[talk: OH ... American Idol Final]

Ok - sorry - just a quick post that I'm cheering for KRIS ALLEN tonight. Love him. I could, for certain, listen to a full album of him.

Adam ... not so much. I appreciate his talent, his artistic flair, his obvious time spent in being trained and practicing ... but still. If I see his tongue stick out one more time as he belts out that octave-higher-note, I just might ... well. Turn the channel?

Good luck, Kris!!

[talk: "Memories ..." Go On, Sing It Out ...]

".... like the corrrrrners of my miiiiiiind." You can sing it ... go on ...

Piha Beach, New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

It's hard to believe that only a week ago - hey, actually 72 hours ago -I was on the other side of the world ...

Memories are a funny thing, don't you think? I always find it interesting how our minds can fool us into thinking something was better, or worse, than it actually was.

For example, when you think of an ex-boy/girlfriend ... do you roll your eyes and think, "WHAT was I thinking?" ... meaning, there wasn't much good to remember (when maybe there was?). Or thinking, "He/She was PERFECT ... we had the best time ... la la la la ...". When truth is, is that it was the most dysfunctional relationship ever *grin*??

SO funny, our 'rose coloured glasses' that make us see things in a different light.

But I think the memories of my time away are still untainted. Being in Australia was full of time to read, time to see some sights, to meet new people. And my New Zealand leg of the trip was more of spending as much time with family as possible, attending a funeral, a 21st birthday bash and trying to stay out of the rain *laughing*.

But I think the GREATEST thing about memories, is the opportunity to make new ones. I know that one day I'll look back to today, and remember my boys, my pregnancy, my hubby still hopping on one leg *smile*.

And I won't need those 'rose coloured glasses' to know that I have been blessed.

OH - and I'd like to say a massive "THANKS" to all of you who took the time to share your thoughts on mascara and mattresses. Hmm. Somehow that sounds a bit odd ... *smile*.

[talk: Maybe YOU Know??]

Ahhhh ... the calm of my house.

Surprised to hear that? After all of the craziness of the last 10 weeks (or is it 11? or 12??) ... it seems as though our home might JUST be getting back into the mode of life. Just in time for the summer schedule to change all of that *smile*.

Today we went to the library, paid our over-due books *sigh*. I hate that. Oh well. Then off to do a massive grocery shop - as my hubby didn't seem to think that fresh produce was important while I was gone. I HAVE noticed, however, that candy and chips were a bit of a priority as I snoop through my cupboards *GRIN*.

Siah's now napping, I mended Tias' stuffed monkey - George -, the baked potatoes are set to start baking in an hour and the steak is marinating. (I know that this recipe says it's for chicken - but I've found it's equally great on beef ...)

YAY! I feel NORMAL.

Oh. Except for this jet-lag. I was WIDE awake at 2am this morning ... then, jolted awake at 7:30am by the boys - feeling like I was, once again, hit by a truck. It hasn't helped that the wee one inside of me thinks it's still in the South Pacific and kicks like mad from 11pm to dawn ... anyone know how to get an unborn child to adapt to Pacific Time??

And I have 2 more questions that I wondered if you would be able to help with ...

1. We're thinking of getting a new mattress as our "pillow top" one cannot be flipped over and now has caverns in it *what a PAIN*. Anyone know how to solve this problem? Or have advice on a new mattress?

2. Mascara. I may have asked this one before - but I'm still lost in the Superstore isle. I like thick, long lashes. Not skinny, long ones. No clumps. Suggestions?

Would love some help .... thanks!!

[talk: Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy Jog]

My Nana always used to say "home again, home again, jiggidy jog" whenever we arrived home. And I found myself saying it yesterday - happy to be home, and feeling a little like I never left. Except for the jet lag. Jet lag is evil.

I pretty much had 2 different trips - the one to Australia being with friends and meeting new people. The second, to New Zealand being with family and seeing old friends.

We did a lot of driving around, and I won't lie - I'm pretty beat. It doesn't help that the boys were up at 7:30am, which was 2:30am for me.

Ah well ... give me a couple of days and I'll get back into the swing of things.

So - now my next adventure will be bringing this new wee one into the world. THAT is a crazy thought ... having three kids? I can't imagine a new personality entering the home, and am looking forward to this new stage ... but it's not for a while. September-ish.

The last night I was in NZ, I went to my cousin's 21st bday party. Basically, it was a "wedding for one". A hall was rented, over 150 guests, appies and drinks served, speeches, slide shows ... the whole shebang.

It was a great night of honouring my cousin, and he seemed quite overwhelmed with all that was done. One of the highlights was a video done by his younger brother, and best friend, Jono(than). If you're interested ... it's here. Jono wrote it ... and you'll be humming the chorus if you watch it too long *smile*. Oh - and "woostie" is my cuz's nickname ...

All right ... off to do laundry. Ciao!

[vacations: Stood Up. Really? Oh Brother.]

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm rather nostalgic.

I love old church choruses - they make me cry. I love driving by my old stomping ground - my old elementary school where the memories come alive as I smell the cedars. I love reading old letters from friends who I knew a lifetime ago. And most of all, I love seeing those friends - people whom I once shared life with, but somehow our paths diverted and now we're living totally different ones.

I love that. Seeing what happened, who they married, where they work, what they named their children ... hearing their tales that brought them to where they are today. New Zealand has many of those people for me ... as I came here many times growing up, and kept up some special friendships throughout the years. I thought that this trip would be a perfect opportunity to connect with some of those people.

Which leads me to last night ... a friend from many, many, moons ago and I got in contact. He and his wife are pastors at the local church. They have 4 children and are all doing very well apparently. I so wanted to have a quick visit - see family photos, hear about their future plans ...

Well - we were in touch by phone. I had thought that maybe we could meet up the next day (today) as my aunt - whom he is very close with - was coming and I thought he would like a visit with her too. But no, he suggested that we meet at the apartments that my parents are staying at, have a cup of tea with the folks and catch up - that night. "Perfect," I thought. He said he'd arrive after his son's soccer (footie) game ... around 8:45pm.

I Skyped my husband, told him of the upcoming reunion, and then my folks, my aunts & uncle and I all went for dinner ... it was a lovely meal and a lovely time. And then we went back to the apartment to wait for my friend, AT.

Well. 8:45pm came.

9pm came.

9:15pm came ... so I went upstairs to phone - to make sure he wasn't wandering out the city. I left a message and went back downstairs to wait.

9:30pm came.

9:45pm came ... are you getting the picture here *laughing*?? Imagine, a preggo waiting in an empty lobby ... wishing I had brought a good book down with with me ...

10pm, 10:15pm ... ok. That's enough ... I was done. Upstairs I went, vented to my folks about common courtesy and a simple phone call. Of course, we all debated about what happened ... maybe his son got hurt on the field. Maybe he ran out of gas. Maybe he left his phone at the church ...

So, I called again - this time, someone picked up and with a muffled shuffle of a few seconds, the call was hung up.

Hmm???

I called back ... the phone had been turned off.

*LAUGHING*.

Ok - it's been a while since I've been stood up ... hmm ... if ever? But this was just TOO silly? Two grown, happily married, parents, over 30 years old ... too much drama for me. And of course, my pride was, "I don't care - who does he think he is??" My aunt, who's my roommate, and I had a seriously good laugh over it. And how you can be suddenly thrown into feeling like your 14 all over again.

It's possible that his wife didn't feel as comfortable about our visit, as my husband did. That's completely cool ... although if she saw me in my 6 month preggo state, she definitely would have *laughing*. But I didn't suggest us getting together one-on-one (which, I feel, would've been inappropriate) and he was the one who wanted to meet sooner than later. Plus, I had hoped to visit with her too, and their kids ...

So - whatever the case - he phoned this morning, with a mouthful of apologies and some pretty lame excuses ... and that was that. Disappointing, yes ... very disappointing, no.

My 15 year old rose-coloured glasses see quite clearly now *GRIN*!