New Years Resolutions

Of course I do it every year don’t I?  Hate them!  Just setting myself up to fail! Somehow though can’t help it, is like painful ritual that marks the passing from one year to the next, you know you’ll think about them, you’ll make some and you know you’ll fail.

In December had loads of them, loose weight, adopt perfect healthy eating habits, become super Mum, turn into a Delia Smith/Martha Stewart domestic Goddess, learn everything there is to know about Linux operating system, write a book, become amazing world famous photographer, blog so well win some kind of literary award, teach Spanish, start running (staggering) again, win lottery, oh the list was endless.  All seemed perfectly reasonable before Christmas and of course all had to be put on hold until after the holidays, can’t possibly do anything before then, unthinkable!!

Realise it is now February.  Um well slightly behind schedule on a few of them, well most of them, well alright haven’t started.  Really though is just too hard to start January, too much pressure, couldnt take it, crumbled.  Poked a bit at the healthy eating and diet resolutions and managed to gain weight, well not really my fault cos loads of leftovers and can’t waste them (of course ended up going to waist anyway) but you know what I mean.  So now February and really trying to pull myself together.  February much more reasonable time to start these things, I mean is a big adjustment having to write 2012 all the time and summer seems so far away, well now getting used to 2012 and summer one month closer.  Although summer being a month closer adds its own pressure, the dreaded swimsuit aaaarrrggghhh!  Its enough to drive you to the fridge for comfort…and so the never ending cycle of guilt begins again!!!!!!!!!!!

Moving

Moving all sounds great doesn’t it when you talk about it, discuss it, think about it. The reality is different, very different. When you plan it it all seems lovely, new house, fresh start, when the reality involves far too many boxes and a long time sorting.

Boxes breed in captivity, is well known fact, in the wild they don’t fair so well.  David Attenborough could probably explain why all I know is that arrived back from Spain to find the new house had about a billion boxes squatting there. There just weren’t that many when we put them in storage and between you and me not one of their offspring was pretty. Having left the last house in somewhat of a rush the boxes were far from organised properly. Having been in Spain when they were put into the new house they were all mixed up and just everywhere and really cant be sure which ones were original and which are the wretched offspring.

So the first day managed to get the kitchen done more or less, some items were still missing in action but meals could be prepared, bonus! After that was just a question of dig in and get on with it. Now tricky part in all of this was the fridge, the new place had no fridge so we had to deal with a small dorm room size fridge. Now it’s not a problem in Europe to have a tiny fridge (small under the counter size) but in America, different story. Everything in America is huge, the ketchup bottle is huge, the margarine tub is gigantic and the milk is in a gallon container. Spent about a month with the tiny fridge. Was interesting having to go out and because only two out of three children has had breakfast. Should have probably left it and the first one up gets breakfast, the living embodiment of “ya snooze, ya loose”. Think I may have missed the opportunity to really teach them a life lesson “the early bird gets the worm” or in this case “the early child gets the milk”. Could have been a great story for them to tell their kids of how difficult their child hood was lol! Could have helped pay for some therapists new BMW!  Now have lush fridge and I swear I hear angels singing every time I open the door!

Now that Christmas is out of the way I realize that the house is fairly organized but the garage is not. Now really only thing am actually missing is a winter coat so really should just take everything in there to the dump……but what if???? What if have forgotten a lottery ticket in some forgotten box that turns out to be a mega winner. As am writing this could have zillions awaiting me or not of course. Am gonna be disappointed now when finally get out there (when it warms up) if I don’t find one. Ugh, can already feel the disappointment. So maybe just leave the garage as is, hope the box with coats in turns up sooner rather than later and avoid stinging disappointment. So there you have it, am officially moved in and done with boxes. Time to hibernate now!  Normal winter behavior resumes!

Shenanigans, Part 2

Extremely lucky this week to have had two lots of  Shenanigans, lots of fun.  Although is true have to make it happen, is brilliant when opportunity knocks.  Some people miss out but personally like to grab the moment and squeeze every last drop of fun out of it.  Lucky for me have family and friends ready to make an effort and give the fun a chance to explode.

So the second lot involved a simple comment from a very lovely friend in England who likes to visit us all here as often as possible (probably for the Shenanigans).  It happened like this.  Each morning after doing the school run (for my niece and nephew and lovely friends children), we like to have a quick coffee in our local coffee shop/bar.  It’s a quick 20 minutes with my parents, lovely sister of course and lovely friends.  So this week did a face book check-in at bar.  Well immediately got comments from lovely UK friend Liz, saying she wished she was with us, and actually we should at least have a cardboard cut out of her to take to coffee.  Takes no more than that for an idea to be born!  We can really get Shenanigans from almost anything, it’s a gift, and we are proud of it, however we never use our powers for evil only for good.

So lovely bf Raquel, lovely sister Joanne and obviously yours truely came up with a cunning and highly amusing plan.  Cardboard cut-out a bit tricky of course due to needing enormous printer at home and also life size piece of cardboard.  We had neither so alternative needed.  Decided on sticking a passport size photo (just cutting out the face) onto a Barbie doll and having her join us on our school run and morning coffee.  Brilliant  and yes we are prepared to go to almost any lengths for Shenanigans!  We try to work with any and all available resources and we usually make it work.

So we borrowed one of my niece’s Barbies, but the only one with dark hair (Liz has dark hair and we are attentive to detail) was Gabriela from High School Musical.  Tricky part was that she is slightly smaller than regular Barbie .  The outfit we wanted to use was a normal Barbie one (Gabriela’s outfit not really suitable for our friend), so had to get out the sticky tape and take her clothes in quite a bit (where’s Gok Wan when you need him).  All looked good, especially when we stuck on lovely friends face over the top of Gabriela’s.

We did the whole works.  We took photos of Liz taking the kids to school (they were a bit puzzled until we explained was for fun and Shenanigans), then they got into the spirit of it (started fighting over Auntie Liz).  We took her to coffee (did face book check-in) and she even had a fun-tastic night out on “the Dos” (out on the town) although she did end up a little worse for wear, cannot actually tell you how we found her but let’s just say she’d had a few too many.  We have photographic evidence of every moment and being good friends have posted the lot on face book!  Most fun of all was willingness of everyone to join in, just proves Shenanigans are a giggle for all!

Amazingly received some face book comments referring to our state of mind but we were all laughing too much to care.  I think our track record of Shenanigans shows remarkable flair.  Everyone really joined in and Liz had her photo taken with almost everyone in town.  It seems it’s easy to have a laugh if someone starts the fun and it would seem that we are quite good at that.  Shenanigans are fun for the whole family!!!  Start some today!

Shenanigans, Part 1

Shenanigans according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary means:  Silly or high-spirited behavior; mischief

Love Shenanigans, think they should be compulsory for all during economic hard times.  Have instigated a double dose this week and have enjoyed immensely.

First bout of Shenanigans happened when lovely bf  Teri told me that the home school group that we founded over the summer, have started to doubt my existance.  We created new secular home school with a view to making a group that was inclusive regardless of race, religion or mental stabilty (that part just for the two of us really), and found it took off wonderfully.  A weekly park day has ensued but alas have not yet attended even one due to the fact that they are being held in the States and we, as yet, are still in Spain.  Due to unavailabilty of teleportation as a method of transportation available to the masses am restricted (and to be fair restriction does bring out the worst kind of Shenaniganism in me).  Is also a fact that Doctor Who is far too busy saving the human race for the billionth time (really you’d think he’s just give up, am very glad he does not) and has no time for running a taxi service between Spain and the USA, so am forced to wait to meet all my future friends.

Well now it transpires that due to many factors (too complicated to expand on here), my travel dates have been pushed back several times.  My lovely friend Teri has been to all these park get togethers and has been telling people I will be back eventually but yet again delayed!!! Unfortunately people are starting to think she has an imaginary friend (me), that she is quite loopy.  It was even suggested that she has two facebook accounts and is making all my posts herself.  I object!  I think, therefore I am!!!!

We decided to have a little fun!  Can only apologize for what happened next we are out of control!

Teri’s Rotweiler puppy has just had an operation to shall we say ‘curb his enthusiasm’ and several lovely people enquired as to his well being.  I persuaded Teri (really I said it once and she was like YEAH, do it) to send me a picture of the lovely Easy, that’s his name (and he is now free to live up to it) with his cone of shame.  Posted said picture on my own profile, sent to the group, saying “Great to see everyone today at the park! Thanks to everyone who asked about Easy, he is doing fine! Here is a picture of my sweet boy with his cone of shame!!”

Now Teri and I were fully expecting a barrage of comments saying things like, oops you posted on your fake Sarah profile instead of your own.  Or we knew it, you are looney!  Anything like that!  Went to bed cos was way late here fully expecting that upon waking the following morning there would be a bunch of hilarity awaiting me.  No! Nothing! Not one ‘like’, comment, nothing!  Had to wait for time difference to catch up so could discuss with Teri.  Horrified we were!  How can anyone let such a golden opportunity pass them by?    Tried giving a little prod when Teri posted under the photo “Roses are red, violets are blue. I’m schizophrenic and so am I.”  Thought that would for sure do it,but no!  Then to really highlight it she posted “Sarah is not imaginary, I promise. LOL”.  Still nothing.

At this time preferring to give benefit of the doubt, decided that if everyone thought Teri really cucu then maybe afraid to comment.  Decided that maybe should give another opportunity, so Teri posted exact same picture and exact same comment!  I replied with exact same things also, repeated whole thing posting as her not me!  Thinking this would tip everyone off to the fun and frolics, flood gates would open, and hilarity commence………..nothing!  Unbelievable!  Maybe new group really afraid right now, forming break away group as we speak, who knows. Maybe not used to being with people who like Shenanagins!  Be not afraid people, we not only like but encourage Shenanagins, it keeps us sane (well kinda)!!!

London – great city!

Needed to renew passport and decided after being divorced now for nearly nine years time to revert to maiden name!  Had to pass through London on my way back to Spain from the States so perfect opportunity to do it.

When passing through UK, like to stay with lovely Auntie Sheri!  Very little age difference between us but that makes it even more tempting to call her Auntie, but only do it in public!  Fun times!  She works shifts and has all her shows set to record but when I am visiting gets very behind on her TV viewing, to the point that she starts getting quite anxious!  Really is a telly addict, but love her loads!  Always amusing to watch her flicking through all the recorded things muttering about how she will never catch up, how it will take marathon 3 day weekend to get all viewed and so on.  On top of that she becomes sleep deprived as we up late chatting (cos I have jet lag), laughing and prank face-timing her friends.  Have to have a bit of a nap myself while she is at work just to keep up, but don’t tell her!  Is a laugh-a-thon from start to finish and we suffer severe jaw strain from so much laughing which is much more serious and painful condition than it sounds, is not to be laughed at (ha ha).  Have taken to doing jaw exercises before visiting to lesson strain!

So appointment booked, lovely Auntie plans out best way to get into central London, details such as where to park and where to catch train.  Off we go, get to passport office, timed to perfection, drop off paperwork, all very simple, must return in 4 hours to collect.  Now had not planned anything beyond passport appointment as not sure how much time involved in the office (very little as it turned out) so now had four hours to kill.  Suggested lovely day of being tourists, even suggested using foreign accents and asking directions to add realism to tourist status, but lovely Auntie gonna loose it laughing so had to forget that.

Walked off up Buckingham Palace Road!  Found sign saying Buckingham Palace Road so asked lovely Auntie to take photo of me there for all my lovely American friends to see had been in Buckingham Palace Road!  Had lovely photo taken right next to sign, only to discover later had been walking around our capital city with fly down, recorded now and forever on digital photo, shocking!  Walked to Buckingham Palace only to discover they had laid on massive “Welcome back to London Sarah” party.  Thousands of people in front of Palace clapping as I turned corner, have no idea how lovely Auntie organised all that without spilling the beans.  Didn’t recognize anyone I know but you know haven’t been to London for many many years so people change!  Special changing of the guard laid on as well for entertainment although odd choice of music included things like LA Law theme, Rockford files, Star Trek Theme etc.  Lovely Auntie too short to see so took photos by holding camera up above head then showing her, am nice like that.  Suggested all people at the front by the railings switch places with people at the back so could have a turn with a good view but tourists all very selfish and rude, starting to suspect some of them were not actually invited to my party and in fact gate crashing! Tried suggesting the police were in agreement with me but tourists either very stubborn or just don’t understand English!

Once band marched off and crowds dispersed, freak hail storm attacked.  Was like being shot by frozen peas, had to huddle with Auntie, who was regretting choice to wear flip flops, by the gates of Palace, unfortunately lovely Queen must not have seen our plight as feel sure she would have asked us in for a lovely cup of tea.  To be fair hadn’t let her know was visiting as not sure how long passport appointment would take and didn’t want to get her hopes up!  Am considerate like that you see.

After hail stopped lovely Auntie whisked me to lunch in very cool Hard Rock Cafe!  We were given star trek type communicator on entering to advise when table ready, all sorts of lights flash like winning on a slot machine.  Had most enormous burger in the world – delicious.  Was welcome relief to sit down.  So after lunch, get up to leave and walk out of  restaurant and lovely Auntie does shocking old lady walk, saying for all to hear, “argh, my hip has gone”.  Honestly was hobbling like panto wicked witch!  Coolest cafe in the world and Auntie does most believable impression of woman needing hip replacement.  Left her behind!  Well, is embarrassing!

Rejoined me outside thankfully having regained normal posture.  Quick photo next to red telephone booth, iconic item in London, had to have photo!  Collected lovely new passport with traditional awful photo, am officially a Catlender once again!  Lovely day out in London with Auntie!