Author: Amy Armitage

Lately I’ve been feeling a little blue.. bunch of things happening and I guess coming up to the holidays, plus last night it was my Dad’s surprise 60th birthday party (in Australia).. So I’ve also been pining for Oz.. and DECENT beer ;) Merican beers are bloody awful.. Corona rocks my socks!

Last night when I got home, rather than watch tv or geek out on the pc .. I entered Step 1 of my cycle of sadness..

I borrowed my hubby’s iPod and loaded a bunch of sentimental songs (mainly by Aussie Bands and embarrassing 70 & 80’s artists that reminded me of the music my parents played), laid in the dark and let it all out.

I’ll admit to the artists that incite some reaction.. but you should too..

Amy’s Emergency Nostalgic Playlist

• Stevie Wonder (my staff can attest to my love of Stevie)
• Jackson 5
• Air Supply (Omgawd.. double ewwwwww… So at one point I laid there and laughed when it came to me. If those guys were popular today, wouldn’t we question if the 2 men singing love songs (really intense lyrics) in harmony to each other were in a relationship?)

As Seinfeld would say.. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that”

• Kasey Chambers (Another Aussie who rocks)
• Barry Manilow (Just shush..)
• Sting (Still gorgeous)
• Lionel Richie (early stuff.. truly.. you are..)
• Phil Collins (He’s still got it)
• Missy Higgins (She is so awesome. Every song I can relate to in some way)
• Sinatra (Dead but incredible)
• ABBA (Abba dabba dooooo)
• Bernard Fanning (He’s actually uber cool.. Brisbane Guy)
• Michael Buble (Fantastic)
• Eurhythmics (Such a classy woman)
• Etta James (Jazz makes me happy)
• Bay City Rollers (Bye Bye Baby.. reminds me of Love Actually)

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”

I wish that style of jeans was back in fashion for men.. DEAD SHEXY ;)

Btw I’ve never used an iPod all by myself before.. I’m stoked and it’s on my wishlist. Actually just now I realized I’ve been using it totally incorrectly and you’re supposed to roll your fingers in circles. I was moving them up and down and thinking it was broken.. I swear I’m consistently mistaken for a bimbot..

*Ok just now while editing this entry I worked out how to rewind..

/sigh

There’s a lot to be said for emotional cleansing and interestingly it resulted in me finally getting to bed round 2am and having the first good sleep I’ve had about 2 weeks (albeit 5 hours). I sat up waiting until I knew my Dad’s party had started so I could call.. ‘cept they didn’t answer because the music was too loud and they couldn’t hear the phone.. Snap.. Bugger.. Bum..

So what’s the benefit of acting like a wimpy girl? (no offence meant towards wussy weak females btw.. heh). Well I’ll tell ya..

As a result of getting it all out there.. (in my case music does it.. others may prefer to smack themselves in the head) I had such a wonderful and eventful day today where I was able to let go of all the sadness and enjoy the good stuff.

A good friend once said to me.. “In order to see the light, you have to love the darkness.”

I grabbed the phone around 7.30am and called my sister’s place. It was 1.30am in Brisbane and the perfect time to call. My Mum, Dad, sister, her hubby and his folks were there and..

ALL of them were OFF THEIR FACES DRUNK.

I don’t think they shaved each other’s heads though..

Seriously it was hilarious. I laughed and laughed at my Dad getting all emotional and mushy (which he rarely does), my sister butting in going off topic ’bout Sex in the City episodes and New York, her hubby yelling out and cheering for his fave footy team and my Mum telling my Dad to stop being silly because he was soooooo hammered.

They were absolutely convinced apparently that I was going to surprise them and turn up, because a few hours before my hubby had phoned them to get exact times so we didn’t call and interrupt the initial surprise. Apparently when my brother arrived my Mum and my sister expected me to be with him. I sooooo wish that had have been the case. Anyway.. Step 2 of the cycle.. Calling home, reconnecting and laughing.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Step 3: Being a Soccer Mum (and enjoying it)

For those who know me well.. this one is a challenge. I’m pretty much the exact opposite of a genuine soccer mum

In North American social, cultural and political discourse, soccer mom (and less used soccer dad for the male equivalent) refers broadly to a demographic group of women with school-age children. In general, the term “soccer mom” refers to the concept of American post-feminist motherhood as an amalgam of traditional domestic values with modern feminism (1960s-1980s), and is associated with modern material conveniences such as the SUV and cell phone. The archetypical soccer mom is upper or upper middle class, educated, suburban or exurban, and white.

I have a cell phone..

And I do stuff like this..

And let my kids do stuff like this..

My boys are my shining light (and incredibly loud, messy and stinky at times) ..

And I prefer the company of my pc and generally choose work over everything. Recently there was some parent night up at the school and I went into our CEO’s office and begged him to make me stay back and work late. When my hubby arrived.. Ron went out and said “Amy don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Ugh..

I dunno bout those of you who are parents, but I really resent the time it takes up to simply be the parent of a child who plays sports. They play 2 to 3 games per week and practice twice a week.. wtf?

So I went on Tuesday night, missed Thursday night and turned up today dressed for the occasion (A little like Sporty Spice.. Starbucks in hand) and did my best to interact with this non geeky crowd.

I kinda get upset at the games, because the parents place so much pressure on the kids, scream, and yell at them from the sidelines. When the other team score a goal and I clap.. they stare me down like I’m a lunatic. Just trying to show my appreciation for the other team too.. Is that wrong?

Oh no she didn’t..

But I digress (as usual)..

The game was SUCH FUN! My son’s team scored in the LAST 30 seconds of the game to make it a tie. I actually jumped up outta my chair and started whoop whoop woo wooin and realized.. “Wow.. I’m fully digging this.”

They had SUDDEN DEATH time (very dramatic) and ended up scoring again and.. THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!

What a good lookin kid.. bet his mum’s a babe ;)

FINALLY SOCCER SEASON IS OVER and I can sleep in.. come home from work and veg out in front of the telly..

So this morning my son was all stoked they had won. I cheered and carried on as soccer mums do (and I was genuinely elated) and said “Geez matey.. what are you going to do now soccer is over?”

These words just kill me.. wait for it..

“Oh it’s not over Mum. We’re in THE AREA games now. We’ll be playing for months!”

Crap..

“Ummm.. wow that’s ace mate. I’m so happy for you.” (Did I mention my teeth were gritted?)

Congrats ZacSTAR & Chaos!!!!

Step 4: Go See a Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

A bunch of us went to the movies this afternoon to see BORAT! I’ve been a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen for a long time. I’ve watched his series, seen his interviews (Da Ali G Show) and his other movie.

I’ve been jonesin’ to see Borat since I heard it was released and OMG it was a crack up.

I love how he makes you feel so incredibly uncomfy for these people and you’re thinkin.. “Tell me he’s not gonna do that!” AND HE DOES!

Fave moments for me were:

• When he finally “bagged” Pamela
• Showing his son “Huey Lewis’s” photos
• His gift to the lovely lady at dinner (another law suit)

• His dinner “guest”
• Singing the Kazakhstan Anthem at the rodeo .. the lyrics.. LOL!

• Kissing the New York MEN and seeing how “Testosteronily” they reacted
• Making new friends who he “wrestled” with back in his hotel room

Pretty much the whole movie..

Check out the deleted scenes:

Jail

Puppy

Police

Dinner Prayer

Press Conference:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Step 5: Blog It

So that was my 24 hours. What a great day it has been :) How bout you?