"Astrology is just finger pointing at reality"

Day 7: Your Zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality.

My birthday is on the 19th of January (just) making me a Capricorn, the goat.

We are responsible, patient, ambitious, resourceful, loyal, dictatorial, inhibited, conceited, distrusting, unimaginative so the website I'm currently looking at says.  To these I would say yes, sometimes, somewhat, yes, somewhat, YES (bossy), somewhat, not at all, somewhat and I find it difficult but I wouldn't say I'm unimaginative.

The site goes on to say "Capricorns are very independent because they know their capabilities and therefore they rarely trust others to finish details, they like to do it all themselves."  This can be quite true.  I usually hawk eye Mr. Man if I've asked him to do something to make sure he does it right and have found it difficult to delegate jobs to those in my team at work.

More pearls of wisdom - "The Capricorn friend is deep and mysterious and full of intrigue, there always seems to be something going on in their mind." Haha.. 'mysterious and full of intrigue'.  I'm a bit of an open book most of the time but there is often a lot going on in my mind...usually something like, 'right, I'll put bubba down, get the washing out of the machine, pull out them meat for dinner then I can write on the blog.'

We are said to have a "personality [that] is geared towards that of leadership and achievement, they always want to climb the corporate ladder and be the best they can be."  This is somewhat true.  I strive for perfection at work, and often hit excellence (my work colleagues will understand that, lol) but I haven't always just wanted to climb the 'corporate ladder'. I genuinely enjoy doing a good job at work and at home.  It's satisfying to do something well and I will often strive to do so.

Reading through the material about Capricorns it seems that we're known as a little bit hard arse and quite cold.  I don't know about this.  I would say I'm stubborn and hard headed at times and by jingoes will I argue for something that I think is right but I'm also very loving and caring with my friends and family and although I am driven and like things well structured I wouldn't say I'm too boring (maybe a bit!) or neglect the people around me.

 Hahaha.. Green - yes. Red - not me.

So I suppose I'm half/half.  :)

“I don't like myself...I'm crazy about myself”

Day 6: Write 30 interesting facts about yourself.

I don't know about terribly interesting, but here are 30 facts;

1) I met the love of my life (again) on the 15th of March 2006.

2) I own way too many books. Probably close to 500. Many of which are children's books that I purchased before I became a mother.

3) I've never missed someone as much as I miss my Dad. Not having him walk me down the aisle at our wedding was probably the most painful thing I've had to ever deal with.

4) I LOVE being a teacher.  I hope  my enthusiasm for my career never dies out.  At first I was sure I was in it for the stationary!

5) I have an unhealthy addiction to any reality television.

6) I have taught some children with very strange names, including on that was names after a Rugby World Cup match.

7) Getting an apple mac was one of the best decisions I ever made.

8)  I enjoy the fact that I get off to sleep in a matter of minutes and Mr. Man has to listen to me sleep while he tries to drift off :D

9) I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day.

10)  Mr. Man says I'm a natural mother and often asks me, "How do you know to do that".  My best friend who's expecting also asks me that question.

11) I'm glad we got a mortgage when we did, but sometimes I wish you could have a 'paying the mortgage holiday'.

12)  I sometimes wonder if it's strange that I get along with naughty children better than I do well behaved ones.

13) I don't understand insurance or stock markets. Nor do I wish to....

14) I always have to be doing something.  Even in front of the TV I need to read or play on the iPad or cut and glue something at the same time.  It's what I've learned is called being an 'active relaxer'.

15) As much as I try not to I am drawn to cars and racing and actually find that I now have quite a big knowledge base about the whole hobby.

16) My 3 favourite inventions are - the laminator, digital cameras and the cheese grater.


17) I wish I went to more concerts and that there was a time machine that would take you to concerts of the past.


18) It would be good if my drum playing was as good as my guitar playing..... and my guitar playing was better.

19)  I think Mr. Man is the 2nd best father in the world (My dad being the 1st).

20) Baby animals have an effect on me that makes me make stupid noises.... ooo boo boo baby, hewo baby, tutie tutie... etc

21)  I think it would be great to have a party with Quentin Tarantino, Dave Chapelle and Harvey Kietel.

22) I'm afraid of flying insects.

23) I've attended more funerals than weddings in my lifetime.

24) I enjoy a variety of immature things. Teasing my cat with cheese, Southpark, laughing at silly words people say on the news, anchorman... stupidness is what keeps me sane... does that make sense?

25) I adore Channing Tatum.

26) Online shopping will be what bankrupts me in the future.

27) I'm am a HUGE Mario franchise fan.  My favourite game is Mario World.  I'm a big nintendo fan in general and think the premise for the Pikmin series of games is one of the most original ever thought up.

28) I like making up songs about what I'm doing and sing them to Mr. Man.  Now poor Little Miss has to put up with is aswell!

29) I want to go traveling when I'm older.  I'd love to go to New York and Rome mostly. I'd also like to go on Safari but I need to talk a certain husband into it.

30) I don't know how someone can be cruel to children or animals and I hate hearing about it on the news etc.

Silent Sunday

Day 20: Bokeh (Just learning!)

101 Challenge

I finally completed my 101 Challenges list and it's now up over on the '101 Challenge' page tab!

I am officially doing this birthday to birthday (19th January) but I have started some things already. I thought seeing as I'm a new first time mum AND I'll be going back to work in February that I might get a little bit of grace with my extra two months! I'm just too excited about some of the things not to start them now.

Seeing that I'm already nerdy and do that book list thing I've already crossed that one out.  I won't be documenting the challenges in the book as such but I do keep lists etc in there.  I'm going to document what I've done here as it's much easier and more environmentally friendly (won't need to print out photos for the book) :)

Again... I am SO excited about this.  It's kind silly really. :D
I hope some others might join in with me and let me know how they're going with their challenges.  I know Jazzyboo is over at her blog.

Things I'm loving...

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is. 

 

1.  Loving mumma and bubba shower time. 

Also loving that the little princess has decided that 10 hours is a good amount of time to sleep at night.  Down at 6:30pm so I have my nights to myself is delightful and one quick little 20 minute feed at around 5 in the morning where she puts herself back to sleep until  7am is delightful.  What a wonderful little girl.

2. Loving having time to walk around the botanical gardens and take photos of things I find pretty.  This is my favourite shot.

3. Loving the cutest little hoodie that a lovely friend from Christchurch sent back up with my husband.  Thank you again Gwenda and DJ. <3  How did you know I loved pink AND polka dots!

 

4. Loving my Poppa who passed away this week.  Not loving that he's gone but loving that he's not suffering anymore.  I know he'll be going on a wonderful fishing trip with Dad where ever they are.  Love you Poppa <3

"Just because I'm smiling doesn't mean I'm happy."

Day 5: Write about a time you thought about ending your own life.

This is easy.  Never. 

I had a friend who killed themselves when I was in high school though. It's a horrible thing, suicide.  There's always so many questions left unanswered and the sadness that is left behind for family and friends is heartbreaking.

I know in my early teenage years I did get quite upset and sad but I don't think I would call this depression. So I really don't know what people go through or are feeling at the point when they think they have no other options.

All I can say about my life personally is that thank goodness I have such a great family.  My parents got me through my teenage years and Dad and I in particular had many heart to hearts about a variety of things - mostly dick head boyfriends and me wanting to do too much before I was old enough, clubbing, drinking etc. My immediate family are to this day wonderful.  My sister especially has been a rock for me since dad died and now my newly acquired family also does the same - Mr. Man and his family.
I have and always have had a lot of support and for that I'm thankful.  <3

"That's me in the spotlight, losing my religion"

Need to tell you first of all that Wordless Wednesdays are no more (although they might make a resurgence at some point, toying with a few different ideas).  Don't fret though!  The 30 day photography challenge will continue (no way I'll give up a challenge) but will only appear on Silent Sundays.

Day 4:  Your views on religion.

This might make a few people grumpy but I don't particularly like religion.

Now let me qualify that.
I think beliefs and spirituality are great! And if religion covers those bases for you and you use it in a positive light then well done you :) and I'm all for it.
There are some religious beliefs that I probably follow myself (just not exclusively) and I quite like many of the Buddhist beliefs.  I see a lot of friends very happy with their religion and how it gets them through things and how positive the experience can be. I love that.  That makes me smile :).

BUT

What I don't like is the amount of negativity that a supposed 'good' thing creates.  You just have to look at a majority of wars throughout history.  Religious disagreement is at the bottom of most. That, does not make me smile.

So in short (because I could go on forever and probably insult a lot of people that I really don't want to) if you use religion in a happy, positive light and it guides you in a way that makes you a better person - Woo hoo!  Go you!  Thank you for bringing so much positivity and love into other people's lives with your spirituality :). 
I just wish all these people who don't use it in such a great way would stop - can't we all just get along?