Cheers to the fricken’ weekend…

So. It doesn’t feel like Sunday night. And I know you are rolling your eyes thinking of course it doesn’t because you don’t have to work tomorrow you ijjit, but bear with me… because it never feels like ‘Sunday night pit of dread’ lately..

My weekends have been exceptionally different of late,  I feel much less ‘stressed’ at the end of them and it has come down to one thing. I know right, one thing… just one. It sounds SO simple, and it really is, simple. All the excuses came up in the world, but at the end of the day, it was… simple.

I was challenged by the lovely Julie, to rename Saturdays. Lyndaldays, as they are now known, are all about me.  And doing things that I want to do, as opposed to things I have to do. Because who can honestly put their hand up and say – as a woman, as a mother (not that I am, but many of you are), as chief househould runners – that we take care of ourselves, and do anything, something because we want to as opposed to because we have to?

I was burning out with all the things that ‘had’ to be done – not that I hated life, or what I was doing, but I was drowning under self imposed deadlines, expectations and generally grabbing and taking back anything I tried to delegate (eeeediot stimpy).

The first Lyndalday, was two weeks ago.. and it was incredibly weird. WEIRD. I had to plan it out:

and even then it only kind of sort of went to plan. By midday my mind was all ‘LYNDAL DO THE WASHING UP!’ ‘LYNDAL YOU MUST DO THIS’ ‘LYNDAAAAAAL’

and I had to consciously tell myself off, and promptly fell asleep on the lounge. Ha.

Since then, it has been most surprising, when you take the weight of ‘must’ off your shoulders, how many things you ‘want’ to actually do – so far, my bathroom is sparkling, my clothes are ironed and organised (some even thrown out!), the food cupboards are in an orderly fashion and my meal planner is done. because I totally wanted to, and got great enjoyment out of doing so.

I still plan some of it – like, running first thing in the day, sitting down to a gourmet breakfast in the quiet of my home, alone, with very loud music on so I can sing at random and no internets. Or going to the farmers markets if they are on, or the library if they aren’t… but mostly, the day takes me where it takes me. And the dirty toilet? It’s not going anywhere. Just like the washing up, or the messy containers, or the hair rats on the carpet. They will get done, in their own time.

It’s easy to forget. This self love, no pressure or expectation thing. And it feels weird, to start with. It’s easy to think that it’s selfish, and such a princess-precious type thing to do. Spoilt.

But then I wonder, if I don’t think I am worthy of this time, how can I expect to power through my week? If I don’t love myself enough to give myself permission to even find a few hours, how can I expect others to know how to help, support, or even love me?

One of my biggest ‘a-ha’ moments this month has been providing people a way to support, connect and encourage me – and being able to do the same in return. You can’t offer people that if you are holding your cards so close to your chest, and are running on auto pilot serving everyone else 24/7.

All I am saying is, it is okay to grab a coffee and a trashy mag and sit for an hour. It is more than okay, to offload the kidlets to someone for a morning and take yourself window shopping, or on a movie date.

Why not?

What’s to lose?

Something to talk about…

In a fantasy world, forget about spouses and loves, if you could fall in love with {or be best friends with, I dont think it should all be about who youd shag, so lets have some from both categories } a movie or tv character, name 5 you would choose. Not the actors but the movie characters. You have to tell us why.
Linking up for another fun Monday night, for something to talk about with Melissa from The Things I’d Tell You lets rock this…

In no particular order.

Scott Pilgrim

For two hours we get to watch this very adorable geek with all his underlying action packed computer game jokes fight off his love interests seven evil ex boyfriends. Now thats dedication and commitment, with a lot of funny thrown in. And did I mention he is a geek who is a lot clueless?
Case in point:
Wallace Wells: If you want something bad, you have to fight for it . Step up your game, Scott. Break out the L – Word
Scott Pilgrim: Lesbian?
Wallace Wells: The other L-word
Scott Pilgrim: … Lesbians?
ahhh.. bless.

The Mad Hatter

If you hadnt noticed, this guys craaaaazy. Not just a smudge of crazy, but a whole lot of awesome crazy. Like wet yourself in the pants funny crazy.

I LOVE that sort of crazy!

And underneath all that crazy, he has a heart of gold…. He sacrifices his freedom to the Red Queen so Alice has a chance. So that isnt all completely crazy. He just simply is so kind hearted and loves to bring joy and laughter and singing and dancing and have crazy tea parties. Dont we all

Nick Simmons

;Anyone who knows me, knows how addicted I am to Gene Simmons Family Jewels.
And Nick Simmons is up there as one of my all time favourites.

This guy is just funny. Straight Faced Im not even sure if he knows he is being funny on purpose type of funny.
And he is tight as thieves with his sister Sophie.
Family values and a wicked sense of humour?

Shrink him a little and we might be on to something!

Anthony DiNozzo

* coughs*
Do I really need to explain why we get excited for NCIS and Tony Time?

yes indeed, i thought not.

Spongebob Squarepants

Bear with me…
1. He is an eternal optimist
2. He is wayward and unconventional
3. He always has the best of intentions
4. and a heart of gold
5. He is insanely loyal
and
6. a crazy laugh that is either highly annoying
or highly entertaining.

He would make an awesome friend!!

yeahokay… if you hadnt thought me odd before, you may well indeed do now. 
meh

Lets all go on a, a summer holiday…

Recently, we went away to far north Queensland (FNQ) to spend a week at Port Douglas.  I was in desperate need of some sun and short wearing weather, ELP was in need of a lot of sleeping in, alcohol and golf playing.

One thing that inevitably winds up happening on any holiday or weekend getaway we take – no matter how well the designated project manager attempts to plan – we always end up doing a few sporty type activities. Which is fine, where else but on holidays can you escape your comfort zone and try new things, or find things to add to the list of ‘things I am naturally awesome at’… Cases in point in our little family history of holidays so far:

Summer 2010 – Lake Tahoe… ELP: Awesome Snowboarder Extraordinaire

Winter 2010, ELP Golf Pro Champion

2007 – 2009, ELP BMX Superstar

And me?
Summer  2010: Gondola Master

 Winter 2010: Polishing up some skillz

2007 – 2009, Working one’s way through the library:

Besides stating the obvious fact of opposites can be complimentary – these have actually been some of the best times of my life… and the week in FNQ was no exception to the rule. I was looking forward to snorkelling and driving carts (running over cane toads) spotting crocs – so much so we had watched ‘Finding Nemo’ more than a few times to prepare….

Snorkelling showed me that I am still a mega ‘tard when it comes to sporting activities, but I am awesome at taking great photos:

But mountain biking down the bump trail in the freaking rainforest? Well there are no photos of that… but I don’t know what bright neurotransmitter fired when I thought I could ride 20km down a massively steep trail, not having hopped on a bike for no less than twenty odd years.

Driving the half hour to the top of a trail, all i could think of was the old saying, well you never forget how to ride a bike. right? RIGHT? *coughs* sure….

The 5km fire trail to get to the start of the trail was like the worst spin class of my life. I was breathing, but the burn, dear looorrrrd, the burrrn. I wasn’t so wobbly, I could use the brakes without going over the handlebars, and did I mention the burn?

I didn’t get to finish it, I was delegated to go down in the 4WD, and check the river was okay for the snorkelling group the next day, and meet the guys at the bottom. I wasn’t upset about that – trust me, I was more relieved that I wasn’t going to embarrass myself or ELP any freaking further!

However, driving down, one of the company chicks and I were talking, and it came up in conversation of ’ohh im not the sporty one, im not good at this stuff but I like to give it a go’ and she responded with ‘well, what are you good at?’

stab stab stab

I don’t think she intended it to be so harsh, but I was a little taken aback… umm… im awesome at writing 3000 word essays the night before they are due? Im awesome at doing our finances? I am a master at watching great tv marathons on a saturday morning instead of doing the housework, then working a way to get a cleaner in so i dont feel guilty either? So, lets just say this:

I might not have the passion for sport that sees ELP spend more than thirty hours in the garage, stripping paint, buffing and polishing a vintage BMX frame

However, I am so blessed to be so supported and so encouraged by an ELP who is so vocal in how proud he is that I give it a red hot go. And sometimes, you find that stuff isn’t so bad and you wind up with your very own -

to begin a new Sunday morning tradition to go with the egg breakfast and sleep in past 6am that it’s normally reserved for. And that, my friends, is what summer holidays are all about…

… as well as purchasing a snorkel set to practise in the laundry tub because you don’t have a bath and you want to be okay at it before Summer 2012 in Hawaii.

Just sayin.

Fully loaded, we got snacks and supplies…

You know those days that seem never ending, and your heart is breaking for people you encounter in your work day and you just can’t wait to drive home from work and be home early and sit on the couch watching girly stupid tv shows for two hours before the ELP partner gets home when you will walk down and get Italian take away and just squid out on the couch?

I am never wishing for another one of those days ever. again.

This was my old faithful. Not this one exactly but pretty much. Around 7:30pm one night this past week, old faithful got a rescue call out. ELP was stranded on the busiest most annying road raging road in our pocket of the ‘burbs. It was when the sun had just gone down and it was getting dark, and ELP was on his way home from a road cycle and his bipolar car had decided to have a depressive episode and refuse to move. Annoying, but not much of a problem - rescue mission in full swing.

Old Faithful and I started driving down, high beams on (the lights refused to acknowledge any other setting) music on, cruising. Until about 50m away from ELP… then old faithful died. We had one of those amusing phone calls, which go along the lines of ‘Hey, I can see you, drive down to me’ ‘Um, yeah about that my car has died it wont move, it wont turn on’ ‘ ha ha so funny, stop shitting me, just drive to me’ ‘ no seriously babes, dead car number two’ ‘ crap’…. Snaps for the cars in our family that night.

It was funny… pretty funny, in a hysterical sort of way. The cars got towed by one of those awesome friends who is always the same regardless of how much time has passed between the last beverage or phone call, and by 10pm we were walking up to our local Maccas for dinner trying to work out a lift to work the following morning. I ordered our meals while ELP was on the phone already sitting at a table, maccas girl turned around to pack the order and turned back to a very teary lyndal. Not so funny.

And, like the straw that broke the camels back, while both cars may (or may not) be suffering from very minor mechanical issues… we had had enough. ENOUGH! WE WORK TOO HARD AND LIVE LIFE TOO FULL TO HAVE CARS THAT DIE ESPECIALLY WHILST ON RESCUE MISSIONS!

>> I think, in hard times, or unexpected shock times, or no car we live in a public transport black hole of a suburb times, regardless of whether you think to ask, or are shaking making that SOS phone call, or walking into the bank… you realise how surrounded and supported you are by good people. And i’m talking about GOOD people. People who lend cars, who pick you up and drop you home, people who don’t blink when you need an extended lunch break, or send you out on enforced breaks, people who stand on your side and cheer and keep you going and who tell you not to be silly when you try and express your gratitude. Because, while everyone will always have an opinion or something to say – those GOOD people are invaluable. And we are blessed.

So old faithful, will be someone elses old faithful (or the wreckers… complete with muddy footprints in a neat track right up and over the top thanks to the saturday morning drunks (again i chose to find that funny)) and we will have delivered….

exactly one of those. with darker tinted windows. Whilst it is no ute, or other variation on ELP’s dream car… it is black and speedy and so brand new (and I am a little bit in love with it) And will last us the next decade, with all the new memories and trips, tears and laughter (and especially NO VOMITRON) . I am excited and nervous… but more still on the gratitude side of things. At the unexpected generousity of family and friends… oh, don’t you worry we will get our own back, in our own way, but for now I am at peace in this feeling – no matter what life brings us, we are good. Or we will be, and we have people who are doing the journey with us.

‘so much has come before those battles lost and won…’