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From tomorrow, 1 November 2005, all applicants applying for British citizenship will be required to take a citizenship test, called 'Life in the UK'. Would you pass? click here
Note: If you're sneaky like me, you got your application in last week before the 1 November deadline!
Another weekend gone. We laid very low this weekend as our plans to see Andrew's sister and family fell through at the last minute. Saturday we went to Mary Catherine's nursery Halloween party and yesterday we went to Toby's house to paint pumpkins and decorate cupcakes.
We had a fantastic time and really enjoyed hanging out with Toby and his family. Toby and Mary Catherine have always gotten along extremely well - but this time around they played mainly by themselves and we were actually able to carry on entire conversations like adults! Katherine, Jason and Toby are having a little sister tomorrow - so think really good family thoughts for them at this special time.
Pictures from our fun time can be found here. Including a shot of my fantastic candy corn hedgehog cupcake (diabetic coma for sure) and the shoes Mary Catherine insisted that I buy.
Mary Catherine often makes up new words for things. Sometimes she'll come up with completely non-sensical words and other times she'll just alter already existing ones. This evening she and I were having our dinner - fish fingers, potato smiles and vegetables - and we were talking about how good everything was and how much we liked what we were eating. She then ran into the bathroom where Andrew was running her bath and said, "Daddy - I really love PORN!"
She of course, meant corn. The look on Andrew's face was hilarious!
October 25, 2005 (New York, NY) - As 2005 draws to an end, a fresh new crop of Weasels have sprouted and Dilbert creator Scott Adams has carefully exposed these double-dealing hooligans in his latest unscientific and fourth-annual Weasel Poll. Beginning today on Dilbert.com, Dilbert readers are encouraged to help shape the future and embarrass these candidates by selecting the Weaseliest in six categories.
From corporate giants like Wal-Mart and Fox News to illustrious individuals such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom DeLay, no one is safe from the 2005 Weasel Awards.
To vote: click here To see my friend Amy's rather Republican recap of her votes, click here. I've starred my choices.
Nominees:
Weaseliest Organization
ACLU
Congress
Democrat Party
FCC
Organized Religion
Republican Party
United Nations
White House **
Weaseliest Country
France
Iran
North Korea
Saudi Arabia
Syria
USA (includes Iraq) **
Venezuela
Weaseliest Company
Fox News
Halliburton **
Oil companies (Exxon, Chevron, etc.)
The New York Times
Wal-Mart
Weaseliest Profession
Accountants
Lawyers
News media
Oil executives **
Politicians
Tobacco executives
Weaseliest Individual
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bill Frist
Cindy Sheehan (peace activist)
George W. Bush **
Karl Rove
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (Gov. of Louisiana)
Lindy England (Abu Ghraib abuser)
Mary Landrieu (Senator of Louisiana)
Michael Brown (ex-FEMA head)
Rafael Palmeiro (baseball player suspended for steroids)
Ray Nagin (Mayor of New Orleans)
Tom Cruise
Tom DeLay
Weaseliest Behavior
Advocating the teaching of Intelligent Design in schools
Corporate boards approving CEO pay packages
Downloading music or movies without paying
Gas price gouging **
Outsourcing
Politicians blaming other politicians
Reporting it as "finding supplies" when white people loot
Now who/what did you vote for and why?
ooh - new fun! check out dubyaspeak.com.. it's fantastic!
here are a few of my favourite quotes - and the audio that goes with some of them is amusing, yet frightening that this man is in charge.
"The questionnaire that she filled out is an important questionnaire. And, obviously, they will address the questions that the senators have in the questionnaire as a result of the answers to the questions in the questionnaire."
-- In fine form on Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, Washington, D.C., Oct. 20, 2005
We must continue the work of education reform, to bring high standards and accountability not just to our elementary and secondary schools, but to our high schools, as well.
-- Ummm... high schools are secondary schools, Dubya. Washington, D.C., Nov. 4, 2004
I think that steroids ought to be banned from baseball.
-- Someone should let Dubya know they've been banned since 2002... White House, Oct. 4, 2005
The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch.
-- Dubya pep talks the residents of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast as only he can, Mobile, Alabama, Sep. 2, 2005
I want to thank the President and the CEO of Constellation Energy, Mayo Shattuck. That's a pretty cool first name, isn't it, Mayo. Pass the Mayo. His wife, Molly, appreciated that.
-- In case you were wondering if Dubya had any frat boy left in him, here's your answer. Lusby, Maryland, Jun. 22, 2005
Last night I had my final audition/workshop for the Employee Play. Everything went fine, but in one of the 'acting games' we were doing, I managed to misjudge how much room I had to fall over. Thus, I ended up absolutely clocking my head on a rubbish bin.
Everyone laughed and I believe there was some applause (it was rather funny, I suppose) and then immediately said, "oh, are you okay?"
My head still hurts and I have a whopping great knot on the back of my head from it. Nice one - talk about suffering for my art.
Nothing much up, really. It's almost Halloween. I'm so glad we don't really celebrate it here (although it is becoming more common) because the snack size is my mortal enemy. You know, just have one - they're only snack size and the next thing you know you've had eleven million tiny Resee cups.
Saturday night, Andrew and I had a first date. I'll clarify - a first date with a hired and paid for babysitter. We actually got to leave the house sprog-less at 6pm! Although I feel a bit guilty saying it, it was a bit like Christmas!
We went to dinner in a nice upscale restaurant where we had fantastic conversation and amazing food. It was so much fun. I only thought about Mary Catherine (and whether she was giving the babysitter a run for her money)a few times. Bliss.
Afterwards we went to the movies. Now, I know that might not be a real 'woohoo' from a few people, but Andrew and I are pretty big movie buffs and I think we've been a whoppin total of three at a cinema in the three years Mary Catherine has graced us with her presence. As we were in line to see 'Kinky Boots' (the quirky English feel good hit of the year, as I've dubbed it) a girl walked by.
Now, normally I wouldn't pay any attention to said girl, her knee high boots and short-ish skirt. But just as I was watching Andrew completely checking her out (trust me, that part doesn't bother me in the least) I have to admit that I was deep in a one sided conversation about how, even though I am incredibly proficient at Excel, I'd like to take an advanced course to really get stuck in and manipulate some numbers.
I'll recap and let that sink in.
Nerd wittering on endlessly about spreadsheets, pivot tables and formulae versus hot chick.
I felt very inadequate. Still do, matter of fact. Now I know that a few of you might jump to my rescue and say that Excel is actually more interesting than hot girls, but still. Well, erm, you know. It was sort of a mid-life moment for me.
To round out a week of commuting observations and whatnot... On bus from health centre to work. Sadly, nothing really interesting to report. One old guy wearing lots of gold necklaces, two middle aged women in jeans, one in slightly scary white snakeskin cowboy boots, one 'am I boveredj girl on her mobile and one younger person who looks like they should be in school. Now, I know why I'm not at work - but why aren't the gazillions of people around me? People are so interesting if you take time to have a long look at them. Not only what they waer, but how they hold themselves and interact with other people. Body lamnguage is so strong that you really don't have to hear what people are talking about or thinking to get the jist of the situation. Oh no, now I'm paranoid! What does my b language say about me right now other than 'total geek?'
Oooooooh!
Drunk chinese people - I've hit the jackpot! They've just carried one of the six onto the train. Ihe has that blank, 'please don't let me hurl' look about him. He just slid off the seat, bless him. Friends did not find that clever! Can't say that I blame them. They're now having problems keeping him awake. I have a feeling that he's going to have a bad day tomorrow. Oh no! They got up to get off - four left and whilst one carrying drunk guy was lugging him off, drunk guy held on and wouldn't leave! Oh, the drama! Have bad feeling there may be vomit - am going to move out of range.
Was so witty and pleased with myself for last entry that I forgot to change trains. Am now at the wharf waiting for a train to take me in opposite direction. I swear I'm not normally such a commuting goof. Have mercy. I have to wee and am incredibly bored, just in case you wanted to know. Gosh bless ipods and crackberries.
One sleeper, two eaters, three drunk city types, one non-english speaker on a mobile, one dirty blue collar guy in white trainers and a big 'diamond' earring, two gushy couples, one older lady with a scarf, four 'am I bovered' girls... And one nerd who is writing about them all.
It's a sad thing when you're going out for the evening (as I am, think my child remebers who I am?) And you change into you jeans and get sort of excited to spend your last five minutes in the office dressed casually! Seriously. It was a real thrill. As you can tel - I made it home from my public transport ordeal. Husband had dinner ready and waiting and it was nice to relax for an hour before falling into bed. Tonight I'm meeting old colleagues for dinner in Soho - will be lovely to see them again. After yesterday's bus battle I splurged on a taxi. This evening I will, once again, attempt to get home via train and bus. Wish me luck! Is it rude to sleep in a taxi? I'm so tired!
Am completely useless. Thought I'd save a fiver and take the bus home (I usually get a cab if it's dark, I live in 'da hood' you know...). Took one bus, got tired of waiting for other so took new and exciting bus marked with my hood's name. Uh - apparently it doesn't go TO my hod, it just goes NEAR it. So I've spent more time than I would like hoofing it back to a bus stop that has buses that actually go where I need them to. Oy vay - what an evening. Am now on proper bus. I have learned that gangs of teen boys hang out at the McDonalds I passed... That a lot of parents still have young children out at this time of night... That I live in the city and also, impossibly, in the middle of freaking nowhere... That this bus's heat works a little too well and that little fact does not go well with the particularly stinky people on this bus... Oh the list is endless. Am now off bus, about to walk home in the rain. Nice one.
On train coming home from the singing workshop bit of the company employee play - which will be in January. We had to fill in a form listing previous experience - so yesterday I typed up my acting resume (insert bad actor accent). Well I'd decided that it made me seem a bit of a 'pick me, pick me' type ... So I wasn't going to use it. I was so busy at work that I forgot to fill in the form in a more sedate manner, and so -at the last- minute took what I'd typed yesterday. Man, I bet they think I'm a plonker. Nothing remotely interesting to report from the train this evening. No boy gangs, no dish towel salesmen. Hm - must be an off night. I called home and Mary Catherine asked to speak to me. She told me to come home and that she loved me very, VERY, V E R Y much. Then she asked me why I had to work late. I felt kind of guilty. I told her that mama was just trying to re-live her more glamourous days as an actor and that I'd be home soon. Weird being the parent and not the child sometimes.
And once again... it's Monday. Our weekend was good. Rather uneventful, but we did a lot and had a good time together. Before I ramble, I will tell you that the slideshow from our week in Cornwall is now complete - click here to check it out.
Saturday we didn't swim as the pool was too cold. We also went to see a show at the Halfmoon theatre. Very enjoyable.
I forgot to update after my visit to the surgeon on Friday. My knee surgery is scheduled for the 23rd of November, so that's a major indication as to how it went!
On train headed to appointment with knee surgeon... Will be interesting to see what he says. I've been sent back to him earlier than planned as physio is only giving me temporary pain relief and not changing the underlying situation. Woke up at 634, which is 45 minutes later than usual - figures we'd oversleep on the day of my 815 dr's appt! Last night, Mary Catherine was asleep by 855!
I uploaded the last of the Farm holiday pictures to Flickr. You can see them here. I think there are a few more floating around in various cameras. I'm going to ask Andrew if he can 'do his thang' with the video he shot so I can share it as well. The duck and chicken rush in the morning is really funny viewing.
You will note that Mary Catherine is wearing pearls in this picture. I wear my strand a lot to work and she's always wanting to wear them. I let her, but tend to panic as I've seen how she treats her play necklaces. My mother's friend The Luton sent Mary Catherine a strand of her very own! They're really fabulous and I may borrow them from time to time as they're really nice! She wore them constantly at the Farm and as she was discovering the joy of knee socks at the same time - well - she looked gloriously Sloane-y for most of the time!
It was fantastic. A preppy daughter, what else could I ask for? You think I'm kidding? I'm totally not. A cute child in pearls, knee socks and a cardigan melts my heart. Especially when she's my own. Now that it's autumn here, thank goodness, I can wear my preppier clothes and I'm loving it. Sorry, had to re-tie my Lacoste sweater around my shoulders and lace up my topsiders there for a moment. Ha!
Why, yes, I do sound chipper this morning! Thank you for asking. Mary Catherine was asleep by 9:15 last night and would've been down by 9 had Andrew not started clunking dishes around in the kitchen. I'm not complaining - he was emptying the dishwasher, which was nice of him to do.
Last night's sleep tactic was to lie down with her (I know for some of you that is not optimal child sleep behaviour, but we sleep together often.. it's the Earth mother in me). She's going through a very clingy stage with me so I got her to lie down in her bed with me (watching me extract myself is a site worth watching, I'm sure) and we talked and snuggled until she got sleepy enough to relax. Took about 30 minutes and seemed to work.
That's quite close to what we were doing before this whole 'I'm not tired, I don't want to go to bed' ordeal started. So, hopefully we're heading back on track. Time will tell.
Apologies for the last rather dreary post last night. For those of you who've sent well wishes, Andrew and I got over it very quickly and all is well at the Dunne household.
So it's Wednesday. This week is dragging by. The weather in London today is not very uplifting but I'm going to leave work today at 5:30 and I'm rather excited about that. I mean, even if I don't really get away until 6 - well, it's still an improvement.
Last night we tried the 'boring her into submission' method of putting Mary Catherine to bed. Every time she got out of bed, we put her straight back. She wasn't too thrilled, but didn't cry or scream - she just kept asking us, 'why are you doing this?' That was a bit strange and made me feel a bit guilty. Ah - emotional blackmail at the mere age of 2 and 11/12ths.
Good thing was that she finally gave up at 9:30. Hopefully tonight it'll take even less time. Very frustrating!
Not a lot to say really - on way home from long day. Train not very exciting. I ended up staying at work later than planned and Andrew is angry. Reminds me of my first husband (totally realised today would've been our 8 year anniversary.. Man, time flies.. Maybe that's why he's on my mind) and how cross he would get when I did the same thing. At the time, I put it down to him being an asshole, but maybe it's me that's the problem. Hmm. See - we're having some changes at work and sometimes I can't just put down a project mid-stream. I'm pulled in so many directions every day that early morning and late night are my most productive times. I'm sitting next to a gang of white thugs and they're really horrible. Not in that they're mean or intimidating, but because they're so obviously stupid. Entertaining, though. Now they're having a rap competition... Mary Catherine has recently stopped going to bed in a willing manner. She'll go through the entire routine only to sit up and announce that she's not tired and doesn't want to go to bed. I am stumped - feel free to ply me with advice because it's really frustrating.
The rest of our holiday snaps are now up and in the slideshow. You can watch it here. I only started carrying my camera around with me the last few days we were there - what can I say, I was relaxed! Andrew has a few more photos, which I'm sure I'll add when I can.
I've officially decided that I am going to get a new Powerbook in December when we're in the States for Christmas*. I'm very much looking forward to it. I can't believe my current one is almost SIX years old. Six years is a long time in the life of a computer, especially a laptop. I think it's a testament to Apple that it's been problem free the entire time I've owned it. Try that with a Windows PC!
Tonight I have a dance workshop. Yes, you read that correctly. Not that I'll be doing a lot of dancing**, but I'm going to show my face and be counted. See, I'm auditioning for the company Panto. How fun would that be? It's held at a proper West End theatre and I would love to take part. Panto is a bit of a lost thing on me, as I didn't grow up with it like everyone else has so that makes it a bit of a challenge.
We all have to go to singing, dancing and acting workshops and tonight is the first one for me. Dancing. Great. I totally forgot I had this tonight so I will have to be twinkle toes in my work clothes. Nice one. I bet everyone else will be decked out in lycra and legwarmers and I'll be looking dapper in my black trousers and wrinkle resistant no-fuss-but-still-acceptable clothing. Don't these people know I have a degree in theatre!? I gotta dig out my Buddha.
*and the great thing is that Andrew says I still get a proper Christmas pressie!
**no seriously, I will not be dancing as I can barely walk without a limp these days thanks to my knee.
ah Monday.. Oh how I'd rather be feeding animals or walking around a seaside town. Seriously, I could go and live in the middle of nowhere in an instant and be thrilled to bits. I am not a city dweller and already miss space, fresh air and a slower pace.
All that missing and I've only been back for two days. I'm sure by the time our next holiday rolls around at Christmas, I'll be wound up tighter than a spring.
Photos from our fantastic holiday here. More will be added this evening - off to find lunch.
we're finally back from our week away. it was fantastic - i totally recommend that you visit Bosinver Farm Cottages if you're looking for a fantastic, very child friendly, wonderful holiday. it was all we'd wished for and more and we will definitely return.
mary catherine hand fed chickens, ducks, a goat, horses and sheep. she had a blast and we loved every second of it. she wore her pearls (they're faux from my mom) most days to do the farm chores - it was a hoot.
now we're about to get on with our weekend. mom and dad leave on sunday and i won't go into it because it's just sad. i know we'll see them at christmas, but well... uh, yeah.
swimming tomorrow then an open day at the private school we're considering for mary catherine. then i think we're going to have lunch at giraffe and then go shopping at cath kidston. you know - just because we can. pictures and more rambling on about our holiday coming soon.
hello from Goonhilly - the world's largest satellite Earth station. we are in deepest, darkest Cornwall and have just been to Lizard point, which is England's most southerly point. It was really tranquil and beautiful - Andrew, MC and I hiked (yes, me I hiked!)down to the bottom and she and I walked around on the rocks and talked about rock pools and all the little creatures that live within. Glorious.
More later... off to learn about big dishes and satellite communication.
Oh my goodness - the farm is excellent! Yesterday we got up and went with farmer Dave to feed the animals. Mary Catherine had a blast letting ducks and chickens eat out of her hands. (I did too - thank goodness ducks don't have teeth, they are manic!) We then fed Chalky the goat and then handfed the sheep. All the animals eat grain straight from the childrens' hands and since this is not a working farm, they are all so incredibly tame. Every night we've gone to feed the horses outside our door. They're huge shire horses - and are very, very cheeky. They licked Andrew last night! The cottage we're in is very nice - no roughing it involved. Three bedrooms, two baths.. all mod cons. Enough waffling. I am almost completely unwound - sleeping semi-okay (I think that's more knee related). I am loving just being with my family - no phones, no computers (well, blackberry but this is the first time in three days I've used it) only an excited almost three year-old who collected her very first egg yesterday. She wouldn't put it down or let anyone hold it. Fortunately, she did let Nana cook it for her this morning. We now highly recommend two chicken eggs and one duck egg scrambled. More later - my goal for today is fish and chips on the north coast. Diet? What diet?
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