December 31: Resolution #best09 Gwen Bell

Resolution you wish you'd stuck with. (You know, there's always next year...)

Gwen Bell Best of 2009 Challenge

Would you believe I made NO New Year Resolutions for 2009? Truly, I didn't. Not only were we midst the Wise Woman 1 crisis, but I also managed to tear all the muscles between my shoulder blades on the 29th of December. In the shower. Washing my hair. You can stop laughing now. Really, you can. You did know I managed to concuss myself on the pantry door quite a few years back... didn't you? Oh, well maybe forget I mentioned that one.

So there I was pumped full of valium and panadeine forte to begin with when Big Boy, in his infinite wisdom, picked up this massive cockroach to chase the kids with. Monster flew straight at my head, I instinctively ducked forwards, did ten times more damage than the original injury.

And if I had been able to move without screaming in agony, I would have torn Big Boy's testicles off with my bare hands and put them in the blender. And fed them to the dogs. Then we both would have been seeing this in our heads:

Does that count as a resolution I didn't keep?

And you can stop laughing. I mean it. STOP LAUGHING! NOW PLEASE.

December 30 Ad #best09 Gwen Bell

 What advertisement made you think this year?

Gwen Bell

Okay, there was one. Only watch this if you have strong fortitude. Truly, brings back all kinds of repressed memories - though they may be more recent for others.
Here.

Please, don't hold me responsible for the impact this may have on you and your life.

Wondering Why

there is a deluge of posts in advance?

Well, I am taking a little blog time off over the break. Big Boy is on holidays, Boy 1 and Boy 2 are restless, and I need to spend some family time doing family stuff. And blending... ah, no. Won't go there, will I?

I will be around, lurking, reading, commenting (oi - and where have all MY comments gone to????), and sometimes posting, but I wanted to clear up some committments, and this blog is one of them. I am also hoping to do some creative writing with my stories. 

As big Arnie says:

Sorry, not that. This:

December 29: Laugh #best09 Gwen Bell

What was your biggest belly laugh of the year?

Gwen Bell 09

We laugh. A lot. Even when the laughter had diminished in this year of drama, we still laugh more than the average family.

So it was not easy to pick just one moment. Then I remembered: the time it took us over fifteen minutes to stop the hysteria. Tears were rolling down our cheeks from the hilarity of the reactions, Boy 2 and I gasping for breath, unable to stop laughing to draw in oxygen. We could not look at each other at all without getting more carried away.

So, what was the catalyst for all this mirth?

Boy 2 and I were lying on my bed waiting for Boy 1 in the bathroom, and Big Boy who was feeding the tropical fish. I turned to Boy 2 and said: "Hah, just let one rip!" He laughed and then replied: "So did I, and mine was well brewed!" We started to giggle, looked at each other, and decided to blend them. Picture this:
Boy 2 and myself madly using our arms as paddles, mixing, merging the fumes. In walks Boy 1 from ensuite. Boy 2 and I pause, not daring to glance at each other. "Holy hell, what is that terrible smell?" Boy 1 grabs his nose, gagging, frantically fanning his face with his hands. Big boy then chooses this moment to walk in. He pales, turns and walks back to doorway. "What on earth is going on in here, it stinks!" By this time Boy 2 and I can barely gasp for air we are laughing so hard. We both stammer out: "We blended our silent but deadlies..." in between trying to breath, hysterical giggles, and now frantically flapping sheets to clear the air. Boy 1 joins in the mirth, Big Boy remains in the doorway, slowly backing out as the fumes spread his way, hand over eyes as he slowly shakes his head from side to side. "I don't know who is worse - you or Boy 2. You are both twisted."

Never claimed to be a delicate little petal, did I. Pull my finger is still one of my favourite lines...

December 28: Stationery #best09 Gwen Bell

When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What was your stationery find of the year?

Gwen Bell 2009

Was it this one? Nope.

Maybe this one?

No, not this one either.

Not even this one.

Or this.

Or this.













That's right - there wasn't one!

If I was going to fall in love with paper of any type it would be something like this:

*Sigh* I LOVE mermaids...

December 27: Social Web Moment #best09 Gwen Bell

 Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? Did you discover Twitter?

Gwen Bell 2009 Best

2009 was the year I discovered Facebook, both a blessing and a curse. I am back in touch with people from my past, it is an easy way to organise my social life, and I can quickly see what everyone is up to in their lives. On the downside, I am now a Cafe World addict, and some have used FB in a not so nice way.


In the New Year I am making some drastic changes. If you are on my friends list you'll just have to wait and see what they are...

December 26: Insight or Aha! Moment #best09 Gwen Bell

 What was your epiphany of the year?

Gwen Bell

I learnt to step back and let the twits fight it out amongst themselves. It is quite amusing a spectacle when you no longer give them the power to hurt you. Like attracts like, as they say. Sit back, let them have their little dramas, intrigues and lies, and pass the popcorn around. I find it hilarious, now. I didn't before, it was too raw and painful. But recently, with the help of some real friends, I see just how ridiculous it all is. For fucks sake - isn't there enough serious issues to get het up about without adding blatant untruths and trivial crap? Some people really need to get a life.

But it is funny for us watching...

December 25: Gift #best09 Gwen Bell

What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?

Gwen Bell 2009

Forgiveness. I forgive myself for making mistakes, I forgive myself for being swayed by others and their actions, and I forgive myself for being human. We all make mistakes, but the only tragedy is if we do not learn from them and move on. Witnessing others caught in this unending cycle of hatred and lies has made me eternally grateful to have granted myself this gift.

I actually like myself pretty much at the moment...

Merry Christmas one and all, hope it was as simple and wonderful as ours was.

December 24: Learning Experience #best09

 What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?

Gwen Bell Best 09

To steal a quote from another blog:

Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.

~Spanish Proverb~

My posts here in the past have explained how I feel about certain elements in my life and the changes I have made in the last few months. Have no desire to revisit them.

All I am adding is that people who point the finger in accusation need to realise that four others are pointing right back at them!

December 23: Web Tool #best09 Gwen Bell

It came into your work flow this year and now you couldn't live without it. It has simplified or improved your online experience.

Gwen Bell 2009 Best

Anyone who knows me is aware I am pretty much a technophobe. Not techno savy at all, noooo, not me. So what is a web tool designed for a web fool? Well firstly, you need to explain exactly WHAT the definition of a web tool is, and then you need to explain in very simple words what the hell I do with it!

December 22: Startup #best09 Gwen Bell

What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up?

What makes it special?

Gwen Bell Best 2009

Goddamnit, that's a hard one! Nope, nothing coming to mind. Know some great businesses but none new this year. Ah well, can't win them all!

December 21: Project #best09

 What did you start this year that you're proud of?

Gwen Bell

Easy: This blog!

Go read, fill your senses, enjoy. And please leave a bloody comment!

December 20: New Person #best09 Gwen Bell

 She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service.

Who is your unsung hero of 2009?

Gwen Bell Best of

If you have followed my blog for a while, you will familiar with my Mother's story. You can read it here, if you are not. The so-called specialist in a supposedly excellent private hospital had signed her death warrant, explaining that she was not a candidate for surgery under any circumstances. His reasoning at the time seemed to be completely justified and rational - I'd have been in there kicking his medical butt if there had been even an element of doubt for either of us. In hindsight I am so angry that she suffered through six months of hell unnecessarily. She was returned home to await her slow, painful, degrading death. Upon the haemorrhage which precipitated her ambulance trip to a closer - but not as sterlingly reputed - hospital, we were prepared for her not to return.

In steps Dr McClintock, Urologist. Our unsung hero of 2009. Why, he asked, if her hips were bearing her full body weight when she walked, would they not be able to withstand the operation? Why, as they were aware of the issue and would be extremely cautious, would anyone suggest they would break? Twenty minute procedure, fully encapsulated tumour removed, I have a healthy, happy Mum back.

He not only saved my mother, he also saved me.



Oh, and did I mention he was awfully cute?

December 19: Car Ride #best09 Gwen Bell

What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there?

Who were you with?

Gwen Bell Best of 2009

I looked at my best friend. We had been through so much together on this trip, what was meant to be a girls timeout had become so much more. We were closer than we have ever been and as I looked behind us to the hoards of police cars blocking our escape, I knew there was no choice...

Oops, sorry. Channeling Thelma & Louise for a moment there.

Best car ride? I think I'll have to pick the trip home from school camp with Boy 1 and Boy 2 with me. Tired, no, make that exhausted, relieved to be in the air-conditioned comfort of our vehicle after the intense heat, a proud and happy Madmother. Boy 1 had pushed himself beyond his tightly bound limits, and then stretched those boundaries even a little further, Boy 2 was his usual out-there self, happy to be with his bestie. I had sat back and watched the dynamics of those who teach my children, closely observing but on the fringes. Learnt a lot those two days. We meandered through the green hills, looking at the quaint farmhouses, gorgeous gardens and cute villages. Stopped in a couple of places, found some great little galleries, slowly made our way home.

And as we drove up the mountain that overwhelming feeling of coming home to serenity filled us all. As Boy 1 put it "I so love coming home to our house in the clouds..."

December 18: Shop #best09 Gwen Bell

 Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?

Gwen Bell Best of 09 Challenge

When I initially read this I was worried. Which one do I choose? How do I choose? Number of items? Cost? Satisfaction? Then it hit me. It was glaringly obvious: The place I indulged myself, and gained the most from in my spending frenzy was the Trading Room on Essential Baby, a parenting forum. Like a smaller, cosier eBay, operating purely on a trust basis with a few guidelines from the site. I went into a Tupperware frenzy for a while... and bagged a lot of nearly new bargains at a quarter of the rrp, bought games for Boy 1 and Boy 2, even snagged the best deal of my life from a member moving overseas. Wii, X-box, games and a huge TV all at a ridiculously low price. Nothing beats the feeling of grabbing a bargain!

Which is probably why my op shop experiences come a close second! Happy hunting people!