Excuse The Bragging But A Proud Grandma Lives Here

A few weeks ago my eldest grand-daughter invited me to attend a drama performance at her high school. Yesterday was the big day.

By the standards of most high school productions, it wasn't the grandest, it wasn't the biggest, it wasn't the most well attended but it sure brought tears to this grandma's eyes and pride to her heart.

As I have blogged before, just before her 5th birthday my grand-daughter was involved in a car accident that left her with acquired brain injury. Through this she suffers from learning disabilities, weakness in one side and epilepsy among other things. She has lots of things stacked against her, but she also has, what I see, as a lot of qualities that other teenagers don't necessarily have. The one that stands out the most to me is her generous and beautiful heart and soul. Yesterday, this was on show for all to see.

Their were only 5 actors in the production, all of them were from the Education Support Centre at the high school. Along with their drama teacher, the students came up with the concept, worked out to plot line, and wrote the play.

The plot was simple, there was a king with 3 princess daughters - each of them was beautiful but conceited and mean. They played pranks on each other, they fought and they yelled. The king was worried about which princess would rule his kingdom when he died - he couldn't see any good qualities in any of them. The king devised a plan and let his daughter's know that he was hosting a ball and whichever daughter showed themselves to be the most noble on the night would be the one that ruled. The daughters continued to fight and play tricks on each other right up to the night of the ball. Then their fairy godmother appeared to tell them to look at themselves as they should be ashamed that they had so much and yet acted as if they had so little. That night at the ball each princess showed the king just how perfect they could be, because they now saw how wrong they had been and acknowledge how much they loved each other. The king was happy and announced that all 3 would rule the kingdom together.

Each of the student actors had very few lines as it was a narrated story with the drama teacher narrating. Each of the princesses had a beautiful costume loaned from the local theatre company. The props were few, the stage dressing minimal. 5 actors performed to the best of their abilities. The audience laughed at the comedy. The audience occasionally strained to hear the spoken lines as the actors were very nervous. There was one princess who acted her heart out, who remembered all her lines and needed no prompting but who also held the hand of another princess when she was too scared to come out, who while standing in the wings quietly encouraged the others and reminded them what to do. That princess was mine.

I know she had made her Mum's life unbearable yesterday morning as she was having a meltdown about the day, but when it came time, she did it, she did it well and she also cared about those performing with her. She didn't get caught up in the 'it's all about me' attitude that so often comes with teenagers and let's face it some adults. She truly made this Grandma's heart proud.

It's Been A Little Silent Over Here

Have been off on another working trip and so no time to catch up on blogs. I am now back and hopefully over the next few days will not only catch up with all my fav blogs and bloggers, but also post some more as I seem to have stuff rumbling around in my head.

When did life get so busy? Bring on retirement is all I can say, this girl is just to busy for work anymore.

Guest Post - It Was All So Simple Then

Today Childhood 101 is featuring my guest post - why don't you pop on over - there are even pics of me when I first became a Mum. Childhood 101 is my eldest daughter's blog - their are 3 generations in my family now blogging my Mum, myself and my eldest daughter - how cool is that?

On My Soapbox and Not A Challenge In Sight - Bigots

So I hear on the way to work this morning that Jason Akermanis has urged gay AFL players to stay in the closest - oh please Mr Akermanis - why should you have an opinion that is so bigoted.

Oh I see that you say it might make other players (you??) uncomfortable because Australian Rules Footy is just not ready.

So I assume that is because you and other AFL players think that when a person is gay they can not control their sexual urges? Sorry, I think you might be a little wrong there.

I always knew you were an idiot, and now you have quite publicly confirmed the fact.

If gay members of our society are ever to be accepted then it is in bastions of maleness like footy clubs that the first steps need to be made. I don't think it hurt Rugby when Ian Roberts announced he was gay.

I also see that Mr Akermanis thinks it is okay for gay sports women to come out - would that be because of your fantasy factor - oh sorry that was a little off of me wasn't it. I just did the same as you made an assumption of why it is more widely accepted. But see if I make an assumption it is not newsworthy - you on the other hand have a responsibility to think of the wider picture if you are going to be the spokesman for all of AFL.

One can only hope you never have a gay child Mr Akermanis - for God only knows how you would handle that. If this outburst is anything to go by - not well I would think.

Me on the other - I am proud of my gay children - oh and I treat all my children the same, I don't make assumptions that they are perverts because of their sexual preference - gay or not. Maybe you could learn a lesson here?

Blog This Challenge No 45 - On the Soapbox

What a timely Blog This Challenge. This post has been brewing in my heart for a number of weeks and then tonight when I decide to write this post only to find the On Your Soapbox Challenge, so here I go.

Injustice riles my heart.

When Justice goes wrong it makes me shake my head in disbelief - no more so than when I see it do more harm than good. Very recently not 1 but 2 of my friends have been on the receiving end of what I consider Justice Getting It Wrong.

Case 1 : My friend's ex daughter in law takes out a AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) against her, my friend's son and my friend's daughter. This was month's ago. Firstly they had to wait over 2 months to get a court date - causing untold anguish to my friend and her family. Let me say I have know this woman for over 35 years and she is the most caring and beautiful women I have ever met. Court date arrives and the 3 accused front up - and then the accuser is a no-show. The Court then sets another date, another few months away - more anguish for the family as they wait for this to stop hanging over their heads. They know they are innocent.

So they all turn up and the accuser is a no-show yet again. Judge is not impressed but instead of dismissing it, sets a 3rd court date. So how is it that a person can accuse someone else of intent to violence and then just not show because she supposedly has issues getting there? Now I understand that no violence has to be committed and that threat of violence is enough. But surely you can't just not decide to come. Where is the innocent until proven guilty part of this justice. Can the judge really look at my friend and she her as a threat to anyone?

Case 2 : One of my 'sisters', minding her own business at work, is verbally abused by a client of her boss. Yelling at her, using the threat of his body to back her into a corner - all the while still yelling right in her face. He returns to the office more than once to continue the tirade and is actually apprehended while on the premises. The police take it to court, not my friend, but she is subpoenaed to testify. What makes it worse is the accused is representing himself and so he gets to cross examine the woman he has terrified, caused to have counselling and who still has nightmares about the assault. He is also allowed to pre-read her witness statement and use it to manipulate her on the witness stand. Is she protected by the judge, oh no, he throws the case out for lack of evidence as it becomes, in his eyes, a he said - she said situation. Now where is the bloody justice in that. My friend is now forced to look for new employment as she has flash backs at work.

I know there are many cases where AVOs and the like are valid - but they can also be used for malice - the system needs to change to protect everyone from this.

I know that not everyone can afford a lawyer and that they should have the right to defend themselves, but what about the victim here - could they not do a video cross examination rather than put her right back in the role of being assaulted, and why oh why did the police bring it to trial if there was not enough evidence - get it right and protect the innocent.

Okay I will now step down from the soapbox until the next time.

The Seven Deadly Sins Meme

Jen @ Jemikaan tagged me in this meme originated by Lori @ Ramblings of a Stay At Home Mum.

Sloth - how do you relax? Give me a good book or a addoku puzzle and see me in a few hours.

Gluttony - What can't you get enough of, even though it's bad for you? Chocolate

Greed - What do you get greedy for? Free time - I never get enough

Envy - What makes you green? Very little - I suppose if I had to say something it would be woman who have had children and manage to retain their pre-baby figures.

Lust - What does it for you? Men with piercing blue eyes, oh and my hubby arse in a certain pair of blue jeans, sorry kids.

Pride - What are you inordinately proud of? My eldest grand-daughter for even with all she has had to deal with post accident, yet she still manages to smile.

Wrath (Anger) - What makes you cranky? Injustice - when the system lets innocent people down. There is way too much of this happening.

So now I need to tag 7 people, sorry if you have already been tagged:

Wanderlust

The Things I'd Tell You (already done if you want to check it out)

Kellyanspansa

Anything Fits A Naked Man

Farmers Wife

Whining At The World

Sunny Side Up

Memories on Monday - Funny Stories

Do you have any stories about family members that pop back into your memory when you do something or go somewhere?

I remember my Mum telling me about my Aunty Min and her spider adventure and every now and then when I put on my winter dressing gown, that has been hanging behind the door, the story pops into my head.

The story goes, one winter's morning my Aunty Min got up and put on her dressing gown that had been hanging behind the door. Shortly after leaving the bedroom, Min felt a tickle in her armpit and so she rubbed it, as you do, thinking she must have a loose thread or something.

A little while later, it was still tickling her, so she decided to take the dressing gown off and fix the said loose thread. Yep, you guessed it - it wasn't a loose thread but a huntsman spider, all cosy and a little cross that his/her nice warm dark house was now being worn by a woman.

I don't believe the spider bit my Aunt and I hope she didn't kill the spider. But often when I get my dressing gown down and pop it on suddenly I think - oops should have checked for spiders.

7 Signs of Aging - My Way

Well we all know that Oil of Olay has it's list of 7 signs of aging

Lines and Winkles

Rough Skin Texture

Dullness of skin's appearance

Larger appearance of pores

Blotchiness

Dry skin

Age spots

Well here is my list

Finding your first grey pubic hair - I mean how bad is that - of course you can avoid this if you do the whole waxing thing.

Noticing that the crow's feet around your eyes are now canyons - and yes you can kid yourself it is just because you laugh too much - right.

Dryness - not just the skin on your face and hands, but everywhere - and I mean everywhere if you get my drift - if not, think lube.

Age spots - those nasty little brown spots that appear from nowhere.

Skunk lines - yes that nasty white/silver/grey stripe that keeps appearing with more regularity between hairdresser appointments.

Hair loss - yes even women lose their hair as they get older - scary really.

Tightness - oh I wish I could say my butt it getting tighter - but I mean muscles and ligaments that seems harder to stretch the older you get - I know I used to be able to reach the highest shelf once upon a time.

Do you have any you would like to add - hell we don't have to stop the list at 7.

And in honour of the bloggers without make-up or nude blogging challenge I have changed my profile pic to the real 'now' me rather than the young cute kid me.

Shopping With The Munchkin

Munchkin pointing to Dorothy the Dinosaur jumper "Granma me like Doroffy"

Grandma - "Do you really - would you like Grandma to get you the Dorothy jumper"

Munchkin - "Sanshoe Granma, I love Doroffy very much" while cuddling the jumper tight.

Earlier in the day exploring "Things" looking for a wicker chest to store her softies, she was climbing on chairs - "Look at me Granma", then rolling on the soft floor rugs "Granma so soft"

Then after she picked up a coral fleece throw rug "Granma I need a blankie"

Grandma "Do you really"

Munchkin "Yes Granma to keep me warm"

So one red throw rug bought.

Then in Howards Storage World she spies rainbow coat hangers "Granma look at these"

Grandma "Would you like some of these hangers for your clothes"

Munchkin "Oh sanshoe Granma"

Do you think the Munchkin has Grandma wrapped around her little finger? Not much!!!

Sometimes Fashion Is Just NOT Right For You

Now call me old-fashioned, call me nuts, or tell me to mind my own business, I don't really care. But please, tell me how these jeggings can be fashion?

Even the most slender woman with beautiful legs and behind runs the risk of cameltoe. You know what I mean - well I hope you do - if not click here.

Wear a long top - and yep it is okay, all is nicely covered. But put them with a short top and it's like wearing pantyhose with out feet - I mean they fit like pantyhose, it is like they are airbrushed on.

Today while out shopping, sitting down waiting for my daughter and grand-daughter to finish in the toilets. What should I spy walking towards me, but a cameltoe in jeggings. Now this teenager was not petite, and so these jeggings were stretched even tighter than I think anything should stretch. Now people, my eyes are at groin level as I am sitting down, maybe I wouldn't have noticed it if I had been standing up - but yeah I think I would have, it was that in your face. She was with her Mum and Dad - surely they noticed and would have said something? Obviously not - maybe they are okay with their 15 year old ish daughter hanging it all out for the world to see. I just shook my head and looked away, then she walked into my vision again as she walked away and it was like looking at a whole group of ferrets fighting in a sack (sorry that is my Pop's saying).

So I started looking around and there were more of them, on all ages, and all figure types and ladies - it just does not look good, no matter what angle you look at them from when you wear them with a short top. Not unless you are a model, and even then I wonder.

I am all for people feeling good about themselves and not worrying about what others think, but this new look has my shaking my head in disbelief - who the hell designed them. Can someone please tell me that? Do you wear them? Am I alone in my shock? Maybe it is just that I am too old now.

For All Of You Who Have Lost Someone

Fly, fly little wing

Fly beyond imagining

The softest cloud, the whitest dove

Upon the wind of heaven’s love

Past the planets and the stars

Leave this lonely world of ours

Escape the sorrow and the pain

And fly again

Fly, fly precious one

Your endless journey has begun

Take your gentle happiness

Far too beautiful for this

Cross over to the other shore

There is peace forevermore

But hold this mem’ry bittersweet

Until we meet

Fly, fly do not fear

Don’t waste your breath, don’t shed a tear

Your heart is pure, your soul is free

Be on your way, don’t wait for me

Above the universe you’ll climb

On beyond the hands of time

The moon will rise, the sun will set

But I won’t forget

Fly, fly little wing

Fly where only angels sing

Fly away, the time is right

Go now, find the light

Beautiful lyrics from a song by Celine Dion written after the death of her niece from Cystic Fibrosis.

Sometimes My Heart Breaks

I read your posts - you share about your struggles, you share about your heartache, you share about your uncertainties, you share about your children and their struggles with bullying and autism, you share about the little ones you have lost - and my heart breaks, tears spill from my eyes. I want to help you all, to reach out and make it better, to hug you close, to stroke your hair and tell you it will be okay. To tell you it is a long and hard road but there can be light at the end of the tunnel, for it is a road that I too have walked to some degree.

You share about your impending divorce, you share about a coldness growing between you and your love, you share about the stress you deal with as parents - and it touches a place in my soul - and I want to tell you that sometimes it is better to let go, and sometimes it is better to hang on because it will get better because this road is also known to me.

Sometimes I will comment, but sometimes I just can't - it doesn't mean I haven't been there and read and understood, it is just sometimes I don't have the words, or sometimes I think I will be overstepping the bounds of blog etiquette, or sometimes my heart is just breaking too much because there are wounds that I think have healed - that I have dealt with, and then I read your posts and there they are back again in all their glory.

So my beautiful blogging friends, know that I am reading, that I am hearing, that I am understanding and supporting, but sometimes you may not know that I have been there.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day - a day to celebrate Mothers
To thank them for all they are worth

So to my Mother
I thank you for who I've become

For without your shining example
Without your ongoing love

My motherhood path would have been different
To the one I have been privileged to walk

From the moment you know you are pregnant
To the moment you leave this earth

Your heart is no longer your own
It is tied to those to whom you gave birth

So to my children I also say thank you
For being just who you are

For without you all in my life
My heart would be barren and bare

To my hubby always by my side
I thank you for all your support

For being a mother without you
With trouble I would have been fraught

You are the half that completes me
To make the two into one

As parents we have walked together
Our arms always entwined

I couldn't have done it without you
We are the Yin and Yang

So thank you for letting me be your Mother,
Your daughter and your wife

For each and every one of you
Have given me life

There's Klingons on the Starboard Bow Jim

Not sure if I ever told you before, but I probably have, that I am a big Star Trek fan, right back to the old series - 'beam me up Scotty'.

Those of you who too love all things Star Trek will remember the cloaking device the Romulans had on their star ships.

Well sometimes I feel like I have my own personal cloaking device.

What is she on about? I hear you ask.

Well, I was raised to be polite, to be aware of others - not just their feelings, but that there are actually other human beings that populate the planet. Were you?

So why is it when I am at the shopping centre that people walk into me, in front of me, ram me with their trolleys, push in front of me at the teller machine or counter - I mean I must be wearing a cloaking device!! For people, I am not a small mouse, I am a large, well maybe even huge woman. I stand 5 foot 7 in my bare feet, I wear size ?? (well very large) clothes. You just can not say I am invisible at these proportions, and yet somehow I am. So 'beam me up Scotty' for I must be wearing my cloaking device yet again.

Because if that is not the fact, then I have to think we are becoming a society of ignorant, self centered individuals who are so focused on us and our needs that we no longer see others with our blinked view of life. Please tell me I am wrong. Please!!