There'll be two dates on your tombstone And all your friends will read 'em But all that's gonna matter Is the little dash between 'em...
Kevin Welch

The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back.  Abigail Van Buren.

When my sister got married, I made up a book for her, and while I've been staying with her, I've been looking through it again.  This is one of the contributions in the book, however it doesn't have an author's name.  I'm not sure who wrote it, but I love it anyway.

The thirty second quiz

Don't bother getting a pen and paper... just read... if you can't answer them, just keep going.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
3. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
4. Name the last five Academy Award winners for Best Actor and Actress.

How did you do?  These are no second-rate achievers; they're the best in their field.  But the applause dies.  Awards tarnish.  Achievements are forgotten.

Now here's another quiz.  See how you do on this one:

1. Name three teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worth while.
4. Name a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Name five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?  The people who make a difference in your life aren't the ones with the most credentials, most money or the most awards.  They're the ones who care.

 

I'm "on holiday", as much as a mum of two young boys can be, and so I'm staying with my sister for a while.  It's her birthday tomorrow and so for her gift, while she has been at work today I have been cooking up a storm for her in the kitchen.  She works full time and both her husband and she gets home very late, and are also exhausted, so they don't eat many meals at home.  They almost live off take-aways, and there aren't too many healthy take-aways, plus it's SO expensive.  So I'm sure this gift will help her improve her health and vitality - I've packed them all with heaps of a good variety or vegetables.  Here's my efforts for today:

(Each container has 2 servings in it)

• 4x chicken madras curry
• 2x creamy lemon chicken
• 2x creamy chicken and mushroom
• 3x cactiatore chicken drumsticks (ie 4 drumsticks per package so 12 all together)
• 3x mushroom and kidney bean bolognaise
• 3x summer tomato and basil bolognaise
• 2x roasted garlic and onion bolognaise

All she will have to do when she gets home is boil some pasta or rice, or maybe do up a quick simple salad to go with the drumsticks, and reheat in the microwave the meat dish and she is ready to eat healthy and hearty!  I can't wait for her to come home so I can show her!  I'm so excited by how full her freezer is I just had to share it.

 

In the past 2 weeks, I have been trying hard to find ways to increase my energy, and in the past week I have had some good talks with two women I really really admire - my doctor and my sister in law.  Thank you God for these women, they are awesome! 

But the time of discussion and researching is over, it's now time to jump in the water, and actually do these things advised to me. 

The two most effective tips I have been given, is to start having caffeine and to start excerising first thing in the morning.  I have never liked hot tea or coffee, and still don't, but have been giving the iced coffee a try.  I'm finding it's ok, but I couldn't have one everyday.  I have always loved nestea peach or mango or peach and mango iced tea, however it's way too expensive to buy one of those every day.  This morning the store didn't have the tea bags for any of those flavours, so I bought the green tea apple flavour - so not my cup of tea as they say!  But I will continue on in my journey to find my perfect cup of iced tea!  It's better than getting those medications, especially the ones that are just caffeine anyway but they don't explain that on the box, or having those energy drinks full of caffeine and also chock a block full of sugar too.

My sister in law was the one who suggested to me about exercising first thing in the morning, before breakfast.  And I have to admit, when she said it, I thought "yeah, that's a good idea, but I know myself and I won't be doing that".  Well, yesterday and today, I dragged myself (literally) out of bed and actually exercised!  Even got all sweaty and puffed too!  And to be honest, I think that's been the most effective tip yet!  Plus my sister in law looks absolutely GORGEOUS and I would love to look a little more like her around the stomach, and I know this is how she does it - we have pretty much the same diet.  This morning as I was putting on my sneakers, my husband was getting all excited about the three birds I was killing with the one stone (no, not the minna birds for anyone who lives near Townsville ).  I'm getting more energy and losing some weight which is what I've always wanted, and I'm getting fitter which is what he has always worried about - probably worries that one day I'll be getting chased by a madman and can't run away fast enough! 

Now it's up to me to stick to my morning exercises, and who knows, it may be enough for me without having to force myself to drink the caffeine.

It's quarter to 6pm and I've got everything ready to go to make up a huge dinner, everything except the energy.  For this whole week I need to make extra big meals because we are all going on a trip this Saturday, and my husband comes back a few days later (because of work) but I will be away for almost a month.  I need to make sure the freezer is well stocked with freezer-dinners so all our (well, my) hard work of trying to save and save and save and live frugally isn't wasted on pizzas and McDonalds while I'm gone. 

What is it about holes that attract little ones to them like a magnet?  I just had to go downstairs for something, and on my way back up found our front lawn littered with a whole heap of puzzle pieces one of my darlings was just playing with.  It's the little things like that I just know I'm going to miss while they're out after midnight during their teenage years.  Oh, and the cute little things they say.  My older one has been watching "Curious George" (the movie) alot lately and today while playing on his own nearby I heard him crying out "ow cramp cramp cramp". 

Well, this dinner isn't going to cook itself now is it.  I wonder if Oprah and her buddies have found the "secret" to that one yet?  By the way, I'm not disrespecting "the secret" in case you got offended, just fantasizing about meals that cook themselves. 

I've had one of those days, where I can't work out if it's been a good one, or a bad one.  We went to a kite festival this morning, and took a bus.  All seemed pretty good.  Before that though, my husband went to go buy some milk and came back with a bag full of junk food - we're trying to both eat healthier AND save money, and he doesn't understand why I don't like him doing that (this was certainly not a once off thing!).  So we had a bit of a tiff, well, not really, but it did bring the mood down a little.  But we got over it, and went to the festival.  It was all good.  We spent more than I expected, and our littlest kept wandering off, but he does that all the time so I can't say that is out of the ordinary.  Then we were waiting for the bus to catch to go home, and it was about an 50 minutes AFTER we were told it was meant to come.  But, it was ok because we spent the whole talking to another mum whose husband works with my husband.  I even invited her to a mothers' group I organise, so we had a good ol' time togther.  But then when we got home, there was a little tiffing over the tv.  He wanted to watch the football, and I was already watching a movie on the tv, but I know how important football is, so I went into the other room with the tiny tv.  It gave me a huge headache, but hey, the things we do for love.  It wouldn't have upset me though if everytime I came out (to go to the kitchen etc) he was watching SOMETHING ELSE!  One time I even came out and he was playing the playstation.  What the???  Why was I kicked out of the room - so he could watch football, but when I asked why he wasn't watching - it wasn't on yet.  What the????  So why on earth couldn't I watch the movie out here while he waits for the football to come on???  Well, he couldn't answer.  Grr.

Oh well, no use letting it get to me hey, it's all over. 

Then I got a call from my friend who informed me that the other mother's think that the play group is on tomorrow, when it's not.  I've decided not to rush to get things organised, but to let them know not to come.  I just don't feel like making a heap of phone calls tonight though. 

And I've yet to make dinner.

So, has today been good or bad?  Well, it could have been worse - so so so much worse.  So I think I'm going to tell myself to get over the small things and to be happy that I haven't been depressed, no-one has been injured today and the fights that happened were SO small. 

Hmm, bonus, my son just offered to do my job of helping Daddy change the fishtank water.  Yay! 

Hi, and welcome to my first blog - ever!  And not just on this site, but really - EVER!  I'm so nervous.  I have no idea why, it's not like I'm making a public speach....  I guess just knowing though that I'm putting myself out there is so very very nerve wracking. 

My name is Emma Kay, and I'm here on the internet today, because I'm trying so hard to get myself out of a depression "episode".  I have stayed home for days, but at least I'm out of bed .  I'm getting there, but it's a lot of hard work. 

My parents have recently moved back to the town they were born in, and so there are a lot of lonely days and nights while my husband is at work (shift worker).  I have very few friends, and it's become aparant to me, that the one friend I was opening up to I probably shouldn't because she's one of those women who feels they have to tell their husbands EVERYTHING they know and if they don't, they're keeping secrets from them.  Personally, I think that if it's someone else's secret, you don't really have the right to tell anyone else at all, no matter how important that person is to you.  It's not that I don't like her husband, he's a great guy, a great husband and a great dad, but I'm not close to him and don't like him knowing such personal things about myself.  What do other people here think about that?  Is it wrong to keep someone else's secret from your partner?