I have just recieved news that my eldest daughter Pilla, was given 'Prefect' for her school in 2009....

I'm so proud of her... Also, she was awarded 'overall acheivment' in her year today....

I love you my sweetheart.....

I'm proud of all my girls.....

Love to you all.....

 

1. Whats the main thing on minti that make you so addicted?

Catching up with the wonderful friend i have made here.... I love you all, thank you!!!

2. whats something funny thats happened to you recently?

Funny.... at work the other week, a box fell on my head (not so funny the next day when my neck and shoulder was very sore), but then not an hour later after that, an exit sign (well the plastic cover from exit sign) fell and hit my head also....

3. whats a word your kid/s say/said thats pronounces funny / cute?

Pilla use to say 'mamages' for Sandwichs, Pede still say's 'skibetty' for spagetti and Mag calls kitchen tongs 'clommers' (don't ask, as i still can't work it out)

4. if you could be someone famous for a day who would it be and why?

I don't want to be anyone famous, as they have no personal life... everyone always knows what you do and where, and how.... and most of the time the press make it all out to more than it really was.... so sorry guys i pass on being famous!!!!

5. sum up what minti means for you in 5 words

My life saviour.... Friendship.... Support

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Hi all... Just something that i recieved today via email.... wanted to share with you all....

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After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie.  
She said, 'I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would Love to spend some time with you.'  

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.  

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.  'What's wrong, are you well,' she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation
is a sign of bad news.  

'I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,' I responded 'just the two of us.' She thought about it for a moment, and then said, 'I would like that very much.'  

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.
'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said, as she got into the car. 'They can't wait to hear about our meeting.'  

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm  as if she were the First Lady.  

After we sat down, I had to read the menu.
Her eyes could only read large print. Half-way through theentrees, I lifted my eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me.
A nostalgic smile was on her lips.  

'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,' I responded. During the dinner , we had an agreeable conversation nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, but only if  you let me invite you.'  I agreed.  

'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I got home. 'Very nice, much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered.  

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Sometime later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined. An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me.  

'I love you, son'  

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I love YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till some 'other' time.  

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history.  

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first... somebody doesn't have
two or more children.  

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery....somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten... or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'  

Somebody said a Mother can stop worrying after her child gets married... somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.  

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home... somebody never had grandchildren.  

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her... somebody isn't a mother.  

Pass this along to all the GREAT 'mothers' in your life and to everyone who ever had a mother.  

This isn't just about being a mother; it's about appreciating the people in your lives while you have them... no matter who that person is!  

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.  
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.  
Watch your character, for it becomes...
your destiny.  

'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet  is fighting some kind of battle'.

 

 

This was emailed to me yesterday.... Very sad, wanted to share it with you all....

You just never know what will happen next....

PLEASE read this Australian Police Officer's story carefully. You can also verify the story at http://www.snopes.com/toxins/dustoff.asp

Dust Off (or a variant of the product) is available everywhere there's a

computer .

First I'm going to tell you a little about me and my family. My name is

Jeff.  I am a Police Officer for a city which is known nationwide for its

crime rate (Brisbane). We have a lot of gangs and drugs. At one point we were # 2 in the nation in homicides per capita. I also have a police K-9 named Thor.  He was certified in drugs and general duty. He retired at 3 years old because he was shot in the line of duty. He lives with us now and I still train with him because he likes it.

I always liked the fact that there was no way to bring drugs into my house. Thor wouldn't allow it. He would tell on you. The reason I say this is so you understand that I know about drugs. I have taught in schools about drugs. My wife asks all our kids at least once a week if they used any drugs. Makes them promise they wont.

I like building computers occasionally and started building a new one in February 2005. I also was working on some of my older computers. They were full of dust so on one of my trips to the computer store I bought a 3 pack of DUST OFF. Dust Off is a can of compressed air to blow dust off a computer. A few weeks later when I went to use one of them they were all used. I talked to my kids and my two sons both said they had used them on their computer and messing around with them. I yelled at them for wasting the 10 dollars I paid for them. On February 28 I went back to the computer store.

They didn't have the 3 pack which I had bought on sale so I bought a single jumbo can of Dust Off. I went home and set it down beside my computer.

On March 1st, I left for work at 10 PM. Just before midnight my wife went down and kissed Kyle goodnight. At 5:30 am the next morning Kathy went downstairs to wake Kyle up for school, before she left for work. He waspropped up in bed with his legs crossed and his head leaning over. She called to him a few times to get up. He didn't move. He would sometimes tease her like this and pretend he fell back asleep. He was never easy togged up. She went in and shook his arm. He fell over.

He was pale white and  had the straw from the Dust Off can coming out of his mouth. He had the new can of Dust Off in his hands. Kyle was dead.

I am a police officer and I had never heard of this. My wife is a nurse and she had never heard of this. We later found out from the coroner, after the autopsy, that only the propellant from the can of Dust off was in his system. No other drugs. Kyle had died between midnight and 1 AM

I found out that using Dust Off is being done mostly by kids ages 9 through >15.

They even have a name for it. It's called dusting. A take off  from the Dust Off name It gives them a slight high for about 10 seconds.  It makes them dizzy. A boy who lives down the street from us showed Kyle how to do thisabout a month before. Kyle showed his best friend. Told him  it was cool and it couldn't hurt you. Its just compressed air. His best friend said no.

Kyle was wrong. It's not just compressed air. It also contains a propellant called R2. Its a refrigerant like what is used in your refrigerator. It is a heavy gas. Heavier than air. When you  inhale it, it fills your lungs and keeps the good air, with oxygen, out. That's why you feel dizzy, buzzed. It decreases the oxygen to your brain, to your heart. Kyle was right. It can't hurt you. IT KILLS YOU.

The horrible part about this is there is no warning. There is no level that kills you. It's not cumulative or an overdose; it can just go randomly, terribly wrong. Roll the dice and if your number comes up you die.

IT'S NOT  AN OVERDOSE. It's Russian Roulette. You don't die later. Or not feel good and say I've had too much. You usually die as you're breathing it in. If  not, you die within 2 seconds of finishing 'the hit.' That's why the straw  was still in Kyle's mouth when he died. Why his eyes were still open.

The experts want to call this huffing. The kids don't believe it's huffing. As adults we tend to lump many things together. But it doesn't fit here. And that's why it's more accepted. There is no chemical reaction, no strong odour.  It doesn't follow the huffing signals.

Kyle complained a few days  before he died of his tongue hurting. It

probably did. The propellant  causes frostbite. If I had only known. It's

easy to say hey, it's my life and I'll do what I want. But it

isn't.

Others are always effected. This has forever changed our family's life.

I  have a hole in my heart and soul that can never be fixed. The pain is so immense I can't describe it. There's nowhere to run from it. I

cry all the time and I don't ever cry. I do what I'm supposed to do but I don't really care. My kids are messed up. One won't talk about it. The other will only sleep in our room at night. And my wife, I can't even describe how bad she is taking this. I thought we were safe because of Thor. I thought we were safe because we knew about drugs and talked to our kids about them.

After Kyle died another story came out. A Probation Officer went to the

school system next to ours to speak with a student. While there he found a student using Dust Off in the bathroom. This student told him about another student who also had some in his locker.

This is a rather affluent school  system. They will tell you they don't have a drug problem there.So rather than tell everyone about this 'new' way of getting high they found, they hid it.

The  probation officer told the media after Kyle's death and they, the

school, then admitted to it. I know that if they would have told the media and I had heard, it wouldn't have been in my house.

We need to get this out of our homes and school computer labs. Using Dust Off isn't new and some 'professionals' do know about. It just isn't talked about much, except by the kids. They all seem to know bout it.

April 2nd was 1 month since Kyle died. April 5th would have been his 15th birthday. And every weekday I catch myself sitting on the living room couch at 2:30 in the afternoon and waiting to see him get off the bus. I know Kyle is in heaven but I can't help but wonder If I have died and gone to Hell.

The Officer is asking for everyone who receives this email to forward it to everyone in their address book, even Law Enforcement Officers.

Geoff ROBINS

Constable

Crime Prevention Unit

Queensland Police Service

Level 2, BP House 193 North Quay, Brisbane GPO Box 1440, Brisbane, QLD 4000

Ph: 07 3234 2111

Fax: 07 3234 2100

 

 

I wanted to share this all....

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

 

Hi to all my minti mates... Also thank you to you all...

I know i havn't bloged for a while, so this will all be really not understood. but to those few that know who i am and where im headed... I will be off line for about 2 weeks while i make my big move interstate.... I have been on many ups and downs over my choice in life, and i still believe in my heart that im doing the right thing.  To be honest im so excited... so excited that i am starting to feel guilty.... once again for those who know what happening, My girls have been really good about it.... until this morning my poor pilla, had a mini melt down on the way to school... dropped to puddles, wanting to know why i have to go..... it broke my heart a little.... I guess pilla has always been my biggest concern in how this will affect her.... yet i still stand by my thoughts... that this is the best thing for everyone, maybe not at first, but everything new takes time to adjust... and it's that adjusting period that we have to be strong, to get through it....

Anyway guys, i must fly as i still have a mountain of stuff to get through before i have to vacate this place....

Thank you again to all my minti friends, i will miss being at minti for awhile... please don't forget who i am and i will be sure to catch you all on my return.... to angelicarose and jenjen.... I will hopefully catch up with you really soon....

And if i don't get back here before Christmas....

Have a wonderfull Christman and a special New Year...

Hugs & Kisses

Frogie xox

(please excuse all typos, im trying to do this as fast as possible, not to mention im a walking zombie... sooo tired...)

Well, last time i was here i mentioned that i have a meeting with the girls dad & step-mum about my move interstate...

It all seemed to go well, we spoke about different things. I had writen out a plan of sorts, outlining that the girls would live with him, visit me half of school holidays, I would pay CSA as per estimate, i would pay half of any health issues and school issues, that i would like my family to stay in touch, like have the girls at least 1 weekend a month, that i would pay for 2 return plane ticket twice a year... also asked for phone/internet contact offering my computer to the girls so that they had one of their own to utilise... He declined the computer but seemed very content with the other bits... He also mentioned that he and his wife had discussed things before this meeting and they had stated that if in the event of my return for what ever reason within the first 12 months they would be happy to give me the girls back at the shared care routine... I thought that was nice of them... and understood greatly as to why if after a long period of time it wouldn't happen... Like i said it all seemed to go well, so i left my thoughts on paper for them to have a good look over and discuss it together a little more.

I then received a phone call on Sunday evening from my ex saying that he had taken the papers to his solicitor and now he has a few things he need to talk about.... I totally understand them taking it to the solicitors, but now im a little concerned to what it is they wish to discuss.... I'm stressing way to much today as i have to met with them again this arvo.... i truly hope it is all just trivial bits that we can nut out together... without to much conflict...

Also, my fiance will be here on friday for the weekend, and we had planed to tell the children this weekend of my move.... all four of us, the ex, his wife, myself and my fiance sit down and tell the girls together... but when the ex rang Sunday evening i had mentioned that it was a definate that my fiance was coming over for the weekend, ex is now not comfortable with my fiance being there.... but i know for sure that ex's wife will be, and i truly don't have an issue with it because she plays a part in the girls life just as much as my fiance does. although he is not longer living with me, but when i move and the girls come to stay with me, my fiance will be there also. We plan to marry early in the new year... and buy a home...

I don't know what more i can do.... I thought that i was being as fair as i could be... i wasn't asking of anything from them, other than having the girls full time and i know my ex has always wanted that.... he fought hard in court 5 years ago for them permantly... I'm trying so hard to do this all the right way hoping to avoid any conflict from ex and wife.... It's hard enough that i have very little support from anyone.... Sometimes i wish i had just ran, ran away and left it all behind, without any explanations.... But thats not fair on the girls... like i said, i'm try to do this the right way for everyone involved...

Sorry for the rant....

Take care all...

OMG.... I need more than just a match sticks to keep my eyes open today.... I'm having trouble sleeping at the best of times, with average bed time about 3am and rising agian between 6-7am.... I thought i was doing real well when i got to bed at 2.30am.... but that didn't last long, my almost 6yo came in at 3.07am to let me know she had accidently 'spewed'... So up i got, clean her up, clean the bed up, then set her in with me in my bed.... every move she made, i checked her.... she tossed and turned all morning and coughing.... about 5am she had another little 'spew', and as always you feel just that bit better... so it was 'mummy, would you like me to go get ready for school now.... it was like, nah hunni, your not going to go today, 'Am i alowed a day off if im 'spewing''.... From the mouth of babes....

So on top of my very sleepless night, i have a meeting with the girls father, to talk about  working out concent orders to protect all involed... I'm kinda crapping myself a little, the two phone calls we have had over this matter have been very pleasent, so lets cross fingers that the personal meeting is just the same... I have to admit i'm still scared tho...

Hope everyone has a beautiful day...

Take Care xox

I have had to find the biggest courage pill tonight and make the phone call that i have been putting off for over a week... I finally rang the girls dad (my ex) to inform him of my decision to move interstate. Also asking him if he was willing to take the girls full time.... He was happy to have them...

The phone call was surprisingly good, he was very calm about it, I made sure i let him know that i wasn't wanting to cause any fights. That i wasn't asking to take the children interstate as i don't believe that was in the girls best interest as the whole family lived here, and when i mentioned the likes of my parents he even said that we will work out times that the girls will be able to go and stay with the grandparents, etc etc

So I'm now waiting on him to return my call tomorrow with a time that we (myself, him and his wife) can sit down and do the big talk and work out all the arrangments....

It has been a big weight lifted.... then later this evening i was talking on the phone to my fiance and he is now planing to fly back next weekend so we can again all sit together with the girls and explain the situation. Cross fingers that the next two meetings go as well as the phone call went tonight.... and plus i get to see my man.... woo hoo... Still missing him so badly....

Next hurdle is to again talk to my parents, as they have seemed to have burried their heads in the sand, i'm guessing in hope that from when i told them of my moving plans that i may have changed my mind and i'm far from changing my mind, I have a job lined up and we have just signed a 6 months lease on a unit, while we shop around to buy our home and also plan our wedding.... Now I have girls dad (ex) informed, its all systems go.....

Another step closer to my HAPPINESS!!!

I hope all my Minti mates are doing well....

Take Care

Happy Birthday to my Miss Pilla.... who is 10 today....

So I guess with all the people here tonight we should make it a party....

Love you Pilla...