Been a reasonably quiet weekend. I did get some paint and been working on the walls, though what was a 20 minute job was compounded by the kids wanting to help with EVERYTHING, and no one listening to what I was saying so I had to redo some sections. It seems its the eldests turn to act up this week getting a real sullen look on his face when you tell him off. If its not one its the other.
Seems to be this Saturday should be a good one as the parent's in law rang up out of the blue and wanted us over for dinner, and then wanted to keep the boys overnight. OK that was cool, a free night off, but then I remembered I have poker with the boys that night. However to my surprise the wife was very pleased she would get a night to herself to continue on her NaNoWriMo work.
OK works for me :D
- Mood:
tired
After my worry a week ago about my middle son I think I have finally started hitting a breakthrough. Looking at my own behaviour, I was obviously feeding into him being able to control the situation and obtain the attention, particularly if he could find ways to boil over, and unfortunately I was having issues being unable to control him or control myself. This involves;
- Keeping a calm voice when things start boiling over
- Not making threats or punishments I cannot carry out like revoking planned visits
- Clearly explaining the requirements of a task and the consequences of not doing it.
Its so weird, but I love my jujitsu but HATE exercising still. Whats up with that? An hour and a half can breeze through on Tuesday nights and I want to go even after the crapiest day at work, but do you think I could get on the bike after dinner and a good day at work? noooo. I don't know what I need to do for motivation, but I need to find it quick.
What is it with book to movie conversions of late? It feels to me that you need to read the book as study material to watch the movie so you don't get lost. Certainly the way I felt with the latest Harry Potter movie where I ended up staring at the screen in utter confusion of why people and scenes are acting this way. At one stage I was convinced I had skipped a movie somewhere. I mean wasn't Harry running a secret dueling club in the last movie only to get pussy whipped by Snape at the end of this one? Apparently Potter is still playing Quiddich, but the scenes in that seemed totally irrelevant, if only to bump up Ron. While I will say I am not a Potter fan, I really enjoyed the first two movies because of the attention to detail that you didn't need the book to understand the movies. Apparently this was complained about by the fans that it made the movies overly long, so subsequent directors ended up going for style
Dare I watch Twilight without reading the book??
- Mood:
thoughtful
Halloween was rather low key as always is in Australia. The wife dressed up the kids and they went to a few houses, and I think I got one set of kids in total for the night. Oh well these packets of lollies are just going to have to eat themselves I think :) They did look rather good in their costumes though.
This weekend has been a while since we had the full weekend to ourselves which has been very refreshing. Did quite a bit of cleaning up and gardening as well as watching a few movies, playing some games and playing the various Halloween events for City of Heroes and Champions. I was extremely disappointed with Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising. I was a huge fan of the first Operation Flashpoint, with over 40 missions, most of them running blindly from an enemy and feeling rather weak against insurmountable odds, over a rich storyline. I was hopeful for the new game. 12 missions later I was thinking wait I am nearly finished? All those toys I played with in the original, Helicopters, Tanks, huge weapons. Not this time. Talk about lazy coding.
Sigh oh well, at least I enjoyed the movie The Tournament in a sense that cheesy over the top, 90s action flicks with stupid amounts of blood letting (stupid in a sense that people seiously don't bleed like that) are still being made.
.
- Mood:
sore
Saturday night was poker night, and we can say a game of high spirits and high emotions. Quite a few of us were drinking...lots. Well there was a special event on in the valley so lots of wine and probably every police officer in the state down there. One of the hosts brothers was drinking quite a bit and started with the aggressive play. Unfortunately I got bad beated again, when my pocket pair of Queens got busted on the River to an all in. Sigh. I bought in again and brooded a bit as the trash talk ramped up from the winner, despite repeated calls to shut up and stop talking about the hands. However the aggressive calls backfired and in turn had his hand cracked.
I don't care what anyone says, seeing a grown man suddenly cry is extremely awkward. Stormed off after hurling accusations of cheating, so pretty much killed the evening. Counted the cash and I broke even. We then played 5 card stud, which I think to this day a rather dull variant of poker, but I cleared out the tale pretty quick. Then tried watching something with Vikings and Samurai...and that was that. Bit of a hangover, bit of money in my pocket, and the brother turns back up this morning apparently in the dog house. All in all great fun! :D
Terribly unmotivated for a Sunday. Should do something, but the kids are relatively quiet this morning, and the Mrs is resting. I will give her that since I am out having fun while shes at home all night with the boys.
- Mood: thoughtful
"I can't believe its been ten years."
...or something like that. But to be honest, I can and have. I should also say something like;
"It feels like only yesterday"
but it doesn't. Why would it? To me it sounds rather patronising to thing that being married 10 years an in a relationship for almost 15 was a piece of cake. Yes I guess time does feel like it speeds up the older you get, but we have been through a lot to get where we are. Really good times and dark days, and those unique feelings you go through
- That comfortable feeling over the years of brushing up against a naked leg just before sleep.
- That cautious optomism and that gentle squeeze on the arm as you step out that door on the first day of a new job.
- That incredible wonder as you stare at your new baby in your partners arms for the first time, it doesn't matter whether its your first or third.
- The abject fear of waiting in a hospital room while you let a stranger take your partner's life into their hands.
- That small reassuring smile when you look from the mirror as the skin gets a little wrinklier, the hair a bit thinner or whiter.
- That hollow despair as you struggle to make ends meet, just hoping that you can last out a few more months so you can finish study and not have to defer.
- That frustrated feel of just wanting to be left alone for a few hours or a day, only to realise that after that feeling is gone, you go searching for them to make sure they are ok.
- Those dark feelings when you think it may be coming to the end, only to open up a bit more, and listen a bit more to finally understand what each other goes through.
- The realisation when pulling up to your house in the evening, that may not be completely finished, its a home you made with someone all those years ago. From timid fumblings in the back of a 1984 Gemini, to walking into our very own apartment to try to make it work, to looking at two cars, bikes on the lawn and excited shrieks of small children. (and the raucous shouts of a woman pushed to the edge! ;D )
I guess the thing I take away most of this, is you do get tired...but you never get tired of the one you love. Considering I started this LJ due to a very tumultuous period in my lifetime, it has been something that brought those feelings and thoughts very much to the fore. It also hasn't been a one way street, and I have needed to be strong in her time of need. Is being married an easy street. Not a chance, it takes a lot of guts, and you have to be a real man to make it work.
Happy Anniversary Reijiro
- Mood:
accomplished
Dear TV,
I know our relationship has been on the rocks since DVD came onto the scene, and could single handedly entertain the kids and blow my mind with decent movies...or at least movies I like to watch repeatedly. I thought since my relationship with Cinema has been rekindled, I thought we could..you know...start again.
Its not like I haven't tried, and we certainly aren't doing anything like pay for Cable, because we dont really watch all that much TV. I have been hearing some good reviews of shows coming up. But since Lie To Me...well lied to me that it would be an edgy drama filled with good science and real characters, but it pretty much jumped the shark in a pair of rocket boots by the fourth episode. I did enjoy Master Chef so it hasn't been a complete loss.
I really wanted to enjoy Flash Forward but aghasl;ghogoaghosbdoffsa wtf was that crap that assaulted my eyes that is supposed to be called Drama?? Was I supposed to shout "What a Twist!" sarcastically more than twice at you? And then you had the gall to attempt an encore screening? Then this week you had to drag the rotten corpse of Hey Hey its Saturday out of its 20 year old grave and beat it with a baseball bat so the random jerking and squirty sounds would qualify as entertainment. It was dumb 20 years ago and I was freaking 8, I knew it was going to be bad so I didn't watch it, and pretty much after that skit it won't be again.
I hate to say it TV, but the relationship is over. We can get together for brief catchups over coffee and an ocassional nolstalgia session of old good times, but no I don't think we can rebuild it.
Plus my wife puts out.
- Mood:
sick
It is really starting to look like I have a Radiology Team and a Cardiology team looking after my case, and they aren't talking to each other as not two weeks after an Echo, I get a letter Friday that 'your doctor' (read someone) that they want another CT, which usually means more needles, dyes and hours of entertainment during work time. My levels of frustration at having heart issues at my age considering it has been assumed down the phone that;
- I have been mistaken for a woman (I can blame my first name)
- I am a Veteran
- I am over 65 - (more than a few times a nurse has blurted out 'but you are so young)
- That I am not working or looking after small children
I have hope for the entertainment industry of late if the movies I have seen are any indication. While storylines haven't been innovative, I have been impressed of late with what I have seen. District 9 was a gripping story that made me viscerally uncomfortable when confronted with raciscm, abject poverty and the depth the human condition will go to for any achievement. The Hangover, while not an original story, was an absolutely hilarious 'guy flick' which had the wife in stitches. We also took the kids to see Up yesterday the cinema, and really Pixar cannot do anything wrong, having mastered the digital technology, they are really pushing the boundaries of original screenplay. A powerfully mature story of love, relationships, friendships, and utter sadness/lonliness I will admit, I had a tear in my eye in a few spots. I would not be surprised if it is up for a few awards this year. I hope to watch Gran Torino tonight, which I hear is another great story.
The concepts and the plan for the wife and I attempting our hand at writing a story have gained momentum, and we have been busy doing research and putting together storylines. Our obsession with Japanese Culture and Japanese History have given rise to a rough outline of what we want to do. From a personal perspective, I have been fascinated by the concept of lifetime servitude to the point of it being your whole core has fascinated me, particularly from a female perspective, and particularly in a country that 400 years ago was being torn apart by wars, and that entire communities were destroyed on a perceived insult, it seems like a great setting to put it. At the moment we are looking over history books to get a feel for a good location for our fiction, that is fairly believable, and trying to get rough outlines of the plot.
Breaking news: it may be a week late, but period looks to be on schedule -fist pump-
Wife deserves two blocks of chocolate during "I hate anything with a penis" week...which in our house....
- Mood:
artistic
Got back from our getaway down the South West. Three days of good food, good drink, lazing around writing plots, watching movies and in various states of undress. It was fantastic. The kids enjoyed their time with the grandparents which is great as well. Feeling very recharged but incredibly tired at the moment. Sort of rather strange really, but we did seem to be up quite late at night.
Nice to drive around a country town/port and get the sights and sounds. Found a really nice place that did a divine wonton soup and really good shopping. The only real hiccup was accidentally setting the fire alarm off in the hotel whenu my butter sauce burned on the fish really steaming it up. Oops.
Other than that. Wonderful!!
- Mood:
bouncy
( Champions Online Stuff... )
- Mood: bouncy
It has been nearly a month since I started jujitsu, and its certainly been going full bore. Since the school I have joined also uses Kempo for 'Atemi' (strikes) its a bit new in how I have previously being doing combat. Still quite enjoyable and certainly working for my money. My instructor wants me to do a couple more lessons and then look to completing the first Kyu to get a belt. I am happy with that since the syllabus is fairly straight forward. It only gets harder from here, and watching one demonstration during class I seriously thought to myelf I am going to have to get some serious weight off so I can even do those exercises.
On the diet and exercise front, I have been working on increasing my exercise output so up to 7km on the stationary bike and a quick power walk at lunchtime. I watched a TV show on Monday night in regards to tips on losing weight. Most of them were pretty self explanatory, though the concept that cheese can turn fat into a soap like substance that is excreted was new, and that thick soups actively prevent the stomach emptying too quickly so were a good staple for lunch was very interesting. I have tried it with a thick chicken and sweet corn soup to very positive results.
I plan to look this weekend at a short routine of weights that will improve the power of my legs and arms to manage my kicks and stikes. Mostly resistance training, I don't need to put on muscle, just take off the fat. Also I will try to give myself a bit of time each day to work on Zen Candle Gazing to refocus my mind a bit better.
Work is work, is work. Nothing out of the ordinary, though taking Tuesday off threw my schedule out, but I recovered quickly.
This weekend sees quite a few family members be baptised in the Catholic Faith, more as a promise to my Brother in Law's mother who passed away recently from cancer. I don't believe they will be particularly observant about the canons of Catholicism (contraception anyone?) It is just going to be interesting that my wife is going to be a Godparent, considering we are mostly agnostic. It makes me appreciate that organised religion is trying to keep up with the modern family structure while remaining true to its original canons.
Ooh ooh, sorry I found this article that seriously made me go WTF...and it has NOTHING to do with my Jennifer Connolly fantasy.
Charles Darwin film 'too controversial for religious America'
The film was chosen to open the Toronto Film Festival and has its British premiere on Sunday. It has been sold in almost every territory around the world, from Australia to Scandinavia.
However, US distributors have resolutely passed on a film which will prove hugely divisive in a country where, according to a Gallup poll conducted in February, only 39 per cent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.
- Mood:
aggravated
Crap crap crap! Threw on some clothes and rushed him to hospital in the car. Halfway through, he started chatting animatedly about clouds...WARNING ONE
Get to the hospital and admitted through triage. Nurse and Dr palpate his abodomen while asking questions, then asked Coen if he had gone wee. I had checked his Pull up pants and they were dry....WARNING TWO
Dr wanted a cleancatch specimen so I took him to the toilet and he went...and went...and went...and went. WARNING THREE
Yep he had basically held it in all night so had distended his bladder, and managed to cure himself in ED. Out of ED in 30 minutes, and nearly dying of embarrassment in the carpark.
...well I guess its funny now and he did make me laugh on the way home.
Driving past the river
2nd Born: Dad are there crabs in the river?
Dad: Yes
2nd Born: What are the crabs doing in there??
Dad: o.O What do you think crabs do in the River?
2nd Born: .... pinch people ...
LOL
- Mood:
amused
Its midday here, I have the eldest home who was a bit subdued this morning, but playing
Someone commented a few posts back that I sounded like I was in a rut. I would have agreed with that until today but funnily enough it seems the last few weeks Mondays I make plans and Monday nights they get crushed into a fine white powder so I spend the rest of the week in catchup. Been wanting to post about Champions, Jujitsu, upcming weekend, possible book writing, I seem to do nothing but write about angst...
- Mood: depressed
The vet hospital called at midnight to explain the situation. There was significant fluid on his lungs, and had become unstable. The XRay didn't show much and they really needed a specialist to see what was wrong. They did one chest tap to relieve the pressure, but fluid was building again. They were saying it was either. Lymphoma, Congestive Heart Failure or something worse.
The prognosis was terrible, hours to weeks and really palliative care. Its not like we could put a price on smudge, but it was more the kids. They are already jumpy when people say heart trouble because of yours truly. The last thing i wanted was a distressed cat in the house struggling to breathe over the next few weeks or one of the kids finding Smudge dead.
This was crushing. I had to make the call. its 1.30am. My wife is devastated, I have to tell the kids in like 6 hours that the cat we bought 4 weeks ago from a animal shelter isn't coming home. Will take today off.
I need to go back to bed and hold my wife.
- Mood: crushed
My appointment with the cardiologist seemed to involve staring at each other rather awkwardly. My Echo has come back great, the bicuspid valve is working well enought that we are looking at at least 15 years before there are possible concerns. Happy about my blood pressure and taking the initiative in diet and exercise. Then we sort of mumbled about where things could possibly go, health wise, and what I can do about staying healthy, but it was almost like don't spoil the good news. Poor guy, I doubt he gets many good cases, considering the one I overheard in his office before, it must be nice.
Short story, he doesn't want to see me until
I intend to lady....I have no excuse now.
This afternoon the wife voiced her concerns about Smudge the cat. I had suspected he hadn't been well for a few days since coughing food, and spent last night crouched on the cold floor and looked a little puffed. Usually he is sprawled on chairs and cushions, so I wondered. I came home early and she took Smudge the Vet, who then said it was a chest infection, and rang ahead to the vet hospital. He is current under oxygen tent and having a chest tap to relieve the pressure.
I hope Smudge comes through. First pet we have had in years and in trouble already.
- Mood: depressed
twitter.com/kitsune1975
Have a good weekend everyone.
Just got back from the first lesson, Just had a quick snack to compliment the earlier snack I had to go. The muscle are just starting to protest, but just need to spill my thoughts quickly. I will posting regularly on jujitsu, but after this entry I will put it behind a cut, so it doesn't clutter up peoples FList.
After checking out the class last week I convinced myself to go tonight. I wasn't looking forward to it because I have been dreadfully out of shape. The class was quite welcoming and pretty well equipped for what was to be done. Started with the basic syllabus and stances and worked our way solidly through for the full hour and a half. That was pretty amazing for me, that I only needed a short break to catch my breath from a bad breakfall (falling technique) of my own doing. For me considering what I had been doing previously it just re-enforced that my endurance is somewhere way higher than where I was originally.
Tonight has been pretty confronting to me as well. Practicing infront of the full length wall mirror, I couldn't hide the paunch, the thinning hair and the older features that ten years ago, and I have been losing weight too. I got initially depressed that it could get to this stage, but rather than think 'whats the point?' something else triggered a sense of determination to review my syllabus and hit the pavement at lunchtime tomorrow. Time marches on, and there are bigger guys than me in the class. I need to take this momentum and move forward. I think Jujitsu will be a good art to study because there is more technique than jus strikes and punches, in fact the punches are quite Western Style boxing.
OK shower and bed before I lock up.
- Mood: sore
While Joining a team of Heroes in a desperate battle to close portals on Praetorian Earth Flash Katt Illusion Control/Trick Arrow. achieved her Level 50. This character was started in the middle June 2009, so really 2 months of mainly solo work,(over 30 souviners alone) plenty of completed mission arcs, No Farms and only three missions of AE in total. It has been the most fun, and I have received the most compliments on her abilities.
( City of Heroes Stuff... )
- Mood: accomplished
Simple creatures. Can be fun to be around, can complete fairly straightforward tasks, do man things like fix cars, buy tools and kills spiders, regularly check to make sure their penis are still attached to their body....and completely nosy about what else has in a cup, mug or glass!
As a father of three boys, this is an abolute truth
"Oh hey, whatcha drinking"
"Ooh that looks good, whats in that?"
"I am drinking x, what are you drinking?"
Case in point all three of my kids have been obsessed with what I drink, and unfortunately they aren't supposed to have it, because on some regular ocassions there is liquor in it, and they should be into that, so I tend to hide my drinks even if its water. Does that deter them? noooooo
First Born Child
Found a system where he would settle on my lap for about 10 minutes eyeing my drink and then ask for a toy that would make me reach at an angle. He would immediately move in the opoosite angle snatch my drink like a preying mantis and attempt to down the contents. On more than one occassion over himself and my lap!
Second Born Child
Had a penchant for ice. He loved putting it in his mouth to suck. I love ice in my drink (as a loyal patriotic Australian) and took to stealing my ice out of my drinks! To whit one day when I had a drink on the counter, he had been playing in the sandpit (read ungrassed back garden) and spied my glass through the window. Trotted in, pinched most of the ice out of it and ran outside. Did he wash his hands? Oh god no. So when I down my drink 10 minutes later and feel sand hit the back of my throat.....arrrrrrrgh!
Third Born Child
Pure ninja. He has been in training for two years learning what stools and chairs he can use to get on the side quietly. You see I am really careful about my mixes so keep them on the bench. Cooking dinner tonight turn around, there is a stool next to the side above my drink. A single drop of coke and rum on the counter, and a grubby fingerprint on the side of my glass. Ninjaed again!
I just had that moment sitting in the car, driving home. It was a moment years ago walking down the main street in the City,
she was walking ahead of me slightly,
we had come down for some event I dont remember.
I touched her hand as she walked,
just a gentle touch
She looked back at me and smiled slightly
Just a simple smile
Then turned back, her head bowed her head.
I knew she was smiling
...and I married her
we had come down for some event I dont remember.
I touched her hand as she walked,
just a gentle touch
She looked back at me and smiled slightly
Just a simple smile
Then turned back, her head bowed her head.
I knew she was smiling
...and I married her
It's late and I'm awake Staring at the wall Open up my window My head floats out the door No one else around The shimmer takes my eye I lift my head I'm blinded by the sky Feel my weight in front Following the sound It moves away so fast I fall down to the ground I know there's more to come Jump back to my feet And I only see ahead of me Chasing down the street (down the street, down the street, down the ...) Came out to a shooting star But she moves so fast That I can't keep up, I'm chasing I'm in love with a shooting star But she moves so fast When she falls then I'll be waiting Came out to a shooting star But she moves so fast That I can't keep up, I'm chasing I'm in love with a shooting star But she moves so fast When she falls then I'll be waiting (repeat)
I love this song, just the video goddam SUCKS. :D
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