Blogging is not for sissies.

Everyday I commit to updating my blog, I find it clears my head and vocalises my feelings.  But come the end of the day, I find myself wondering what to write about.

Do people really want to hear about our supper last night, eaten in bed because it is so cold here at the moment? 

Do they want to hear about the joy I find in my children every day?  The little unexpected "I love you" as I am driving them around to their various activities?

The sense of peace I feel walking into my own home at night?  Putting down my handbag wherever I feel like?  Cooking supper and appreciating the fact that I can afford to offer the kids something tasty and warm, even though I am not an inspired cook?

The fact that we have pets that provide comfort, unconditional love and loyalty.  (I have to make a very difficult decision soon whether I am going to keep them - but that's another blog waiting to happen).

As I sit here typing I have to remind myself the reason why I decided to start blogging in the first place. Not to provide entertainment to the masses (all 1 of you) but to put into words things living in my heart and head.  Hopefully my sense of humour does not desert me and I can make this entertaining for both of us.

My deep dark secret

I have a dark secret and it's not chocolate or coffee.  I read (devour actually) books that are slightly risque in nature.  You know the ones affectionately termed "bodice-rippers" by some.  They are the mass produced variety and not destined for the best seller shelves.  Usually they are hidden in some little corner of the bookshop like moles or bought anonymously from the online book stores where a postal address is an acceptable means of delivery.

The other morning I went to collect my books with my email notification in hand.  I usually fold the paper over so the postal workers cannot see the nature of the books I was collecting.  I know, I'm and adult, nothing to be ashamed of - Right?  But still. 

The gent behind the counter takes the paper and folds it open.  "Um, actually the tracking number is on the top of the page", I mutter to myself.  To my surprise, he looks up and I can actually see the gears working in his head and the thought processes churning away. 

"Not much call for this author" he says, "it's not to everyone's taste"  Is it, is it?  Yes a glimmer of respect in his eyes.  It seems that Paranormal Romance is alive and well in the postal services.  Who would have figured?

My current fixation is Vampire Romance, nothing as tame as the Eclipse series, oh no, more along the lines of Suzanne Sizemore, Karen Marie Moning, Kerrelyn Sparks and Lynsay Sands. 

So now, who can enlighten me to some more authors I just HAVE to try?

Mom has a hi-fi....

One of the joys of being newly divorced, is trying to maintain a sense of privacy separate from my ex.  This is not possible with shared custody arrangements and children.

Last week I decided to spend some money on a PC that we could use to manage and play our music.  I have been saving for a while towards this expense, not easy with so much else that needs to be done around the house.  All in all I paid about R2000 for the PC.  Not an exorbitant sum but for me it is a large amount of money. 

The kids were super excited when I brought the new addition home and I spent a few hours setting it up (which consisted of copying our music onto the hard drive, installing iTunes and finding a physical spot for it).  This is a major feat for me, since I am technology challenged.  After figuring out that the PCs want a 6 speaker system set up (when there are actually only 2 speakers), I declared the music system ready for use.

A thoroughly loud dance party ensued.

I felt exhilerated, proud of myself and content with my life.  I did not need a man to help me with this setup and secondly I managed to provide something we have been missing since we moved 6 months ago.  Yay.

Come Thursday when ex arrives to collect kids, guess what is the first topic of discussion before we have even loaded their bags into the car.  "Mom bought a hifi!!" 

I don't want to burst the kids bubble but IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR FATHER.  I am trying to establish independence here.

How do you explain to kids that we are no longer together and that he does not have to be privy to everthing I do?

A new experience.

Yesterday I experienced something new that I can now lay claim to.  I was locked out of my house!!

My adventure started with a sudden craving for ice cream at about 2pm.  A quick dash to the supermarket around the corner produced said ice cream.  Just for good measure I bought two, one for me and one for the freezer to be enjoyed at a later time the weekend. 

Of course since I was only going to be 10 minutes, I grabbed just my shoes and wallet, leaving my cell phone lying on my bed.

Upon returning to the house, I slipped the key in the lock, turned it and then tried to open the door.  Nothing, niks, nada!!  So I repeat the process again and strangely enough get the same result.  The saying about idiots doing things twice and expecting a different result comes to mind here.

Pull the key out and visually inspect it.  Mmm, one of the key latch points are broken.

   
The result was a quick trip to my work offices (to use the phone and google the locksmith), an hours wait for the locksmith to phone me back and handing over R400 to gain access to my house again.  The locksmith not only picked the lock, he opened it up and showed me at least 5 pieces of different broken keys (of which mine was one) that he removed from the lock.  Taking into account that I have only been in this house for 6 months now, I ask myself how the previous tenants gained access to the house.  It looks like they just bought new keys and left the pieces in the lock.

I also received a lecture from a 20something locksmith about how unsafe my front door lock is.  Guess it's time for a new lock.  Any handymen out there?

Every day is a crazy day

I am not one of those people that bounces out of bed with a spring in my step.  I require at least 2 cups of coffee before i will acknowledge anyone.  That's just who I am.

Unfortunately, I do not live alone.  I am a single mom with three wonderful love-bugs that are part of my household.  At least one of them does not take after me, they will come and hunt me down in the morning, in my bed, where I have snuggled back under the covers whilst enjoying my first cup of coffee.  "Morning mom!" is how she starts her day, followed by a quick hug.  Oh how I wait for those moments.

The other two kids, unfortunately, take after me too much when it comes to mornings.  How they have ended the day, reflects on how they start the next day.  If they have had a disturbed night then they ususally grunt their way around me.  Too bad they are still too young for coffee!

It therefore stands to reason then that these two are the ones that I need to follow around with instructions.  "Have your breakfast", "Where's your shoes", "Pack your school bags", etc.  It drives me dilly sometimes, it's almost a pleasure once I have dropped them at school and I can once more get out of my "Drill Sergeant Mom" mode and once again function as a human being.

That said, I wouldn't swop them for the world. They are unique and special in their own way and I love them to bits.