We Made It... Sleepless

Well what do you know? We made it... or more to the point thank goodness, the Pilot didn't take the first left at Albuquerque, (thanks Bugs).

Let me say the measure of this land is vast and wide and over 4hrs on the plane and at 300km per hour I can believe it. Mind you being on an overnight flight, I nor for that matter anyone else got to see its vastness or beauty.

Not to worry though as I had the pleasure in selecting the best of the crap crop of the movie selection. Yes that's right "Zookeeper", oh what a joy to behold animals that can speak to us stupid humans. Thank you for the deliriously funny plot and humour, Kevin James. Or was it that I was delirious from the lack of sleep and watching with the only eye that could still focus?

Besides the antics and goings on of Griffin the Zookeeper (Kevin James) and Bernie the Gorilla (Nick Nolte) Amelie was on her best behaviour, still in her pyjamas as we had to wake her up after only 2 hours sleep at home. She didn't complain, whinge or cry but rather couldn't stop chattering.

Finally Amelie fell asleep on the flight thereby getting another 2 hours of needed rest but by doing so, I had the pleasure of being kicked a multitude of times in my tummy (yes I had to cross my legs, just in case) for the entirety of the trip. Needless to say I arrived in Sydney sleepless.

It didn't matter all in all, as We made it...  Picked up by my Papa I knew I could get some shut eye on the way to their place. Who was I kidding?

1. I had forgotten the amount of traffic and stopping and starting in Sydney.
2. I had forgotten how badly my Father drives.
3. I had forgotten how much Amelie could chatter.

So needless to say I arrived at my parents place sleepless. Yet We made it...

to be continued.......  after I get some sleep!

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Sydney Tomorrow

How exciting!!!!
Tomorrow we are heading to Sydney to visit Amelie's Grandparents (my parents). It is a five-hour flight, so no need to say I am full of trepidation.

One.. I don't like airports.
Two.. As it is a late flight, I cannot sleep on planes.
Three.. Did I mention, Amelie is coming with us?

We can't take my mate Maximus with us and so he has had to be moved to a new residential area and has already been transported to the other house to stay there for the week. This is all good as I know he will be well looked after, yet I truly realise now how much a part of our family he is. Amelie has not stopped crying at the separation. I have been out the back a few times and with not seeing him there staring at me has really cut deep.... I actually miss him when not seeing his goofy look and affection. I know it is only a week and he will be back with us or we with him yet I am still sad.

My dog, my Maximus is part of the family. He truly is! We all love him! And I miss him already. A mans best friend? No! A families best friend forever! A brother to Amelie, a son to me... is my Maximus.

What will we do when he is truly gone forever??? I hazard to think!

oh BTW, we are going to Sydney Tomorrow... And in truth (just quietly)
I'll miss him the most...

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Dr. Seuss, what have you done?

Your books are entertaining my bookworm no end. I just can't wait until she learns to read as I'm getting so tongue tied. Even reading them slowly I still get them wrong. aaarrggghh.

Now I have a Dr. Suessette living with me.

As if it's not hard enough to get her to sleep. As I've mentioned here.

Now we have to listen to this...

I'm not sleeping with Mimi
I'm sleeping with pipi

I'm not sleeping anymore
I'm not sleeping with an apple core

I'm not sleeping with the dog
I'm not sleeping on a log

"Amelie, please go to sleep now!", I interject.

I'm sleeping on a cloud
I'm sleeping now.

Dr. Suess, what have you done?

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The Horror of it all

I have been lucky enough to have had a head of full black hair my whole life. It has been something that I must say in some ways (always) I have been a little too obsessed about.

In the 80's, should I say more? The 80's really says it all! But anyway in the 80's I alone caused my very own hole in the Ozone, just by the amount of product I was liberally pouring, rubbing and of course Spraying on my locks.

At 16, 17 years of age I was a Rocker who needed the 2 feet of quiff pointing out to the front and up to be reputable and thereby proportioned just right and held together to feel part of this leather clad group (these days that has different connotations I know) yet it was vital to put copious amounts of Gel and Spray for it to hold it's shape!

Image by lili.chin

I did bring it down a notch when at 18, 19 years I mellowed a little and became a Mod. Whereby once again to be truly within the guidelines of Modish style the hairdo had to be just right so, to have short, combed forward and flat Mod hair I only then needing the Gel to keep it down. See! I did care for the environment. Maybe a little late but the hole has gotten smaller since then... hasn't it?

Image by Zellaby

Why am telling you of my love for my shock of hair? It is because in the last 2 years some things have appeared within the full blackness of my mane.

You guessed it!  GREY!!!!!!!!

I actually thought it to be a myth that once you have children you get that off white through your bristling pureness of youthfulness and vanity.

I understand why now, we do. As I have had fear and horror put through my nerves quite a few times. From Amelie sinking beneath the water in our bath. From Amelie climbing her cot bed to then free fall head first onto the floor knocking herself unconscious, having to take her to the hospital vomiting the whole way at 150km an hour! Then today having Amelie open the back door of the car whilst doing 60km an hour! I don't know who screamed louder... her or me? I know I had the child lock on! I just know it! Or did I?

I now understand why my jet black coiffure is not so black anymore and I now know it isn't a myth. I now know that these occurrences send the feelings of anxiety and utter fear to travel until they make their home, nestle and become visual within our follicles!

So to tell you once again why I have rambled on about the loss of my joy is that in the last 2 years and now only 42 years of age I have found... THREE grey hairs! The HORROR and INJUSTICE of it all!!!!! 

Image by Roo Reynolds

 

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Time alone

I sat, I listened, I watched...
I wasn't comfortable, I heard nothing, I saw my life passing by

I thought, I tidied up, I fidgeted
Thought of what my life could've been, re arranged my mind closet, and fumbled with a cigarette.

I know I love, I know I am doing my best, I know I am a Father
Love hurts, my best is not good enough, I never wanted to be a Father.

But a Father you are, a friend you are, you are the protector
I know I am, I'm glad I am, I'm afraid I'll have to be!

I want peace, I want quiet, I want romance
You want your old life back?

Yes!
No.. you don't you selfish bastard!!!

Image by Vali... via Flickr

Why are you feeling this way?


Because I'm a dad. And I'm scared every second of every day about my daughter!!!! 

 Alejandro!!!
You just want time alone.....

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The Terrible Age

I will be honest. I am not coping with this age.

Terrible two's they call it. Well ain't that the truth!
I've been slapped. I've been kicked. I've been yelled at. AND I've been head-butted!
I am certain now, my Kick-Boxing Gold Belt Champion will be fine in taking care of herself in later years.

So back to the problem......

I'm not coping with this age.

My eyesight is deteriorating... My muscles ache after a long walk... My bones crack every time I open the fridge.... Every time I lie down I pull a muscle in my neck!

What am I supposed to do?

Amelie! NO!   Not another round! .....got to go.... If I can get up.

Ready!!??

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Security

Children with dads who are involved and interested in their lives are more likely to feel secure, confident and happy. Spend quality time with them and as much as you can no matter how you feel about something else.

Enjoy what you have for it goes past so quickly.

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dread

Amelie's first ever plane voyage tomorrow. 

 Just making a pre emptive apology to all those who will be seated near us.

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suns cream

Morning tea time.

Nicely seated in her high chair is Amelie. In front of her is a plate filled with assorted fruits, bread and cheese. A bottle of water sits to the side. I leave her happily eating as i go about doing some chores.

I'm not gone too long, but long enough it seems, as my angel has had the time to pour the water onto the plate mixing the ingredients into what looked like a puree and with this concoction had proceeded to rub it all over her legs and arms.

My Picasso was very happy

"Oh my God! What are you doing?"
In a tiny sweet voice my pharmaceutical developer responds, "Putting on my sunscreen for when I go outside".

And that's where I took her. Outside of the contaminated area straight to the shower!
                                   

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carols by candles light!

All excited to go to her first Carols by candlelight  was my Amelie.

A little background first. Amelie said her first words at 5 months. Put 2 words together at 6 months. Now at 22 months she can hold a conversation with me. I've been told that thats not possible at her age but she speaks as a 4 year old does. Many an argument I have lost.

To the carols we went, a balmy night at the local school. We arrived a little late but found a spot where we could lay our blanket to watch and listen. The problem was, it was literally by candlelight as they had had a power failure. We could just make out the murmurs of a song as the mikes don't work without electricity.

We sat and watched for a while when Amelie noticed all the people were holding candles. She wanted one and stood up, walked over to some teenagers who were huddled around playing, I don't know what! and asked for one. To my surprise they obliged.

My Angel turns.
"It's hot! It's HOT HELP!!! Help me!" I shot up and ran to her to see a glow under her shirt.

"What happened? Who put it there?" I yelled. Silence from the crowd of onlookers. Frantic, I pulled her top off and grabbed the candle.

My thespian smiles. I have in my hands a plastic, battery operated, very cold candle.
I should in future make a distinction between what's real and what's fake to her.

And more importantly, pay more attention to my surroundings so embarrassment is out of the equation. Let's see.

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Quote

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

Forest. E. Witcraft.

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impressions

A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.

(Chinese Proverb)

And every mark the child leaves Dad has to clean up.

(My Reality).

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