NS October 7th, 2008

I’ve been tagged to do this fun Addictions meme so if you want to know what I’ve been obsessing about lately, read on.

RULES:

* Post at least five current addictions (with some details, please).
* Mention the person who started this meme (Being Brazen) and also the person who just tagged you – Zoesmom.
* Type your post with the heading “Current addictions”.
* Tag at least two people and pass on the above rules.

1. Nairn’s Fruity Oaties biscuits

They’re fruity. They’re oatie. They’re biscuits. What’s not to love? I discovered them a few weeks ago and can’t get enough of their deliciousness. They go perfectly with an afternoon cup of tea. I’m going to have to bid them goodbye in a few more weeks though, when I no longer have the excuse of being pregnant or having ‘just’ had a baby.

2. Coffee

After months of drinking decaf, I can finally have a normal cup of joe. Amen hallelujah!

3. Old school Disney films

While I’m figuring out how to juggle two kids and the house at the same time, particularly when I have to spend large amounts of time sitting down with a baby attached to my boob, TNC has been watching more videos than usual. We get them from the library so they can only be around for a week at a time. This past week it was Dumbo. I hadn’t seen it for years and TNH had never seen it. We all sat down to watch it over the weekend and as I warned him, I cried when Dumbo goes to see his mother in her cage and she rocks him in her trunk while the song ‘Baby Mine’ (later covered by Bette Midler and heard in the film Beaches) plays. It gets me every time.

4. Warm baby heads

Who could resist this little guy’s fuzzy melon, especially curled up in bed together at night? Sometimes I wake just to watch him sleep, hear him grunt and sigh and kiss his warm little noggin.

5. Driving

I mentioned back in July that I passed my British driving test and we’ve been looking for a car since then. We finally found one and became the owners of a Vauxhall Omega estate car (a station wagon, essentially — I am *such* a mom now) at the weekend. I went for my first solo drive yesterday (well, with the kids in tow) and it was so nice to be behind the wheel again. I’m a bit rusty at parking but it will come back with time and practice, I’m sure. I’m treasuring my new-found freedom. Goodbye waiting at bus stops in the rain and freezing cold, only for it to sail past or not have room for a pushchair! Goodbye relying on others to take me places and feeling guilty for asking for lifts or being unable to meet friends at places not directly linked to my local transport! Goodbye rude passengers and being given the hairy eyeball when TNC starts whinging! I still have to listen to it but at least I won’t feel stressed about what others think of me or expect me to do. Sweet relief!

I tag me fellow expats Jen and Nicole

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NS September 27th, 2008

I’m working on the birth story but it’s slow-going when I’ve constantly got a baby attached to me. So in the meantime I thought I’d do this meme that Zoesmom created the other day.

At a certain age women should accept the loss of their youthful appearance gracefully

At a certain age men should stop doing silly or acrobatic moves on the dancefloor

When I was a kid I thought I would change the world

Now that I am older I wish I had changed the world

You know you are too old to buy gossip magazines when you don’t recognise half the names of the celebrities

You know you are too young to throw away your high heels when you’re not even 30 yet

When I was in high school I listened to the music of Nirvana, Frente, Tori Amos, Matthew Sweet, Green Day, Foo Fighters

Nowadays I find I like the music of Zero 7, The Shins, Ani Di Franco, Imogen Heap, Joni Mitchell, Ben Harper, Cat Power, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol

On my last birthday I had lunch at my favourite restaurant with a few friends

On my next birthday I want to go clubbing (hey, it will be my 30th, I can get away with it)

The best birthday present I ever got was a homemade card from my Dad with a picture of the stereo he had put in layaway for me inside, even though we couldn’t really afford it

The first time I felt grown up was when I flew to the East Coast by myself at age 17

The last time I felt like a kid was last week while playing silly games with my toddler

When I read ‘Animal Farm’it changed my life

Last year was financially lean

Next year I hope to be freelancing successfully

I tag Siobhan and Joanna

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NS August 4th, 2008

I’ve seen this in a few places, most recently at Everything in Between. It’s Monday and I have no energy so it’s much needed.

1. My uncle once: donated his kidney to his friends’ child

2. Never in my life: would I cheat in a game

3. When I was five: I told my kindergarten teacher that my mother was in a full body cast because I liked the way she said ‘Awww’ when someone got hurt or was sick

4. High school was: pretty good

5. I will never forget: the smell of stables from my riding days

6. Once I met: the cast of The Phantom of the Opera in New York

7. There’s this girl I know: who can down a beer faster than any man I’ve ever met

8. Once, at a bar: I threw a drink in someone’s face and then slapped him. It felt so good

9. By noon, I’m usually: eating lunch

10. Last night: I ate a delicious chili that my husband made

11. If only I had: more motivation

12. Next time I go to church: I’ll probably be in the casket

13. What worries me most: finances

14. When I turn my head left I see: stairs

15. When I turn my head right I see: books

16. You know I’m lying when: I get all irritated at the suggestion that I might be lying

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: the toys

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: Nurse from Romeo and Juliet

19. By this time next year: I will be able to drink margaritas again

20. A better name for me would be: I love my name and wouldn’t ever change it

21. I have a hard time understanding: people who don’t question the status quo

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: never skip class. Okay, only rarely

23. You know I like you if: I laugh a lot

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: my mother

25. Take my advice, never: down a Belfast Car Bomb (a shot of whiskey dropped in a half pint of Guinness with a measure of Bailey’s on top) when you’re already drunk

26. My ideal breakfast is: French toast and bacon with coffee and juice

27. A song I love but do not have is: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: turn around and leave immediately

29. Why won’t people: stop being such immature asses about breastfeeding in public

30. If you spend a night at my house: I will make you breakfast in the morning

31. I’d stop my wedding for: a heart attack

32. The world could do without: misogyny

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: join a sorority

34. My favourite blonde(s) is/are: my daughter

35. Paper clips are more useful than: tacs

36. If I do anything well it’s: making lists

37. And by the way: I just polished off the majority of a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream

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NS July 22nd, 2008

I saw this meme at ZoesMom and just had to participate because it looks like fun and it’s easy. I’m so busy right now that easy is definitely a bonus!

The rules are simple: one word answers to 40 questions.

Where is your cell phone? Bookshelf

Your significant other? Tall

Your hair? Oily

Your mother? Creative

Your father? Warm

Your favorite time of day? Dusk

Your dream last night? Strange

Your favourite drink? Soda

Your dream goal? Success

The room you’re in? Square

Your ex? Simple

Your fear? Heights

Where do you want to be in six years? Happy

What are you not? Dull

Your favourite meal? Steak

One of your wish list items? Camera

The last thing you did? Eat

Where you grew up? Sticks

What are you wearing? Pajamas

Your TV is? Dirty

Your pets? Loved

Your computer? Needed

Your life? Happening

Your mood? Bored

Missing someone? Always

Your car? None

Something you’re not wearing? Socks

Favorite store? Borders

Your summer? British

Your favourite colour? Purple

When is the last time you laughed? Today

When is the last time you cried? Yesterday

Your health? Fine

Your children? Lovely

Your future? Undetermined

Your beliefs? Strong

Young or old? Young

Your image? Opinionated

Your appearance? Average

Would you live your life over again knowing what you know? Probably

I tag Andrea, Lyn and Nicole

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NS July 3rd, 2008

Okay, not really, but I’ve run out of clever titles for these things so you’re getting a random number this time. I was tagged by Andrea to do this one.

what was i doing 10 years ago?

I was in Germany on my first trip abroad and had just recently met TNH. I went to Amsterdam for the first time on this weekend 10 years ago. One word to sum up the trip: crazy. Oh, and disorganized. Our group got split up before we’d even left the station, some of us bought the wrong tickets, I forgot my passport at home, we had no hotel booked and discovered there weren’t any available due to it being the World Cup and the height of tourist season, I got mugged twice on the same day, we got too stoned to walk or form a sentence and then slept in various train stations/parks/hostel floors until it was time to leave.

5 things on my to-do list today

1. Make a dentist appointment
2. Get an interview for my story
3. Dust and clean windows
4. Try not to think uncharitable thoughts about my trashy neighbour
5. Avoid sugar-laden treats

Snacks I enjoy

Unhealthy variety:
Snyder’s honey mustard and onion pretzel pieces (damn you, Jen, for turning me onto these!)
Sour cream and chive pretzels
Cheesecake

Healthier options:
Greek yoghurt with fresh raspberries
Dried fruit
Olives

Places I have lived, in order

Charlestown, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Wiesbaden, Germany (though only for a few months)
Indianapolis, Indiana
London, England

5 things I would do today if I were a billionaire

1. Help out my friends and family who need it
2. Donate a boatload to charity
3. Put a savings account and investment fund into place for ourselves and our children’s futures
4. Buy a slightly bigger house or add onto and redecorate our existing one
5. Go traveling and visit family overseas whenever I like
6. (the silly, frivolous one) — Buy a lifetime supply of Claussen baby dill pickles

I’ve stopped tagging people on memes for the most part as whoever wants to do it can.

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