The “Me” Interview . . .

So, Toni over at Expatmum sent me these 5 questions YONKS AGO and I’m just now getting around to answering them all.  They took a lot of mulling over!

1. How long have you lived in Florida and what do you think of it?

I was dragged to Tampa, Florida in 1988 and have to say that I absolutely hated it from the moment I got off the plane, was seated in the back seat of a convertible car (not the best position to be in) and deposited in suburbia!  A huge history buff I just saw Florida as hotter than hot, palm trees, ugly shopping plazas, massive motorways and kept running in to tank-topped, fat, hairy, belching men who liked to tell me how much I looked like Hayley Mills!  I have made some amazing friends and have learned to love my life here.  I found the real Florida and discovered that there actually is a lot of history here — I just have never felt settled. 

2. Describe some of the challenges of having three boys, (I only have 2).

Oooh, they skip through the daisies and always help each other out!  NOT!  Of course, there is teasing, biting, arguing, smack-downs and more!  But, they all really get on well and love each other fiercely — they’re brothers and for better or worse they are going to have a bond that will take them through the rest of their lives. 

There is a bit of an age difference between the little man and his big brothers, but on the whole they do take on the role of a caretaker with him which is really heart-warming to see.  I am finding that they are starting to tease him as all kids do, but the little guy is learning fast — he has to to survive in this family.  He hails from a long line of jokers with a dry and sarcastic sense of humour.

3. You seem to be a very active blogger with Twitter and Posh mama going too.  How much time do you spend per day on bloggy stuff?

Unfortunately, my job has taken over and I’ve hardly had any free time for blogging. 

4. What are your plans for 2009?

World domination, of course!

5. Where do you see yourself living in five years, and why?

Back in the U.K. because it feels like home.  I think.
 

OK, so here are the instructions:

 1. If you want to be interviewed, leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the
questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link it.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview
someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask
them five questions.

Have fun.

Wordless Wednesday . . .

Friends + Kayaking = Good Times

You pig, you swine . . .

So, I think I might have . . . dare I say it, swine flu.

Yesterday I wasn’t quite feeling myself — my eyes were sore and swollen and I had a bit of a sore throat.  Then, I had a bit of a crappy day at work, so made let the hubby bring home dinner and took myself to bed early.  I ended up not being able to sleep and needless to say, I awoke this morning feeling very tired and drained.  

With the chills.

And, nausea.

And, a nose full of nasty green stuff.

No, I’ve not recently been to Mexico, but I’m convinced it’s swine flu and am off to load myself up on lemsip or theraflu.

Musical Monday . . . I want to ride my bicycle

So, this week’s Musical Monday is Queen’s infamous Bicycle Race.

The reason?

In an attempt to bring us closer together, the hubby and I thought we should do more things together.  So, he bought me a bike.  And, not just any bike.  An amazing bike.  Black, Chic. Shiny. Sexy.  So, I did what any new cycling chick would do and picked out a cute outfit to sit atop it! 

So, we dropped the kids off with Grandma on Sunday morning and headed to a local nature preserve that has a nice paved bike trail meandering through it.  Picture acres of undisturbed wetlands, natural hammock preserves with nature all around and I think you’ll agree it was a pretty easy 13 miles round-trip bike ride.

Except for that one time when we were warned there was diamondback rattlesnake just 75 yards ahead which caused me jump every time I heard the slightest rustle in those beautiful wetlands!

Oh yeah and that one time my arms and wrists fell asleep causing me to think I must have the worst case of carpal tunnel syndrome till the hubby told me that was normal.

Oh, it was lovely  . . . flying by on my bike with butterflies and dragonflies chasing me. 

And, then my butt fell asleep . . . yeah, literally! 

And then I needed the bathroom, but of course we were in the middle of nowhere!

We made it back without me wetting myself, but then couldn’t find the car park!  The hubster has the worst sense of direction, so thanks to yours truly we finally made it to our car and went back to my mum’s where we were greeted with a huge breakfast worthy of a chick who had just completed a 13-mile bike ride!

Honestly, we did enjoy ourselves and I can’t wait to get back out there next weekend.

Photo Hunt . . . Protect(ion)

PhotoHunt | PhotoHunt

This week’s theme instantly made me think . . . family.  Here are my boys . . . there’s no better protection than your brothers is there?  Enjoy!

TGIF . . .

Yep, that’s all I can say! 

TGIF!

It’s been a loooooooooong week and as I don’t like to moan . . .  much . . . I won’t other than to say again that it’s been a loooong week!

I’m looking forward to the weekend and chilling with my family.  The munchkin has been sick since Tuesday night and my middle son was off from school today with a sore throat and mild fever. 

Combine two sick kids with work deadlines that needed to be done by day’s end and you can agree it was  quite a stressful day for me.   

The hubby left work early though, ran to the store and made me a white wine spritzer to enjoy poolside.  I shan’t mention that he broke a wine glass and left a huge pile of glass all over the kitchen floor — does he know we have small children?

Honestly.

But, I won’t moan on about it . . . much.

TGIF!

Thursday 13 . . . Random Thoughts

 

1. Could my legs be any more knackered?
2. Wonder if the kids’ new passports will come in the mail today?
3. I need to finish up that press release by the end of the day.
4. Oooh, I wonder if they have some nice soft sided suitcases.
5. Hot pink.  Yes, I think I will go for hot pink on my toes this weekend.
6. Must be quiet — he’s finally falling asleep.  But, maybe I need to wake him and give him more medicine for his fever.
7. Holy crap — it’s Friday tomorrow!
8. I wish she would just stop talking already.
9. I really must get in the shower at some point today.
10. Where does all this frigging laundry come from?
11. Yeaaaaah!
12. Piano, post office, haircuts, piano, post office haircuts, piano, post office, haircuts.
13. Is that the time already?

 

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Wordless Wednesday . . .

Happy 40th Birthday Big Mitch!  My brother earned his nickname lifeguarding in his early 20′s — they used to call him Big Mitch aka David Hasselhoff from Baywatch!

I don’t believe it . . .

This weekend, the family and I hit Busch Gardens along with my newly turned 40-year-old big bro and my sis-in-law. Even though the place was mobbed . . . you’d think it was the only theme park in Floria . . . we had a fab time. 

    

The highlight of the day was that I finally got to ride SheiKra!  What an exhilirating ride that was.  You coast off beautifully and then up, up, up you go until you reach the top of the 200 foot roller coaster.  I was too busy checking out the view of Tampa to even realise that I was about to hang at a 90 degrees for THREE seconds!  OMFG!  Then, I couldn’t catch my breath enough on the 90 degree drop to scream!  Don’t worry, I eventually found my voice and shrieked and laughed my way round to the end –  I can’t wait to do it all over again!

The big guys did the smaller coaster.

. . .  and the little munchkin rode the miniature train.  He was pretty hysterical to watch on it as he had the same fixed expression the whole way round.  I think he was just a little worried, what do you think?

         

He also went on the log flume ride.  The kids were so excited and patiently stood in line for 45 minutes waiting for it — even my littlest one! Just like his brothers before him, he absolutely loved it . . . well, except at the end when we get absolutely soakedwith water.  My oldest went on with us and got off dry behind me!   When the little guy got soaked, he piped up in this little voice, “No, I didn’t want to do THAAAT!”

Very funny!  We were all able to get him to laugh about it when he saw how wet Mummy was!  Ha bloody ha!

Musical Monday . . .

From 1989 – loved it then and still love this song today . . . enjoy and keep on moving!