tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2009-11-11:/MokoFeed2009-11-11T22:17:03+01:00tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-12-23:/2006/12/23/on_the_eve_of_chrissy_eve~1471350/milktoast672006-12-23T12:56:57+01:002006-12-23T12:56:57+01:00 <p>I think back to this time last year....when I had a full big belly....not of food but with baby. Now she's asleep in the other room. On Christmas day she will be 8 months old. Its true what "they" say, this time flies.....it really has. A year ago, Mr. G and I were running around carefree, taking midnight swims down in the bay, staying out late with friends.....and now its all about little lady and we LOVE it and HER soooo much. I don't feel like we've given anything up. Oh yeah, I don't stay out late any longer but SO what! I wake up every morning to 2 smiling faces who love me no matter how grouchy or yucky I am! </p> <p>true love....</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=1047915" title="KNov06aa"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/915/1047915_225136bf76_m.jpeg" alt="KNov06aa" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/12/23/on_the_eve_of_chrissy_eve~1471350/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-10-11:/2006/10/11/what_i_ve_been_up_to~1209268/milktoast672006-10-11T12:28:21+02:002006-10-11T12:28:21+02:00 <p>What have I been up to lately.....well, there's the usual, taking care of my now 5.5 month old (a true pleasure!) spending time with my wonderful husband (and taking care of him as well, also a pleasure!) and making sure that our house is in order (not as much of a "pleasure".) All in all, it keeps me very very busy. </p> <p>Once a week, Kira and I go to meet other new mother's in the neighborhood. We all met months ago when the babies were just newly born. The council arranges these groups and you start out meeting at the maternal healthcare center. They talked to us about raising our bubs and how to take care of ourselves. Then were were left to continue the group. Most people have stayed on, a couple have gone back to work but its good, everyone seems to make an effort to come to these weekly get togethers. I've even met some of the mum's outside of the group meetings for coffee and to go for walks.</p> <p>The one thing that I've learned about new mums is this, they are all pretty competitive.....who knows, maybe I am as well. It seems like whenever you start to talk about how your child is doing the other mother tends to make it seem that their baby is "perfect" or that they are developing so amazingly well! I crave to hear that they have rough moments where their child cries endlessly or that its not all perfect in the household, there are hard times as well. I don't know, it just sometimes seems strange that they go on this way....isn't the whole idea of mother's group to share honest/common experiences? </p> <p>Our little lady has also started going to Gymbaroo. Its a 45 minute exercise class for babies! We've only gone to one class.....she did pretty well. Really seemed to enjoy the first bit but was a little tired and out of sorts towards the end of it. We'll see....I think that its good for their development....</p> <p>All in all its good. We leave for our first plane trip together to NYC. A 24 hr trip.....Luckily we're all flying together as a family. I'm hoping that we arrive safe and sound....</p> <p>until we come back...xxxx</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=879753"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/753/879753_a234a78518_m.jpeg" alt="K10_8a" title="K10_8a" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/10/11/what_i_ve_been_up_to~1209268/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-09-10:/2006/09/10/its_been_a_while~1112359/milktoast672006-09-10T09:06:36+02:002006-09-10T09:06:36+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=808160"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/160/808160_b0807dea9b_m.jpeg" alt="K_8_23_b" title="K_8_23_b" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=808161"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/161/808161_e5f11365dc_m.jpeg" alt="K_8_1_B" title="K_8_1_B" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>I guess that this is what happens when one has a child......you have very little time for<br> anything.....especially for things taht we all take for granted, like writing in a blog! I think back to when I was still preggie and marvel at how much time I had last year. I baked non-stop for family and friends, made dinner for people, knitted loads of stuff, organized the house, AND I even had time to make last year's chrissy presents! Amazing. Its a good day when I can get the baby up and ready, get the washing done, go shopping for dins AND make dinner! That's a successful day! Now, I try not to worry about this sort of stuff as much and just focus on worrying about the bubs. She is my main priority and that's fine with me..... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/09/10/its_been_a_while~1112359/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-07-21:/2006/07/21/divine_love~976331/milktoast672006-07-21T07:11:22+02:002006-07-21T07:15:31+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=700891"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/891/700891_24e32ba223_m.jpeg" align="" alt="K_7_20_2" title="K_7_20_2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=700892"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/892/700892_013bd68337_m.jpeg" align="" alt="K_7_20_3" title="K_7_20_3" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> level. </p> <p>I always thought that I knew what love was....growing up in a household filled with love (not your typical Japanese household!), the love that I have for my close friends, past boyfriends and fortunately through the love that I have with and for my partner. But there is a new level and "flavour" of love that I have been experiencing lately. Its amazing how deep and fulfilling the love that one has for their offspring can be. Even through rough/sad/hard moments the future is bright and easy to focus on when you're holding your little bubby. I guess that this is true divine love. I'm realizing that the love that my husband and I have for each other has changed and gone to an even deeper/stronger. This is a truly wonderful thing to experience....you think that you're happy....floating through this beautiful relationship when you fall even more in love with one another..... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/07/21/divine_love~976331/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-07-08:/2006/07/08/and_another_recent_pic_of_lady_kira~943267/milktoast672006-07-08T12:50:01+02:002006-07-08T12:50:01+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=672282"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/282/672282_f3ef8337a9_s.jpeg" align="" alt="k2" title="k2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/07/08/and_another_recent_pic_of_lady_kira~943267/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-07-08:/2006/07/08/delirious~943250/milktoast672006-07-08T12:43:21+02:002006-07-08T12:43:21+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=672294"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/294/672294_b847288af6_m.jpeg" alt="K1" title="K1" hspace="5" vspace="5"></a></p> <p>Its been a while since my last post.....as you can imagine, most of my time is taken up with this little lady.....(see pic) she keeps us entertained for hours....then hours lead into days....days into weeks. Very hard to keep in contact with everyone.....emails take a while to respond to. Some days are better than others with this and I'm often forgetful as to who I've sent pics to and who I haven't sent them to! i'm sure that I'll get the hang of it sometime soon.....in the meantime I will just enjoy my days of delireum! yipeee!</p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/07/08/delirious~943250/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-05-11:/2006/05/11/the_amazing_journey_continues~790904/milktoast672006-05-11T08:41:39+02:002006-05-11T08:41:39+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=536020"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/020/536020_374967dad7_s.jpeg" align="" alt="k7th_1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>so as many of you have noticed....I haven't been on writing as much! Its true what they say about new mum's, time falls into a big vortex and you have absolutely NO idea where its gone. I don't mind really as the time that I'm spending with my new family is wunderful! Its not like anything I've ever experienced and anything that I could have imagined. </p> <p>My mother arrived yesterday from the States and the look on her face was priceless.....to finally hold her new granddaughter....I'm sure that it was worth the 33 hrs that she had to fly to get here!</p> <p>All is well and I would love to write more but a very hungry little lady awaits.....must cater....</p> <p>bye folks!</p> <p>xx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/05/11/the_amazing_journey_continues~790904/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-05-03:/2006/05/03/introducing~772117/milktoast672006-05-03T05:41:05+02:002006-05-03T05:41:05+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=518994"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/994/518994_df10a1bf99_m.jpeg" align="" alt="kira_m" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/05/03/introducing~772117/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-05-02:/2006/05/02/anzac_day~771937/milktoast672006-05-02T23:29:10+02:002006-05-02T23:29:10+02:00 <p>April 25th, our daughter Kira was born on this day....weighing all of 8 lbs 3ozs, and she was 3 weeks early! Imagine if I'd gone to term with her! Might have been a 10 pounder! </p> <p>We're home now, both very happy and resting as much as possible....will not be blogging heavily for a while...</p> <p>peace </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/05/02/anzac_day~771937/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-24:/2006/04/24/stories_you_hear~750866/milktoast672006-04-24T03:31:09+02:002006-04-24T03:31:09+02:00 <p>Melbourne has the strongest coffee culture...in fact its an integral way of life. People meet at all hours for "a coffee" and its such an easy way to conduct business or catch up with friends. I love it. Truth be told, I've been hitting the hot chockies and herbal teas these days trying to stay away from the actual caffinated drink....but still, one is able to have a nice conver over a steaming cuppa!</p> <p>This morning DH and I met with a friend for our post weekend catchup and to just hang out. One story lead to another and he recounted this quaint little tale that I felt compelled to share with all of you....</p> <p>While travelling around Bali my friend met and expat (aussie) who had decided to take advantage of the 'good living' that one can have in a place like Bali for super cheap.....he purchased a beautiful home by the water and pretty soon became a local in the night scene. One night, he met up with 2 attractive ladies, one slightly older than the other. He invited them back to his love shack....one thing lead to another and they ended up spending the next week together....day and night gelled into each other. After a week or so over breakfast he felt a bit of tension and realized that the females weren't getting along like they usually did.....finally, he couldn't stand it any longer and had to ask what the heck was going on, the younger one stood up and blurted out, "Mom's just being a right bitch!"</p> <p>Yes, you can just imagine the look on this young man's face.....priceless.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/24/stories_you_hear~750866/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-24:/2006/04/24/what_i_miss~750814/milktoast672006-04-24T01:15:57+02:002006-04-24T01:15:57+02:00 <p>We've been living in Australia for about 14 months now and people often ask us what we miss living here and not in NYC anylonger. Its a funny question, almost predictible. Most of the time, I can't be bothered to get into it so I'll give them the standard, "Only people, friends and really good friends....but you never know, they may move out of NYC one day soon as well." They are usually satisfied with this answer and leave me alone. Which is fine with me. I guess I'm too busy setting up our new life here and don't have time to stop and ponder the true answer to this question.</p> <p>Well lo-and-behold, something hit me yesterday, something very small but I know one of the things that I do miss....its "flavor." And what I mean by "flavor" is "color-mixed races-vibe-rhythm-flavor". When one walks down the street of NYC you notice the different tones of skin, the different/diverse smells, the many languages spoken.....you're thrown into a world of culture, coolness and languid energy. Mind you, this doesn't happen ALL the time, there are areas and times when this is not prevelant but its usually there....</p> <p>I was transported to this place after hearing an interview on the radio (here in Melbourne) of an American Black musician....there was something about his tone, the words that he used....things that reminded me of some of my friends who I'd left behind.....this feeling then took me to some of the cafe's, bars, lounges where we used to go that you can't find anywhere else in the world....</p> <p>Its definately hard to describe in words.....and I'm sure that there are a heap of cool/other worldly type places here, that's not the issue, its what I know and what I miss right now.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/24/what_i_miss~750814/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-19:/2006/04/19/what_the~737992/milktoast672006-04-19T01:12:12+02:002006-04-19T01:12:12+02:00 <p>So someone has posted this stupid comment on one of my postings...</p> <p><a href="http://www.parsfanavar.com/host/addnew.htm">http://www.parsfanavar.com/host/addnew.htm</a><br> 19/04/06 @ 05:51</p> <p>hi, do you like increase your money by your weblog?<br> do you like add some beauty images on your blog <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"><br> it's FREE just click here</p> <p>I can't believe that idiots out there peruse our blogs and have the gall to post this crap on our sites!!! Its disgusting....How do we get rid of these jerks?</p> <p>Any ideas??????</p> <p>Leave us alone to write and live peacefully in our blogland!!!!</p> <p>ok ok breath, breath....</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/19/what_the~737992/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-18:/2006/04/19/sometimes_you_just_have_to_say_wow~737965/milktoast672006-04-19T00:40:14+02:002006-04-19T00:40:14+02:00 <p>whenever I'm feeling a bit isolated and lonely I send out a bunch of emails to friends around the world and hope that there's something waiting for me the next morning.....well this morning I hit the jackpot. Friends responded to emails from last night and those from last week as well! Woohoo! Love that!</p> <p>One friend has been living in Indonesia for quite some time now, he's half Indonesian and half Italian (well....I think that part is really American but he likes to say that he's half Italian....) and has been working there successfully first as a tv presenter, then a journalist with Reuters and now Time...but more recently he's gotten a side gig as a DJ. <a href="http://www.equinoxdmd.com">www.equinoxdmd.com</a> (he's Jason) seems that there is a pretty decent Indie music scene there. </p> <p>I just sit back and think, "wow" this whole internet thing is obvious, we use it every day and don't think twice about it any more but then there are moments when I sit back and think about how easily we can stay in touch with each other and the world. What did we do yrs ago? its too good.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/19/sometimes_you_just_have_to_say_wow~737965/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-17:/2006/04/17/easter_monday~733154/milktoast672006-04-17T09:49:26+02:002006-04-17T09:49:26+02:00 <p>7am<br> Little lady (the one that's still inside of me) was staaaarrving this morning, had to get up to feed the ever growing belly. Also since DH wanted to turn in early last night. Eyes flew open after nine hrs of sleep while he slept peacefully for a couple of hrs more, lucky guy. Made a HUGE bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and brown sugar. Surfed my favorite sites....</p> <p>9am<br> Started to quietly prepare Easter sides....a big salad with butterleaf lettuce, long ribbons of yummy carrot and tart green apple....made a nice balsamic dressing with heaps of mustard seeds....then made an American classic side dish, corn souffle!</p> <p>9:15am<br> DH wakes up groggy....make him some nice coffee....he trods off to surf for a bit</p> <p>10:00am<br> I finish preparing Easter lunch stuff....start my "spa" regimine....put on a honey/oatmeal mask and trod around the house picking up things and trying to organize. Start the washing....switch over to another papaya cleansing mask.</p> <p>10:20am<br> DH and I start inputting taxes for this quarter so he can zip it off to the accountants....keeps us busy for the next hour</p> <p>11:30am<br> Rush into the shower with DH...put washing in the new dryer....such a nice baby shower gift from the fam....not that many people have dryers here in Aus....well, they do but it seems like EVERYONE has one in the States, so I feel lucky to finally own one now!</p> <p>12:55pm<br> Get in car and head over to DH's mum's place....get there quickly as there is NO traffic in the city</p> <p>1:15pm<br> Walk in, or rather, waddle in trying to look as chic as one can look this far along in pregnancy....motherinlaw and sisinlaw both fall into fits of laughter....not happy am I. Start to organize lunch....make cookies while waiting....start to heat up corn thing and roasted root veggies that sisinlaw has made.</p> <p>2:00pm<br> Everyone else shows up, worried if we'll have enough food. Turns out we do....everyone eats heaps of food (other sisinlaw has made the most divine roast of lamb....)<br> Everyone eats to their heart's content, leaves happy!</p> <p>6:00pm<br> Home, in my jammies, I'm happy to be relaxing typing away in my blog world....sigh.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/17/easter_monday~733154/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-17:/2006/04/17/easter_monday~733152/milktoast672006-04-17T09:48:25+02:002006-04-17T09:48:25+02:00 <p>7am<br> Little lady (the one that's still inside of me) was staaaarrving this morning, had to get up to feed the ever growing belly. Also since DH wanted to turn in early last night. Eyes flew open after nine hrs of sleep while he slept peacefully for a couple of hrs more, lucky guy. Made a HUGE bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and brown sugar. Surfed my favorite sites....</p> <p>9am<br> Started to quietly prepare Easter sides....a big salad with butterleaf lettuce, long ribbons of yummy carrot and tart green apple....made a nice balsamic dressing with heaps of mustard seeds....then made an American classic side dish, corn souffle!</p> <p>9:15am<br> DH wakes up groggy....make him some nice coffee....he trods off to surf for a bit</p> <p>10:00am<br> I finish preparing Easter lunch stuff....start my "spa" regimine....put on a honey/oatmeal mask and trod around the house picking up things and trying to organize. Start the washing....switch over to another papaya cleansing mask.</p> <p>10:20am<br> DH and I start inputting taxes for this quarter so he can zip it off to the accountants....keeps us busy for the next hour</p> <p>11:30am<br> Rush into the shower with DH...put washing in the new dryer....such a nice baby shower gift from the fam....not that many people have dryers here in Aus....well, they do but it seems like EVERYONE has one in the States, so I feel lucky to finally own one now!</p> <p>12:55pm<br> Get in car and head over to DH's mum's place....get there quickly as there is NO traffic in the city</p> <p>1:15pm<br> Walk in, or rather, waddle in trying to look as chic as one can look this far along in pregnancy....motherinlaw and sisinlaw both fall into fits of laughter....not happy am I. Start to organize lunch....make cookies while waiting....start to heat up corn thing and roasted root veggies that sisinlaw has made.</p> <p>2:00pm<br> Everyone else shows up, worried if we'll have enough food. Turns out we do....everyone eats heaps and goes home happy....</p> <p>6:00pm<br> Home, in my jammies, I'm happy to be relaxing typing away in my blog world....sigh.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/17/easter_monday~733152/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-15:/2006/04/15/tears_in_the_city~728624/milktoast672006-04-15T05:49:23+02:002006-04-15T05:49:23+02:00 <p>Omigod....I'm home on this rainy day and while I'm waiting for the rain to subside I decided that it was a good day to watch the final espisode of SITC (Sex in the City). A good friend gave me the box set of all the episodes and I've been carefully making my way through them. Only allowing myself to watch an episode here and there, really as a treat. Granted, I've seen all of them before but its still special. Anyway, I'm here alone, DH is off playing golf, and really, I like watching them by myself. So here I am all rugged up in front of the heater with my favorite doona, lollies at hand, a nice cup of steaming chai....and the final episode of SITC. Beautiful images of Paris flood the screen, Carrie in her amazing couture based outfits....I mean really, who walks around during the day in full frock?! Maybe the Parisians do....and no one bats an eye....its so wonderful, you begin to think, "Oooh maybe I too can do that!" The story builds with this crescendo of emotion....the storylines come together, all nice and neat. And then BOOM! Out of no-where, I'm caught up in it and waterworks for me. All of the tears that have been waiting behind my pregnant eyes come out all at once! I'm unconsolable, large tears running down my face.....tears of happiness, tears of understanding, tears of sadness, tears of joy. Beautiful round, heavy tears. Just what I needed....but when its over, I wonder how such a schmaltzy show is able to do that to me. Good to get rid of the excess salt that's stored in my preggie body. Less fluid retention for me....fingers might not swell up today as a result. </p> <p>Ooooh but it felt so good to have a big cry..... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/15/tears_in_the_city~728624/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-14:/2006/04/14/comfort_in_our_surroundings~726844/milktoast672006-04-14T11:17:35+02:002006-04-14T11:17:35+02:00 <p>we've been living in this new flat for close to 3 months now and we're finally beginning to feel like its truly home. our belongings are here and we have gotten to know the new area as well. shop owners are beginning to treat us like regulars and we can even solicit a hello from some of our neighbors. one neighbor, who we've never really met or for that matter, will we ever, as they our in the building opposite to ours. their side window faces our 2nd bedroom, kitchen and bathroom windows. I was just in our pantry when I looked out of the window there and noticed how comforting it was to see their light on. don't know why but just the fact that they are home made me feel safe. </p> <p>note: it is easter weekend and it seems like half of Melbourne has buggered off to their beach houses.....its sort of a like a ghost town around here!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/14/comfort_in_our_surroundings~726844/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-13:/2006/04/13/dreams~723912/milktoast672006-04-13T07:43:18+02:002006-04-13T07:43:18+02:00 <p>I don't know if it is because I've been having a really hard time sleeping these days (I'm 8+months preggie with a HUGE belly) and it seems like everytime I go to lie down, my hips or another part of my overly female body starts to ache a bit. I've been finding that odd and I mean ODD characters from my past seem to come-a-knocking into my dreams. Sometimes the storyline is such that you know it has to do with an unresolved issue and at other times it has to do with current thoughts that go running through my hormonal brain. Either way, I'm glad that I'm not sleep talking. Its kind of nice to have these little adventures in my very placid life. Trying to make sure that I'm not worked up or overly emotional for fear that it will upset the little bub. I also wonder if she can read these dreams and whether she will remember them down the track.....hmmmm..... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/13/dreams~723912/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-12:/2006/04/12/why_make_it_so_difficult~721403/milktoast672006-04-12T08:11:52+02:002006-04-12T08:11:52+02:00 <p>one of our neighbors is rather strange. they tend to divert their eyes whenever they see me coming down the street or if we happen to chance upon one another in front of the building. very odd. I don't think that I've done anything to piss them off or offend them but for some reason they have decided after 2 months that I'm not worthy of their friendliness. even when I run into them and they act poorly towards me I always make sure to send my happiest of happy smiles their way and if I'm in a REALLY good mood I'll trill, "heeeelllo" as well for good measure. I just don't understand why they choose to be so difficult and so freakin' grumpy.</p> <p>maybe they have perpetual pms (even though this person is of the male persuasion!!!) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/12/why_make_it_so_difficult~721403/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-10:/2006/04/10/you_bit_my_butt~715829/milktoast672006-04-10T07:49:22+02:002006-04-10T07:49:22+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=469970"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/970/469970_49f14a8520_m.jpeg" align="" alt="unknown" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>funny to think that images/stories/movies/links are sent around and around the world a gazillion times over. after some time you start to even receive the same ones over and over. someone sent this amusing image today and after opening it I realized that I had gotten it around this time last year. still...it has tickled my funny bone and I needed to post it here. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/10/you_bit_my_butt~715829/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-07:/2006/04/07/stopping_for_a_moment~708942/milktoast672006-04-07T05:28:39+02:002006-04-07T05:28:39+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=464600"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/600/464600_f947b909a2_m.jpeg" align="" alt="ty3" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>its so easy to slip into the gutter of negativity isn't it? its also very easy to stay there an let the waves of pity, self doubt and self sadness washes over us.....but amazingly, its also easy to look the other way and see that we have so much to be thankful for as well. not that its a healthy practice to compare our lives to others but....when you think about the millions of individuals out there who don't know where their next meal is coming from, or have a roof over their heads or have all their limbs....we have a lot to be thankful for.</p> <p>even though its just the start of this month we've had a hard one already. I know that we cannot all have luck every minute of the day and everyone experiences this but still.....you wonder when the bad luck will end and you're back on your feet fully again. so its at times like this when you can fall very easily into the gutter of negativity. today, I chose to look the other way and let it get the better of me. sometimes its better to not focus on the bad when there is nothing that you can do about it....</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/07/stopping_for_a_moment~708942/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-04-06:/2006/04/06/drug_fueled_nyc~706392/milktoast672006-04-06T09:14:39+02:002006-04-06T09:14:39+02:00 <p>an old neighbor was kind enough to write a very detailed account of something that happened in my old apartment building in new york city. I lived in that building for almost 10 yrs and moved away from it just recently. It was where I came home to, invited friends over to and generally spent whatever time I could in. It was home. And one always has a grand/romantic view of the place that they call home. At least this is how I always viewed my building.....</p> <p>The something that happened a few weeks ago was a drug bust....not a little one but a pretty decent sized one that involved 40 police men, 9 police cars, 2 paddy wagons and forced entry at 1am!!!! This was a serious raid in a very decent, family oriented/professional building with a doorman!!!! Not the kind of building where you would expect this sort of thing to happen.....maybe if it was way up town in the Bronx, or downtown near the projects but definately not in Greenwish Village....</p> <p>Anyway, I cannot figure out what the "drug ring" was actually selling....it was either Charlie or Harry, not certain but either way, the police had been planning this raid for a while. And it turns out one of the tenants was also operating as a male prostitute! Sheesh, who knew.</p> <p>It still blows me away to think that for years....I had always seen these individuals and thought that they were up to no good....but never in my wildest dreams imagined that they were running something so big! I always thought that it was strange that these guys were around during the day and could afford to live in our building....I guess that I thought that they had some sort of government scam going or that they were living off inheritance.....and one time I even thought that they worked as carers....or maybe that one of them was a famous writer....they were always a little edgy or out of it....I'd see them keeping odd hours and they always smelled funny....</p> <p>how naive we can be.....how naive I was!</p> <p>kinda good to think that even after all the years in nyc I was still mildly innocent....</p> <p>more ny reflection soon.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/04/06/drug_fueled_nyc~706392/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-03-14:/2006/03/14/is_talk_cheap~641413/milktoast672006-03-14T05:42:48+01:002006-03-14T05:42:48+01:00 <p>why is it that some people are able to express themselves really well on the phone, while others do better face to face and then there are those who can only pour their hearts out on paper/albeit on the computer/typed...????? Then there are those distinct individuals who can not ever convey anything while there are those gifted ones who can express themselves really well on paper/in person/and on the phone?!?!?</p> <p>I guess that blogs are one way for all of us (who are in this community) to practice the art of expression on "paper". Lucky us...but whether others out there "get" what we are trying to say is another thing.....so many ways to express ourselves....subtly, boldly.....it can come out too strong or too light.....</p> <p>On my walk home I started to ponder some of these thoughts and really, I had a story that I wanted to write about but now that its hours later and in front of the blank keyboard I am at a loss....not able to remember the original intention of this entry.....</p> <p>better get on with other house chores and not worry about it....</p> <p>cheers everyone!</p> <p>xxxM! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/03/14/is_talk_cheap~641413/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-03-07:/2006/03/07/c_l_u_e_l_e_s_s~620203/milktoast672006-03-07T13:01:30+01:002006-03-07T13:01:30+01:00 <p>I think that my downstairs neighbor is completely clueless....he rides a fairly noisey motorcycle and even though its 11pm at night....he chooses to ride the bloody thing into the alleyway, waking anyone up who has decided to go bed early. </p> <p>ALL THAT I CAN SAY IS.....thank goodness that the little bub is not born just yet. thank goodness she will probably be a sound sleeper, god willing. thank goodness I am still a patient person who is not going to pull the bitch out of the bag and lay into him!!!!</p> <p>my dear husband, who is a motorbike/scooter rider had this to say about the noise thing. he himself shuts off the engine before wheeling his bike into the same alleyway and feels that this person should pay us the same courtesy.....maybe dear husband can have a little chat to him....and knock some sense into this selfish idiot!!!!!!</p> <p>bloody heck, he's back again, came and went twice so he's making noise AGAIN!!!!</p> <p>thank goodness for blogs....at least i can just bitch into cyberspace......!!!! thanks for listening </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/03/07/c_l_u_e_l_e_s_s~620203/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-03-07:/2006/03/07/too_serious~619853/milktoast672006-03-07T10:29:36+01:002006-03-07T10:29:36+01:00 <p>yesterday I avoided the internet and the news to make sure that I didn't find out who/what won at the Oscars. this is hard to do when you live in a completely different time zone.....but somehow I refrained from going on the internet....and watching any television until the pre-show started. AND THEN....I wondered why I had even bothered. the opening monologue was downright bland....JS was not a good choice and I'm sure that he's not going to be invited to host it again next year....AND really, don't you think that people just took it far too seriously? granted, its a big night and a big award but my goodness.....it seemed like only a few people were happy to be there. take Dolly Parton for example....she's come into her age quite nicely, I remember all the slack that she got when I was young.....just because she had big boobies....then she had them reduced and people still thought that they were too big. well look at the rest of the world now...trying to overly enhance their busts!!!! what the....anyway, she was true dolly last night in bubble gum pink, diamonds all over the place, tiny tiny cute waistline....and she was just having a ball out there, singing her heart out! then there were these Rappers who won for best song, I believe....the rolled on up the stage to accept their awards in Jeans, oversized shirts and blingbling all over themselves.......they didn't conform to Hollywood Glam standards, they just wore what they wanted to, were comfortable, and had the best time accepting their award! Good on them! I really just think that Hollywood/the movieworld, just takes this stuff too seriously. they need to sit back and enjoy it for what it is....sigh..... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/03/07/too_serious~619853/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-03-05:/2006/03/05/hope~615875/milktoast672006-03-05T22:44:46+01:002006-03-05T22:48:02+01:00 <p>for some reason, whenever I see zuccini flowers I always have hope in my heart. maybe it has something to do with the fact that I've never cooked with them but I know that I could probably make a decent dish with them. I cannot tell you how many cooking shows I've watched or articles that I've read on hot to fry them up to utter perfection. and every time they appear on a special menu, I make sure to order them....</p> <p>they look so beautiful and innocent....not know what awaits them behin the next corner as they are swiftly purchased and taken home by the ever so courageous chef. I love that....</p> <p>and of course....they never taste like flowers....they have that delicate texture....ever so faint perfume of summer and wonderful burst of colour.</p> <p>maybe I'll take the plunge and finally bring them home with me instead of thinking about it....<a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=401693"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/693/401693_89e5dfc040_s.jpeg" align="" alt="zuc_flr" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/03/05/hope~615875/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-03-04:/2006/03/04/belly_boundary~613214/milktoast672006-03-04T22:39:47+01:002006-03-04T22:39:47+01:00 <p>Ok, so I'm almost 30 wks. preggie....and I can't call my stomach a "bump" anylonger....no sirree, it is definately a belly....people are funny about it. Some people who have not seen me for a while think its wonderfully large and healthy, other's who don't even know me throw me a look of shock...while muttering stuff like, "You sure you're not having twins?" or "You're due in a couple weeks righ????" When in reality, I still have 2.5 more months to go....</p> <p>Yesterday I had a friend of a friend, a rather strange guy (will go into that description in a sec...) come right up and rub my belly without my consent.....now books and people in the beginning of my pregnancy told me that there would be this sort of thing happening frequently and to not freak out....whenever I read about it, I thought, no problem. Since then, it has usually been women or friends OR people who ask if its ok to touch my belly....and of course it has usually been fine. But for some reason I felt a bit invaded yesterday. The person who "invaded" my boundary is one of these bohemian types who lives out of his van on the beach, he teaches kiteboarding and probably only baths in the ocean. A bit ferral and a bit too hippie for my taste. Not knowing the individual also makes it a bit strange....needless to say, on the way home, I knew that the only way to get it out of my system was to write about it here.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/03/04/belly_boundary~613214/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-03-01:/2006/03/01/light_we_take_you_for_granted~602557/milktoast672006-03-01T06:45:03+01:002006-03-01T06:45:03+01:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=391919"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/919/391919_ebbe532201_m.jpeg" align="" alt="light" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>On beautiful days we all leave our respective dwellings with smiles on our faces, peace in our hearts and minds filled with positive thoughts. On overcast/rainy/dark days its the exact opposite. And it is on those sad days when we silently, or not so silently yearn for the sunlight. This photo was taken at a local cafe and it is of my sister in law....as we walked into the space, everyone immediately fell in love with the gentle/beautiful light that was streaming into this small space. Another thing that we all take for granted but when it is pointed out by true artists you have to sit back and appreciate it.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/03/01/light_we_take_you_for_granted~602557/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-02-28:/2006/02/28/eating_alone~599588/milktoast672006-02-28T06:44:56+01:002006-02-28T06:44:56+01:00 <p>Given the choice most people who I know would prefer the company of others when dining....unless, and that's a big UNLESS, 1) they have had a shit day, possibly at work 2) are not well, mentally or physically 3) HATE people....,,,</p> <p>When we lived in the States we had a wonderful dinner companion who we would look forward to meeting every week on Thursday night. I miss these dinners now as I climb back into my memory bank and think of these comfortable evenings.......it first started out as a meeting for drinks after work for the 3 of us....I would always ask for my girly cocktail to be mixed with less alchy and my friend would get the remainer of whatever spirit I was drinking that evening. The 3rd, my husband would vascilate between beer and wine so there was never a need to dilute or amp up his drink. Somehow along the way these drink meetings would linger into the dinner hour when we would start to get peckish....this lead to the ordering of a "few snack" to nibble on....then we found ourselves ordering full on entrees!!!! We quickly picked up a regular routine of meeting up every week and pouring our hearts out to each other. Sometimes there would be blissful drama to recount regarding work.....family......or our private lives. I guess that it would be the equivilant to going to weekly therapy sessions.....the regularity of the evenings would keep us sane. The regularity was something that you could rely on....something that one needed in a metropolis like ours....</p> <p>I find myself trying to recreate this regularity.....and know if my heart of hearts that its not meant to be recreated ever. That is fine with me.</p> <p>Tonight I have decided to invite a friend of ours, a single gentleman, who we often dine with. I think that its good for us to have others over to eat and share not only food but thoughts with as well. Food definately tastes better when shared with others.....<a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=389961"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/961/389961_6ae060693c_s.jpeg" align="" alt="sunset" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/02/28/eating_alone~599588/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:milktoast67.blog.co.uk,2006-02-27:/2006/02/27/title~597137/milktoast672006-02-27T13:10:50+01:002006-02-27T13:10:50+01:00 <p>its amazing to sit back and think about the millions of people who are writing on their blogs right now. did everyone write in journals or in their heads before this technological phenomenon took off? and also just as amazing to think that everyone is freely sharing their daily thoughts, passions, stories, experiences.....</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://milktoast67.blog.co.uk/2006/02/27/title~597137/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>