Women about the pressure to be beautiful....

I came across this tonight, amongst several like it.  I have a big problem with the idea that girls are being suckered by advertising that says they're in need of change (which is why I wasn't all for Phoebe's recent ear piercing).  It's all pervasive and parents are under quite a bit of pressure.  It's a big issue and I just wanted to repost this to do my little bit....

I'ts about 12 mins or so....

The Feeb is 9....!

This morning we had the usual early rise associated with birthdays...and I thought that I'd post up some of that.  I didn't get pics of all of it, apologies.

This was in Molly's parcel...

This was from Ali.....

This was from Gilly, Bill and Holly....

This was from Joe, Sarah, Sam and Eddie....

...and this was when she opened a pair of earrings from us...and realised that I'd reneged on my declaration that she couldn't get her ears pierced....something she's been wanting for several years!  

Mum, I didn't get a pic, but she was very chuffed with the cash!  

So...after school, I took them to the shopping centre to meet with Daile and get the ears done.  When we found Daile....she was in one of the massage chairs.  She goes in these every time she visits the shopping centre...it's quite sweet really...:-)

here's the ears...the last time they'll ever be pristine.  I felt a bit sad....!  

choosing the studs....

Having a worry about the impending pain...

we bumped into our friend Deb and her kids....who all stayed to watch the spectacle....

Livvy.....

trouble....

Hayden...

The moment before the studs were fired....

...the moment they were fired.....

...the moment after.  (Phew...that was easier than I thought!)

we love Deb....:-)

So that's that!  I'll never have an 8 year old again!

Flour flower

Ned got into the flour tin....which was left out after a biscuit making session.... 

I couldn't figure out what it was for a while.  

Looking at life from another point of view

I've been thinking about the animals.  I don't really think about them all that much normally, but because the girls are away for a week, it's down to me to feed ALL the animals, instead of just the dog the turtle and the fish.  Now I have to also feed the cat and the rats.

What I was thinking, as the cat rubbed his arrogant self against my legs was about what HE was thinking.  Since the dog arrived, the cat has become much more cat like...certainly toward me, but in general too.  So I imagine that having to come near me, let alone make physical contact with me must be difficult....he flicks his tail whilst he's doing that...is that because he's pissed off?  I sort of identify with him though. There's a part of me that's arrogant as those of you that know me will no doubt testify, and it comes with a price.  Jack's life must (I imagine) be impoverished by that notion.  He can't just hang out with the rest of us, he has to posture and puff himself up...because he KNOWS he's something else!  Well...!  Doesn't that sound like me?  OK, perhaps I don't KNOW it, but I certainly FEEL like it...which is why I'm often overconfident.

Ned is a case.  Like most dogs, he's always happy to see me, always follows me around, jumping up from wherever he's flopped at the rattle of keys or the sound of my footsteps making for the door...even just the general direction of the door...whether i'm going out, or coming in.  He eats everything that gets put in front of him and wants more.  He loves to chase things...dogs, kangas, cats, small kids....but he always chickens out before the kill...(cept with small kids).  Again, I can identify with that!  OK, I don't do the following and jumping up thing for NOone!  (Too much cat in me)...but I DO try to take a positive upbeat approach to the twists and turns of fate...and whilst I no longer 'wag my tail' (Prostate opp to blame)....ha ha....I do hold my head to one side when I'm really listening to you.  One thing I DON'T do though....I don't stand up as soon as the plane pulls up at the terminal like all those other lemmings/dogs...nose to the crack of the door to race out...only to be waiting at the luggage carousel to start...just the same as me (the last one off usually).  Oh....and I don't eat Kangaroo droppings either...disgusting animal that Ned is...and then he leans over my shoulder on the drive back...yuck!

I'm like Squirtle the turtle, because I can't remember where I've just been.  I'm like the turtle because I can't remember where I've just been.....and I'm nearly blind.  However, I do get fed up with routine eventually....and I have a much softer shell.

I'm like the rats because I stink... but I'm cute!  (Daile says I'm OK anyway!)

....and I"m like the goldfish because I feel like I'm going round and round, and because it's hard to conceive of a reason for my existence sometimes....partially at least due to the diminutive size and functioning of my brain.

We often appreciate the futile and pointless nature of our pets....and their 'purpose' in life.  But really, are we any different?

So the moral?  Oh, I don't know....I'll ask Ned!

Charming little ditties....

I found these on the web today...and thought I should repost them for your amusement:

They came from here; http://artandlair.blogspot.com.au/2010/07/artist-and-home.html 

I also went out to take some pics of the local landscape for my art class students to paint next week....and here's 3 of them. I lost my glasses bending down to take the first one, and spent about 20 minutes retracing my steps back to there (where I found them)...or else I might have taken a few more than I did.