Wednesday 28 November 2007

Eight Random Things

I was tagged to do a meme by Lizz at Red Dirt Mother.
I didn't know what that is, but you learn something new every day.

So!
Eight Random Things About Me:

Rules:
*link to the person who tagged you
*post the rules
*name 8 things others don't know about you
*link to 8 other bloggers

Can I think of 8 things others dont know about me?

1) I've been in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Ethiopia, The Sudan, Egypt, Holland, Belgium, Israel, Cyprus, England, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvadore, Guatemala, Mexico, US, Canada, Turkey, Jordan and... well, that's all I can think of. I think that's all (in chronological order of first visit). Littletree has been in about half of them too :)

2) I almost never wear shoes, and all of my clothes are green, right down to the last sock (actually, all three of my socks). Most of those countries I travelled in barefoot.

3) I'm a lesbian, married to a man. long story.

4) I'm not really into the ocean. I dont dislike it in any way, I'm just not really interested in going to the beach. I'd much much rather be in a lush green forest with a sweet waterfall

3) I gave birth unassisted on a soccer field in Brazil

4) I can't count too well

5) I've been to 28 rainbow gatherings in the last 9 years.

6) I'm allergic to chocolate :(

7) I was a fruitarian for a year and a half

8) I love goats and I travelled around India with a baby goat for six months.

ok. that's at least eight LOL
next step was to link to 8 other bloggers. I already did Lizz, Inannamama, Greenlee, Hippychick, Jenn, Iyar, Mon, and Leon. Geez, that was hard.

Monday 26 November 2007

Reason #451,986 Why We Don't Live in Israel

I just happened along this interesting little article, Osem Recalls Snacks With Lead-Tainted Toy Jewelry in the English version of Haaretz; one of the biggest newspapers in Israel.

The jist of it, is that Osem, Israel's largest snack-food company, made a promotion of putting a little plastic necklace in packets of their salty snack foods, Bissli, Bamba and Dubonim. Turns out (like pretty much everything that comes out of China lately), the necklaces contain 3.5 times the acceptable levels of lead.

The Israeli Ministry of Health standards director said "The danger is not immediate, like electrocution, but there is clear danger".
Yep; clear danger. Lead poisoning, in fact.

Of course, the CEO of Osem, Aviezer Kaplan didn't want to do a recall, saying "there was no point". In fact, "All the experts we checked with say there is no danger to public health."

How convenient that the "experts" the company checked with (and which experts might they be, I'd like to know) say there is no danger to public health. Yet, the Ministry of Health (whom would count pretty high amongst the list of experts, and are easily found in the Israel Yellow Pages, not to mention in direct contact with Aviezer Kaplan) gave a direct order that they toys be recalled.

So basically, though Osem has been ordered to recall the snacks, they're still on the shelves. All that Osem has so far done is run a small newspaper ad.

and yes, this is more-or-less acceptable to Israeli standards.

Seems that while the CEO of Osem may or may not care about the health of children in Israel (who happen to be his best customers), he is much more afraid of his boss, Nestle, who owns 50.1% of the company. Nestle, as we all know, don't have any issue with killing children in third world countries.

Friday 23 November 2007

Little Blue Sky

We bought a new car!
Purple has been wanting to trade our wonderful yellow van , Sunshine, for something smaller, more economical, and with more seats for a while. Actually, he never wanted to get a van; he's a small-car guy.

Anyway, I saw a notice in the laundromat advertising an '85 Corolla Hatch for $600. Sounded like there must be something wrong with it, but there isn't. Its almost out of registration (in 5 weeks), but it has a roadworthy certificate. and most importantly, it handles amazingly :) Maybe I'm just too used to clunking around in our big heavy van, but jumping into this little car is so sweet.

She's a 5 speed, 1.6L, light blue. For a 22 year old car, she's pretty good. Only the paint is a bit crappy; somehow it looks like the colour of the sky in a big city. Still blue but a bit hazy and patchy LOL. Anyway, she uses a lot les petrol than Sunshine, which we are keeping, for now.

Littletree dubbed her: LittleBlueSky. I've no idea how she came up with that name ;)
Little Blue Sky

Wednesday 21 November 2007

Dr Tick ***Update*** scroll down

You may recall that I mentioned we left the party on saturday night because Littletree had a terrible ear ache in the night...

Well, its been tender the last couple of days, but she wont let me touch it or look at it. anyway, today, I happened to see her ear, and it was full of little spots of blood EEK!

I convinced her to let me have a look, and guess what I saw? this:
Ear Tick
Yep, that's a massive paralasys tick in my daughter's ear, and its all spotted with blood. It must have been there at least since Saturday. While freaking internally, I remained calm, and tried to get it out with a pair of tweezers. It's pretty tender, and she wouldn't let me near it.

We googled ticks, and read to her about them, and about lyme disease, and other stuff. We watched videos of ticks on YouTube. We tried to remove it again. no luck. Purple started suggesting that we should take her to the hospital. Well, I'm pretty against that, but I'll go if its really needed. I just dont want going to see a Dr to be our first option. for Purple, though, Dr is the first option every time.

Anyway... in the end, we decided to head for the hospy. Stupid idea, I guess I just needed someone to support me in my thought that we dont need to go. but, as usual, its me convincing Purple that we can handle it, and I just didn't have the energy. I didn't want to be responsible if she got sick from it. Whatever.

We got there, the nurse was really nice and really gentle. She let Littletree take her time, and talk about it and what not. Littletree held really still for her, and breathed through it as she tried to remove the tick. The nurse almost got it, but not quite, and by then Littletree had had enough, and it hurt too much for her to agree to further treatment. The nurse didn't want to try again, and we waited for the dr.

He showed up, was of course overworked and didn't have much time for us. He just wanted me to hold Littletree down so he could pull the tick out. She freaked out (of course) and he was all business and hurried and insensitive; he tried to get me to hold her down, and get Purple to hold her hands, and the nurse to hold her feet.

Of course, DD got hysterical. I stopped holding her and let her breathe for a bit. Then the Dr started talking to the nurse, mostly just ignoring us. He actually said (are you sitting down?) "Let's get a sheet to wrap her tightly in so she can't move, then you can hold her head hard so she can't get away, and I'll pull it out".

I looked at him and said "how would you treat an adult if they were resisting in this way?" he didn't really answer me, looked away and mumbled something about how an adult wouldn't in this situation. I didn't say to him what I wanted to, coz I had this thought in the back of my mind that I didnt want them to call DoCS (CPS) for us refusing her treatment.

We said we didn't want to traumatise her any more, and we'd take her home and try to do it when she's sleeping tonight, and got outta there quick smart! that fucking quack actually wanted to tie my daughter down while she was screaming hysterically as if he didn't realise she's a human being and has feelings.

Sigh, anyway, we waited till she was deeply asleep and tried to take it out again. No Still no luck; she woke up screaming. What to do. I'll keep trying.

****Update****
so the next day, we still didn't manage to get it out, but not for want of trying, but I think I killed it in sone attempt in the evening.
The next morning, it was clearly dead, and turned into a slightly more accessable position. Littletree decided that since its dead, it wont hold on tight, and it would come out easily. I actually held her down for half a minute, but not violently so, and whipped it out, all oozing black goo.
so; its OUT!! :)
thanks to all the well-wishers

Monday 19 November 2007

Focus Family!

We had a big weekend this week; I'm still recovering, really.
Friday we had a full day, bake a cake, library, rent to pay, post office, went to Byron to visit A+A, M and Z, I had an appointment, we lent the car to a friend, grocery shopping, and a housewarming party in the evening.
Phew!

we decided to come home, I guess it wasn't so late, about 1am.

Saturday, we prepared to go to Foc's 40th birthday party. I baked an elaborate mud cake, while Purple went with Littletree to visit some friends up the road.

I also managed to do some work; I was asked to do a load of articles for Essence of Life this week.

Then we went to the party...

It was such a huge event. They had built a stage for live performers, and had a massive new tipi put up next to their regular one. Foc' and Nic' had done a Hungi - a traditional aboriginal way of cooking by digging a huge hole in the ground, filling it with hot coals and then food, and burying it.

The did two Hungis; one for a sheep, and one for veggies. The food was AWESOME! The whole party was awesome; I guess around 200 people came, and there were lots of kids running around, and great music, two bonfires and general good times.

I took a picture of the area before dark; before the party really kicked off, but you get the idea:



Focus Party 4
We had planned to sleep the night in the van, but at around 2am, Littletree woke up screaming, shrieking in pain with an earache :( and when we eventually got her calmed down, she just wanted to go home.

We got home at 3:30am, and of course, by then she was feeling fine and wide awake, wanting to play. I'm still recovering from that night!

Friday 9 November 2007

Spin Movie and a Jumping Ant

Well, I was just about to post about this short film, which I found to be very entertaining...


but then this big, enormous, scarey ant crawled over the sofa!
Ant 1
yes. that is a real live ant. On a standard-sized playing card. On my sofa!!!!!

yipes!

There is a nest of these ants in our veggie patch, they are aggressive, mean, nasty ants that jump pretty high. They bite with their mandibles and then sting you with their bum. its awful! But this is the biggest one I've seen.

Uranus Is A Planet

Lying in bed yesterday morning, Littletree asked me if Brazil is a planet.
I said, no Brazil is a country on the planet. Australia, Brazil, Israel, Germany... they're all countries on planet Earth.
Earth is a planet, Mars is a planet, Venus is a planet, Uranus is a planet...
Littletree interrupted me, touching her bum, "My Anus is a planet?"

I still can't stop laughing!

Meanwhile, Littletree is slowly getting over her fear of water; she went swimming in the deep part of the pool for the first time!
Of course, she had her floaty ring on, but she actually got off the steps! It was a big step for her (forgive the pun).

She's been wanting to get out into the pool for a while, mentally building up to it, but still fearful. well, she was swimming with the girl from next door, and asked me if I would hold her going into the pool. I didn't get in, but I took her hand and walked around the edge of the pool. She instantly cried, "no no!", but I kept pulling her, thinking I'd just 'test the water' a bit, and if she really seemed like freaking out, I'd pull her right out and comfort her.

I managed to walk her all the way around to the deep side of the pool, she was doing okay, hyper breathing a bit and frightened, but she seemed like she was moving through the emotion just fine. So when we got near to the deepest point, I just pointed it out to her that we were away from the steps.

She puffed and panted a bit, crying a bit, and suddenly she took a breath and said, "oh. I'm fine." then she looked around her self and started shouting "I'm fine! I'm fine!!" and she was. :)

After that she was swimming for about an hour before I dragged her out.
Swim seq
Swim seq2

Thursday 8 November 2007

What To Do... What To Do?

I need to decide what I'm going to be doing next April.
Yep. me. the spontaneous traveller.

I need to choose between going to Israel for a month, going to the Australian Rainbow Gathering in Victoria, or attending a birth.

I had originally thought the rainbow gathering would be in March, and then we'd go to Israel for a month at Pessach (passover), and then to China in May. I'm definitely going to China no matter what. But then the Scouts decided to make the dates for the Victoria rainbow in April - starting exactly on Pessach. Crap. Then I met a woman who is pregnant and would like me to be her midwife, but she's due in mid April.

Well, of course, I really want to go to the rainbow. Technically, we could go to Israel after China, in June, though the weather will already be getting annoyingly hot by then, and I would really like to be there for Pessach, especially because it will mean a lot to Littletree's grandmother if we are there for the holidays.

I definitely want to attend the birth, though I can't plan anything, because you can never tell when a baby will be born. Especially first babies are generally after dates. though this is, of course due to the fact that the way they calculate due dates is grossly off. Average gestation for a first baby is 41.5 weeks, rather than the usually calculated 40, so of course lots of babies go 2 weeks over.

At first I thought, well, if I miss the Victoria Gathering, at least I'll still go to the New Zealand Rainbow, which is in January. but the very annoying Kiwis decided to make their gathering now, starting in the end of November and going till the end of December!

Anyway, I need to work out what we're doing so we can buy tickets. Crap.

Tuesday 6 November 2007

My Saviour

Well, I posted a few days ago about my dreadful virus...
Thanks muchly to all the people who contacted me with helpful hints.
I have definately learned a LOT more about computers :)

Anyway, the crisis is averted, my computer is clean and happy again.
I found the most amazing wonderful website with free tech support.
It's called www.malwareremoval.com which is a kind of school for tech support people.
There is a forum there, www.forum.malwareremoval.com where you can send them in a description of your problem, and they guide you step-by-step through the removal process, and get the computer all cleaned up.

It was GREAT!
I had to download a software called HijackThis, which did some scan of my computer and created a log that the helpful folk at malwareremoval could read and understand. They got me to download some things, run some programs, even write a .bat file and run it.

The end result was that I no longer have a virus :)
and yes, I highly recommend these guys. Its like the computer version of breaking down on the highway and calling AAA to come save you.

Saturday 3 November 2007

A Party at My Place and Everyone's Invited.

My good friend Jah wanted to have a kangaroo barbecue this week, but didn't have a place to do it. So he casually suggested making it at my place, by the pool.
Well, I was okay with that, as long as I didn't have to do anything or organise or provide food. as long as it would be clear that its not *my* barbecue; it's just at my house.
I did agree to make cakes, and came up with this:
Cake

It was fine, except that lots of people arrived, but no one was very organised; they didn't have a proper barbecue, and didn't get it together to get wood for a fire.

There were lots of kids, and they were all splashing around in the pool while the adults pretended to look like they were making the barbecue.

It started to rain a bit, and no one got it together, so we all went into the house and they cooked on the gas. It was nice, lots of kangaroo, and bread and sauce, but only one salad; an orgasmic potato salad made by one very luscious mama. And the cake I made. I also made a banana spice cake with whipped cream cheese icing, but that wasn't nearly as exciting as the rich chocolate fudge cake :)

In the end, there were (I think) 12 adults and 7 children in our tiny little cottage! it got quite hectic and noisy.
Here's some of the chaos:
Party 2
Party

until Tree cut the cake
Cake Jaman
and then everyone was too high on choc-coffee-rum-fudge icing LOL

Thursday 1 November 2007

Crap! I have a Virus

My poor computer has a virus.
It's called Warezov CLA.
How did it get there? It infects Skype. One of my good friends send me an IM, I clicked on it.
Bah!
of course, my friend didn't send it, the virus, which I assume is infecting her computer did.
I wasn't really paying attention (as usual, doing about 100 things at once).
So now I have this virus. My antivirus (Avast!) can't seem to get rid of it. Purple doesn't know what to do, we tried a few things...
Avast! pops up a window every few minutes that has a loud scary siren and a serious voice that says "Caution! A Virus has been detected" it's quite alarming.
and the little window says "There is no reason to panic" with some options to click.
Well, we're working on it. but in the meantime, don't click on links from Skype, and if you know anything about computers, I could really use some help.