Obama

I wasn't going to mention it. I mean really, it's got nothing to do with me. Not my country. Not my politics. I don't have to live with it (well not in a direct way). And of course I do have that 'don't talk about politics on the blog' rule that I break all the time. I guess I'm breaking it again.

So what do I think...like you care.....too bad, you're getting it anyway. I don't have a very high opinion of many politicians. I think it takes a special kind of bastard to be a politician. My mother thought I was a Communist (and loved me anyway a RED smiley seemed appropriate here). There's only one politician of ours that I like and I really like him. The rest? Not so much. I felt pretty much the same about the US candidates...they're politicians. What's to like? Obama had some interesting things to say, but they often do don't they....until they get in. I'm not so gullible any more.

However, the vote is counted and Obama won the day and I will say this. It gives me some hope for our planet. If this is history in the making...I'll take some more of that kind of history please. Just don't f*&k it up Obama.

I wonder if ASIO will pick up my blog because I said 'Communist'...and mentioned them. Maybe I should put in 'spy' as well....and MI5.

If you don't hear from me tomorrow you'll know we've been raided.

The new addition

Well I promised photos of the newest baby in the family* and here she is.....

...meet 'M'.....notice the letter 'M' on her head? If it's good enough for James Bond's boss....

Isn't she pretty? Check out those markings....

She's very spoiled already....can you tell?

In other news today is the day that quite a lot of Australians enjoy 'the race that stops a nation'. Well it doesn't stop me. I don't care for horse racing so I boycott it. I don't attend any glitzy fashion show lunches wearing a hat. Not me, today I stayed home and had boiled eggs on toast for lunch...that'll show 'em.

*It suddenly occurred to me that not everyone would have read the first post announcing M's existence..so I should clarify that she is, unfortunately, not ours - she belongs to my sister and her family so she is in fact my kitty-niece.

Outside

We didn't end up going for a walk yesterday, just pottered about in our garden instead which is even better really. Lots of activity out there at moment, things are growing and flowering and generally showing off.

Pretty no? The light was bad so the colours didn't photograph well, but you get the idea. Don't you?

Today I am finishing some work I have to do (shouldn't take long) and then I may get on with some sewing. I'm not making much progress because I've had other priorities but if I'm productive this morning I may manage a couple of hours this afternoon.

I may also spend some time contemplating my future. The current options no longer please me. If you have any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them.

NaBloPoMo

Well it's NaBloPoMo again and this year I'm participating. I don't know if that is a particularly spectacular announcement because I've been posting just about every day lately anyway. However, I'm committed and this month will go from just about every day to every single day. I was reminded of this annual event by Cathy and I love a bandwagon so I had no hesitation on jumping on this one. I'd sort of intended to do it last year but (conveniently) forgot. So this year it is.

It will be interesting to see how many posts I will actually fill with nonsense about participating in NaBloPoMo. I'll try not to do that. Honest.

Today dawned dark and gloomy. There was a thunder storm this morning and intermittent rain since then (God, I'm even starting to sound like a weather girl). It has not been a day for going outside really and it was the same yesterday so everyone has a touch of cabin fever and we are all, frankly, a bit crabby. It doesn't help that I'm still feeling the after effects of last week's migraine. Inspired by Z I am going to stock up on migraine relief just in case...it may be years before I have another so I guess I'd better watch the 'use by' dates.

I'm spending a lot of time today on stand by near the computer waiting for updates on the latest addition to the family. No, no more babies...not human ones anyway. My sister has a new kitten, a lovely little part Bengal girl...I won't give any more details as I don't think the name is confirmed yet and it's really not my news to give, but if my sister grants permission I will post a photo soon.

I think I might go and suggest to Tom and the girls that we take a walk. None of us really mind walking in rainy weather (in fact I love it) and it might be good to get out for a while (and will give me some fodder for tomorrow's post).

I lost a day

On Thursday I woke with a mild headache. By 4pm it was worse and I had some tingling in my lips and fingers. I knew from previous experience this heralded the onset of a migraine. I don't often get them, in fact I think I've only had a dozen my whole life and it's been years since the last one. As expected it progressed as the evenng wore on, the tingling, tiredness, then a period of mental confusion where I can't remember the name of the simplest things, then nausea, then the full blown migraine headache. Tom and the girls went to Hannah's recital without me and by the time they got home I was lying in bed, in the dark, clutching a bowl in case I didn't make it to the bathroom to throw up. Any light or the slightest noise or movement was excrutiating. Lovely.

Tom bought me some lemonade while they were out and Aislin brought me a glass and held it while I sipped from a straw and Hannah sat beside me patting my hand. It was all very comforting (I don't know why lemonade helps, but it does). I assured everyone that I would be better by morning, these never last longer than a day and although I usually feel a bit weak and fuzzy the next day I will not be headachey and nauseous. Tom gave me strong painkillers and I fell into a drugged sleep.

I woke yesterday morning - headachey and nauseous. Dammit.

So I spent most of yesterday dozing and resting and generally waiting to feel better, which I did. Around bedtime. I slept soundly last night and this morning all is well.

So there you have it, the tale of the migraine. This unexpected little adventure caused me to miss a few things - like Hannah's piano recital (T made a video* for me) and of course Beltane. Because in the Southern Hemisphere it's Beltane not Samhain. Something I'll never get used to. It doesn't matter what the seasons are doing some internal clock of mine is still on a Northern Hemisphere schedule and finds it hard to accept anything different.

So yesterday I should have been doing something like this.....

Beltane Fire Festive - April 2008, Calton Hill, Edinburgh

Picture from Zimbio

But I wasn't. So to everyone, I hope you had a happy whatever spiritual event you were celebrating - be it Beltane, Samhain, Halloween or All Souls - the blessings of your tradition to you all.

*This will appear at some stage, I haven't uploaded it yet.

Some days....

...it's all about the music and today is one of those days.

I've been listening to a current favourite, (Geoffrey) Gurumul Yunupingu. Gurumul is an aboriginal singer, blind since birth, who is taking the world by storm. If you haven't heard him do yourself a favour and listen now......trust me, you won't regret it.

His music is available on Australian iTunes, but I'm not sure you can get it on the international ones yet. If not go to Skinny Fish Music and order today (no I don't get a commission, I'm just a believer). Go on, I'll wait.......

If the name Yunupingu is familar to you it may be that you remember this..... Mandawuy is his uncle (or cousin - they're related in some way).

I've also been enjoying this.....

I don't have this particular version in my collection but it's the same music, different artists. Love it.

For something completely different this is another favourite of mine (and this should be evidence of the eclectic nature of my musical taste). More indigenous music, this time from a rap band called Local Knowledge - this song is 'Blackfellas' - very poor quality sound on this video - sorry. oh and it's worth waiting until the end to see some Aboriginal singing and dancing.

To keep the musical theme going, tonight we are going to see Hannah play the piano in a school performance. She only started learning this year but she loves it and her practicing has only made my ears bleed once or twice. There will be photos.

On my desk

What's on my desk? Paperwork. Piles and piles of paperwork. Happily the work that I was doing yesterday is now FINISHED - I am doing a happy dance about that I can tell you. However while finishing that I neglected some other work. So now I'm doing that. It's boring. So boring I'm not going to take a picture of it. My friend Google provided this one, but that doesn't look anything like me, the paperwork mountain is similar to mine though, at least it feels as though it is.

So not much else to tell, it's a slow blogging week what with it being all work and no play. Of course that's only because I played too much last week. I need to pace myself a bit better I think.

However if it's more exciting 'on my desks' you're after, pop over here and have a look.