rewind therapy, today I am grateful to be me. Why? Well, after reading of some of the family history and ongoing issues I realised a couple of things. Firstly, I may be considered by some to be confrontational, I know there are people who think I'm a bitch.  But I like me. I am a strong, honest, outspoken woman who yes, can be blunt, but am proud of who I am. I stuff up at times, I am not some sort of perfect person. I get things wrong but do own my mistakes and apologise when wrong.

You want to know why I am happy to be me? Why I know and like myself? I was loved unconditionally, supported unequivically, and told that nothing was impossible if I worked hard. My family, my wonderful, loving, amazing family which continues through to the new generation. Through hard times and tragedy, always together, always there for each other. Ongoing with my husband and children. Live, life, love. Truly blessed. For this I am grateful. Always.

Oh, and if you want to know more about these wonderful people from my childhood, read about:

• Wise Woman
• Grumblebum
• Flame-Haired Hellraiser
• Yee-ha Grandma
• Monty

By following those links. As for Big Boy, Boy 1 and Boy 2, well there are so many posts I'll let you track those by searching those terms in my blog, lol.

Back to add another blog hop on the recommendation of Maxabella!

Comment Nazi.

Probably showing my age here, but do you lot remember the soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld? I will add a disclaimer: I must be one of the few who actually disliked this show but sadly was forced to sit through many episodes with obsessed friends.

It's here for those unfamiliar. Well I am the comment Nazi. Yes, I have comment approval enabled here. Is it to screen comments? Well, not really. I have scam protection so most of the crap gets shoved into there before it even reaches my moderation. Is it so I can dictate and keep tight control, utilising censorship tools and exhibiting all the signs of prohibition of free speech? I'll admit a little. Some things such as my name, or my children's names are not used here and I like to keep it that way.

But in reality it is for one real purpose.

How else would this manic Madmother ever know someone has commented on a post, old or new?

Yep - it is my own private tracking system. And speaking of tracking, how good are the IP trackers so you can see what comes from where? Cool, eh.

The Imaginarium of a Madmother

Yes, I'm a little warped. Put it down to a childhood filled with magical laughter and lots of imaginings. And a mother who believed her teddy bears came alive at night right up to her death (vale' Wise Woman - don't worry, I still put the blankie over your bears on a cold night) at 91. I love to weave tales for my boys, and I must admit my sense of the absurd has helped a lot in our journey with awetismness.

Now, I have to tell you this reminiscing journey has been prompted by a blog post. Thank's to Torkona and his inaugural blog award I have found a new obsession addiction blogger to follow. Head on over to the winner, you'll soon see why she took it out even though she is a fairly recent arrival on Blogworld. In fact it is her post, Bullshitification which has prompted me thinking about the imaginarium of childhood fantasy and *ahem* slight untruths we spin to ease the way for our kids. Oh, and to cover up adult stuff-ups of course. Many of which I have already mentioned here.

• There was, of course, the drunken tooth fairy debacle. You remember, when old toothy partaked of a little too much morning dew, very intoxicating to fairies, and slammed into that random spoon in the pot plant? Okay, I'll refresh it for you... Boy 1 had lost his tooth, this is, ooh, back about four years ago. Tooth fairy phone call request put following formal procedure. Next morning... *shock, horror* tooth still under pillow NO CASH. Whoopsie. Cue quick response team. I call toothy (we are on a first name basis, oh and the phone is a hot pink Barbie phone left by Santa we think, was found at our shop, never claimed and then, surprise surprise, I was mucking around with it and found it was a TOOTH FAIRY HOTLINE PHONE!), she answers. Clearly from the cursing and tone, suffering a gigantic fairy headache! The story screamed down the line was like this. Foggy night, toothy knocking back some morning dew to keep warm, went a little overboard and was feeling a tad off her game, flies in about to head inside, hits spoon someone left in potplant near front door (another story, but something to do with a large party at Madmother mansion), ricochets backwards dropping coin on front step, flies off mumbling dire threats about stoopid humans and tooth addiction... WITHOUT TOOTH RETRIEVAL!  She was not happy and told me to keep the money and shove it where the sun don't... Ah, well. Suffice to say not a happy fairy.

• Then there is of course Eldred. As this is a recent post (read: one Madmother can link easily), I'll let you look at it yourself if you so wish.

• The magic monster eating dogs. If you've headed over to Martyr-hood's post, you'll see a mention of monster spray. Now, I don't know of any mother who is not aware of monster spray. But sometimes those damn beasts are a little harder to banish. Well, we have a secret weapon. Monster-eating dogs. Yep, fully certified, monster mashing approved, monster rip-'em-up, chew 'em down, digest-'em-well, eating canines. So no big monsters ever made it in our house, and the few pesky teeny ones, well of course they got *poofed* by the spray quick smart. Pretty good secret weapon in the monster removal stakes, let me tell you. Small issue in re-training not to aggravate royal dragons and teaching them the difference between monsters and other magical visitors, but hey, what's a few scales between friends?

Okay, am running out of time so this will be all of the tall tales for today. And as it is a Friday I'm hoping to link this to a FlogYo Blog list... somewhere, somehow. No bullshitification.

Come back to add... found FYBF - see link above. Being hosted by Glowless atm. Oh, and the Tork awards? I tied for second with the great Mumstrosity. Just lettin' ya know. Cheers.

Welcome to the Inner Sanctum...

What? You had heard this was not it? Do not be deceived, others who claim to hold the key are false. They are insubstantial would-be usurpers craving the queen's throne, yet lacking the style, integrity and emotional fortitude to even come close. Emotional holographs, appearing lifelike from a distance yet having no substance or core once you are close. They lure with lies and innuendo, manipulating and instigating devious mind-games, drawing you in, trying to tattoo their brand upon your very soul. They covet your very being, so envious of an individuals inner self, wanting to become you, desiring you as a mere possession writhing within their greedy grasp. No longer a you, or I... only existing as a we. Owned totally, completely. If you are not for them, you are against, or so they say.

Hush now. Do not worry, do not cry. If you are here then you are free. You did not delve so deep into the defiled asylum as to be unable to throw their monkey off your back; the core of your innocence has remained pure and untainted by such vile spirits. If only they could comprehend that the monkey was their own sad reflection in the mirror of truth - the one that revealed the true ugliness of their very souls. But they will never see, for even their sight is clouded by cataracts of delusion.

We here peered inside the shroud of shadows they cast to see your true essence, and witnessed your honour and moral stature, clear to us even at the bleakest hour. The truth always shines like a beacon, cutting the darkness, illuminating the way. And now you are here. The Inner Sanctum. No longer a Fringe Dweller but one of the chosen. One of the few. Welcome friend.

Rise and receive your reward.





So... semillon sav blanc or a chardy, love? Or maybe a glass of bubbly? Cheers!

Pssst... we need to start Muse Wars again.

Well Whoa! And Hot Damn!

Okay, well here's the thing. I won! Yep, I won Challenge 67 on Blog This. Now, apologies are necessary for the lag in my realisation... this old Madmother had forgotten to update the link in my blog list to the new address. Woops. And I must also thank my friends adoring followers for voting for me. I honestly thought I was second, but must have been a last minute surge in the votes, lol. All that threatening cajoling on facebook must have had an impact...

No, really. You mean you missed it? Oh, well I did seriously consider a bit of biffo blackmail, but then it slipped my mind. Like most things. I guess it must have been this face that swung it for me. How could you resist:

But here's the thing. I now have to very quickly, as time is fast running out, come up with a new challenge. Any ideas? Cause I'm drawing a blank.

Anyone?

How about something like:

If you won the lottery, what would you do?

What betrayal has had the greatest impact in youtr life?

What has been the most positive influence in your life?

Show us yer tits (photographic challenge)?

Yes, I am kidding. But desperate. Hmm, maybe it's not such a bad...

The Legend of Eldred.

Once upon a time there was a very little boy who loved to watch the flashing flares of lightning dance across the gloomy sky in the front of the deck of his home. He was a unique child, one of rare beauty, pure of heart, and full up to the brim with quirkiness. In those early days the booming drumroll of thunder incited much belly laughter to echo over the valley in front. The young one applauded with childish glee at the loud rumbling, and when it paused too long for his little boy patience he would clasp his hands together prayerlike under his chin and call out to the great beyond:

"More Bob The Builder Fireworks please God!"

Sadly his unadulterated pleasure in the magnificence of storms was lost as he grew older, and his cries were no longer of joy but of fear and terror. Until one amazing day he learnt of another wonder, and he began to believe in the magic of the unknown once more. Little by little, bit by bit.

Eldred was a dragon. Not just any old type of dragon mind you, he was a PRINCE of dragons. Large and handsome, his body shone with precious, silvery scales and inside that strong outer shell beat a huge heart that really and truly belonged to one very special boy, a blessed child known as Boy 1. This youngling had a heart so clean and pure and a smile so enchanting that nobody, not anyone at all who knew him, could resist. Certainly not Eldred, for he loved this boy with all his thorny dragon heart. Eldred was Boy 1's self-appointed protector from evil, determined to defend him to the death if ever needed. Which he hoped it wouldn't be because life was pretty good when you had a friend like Boy 1 and a thorny heart filled with mushy friendship love.

Eldred lived in a giant avocado tree in the boy's humungous mountain garden. Well, he actually only slept there sometimes, and on those nights his metallic coat could be seen flashing slivers of light in the reflection from the moonlight. Other evenings he gallivanted happily and worry free around the world, flying and frollicking with a multitude of guardians of the innocent. A posse of princely, prancing dragons, clumsily cloistering around clusters of clouds. Hidden by the puffy pillows of vapour, they happily gambolled, unseen.
Now obviously he would only do this during the times he was assured his Boy 1 was happy and safe and not in need of a dragon bodyguard. Or timidly calling him close, longing for a dragon ear to listen to childhood fears in the dark of a dim night when the shadows loom tall over little boys' beds. On those nights he stayed close, alert to the smallest whimper, waiting to be called, watching silently with a heart full of tenderness. Those nights, as the rain poured from black clouds and thunder shook the mount after lightning split the sky, he sat dripping dragon dropplets down the avocado tree. Huddled as the leaves of green shake in the wind, twisting and turning to reveal streaks of silver, his solid presence defeating the baddest of dreams.

He knew, see, that Boy 1 had been told a secret. Well, he should know for he was the one who did tell this secret. It was a really secret, secret; one that only those who are pure of heart are told. A dragon secret. A secret that made him feel very, very special, and helped him to realise the storms were not solely responsible for the things that scare little boys.
You see Eldred, though royalty, had a few little... shall we say... issues? Whilst he could usually smoothly fly hidden amongst the rolling clouds, sometimes when he was returning to visit his boy (who by the way lived high on top of a magical mountain in amongst a monstrous rainforest), well, sometimes in his haste he would clip a few of the towering trees, or snap a couple of the big, strong, weaving power lines that ran up the side of the peak. And in his frantic rush to return, sometimes, just sometimes, he flapped those massive silver wings so fast that the winds seemed to be about to lift the boy's house from the top of the mountain. Now, a lot of people may see these problems as not so good (mainly grown-ups with no remaining sense of the outer realms of reality), but Boy 1 actually found the flaws to be re-assuring. After all, nobody is perfect, not even dragons of royalty.

This knowledge allowed him to look back to his early days of innocence when a stormy night meant magic and joy, before he learned to fear and cower. The secret meant he knew it was going to be okay, that sometimes a storm wasn't the only reason lights went out. Now when the thunder roared he could hear Eldred's deep growls in response, for we all know the only time a dragon makes a sound is when it can be hidden by the loud thunder. When the lightning flashed it gave him a chance to look searchingly through the glass windows of his house to where the avocado tree stood, hoping to catch the flickering beauty of a reflection from the majestic silver scales. When gales blew around the outer walls of his home, he knew it was probably his dragon flying as fast as he could to get back to his boy. And on those rare times the power goes out? Well, he lights candles, chuckling at the clumsiness of a hasty dragon trying to get back from frollicking before he is too badly missed.

So next time a storm blasts into your lives, look deeply into the darkness for maybe you will catch a glimpse of a dragon, frantically flying past. Returning to his boy.

For Sonia, next time believe in a little of the magic of the mountain.

Okay, So There's This Thing...

Called the Queensland Bloggers' Meet. The glorious Melissa over at Suger Coat It is head organiser and general rounder-uperer. We have a Facebook page 'n all! So if you live somewhere in Queensland and can make it to Brisvegas on March 12th, RSVP on the FB page (as it is pre-booked). I'm going, so it may be just the chance to come and tell me what you really think. Or any other Qld bloggers who may be there. List is on the page, though a lot of others may be joining in also.

Oh, and if you don't have FB, leave me a comment and I'll be in touch to see how I can help.

Or to say hello.

In the words of a certain tennis player:

COME ON!

Weekend Grateful: Here's One I Prepared Earlier, LOL.

 
Getting up early must somehow stir up my naughty gene. I am writing my weekend grateful post for Maxabella Loves... a week early! How will I know what I'm grateful for, you ask. Well, because it is something I am always grateful for, and in a way links into last week's post. Or this week as it is right now. Confused? Don't be.

This week I am so very grateful for all the mothers, parents, bloggers who post about their journey on the Autism Spectrum rollercoaster. As one myself (though this blog is much more random than a lot of others - use the search function and type in ASD if you wish to see my dedicated posts on OUR journey), I also feel indebted to the paths that lead me to others who understand the uniqueness of our lives.

So thank you to Maxabella, and to Allison @ Life in a Pink Fibro, and to the many others in the past who have taken me gently by the hand and led me to these blogs I so need to find. Last week I found two more blogs to follow in these hops. And I am grateful, so very, very grateful. And only others in this AWETISM world know how very much.

Coincidence...

I LOVE the house Melissa @ Suger Coat It has posted as her dream home. This one:

Why wouldn't I?

After all it is very eerily similar to this:

Our place. Yep, this is where we call home.

Even the wall colour (go to her blog and check it out) is the same as our feature walls.

Ignore mess. This is my retreat where I work. And my weirdly odd Ikea reject room chair. Cause I'm quirky.

Sorry Mel, just couldn't resist showing you.

Wordless Wednesday - Not my words.

HERE.
(I cannot seem to resize this down can anyone help to show full screen?)

Karma is my friend

Sitting back, watching the universe unleash its power. Funny how people do not realise that old adage is true:

You'd think some would know life has a way of creating its own justice. All you need do is be patient, keep quiet, don't stoop to the low level no matter how tempting it may be when the lies and dramas continually bombard you. Be true to yourself.

Kaboom! Come on. I'm allowed to gloat just a little after 18 months of hell, aren't I? Okay, I know not too much as then karma will come after me, but just for a minute or two, m'kay? So "hi ladies (and I do use that term loosely), my life is pretty damn swell, how's yours?" Okay, done. Dusted. Gone. *Poof*