Men 101

Daughter has just had her first lesson in men-101. Her boyfriend has just told her that he 'doesn't love her like he used to'. They have been together about 2 months, give or take a week.

As usual, he 'seemed' like he loved her, in as much as one teenager can 'love' another. Even his mother said she's never seen him like that- totally besotted by a girl. He told his mum that Daughter was 'the most important thing in the world to me' and when Boyfriend's mum said "So you really like her, huh?", he replied "No, I love her". He would even talk unashamedly about getting married and the number of children he wanted!!!

And here we are, a mere few weeks later and now he "just doesn't love her like he used to". What an asshole.

So, here's the first lesson: Men don't mean what they say. Men say what they think you want to hear when they're getting their leg over.

I remember when my first serious boyfriend decided to end out relationship. We had a nice dinner, sex and then he called it quits. I was dumbfounded at his timing. You know what he said? I just wanted to end it on a 'high' note.

Daughter's new friends!

Yes, daughter has a new group of friends. I actually think this is a good thing. She thinks I don't think that. She went to a 'concert' (actually I don't know if you can call it that- the local Art Gallery has live music events that are to cater for the in-between age group. Not old enough to go to 'real' gigs in pubs, but old enough to want to go 'out' and listen to bands. I guess the 14-18 age group would be the main users. The tickets are cheap and the venue is local.)

Anyway, she went to this concert by herself which I thought was very brave of her. I would not have been confident enough at her age to do that. So there she is after the first 'act' (set?) sitting by herself and this group of a few girls/one guy came up and asked her: "Do you need some friends?" and then 'adopted' her as their new friend. Which I think was really nice of them.

So of course they exchanged 'my spaces' and now spend every waking minute chatting online or sms-ing each other on their mobiles. She has completely 'forgotten' about her old friends and is totally obsessed with the new ones.

These 'new' friends are mostly 1-2 years older than her. They are in Year 11 or 12 at school. They do not go to her school and some don't even live in our area (my god!). There are 3 boys (the 'group' has expanded since they first met at the concert) that 'like' her and that she 'likes', even though 1 of them she's only met on myspace! At least one of the boys drive a car! Jesus! Not already, surely? So far there has been no request to go IN the car with him, although I know she met them all at the local shopping centre (of course) the other day when I went back to work and she had a pupil-free day. She was supposed to catch the bus and be back by 4:00pm, which she was, (of course I phoned her at home!), but I don't *really* know if she caught the bus home or if she got a lift in his/someone else's car.

She thinks I have issues with her having new friends that are older. I really don't. I think she's probably about the same 'level' as them anyway. I DO, however, have issues with her spending hours and hours and hours 'chatting' with them online. This will end up being a repeat of last year if I don't put limits on it. She won't do her schoolwork and will end up with crap results at school.

She has the shits because I would not let her go out with them today, (as it's a public holiday). She was supposed to have her room painted and finished by the weekend, but she hasn't done it. She asked last night if she could go out and I said "No". She has to be responsible and get her room finished. Later on I found her at about midnight, painting her room. She was under the assumption (very false) that if she finished it last night then she would be allowed to go out today. I corrected her assumption, (as she was trying to do a 'second' coat on a wall that had the first coat applied less than 2 hours previously), and she tried to argue with me/tell me I was unfair/etc. It ended with me saying "The answer is no. You are not going out tomorrow even if you stay up all night and paint your room!" Smacks of "Because I'm the mum and I said so!". But, so be it. She can't always have the answer 'yes'. Anyway, when I woke her up at 2:00 pm I got grunted at. When she got out of bed (3:00 pm) and walked past my study on her way to the shower, I got a filthy look and another grunt. Oh well. I'm not her friggin' best friend. I'm her mother and sometimes she just has to suck it up.

Pet food dilemma

I used to buy the girls their food at the vet- it was Royal Canin brand and supposedly full of all the right things. It cost a bloody fortune and eventually I could not justify it anymore, so I switched to a highest-supermarket-quality brand. BUT, I'm not a happy camper.

It seems to me that they have been especially itchy lately.

Also, I have been leaning more and more towards buying products- especially cosmetic-type one's- that have not been tested on animals. I don't see why an animal- be it a mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, cat or whatever, should have to suffer just so I can wash my face/hair, put on a bit of mascara, etc. It bothers me a lot that humans still test stuff on animals, especially stuff that is really, when you think about it, not that necessary.

So... the next logical step is this: Most commercial ped food companies (if not all!) test their food on animals, namely dogs and cats. Now, by this I don't mean that they give free samples to Fido down the road to see if he likes it or not. I mean they keep their dogs and cats in tiny cages, often with just a mesh-wire floor, (so it's easy to hose out the urine/faeces). They don't get excercise, affection, medical care, in fact they don't even get a life.

Now I know my girls are completely spoilt. They sleep mostly in my bed, they have a very high quality of life, they are washed in LUSH (brand) shampoo (of course not tested on animals!). I mean, if I were to come back as a dog I'd want it to be one of mine. I do realise that most pet dogs do not live in this kind of luxury. Although I think it would be safe to assume that most dogs are given decent food, fresh water, shelter, companionship, etc. A far cry from the life that the 'pet-food-company' dogs and cats live. So if I follow this to it's logical conclusion, why should I feed my girls food that guarantees other dogs suffer for it?

Now here's the problem. You CAN'T get comercially-made dog food that is NOT tested on animals!!! The reason you can't get it is because ALL the companies use animals for testing!!!

So... I called upon a friend of mine, (Hi Bethany!), and found a website that creates a pet food that does not test on animals. I like it. I think it's probably comparably expensive- more like the cost of the Vet food... but I have to put my money where my mouth is. No use saying "So sad, too bad" and then doing nothing about it.

Here is the Website:
http://www.veganpet.com.au/

Yes, it's 'vegan' but if you actually read the site, it's got everything in it that dogs need. There is also one for cats.

I think I will give it a try.

I need to Blog more!

I really wish I were consistent with my bloggering!

It's been months since I last posted on here, although I often think of things to write when I'm not anywhere near my computer.

Like this for instance:

Yesterday I was at my local shopping centre and there was a makeshift stage with some very, very B-grade actors sitting at a table. I'm talking not even recognisable by my daughter (I know I wouldn't have a clue who they were, but she's 15 and should be up on these things!). Anyway, here's this huge queue of people lining up to get an autograph/photo on their mobiles.... there were security guards! Security guards for god's sake! I just don't understand it! I mean what is the point? I just don't understand people!

I mean, even if (and that's a big one) these actors go on to become "famous", what does that prove? "Oh, I lined up in a shopping centre and got their signature along with hundreds of other people". So? Big woop-de-do.

Obese!

Yes, I am part of the "Obestity Epidemic!"

I feel like I should have that in big, red, 'headline' font.

I am a scourge on society! A burden to the taxpayer! A user-up of all the health services!

Gee, and I thought it was only my own health I was fucking up! I didn't know I was responsible for all the evils in the world!

Lucky I have all those skinny people to KEEP REMINDING ME how gross, unattractive and lazy I am! I mean, I would never know how easy it is to be thin!

Apparently, all I have to do is EAT LESS and EXCERCISE more!

Wow- it's all sooooooooooo simple, I wish I'd thought of it before! I could just *kick* myself for not coming up with this idea 15 years ago when I was first F.A.T!

The Whip

I tried to line up the pics so they weren't all over the place with the text, but I lost the text. It was something about how I found this whip (whip!!!) in my driveway one day and how strange that was. Anyway, I'm sure it was very funny and witty. Trust me.

Dr MartEn , Dr MartEn, Dr MartEn Boots!*

*See comments for explanation!!!

If you were ever obsessed with 'The Young Ones' you'll know what the title meant!

Anyway, I bought some black, 8-hole Doc's today. I am having my mid-life crisis today and wearing boots I wore in my teens/20's. I love them!

I have a house warming party to go tonight. It's a colleauge at work who is having the party and I'm not even sure why she invited me. I won't know very many people there. Still, I'm a big girl. In more ways than one.

Lip Shape

Yesterday I read on the SMH website an article about a conference about to happen in Australia about 'Australian Lip Shape'

What?

I can't believe this. It just seems absurd! When we are about to run out of water, when the planet is 10 years away from being way too hot, when the wealthiest nation in the world can't stop it's citizens from killing children- there's some moron discussing the difference between 'lip shape' in Australia as opposed to London as opposed to France! Why on earth (indeed!) is this important?

I will never understand some people.