Brain Bubbles

2006-04-30T11:30:00.000+02:00

2006-04-29T16:26:00.000+02:00

2006-04-28T13:37:00.000+02:00

2006-04-27T17:24:00.000+02:00

2006-04-25T07:19:00.000+02:00

2006-04-21T15:15:00.000+02:00

2006-04-18T16:35:00.000+02:00

The Winds of Change

2006-04-14T18:56:00.000+02:00

Michele at Wind Spirit talked of updated websites - and Spring (our Autumn) causing people to make radical changes! Such is my 'Fall (Spring)-cleaning' fever that I finally made the decision to permanently move my blog. So although I won't be deleting Brainbubbles for awhile. I will no longer be updating it. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SEATS ARE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND YOUR TRAY TABLES STOWED. PLEASE HAVE YOUR COFFEE MUGS ARE IN THE DRINKABLE POSITION. Would y'all please point your links, blog-rolls and other pointable items to: (drum roll................................)

LENS QUEEN!!

For those of you who will miss all my widgets etc on the side bar etc - I will be putting them up at Lens Queen as soon as I can figure out how!! Well, what are ya waitin' for!!? Come on over and we'll have tea!

2006-04-12T19:35:00.000+02:00

Let me tell you one thing that really annoys me...I post an entry, and it takes more than 48hrs to show up? I sure as hell didn't hit 'draft' instead of 'publish' why the frig does it take so long!? I can 'refresh' until I'm blue in the face - even delete all my temp. internet files and still no post...? Another thing...spyware, and ad-ware...how the hell does it get onto your computer - I swear I haven't been at any dodgy sites - unless you're referring to all of your blogs ;) I run google's ad-aware every five minutes it finds malicious stuff, deletes it and like 5 minutes later its finding more stuff...any suggestions on how to get rid of this evil scurge? Lastly - can anyone update me on how Hannah is doing? I know she went into labour yesterday but her hubby hasn't updated her blog yet...? I'm dying to know if they're both ok!!

She went mad, so we shot her...

2006-04-07T09:05:00.000+02:00

Y'all must be wondering if Ol' Valkyrie is off her rocker with yesterday's post...? Most, actually all of you too bewildered to comment? Well she aint nuts folks! I was inspired by something and the writing just flowed out of me. I'm trying to figure out if it has the beginnings of a book written all over it. Pun completely intended. Does it sound like something you've read before? Do you want to know more? If this was on the back cover of a book would be interested in reading more?

The Ball

2006-04-06T08:14:00.000+02:00

His carelessly tousled hair did not move as he turned his head to survey the room with an opaque stare, his brown eyes revealing little, and yet not quite able to conceal a look of polite indifference to his surroundings. He stood to one side so as not to appear at odds with his present company, a friend to his left chatted with a smile to some satin-clad socialite. When his eyes settled on me, a woman of lesser courage might have been afronted and looked away. I held his gaze just long enough as was considered polite. His expression was one that to some may have been described as smouldering, but one, which dared me, a woman of more outspoken mettle to cross a room. Something of course which neither common sense nor propriety would allow me to do. Who was this insufferable upper class man who refused to dance with anyone? Keeping to his own company and leaving legions of women magnetized to his wake. I wanted to take his impeccably starched, crisp white knot under his devastatingly handsome chin and shake him angrily for making even me, feel such emotional turmoil. He murmured an aside to his friend and they both laughed. I would stand it no longer, a joke at my expense? I turned and made my departure from the group of ladies in whose company I now was and walked with purpose through the door and out onto the terrace. Sounds of music and dancing from the ballroom filtered unchecked through to me, and wanting some peace, and a place to collect myself, I walked out further and to the steps leading down to a lavender glade, and leaning against an obliging pillar placed one of my flushed cheeks onto it’s cool marble and felt some relief. Why had I been so jolted by him? We were without introduction and therefore no chance to even speak, and yet I felt as though I knew beyond a doubt that he was some landed gentry spending all his time on idle pursuits such as fishing or God forbid, shooting! Since he was clad in breeches for the evening having ridden to the ball, I realized I could not fault him for being a horseman, for I too, carried some renown as one of the best horsewomen in the county – at least giving my parents cause for pride, owing to my lack of skill at the piano, I reflected with a rueful smile. “Are you quite well?” His clipped tones eminent of an expensive education purred out behind me, and I gave a start, my heart already rising as I knew it would into my throat and I placed my hand on it as if to halt it’s progress. His well-shod feet had not alerted me to his footsteps, and now that he had appeared instantly beside me I realized just how tall and imposing a figure he cut. He stood with hands behind his back, light from the ballroom illuminating his dashing profile, his impeccably tailored black evening tail coat suited him most pleasingly and with some resignation I realized that I was completely and hopelessly - taken with him. How easy it would be for me to run, at this instant, to have him not comprehend the effect he was having on me, to try and stem the flow of wild thoughts coursing through my mind.

Motherhood

2006-03-31T17:57:00.002+02:00

Did you know that when motherhood hits, there are several changes that will occur, for example here are somethings I would NEVER have done before becoming a mom - and which I appear to have done in the last week. 1. Sang "OldMacDonald" at the top of my voice in the supermarket to stop the Bubby from crying (he was tired). 2. Had a discussion with grown women friends about the consistency of baby poop. 3. Had a serious discussion with grown women friends about the particular smell of baby poop. 4. Danced around my house singing tunes from West Side Story to keep the Bubby entertained. (Picture Valkyrie hopping on and off the couch with intermittend arm opening throws..."So happy to be in America, happy to be in America") 5. Attempted to sing "High on a hill stood a lonely goat herd, leyhi hoo da leyi hoo da ley Hee Hoo" (yodelling) to elicit big belly laughs from the bubby over and over again. 6. Baked chocolate chip cookies and actually got around to baking them, before I would always eat all the dough...(I was feeling all 'super mom-ish') 7. Bought clothes and shoes for myself and the hubby at PEP stores. Pep is like, this seriously budget store, which honestly has suddenly gotten a lot of good stuff in - and I rationalize to myself that since I'm in there for the Bubby's clothes anyway (why spend a lot when it only fits him for 5 minutes) that I may as well pick stuff up for myself aswell. Speaking of bargains...I bought a pair of boots which look like Timberland ones..., which at Timberland cost R2200.00 (around $370.00 - they don't even cost that much in the States, but we have HUGE import duties), but only cost me R99.00 (around $17!!) They have real suede leather uppers too! I just love them and they're great for bashing about with in my neck of the woods! 8. Umm, totally lose my train of thought right as I was about to say something...

2006-03-31T17:48:00.000+02:00

Mommy 's little Angel! Having a quiet moment on the "Jolly Jumper". Note to new moms: These things are great because a) they fun AND safe and b) you get to go make a cup of tea for yourself and bubby can't get out... Can anyone see the effect I've gone for on this picture, it's a classic soap opera effect. Just think of John Black and Dr Marlena from Days and you'll realis ALL their shots have this soft whispy fuzz around them. Anyway I think it works for babies when they're SO FRIGGIN CUTE man. Today I had Nachos for breakfast, for no other reason than I really didn't want cornflakes. No I am NOT pregnant, I'm just into Nachos right now.

2006-03-29T13:48:00.000+02:00

Well I 'm feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed again. My medication is definitely working which is always a plus! So where the heck have I been for the last week (actually two and a half...) After a large altercation with the phone company over my phone bill (which includes our ADSL) - they had completely overbilled me, charging me for two lines, as well as the installation of a second mystery line, then proceeded to tell me that I, (ME) ordered it - when the entire bill is actually in my husbands name. Anyway, I insisted they reverse the extra charges before I pay them - which led to them CUTTING our line. Yesterday, after MUCH foot stomping, they reconnected us - at which point I paid what we actually owed on the bill - and not a minute sooner! Yesterday I also took the new pup for her second round of shots - she was SO good - and it probably helped that the vet picked her up afterwards and gave her such a nice cuddle! While we were there - someone brought a cat in that they said their neighbors had abandoned when they had moved away...of course you know what happened...the cat is coming home with me this afternoon! The vet just wanted to keep her in overnight, make sure she is spade and give her shots - and then she's comin' home!! I can't think of a name for her yet, but I'm going to post pictures of her - and then you can all help name her ok? she's predominantly white, with a black head, green eyes and a few black spots a bit like a few spotted dalmation. It remains to be seen if my other cats will make friends or not!! We'll see!?

2006-03-16T07:56:00.000+02:00

I've been lying low lately -I have been diagnosed with Graves disease and the medication is making me SO tired. That coupled with looking after the Bubby, the Puppy -and all the poop that comes with both of them. Plus dealing with the Hubby, when he gets home from work tired, and even though I've been running myself RAGGED, there's even more poop on the floor, the hubby is like, "Geez babe the place is a disaster, where have you been all day? You haven't cooked yet?!" If I open my mouth at all it would be to start screaming at the top of my lungs, but knowing that I would be unable to stop and probably end up in a straight jacket. So instead I calmly get up plod along wearily and keep myself sane, by planning a list in my head of things I would need to pack if I ever left the insensitive arsehole.

Then the hubby chips in and whips round the kitchen and it's effortlessly spotless - and I remember that actually I'm the luckiest person in the world. He might be an arsehole, but he's my arsehole. FEEL (Robbie Williams)

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Starring...

2006-03-08T14:15:00.000+02:00

Here she is folks, sorry for the photo quality, it was taken with a cellphone! (I'm still waiting in anticipation for my new camera...). Yesterday, the hubby and I went to our local rescue centre. I sent him inside to choose a dog, I struggle to keep my eyes dry in those places, but after a little while, the hubby came out with a big smile on his face, and told me to go with the volunteer to see the one he'd picked out. Trying desperately not to look at all the doggies needing homes, we eventually get to the puppy section and I fell in LOVE with little "Chanel" (as in Chanel No. 5 the perfume) so pronounced, Shan-elle. We decided on a puppy, so that we can raise her with the bubby, she already loves him to bits in the 24 short hourse she's been with us. Roxy our lab is thrilled to have a pal again and is either licking her till all her hair stands up, or being a little too rough with her. I give it a week before they are inseperable. I am really impressed with this particular centre, they LOVE the dogs to bits that they have, and they refuse to put any of them down, but keep every single one until they find good homes. They even conduct visits to the home where they'll be going, so that they know they're not going to some dodgy place. They were really sad to see little Chanel go, saying, "Um, she will be allowed inside the house right?" and the hubby burst out laughing and said, "Um, well, my labrador sleeps on the bed, so I don't thing you need to worry. " They chuckled and bid us farewell. They will see her again in 6 months time when she needs to be spade. In case you are wondering, she is of no particular breed, but has the colouring of a rottweiler, with a small white striped vertically on her chest, I think there may be a pinch of border collie in her. The important thing is that she is a very loving, sweet and cuddly pet, that will give us many happy memories! Although my heart was aching for another Alaskan Malamute, I thought it would be so much better to give an abandoned animal a good life.

Moisturiser! Moisturizer!

2006-03-06T18:51:00.000+02:00

Well it hit 40 degrees centigrade today - I escaped to the mall into lovely air-conditioned shops, and then in the afternoon to a friends house and into the pool. The Bubby was non too impressed with the cool temperature of the water, which curbed my time in the blissful blue sanctuary, the poor thing burst out crying as soon as his toes hit the water. This is a complete turnabout to his last stint in the pool where he was in up to his shoulders and lovin' it! Anyway, however brief my time in the water it saved my sanity completely...

2006-03-02T17:39:00.000+02:00

Wouldn't it be great relaxing after a good day in the saddle training your prize friesian x warmblood dressage horses, kicking back in the hot tub, watching the horses relax, enjoying a good slightly chilled sauvignon blanc (South African of course), the live-in chef comes in to let you know that your gourmet dinner is ready once you've had your massage by hunky Swedish masseuse (Sven), your hubby gets home, letting you know that he's just made another 100 million by seeing your stock broker just at the right time, and that he's so glad you've been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Kindness to Abused Animals in the SAME year that you've already collected the Pulitzer for your saucy but gripping novel about life in a ritzy and glamorous horsey community, loosely based on fact? By the way, this is an actual horsey farm somewhere South of Austin (TX), on the market for a measely $3 900 000. Anyone want to lend me that? I'm good for it you know...

2006-03-01T18:22:00.000+02:00

I don't have long, since our power is going off again tonight!!! ARRGG!! I am SO incredibly pissed off!! They should never have fired all the technicians for having the wrong skin colour 10 years ago, dammit! Our nuclear power station is on the fritz and aside from the imminent danger we're all in, it's friggin annoying! I am washing and sterilizing bottles like lightning every time the bubby has finished so that I have at least 5 filled with boiled cooled water in case we are in for the long haul. Nothing more interesting than that I'm afraid...life is sad at the moment.

A new day...

2006-02-27T07:14:00.000+02:00

Well. Our hearts are still in smithereens, but we are functioning. After the hubby and I have spent nearly a week intermittently in tears we are feeling a bit better now. My first instinct was to rush out and get a puppy, to heal my heart and take my mind off the pain of losing Navarre, but common sense has prevailed - a baby and a puppy at the same time...er...not yet. Our Lab who came out of this episode unscathed - is handling it all ok. She has stopped rushing round to the back of the car to see if Navarre is in it. I think she understands. We will get her a friend again, and probably in the next 2-3 months, but we're not going to rush into it. Hubby wants another labby, and I want another Malamute. Above all else, I WANT A NEW HOUSE! I cannot continue to live here, completely paranoid. I am in the beginnning stages of convincing the hubby we should sell...

Go Well my Boy

2006-02-23T15:50:00.000+02:00

Today, my angel, walks with his friend Digby on that great beach in the sky. Navarre, I can still feel you with me. Your bravery in killing that snake is unmatched. Navarre, I know you'll be at the front of the welcoming line one day, when I go, I know you will all be waiting for me with All the animals I've loved and lost, my whole life... Shelah: The Skipper who was my first dog, when I was two. I remember your cute brown spot on your side! Buddy & Perky: My beautiful ginger cats who lived with me for 17 years - you heard all my teenage angst poured into your sympathetic ears. Mickey: My third ginger kitty. We loved you so much - so did Buddy & Perky. Bess: We inherited you with the house we bought when I was ten. You were such a great introduction to rottweiler/bloodhounds - you were incredibly sweet, I see your eyes in Roxy my labrador now. Bozo: Although you didn't stay with us long, we enjoyed looking after you while your mom was away. It was wonderful how you would dance for treats! Sylvester: My first pet with the hubby. You were SUCH a gorgeous kitten, but we knew you were sick from the start - we always hoped we could nurse you better. Now I know you're playing with Perky - she is such a good mom. Snowy: To think I used to chase you away -because I thought you belonged to the neighbors, until I discovered you were abandoned. It took awhile to coax you inside but you came. Digby: We got you via the grapevine! You'd been taken away from a tramp - and given to us for safekeeping. You found a space in 'daddy's' heart - which is still empty. I'm sorry that I didn't have a chance to say goodbye. I know you came to fetch your friend Navarre: You were a dream come true for me. I always wanted an Alaskan Malamute. Your gorgeous face and chewbacca voice are burned into my memory forever! You were the gentlest giant that I hoped would teach our son to walk -by pulling himself up on your ears. I hope you were happy to see Digby with his wings and that you wanted to go with him. You have the heaviest place in all our hearts boy. To simply say we love you is hopelessly insuficient. Please be the one to fetch me one day.

Please pray for him, to whomever you pray to

2006-02-21T18:46:00.000+02:00

Our beautiful Angel, the Fluffus Maximus, today was bitten by a Cobra, and lies fighting for his life on a ventilator in an emergency clinic. 3 hours ago... I looked outside to see with horror how this snake with a flattend hood was sitting up trying to strike at my laborador, both dogs circling this seemingly innocent toy in their garden. I screamed for them to come inside and leave the MOFO of a snake alone. His hood was as wide as my hand with fingers spread from thumb to pinkie. What dogs will listen when there is such fun to be had? I start to run around the house shutting all the windows (first making sure the cats are all inside) incase the snake tries to come into the house - they can climb walls these bastards. Anyway, suddenly my Malamute is at the door begging to come in... Unbeknownst to me, he had killed the snake and obviously caught it too low and it swung around to strike him on the nose. During this time I had frantically tried to call our local 'snake man' to come and get rid of it, and also my husband to ask what to do - he had let me know his dad was coming to help me get rid of the snake. We get the harnesses on the dogs and both into the car, once the bubby is also in the car and race off to the vet to check for bites on the dogs - they both seem fine, goofy with excitement to have their harnesses on - thinking they're being rewarded with a walk! We get to the vet and the first sign that he's been bitten is that he can't get out of the car, as the venom has started to work on his muscles. I race inside, not caring how I look (a crazed, sweating, wild and terrified Valkyrie, shaking and screaming) yelling that we have an emergency snake bite, and the dog needs help getting inside. There were no vets in the practice at this stage, but as they got my puppy onto the table in their op room, his heart stopped and the veterinary nurse managed to 'bring' him back (she had the main vet on the phone talking her through the procedure on his cell phone - he himself rushing the distance between his house and the vets place - thank god he lived close! - I can't help thinking that Navarre saw our other angel Digby who died almost a year ago from biliary. Digby must have told him it's not his time yet, because we had to transport him to another bigger clinic closer to the city the only one with a proper ventilator, in the back of my husbands bakkie (Pick up) with a canopy on. My hubby was driving, me in the passenger seat and one vet, and a vet's nurse in the back, pumping air into his lungs with one of those bags that you see on ER. It was so dramatic if George CLooney had been there, I would have thought I was watching ER! For nearly and hour while we drove through just before rush hour traffic - the lights just seemed to go green for us, they kept him 'breathing' EVERY FIVE SECONDS and thanks to their efforts - luckily his strong heart never faltered. At one point, the bag developed a tear and the vet and nurse had to take turns giving him MOUTH TO MOUTH! The vet (she) jokingly said that at least she didn't have to ask him about his sexual history! We actually managed to laugh. While she's busy saving his life (by the way he is such a big dog, he took six vials of anti-venom), she is telling us about all the other dogs that have survived the same type of bites and at least he was a big dog. They managed to bring him round from his anaesthesia (he was kept under by the vet out all the time while we were driving) having put him onto the ventilator as soon as we arrived at the big clinic - so we got to hug him and tell him what a brave boy he was and give him kisses on his head around all those awful tubes coming out of him. His eyes were open while I stroked him calling him my fluffy prince, my fluffus maximus, my fuffalufalus, my fuffups, my furry angel, my boyboy. They wanted to put him under again, because dogs get very stressed if they are conscious on a ventilator. Our local vet told us that he was now in the best hands in the country for snake bites. Ironically there was a small dog there as well who had also suffered a snake bite yesterday. We just got home just now at 18h30 - my in laws were wonderful, having looked after the bubby the whole time we were away. The bubby has just fallen asleep - so i am drinking the BIGGEST whiskey you have EVER seen! The super vet in whose care he now was, just rang to say that he is very stable and his blood oxygen level is perfect - better than if he was breathing by himself. Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray, pray, pray. I used to be a religious person (now disillusioned and a little more new age) but I swear I'm praying tonight, to God, Jaweh, Allah (may I say his name?), Buddha, Hari Krishna, Haile Selassie, Idi Amin Dada, Zeus, Apollo, Isis, Horus, Hathor, the Ancestors, and any other God who will listen that they must save my BOY, he protected me, the bubby, the lab, all our cats AND our neighbor who was watching with horror over the fence. Incidently, our neighbor flew in with her chariot (pick up) and offered to drive our boy to the clinic - but the hubby was minutes away, having run EVERY red light from his office to the vet. All we can do now, is wait...and pray, oh God pray

2006-02-19T21:09:00.000+02:00

Um, can one say anything other than enjoy this spectre of wonder?

2006-02-18T07:11:00.000+02:00

Crop In Style have released some new ranges of their "Store in Style" modular scrap-friendly furniture. I pinched this picture of their website. You might remember I bought a tote from them awhile back - which they happily shipped to me for a low cost. Anyway, they have also released a new range of totes (See far right in picture) in a dusty pink. Proceeds from the profits go to the breast cancer awareness foundation so it would be well worth looking into if you're planning on splurging on a tote in the future. This last weekend, when I was on my scrapping break, mine was so valuable to me and handy, that everyone else was asking where I got it from. Don't you love that cubby on the left for your paper? Imagine putting two of those one atop the other - I might be close to storing all my paper! I also like the standing thing on the desk - handy to put tools within arms reach without using all your countertop space, i.e. trimmers, punches, adhesive. I'd move it back though and have it against a wall so stuff doesn't fall off the edge. I'm sure it's just like this for display purposes though. I am dreaming of a scrapping room like this, but with the addition of a six seater table for workshops and things this would be perfect!

2006-02-16T06:58:00.000+02:00

My two new movies arrived from Amazon yesterday - how exciting! I am a sucker for online shopping! My two new movies were "Hammers Over the Anvil" starrring Mr Crowe and several horses - and, "The Silver Brumby" starring Caroline Goodall, Mr Crowe and several horses as well. Needless to say, these are my two most favourite things in movies of course... For die hard RC fans - the opening scene in Hammers is NOT TO BE MISSED. You can just search those titles in Amazon and they'll pop up right away. I'm pretty impressed by the amount of stunts that Mr C (hah - look Michele I have my own Mr C!) did in these movies - granted probably not all of them, but a good enough amount to ensure us of genuinely great horsemanship skills. I went trawling for sites about the place where it was filmed - because there were enough sweeping vistas of unmistakable mountainous beauty, to assure me that a holiday there, with a horse trek thrown in would suit me just fine. The hubby and I were hoping that our next trip overseas was to Australia anyway, but now I just need to convince him that a side trip to The High Country of Victoria, Australia, would be a GREAT idea. He can ride just as well (ok not quite) as me so hopefully not too much convincing...oh and grandma would just love to have the bubby anyway...although I'm not sure if I could actually leave him and FLY overseas...hmm.