Monthly Archives: May 2016
Post It Notes To Pimp My GiveAway – RRSAHM
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Random Ramblings of a SAHM: Fuck You Too.
Random Ramblings of a SAHM: Fuck You Too.
November 2013 – RRSAHM
November 2013
This post is sponsored by Woolworths.
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I hate grocery shopping. Shopping centres make me all kinds of anxious. Combine grocery shopping, shopping centres, and shopping with small children, and you have a very unpleasurable situation.
The Most Amazing Man and I are technologically minded kinda people, so we’d already been talking about using an app for our shopping list. One that we could sync between the two of us, to avoid the situation we’ve had before, where we both buy tomatoes and both forget mushrooms and have too much of one thing, not enough of another.
So we tried out the new Woolworths online shopping app, much to the delight of the iChild, who had been bugging me to download it since he first saw the ad on TV.
I am, historically, a huge fan of online shopping. When I was living in Paradise, the closest Woolies was a good 45 minutes drive away. For a couple of bucks, I could order online and have everything I needed delivered to my door.
There’s a ridiculous amount of benefit to online shopping. No dragging small children around the supermarket, kicking and screaming, and saying “Mum, can we have this?” over and over (and over and over). Plenty of time to add things to your list. Very little chance of forgetting anything.
Online shopping with the app makes things that little bit easier again. The app saves the items in your virtual trolley as long as you leave them there. So you can add products as you think of them, wherever you may be. It’s also got a scanner function, so you can just beep the barcode of a product and the app brings it up. You can can link your Everyday reward cards to the app and check your fuel discounts. There’s even a section for have a look at your personalised specials– products Woolies have flagged just for you, that they know you buy often.
The only thing the app doesn’t do is let you see the prices of your products until after they’ve been added to your trolley. So, say you do a search for ‘soda water’. The app brings up all the available brands for you to scroll through. But it doesn’t tell you how much each individual product is until after you’ve added it to your trolley. Which means comparing prices requires adding all the products to your trolley,and deleting the ones you don’t want.
Anyway. Having done your shopping, you click ‘checkout’ and pay with credit card or voucher. You can choose delivery, or Click and Collect. Delivery feels kind of lazy when you live as close to the shops as I do. So I went with Click and Collect.
The novelty effect of Click and Collect is fabulous. Rocking up to the counter of my local Woolworths and knowing I was soon going to get all my shopping without actually having to go in the store is sheer delight. The customer service woman rolling her eyes slightly and saying “Another one…” when I rocked up to the customer service counter only slightly dampened my enthusiasm. I guess we can say it’s just an example of how many people are Clicking and Collecting.
Online shopping is kind of awesome. It’s a huge time-saver. My inner organised personality (who, evidently, only shows herself on rare occasions) is impressed.
Being able to do boring grocery shopping without any of that anxiety-causing social interaction is like some kind of consumerist heaven.
***
This is the bit where I let all you compers know that every time you shop online and place an order before December 22 you will go into the draw to win FREE groceries for a whole year. There are six prizes to be won, and details are here.
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I don’t share YouTube vids here very often (unless, narcissistically, they’re my own videos) . But Bunny tweeted this one to me the other day, and given the jellybeans and the current theme of things here on RRSAHM, it seemed particularly… relevant.
Enjoy. I did.
{ 2 comments }
I hate myself and I want to die. No, that’s wrong. Kind of.
I don’t want to die. I just don’t want to feel like this any more.
Self loathing is most soul-destroying part of depression. Feeling flat is one thing. Despising yourself is another.
Hating yourself is a slippery thing. It rolls over and over itself, gaining momentum and thunder as it does.
I look in the mirror and I don’t like who I see. She makes me angry, this stupid, hopeless, lazy woman who is getting old quickly and can’t be satisfied with anything. She’s unappreciative, and not quite good enough, and sad.
Those are the thoughts run in my mind while I look at myself. Somewhere inside, someone- that five year old who lives in my head, maybe- is sobbing at me to stop, stop being so cruel, be kind to myself.
Once you start feeling that way about yourself, it’s difficult to keep up with it. Your thoughts run away with themselves. They drip like lurid green poison into your soul, tainting everything. They stick and they stain, and it takes a long time to rid yourself of them, once they start piling up.
I look in the mirror… and I don’t like who I see.
***
But hey… I’ve managed to brush my teeth, wash my face, and put on make up every morning for six days in a row now.
So I’ve got that going for me. Which is nice. And I’ve had a good weekend. I found myself a new psychologist here and things are starting to feel… better.
{ 12 comments }
Random Ramblings of a SAHM: So… now what?
Morbid. – RRSAHM
Morbid.
My children appear to have some kind of obsession with death lately.
It’s not so much an obsession with their father dying, or having died, as with the whole concept in general.
I’m not sure if it’s entirely normal, or ‘normal’ for children who’ve had to deal with death so close up at such a young age. I’m not sure if it’s healthy for them to discuss it so much. I don’t encourage it, but nor do I discourage it or shut them down when the topic comes up. I find myself watching keenly in order to see if I actually do hear the words ‘dying’ and ‘death’ as often as I think I do, or if I’m just overtly sensitive and tuned to the sound of it.
The characters in my daughters dollhouse- a mixture of porcelain nic-nacs, Barbie dolls and Maccas toys- are constantly dying, their whole families perishing in terrible hot air balloon accidents. The make-believe games that the Chop and her play often end in death, and my son makes dramatic declarations about what would happen, exactly, should he step into the gas heater (“Goodbye, family…” he roleplays, a mimic of seriousness attempting to squirm itself into a smirk on his face).
Part of the reason for this phenomena has to lay in the testostor-isation of my boy-child, the newly found roughness that’s come with Big School and Skylanders, Ben 10 and being five. And if I compare one child with the other, the Bump at this age to the way the Chop was two years ago, then her questions and discussions around death seem comparative with his. She still asks questions, about Heaven and death and Daddy. My son rarely questions anything anymore, and acts as some form of instigator of truth and their reality as he sees it. Generally it’s kind and gentle corrections, filling in the potential gaps in her knowledge with what he already knows. Only occasionally does it take a more fervent, aggressive tone (smacking his sister in the head because she dared to argue the topic of whether or not people can come back from the dead- the Chop obviously on the side of the negative- was a particular low point in sibling instruction).
As I do with most everything I’m not quite sure about, I’m leaving this one to run it’s course. I’d rather they talk about this stuff than didn’t. I’d much rather them mention it when they feel they need, than not be able to mention it at all.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
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May 12, 2013 at 5:52 am -
I think it’s quite natural to act those scenarios out for all kids at that age. Regardless of whether or not they have had it in their lives. I think it’s akin to pretending to floor is hot lava. I think you’re kids are typical, is what I’m trying to say.
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May 11, 2013 at 4:30 pm -
May 10, 2013 at 9:47 pm -
Some of the conversations I have with my children are quite strange, but I do try to satisfy their curiosities, and to not discourage them asking questions about anything.
I love listening in to some of the things they share with one another. It’s nice to see how they perceive the world, even if it isn’t exactly how I do.I don’t think that Chop is too far off par for how all little boys are at his age. Maybe he just has a deeper understanding of what it all means, but Bluey plays, and played the same way as he is.
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May 10, 2013 at 9:00 pm -
It’s hard to tell what’s “normal” really. My kids talk about death a lot too. In the last few years we’ve had my 3 grandparents die, an uncle, our dog and our cat. Plus my husband has cancer. But when we had to have our cat euthanised, the kids came too and after it was done, my 5 year old daughter said she thought the vet was going to stab the cat to death. Better to let them talk about it I guess than form their own stuff in their minds that you never hear about.
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May 10, 2013 at 9:00 pm -
My MIL died when my older son was 3. He was amazing. After hearing about it we jumped in the car to drop my husband off at his parents house (where she died). He was quiet the whole way there, about 40 minutes, then the second his dad was out of the car he started asking the most intricate and well thought out questions. Later at the pre funeral viewing, he consoled his Aunts with “it’s just her body, she’s already gone to heaven” something we hadn’t actually told him. He is completely pragmatic about life and death to this day. At times it seems obsessive and morbid, but I think it’s all part of his processing just what life is and means.
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May 10, 2013 at 3:19 pm -
My daughter hasn’t really dealt with death first hand, bar that of the family cat which she took in her stride but thanks to a keen interest in super heroes, Ben 10, vampires and the like, she too has developed an obsession with death. I let her go for the most part, only reining it in if the story lines to her make believe games get a bit too morbid or ridiculous “and then the dragon blew fire on him and then the dragon ate him and then the dragon chewed him up to mush…”
I don’t see the harm to be honest. - May 10, 2013 at 10:27 am
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It sounds a bit much to me. I know you don’t encourage it but perhaps there should be times when you do discourage it? They are very young and I think games that constantly end in death need to be redirected.
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May 10, 2013 at 9:32 am -
When I first learned how to read, I used to read the obituaries. I read anything in the paper about death, especially murders. I would look up terms l didn’t understand in the dictionary. To this day, I still remember looking up the word ‘garotte’. My parents just let it go and shook their head at their ‘weird child’. They still talk about this now, but I turned out ok. It’s still a subject that fascinates me but I don’t think it did me any harm. I’m sure an open discussion whenever they feel the need is just how you should be handling this! xx
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May 10, 2013 at 8:52 am -
“I’m leaving this one to run it’s course. I’d rather they talk about this stuff than didn’t. I’d much rather them mention it when they feel they need, than not be able to mention it at all.”
Exactly. I think that this relates not only to death, but to everything. It will only serve to make them more open later on, and more comfortable with talking about their feelings and touchy subjects.
Parenting: I think you are doing it right.
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Disturbia. – RRSAHM
Disturbia.
I’m back in the suburbs, a day trip to do boring adult things, but I ge ta few hours break from my kids, a few hours to just be Lori, instead of being “Muuuuum…”
I walk around a large, brightly lit supermarket, packed with stores and clothes and people all close together, colours and lights.
There’s a man walking near me, just ahead of me, and I know I know him from somewhere, and I feel like I know him well. It’s his moustache… where do I know this man from?
And then I stop, dead still. People stare at me and I don’t care don’t care because I can’t move, if I do I may scream and run and I’m not sure if I’ll go in the direction of the door or this arrogant man’s stupid head.
We’re in the ICU and there’s a nurse on duty, for Tony, a man with a thick moustache. And he has no compassion, he’s not like the rest of the nurses here, who let us cry and speak soft words of hope to one another and to Tony. We know the reality, we know that it will be only a matter of hours before he is declared brain dead, but still we speak in tones of gentle hope because there is little else we can do.
But this nurse, this horrible man… he suctions Tony’s throat, and goes to great lengths to point out that Tony should be gagging. We know that. He pokes Tony’s feet, with a long pin, for no other reason then to show us that there is no reaction to pain. We know that. We didn’t ask for him to do any of this- who made it his job, to burst the fragile soap bubbles of hope that float through the ICU?
He tells me that the drug screen came back positive for opiates. “Heroin?” I say, think no fucking way, run it again, that’s not possible, and he says “The doctors will discuss it with you.” And they do, and they dismiss the opiates immediately as the morphine they have given him and I feel so stupid for not realising that and this nurse, he is in the meeting, and he stands against the wall, when the rest of us are sitting, arms crossed, smug and seeming to smirk and I want to hit him.
I see him again, before I leave the brightly lit hive of shops. He passes me in the electronics aisle of a department store and I literally, physically, shudder.
It’s things like this, that fuck with the most. The ones I can’t prepare for.
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
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April 29, 2011 at 11:51 am -
This is so awful Lori. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that as well as everything else. As if you didn't have enough to deal with at the time.
- April 26, 2011 at 3:01 pm
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Your restraint in not tackling him to the ground is admirable!! Hoping these unexpected moments of shock and pain become few and very far between.. ((HUGS)) x
- April 21, 2011 at 9:32 pm
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I'm concurring with everyone before me. Whether you report him or not though, Lori, karma will find him. Big hugs to you. xx
- April 21, 2011 at 9:05 pm
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If you can find the strength, report him, so others don't have to go through what you did. Otherwise darling, take a breath, and let it go. You are in Paradise now. You are recovering. Focus on you and your kids. (Personally I would report him, but it may make things worse not better, so it's your call). xo
- April 21, 2011 at 8:58 pm
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I don't understand that guy. Why work in healthcare with such an attitude? In ICU, of all places? It can;'t even be put down to him having a bad day, because his actions were sadistic. I'm with the others. Report him. He should not be in that environment. X
- April 21, 2011 at 5:33 pm
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It's amazing isn't it that some health care professionals forget that they are 'health care professionals'and are just zombies. Met a few of these types this January as well as my father lay dying. Perhaps, in order to deal with people dying all the time, these people turn into arseholes to help them do their job. What happens of course is that they make the entire medical experience more unpleasant than need be. This guy is probably an arsehole in every facet of his life. No wonder he has a moustache.
- April 21, 2011 at 9:59 pm
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Wow – yeah, something like that can really fuck with your head. I'm with a lot of your other commenters – how can someone that callous end up in a CARING profession?!?!?
Anyways, I can imagine I'd feel the same way if I ended up running into the nasty little snots who bullied me throughout middle school and caused my mom to have me pulled out… HUG!! Sometimes this world is just too small!
- April 21, 2011 at 11:19 am
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Hi Lori, just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment. I was on a mobile then and couldn't do a longer comment.
What happened with in your case with this nurse is so totally wrong and against every ethical standard of his role. Nurses are not there to harm people, nor to make value judgements as he clearly was. He needs to be pulled up and a big bright light needs to be shone on his behavior. Maybe if he is lucky he will be able to be educated to alter his attitude and actions.
But Lori, he has caused a traumatized person even more unnecessary trauma and psychological damage, and he needs to answer for that.
It's just wrong on every level.
When I think of all the relatives I've hugged, counseled, held hands with and told the terrible truth to….. I just hope that you received that care from the others. Disgust fills me at the thought of someone in my profession hurting you this way.Big hugs,
Annie xxxxxx - April 21, 2011 at 5:06 am
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Listen to the nurses darling – report the prick!
- April 21, 2011 at 3:16 am
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I was date raped in college, and I've thought I've seen the guy who did it out of the corner of my eye in all kinds of situations since. It's never actually been him, but just the idea that he might be there has been a bucket of cold water on all kinds of sunshiny days.
I'm sorry you had such an awful nurse. I've had doctors just as cold during my miscarriage, thyroid diagnosis, and other medical misadventures. I'm sorry you had to have him in such an awful circumstance, and I'm sorry you had to run into him again.
- April 20, 2011 at 11:44 pm
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Yikes Lori!
What an asshole. I'm sorry that you had to experience him and sorry that you had to deal with such an unpleasant flashback.
Take care of yourself,
Trisha - April 20, 2011 at 9:37 pm
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oh how horrible. A letter to the hospital would go a long way towards preventing this from happening to anyone else, and hopefully give you a sense of power over this scum bag and those horrible memories. so sorry lori.
- April 20, 2011 at 8:08 pm
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Oh Lori! How awful. Try to find comfort that you are not a person like him, that you would never set out to upset or hurt people like that.
I agree with Anne-Maree, report him so he cannot do this to another family. - April 20, 2011 at 7:52 pm
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What a sad pathetic little man. He's lucky it wasnt me he'd made feel that way because i have a feeling i wouldnt have been frozen with anxiety as you were, but unable to control my rage…
- April 20, 2011 at 7:09 pm
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Lori, I'm a nurse, and I'm telling you REPORT HIM!
You need to write to the general manager of the hospital, the director of nursing at the hospital AND the health care complaints commission.their webpage is HCCC.nsw.gov.au.
Really, just do it, please. Xxx
Anniepal - April 20, 2011 at 5:23 pm
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I am so glad you do not live there anymore.
- April 20, 2011 at 4:13 pm
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PS Can't believe you handled seeing him again with such composure. I would've thrown something at him, for sure. Also, I've just read some of the other comments on here – perhaps you should report him.. He shouldn't be dealing with patients and their families when he's obviously a massive tool xxx
- April 20, 2011 at 4:10 pm
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Fuckwit.
- April 20, 2011 at 3:20 pm
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You're a better person than I am, with how you handled it ((HUG))
- April 20, 2011 at 1:37 pm
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I'm sorry you had to deal with an unprofessional, burnt-out ICU nurse. I am an ICU nurse, and his actions and behaviour make me feel ashamed. I hope that, when the time is right, you'll write a letter to the hospital to alert them to this maggot's actions.
((hugs)) - April 20, 2011 at 12:47 pm
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Being as asshole is one thing, but being an asshole when you work in a hospital is fucking horrible. I hope somebody will gag and poke him for the hell of it.
- April 20, 2011 at 12:20 pm
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Hugs! It isn't too late to report him. Seriously.
- April 20, 2011 at 11:59 am
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For every 99 brilliant nurses there is one fuckwit who craps all over everyone.
If you feel like you can, report him.
- April 20, 2011 at 11:52 am
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Instant headache. What an unwelcome, unsteadying stress to relive. It's when it happens doing the mundane that knocks the wind out of you, I know. There may just come a day where you can unemotively address the head of that ICU – families do not need that sort of self-serving crud around them, no matter if he's the best nurse they've ever seen. What an absolutely clueless individual. He didn't have to be so obvious and cold with his narcissism and need to be right.
My love. xx
- April 20, 2011 at 10:52 am
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a) Report him and
b) Should he walk past you again, still out your foot (accidentally of course) and trip him up! - April 20, 2011 at 8:41 pm
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I simply don't understand why a person like that chooses to work in a profession where they are required to provide care and support? Fuckers.
- April 20, 2011 at 10:16 am
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So sorry this happened to you. The flashbacks are so hard. much love Lori as always xx
- April 20, 2011 at 10:13 am
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Love, sweetie. Just love. xoxo
- April 20, 2011 at 9:25 am
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That happened to me once after I survived psychosis. My family and I were out eating and a family diner. A woman kept looking at me. And looking at me. I remembered her from somewhere.
I almost said hi. That's the awful part. Then I realized who she was-the nurse intern that tormented me in the hospital-and I almost bit off my tongue. When I finally connected the dots about what she was doing I hid in my semi private room and fought off amped up social anxiety.
She never said one nice thing about me. Or did anything for me. She treated me like trash. I almost said hi.
It gets to be less invasive Lori. It really does.
- April 20, 2011 at 9:11 am
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I am so sorry. Too bad you couldn't just ream him a new one. what an asswipe.
- April 20, 2011 at 9:06 am
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I feel like I was there with you, I want to shake him, hit him and show him what he is doing to people. You are so strong.
- April 20, 2011 at 8:59 am
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I too have heard of health 'professionals' behaving like this in case of a suicide. I can't even imagine what good they think they are doing… that man is an arsewipe. As is everyone else who kicks someone when they are down. I agree with Kellogsville – what goes around, comes around. It would just be nice to be there when it does…
- April 20, 2011 at 8:37 am
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Oh Lori… I've been there before. Not with the gravity of your situation – but facing someone who caused so much pain, and wanting to hurt them, but frozen in time and fear, remembering.
Much Love to you…
- April 20, 2011 at 8:36 am
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What you didn't do was give him the satisfaction if knowing he'd upset you again. Well done. What a sad man, I wonder how well he sleeps. What goes around comes around and all that. Xxx
- April 20, 2011 at 8:30 am
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yeah, you know. there's a well-known phenomenon among health care professionals in which otherwise compassionate people make a point of making things miserable for suicide attemptors and their families.
hatwipes.
- April 20, 2011 at 8:30 am
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OMG why is a person like that working in an ICU where people need love & support the very most. What a disgrace, though in saying that I'm not surprised by that hospital having dodgy people considering their other departments.
And this darling girl is why living in Paradise is best for you. It's just safer, there is noone there that you can just bump into like this, to force you back to those horrible minutes of the ICU.
- April 20, 2011 at 8:28 am
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What the hell would a man of his ilk be doing in a job like that? OMG! That made me shudder too, as if he were pure evil, an angel of death amongst all those other giving, compassionate souls working to nurse patients back to health!
God, I'm so shocked he came into your life in this manner again.
- April 20, 2011 at 8:07 am
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What an asshole. I hope you reported him (and if you didn't it's not too late to do it now).
- April 20, 2011 at 9:59 am
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Asswipe.
- April 20, 2011 at 9:02 am
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Girl, I do not know how you held off on slapping that horrible, sadistic man.
I don't know if I could have. He needs to be removed from icu. Big hugs to you, as ever - April 20, 2011 at 8:17 am
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What a horrible man. Your strength is amazing. I don't think I could have been so calm around him, something narky and pointless would have escaped my throat. More proof of your strength.
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Random Ramblings of a SAHM: It’s not my fault. It’s because I have boobies.
Random Ramblings of a SAHM: Not OK.
Four Seasons In One Day. – RRSAHM
Four Seasons In One Day.
“Even when you’re feeling warm
the temperature could drop away.
Like four seasons in one day.”
Four Seasons In One Day, Crowded House.
***
I know this is a fairly common complaint about Melbourne. But, really, the weather here is just f*cked.
It rains all the goddamn time.
We’ve been here for five weeks now, and I’m fairly sure I can count the number of days it hasn’t rained on one hand.
Sydney has, on average, a higher yearly rainfall of Melbourne. But it rains for more days of the year here than in New South Wales.
The difference, I’m discovering, is that when it rains in Sydney, it rains. It pours down, sets in, and may not leave again for a week.
While in Melbourne, it showers lightly. But often. So, so often.
Case in point– if you happen to be eating outside in Sydney, and it begins to rain, you pack up shop and move inside. Quickly. Because it is raining.
In Melbourne, no one moves when the rain starts. Everyone stares blankly at the sky for half a second, then resumes their conversation. Because, guaranteed, the rain will stop in two minutes time and your table will be dry again in five.
It’s certainly taking some getting used to. I drop the kids off at school wearing a beanie and a scarf. It’s not unusual to pick them up that afternoon wearing a short sleeved t–shirt.
I’m learning to wear lots of layers, in order to be prepared for any and every weather possibility. I’m also learning to take an umbrella with me wherever I go. No wonder every one here carries such huge bloody handbags.
I just need to work on my adaptive flexibility, and not let it mess with my mental health. Just because it’s raining and cold and horrible now, doesn’t mean it will be that way in half an hour.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
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October 14, 2013 at 8:32 pm -
Dont worry, you’ll love, love LOVE the low-humidity summers. I’m an ex-Melbourne girl living in Sydney & I still miss Melbourne’s dry heat summers. Just prtend youre in Europe :0)
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October 9, 2013 at 11:15 pm -
It’s one of the joys of Melbourne – never boring! I’m sure if the scouting movement hadn’t started in the UK it would have here, as we learn – Be prepared! (and yes, always carry an umbrella). And also make the most of the sun when it is out – but you will discover summer can be very long and hot. Enjoy! (I do actually like the diversity – maybe because I am so used to it. But rain at school pick up time is particularly annoying …)
- October 9, 2013 at 1:53 pm
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Oh, I get the SAD’s so easily. Maybe that’s why I haven’t yet moved to Melbourne. Sydney might be lame at times, but the weather helps. UV Lamp?
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October 9, 2013 at 1:35 am -
You need to make sure you’re getting enough sunshine, Sunshine. If you start getting blue from the frequent rain, you might need to look into getting one of those light dealie-bobs. They work wonders.
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- October 8, 2013 at 10:02 pm
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I just love this post. There is something about it that says to me it’s about so much more than the weather.
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October 8, 2013 at 9:34 pm -
Ah, Australia. We’re getting a regular 19 to 29 through the day and night with clear skies. The tropics are beautiful this time of year. Remember though; you can grow a multitude of flowers and/or vegies with your Summer weather, if you have some room for a garden or pots.
- October 8, 2013 at 8:14 pm
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It would be strange to adapt to that kind of rain…I’m in Qld so rain means summer storm at the least!
Vanessa recently posted…A Bat Story - October 8, 2013 at 7:38 pm
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When we were in the drought it hardly rained at all! School pick up time is a favourite time for it to rain too, that is most annoying!
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October 8, 2013 at 6:21 pm -
Basically excellent writeup. The idea if truth be told used to be some sort of fun accounts the item. Glimpse challenging to far more launched acceptable from you! Having said that, the best way might all of us continue any communication?
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October 8, 2013 at 4:48 pm -
I remember being told that if you don’t like the weather in Melbourne, just wait five minutes and it will change. I never got used to the cold Victorian winters, strange rain patterns and blaring hot summers. Hence we are back in Qld with the summery spring weather and the Cane Toads!
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October 8, 2013 at 1:57 pm -
In time you will learn that march, April and October are the most fun. They are our Katy Perry months. Lol.
It’s part if the charm.
Xx rah rah
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Random Ramblings of a SAHM: Not Speaking About Just Everything…
Reader's Digest has jumped the shark. – RRSAHM
Reader’s Digest has jumped the shark.
Welcome comrades,
Something you need to know about me. I have, somewhere deep inside of me, a little old granny with a perm just busting to come out. I thoroughly enjoy knitting, I don’t understand GPS’s (read a map, people, it’s a dying art!), I find nothing more relaxing than a good cup of tea from a pot that hasn’t seen the kitchen sink in years. And I have a sad affiliation with Readers Digest magazine.
I blame my Nan. Not my Gran, my Nan- big difference. When she could read, my nan read Readers Digest, cover to cover. And when she was done, she passed them on to me.
I cackled my through Life’s Like That, All in a Day’s Work and various bottom-of-the-page fillers. I shed tears at emotively written, heart wrenching stories of house fires, heart transplants and attacks by giant anacondas. I blatantly ignored pages and pages and pages of ads for house insurance, vitamins and fish oils, and Metamucil.
Gone are the days of my Nan getting the RD delivered monthly by subscription- her eyes just aren’t up to the fine print anymore. And I’ve discovered it’s hardly a readily available commodity. Even Borders doesn’t stock it. In fact, the Borders lady reckons the whole magazine has gone into receivership and won’t be available for much longer.
Financial troubles would explain a lot though. There are more ads than magazine these days, and the Medical Breakthrough pages have expanded. You can be guaranteed at least one, possible two, stories about cholesterol, cancer or Alzheimer’s. Every insurance company in Australia advertises in there, and their adds are getting smaller- small enough to fit the space previously occupied by funny fillers. It seems the good people at RD are getting their money’s worth out of their dwindling audience while they still can.
The whole thing is just bloody depressing. and the saddest part of it is, I know the poor old staple of bathrooms and waiting rooms is on it’s way out, limping and probably should be shot. But I, like clockwork, show up to my local newsagent every month and line up with the other grannies to purchase one of the five copies they order in, then furtively stuff my purchase in the bottom of Bump’s pram (if I run into anyone I know, I’m buying Cosmo, OK?). What will I do for a fix when it’s all over???
By the way, I had a whole one vote to bring back Bad Humpty. He will return.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
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July 19, 2013 at 7:04 am -
I used to read Reader’s Digest too, my parents got it. In fact my sister taught herself to read on it, at something like age 3-4, but she’s the genius. It took me several more years to find it interesting, and I mainly paid attention to the Humor in Uniform and similar sections. I’ve not read it regularly in a long time, but when I do see it I pick it up and I’m saddened. However I’ve found a way to get a fix of the GOOD reader’s digests. In one of the local college libraries, way up on the highest floor in a back corner there’s shelf after shelf of Reader’s Digest that have been bound (like six months to each binding) in hard cover, going back at least to the 1960′s. When I was in school there that’s where I’d spend a fair amount of my spare time. I haven’t been in a while, but if you’re really craving the good ol’ days you might try your college library.
Cassondra recently posted…Living With ADD - March 11, 2010 at 8:07 pm
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I can't read a map. I've tried. Hard. Ask the people I was in the U.S. Army with.
My Grandma had only 1 tea pots the entire time I was born. The only reason she used the 2nd one is because her younger daughter bought it as a gift. She never washed her tea kettle nor her coffee pot. They were always being used.
I used to enjoy Reader's Digest, as well. For just the same reasons as you. I don't read it any longer. I have found it has changed way too much.
- March 7, 2010 at 5:01 pm
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Dude, I grew up inhaling Reader's Digest. My father (he's passed now) was a loyal subscriber. I remember I even submitted something to The Laugh Lines. It never got published though. Bastards.
PS. I vote for Humpty Part 2
PPS. Yay Sarah loves you. - March 7, 2010 at 4:48 am
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Hi there! I found your blog through Mummy Time, and loved reading this post! I can so relate to this – I would get my Pa-Pa's leftover Reader's Digests, and really developed an attachment to them! Thanks for sharing!
Smiles,
Sarah - March 6, 2010 at 11:18 pm
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Is this where I confess I'm dieing to do the next installment? I amuse myself…
- March 6, 2010 at 11:04 pm
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Who says one person can't make a difference? I got Bad Humpty back!
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Random Ramblings of a SAHM: Soul Cancer.
Random Ramblings of a SAHM: For Any Mother Who May Pass This Way (Nothing funny about this post, folks)
Guest post- My Heafy – RRSAHM
Guest post- My Heafy
A guest post from my lovely friend Erin, who is not a blogger, but I’m actually starting to think she should be. Grab the tissues for this one, my lovelies, you will need them. Oh, and if you’re getting deja vu, don’t be alarmed – you may have read this over at Just Me a week or so ago.
We had been married for 10 months when Heath got sick.
He was down in Puckapunyal on an army promotion’s course; he’d been away from home a few months at this stage. He started to get flu like symptoms and then he got sicker and sicker and the Army medical centre realised they didn’t know what was going on so they sent him to St Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne. All it took was one experienced Doctor to look at him to know it wasn’t normal to be so sick in a short amount of time.
I was at work when he called me and said it didn’t look good, they didn’t know yet exactly but they knew it was bad. A lovely Dr spoke to me and said I should come down to Melbourne as soon as I could. So my darling father and I were on the earliest flight the very next day. We got to the hospital as soon as we could but they had taken Heath for a procedure, we waited hours and hours for him to come back. I still hadn’t seen him, then they wheel him in and my dad says quickly, “he looks awful Erin”. He did. The procedure they had done wasn’t exactly the right one…they had removed a tonsil instead of a lymph node so Heath was booked in for bone marrow biopsy and then another lymph node biopsy.
On Saturday the 17th of September 2005 we got the news that changed us forever….It was leukaemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. ALL is the most common childhood cancer and very rare in young adults. He had a massive tumour on his chest and in his neck. The estimated about a kilo’s worth all up.
When we got the news I remember saying to Heath and my dad “Haven’t we been through enough”. Heath was so strong only with a tear in his eye he said “I’ll be ok I’m tough”. The hospital was kind enough to let me sleep in the room with him and we held hands all night that night. Him in bed and me in the recliner. I never wanted to let him go.
We were eventually allowed to come back to Sydney where we were met by an Army ambulance and taken straight to Westmead hospital. Heath was to start treatment the next day. First he had to donate a little piece of himself and an insurance policy for having children. They didn’t know how the chemo and radiation would affect him.
Then began the drugs, so toxic the nurses wore thick gloves and goggles and gowns.
So toxic I was told not to hold him too much.
So toxic that it ate away healthy cells as well as the cancer cells.
He was in hospital for weeks with the first round of chemo. Day after day of drugs. He lost his hair and lots of weight. Another bone marrow biopsy and wonderful news they had got him into remission!!!! But he still had to continue on the treatment protocol that was to last 2 years. He ended up with strong chemo as well as radiation on his brain (because that tends to be where ALL relapses, in the brain fluid); he had spinal taps where chemo was injected directly into his spine.
One drug caused blood clots and one day this caused a major problem…Heath was in the bathroom and I heard him scream in pain. I ran in to find him having a full on seizure on the floor. I rang the ambulance and he was taken to hospital where he had another seizure and ended up not being able to use his left leg for weeks. This drug had caused a clot in his brain. But the fighter that he is he learned to walk again and 8 months after his diagnosis he went back to work. He was still having chemo and had regular hospital visits but he wanted to prove he would be ok.
September 17 2007 he was done with chemo!!We were lucky enough to fall pregnant naturally in December 2007. He could not get the all clear though. 3 monthly blood tests till September 2010 would be a constant reminder of his illness. 17th of September 2010 will be it!!! 5 years since diagnosis…virtually cured and a survivor!!!
Wanting to prove to himself he is well, Heath is going to say a big F*CK YOU to cancer by kayaking 800kms of the Murray River. …by himself!! 3 weeks alone with the river. He is raising money for the Leukaemia foundation that does fantastic work in the blood bone cancer community. My Heafy is my hero and I am one lucky woman to have him alive and well.
See, I told you to get your tissues. Click on the button below to check it out and support Heath Kayak For Cancer- he’s kicking some ass!!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
- August 18, 2010 at 1:56 am
- August 17, 2010 at 11:50 pm
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What a story. So glad he is okay!
- August 17, 2010 at 10:08 am
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I don't think I breathed that entire post. What a bloody legend your Heafy is!!! And you too… What a thing for a couple to go through. Congratulations on your gorgeous little munchkin xxx
- August 17, 2010 at 8:30 am
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Your Heafy sounds like a bloody champion! Good on him for being a survivor and best of luck for his Murray river trip…
- August 17, 2010 at 3:21 am
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F. YOU. CANCER!!
- August 17, 2010 at 12:44 pm
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Amazing story – have good-bumbs. My dear dad is fighting the same thing with all his might. He has no energy and is down to 60 kilos. I am going to email this inspiring link right now.
Hugs! - August 16, 2010 at 9:23 pm
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Wow oh wow! Erin should definitely be a blogger. x
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Love it – Pimp it notes!
Ohhh…sexy guest posts…rrrraaarrrr(that's my super sexy seductive tiger voice)
Looking forward to the "sexy guest posts!"
Following you from Blog Flow!
You're such a tease.
Little old bloggy award for you over at my place today, hon. x
Happy PINT!
going to check out ur giveaway
Those are awesome PINT! Going to check out your crappy giveaway. LOL Stopping by from Supah's!
Loving the Pimp Out notes, Lori baby.=)
I've already made my guess on your Crappest Competition! Happy PINT!
Love your writing. 'Stalking' you now.
If you have a chance, check out my blog at http://mformommy.blogspot.com
I love the post its. I can't do anything neat on the computer…soo not technological over here.
Clever post!