According to the cushion

While on my honeymoon almost exactly 6 years ago, I purchased a cushion for my mum.  It was one of those decorative cushions that have words embroidered on it.  The words are usually a bible verse or some sappy saying like "If friends were flowers I'd pick you!" But occassionally you can find one that is both beautiful and witty.  This cushion was one of those rare finds and it said: (that's right, it was a talking cushion!)

"Only DULL Women have IMMACULATE Houses" 

My mother thought it was hiliarious.  While the honeymoon is certainly over, so is the marriage for that matter, Mum still has the cushion hanging in her spare room.  Perhaps if I had heeded the advice of the magical talking cushion I would still be married.  During the last six months of living with my husband... our house was spotless.   

These days however, my house is the opposite of immaculate!

If English made sense...

If the English language made sense the word "lackadaisical" would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.

For those of you who are wondering what it really means...

  

lack·a·dai·si·cal

   

[lak-uh-dey-zi-kuhl]  Show IPA

–adjective

1.

without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: alackadaisical attempt.

2.

lazy; indolent: a lackadaisical fellow.

Holiday Reading

The blog faithful are fully aware of my passion for books.  I jump on a book bandwagon quicker than I pounce on Chocolate cake!  So, of course, being the school holidays, I have turned to that pile of books that I have been "waiting" to read.  However, it has been put on hold (yet again) because I have reading to do for school.

A year 9 class that I work with will be reading The Hunger Games for their novel study next semester.  I am sick of working in classes and only having a marginal concept of the general themes in the book, so The Hunger Games was first on my list.  I just finished it, and it is excellent!  It is the first in a trilogy, so now I have to wait for my inevitable return to school so I can borrow the next book from the library.  I don't know how their teacher (a fan of the book) managed to wait in between the release of the books!  At least I only have to wait two weeks!  I am really looking forward to discussing this book with the students and of course the teacher in me has already got a load of activities and discussion questions bouncing around my brain.

There is also a neat little stack of text books about reading instruction, listening skills and lesson planning.  Doesn't that sound riveting?!

Dying to Blog

I seem to have fallen off the face of the earth for the last 9 days.  It seems that the end of semester, report cards and families tend to distract one from the computer.  Actually, I was chained to the computer for a little bit (stupid reports) but no time to blog.  However, I have been almost bursting with news!  So sit tight... I'm back!

TV reminiscent of Austen

When I say Austen,  I refer to Jane Austen; not Austen, Texas!

I am loving Downton Abbey!  This is a television series currently airing on channel 7 on Sunday nights at 8:30pm.  They are also replaying it on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on 7two.  This show is delightful, absolutely hilarious and very, very Austen.

I will just warn you... if you are not a Jane Austen fan and you "don't get" the irony and parody of Austen's work, then you will probably watch Downton Abbey with a very confused look on your face.  You will also wonder what on earth I am laughing at!

Cest la vie

Happy Birthday Lizzy!

The dear old matriarch of the Commonwealth Royal Family: Queen Elizabeth II has given us a holiday to celebrate her birthday.  We have this holiday every year on the Monday following the second weekend in June.  But (and apparently this is common knowledge) the Queen's date of birth isn't even in June! 


Her real birth date is 21 April 1926 at 2.40 AM.  She was born at her maternal grandparents' house and Christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.  


The reason we celebrate this wonderful occasion two months late, is that King George III was born on 3 June and he was the Sovereign at the time of the holiday's conception in 1788.  Therefore, it was called the King's Birthday and celebrated in June.  Rather than change the holiday based on the birthday of succeeding monarchs, the date has stayed relatively stable.  


But (as in all things) Western Australia does not observe this particular birthday until much later.  They take the holiday in October, which I am sure, is a welcome holiday between May and December.  


So, there you go, that is why the east coast and central Aussies are slacking off today.  Well, more than usual. 
;) 

If you ask me...

Satay Rice is a perfectly acceptable breakfast food, after all, it's Chinese for "peanut butter on toast."  

Confucius Say‏?

Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.

Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.

Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.

Man who runs in front of car gets tired, man who runs behind car gets exhausted.

War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left.

Man who drives like hell is bound to get there.

Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.

Musical Prayer

I was listening to a lovely tune called Baxter, while on the train last week.  When, these words just sort of came to me.  This song does have traditional lyrics, which of course ran through my head first, and then, out of nowhere, these other words just flowed.  The perfectionist in me tweaked them a little.  I am not sure if they are heaven sent or a reflection of my heart's desire.  I have re-ordered the verses in an attempt to show the journey Christians take towards spiritual maturity.  God Bless.

Spirit of the Living God

(Baxter)

Jesus, Son of God and man,

Perfect Sacrifice.

Jesus, Son of God and man,

Perfect Sacrifice.

Love me, Save me,

Teach me, Use me.

Jesus, Son of God and man

Perfect Sacrifice.

Father God, in Heav'n above,

Thank you for your grace.

Father God, in Heav'n above,

Thank you for your grace.

Your Love, Your Word, 

Your Way, Leads me.

Father God, in Heav'n above,

Thank you for your grace.  

(Original Lyrics: Verse 3) 

Spirit of the Living God,

Fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the Living God,

Fall afresh on me.

Break me, Melt me,

Mould me, Fill me. 

Spirit of the Living God, 

Fall afresh on me.  

Music Roots

It seems that whatever our parents listened to when we were children seems to influence our taste in music throughout our lives.  Like it or not, the audio choices made by our parents impact us, for better or worse, forever more.  You may believe that you do not like anything your parents do.  You don't listen to their daggy old music.  You have taste.  However, whether you are flinching or smiling when the parents put on a "record" they have influenced you.  If you like it, well, there you go.  If you don't... I would suggest that there is a part of you, no matter how small, that has that aversion to the sound simply because your parents are enjoying themselves.  I will leave that delightful thought with you.

But I think it is time to share my music roots:

I was raised on the likes of "O When the Saints" and "Jesus Loves Me" not to mention, jazzed up spirituals, orchestral arrangements of rock and Salvo Musicals.  Then there was, Gilbert and Sullivan, Rogers and Hammerstein, The Beatles, ABBA, Neil Diamond, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day and their friends.  While others may liken this music to bagpipes being run over by a semi-trailer, this music truly speaks to my heart.

That's that then.

Inspired

The story goes that the famous Beatles song "Yesterday" came to Paul McCartney in a dream.  He woke up with the lyrics in his head and when he sat at the piano the melody simply flowed from him to the keys.  


I have never had such an out pouring of creativity through the vehicle of a dream.  I have had some of my most brilliant notions during my nocturnal musings while I stare at the ceiling (the life of an insomniac).  However, I can't say a dream has brought me the riches that have been bestowed upon the singing Beatle.  


Where is all this going? you might ask! My response is simple: I don't remember! 


So that's Saturday for you. 

I am not delusional!

.....and.... 

it's Thursday!