A Work In Progress

Today I received this email from our Office Coordinator; "Hi everyone, Rentokil will be in our offices tomorrow, Saturday 1 October 2011, to spray our carpet for fleas etc. There is a stand down period of 4 hours once this has been completed. If you are thinking of coming into the office over the weekend, it would pay not to come in on Saturday. Before you leave the office tonight can you please place any items that are currently on the floor by your desk, on top of your desk to make it easier for the serviceman. Also, It would be a good idea to take home over the weekend any open packets of food that you currently keep at your desk. Thanks for your help." There are so many questions I want to ask - how did this come about? Is it a regular thing or has someone discovered a flea infestation? Who is bringing their cat to work?????? So many questions.

I was talking with my trainer today and she mentioned another client she has who at age 50 is still struggling with feeling good about herself.  We talked about how all of us can list a million things that we hate about ourselves, but can you list things you like? One thing I have learnt is that you can't expect other people to fill your bucket with good feelings, you need to do it yourself.  I do have to admit that it has taken me some years to come to this point!! Compliments from others are lovely, but they are fleeting. You need to have your own set of internal compliments that stay with you, even on those crappy days. So, here are five things I like about me; 1. My smile - I smile with my whole face cause when I am happy, I feel it completely. I think that is why people seem to be comfortable approaching me. 2. My laugh - yes it is loud but it is honest and real. 3. The fact I take pride in my appearance - I try to make the most of what I have. 4....

I realise you probably all have the date circled in your calendars, but I thought I would remind you that it is two weeks till my birthday! On the 13th Oct at 2pm back in 1975, an adorable little girl was born. Okay, she wasn't little at all (10lbs) and did cause permanent damage to her mother because of her big shoulders, but she was adorable. And lets be honest, she still is!!! Anyway, 13th October - don't forget!

I am currently nursing a sore left thumb. I just peeled a mandarin and some how have managed to hurt the nail of my thumb so that it is now both aching and stinging. Seriously, it really hurts! I have four more mandarins to eat today but I am not sure if I can handle any more trauma. Perhaps I should go back to snacking on baby carrots.

I realise my last letter to you was a little bit harsh. But I was angry and tired. I am sure you understand. Last night it was brought to my attention that I am a lot fitter than I was when I started working out and I have to agree that I actually found doing press ups was not as hard as it was a few weeks ago. Sure, they are still girl press ups, but I am not collapsing in a heap after doing five like I used to. So that it progress right? Of course I am not any skinnier, which is really what I would like to happen, but I guess I am now better prepared if I ever need to defend myself against evil. So I grudgingly agree that you are coming to the party in some ways, but I would really appreciate if you could also help me to be smaller rather than just focusing on my ability to defend myself against evil. Please note, I am not sure why I am focused on this new found fitness being used to defend myself against evil, I mean I am not actually sure who I think is goin...

I have just eaten what seems to be about a kilo in baby carrots. I did not start off meaning to eat that much. I brought into work several small packets to last me as snacks for the week,  but as I was unable to get out to buy some lunch and had no other food around, I ended up eating a heap of them as my lunch. I guess it is better than snacking on cookies and chocolate. But I am starting to feel a wee bit orange.

Today I went out with my Mum and she introduced me to the most horrifying thing I have ever seen. She bought it on line, and while it looks innocent enough, when you get up close, even the bravest will recoil in terror. It is a mirror, with 15 times magnification. It gives you a very clear view of your face: every pore, every blemish, everything. EVERYTHING. I had left the house that morning thinking I looked okay but I took one look in the mirror and realised that my make up was not applied evenly, that my eyebrows needed plucking, that I had blemishes I had not ever noticed before and that I have more wrinkles that I ever thought. I was traumatised. Utterly traumatised. Spent the rest of the afternoon rocking in the fetal position contemplating where I can buy a mask.

This morning I had to take my cat to the vet to get some of her teeth removed. I left the cat carrier in the garage so she would not suspect anything and tried to go about my normal routine.  When I went to get her, I could not find her. I discovered I had left the bathroom window open. It opens onto the roof. Normally she would not go out it, but I peered out all the same, and sure enough, she had climbed out and was sitting in a patch of sun on the far end of the roof. I tried to woo her back in with toys and food, but she just looked back at me with disdain. After an hour of trying to convince her to get close enough to the window for me to grab, I realised the only way I could get her was to climb out on the roof. I seriously considered doing this, but could also see that it would no doubt end in tears....for me. So I gave her a small salute and admitted that she had won this round. She is now booked into the vet for next week.  I am looking forward to winning round two.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.  

1. She will drop it 2. See point one 3. See point one 4. See point one 5. See point one

This is a true story, told in pictures, of what happened to the cat that belongs to one of my work colleagues. No cats were hurt in the making of this post.

I have discovered that there is a very small window in which I like to eat bananas. Somewhere between green/yellow and yellow/green. Once it gets too yellow (and heaven forbid gets brown spots on it) I do not find them appetising at all. Now there are some that say that is when they are perfect to make things like smoothies or banana muffins, but to me that is just too much hard work. I now have two bananas on my desk that have passed the window of opportunity for my consumption. Anyone want to make me some muffins?

Firstly, you suck. I have been trying SO hard to exercise three times a week and you still are not coming to the party and shifting the weight off my arse. And you know how much I hate exercise!! I mean COME ON!! I have been busting a gut in my sessions with my trainer, but doing things by myself and I am still the same size. What is that about!?!?!?! And don't feed me that bull shit that I am building muscle.  Crap! I am still as wobbly as I was when I started. I have started working on my diet too and yet that is STILL not enough for you. Exercise Gods you OWE me for all the effort I am putting in. And I am coming to collect! Love and Kisses Catherine

Well let me tell you. Yesterday I spent the day cleaning. We are talking extreme cleaning which even involved borrowing a wet/dry vac to clean my orange chair. Anyway, this morning I decided to make some popcorn for morning tea. And as I walking to the couch, I tripped. Popcorn now everywhere. Damn it! That is annoying.

I have discovered something disturbing. My boss and I are wearing the same shoes. I am not sure who this makes look worse – me for wearing boy shoes or him for wearing girl shoes?

Yesterday I went grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping, I think it is due to working for 12 years in that industry. So normally I do on-line shopping, but I decided I might as well head out and brave the store myself. Well, I discovered I still hate grocery shopping. Too much choice, too many people and too much time wasted trying to find things. By the time I got to the beauty aisle, I was over it. I needed to buy shampoo and conditioner and when I went to that bay, and I was overwhelmed by the colour, the brands, the specials. Just too much!!! So I grabbed two bottles closest to me and headed for the check out. This morning I took the bottles into the shower and discovered I have bought two bottles of conditioner. That was annoying but what was more annoying was that I bought a conditioner that has a horrid coconut smell. So if anyone wants two bottles of coconut scented conditioner, just let me know. Meanwhile, my hair is going to be a gross until I can get up the confidence to ...