tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309847772024-03-19T20:28:36.150+02:00Counting Beans...my thoughts, dreams & musingsMarisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-17598378382806942222012-07-17T16:21:00.000+02:002012-07-17T16:21:03.282+02:00Ten Things about Parenthood<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So uh... yeah I've been kinda scarce lately. A lot has happened, the most significant of which is that TheHusband and I procreated. Which made me think back over the last few months of (mostly) blissful parenthood.</span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time flies. Seriously. I feel like I barely blinked and A's first birthday is already looming just around the corner. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You don't know shit. Everything you thought you knew about having kids? Yeah, for the most part scratch all that. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You cannot comprehend the level of zombie you will rapidly attain in the first few weeks, until you are there. And when you're there, you probably won't have enough wits about you either to comprehend the severity of the situation. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You won't be able to describe the immensity of the love you feel for your child. It is unreal. As much as I thought I would love my kid (and believe me, through almost two years of trying to conceive I thought about that a *lot*), it doesn't even come close to how I feel now. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The statement "your life won't ever be the same" is the understatement of the century. In all the good ways and also in some not-so pleasant ways. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In many ways, being a parent is a lot easier than it looks from the outside. In other ways, it is the scariest thing you'll ever have to do. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It still hasn't quite hit me that I am now a mom. Yes, I have a baby and I do all the things you'd expect a mom to do, but identifiying as a mom? For some reason that part still eludes me. I wonder when it'll hit me?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a cliche, but I suddenly appreciate everything my mom did and still does for me. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I secretly enjoy it when A wakes up in the middle of the night and I get to squeeze in some more cuddle time. Well, for the most part I enjoy it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I judge other parents all the time. Yep, I shouldn't, but I do. Hey, they probably judge me too! Bastards. </span></li>
</ol>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-38683547319656482222010-11-03T09:20:00.001+02:002010-11-03T09:20:38.226+02:00Ten things about moving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7mRpjZml_88sYPIFLV7hur7DXWb5VbA2ivz3P6DVKykUuwJrVXyv8F0MfoITSoXScPzKrqYGcXJi7-7r1zP4hRAfPTnI3SBbwnLYQMAM5kZvBw_efiDtyOiIiLIPrCg_LWTe/s1600/movingday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7mRpjZml_88sYPIFLV7hur7DXWb5VbA2ivz3P6DVKykUuwJrVXyv8F0MfoITSoXScPzKrqYGcXJi7-7r1zP4hRAfPTnI3SBbwnLYQMAM5kZvBw_efiDtyOiIiLIPrCg_LWTe/s320/movingday.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. It is *not*, I repeat NOT fun. At all. Not even slightly. Besides having to sort out all your crap (and boy do we have a lot of that), the heavy lifting and the unpacking on the other side is also not exactly a barrel of laughs.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Forget bootcamp. Moving is the ultimate workout. I'm expecting shapely calves and bulging biceps any day now after the strenuous work they did this weekend.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. Cats do not like being in a car. Or in a cage. They will therefore attempt to claw anything within reach to death, including you, their beloved human.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. The new kitchen is awesome. No scratch that, beyond awesome. Normal-sized oven (as opposed to toy-sized oven) FTW.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5. The simple pleasure of having your own garden and being able to feel grass under your feet at any time is vastly underrated. Even if said garden is fairly small.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6. I am already feeling at home in the new house, even though there is still just short of a thousand boxes to be unpacked. New beginnings and all that.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7. The commute to and from Stellenbosch for work is less painful than I thought it would be. Of course, it's a hell of an adjustment from leaving home at 5 to 8. But worth every minute of it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">8. I finally know what they mean by "nesting". My mind is constantly full of ideas to make our home more livable, prettier, more functional. And it feels good.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9. Our very vocal second kitty is a lot more calm ever since we moved into the new place. Was a garden really all she wanted? Who knew.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">10. It's interesting finding your feet in a new town. Figuring out which routes are easiest, which shops are biggest (bigger equals better for a woman okay) and what your neighbours are like is invigorating. As they say, a change is as good as a holiday.</span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-20824806448511598342010-10-18T17:16:00.000+02:002010-10-18T17:16:17.867+02:00Ten things - mid October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs777.snc4/67766_116656371728389_100001520792617_107667_1213029_n.jpg" /></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Inspired by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://polkadotcupcakecooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/ten-thingssummer.html">this</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> post from twitter buddy, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Polkadotcupcake</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, I thought I'd try my hand at something similar.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So... things I've learned, things that put a smile on my dial and things I'm grateful for. Here goes nothing:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. I am stoked that we are going to become godparents to kid #2 in about 8 months time. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Seasonal eating is one of life's simple pleasures. It's challenging, but immensely rewarding and opens us up to new flavours and tastes, which is pretty awesome.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. Kids' birthday parties are super fun. Put on a party hat and stuff your face with cake for a carefree few hours.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Almost as much fun is buying presents for children. And getting excited over all the cool toys in the store. Mad scientist set, anyone? Almost makes me wish I was still young enough for toys.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5. A fresh coat of paint (especially white paint) works wonders on tired old kitchen cupboards. Booyah.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6. I love love love how furry and cuddly our kittens are. Happiness is truly a warm kitten.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7. Running (well walking/jogging) makes me feel like superwoman. Something I never ever thought I'd say. After a week of slacking off and feeling sluggish I went for a jog this morning and it was exhilirating.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">8. Packing in and slowly clearing our flat of clutter is a vastly underrated joy. Bonus points - I will have super muscular biceps by the end of next week due to carrying boxes down three flights of stairs.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9. It's amazing how much I can accomplish in the kitchen amidst all the chaos of packing. <a href="http://www.thecreativepot.net/2010/10/rainbow-chard-gnocchi.html">Stuffed gnocchi</a>, a quick chard quiche and some lovely cheesy olive-y flatbread are the latest creations to come out of the mess. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">10. I have the most amazingly patient husband in the entire universe. For real. And that is something to not take lightly.</span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-63936231266759045702010-04-23T12:30:00.002+02:002010-04-23T12:40:34.074+02:00Bad Kids vs Bad Parents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc0N05PiC1hp8ooBnFyMkxj__K-Ln1ytWDVELbTJX4UbGdrFmm14IlsANIOv-AQQza8mfl-SnkGcFvAfWei5SlIhmi5AoWsc-jfG8ZcS8_P5TuHHiwwXoRv9-TFis97udc1dH/s1600/BadParent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc0N05PiC1hp8ooBnFyMkxj__K-Ln1ytWDVELbTJX4UbGdrFmm14IlsANIOv-AQQza8mfl-SnkGcFvAfWei5SlIhmi5AoWsc-jfG8ZcS8_P5TuHHiwwXoRv9-TFis97udc1dH/s320/BadParent.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know this lady. Let's call her Ms M. Ms M has what you would label a problem child. This is a child who acts out both at home and at school, talking disrespectfully to his parents, grandparents, teachers etc, breaking things (his own and other people's) and generally just being a menace to society. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But. And it's a big but. I don't think that the child is the problem here. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Instead, it seems blindingly obvious to me that the parents are to blame. Ms M has a big problem with responsibility. As in, she takes none. Whenever she is confronted with her mistakes she will try and shift the blame to some other supposedly responsible party. As for the things she is supposed to be in charge of - well let's just say whenever anyone asks her about it, she throws her hands in the air. Most of the time she couldn't be bothered to learn how things work in order to complete her tasks. It's just easier to claim "I don't know" you see.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That I can still handle though. What I can't handle is that she takes this very same attitude with her kid. But don't take my word for it, let's look at some shining examples of her parenting style: (bear in mind this is a preschooler)</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Child allowed to stay up into the wee hours of the morning</li>
<li>Child allowed to watch pretty much anything on tv. Parents usually watch with him, but no guidance is offered from their side. As Ms M so eloquently put it, she's glad that such a wide variety of topics (violence, sex, drugs etc) are dealt with on tv, so that she doesn't have to explain them to her kid. </li>
<li> After repeated incidents at the school, the teacher requests that the child no longer brings a certain toy to school. Miss M completely (and very vocally) disregards this and brilliantly models respect for an authority figure.</li>
<li>At a school open day, several parents approach Miss M to complain about her child's swearing. Miss M claims to not know where child gets it from, but regularly swears like a banshee at work. No doubt it is even worse at home. Classy.</li>
<li>When teacher approaches Miss M about her child's bad behaviour, Miss M vows to "get that bitch back". And insists that the teacher is at fault for not being able to control the kid at school. Apparently the teacher is too soft, yet in the same breath she complains that the kid constantly gets yelled at by his teacher.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The best part? In spite of all these reports regarding her child and visits to a child psychologist, Miss M vehemently denies that she or her husband has anything to do with the kid's behaviour. In fact, she got mightily upset with the psychologist when she was told that it wasn't the psychologist's job to teach her child values. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I feel sorry for that kid. I really do. Unfortunately, growing up society will only see the bad behaviour and won't look past him to the actual guilty party, the parents. Yes, Miss M, I place the blame squarely at your doorstep and unfortunately throwing your hands in the air won't solve this problem.</span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-46487985760039053612010-03-17T13:57:00.001+02:002010-03-17T14:03:03.709+02:00Almost Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkp1eOrsB6KsLhzwmUNTTsXSvhaIC5_dk8xusQ4zIUKOc89j1sr_2sfgPzt4iMUKIW5fYmdyZh8IgVpr2D9bcgGQzKifwGy8QyzGBQcU0R2ECzAl2aU9pEQGxMEWsMGRaIcXM/s1600-h/sjff_02_img0832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkp1eOrsB6KsLhzwmUNTTsXSvhaIC5_dk8xusQ4zIUKOc89j1sr_2sfgPzt4iMUKIW5fYmdyZh8IgVpr2D9bcgGQzKifwGy8QyzGBQcU0R2ECzAl2aU9pEQGxMEWsMGRaIcXM/s320/sjff_02_img0832.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Seems it's time for my quarterly update again.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The <strike>healthier </strike>watch-what-you-eat regime I/we embarked on at the beginning of the year is paying off. I've lost a total of 4kgs since Jan and TheHusband has lost about 5kg. Not huge, but not bad right? And believe me, we're definitely not on a starvation diet. We started off, rather enthusiastically, with a mild exercise program, but as the days have grown shorter, our enthusiasm has rapidly waned. And so it goes. Weight loss is 80% what you eat though (or so they say) and I console myself on the exercise front with our weekly ballroom classes. Hey it's a workout if you're unfit...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On the foodie front, <a href="http://www.thecreativepot.net/">The Creative Pot</a> (my cooking blog) is going from strength to strength, I've even had a couple of my recipes featured on <a href="http://www.food24.com/">food24</a>. *grin* And this Sunday I'm attending the first ever <a href="http://sa-food-blogging-conference.blogspot.com/">South African food blogger conference</a>. Hoping to connect with fellow SA foodies and learn a bit more regarding photography and marketing of my blog. I confess, I wouldn't mind turning the blogging thing into my main venture & source of income. But that's still a looooong way off. Of course, just as lady luck would have it, I broke out with a rather <a href="http://pityriasis-rosea.com/pityriasis-rosea_1.html">peculiar rash</a> a week ago and my doctor informed me earlier this week that it'll be here to stay for 3 - 6 weeks. I'm sure that will make a superb first impression on my fellow food bloggers on Sunday. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In other more serious business-y news - our bond got approved (after a LOT of waiting) and we are awaiting the completion of our first property in June with bated breath. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We seem to be into the whole home refurbishing thing at the moment, after tackling the nerd room, our bedroom also got a (tiny) makeover and we are currently busy with the kitchen. I'm thinking Italian chic with bold red stripes on the kitchen cupboards, matt silver knobs & handles and a much needed extra shelf above the cooking area. It's about time our poor abused kitchen got some tender loving care and at the moment anything's bound to look better than the tired old cream colour scheme.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Things I'm looking forward to in the next few months:</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Grease @ The Artscape on the 20th of March</li>
<li>SA Food Blogger's conference on the 21st of March</li>
<li><a href="http://www.tasteofcapetown.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=185&Itemid=102">Taste of Cape Town</a> on the 27th of March</li>
<li>Bien Donne Cheese Festival (perhaps) in April (notice a food trend here?)</li>
<li>A few days at Goudini Spa with great friends in June - a very welcome midyear break</li>
</ul><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And of course all the long weekends in April - thank you Mr Zuma. At least one thing you do right...</span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-64990259739220456572010-01-18T15:42:00.001+02:002010-03-17T14:08:04.240+02:00Beg, Steal & Borrow<h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <a href="http://www.expensivemistakescheapthrills.co.za/meme/i-stole-it-fair-and-square">here</a>.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <br />
</span></span></h2><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Opening…</span><b> </b></span></h2><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Do you get regular massages?</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Nope. Actually never been for one. Except for the home DIY type ones from TheHusband.</span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><b>Do you have an answering machine?</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Nope. Don't even have a home telephone. The closest thing would be voicemail I guess. Though I'm not a diligent user of it. Messages go there to die.</span><br />
</span> <div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What cuss word do you use the most?</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">The F-bomb. Trying to curb my usage though...</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFT65EHi8O43E_Ne9gX40roGTp2-XpeCjXFE1tOLI0_5ZHoBw43efBXDBGZyPYjzWALBSnE5DbokSCsce4Vhv3jHywnAVMSXnutSb9uu-K7iypH3dLYCsF9bsQKb2bBIYtboH/s1600-h/00893-funny-cartoons-fear-of-heights.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFT65EHi8O43E_Ne9gX40roGTp2-XpeCjXFE1tOLI0_5ZHoBw43efBXDBGZyPYjzWALBSnE5DbokSCsce4Vhv3jHywnAVMSXnutSb9uu-K7iypH3dLYCsF9bsQKb2bBIYtboH/s320/00893-funny-cartoons-fear-of-heights.gif" width="287" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Are you underweight or overweight?</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Technically I'm in the normal weight range for my height, but I definitely have a belly that can do with some diminishing.</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Can you see your veins? </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Only the ones on the undersides of my wrists. And a little bit on my hands (if you look very closely). And yes, they're blue. :-)</span></span></div></h2><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Favourite…</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Soap? </b>Whatever smells nicest in the store when we have to replace the old soap.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fruit?</b> Mangoes and watermelons.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kind of red meat? </b>Lamb. Beef feels increasingly heavy for me.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fish?</b> Tuna steak, seared on the outside and still pink on the inside. Heavenly.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Candy bar? </b>Tempo. Or Snowflake. Or Crunchie. And I really like Smarties. And Lindt's Fleur de Sel dark chocolate slab.<br />
</span></div><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have You Ever…</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eaten a whole bag of potato chips? </b>Yup. *hangs head in shame* Although this is not really a regular occurence. The more regular occurence would be gobbling up an entire slab of chocolate.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eaten lobster? </b>Not yet. Still on my to-try list.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Climbed a mountain? </b>Yes, not out of my own free will. (Std 9 "leadership" camp - oh the horrors!)<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Been skydiving?</b> No - my fear of heights prohibits me from doing these things. I have abseiled though (see above).<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Been water skiing? </b>No. Looks kinda fun though, I might consider it. Generally not the sporty/outdoorsy kind though.</span></div><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do You… <br />
</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wish you could change something about your life?</b> Nope, happy with what I've got.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_3Wha1W1EBr1Z6bK6dUSyieVfcOfrgP8PksVp37BMSC1S220r92AjXkvij_bX0WowBWoXKxL93VMIdssObL3RnblO0Q1wADc5zbS6sma9iThEMlpO166xBfevrhBcW89LCEy/s1600-h/nose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_3Wha1W1EBr1Z6bK6dUSyieVfcOfrgP8PksVp37BMSC1S220r92AjXkvij_bX0WowBWoXKxL93VMIdssObL3RnblO0Q1wADc5zbS6sma9iThEMlpO166xBfevrhBcW89LCEy/s200/nose.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Like your nose?</b> Yes. It's the smallest in my immediate family, so I guess I scored in one area at least!<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Like salt and vinegar chips? </b>No. It's always WAY too vinegary. Like salt & vinegar on "slap chips" though. My favourite chips are Simba's Cheddar Cheese. It is seriously addictive.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eat salsa?</b> I like it, but don't eat it on a regular basis. No reason. :-)<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Own a boat? </b>No. No real ambition to either.</span> </div><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Is…</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A small thing that people let slide but that actually has dire consequences?</b> Manners. Although I wouldn't say it has <i>dire</i> consequences, just unpleasant ones.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC2Dbzdp1clam91GlCW06w2NI2j3wRlLSf7wGeieC62Ux3k0eY0HpyPIuqUCD2cv93y69FXdhTFEmtyNghyphenhyphenQoe-zJg5cg0QQxFw0_TepdkGP61Ys3KQ772zflpcV267uLVzMG/s1600-h/voicemail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC2Dbzdp1clam91GlCW06w2NI2j3wRlLSf7wGeieC62Ux3k0eY0HpyPIuqUCD2cv93y69FXdhTFEmtyNghyphenhyphenQoe-zJg5cg0QQxFw0_TepdkGP61Ys3KQ772zflpcV267uLVzMG/s320/voicemail.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Your most macho trait?</b> I'm not a big fan of the telephone. Or small-talk. That counts as macho (or at least non-feminine, right?). I also find it pretty hard to talk about my feelings, and will only open up to the one or two people that are really close to me.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The longest relationship you’ve ever had?</b> TheHusband. Almost 6 years. Canyoubelieveit?<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Your most embarrassing thoughts?</b> Too many. And definitely not going to be sharing them here!<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Your most shameful moment? </b>One or two drunken youthful nights spring to mind...<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></span> </div><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This/That…</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bath/Shower?</b> Bath. Although a shower is awesome after a workout. <br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Markers/Crayons?</b> Crayons.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pens/Pencils?</b> Pens. Used to be pencils - but the really short, stubby ones. <br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jelly/Cream Cheese? </b>Cream cheese. I have weird "issues" with jam (jelly). I know, it's stupid.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bagel/Toast?</b> Toast. But it has to be wholegrain toast and it has to be spread with butter and it has to be done while it's still warm so that the butter melts into the bread. Otherwise I will not be a happy camper. It really sounds like I'm very finicky with food, but I promise it's just these two things. Oh and yoghurt - no mushy berries in my yoghurt please!<br />
</span></div><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Finish…</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0np7nSA7s7-0SDX-RMLkNB6wlWH3HRFSq7IKiPWTp_4pZpW3UFDTfMGECFgaTEKGvLA8UEbW8leCsLHLA7PJ1By9byAM2fie_UjqhkAvSQ8dukGg7XmSTzyohElpYbf5iSH2/s1600-h/procrastination-cartoons.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0np7nSA7s7-0SDX-RMLkNB6wlWH3HRFSq7IKiPWTp_4pZpW3UFDTfMGECFgaTEKGvLA8UEbW8leCsLHLA7PJ1By9byAM2fie_UjqhkAvSQ8dukGg7XmSTzyohElpYbf5iSH2/s320/procrastination-cartoons.gif" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My greatest weakness is…</b>procrastinating. And hoarding. And being quite messy in general.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I wish I was…</b>financially free!</span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Three things I wouldn’t do for a million dollars are</b>…many things! Cheat on TheHusband (not even for 10 million dollars) and eat human excrement (nasty!) are just two that spring to mind.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The oddest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth is…</b>Really can't think of something now.<br />
</span></div><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Firsts…</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Credit card you had? </b>The one I still have - an ABSA silver one. <br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Loan you got was for? </b>Study loan. Although my dad paid it off in the end. YAY! Haven't had any other loans to date, although in the process of procuring a bond. One small step for man...<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Paycheck was for how much?</b> R4800. Before tax. However DID I manage to survive? And I had medical aid & retirement annuities to boot!<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Time you had stitches?</b> When I was about 8 - I fell my chin open for the second time and had to have stitches. First time was as a toddler, but my dad just doctered it with surgical spirits at home (much to my mom's horror).<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Time you went to the hospital for something?</b> Was about 6 or 7. Had to have my adenoids removed. I bet you're going to google that now... </span></div><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lasts…</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>List everything you ate in the last 24 hours? </b>Lunch - Carrot salad, Red grape & blue cheese foccacia, Banana-coconut "ice-cream". Supper - 1/2 beef, mushroom & pepper panini (doggie bag from Saturday's lunch), 1/2 halloumi, olive & tomato panini (also in doggie bag). Snacks - small citrus yoghurt (best EVER yoghurt by the way, just 3 ingredients: milk, fruit & yoghurt cultures), shared a bag of litchi's with TheHusband, a couple of handfuls of goji berries. Drinks - A glass of orange juice and copious amounts of water.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLykgNw9M56vtbZUka5iEvWZ8-AAkrbR60aXISfvJCR1pvGrvg_L_YCZUU57caVhWWsU3HxruhqHe-AswWAkXlXikpRQgKvYhcehMlIeRbgQluN1qE44hJXQma4_UgLmWle9y/s1600-h/Santa_Why_Red_Wine_is_important.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLykgNw9M56vtbZUka5iEvWZ8-AAkrbR60aXISfvJCR1pvGrvg_L_YCZUU57caVhWWsU3HxruhqHe-AswWAkXlXikpRQgKvYhcehMlIeRbgQluN1qE44hJXQma4_UgLmWle9y/s320/Santa_Why_Red_Wine_is_important.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Last thing you used a credit card for?</b> Bought some credits on mp3va.com<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What was your job previous to the one you have now? </b>Article clerk.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Last thing you celebrated? </b>Christmas & New Years.<br />
<b>Last time you were at a sports bar?</b> Can’t remember.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Quote for the week</b>: "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man." - Benjamin Franklin</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-50951779242841810722010-01-03T19:16:00.000+02:002010-01-03T19:16:02.216+02:00Mirror mirror on the wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Black%20Briar%20Sabin%20Mirror_Mirror_on_The_Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Black%20Briar%20Sabin%20Mirror_Mirror_on_The_Wall.jpg" width="251" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Subtitle: Reflections<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As in - looking back at the past year and anticipating with joy the year to come.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all do it. And I think it's good to take stock of where you are and where you're going every once in a while. Not necessarily at the beginning of the year either (although it is quite convenient).<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, what happened in 2009?<br />
</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>I jumped back on the blogging bandwagon - somewhat on this blog and much more so on my cooking blog - <a href="http://thecreativepot.blogspot.com/">The Creative Pot</a>. I also have a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/The-Creative-Pot/195838075288?ref=ts">fan page</a> for my cooking blog on facebook - come check me out!</li>
<li>All the cooking made me a little rounder than I'd like to be - which is why my aim this year is to get trim & fit. Slow and steady wins the race, right? </li>
<li>We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary in February. Love you bug! As they say, time flies when you're having fun...</li>
<li>We attended KKNK in April (me for the 2nd time, TheHusband for the 1st time) and had a roaring good time.<br />
</li>
<li>I started tweeting - come and have a look <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Lennongirl">here</a> (private tweets) and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TheCreativePot">here</a> (cooking/eating related tweets).</li>
<li>We went to <a href="http://www.casperdevries.com/">Casper</a>'s new show's opening night in the Artscape for my birthday in July and I <b>met</b> the man in person backstage. He is supershort!<br />
</li>
<li>We made a <b>big</b> decision (more on that in a future post though). Yes I'm going to keep you hanging here. :-)</li>
<li>We finally achieved some order in what used to be the hellhole/spareroom (or more affectionately known as the Nerdroom) <br />
</li>
<li>For the first time ever I experienced job insecurity, as a result of having to work short-time in October. Which was actually good in hindsight as it forced us to take a good, hard (long overdue) look at our finances. <br />
</li>
<li>TheHusband and I became (superproud) godparents in October and couldn't stop smiling about it. Which of course lead to a whole slew of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/">Godfather</a> quotes... </li>
<li>We embarked on our property investing venture in all seriousness this time. And are currently busy applying for bonds. Here's holding thumbs (and big toes) for being approved with favourable rates. <br />
</li>
<li>In December we attended the wedding of two friends who we'd introduced to each other back in 2006. Holla for the matchmakers! <br />
</li>
</ul><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So what happened with you? </span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-21648032894848640132009-12-02T15:17:00.000+02:002009-12-02T15:17:17.406+02:00Santa's Little Helper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFoFick8UEqZxc6fw9FwTb4_PInVKOi8-8VXlSR0s657k8F1vr8tf3cGnOqNLwRqykC0uEchyk6yuD90ZDyMnUcbONqDpZwOdsmV-2eq-s97FntTr4r7429jMCCQTWbeMnkzS/s1600-h/071123_HealthStress_vl-vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFoFick8UEqZxc6fw9FwTb4_PInVKOi8-8VXlSR0s657k8F1vr8tf3cGnOqNLwRqykC0uEchyk6yuD90ZDyMnUcbONqDpZwOdsmV-2eq-s97FntTr4r7429jMCCQTWbeMnkzS/s320/071123_HealthStress_vl-vertical.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aaaaah Christmas time. I don't know about you, but something about all the OTT decorations everywhere really grates my carrot. It starts earlier & earlier each year - this year our local Checkers hauled out the decorations in October - and it inevitably ends up with you feeling like a rat. Trapped that is.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not only does everything at work need to be wrapped up before the <strike>glorious</strike> measly 2 weeks off, but you have to somehow scrounge up Christmas presents for friends and family. Preferably good ones. Now don't get me wrong, it's not that I mind giving (and I certainly don't mind receiving...), I just hate the stress that comes with having to get everybody something <i>all at once</i>. Because it usually ends up with me speedracing through the mall a few days before Christmas, searching frantically for acceptable (non-budget breaking) gifts and trying to avoid the sweaty masses all around me as far as possible. Not really my idea of a relaxing time!<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Am I the only one who feels this way?</span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-37038841765714145642009-10-30T16:07:00.001+02:002010-03-17T14:05:02.236+02:00Goo Goo, Ga Ga?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSMZZDT3eS62mISgg4ukSIL9e_tOrmHb4jwu4Us9XQinQVyVl_xLCrYGxHtz4m1Yw4rLxdDwE8uMINXSWuAyXkfKuSZJzGiRis2BYjWAUruo_D3BSwsxqabsryQIDJxSHkPDn/s1600-h/newborn-baby-picture-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSMZZDT3eS62mISgg4ukSIL9e_tOrmHb4jwu4Us9XQinQVyVl_xLCrYGxHtz4m1Yw4rLxdDwE8uMINXSWuAyXkfKuSZJzGiRis2BYjWAUruo_D3BSwsxqabsryQIDJxSHkPDn/s320/newborn-baby-picture-photo.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">TheHusband and I have been thinking a lot about kids lately. As in having them. This wasn't brought on by our recently becoming godparents of an awesome little boy. Although I will say if anyone can make you broody, it's that kid. The broody part we've got down pat. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What I've come to realise though is that being broody is not enough. It's not a good reason for having a child and it certainly is no guarantee of good parenting skills. Being a parent, and a <i>good</i> parent at that is something that you can never really fully prepare for. And yet it's the one thing that you should aim to be most prepared for. It means reading books, getting advice, sorting yourself out. Profound, right? I know. Because let's face it, no-one wants a screwed up parent.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It also means growing up. Something I've recently discovered I still have a lot of to do. In the meantime, I'm there for you little B*, 100%. But future-kid, your mom still has a lot to learn before she can welcome you into this world. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">*for future reference: little B = our godson. Yes I realise it sounds like something straight out of Gossip Girl. What can I say? xoxo.</span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-24741984620817799022009-08-21T10:22:00.008+02:002009-08-21T10:50:38.417+02:00Reunion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUma8hnQ8RsEV1qMvQ-c_Q_HImEXf4qyI_X2UQVlHiVIDDu6Kj4LJC7DU3zcu8sIbzCcvm-_Oka3ZX1tPN7MzKqrB0XWiWAzBuFDCc6G2EnYIxf-jjIgrozsdEdsrFSA6xuOos/s1600-h/loser.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372336676263972578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 387px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUma8hnQ8RsEV1qMvQ-c_Q_HImEXf4qyI_X2UQVlHiVIDDu6Kj4LJC7DU3zcu8sIbzCcvm-_Oka3ZX1tPN7MzKqrB0XWiWAzBuFDCc6G2EnYIxf-jjIgrozsdEdsrFSA6xuOos/s400/loser.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had a strange dream last night. I was at my 10 year high school reunion (which is coming up next year) and everyone who was in class with me was there. And I had a good time. Why strange? Because I don't know if I even want to go to my reunion. No scratch that - I'm pretty <em>sure</em> I don't want to attend such an event. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know, I know:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>"But it'll be nice to see everyone, catch up"</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>"Even if you don't like it, you can still laugh at how bad the people you didn't like turned out"</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>"But, that's just, you know, what you DO"</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But it's not that simple. As you probably know (or at least suspect) by now - I was numero uno <a href="http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html">N3RD</a> back in high school. Of course, I still retain my nerd roots, but it's just more accepted now that I'm no longer in school. High school is a very unforgiving place. You have to be cool. Something, I unfortunately (or fortunately??) never achieved. And thus was a bit of an outcast. Really, their are very few people from high school that I would like to catch up with. And besides... isn't that what facebook is for? So I can pick & choose those I want to keep in touch with and shun those I don't? </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, I'm talking to you Ms I'mSoPopularIHaveNoTimeForTheLittlePeople.</span></div></div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-27808247077488312582009-08-06T13:15:00.003+02:002009-08-17T16:15:29.252+02:00You + Me = Us<p class="mobile-photo" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAYhWk0Sv290yRNi4pfffAp-kdLUYJgrI0HQOgc0O4VCHhdl0xZA5JaNZ8ty58qqrS6efXUVvE-2jpTzHuchvwc1Jss13u2HmNDOgY312tMI0v2Rw0uQ8hrimBpb04nCGM3-V/s1600-h/OldCoupleInLove13-06-1974-400pix-741119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366807916367004706" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAYhWk0Sv290yRNi4pfffAp-kdLUYJgrI0HQOgc0O4VCHhdl0xZA5JaNZ8ty58qqrS6efXUVvE-2jpTzHuchvwc1Jss13u2HmNDOgY312tMI0v2Rw0uQ8hrimBpb04nCGM3-V/s320/OldCoupleInLove13-06-1974-400pix-741119.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I've been reading (voraciously!) a lot of blogs from all over the intertubes (yes I've been struck by the LOLcat flu) and </span><a href="http://www.longrelationships.com/our-story-section-%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%80%9C-call-for-submissions-4/" target="_blank"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >this meme</span></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > grabbed my eye, so here goes:</span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >How long have you been together?<br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></li></ul><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >On the 24th of August it'll be 5 1/2 years. Married for 2 1/2 of them. Feels so short but on the other hand it feels like we've been together forever. Of course, I was only 21 when I met The(future)Husband, so I guess it would feel that way. I'd been single pretty much my whole life before that though. I was what you would call a heeee-yooooo-mongous dork at school.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >How long did you date?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >We dated for exactly three years until we got married. 8 months of which we were engaged.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >How old is he?<br /></span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >He's 29 now, the big Three Oh is looming... Hahahah! I can rest safe in the knowledge that my d-day will only arrive in 2012, so lots of time to stock up on anti-wrinkle creams beforehand. </span><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who eats more?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Hmmmmmm... TheHusband does, but I'm not far behind. I've got quite a large appetite for a laydee. ("But I'm a laydeeee" - Little Britain). Luckily we both have fairly fast metabolisms, otherwise we would've been approximating the Michelin Man by now.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who said 'I love you' first?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >TheHusband. I was a commitmentphobe before I met him and it was also my first relationship to have lasted that long (3 months at the time). He had a lot more experience in relationships, so it makes sense that he said it first. Of course, I said it right back!<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who is taller?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >TheHusband, by a little bit.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who is smarter?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >We're pretty equal, although I was the freak who got straight A's at school. TheHusband had a life back then unlike moi.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who does the laundry?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >It's usually me who throws the clothes into the washing machine, but we both hang it up and take it down. Actually more often him who takes it down. I'll happily let it hang on the drying rack for about a week. Ha.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who does the dishes?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Neither, that's why we have a cleaning service. To be honest, TheHusband is a cleaner & neater person than I am. I'll pretty much only do dishes when we've literally ran out of stuff to eat out of. Which takes quite a while, since we have a lot of plates and bowls. Oink oink.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >TheHusband. No reason, just worked out that way.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who pays the bills?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >He pays some, I pay others. But we don't really think of it as "my money" or "your money". It's all our money, just sitting in different accounts. If we could get a joint account, we would, but it seems our law doesn't allow it anymore.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who mows the lawn?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Aahhh the perks of living in a flat. :-) I have a feeling that this one will go the same route as the dishes though when we manage to get a house one day.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who cooks dinner?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Usually me. Not because it's the woman's job, but because I love cooking. TheHusband makes a mean omelette though. **Drool**<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who is more stubborn?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >ME!!!! Hands down. TheHusband is patient, puts up with my moods, always says sorry first (something I need to work on, I know) and is just generally a great guy. I take a while to cool down after an argument, while he can say sorry (and mean it) and go on as if nothing happened. He obviously follows Dr Phil's advice when he asks "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?". Say what you will about the Dr, but he does have some pearls of wisdom.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who kissed who first?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Well, technically, I kissed him first, but it was just a little peck to say thank you for the rose he brought me for Valentine's day (3 days after we'd met). Later that night, he kissed me properly though... It was the best Valentine's I'd had at that stage. :-)<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who asked who out?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >TheHusband again. About 2 weeks after we met. On a Tuesday evening, after we came back from watching a movie at the cinema. On a bench in the garden of my (then) dorm.<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who proposed?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I'm really sounding like someone straight out of the Victorian Era, right? TheHusband proposed... On the 22nd of June 2006, on the same spot as the one where he first asked me out more than 2 years prior. 'Cause he's romantic like that. :-)<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who is more sensitive?<br /></span></li></ul><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Probably me. I tend to take things more personally. Although I think TheHusband talks about his feelings much more easily than I do. Told you he's a great guy...<br /></span></p><ul style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Who has more friends?<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's about equal. Both of us have just a few friends. We also have a couple of mutual friends.We're not part of that group who has a whole bunch of friends. And that's fine. We prefer it that way.</span><br /></span></p>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-77417417462671676512009-07-31T09:55:00.006+02:002009-07-31T10:18:46.127+02:00Eggs in 3D<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQOSEdDjNvO6B5pnw2rWWWDkHSPJywTAaffzhoIK5ybnf9tFRqdLeojDyfMzUvizHYbojk3Tr7lnSOOgRtI5aYXOMFkzpD4lJyhJHY5hjArlmlBEZC4nXP4GOk2xtKfEGTrBy/s1600-h/3D_Movie_Logo_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQOSEdDjNvO6B5pnw2rWWWDkHSPJywTAaffzhoIK5ybnf9tFRqdLeojDyfMzUvizHYbojk3Tr7lnSOOgRtI5aYXOMFkzpD4lJyhJHY5hjArlmlBEZC4nXP4GOk2xtKfEGTrBy/s400/3D_Movie_Logo_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364535301550049202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Eggs, eggs, eggs! I just had a bacon & egg toasted sandwich for breakfast and it was gooooooood. I just feel like eating eggs these days. Weird. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Anyway, stepping off from that completely random topic, we went to go watch Ice Age 3 (in 3-D!) last night at the cinema. And I have to say WOW. Seriously.<br /><br />My first experience with 3-D was in those dinosaur magazines my parents used to buy us as kids. You know, the ones that were all educational and came packaged with glow in the dark build-your-own dinosaur skeletons and 3-D glasses to "see the dinosaurs come to life!" Well, they stood out from the page a little, but they didn't "come to life". Of course, at that stage I thought it was the coolest thing out, and my brother and I used to take turns peering through those red and green lenses and marvelling over the magic of 3-D. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">But 3-D in a movie? That was unheard of.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Until recently.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Everyone's been talking about the new Ice Age movie in 3D and I was a little bit curious, but to be honest, in the back of my mind I thought it wasn't going to be such a big deal. Boy was I wrong! The experience is something unlike anything else I've ever seen. To be fair, it's a bit disorientating at first and you tend to recoil a bit when something leaps out of the screen and (seemingly) flies straight at you. It's like the characters are living in some unknown-until-now space between the screen and yourself, the movie-goer. I really felt immerged in the movie; I imagine this is similar to how TheHusband feels about surround-sound. (As for me, I just don't get it. Yeah I know, I know...)</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Of course, we felt a bit like dorks in those Buddy Holly-esque glasses they hand you at the entrance. But dorks are the new black, so we're going with it. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Besides, we're going to be saving them for our future mini-me's who will one day, no doubt, think they are very funny and hideously old-fashioned.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">But then, 60 is the new 40, so I'm sure we won't mind too much at that (wrinkly) stage.</span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-88378807066692514572009-07-09T09:03:00.004+02:002009-07-09T10:53:13.307+02:00Legen... wait for it.... DAIRY!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgaCx7nx1j3mtn2DzA_gBscsUsFzqT__hrXVxbmAXtMRCXzneG7ZOYY3MlYJzZtRwwcHPZapicdwWnPfOO14uFmKpo0a5IVum8ne267M3EHLZSBGeAySaKMP0A3tXG1gR2QAN/s1600-h/Barney-Poster-barney-stinson-859281_357_500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgaCx7nx1j3mtn2DzA_gBscsUsFzqT__hrXVxbmAXtMRCXzneG7ZOYY3MlYJzZtRwwcHPZapicdwWnPfOO14uFmKpo0a5IVum8ne267M3EHLZSBGeAySaKMP0A3tXG1gR2QAN/s400/Barney-Poster-barney-stinson-859281_357_500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356357606411709666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay I've been watching too much How I Met Your Mother. But I thought the phrase was very appropriate for what I'm about to announce. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, dear friends, I am DEBT-FREE!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-ha! </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Also I'm 2 weeks shy from turning 27 and that marks some significant changes that will be taking place... but more on that later.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the moment I feel terrific, due in part to the new exercise regime we (that is TheHusband and I) have embarked on. Although, I guess one always feels good at the start of something like this. It's the keeping-it-up part that's usually the clincher... But I'm confident that this time we won't be giving it up. Getting started in winter is probably the most difficult time, so if we can make it through, it will be plain sailing come summer time and it's longer sunshine-y days.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I iz gymbunneh... Well, maybe not quite!</span></span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-36062149220338924652009-03-09T18:18:00.003+02:002009-03-10T07:17:50.600+02:00I've been a bad, bad blogger...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So much for my resolution to blog once a week. (098) HA! Although, in my defense, I usually get the urge to blog during work hours and my my internet keeps bombing out as soon as I tried to sign into my blog. They’re onto me…. ;-)<br /><br />So, what’s</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> new on my sid</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e?</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOP_MDU80YgsFUt66BFOTxfdkOrei1kRIul76wAP3_oBgHUWNXgZlLPtLf5xeUH0AtgiWxbAR841K3F0-QiC65OuA5KWGAEbEl7gG7eYhgdCK9Ke-jOxwoLIxvm1bADyPzynE/s1600-h/magazine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOP_MDU80YgsFUt66BFOTxfdkOrei1kRIul76wAP3_oBgHUWNXgZlLPtLf5xeUH0AtgiWxbAR841K3F0-QiC65OuA5KWGAEbEl7gG7eYhgdCK9Ke-jOxwoLIxvm1bADyPzynE/s400/magazine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311419853390313810" border="0" /></a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">My magazine addiction (047) has been </span><span style="font-size:85%;">successfully curbed I think. I no lon</span><span style="font-size:85%;">ger look longingly at the magazine rack each time I enter a shop and scan desperately fo</span><span style="font-size:85%;">r a title, any title, that will grab my fancy. And of course, I’ve become much pickier with the magazines I do buy, since I have a quantity limit now. Sometimes I don’t even get to 4 per month!</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I’ve tried to go see an improv show (0</span><span style="font-size:85%;">04), even booked the tickets, but then rocked up at the wrong venue. Very disappointing! For those wondering, the Intimate Theatre is not a separate room at the Kalkbay theatre, it is actually a separate theatre and is in the middle of the CBD. So when we finally figured out we were at the wrong venue, it was too late to still catch the show at the actual venue. Oh well, you live, you learn… Next time!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHcYnITzoRbn1-xPRjyQjVpG7eGXUTWWBdOjK9KUhQNGCpyUXK34pnQBunY7NQtiCLDyUW1YKoUFaq598hiw3Kjhh-H07_R9L7h1AFr9dYVb42cYJOzeMEzQFjNMuqAeKIE3t/s1600-h/pythonesque.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHcYnITzoRbn1-xPRjyQjVpG7eGXUTWWBdOjK9KUhQNGCpyUXK34pnQBunY7NQtiCLDyUW1YKoUFaq598hiw3Kjhh-H07_R9L7h1AFr9dYVb42cYJOzeMEzQFjNMuqAeKIE3t/s400/pythonesque.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311420257835010530" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">We did however attend the theatre (010) – this time for Pythonesque (a Mont</span><span style="font-size:85%;">y Python type show, surprisingly…) at the Theatre on the Bay, part of our anniversary weekend celebra</span><span style="font-size:85%;">tions. I’ve never see</span><span style="font-size:85%;">n any Monty Python (yes, yes, you can berate me later), so the show was a lovely surprise as I quite like</span><span style="font-size:85%;">d the style of humour.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">We’ve also tried some new restaurants out (012) (yes, co</span><span style="font-size:85%;">ffeeshops DO count!) – Melissa’s for a delicious breakfast including a freshly pressed beetroot, orange juice & ginger drink, and Café Crème for an equally delicious breakfast which included a lip-smacklingly awesome apple compote with Bulgarian yoghurt.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I can also tick off nr 013 – we had a picnic for Valentine’s Day. Even though it was on our livingroom floor (it was windy outside!), but we made the best of it with lots of cushions & duvets and in the end it was the best choice as we could pass out there and then when we had sated ourselves on JC Le Roux sparkling rose, homemade flatbread (025), diy marinated olives, garlicky chicken wings, roasted aubergine & redpepper and fried halloumi. Yu</span><span style="font-size:85%;">m-o!</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Not making too much progress on nr 019 – I already eat a wide var</span><span style="font-size:85%;">iety of foods, so this one is actually quite difficult to do… I keep </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjZ5uCK0e1UsbcgCi_V80nujbI3wZHgyKheAil4SXmYt1WpjVrl9eHD9fZgs3mJAkm3K1bOnK25tzDcT1QiVHBR-Qa8PJHC0RTI-1VZdBLE3KZgQ93hI-8Be6Tn2nPpPwV7_6/s1600-h/money.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjZ5uCK0e1UsbcgCi_V80nujbI3wZHgyKheAil4SXmYt1WpjVrl9eHD9fZgs3mJAkm3K1bOnK25tzDcT1QiVHBR-Qa8PJHC0RTI-1VZdBLE3KZgQ93hI-8Be6Tn2nPpPwV7_6/s400/money.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311421176813804354" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">threatening to try rollmops, but have not worked up the courage yet. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">They j</span><span style="font-size:85%;">ust look ….. icky…..</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">043 – I’ve paid off another one, so now have 2 left out of 5. Focusing now on TheHusband’s debt, so will probably take a while before the last 2 is paid off.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">022 is ticked off – chocolate salami was a hit during the festive season (off course with extra booze & orange peel added in, why not?)</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Still too scared to get on the scale (027). But I think my clothe</span><span style="font-size:85%;">s are feeling a tad looser (or rather, less tight…). Wishful thinking?<br /></span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Perhaps..Finally read Rich Dad, Poor Dad & can recommend it for anyone who does not look forward to getting trapped in the rat-race.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Made good progress (read: about 2 days…) with nr 063, but then the whole Joost-sex video scandal popped up all over Heat, my colleague showed it to me and I was trapped like a deer in the headlights (albeit a deer that quite enjoys being trapped in the headlights…)</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Had a lovely girls night in with Michelle a few weeks ago, was just like the good old varsity days. Not sure if it counts as a proper girls’ night (069) when there are only 2 girls though…</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Working on 070, watch this space….071, 074 & 075 ar</span><span style="font-size:85%;">e miserable </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDfSeaNvZx2QYvcmJfx282lJXwlOjtIbPMBqZ17l4_1uipGxZznFstW5B4t8SU8MDIRpgur7YkCbCYMtODLaj5A0do5wN5VM0lotFImFE2eQpwunnPiiOKA-mq_F5MzbWQHXK/s1600-h/the_sims2_089_1680.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDfSeaNvZx2QYvcmJfx282lJXwlOjtIbPMBqZ17l4_1uipGxZznFstW5B4t8SU8MDIRpgur7YkCbCYMtODLaj5A0do5wN5VM0lotFImFE2eQpwunnPiiOKA-mq_F5MzbWQHXK/s400/the_sims2_089_1680.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311422803524586850" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">FAILS.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I am a happy postcrosser! (091) Close to the 20 card-mark. Although, had a bit of a dry spell for the first few weeks of 2009, but now I’m all fired up again, since I figured out you can buy airmail postcard stamps in bulk at the post office, so I don’t have to go the postoffice every damn time I want to send a postcard (really annoying)</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stupid computer gave me a bit of a backlog on 094, but I’ve started up a new legacy and will be backing up on a regular basis to avoid any future mishaps. (Stupid Acer!)</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The doves seem to not be such keen visitors to our balcony anymore,</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> so I guess 099 has taken care of itself. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJ_oOsrfs2nkdlFx5yd5DBNqSYlW07ZtP4ZjlKfWpGC7tISYuxm7GCaUh1UXk7oae7YK5tf27HZT-r4tvrrPTGMtZcQ9nliNGIZ-TOXFrDiRFoIc2l8eaRHgwOoDqt3elbBAx/s1600-h/cockroaches_clip_image004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJ_oOsrfs2nkdlFx5yd5DBNqSYlW07ZtP4ZjlKfWpGC7tISYuxm7GCaUh1UXk7oae7YK5tf27HZT-r4tvrrPTGMtZcQ9nliNGIZ-TOXFrDiRFoIc2l8eaRHgwOoDqt3elbBAx/s400/cockroaches_clip_image004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311423582005832738" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">However, we now have a new</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> plague – cockroaches. They have man</span><span style="font-size:85%;">aged to crawl inside of our microwave (yes! Behind the digital time display – wtf), and give me the evil side-eye everytime I step into the kitchen. However, we have now found a new poison with which we will wage our war, hopefully this time it is successful. FYI, cockroach traps trap NOTHING, Doom-type sprays just sprays them away and then they scuttle off somewhere else, and apparently the old footstomping technique isn’t really the winner either – they release a gazillion egss when they get squashed! Just what I wanted: little cockroach babies!<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Urgh100 – FAIL. But I’m glad about the FAIL. I think it actually did more good than harm as initially feared</span>.</span></li></ul> </span></span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-23556286853557038342008-11-19T22:11:00.004+02:002008-11-19T22:26:53.602+02:00Pandora's Box<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7m3Z0pbWWZG1vI-OQA3reGk0owTMR7RuDxAZyNfMUGLSj9AMxYK8aqqy1DvmVNvWoStI8wR3q-XOPaRiFornlstXgQBlwApTZxOIBSLPKVxTAZoZgrK1jdMaSgQdPz782bXHR/s1600-h/SA_New_Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7m3Z0pbWWZG1vI-OQA3reGk0owTMR7RuDxAZyNfMUGLSj9AMxYK8aqqy1DvmVNvWoStI8wR3q-XOPaRiFornlstXgQBlwApTZxOIBSLPKVxTAZoZgrK1jdMaSgQdPz782bXHR/s400/SA_New_Logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270467311586529586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm aware of the fact that I'm going to open up a big ol' can of worms here, but there's something I just don't get:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Why all the fuss about the Springbok emblem? I'm of course talking about the big hoo-ha about "them" wanting to take the emblem away. And now that "they" have conceded that it can still stay on the jersey, the rugby-"manne" are still not happy, because, horror of horrors, they have moved it to the other breast! O calamity!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now, before you go accusing me of being insensitive (okay, maybe I am just a tad...), I do understand that people attach meaning to the emblem and that's what all the fuss is about. But, come on! Surely grown people cannot be that dense. The emblem makes no difference to the game in the end. It's not going to change the fact that the average person in this country lives & breathes rugby and it sure as hell isn't going to affect the score at the end of the game. One of the more annoying arguments I've seen, is that the Bok has united us as a nation (World Cup 1995 & 2007) and that's why it should stay. Of course I cannot argue with that, rugby did unite us and it was awesome, but that's just it. It was RUGBY that united us as a nation (even I got excited and I usually battle to stay awake during a game...), not the Bok per se.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, I suppose it has sentimental value, but is that enough of a reason for people to create groups on facebook, to petition the rugby bosses and to feverishly vote in Die Huilgenoot's polls regarding the matter?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Come on people, this really is quite a small "issue" compared to the bigger picture. There are so many other things to protest about in the world, hell even in our own country, why the focus on a picture on clothing?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or is that perhaps the precise reason for it: it distracts us from the bigger thorns in our sides?</span><br /></span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-85205844152831260372008-11-10T09:08:00.006+02:002009-07-09T10:49:36.886+02:00Around the world in 4 postcards<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The cool thing about </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.postcrossing.com">Postcrossing</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> is that not only do you get to send postcards all over, but you receive postcards from all around the world too. I received the first 4 on Friday last week and it made my day!</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even better was that the one from Tanzania had a message in Dutch on the back, and as we all know, I have a bit of a thing for the Dutch language - for some reason I find it VERY amusing. :-)</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0QFbIix9emdUVXDgd0WzE5gk23SD565SfarrxeR32zxv68jaRHIK7jcjyK-BgSBB3-3LJgi9ORWtvQ2KRIhIibFRBWaEG9mOwAl82h0T8BBO6rpIEDasvKvFO65Myt8zLLwW/s1600-h/BE22631.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0QFbIix9emdUVXDgd0WzE5gk23SD565SfarrxeR32zxv68jaRHIK7jcjyK-BgSBB3-3LJgi9ORWtvQ2KRIhIibFRBWaEG9mOwAl82h0T8BBO6rpIEDasvKvFO65Myt8zLLwW/s400/BE22631.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266923192994238962" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enghien - Edingen. Rue Montgomery et Maison Jonathas. (Belgium)</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctx8C9gztO1M66-At1Hesxxla1iSsNLXIDFyLX2TpuDHWqR2a4K1F0hsYPCa9EMAcP3KucFaQvekiipSPUWrB9-l6ZySTPxqQjagHEg3RJOb1f-MiNWpOlQ9kMkVAVdWPbkIE/s1600-h/NO-15786.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctx8C9gztO1M66-At1Hesxxla1iSsNLXIDFyLX2TpuDHWqR2a4K1F0hsYPCa9EMAcP3KucFaQvekiipSPUWrB9-l6ZySTPxqQjagHEg3RJOb1f-MiNWpOlQ9kMkVAVdWPbkIE/s400/NO-15786.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266929178860551314" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >(Norway)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z_SziPsITGgYaIMjsbArUTyiJCdGgnnYrP1vnZCBYd-tWDgSWJLpOfvVVHDvUTSR0kz255tOtIxJwW7egLuWXL3V8F4bZ_4DYVUuxjc1_SxzYO7pI7oHnClFBk_KjN-docbx/s1600-h/US-278968.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z_SziPsITGgYaIMjsbArUTyiJCdGgnnYrP1vnZCBYd-tWDgSWJLpOfvVVHDvUTSR0kz255tOtIxJwW7egLuWXL3V8F4bZ_4DYVUuxjc1_SxzYO7pI7oHnClFBk_KjN-docbx/s400/US-278968.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266934410147146306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">New Orleans - French quarter (USA)<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX-Q2xzxyWGI2XjTgkR8OazxftSXM7Ve86IoGZr3Wb24WNmNjzIkJAHJiKlfw63I7yKEAGLL47yOZdyc5G16PLfKpAGSbHnGrzZBp85Awt96btIj3lpp9MXrciyo7e6WBqSFX/s1600-h/TZ-74.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX-Q2xzxyWGI2XjTgkR8OazxftSXM7Ve86IoGZr3Wb24WNmNjzIkJAHJiKlfw63I7yKEAGLL47yOZdyc5G16PLfKpAGSbHnGrzZBp85Awt96btIj3lpp9MXrciyo7e6WBqSFX/s400/TZ-74.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266941541239633618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Zanzibar Island (Tanzania)</span><br /></span></div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-81446174104581057832008-11-07T08:43:00.008+02:002009-07-09T10:49:19.631+02:00ZA-4080<div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">My first postcrossing card has arrived!<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJsOzh1NnSXHHrLCwYSE_7uq4h-t9-so8OB9xF2BT65n6YrkA5A1NQMavhlOf3-loHdz7zI4Bq6nYWPIONZ_Dh9eS5659A24hoivlQJDvkrWrqxAgEQUJJjW9eKw95phGtLsq/s1600-h/ZA-4080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJsOzh1NnSXHHrLCwYSE_7uq4h-t9-so8OB9xF2BT65n6YrkA5A1NQMavhlOf3-loHdz7zI4Bq6nYWPIONZ_Dh9eS5659A24hoivlQJDvkrWrqxAgEQUJJjW9eKw95phGtLsq/s400/ZA-4080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265802844038437762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Message from recipient (<a href="http://www.postcrossing.com/user/treelight">Treelight</a> in Lithuania):</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> "Hello! Thank you for a wonderful card with Uncle Samie's shop. I am very</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> happy to receive such a nice card and from so far away. Maybe I'll have a</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> chance to taste koek sisters one day:) The stamp is also beautiful. Thank you</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> again, and good luck!"<br /><br /></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Click </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.postcrossing.com/postcards/ZA-4080">here</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for more details.</span><br /></span></div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-18090413312762341582008-11-02T16:39:00.004+02:002009-07-09T10:49:51.175+02:00I'm dreaming of Peru<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's been 3 weeks since I've started with my 101in1001 and I've finished a couple of goals, and have a couple in progress.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The most difficult one is proving to be #47 (the one limiting my magazine addiction). But, so far I've complied by only buying 4 magazines since the challenge started. And I may only buy again on the 12th of November. Granted, the 4 magazines were bought in the space of a week, but that'll teach me to space it out a bit!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This past week has been interesting. Life without TheHusband usually is, as I battle my own demons. For those of you who don't know: he's in Lima, Peru for 2 weeks of training. One down, 2 to go. I think I'm okay so far. The ironic thing is that it's always been a dream of mine to go to South America. So... having TheHusband be away for so long and be THERE is sort of a double whammy. The photo's he's sent me so far looks absolutely amazing and the stories he tells me makes me want to quit my job, pack my bags and climb into the nearest suitcase bound for South America.<br /><br /></span></span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrIxfbyThuL6Xu4BPOYOY7hextHIIjXA2QZoY4RvcsD_fKzB541wdtqEhoeTPyENAki2R6RYkLNj3Cy_BqhXvQrVxT8wjZ6KQswtC0krvzz-lRa_YxKsyj9XcIuyChjeo-4tX/s1600-h/11a0bbbc3b20f025077c5ee0748f8a68.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrIxfbyThuL6Xu4BPOYOY7hextHIIjXA2QZoY4RvcsD_fKzB541wdtqEhoeTPyENAki2R6RYkLNj3Cy_BqhXvQrVxT8wjZ6KQswtC0krvzz-lRa_YxKsyj9XcIuyChjeo-4tX/s400/11a0bbbc3b20f025077c5ee0748f8a68.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073859349000370" border="0" /></a>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-70176164623809475852008-10-27T16:44:00.000+02:002009-07-09T10:52:37.821+02:00I am a cyborg!<p align="center"><a href="http://cyborg.namedecoder.com"><br /><img src="http://cyborg.namedecoder.com/webimages/chi2-MARISA.png" width="240" height="180" alt="Mechanical Artificial Repair and Immediate Sabotage Android" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://cyborg.namedecoder.com"><small>Get Your Cyborg Name</small></a></p>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-68738911275273252612008-10-21T12:18:00.002+02:002009-07-09T10:50:27.822+02:00And in other freaky news...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdCsxvElVPdIwIepn8sslwYFoRK95H_d811GRWAHN7u8OBgZWhLnEYwXP9FQW82MVLEvbTp5To8en5nT39wP4zqreSwktEkFs0u8tVwN-arzgAO5DTxpKdwqAd-R9qJo9F_9i/s1600-h/ist2_1805086-hungry-emoticon-with-clipping-path.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdCsxvElVPdIwIepn8sslwYFoRK95H_d811GRWAHN7u8OBgZWhLnEYwXP9FQW82MVLEvbTp5To8en5nT39wP4zqreSwktEkFs0u8tVwN-arzgAO5DTxpKdwqAd-R9qJo9F_9i/s400/ist2_1805086-hungry-emoticon-with-clipping-path.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259550890237312354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.dieburger.com/Stories/News/18.0.995498215.aspx">Kannibaal gaan lank sit</a></span> <div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" id="storySubHead"> <div class="byline"> <div class="f1"><span style="font-size:85%;">ANESCA SMITH</span></div> <div class="source"> </div> </div><span style="font-size:85%;"> 20/10/2008 11:31:59 PM - (SA) </span></div> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="p"><span style="font-size:85%;">Londen. - ’n Britse sjef is gister lewenslank tronk toe gestuur nadat hy sy minnaar vermoor en ’n deel van die liggaam in olyfolie gekook en toe daaraan gekou het. </span></div> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="p"><span style="font-size:85%;">Anthony Morley (36), wat die titel Mr Gay UK in 1993 gewen het, sal na verwagting minstens 30 jaar van sy vonnis uitdien. </span></div> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="p"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hy is skuldig bevind aan die moord op mnr. Damian Oldfield (33). Hy het hom doodgesteek voordat hy ’n deel van sy bobeen afgesny, dit met vars kruie bedek en toe in olyfolie gekook het. </span></div> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p><div class="p"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Die hooggeregshof in Leeds, in die noorde van Engeland, het die afgelope paar weke gehoor hoe Morley die vleis “soos ’n steak gesny” en daaraan gekou het voordat hy dit uitgespoeg het.</span><br /><br />W.T.F?<br /><br /><br /></div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-43076110893813986642008-10-12T21:19:00.006+02:002009-07-09T10:50:41.920+02:00Land of the Afghan<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or more commonly known: Afghanistan. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The first on my </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries">list of countries</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> to read about. To simplify matters, I've decided to focus on the internationally recognized countries. Of which Afghanistan is top of the list.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0FV0WXiXU7f7fz9nwtoF-4x-ZypMxKbGGbVR6venVB_BKFf3mmulukLnWNTDXneGqKGcYGuGIAYr5pZCz7QmomLo5jYAznY8FWpoXWLorOQ2-SWjXLV0SjugNe4zEwW5zc17/s1600-h/625px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0FV0WXiXU7f7fz9nwtoF-4x-ZypMxKbGGbVR6venVB_BKFf3mmulukLnWNTDXneGqKGcYGuGIAYr5pZCz7QmomLo5jYAznY8FWpoXWLorOQ2-SWjXLV0SjugNe4zEwW5zc17/s320/625px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256352211762876690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">To be honest, I was very tempted to skip this one, due to over-saturation (the whole USA vs the Taliban saga), but in the end I gave it a go..</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Interesting fact: The country was a monarchy until 1973, when the King's brother-in-law ousted him with a bloodless coup to become the country's first president. Gives a who</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le new meaning to the phrase "trouble with the in-laws"<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpDHejHCTEwg7sIHyfFmas2D6QAtdLaWBrGEtMfg8el0RCudiQS_qh1FWQz-q78yTn8A3b_y0Kelv6ti2NJrhtHPNK12bqTT7MU47j6KWyGF32l4DhFauTuB55dPYexNXAx2o/s1600-h/Afghanistan_Herat_Gazar_Gah_Entrance-401x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpDHejHCTEwg7sIHyfFmas2D6QAtdLaWBrGEtMfg8el0RCudiQS_qh1FWQz-q78yTn8A3b_y0Kelv6ti2NJrhtHPNK12bqTT7MU47j6KWyGF32l4DhFauTuB55dPYexNXAx2o/s320/Afghanistan_Herat_Gazar_Gah_Entrance-401x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256361107973389138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">L</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ittle known fact:</span> Th</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ere is a booming opium trade in Afghanistan stemming from a huge illegal poppy cultivation.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Best part:</span> Culture plays a big part in the average Afghan's life - most households have at least one book of poetry and poetry events are very common (even though a large part of the population is illiterate).<br />Also, women now form 28% of the cabinet, making Afghanistan one of the leading countries in the world in terms of female representation.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Worst part:</span> The almost constant war the country has been embroiled in since way back when. And the Taliban. Those are not guys you want to mess with. Especially if you are a woman.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Verdict:</span> It doesn't seem as bad as I initially thought, but I'd still hesitate to go live there. Even though women are now well represented in parliament, and the laws governing what women can and cannot do have largely fallen away, I think that large parts of the population still views women as 2nd class citizens. And I'd have a very hard time coping with that.<br /></span></span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-71771800171007617172008-10-12T12:10:00.025+02:002009-07-09T10:44:41.420+02:00The Big Bad List<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So. I've stumbled upon an interesting <a href="http://thedailymeme.com/what-is-a-meme/">meme</a> and decided to take part in it.<br /><br />The Mission:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.triplux.com/dayzero/">Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days</a><br /><br />Start date: Sunday 12 October 2008<br />Finish date: Saturday 9 July 2011<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Magical Mystery Tour/Day Tripper<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>001. Spend a day at the amusement park & go on all the rides<br />002. Play a round of paintball<br />003. Go to an art exhibition<br />004. Go see an improv show<br />005. Go play putt-putt<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">006. See 6 live shows (2/6)<br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">- KKNK (Apr09)</span><br /></span></span>007. Go ice-skating<br />008. Go <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/">Geocaching</a><br />009. Attend an International Food Evening in the Neelsie<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">010. Go to the theatre 3 times (3/3) - Apr09</span><br />011. Go strawberry picking<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">012. Try 10 new restaurants out (4/10)<br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Irish Pub, Durban (Dec08)<br /> - Melissa's, Stellenbosch (Feb09)<br /> - Manoushe, Stellenbosch (Apr09)<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Braza, Canal Walk (Jun09)</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">013. Have a picnic - Feb09</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Honey Pie/Strawberry Fields</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">014. Plan weekday meals & do grocery shopping on a weekly basis - doing this on a regular basis, consider it done</span><br /><a href="http://thecreativepot.blogspot.com/2008/10/roasted-brusselsprouts-with-potatoes.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">015. Give Brussels sprouts one more try - Oct08</span></a><br />016. Make gluhwein<br />017. Make ginger beer<br />018. Roast a whole chicken<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">019. Try 10 new foods (3/10)</span><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Belgian endive (Oct08)</span><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">- Fennel (Dec08)<br /> - Sauerkraut (Jun09)<br />020. Make a meal based on a colour-theme - Apr09 (YELLOW)<br /> Starter - Stuffed Pattypans<br /> Main - Yellowpepper & Fontina Salad with a creamy mustartd dressing<br /> - Sweetcorn fritters<br /> Dessert - Caramelized Pineapple with Butterscotch sauce<br /></span>021. Make ice-cream/sorbet from scratch<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">022. Make </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_salami">chocolate salami</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Dec08</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">023. Cook 5 things out of every cookbook I own (5/150)</span><br />024. Make & bottle something<br />025. Bake bread<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Revolution/I Want You (She's So Heavy)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">026. Eat two vegetarian main meals per week - doing so on a regular basis, consider it done</span><br />027. Lose 7 kgs (0/7)<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">028. Exercise for 30 mins, 3 times a week for 12 weeks (2/12) (re-started on 29.06.2009)</span><br />029. Touch my toes (without bending my knees!)<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">030. Drink 4 glasses of water each day - doing so on a regular basis, consider it done</span><br />031. Ban sweets for 1 week, 10 times (0/10)<br />032. Eat only <a href="http://www.rawfoodlife.com/">raw foods</a> for 5 days (not consecutive) (0/5)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ticket to Ride/The Long & Winding Road</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">033. Go away for a weekend, 5 times (1/5)</span><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Goudini Spa (Jun09)</span><br />034. Go to Darling and visit <a href="http://www.evita.co.za/">Evita se Perron</a> for a meal & a show<br />035. Get a passport & visit another country<br />036. Take a boattrip to <a href="http://www.robben-island.org.za/">Robben Island</a><br />037. Go to the beach<br />038. Go on a winetour (at least 5 winefarms)<br />039. Go on a roadtrip somewhere I've never been before<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can't Buy Me Love/You Never Give Me Your Money</span><br /><br />040. Celebrate <a href="http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/">Buy Nothing Day</a>(Nov 29) each year (0/3)<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">041. Attend a </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.treoc.com/">Treoc </a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">course - Nov08</span><br />042. Buy at least one property in our trust<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">043. Clear out short-term debt - May09</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">044. Buy all 3 Austin Powers' movies (1/3)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">045. Buy/get another Sims2 expansion pack</span><br />046. Don't buy anything which doesn't fit me perfectly<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">047. Limit magazine buying to 4 per month - doing this regularly now, consider it done</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">048. Read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" - Feb09</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">049. Buy a nice pair of boots - May09</span><br />050. Save up & register with SAICA<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">051. Buy proper ballroom shoes - Nov08</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hard Day's Night/In My Life</span><br /><br />052. Wash the dishes every night for one month (0/30)<br />053. Put clothes away every night for one month (0/30)<br />054. Go one day without saying anything negative about anyone<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">055. Apologise first 20 times, even (especially!) when I think I'm right (2/20)</span><br />056. Make a point to NOT overreact (when I'm angry) 10 times (0/10)<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">057. Deal with an issue I'd usually try to avoid</span><br />058. Do not indulge in any gossip at work for one month (0/21)<br />059. Organise favourite recipes into a recipe binder<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">060. Declutter: get rid of 101 things (57/101)<br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Shoes & clothes (Nov08)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Clothes (Jul09)</span><br />061. Get rid of old magazines</span><br />062. Finally unpack the 'Box of Horrors' in our bedroom<br />063. Avoid celebrity gossip for one month (0/30)<br />064. Put away laundry the same day it's dried for 6 consecutive weeks (0/6)<br />065. Go through digital photos, print & frame (or put up for display in some other way) the best ones<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Got To Get You Into My Life/With A Little Help From My Friends</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">066. Meet up with Michelle & Lee-Ann once every 2 months (2/16)</span><br />067. Host a dinner party once every 3 months (2/7)<br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Caribbean party (Dec08)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Bollywood Dreams (May09)</span><br />068. Go visit Nelia in Namibia<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">069. Have a girls' night out/in - May09</span><br />070. Make a new female friend<br />071. Write (& send) a letter to my brother once a month (0/33)<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">072. Visit my Aunt & Uncle once every 3 months (2/7)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">073. Treat my mom to a spa day - Dec08</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">074. Talk to/email my dad once a month (5/33)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">075. Call my mom more regularly</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love Me Do/Oh! Darling</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">076. Go on a date with TheHusband once a month (8/33)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">077. Go for a Sunday/Saturday afternoon stroll with TheHusband once a month (1/33)</span><br />078. Re-read the<a href="http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/"> Five Love Languages</a> & also the Five Languages of Apology<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">079. Watch 10 "boy"-movies with TheHusband without complaining or falling asleep (3/10)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">080. Do 101 romantic things for TheHusband (2/101)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Fool on The Hill/I Am The Walrus</span><br /><br />081. Learn to speak Spanish<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">082. Catch up on current affairs via </span></span><a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);" href="http://www.news24.com/">news24 </a><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> once a week - added to my RSS feed</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">083. Finish reading the Combrink/Combrinck genealogy books (0/3)</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">084. Complete Bronze ballroom dancing programme</span><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">- Preliminary - Mar09</span><br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> - Secondary - Jul09</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">085. Take an online course</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">086. Read up on the history and culture of a different country once a week (3/143)<br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Afghanistan</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Peru</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Finland</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Happiness is a Warm Gun/I Feel Fine</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">087. Watch the Comrades once from start to finish</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">088. Re-read the Adrian Mole books (3/6)<br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (Oct08)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole (Nov08)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Adrian Mole: The Cappucino Years (Nov08)</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">089. Have/go to a poker evening</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">090. Comply with the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.miguelruiz.com/fouragreements.html">Four Agreements</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> for one week</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">091. Send 20 postcards via </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.postcrossing.com/">postcrossing</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Oct08 - Jan09</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">092. Join the bone marrow donor register - Oct08</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">093. Talk to 10 strangers (more than just "hi"...) (2/10)</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">094. Build up to 10 generations in one family on TheSims2 (3/10)</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">095. Host a </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.murdermystery.co.za/">Murder Mystery Evening</a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">096. Learn how to & make a quilt</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">097. Make something for our flat (the quilt doesn't count)</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">098. Update my blog once a week (6/143)</span> (exceptions will be made for periods away from home, w/o internet access</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">099. Find a way to get rid of the damn doves on our balcony - they left on their own!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Do You Want To Know a Secret</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">100. Do not **private misson ** - fail</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">101. Do **private mission**</span></span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-74403734847626149392008-08-27T11:52:00.003+02:002008-08-27T12:12:40.016+02:00CrazyBusyMessy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSyBNNSBqOhvrYRKn7EhYtrqz3RF0vz0PsGumUCVFpngazMQkHpl9mzV8l_YbY9L5vImxuGynqpmFQt5Msh9rLbolgt8PAYr8g6i654R0M_BlcWiBh8G20oEX_s0rjdaTN9zP/s1600-h/busy-lady.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSyBNNSBqOhvrYRKn7EhYtrqz3RF0vz0PsGumUCVFpngazMQkHpl9mzV8l_YbY9L5vImxuGynqpmFQt5Msh9rLbolgt8PAYr8g6i654R0M_BlcWiBh8G20oEX_s0rjdaTN9zP/s320/busy-lady.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239136862325123730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Geez! I feel like I've been dumped on some alternate universe where people are expected to literally work their asses off!</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Not only is it month-end, not only is there all sorts of issues with payments,not only do we have our bi-annual stocktake,but my boss is going on holiday for the next 2 weeks meaning I am seriously overworked with trying to sort out everything before he leaves! Where is a person supposed to find time for browsing and daydreaming with such a hectic workload??</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />In the midst of all this, it is TheHusband's birthday next week (thank heavens for online shopping!), and I start a driving crash course next week in the hopes of (finally, maybe, HOPEfully) obtaining my driver's licence this time around.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> What with the ridiculous hourly charge for the driving school, I'm expecting an end-of-the-month-salticrax situation for most of the month...</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Oh and to top it all off, our maid has been pulling a Houdini act for the past few weeks, which means our flat is a complete disaster area.<br /><br />Seriously, Katrina in New Orleans has nothing on me and TheHusband.</span></span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-24378621252506376092008-08-21T09:10:00.003+02:002009-07-09T10:51:23.498+02:00Arrriiiiiibaaaa!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Had the best dream last night!<br /><br />Me & TheHusband in South America, dancing the night away, mixing with the locals, attending shows and exploring the culture.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-k-lQHpRabDTlnWO9HoL6kBXufKRZKCDz87L7Mlb_Z3kPWIMyY9nAA2ijWXDJh5o-VaDgD5-q1pURKU4h87BEl4jqDuKVgC5X81F_H_S4BdkuGDZ3KljC9-mmaSr2GyaJTkX/s1600-h/DM043X~Caracus-Venezuela-Posters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-k-lQHpRabDTlnWO9HoL6kBXufKRZKCDz87L7Mlb_Z3kPWIMyY9nAA2ijWXDJh5o-VaDgD5-q1pURKU4h87BEl4jqDuKVgC5X81F_H_S4BdkuGDZ3KljC9-mmaSr2GyaJTkX/s320/DM043X~Caracus-Venezuela-Posters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236866307068501042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Who knows, perhaps it was a glimpse into the future?</span></span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30984777.post-34108748165505291622008-06-09T13:48:00.005+02:002008-12-10T12:09:08.576+02:00The Truth in Humour...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bPqR64XsMUq6oj3r4EE-lVwT09ewYA1x646wgk3x0hX96s3wxzLSclWgvv1VnjEmU4PmXPg2boZg_k-rdmKPR9Jm10LO3pqMaJFzjlS1BJh-WYKPnjHvZWw42idxWF6JHsvC/s1600-h/dilbert-20020127.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211364569975855762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bPqR64XsMUq6oj3r4EE-lVwT09ewYA1x646wgk3x0hX96s3wxzLSclWgvv1VnjEmU4PmXPg2boZg_k-rdmKPR9Jm10LO3pqMaJFzjlS1BJh-WYKPnjHvZWw42idxWF6JHsvC/s320/dilbert-20020127.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k_jHW_8oWl3dX6XHQTBLUEUdhMEkq7zK8mur7mCGDkATKCXgBlCoIufXTnMz2GbMYXm-qFsnqI6ThkRNyAwkYopiPPyWYKRxnL9VHvHjSChyPnR84QkAfAxl6hTaW_t_Rm7W/s1600-h/dilbert-20020127.gif"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAiQOgOAVhHr1VD274rfCNBNTF1BEe9UjPvEcrvgoulg2iMMscv5ZdkMKYhW14nXXmlo6cxRkyaZ4ZLA7KcCSf0yNs9vsak-8sLrQNweyIoZtA2sKJk05QZF4h87xOQ1pXuld/s1600-h/dilbert-20020128.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211363754275533186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAiQOgOAVhHr1VD274rfCNBNTF1BEe9UjPvEcrvgoulg2iMMscv5ZdkMKYhW14nXXmlo6cxRkyaZ4ZLA7KcCSf0yNs9vsak-8sLrQNweyIoZtA2sKJk05QZF4h87xOQ1pXuld/s320/dilbert-20020128.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><a href="http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2008-05-25/"><img src="http://dilbert.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/000000/00000/8000/800/8718/8718.strip.gif" border="0" /></a></div></span></div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412734634457510531noreply@blogger.com0