Project 365 Thu 4 Jun 09

THE LUCKIEST MOMMY IN THE WORLD!
After half a dozen days of asking Clarissa whether I could take a photo of her earrings and receiving a very decided NO! ... she was full of sunshine and light tonight and let me without a murmur. In fact, it was better than sunshine and light and included kisses and hugs! It was a very good night.

And why wouldn't I want to take a photo of her favourite earrings when they're the cutest little hearts.

Note she's also wearing the cream scarf she asked me to buy her ... that girl sure loves cream and white. (It must be hereditary; it sounds like me and the colour red!)


Clarissa wearing her cute heart earrings and her new scarf.

And while I'm talking about loving my children, I got a text message from Wini I'm sure many parents get; "can you pick me up?" Pick you up from where, I always think: Sydney, Alaska? And what time?

Fortunately those little details are easily sorted out by a quick phone call ... and her payment is I get to take photos of her.

Woo Hoo! I'm one lucky mommy! LOL!

Project 365 Thu 23 Apr 09

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY
Now my baby is 21 and my girls are all grown up now.

It's good ... but it's also very sad. I wish I could do it all over again.

Our tradition is that the birthday girl gets to choose dinner (invariably sushi in our house), and the upside for me was that I got to take photos. Woo hoo!

And the nicest thing happened later as Clarissa was leaving to go to the pictures. She gave me a kiss on the cheek, and told me "Thanks for a great night, mum!"


The birthday 'cake' and candles.


Clarissa carefully unwrapping the pink wrapping paper.


Happy Clarissa opening her pink camera.


Playing with her pink camera!


My little darling!


A typical Clarissa look.

Project 365 Thu 16 Apr 09

LOVE NOTES
Clarissa has always been the kind of kid who left me funny little notes and I came across this one she left for me years ago on a pizza box I keep scrapbooking paper in.

It never fails to make me laugh.


Clarissa's note from the pizza box.

Project 365 Wed 18 Mar 09

Because of the dizziness I didn't want to drive and little Clarissa drove me to three stores to do my weekend shop:
1. my local scrapbooking stores to pick up a couple of sheets of cardstock for a project I've been working on
2. Safeway: for the fortnightly grocery shop
3. greengrocer: for the week's meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables.

That's not to say she was thrilled, although she's usually really good. Her little face screwed up and she asked something like "Why should I?" or some equivalent.

I quickly reminded her that I answered the accountant's questions the day he posed them with the result she'll get a nice tax refund much quicker than if she'd done it herself, and she made no other noise that I might be using and abusing her!

I don't think it's possible to visit a store with a child of any age (not with mine anyway) without them adding something to the shopping basket for me to buy for them. This time around Clarissa was mad for a new mug; and why not, she's only had two new mugs over the last six or so months!

The latest cute new mug: a pink pig!

There were two mugs she had her eye on and she picked up both and asked me: "Do I look like a pig or a cow?"

There have to be a hundred good responses for someone funnier and quicker than me to throw back at her (even when I'm not dizzy and nauseous!), and all I suggested was she got the pig! She has some crazy fondness for pigs; the last pig thing she got was a green plastic money box from IKEA. Definitely not her best purchase, or was I conned into buying that for her as well?

Project 365 Sat 7 Mar 09

BEAUTIFUL CLARISSA
Last night I dropped Clarissa off at an 18th birthday party for a work colleague and she let me take a few photos before we left.



This one is the best; there's only the merest hint of a scowl! But those eyes; she's such a cutie and she sure looks like my dad's side of the family.

Project 365 Sat 21 Feb 09

TAGS GALORE
I was scrapbooking for the first time since scrapbooking with Tina a few weeks ago when Clarissa interrupted me to task could I iron her dress and wrap the 21st birthday gift (a silver bracelet in a black cardboard box) for her.

Ironing is something I don't really do (for others anyway, it's bad enough doing my own) but I did her dress anyway. (And do I need to mention she ended up wearing a different dress out?)

But her second request ... which wasn't so bad really since I had some of my scrapbooking stuff out and I was feeling creative.

So, I promptly ignored what she literally asked me to do and thought broadly about what she asked me (Yes, yes, I know ... I was working up to doing whatever I wanted! Work with me here).

And what I did was this. I didn't wrap the jewellery box in paper, but instead wrapped a bright purple ribbon around it and made the cutest purple tag covered in red hearts. (And guess who never thought of taking a photo of it? No prizes for guessing!)

But I loved the little tag so much I decided to make a few more .... and to create a tag jar that the girls can dig into every time they have a birthday to go to.


Some of the tags in the tag jar.

And what was nicest was that Clarissa loved the way I did the present. And I know this because she did that really cute thing she always does when she's happy: she gets a big smile, uses this "ooh, isn't this pwetty" voice, rubs the top of my head and then kisses me!

Project 365 Thu 19 Feb 09

EXPENSIVE LESSON
On Saturday night, Clarissa came running into the house at around 10.30pm.

She was a little breathless and started telling me about her car. I assumed the worst (because I can) and she quickly assured me the car was fine because what I think's always written all over my face.

But even though there’s nothing wrong with the car (and it was obvious Clarissa was fine) there's no happy ending because the evening cost her $686 in fines!


Who would believe not paying registration or displaying P plates would be so expensive?

The story goes like this.

Over a month ago Clarissa got her registration renewal and stuck it in the unpaid bills drawer.

Usually I nag and go crazy over unpaid bills but I didn’t this time.

Clarissa's the more organised and responsible of the two girls so I thought it would be ok; Clarissa thought she had a few more days to go and had even put a reminder in her phone ...

That’s the $567 fine for the registration.

Now for the driving without P plates: $119.

About a week ago Clarissa got her car serviced, and used my car for the day. The P plates were transferred between cars, and then they were left on the sofa.

This I did nag about, twice, but was told something like “I’m buying a different set of P plates because I don’t like those”, and then the P plates disappeared.

And how did she get caught?

Clarissa was driving herself and her friend Woodsy to see Underworld on Saturday when the cops must have done a routine check of her registration. Her lack of P plates was probably picked up when they checked her licence.

What a way to learn a lesson, and exactly when we're all saving to go overseas.

Project 365 Wed 18 Feb 09

CLARISSA MADE A FUNNY
Horace and I were watching TV--one of my favourite shows called Time Team--as Clarissa headed out of the door for a walk.


Clarissa heading back indoors after her hour long walk. Note how blurry it is because she wouldn't even slow down to let me take one shot!

I was never really going to go with her but I asked anyway, "Weren't you going to ask me to come with you?"

Quick as flash she responded, "If you can keep up, you can come!"

Horace and I both laughed because there's more to that story.

When both the girls were little every time they wanted to come with me I'd tell them, "If you can't keep up, you can't come!"

Being little, of course, they wanted desperately to come not realising that I'd never leave them at home.

So really it worked out well for all of us ...

Project 365 (Mon 16 Feb 09)

HAS CLARISSA GOT A BOYFRIEND?
Clarissa's been leaving the house more often during the evenings, ostensibly to spend time with friends. However, she's invariably picked up by the same person, easily recognised by the sound of his purring engine as he waits outside for Clarissa.

INSERT PHOTO OF CLARISSA LEAVING THE HOUSE

The young man is known as 'Woodsy', a curiously Australian nickname for a male with the surname Woods. And when I quizzed Clarissa about whether I'd met him was told xxxxxx

Now, all this has led me to the ineviteable question: "Has Clarissa got a boyfriend?"

A question to which Clarissa strenuously answers in the negative, and once asked me "Would I go on a date looking like this?"

The days when young men came to the door and met the parents have largely gone; they were fast disappearing when I was a teenager during the 1970s.

And so we're left in the awkward limbo of wondering what the men are like their daughters spend time with, and when we might meet them, if ever.

Of course, this is a moot point if said daughter doesn't have a boyfriend, and is actually spending time away from home to get away from her mother!

This could really go either way ...

Project 365 Day 45 (Sat 14 Feb 09)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
It's been a quiet day ... washing, cleaning, organising for the next week as I'm meeting up with a friend tomorrow to go to the Aquarium.

But I made sure to send the girl's a Valentine's day SMS, and to Horace and the girls a little chocolate heart.


Horace's chocolate on his pillow.

And what was Clarissa's response to my SMS: "Going to underworld 3 .... jealous?"

You bet!

Project 365 Day 43 (Thu 12 Feb 09)

ALCOPOPS
In the second half of 2008 the Australian government changed the tax laws for alcopops in a bid to curb teenage drinking. Whether this was the right approach or if it's worked seems to depend on which side you're on.

What I know about alcopops is anecdotal and based on Clarissa's habits. She's a fan of alcopops, and was impacted by the tax increase, and I guess like most young drinkers not sufficiently to stop drinking them altogether.


Clarissa with her latest tipple, Bolt, one of the new malt based alcopops.

You note I said Clarissa's experience and not Wini's. Wini is all about the destination and not the journey; looking for a mild buzz at the cheapest cost. She has no interest whatsoever in the taste, good, bad or indifferent as long as it's cheap!

And now Smirnoff is cannily getting around the tax laws by brewing a malt-based alcopop and Clarissa's taking advantage of the much cheaper price.

As we were chatting, Clarissa offered me a taste (as she often does) and this time I tried it. At first it tasted like an incredibly sweet raspberry drink, and that was followed by a mild beer after taste.

Not at all unpleasant and it's no wonder the kids drink them. It sure beats the beer and Mateus Rose the underage drinkers of the 70s were drinking.

Of scrambled eggs and mechanics

I got up at 5am this morning to take Babby (Clarissa) to work because she asked me to take her car to the mechanic to see why her gear box changes are so clunky. So when I got back I decided to make myself my favourite breakfast: avocado on rye, topped with bacon, fresh spinach and scrambled eggs, and a tasty sprinkling of spring onion and feta cheese. Doesn't it look good?



My fingers are crossed it's good news with the car. The mechanic said it's either low on oil--which I really hope--or else it's going to be expensive; gear boxes invariably are. I'm going to call him around 1pm to find out.

Later we're off to the rehab hospital for Horace. Last week he only had water therapy twice for about 45 mins because his regular physiotherapist wasn't around, but this week she's around for his 30 min physiotherapy session as well. I can take him to his first session for this week, but from Thursday onwards Horace will have to take himself because I go back to work on Wednesday. I am not happy because I definitely would rather be here with Horace !

We also saw the surgeon on Friday for the last time. He's been so pleased with Horace's progress and referred to him as a model patient: never complains, heals well, everything went perfectly. Someone from Debbie's workplace was looking for an orthopoedic surgeon and I gave her the thumbs up for Dr Michael Brighton-Knight in Hampton on Horace's recommendation. Anybody in Melbourne needing a spinal decompression/fusion should definitely consider him.

Now I'm off to organise the various phone calls etc that always seems to need doing: call the ISP to get the dtmf tones put back on the phone, call a computer recycler to get rid of various old computers, screens and DVD players, phone about Clarissa's passport and work out how a certain VCR works. Never a dull moment around here!

Clarissa's going to camp

Clarissa's decided to go to camp in America for summer 2009 as a counsellor, and it sounds so exciting I wish I was going too.

I can't remember how she started looking but she found a website (http://www.iep.org.au/summercampusa/summercampusa.asp) advertising a seminar. The two of us went together and it was really funny to hear her drive there saying "I don't really want to travel on my own" and drive home saying "I don't care if I have to go on my own"! The seminar made a huge difference to how she felt (which is not surprising as that guy could sell ice to the Eskimos), but I'm glad she's really pumped about going because it will be a great experience.

The planning and organising phase were kicked off last night when we window shopped for luggage and tomorrow I'm off to get her a passport application (she's a good delegator!). Clarissa also wants to get a swimming and first aid qualification before she goes because they'll be helpful, and I promised to teach her what little I know about photography and computers.

And who knows, Clarissa may also get to meet up with family she's never met before in Canada and America ... I know she would love that.

So if you see this sweet little face in north east America during summer 2009, be extra kind because I'll be missing my baby!