Reasons to be cheerful

[beth gaddis]

Congrats on the new baby cousin! Hope she and your auntie are doing well.

[jodieaitken]

Thanks Beth, they're keeping my auntie in overnight because she's been in the hospital since 9 this morning saying they expected Niamh to be born at about 10 or so, Niamh born at 9PM, so I imagine they're knackered but happy :)

[beth gaddis]

My RTBC is that my Georgia Bulldogs beat the pants off their opponents in the opening weekend of the college football season. Maggie's Oregon Ducks did, too!

[alice]

Congrats on the new baby cousin - and Niamh is a lovely name!

I have just deposited (!) my daughter at uni - 18 years gone by in a flash! Enjoy them while you can.

[Niamhy1]

My auntie had her baby today!
6lb 3, little girl, name of Niamh :D

Ahhh - tisn't that a lovely name there now :p

[xlaurax]

haha I always forget about the wee email from this place wishing you a happy birthday and it never fails to make me smile!

RTBC: I just received said email, my parents got me an iphone 4 for my birthday and I head off to uni this weekend :)

[beth gaddis]

aww, happy birthday and best of luck at uni!

[jan]

aww, happy birthday and best of luck at uni!

....from me too Laura:)
xx

[jodieaitken]

Happy birthday! Enjoy your new iPhone and have a great time at uni! :)

[xlaurax]

Thanks all :) x

[beth gaddis]

My RTBC - or my RTB almost obnoxiously giddy and wound up but hopefully not so much that any of my coworkers choke me - is that it are a mere 11 days (and 15 hours, 49 minutes, but who's counting, really) till my mom, sister, and I leave for our girls' trip to Disney World. The Halloween season is officially going now and the parks, Magic Kingdom especially, are so much fun at this time of year. My fav movie ever is the Nightmare Before Christmas and the parks are *dripping* with NMBC merch around Halloween.

Not much longer! EEEEEEE!!!

[jeanette]

Have a great time Beth! I was at Disneyland (CA) a couple of weeks ago and, as well as having a terrific time, came back with a very natty pair of 'Nightmare...' Mickey Mouse ears. Which, of course, glow in the dark.

[alice]

Sorry Laura - missed your birthday - hope it all went well and you had a great day. Best wishes for uni too - how exciting!

[jan]

RTBC - gave a lift home to a friend in her 70s last night and had to leave her in the car for a couple of minutes at one point. Put on the Hector Mann tape for her and found her bopping away to Wanda when I returned and saying 'I like this a lot!'
Duke Special reaches the parts other singers can't!
:):)

[Rita]

It is our 18th wedding anniversary today so we visited our reception venue which used to be a pub/hotel and is now a cafe/hotel - this time taking our 2 children with us, one of whom is taller than me and starts at college tomorrow - how time flies!! We all enjoyed lovely tea, cakes and hot chocolate.

[robi]

Congratuations, Rita. we are one year ahead of you. Sounds like you had a nice day!

[runnerbean]

It is our 18th wedding anniversary today so we visited our reception venue which used to be a pub/hotel and is now a cafe/hotel - this time taking our 2 children with us, one of whom is taller than me and starts at college tomorrow - how time flies!! We all enjoyed lovely tea, cakes and hot chocolate.

Congratulations Rita, 18 years, traditional in USA is turquoise, and modern USA is porcelain!

[Rita]

Thanks Robi and RB. turquoise is an interesting one, don't like the colour myself. I think porcelain is the same here but I'm not sure.

[jeanette]

Congratulations Rita - we are almost exactly a year behind you. Didn't go out, but celebrated while watching last night of the proms. Just about caught Duke's contribution - fabulous as ever :D

[Steetsie]

My 11 year old son's been doing his first music homework at his new school. Quote "I like the artist Duke Special. His real name is Peter. Few children I know have heard of him. I've been to 2 of his concerts, one in Oxford and one in Scotland at the Spiegeltent."

Bless him!

[beth gaddis]

My 11 year old son's been doing his first music homework at his new school. Quote "I like the artist Duke Special. His real name is Peter. Few children I know have heard of him. I've been to 2 of his concerts, one in Oxford and one in Scotland at the Spiegeltent."

Bless him!

The boy's obviously being raised right ;)

[beth gaddis]

Have a great time Beth! I was at Disneyland (CA) a couple of weeks ago and, as well as having a terrific time, came back with a very natty pair of 'Nightmare...' Mickey Mouse ears. Which, of course, glow in the dark.

thanks! hope to get to Disney Land someday to see their "Scary Christmas" setup at their Haunted Mansion :)

[old git]

My 11 year old son's been doing his first music homework at his new school. Quote "I like the artist Duke Special. His real name is Peter. Few children I know have heard of him. I've been to 2 of his concerts, one in Oxford and one in Scotland at the Spiegeltent."

Bless him!

only just seen this. Brilliant.......that boy will go far.

[jodieaitken]

My 11 year old son's been doing his first music homework at his new school. Quote "I like the artist Duke Special. His real name is Peter. Few children I know have heard of him. I've been to 2 of his concerts, one in Oxford and one in Scotland at the Spiegeltent."

Bless him!

If that's not a well raised kid I don't know what is! :D

[runnerbean]

RTBC is that next weekend I will take off to somewhere nice after working four weekends in a trot! Missed the Proms last weekend and missing a great jazz night tonight. Where could I go? ;)

[beth gaddis]

Leaving very early in the morning for Disney World! My chucklehead sister made us a lunch reservation for 1 PM. It's about a 7 hour drive. So we rise before the chickens :)

[runnerbean]

Leaving very early in the morning for Disney World! My chucklehead sister made us a lunch reservation for 1 PM. It's about a 7 hour drive. So we rise before the chickens :)

Have a lovely time at Disney World Beth.

I hear Galway is nice at this time of year and lots happening! :)

[beth gaddis]

Thanks, Runnerbean! You know, I hear they're having some kind of party for a dude named Arthur or something in Galway. ;)

[jodieaitken]

Have a great time, Beth :)

Runnerbean, I hear there's something very Special happening in Galway, wonder what that could be... ;)

LOL. Just realised, the word 'special' looks and sounds like it's not a word any more. I think I've said it too much...

[rajkid]

Won wor Ice hockey match 8-0 vs Coventry =)

[Niamhy1]

1st day a non-smoker, yikes! Not easy but probably the most positive thing I've done since I started smoking :-)

[runnerbean]

1st day a non-smoker, yikes! Not easy but probably the most positive thing I've done since I started smoking :-)

Wish I could join you. Well done! :) I wish you all the best and hopefully you will stick with it and then you can give all the 'baddies' a few tips!

[runnerbean]

1st day a non-smoker, yikes! Not easy but probably the most positive thing I've done since I started smoking :-)

"You could give it up but something might happen"

Just realising your quote is very apt. - give it up - something great might happen. You'll save a fortune for starters!!!

[beth gaddis]

1st day a non-smoker, yikes! Not easy but probably the most positive thing I've done since I started smoking :-)

Well done, Niahmy1! I can tell you it will be hard at times, but so worth it! I wish you loads of motivation and strength to keep it up!

[Niamhy1]

Aw thanks a million for your well wishes Runnerbean and Beth. Day 2 now and it's quite easy surprisingly. I smoked 20 a day for the last 15 years. My secret....Champix tablets, a miracle drug. They take away the withdrawel symptoms. I'd tried everything else so delighted something works! I worked out how much I'll save and it's €350 a month, my half of the rent will be paid for - no other excuse needed.

[Sixmonthsin]

Well done Niamhy1 - youre a star!

[jodieaitken]

Well done Niamhy1! Hope it goes well for you!

I've got a few RTBC. One: It's my birthday on Monday 4th! :D Because my actual birthday is on a school day, I'm having some friends round over the weekend. My little brothers are coming round on the saturday as well as my best friend who's staying over. Should be fun; my brothers HATE her! On the sunday we're going to a really good Indian restaurant near me then coming back home to watch DVDs and stuff. I'm hoping for a comedy marathon!

Second RTBC: I had my second piano lesson tonight. It went pretty well! Two weeks ago, I could barely read music, tonight I set a record out of the pupils taught there for sight reading some wee flashcards! I'm pretty damn pleased. The teacher herself got 44 seconds and I got one minute. She's been playing piano for like, 12 years or something. So, yeah! Well proud!

Third RTBC: I got a 2 (same as a B) in my biology test today, after completely forgetting to revise for it! I also got 70% in a maths test. Doesn't sound like much until you know that the last maths test I had, I got 14%.

[runnerbean]

House party, 16th birthday, the daughter of a very dear friend. Age range, 80+ to 11yrs old. So many talented people - oldest singing, she was amazing, to the youngest playing violin/piano. Brilliant night. :-)

[runnerbean]

. My secret....Champix tablets, a miracle drug. They take away the withdrawel symptoms. I'd tried everything else so delighted something works! I worked out how much I'll save and it's €350 a month, my half of the rent will be paid for - no other excuse needed.

I have a supply of Champix in my medi cupboard, unfortunately out of date! I never got round to taking them. How are you getting on with them?

[morwenna]

I think it's a RTBC - at my third attempt I have got through the ballot to run the London Marathon next year - now I just need to train, and train, and train.....

[jodieaitken]

Fantastic! Good luck!

[jodieaitken]

RTBC: Last night I went to see Ross Noble. I've wanted to see him live for a few years and last night was absolutely brilliant! He came out and immediately started speaking with a put-on Scottish accent, then babbling on about concealing nanas. He eventually got on to horses and their genitals playing chess (yes, it is what it sounds like) making sweet love to a ghost and a section of mime. That was just in the first half hour! There was plenty more hilarity and we all definitely got our moneys worth! I should hope so too, bloody £20 odd for a ticket! I got to meet him afterwards, which was amazing. I was with my best friend, who is also 14. We were standing with a group of middle aged men, one of whom was in a film, then Ross himself who looks a bit like a tramp. We were worried that Vince's mum (vince is my nickname for Rebecca.) would show up and see who we were with!

Bloody good night.

[runnerbean]

:D. Welcome to identical twin boys to the world and our family. Mum and babies doing well and looking forward to getting them home. No names yet.

[robi]

I think it's a RTBC - at my third attempt I have got through the ballot to run the London Marathon next year - now I just need to train, and train, and train.....

Good luck, Morwenna.

Jodie - I've been to see Ross Noble as well. I think he's brilliant. When he does that 'stream of consciousness' thing, or interacts with the audience, there is noone better!

[Maggie]

I haven't been around the forum for a wee while... my work schedule has just been insane this past few months (really since Christmas!)... I'm averaging between 16 and 20 hours a day, and 7 days a week... the few days holiday I had booked were cancelled and the only time I did manage to get away from the office were when himself collapsed... to top is all off, my friendly office drunk fell off the wagon and the early morning calls started again, and I'm also enjoying dealing with an aging sales manager who believes women are incapable of holding down an engineering job (and when reported to HR I was advised to keep quiet)
OK, so that doesn't sound like much of a reason to be cheerful but... I have had my first long weekend undisturbed... no calls, no texts... peace and quiet... and himself is on his way over for pizza and dvd.
I know its nuts, but he makes me relax and switch off, and there is something so nice about snuggling down with a crappy movie...
Oh, and in the middle of it all, we realised we had been together a year. For those of you who know me, that is actually a massively big deal!!
So cheerful and incredibly thankful today!!

[ethereal]

Glad things are happier, Maggie - kept meaning to ask you how Himself was doing... good news, and keep going!

[morwenna]

Thanks Jodie and Robi - training is going well so far (but it is early days!) I've realised today that I have now run 28.08 miles this month, further than a marathon, but in 11 sessions, which kind of puts it in perspective! :redface: (Not embarrassed, but that's what I look like after runnng!)

Welcome to the twins Runnerbean, lovely news. And good to hear things are going well Maggie :)

[runnerbean]

Thanks Jodie and Robi -Welcome to the twins Runnerbean, lovely news. And good to hear things are going well Maggie :)

Both babies are doing well, born at 34 weeks but good weights. They are still in hospital until their feeding and jaundice levels settle. They are identical. My daughter is great but missing her babies. Lots of excitement at home.

Their names are Cathan and Darragh.

[alice]

Their names are Cathan and Darragh.

Great :)

I'm sure you all can't wait until they get out of hospital - hopefully soon!

[teddy10]

Just got back from a few days away in the 'van ~ gloriously sunny, crisp days @ St Neots. Lovely riverside walks and a pretty town to explore :-)

Now for two nights with the Manics :- :-) :-)

[jodieaitken]

Duke posted a link to my pumpkin carving of his face on Facebook. If that's not a RTBC I don't know what is!

[GirlAnachronism]

The Black Keys will be appearing on Jools Holland to rock everyone there and watching at home in approximately 2 hours and 14 minutes. :D

I don't know if i can contain my excitement till then. The gig on Wednesday was epic. Absolutely unreal, the best gig i've been to in a long long time.

[jodieaitken]

I just got back from staying up in a small town near River Tay. It was great to see friends again, plan a cinema trip for when Harry Potter comes out and go out for a night, even if the place we went wasn't that good.
We went to the Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, which was pretty boring if I'm honest. Just trees with lights really. That said we did get glowsticks, and I did get to wear a multicoloured hat, so it was okay.

The person we were staying with watched me carve a pumpkin (yes, another one) and commissioned me to do some for her Harry Potter themed halloween party next year.

To make it better, on the way back home I watched The Mighty Boosh on my iPod. Future Sailors Live, to be exact! Bloody brilliant! :)

[Sixmonthsin]

Went to see Paloma Faith for the first time last night and she was fabulous. Great night!

[beth gaddis]

House Gig.

Hot. Diggity. Dog.

[beth gaddis]

Heading to Atlanta on Sunday to hear my sister play in a concert. And of course a detour to the Disney store may be in order :)

[jan]

Got my bus pass so now I'm officially old:D
xx

[pinksacha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo (http://youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo)

imagine Duke, Ben, Chip, Simon and the Pilots greeting you at the airport like this!:D

[jodieaitken]

I'm only 970 or so words behind on NaNoWriMo. Fair enough, I've only done 3694 words for my story, but that's 3694 words more than I've ever done on a piece of fiction writing before so I'm pretty happy with myself :)

[rajkid]

gannin' ter see Ross Noble tonight. :D

[jodieaitken]

Lucky! I saw him on the 15th of October. Bloody brilliant! Have fun :) If you wait for him after the show for about 20 minutes, he should come out. Unless you've already met him, in which case just ignore that.

[beth gaddis]

Spent a nice day in Atlanta with my mom and sister, and went to my sister's concert with her University's flute choir. There were four flute choirs there, total of about 45 people playing together, from bass flute to piccolo. It was really quite beautiful! Forgot my stupid video camera though, so all I was able to get was a crappy cell phone video :( I'll remember for their Christmas concert.

[robi]

Good news: I'm getting a pay raise (I've passed the criteria for my professional development)
Bad news: My head tells me it won't make me rich!

Second piece of good news: There are so many **** jobs in teaching (apart from teaching the children), but as arts co-ordinator I get to choose the music for assembly. (My husband is really envious of this job and keeps trying to make suggestions).
Amongst other things I have had 'Island Life' from The Divine Comedy.
When a year 6 boy came and asked me for details of a favourite German band (Wir sind Helden), I knew I was 'cool'!
And next week? ... it's Duke Special and Freewheel!

[beth gaddis]

Yay for all your good news!

[runnerbean]

Browsing old posts on the forum as it seems so quiet at the moment and reminiscing :)

Special memories for the likes of Tory Island, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Galway, to be truthful, all the gigs throughout the year. They were all very special. Not forgetting all the lovely people we met along the way. (We, being Alice and myself). It would be great to do it all over again!

Roll on 2011.

[sarahg]

Browsing old posts on the forum as it seems so quiet at the moment and reminiscing :)

Special memories for the likes of Tory Island, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Galway, to be truthful, all the gigs throughout the year. They were all very special. Not forgetting all the lovely people we met along the way. (We, being Alice and myself). It would be great to do it all over again!

Roll on 2011.

I agree wholeheartedly Runnerbean :-) Roll on the new year & hopefully plenty of tour dates!

[mediumal]

My eldest son has just started a job with Apple, he left job as a Halfords superstore manager to start at the bottom with Apple, it only took him 4years to reach managers post so with the rest of his working life to go, look out Steve Jobs is all I have to say!!!

2nd RTBC - Youngest son back soon from 8 month tour of duty in Indian Ocean/gulf region. He has been chasing Somali pirates and patrolling waters off the coasts of Yemen and Iran amongst others, he has endured 50 degree heat, monsoon and typhoon season as well as drinking as much beer as possible in the occasional stops in port.

[GirlAnachronism]

Had a very fun day in the snow- it included building a very impressive snow woman, getting rugby tackled and drowned in snow by two of my male friends multiple times- (Note: Getting snow shoved in your face while being held down is a major shock to the system. Your mind goes completely blank and then just screams "COOOOLD!!! GET IT AWAY!") and my friend sitting in a basin, holding onto ropes that are attached to his car, and getting his other friend to pull him along. The basin didn't survive long before shattering and then it was hilarious to watch him being pulled along on his belly, before finally letting go of the ropes. http://images.proboards.com/new/grin.png

Overall a lot of fun was had by all. http://images.proboards.com/new/smiley.png I don't mind all this snow, as long as i make it to The National gig on Saturday night.
If not i'll kill the snow. Kill it dead.....

Here's a few photos i've taken of the pretty snow:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs581.ash2/150361_127632253963372_100001497955147_156364_4054 035_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs569.ash2/149108_127632567296674_100001497955147_156374_2636 482_n.jpg
^Yep my horse is the Cillian Murphy of horses when it comes to eyes. I love them! :) His chin is so hairy though cos he hasn't been clipped since summer. Needs all his hair to keep him warm in this weather.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1334.snc4/162691_127632750629989_100001497955147_156379_1273 817_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs616.ash2/156812_127633083963289_100001497955147_156388_7174 220_n.jpg
He loves rolling in the snow! He does it every morning we let him out, without fail.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs978.snc4/77132_127633133963284_100001497955147_156390_66581 65_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1156.snc4/149883_127633157296615_100001497955147_156391_4250 430_n.jpg
^A very festive one.:)

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r443/Johnny-Cillian-Gael/IMG224-1.jpg

[jodieaitken]

What you called "rugby tacked and drowned in snow" we shorten to "white wash" :)

Love the pictures, especially the icicles one and the robin one. Icicles fascinate me, I've seen some that were growing (?) sideways on a traffic light. Blew my mind. The robin one seems christmas card-like. It's very pretty.

Also, snowboobs ftw. :P

If you do get around to killing the snow dead (is there any other kind of killing? ;)) then please be sure to kill plenty of it around here too. I'm sick of it.

[GirlAnachronism]

I have way too many pairs of boots, and i'm not planning on paying for snow boots for the few times we have weather like this. If i got them for free, then i'd be very happy! Otherwise i'm content to freeze.

No there isn't any other kind of killing but i just like that saying.

We have a two foot icicle outside our kitchen window. We measured it with the tape, it's pretty impressive.


Today me reason to be cheerful is: I've just finished reading the 4th Scott Pilgrim book and am about to start the 5th. They're so damn funny, i love them. Also can't wait for the movie to be released on DVD, i've had such cravings to see it again. Won't be the same as the cinematic experience, that i'm aware of, but it'll still be hilarious. I love Kieran Culkin as Wallace. I love Kieran full stop- he's a very talented actor and seems like a really down to earth, funny guy. And yes, i find him attractive. :)

[Sixmonthsin]

Great Great Pictures!!

Seeing a certain Mr Special on wednesday, even though for only 30 minutes. Thats a brilliant reason to be cheerful.

[alice]

It certainly is! Hopefully you will enjoy the Frames too - hope you have a chance to listen to Andyru's recommendations - Frames "Set List" CD has great versions of Star Star and What Happens - wonderful stuff.

Shepherd's Bush should be great - Prague would be an amazing place to see them - remember listening to "Falling Slowly" in a wee cafe in Prague quite a few years ago. It was January and there was some snow on the ground - a beautifully atmospheric city, amazing architecture, from medieval to Art Nouveau, it did freak me a bit as it was so far from the sea! Beautiful place though.

Enjoy Wednesday!

[Sixmonthsin]

Thank you! Yes I've listened to several songs including what happens. I'm sure its going to be a great evening all round.

[GirlAnachronism]

The National gig on Saturday night.:) As always they were sensational. But the highlight of the night was:

My brother and I were front row. As he tends to do, Matt went for a wander through the audience during Terrible Love. Then, when he was making his way back to the stage, he ended up right next to me. I put my hands out like everyone else and he grabbed my hand and held onto it while he climbed over the pit railing to get back to the stage! That made my year. Matt is a genius and he held my hand! :D The security guard who was helping him back over the rail saw him take my hand and was trying to tell him to let go, but Matt wasn't listening. No way was i letting go anyway. He was leaning a lot of weight on me, i'm surprised my arm was strong enough, he's a pretty tall man.
Also, he stood on the railing right in front of us during another song and nearly fell ontop of us a few times when he lost his balance. Everyone had to hold him up and stop him slipping off!

Overall it was just epic.

[alice]

This is fun if you haven't already seen it. So familiar but still astounding every time you hear it. I'm not a "Christmassy" person but this is great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=fvsr

[beth gaddis]

It's been almost 2 weeks since our house gig. I posted about it elsewhere on the forum so I won't blather on about it here, except for this one thing that made me inexplicably cheerful today:

I was talking to someone at work about it who I'd not seen since and they asked if it was at all strange or awkward. I had to admit that there was one point that I though might have been my most surreal moment to date: The moment when I looked in my rear-view mirror and said to myself "Duke Special is eating a veggie burger in the the backseat of my car."

Saying this outloud struck me as hilarious and returned me to my post-gig good mood all over again.

Not sure how long this one event will be my ongoing RTBC but I'm going with it :)

[jodieaitken]

The snow's melting, aafter digging the car out yesterday and nearly breaking by back it's not sore, and I'm going down to Newcastle tomorrow to see Tim Minchin and the orchestra :D My tickets arrived yesterday I think, after me almost wishing death threats on HMV... Have got almost all my christmas things sorted and I'm going to Edinburgh next monday. Can't wait to go to the weihnachtsmarkt :D

Also, for christmas I'll be getting a ukulele and a laptop. Started saving up for a wacom drawing tablet too, which will help me make my digital art look more realistic.

[beth gaddis]

Don't know where my head's been, but I forgot a RTBC - a new addition to our little family. Ladies and gentlemen....meet Wanda.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/bethmohler/wanda.jpg

Our elderly ferret Cotterpin passed away so we had to look for a companion for our remaining ferret.

If she'd been a boy the name would've had to have been Hector given that smashing white suit.

Before we could get her out of the pet store she flung herself out of my arms, soared to the ground, and took off chasing puppies. So she became Wanda the (incredibly daring) aviatrix.

She is awesome. :)

[GirlAnachronism]

Series 3 of RAW is starting on Sunday! Yay. I've been waiting so long for it. Can't wait to see what happens with Pavel and Geoff. Geoff being my favourite character, he's brilliant! :)

And, also, series 3 of Being Human should be starting soon. Not sure when exactly, but soon. Thank god for good Irish/British shows.


Oh and i was in town today and the people next to me on the bus made me smile. Actually i had a great laugh about them. They were a mother and daughter and seemed pretty posh, with there Brown Thomas bags full of stuff and weren't too impressed with me at all!:p I was listening to my headphones so i couldn't hear them, but my Mam said she's sure the mother told her daughter "Please never do that to your sleeves", and the daughter replied "I'll try not to!" . What they were talking about was the fact that i have made holes in the sleeves of my top from pulling them down over my hands to keep them warm- so now i just shove my thumbs though the holes all the time. Apparently this was much too sloppy for their liking! I found it hilarious when my Mam told me that. People can be so stuck up. The fact that my jeans have a hole in one knee and are dragging the ground probably wasn't to their taste either! The daughter who was around my age, also wrote in the condensation on the window, the word "smile", which i'm guessing was directed at me as they both looked pointedly at me when she did it. I completely ignored that. But when we were getting off the bus they let us out first and i was sure to give them a huge smile and say thank you. I like how they were judging me because of my clothes and expecting me to be a bitch or something. Just because i like grungey clothing doesn't mean i'm not a nice person- ok so i don't sit on buses and just smile all the way home, i think that would be a bit creepy- but i like to think i'm a generally nice person, a bit quiet but still polite! People are way too hung up on appearances and how you look.
Sorry about the rant, just had to say it because it made me cheerful.:)

[MandyK]

^ I love this! Husband and I were just talking about how wonderful it is when you have a sweatshirt that's so worn and cozy that it's got it's own thumbholes :)

[beth gaddis]

I have shirts like those too! In fact, I don't even own a coat. Just have this giant red University of Georgia hoodie that I've worn forever. Not super stylish but very cozy.

My RTBC - a new netbook of my very own! It's my husband's RTBC too as it means I'll stop stealing his.

[mediumal]

My dear old dog, Bootz, was put to sleep last night. Lovely old black labrador, she had been this mans best friend for over 14 years.

We took her on holiday with us a few years ago when we hired a cottage in Sneem down in Ring of Kerry. A bus load of Italian tourists stopped to take pictures of her as she ate her ice cream cone like a human, they must have thought it was a quaint Irish thing!!

Fond memories rather than sad ones.

I put this here because I am happy she has been releived from further suffering.

[MandyK]

Rest in peace, Bootz...it sounds like you had a WONDERFUL life!

[Steetsie]

Very sad for you, but it sounds like you'll have some fantastic memories of Bootz. Take care, Mediumal.

[beth gaddis]

Sorry for your loss. How wonderful for Bootz that she got to spend a long happy life with someone who cared so much for her.

[mediumal]

Us humans become very attached to our pets, they become part of our families and we project characteristics and personalities on to them so they become almost human, even ferrets!!!!

We have a chocolate labrador called Fudge, she is very small (for a labrador) and likes to hide in small spaces, her 'nickname' is Fudgeyferret because of it!!

Also got a big black labrador called Maggz, she is the Big Black Hungry Bear.

Bootz was called 'the human dog'.

Thanks for the kind comments.

[jan]

So sorry to hear of your loss Mediumal. You reminded me of a lovely dog I know, a golden labrador, who became motherless and homeless last year when the lady she lived with was taken into a hospice and passed away shortly afterwards. I worked for that lady for several years and both she and her dog were very dear to me.
Scally the labrador bitch was very lucky in that some close friends of her late mum adopted her with no hesitation as they already had two labs and now have the set...one of each black, golden and chocolate!
I'll never understand those people who deny animals feelings.
Several of us were very upset at the funeral arrangements for our late friend (you had to be there at the crematorium to understand but no one had been asked to give an address, the lady in question was a devout Christian but not even lip service was paid to that fact. There was no clergy to officiate. In fact most of us were at a complete loss as to what to think afterwards) so an informal farewell was arranged a few months afterwards at the home of the couple who adopted Scally.
After the prayers and words of fond remembrance it was suggested that Scally came to say hello to us all and she was duly brought into the room where we were all sitting around the edges somewhat akin to a dentist's waiting room. I had no idea what to expect of a dog in a stressful situation like that but Scally calmly went to her adopted mum first, then she came to me as I assume I was more familiar to her than any of the other people in the room and one by one, calmly and politely, she moved around the room to everyone in turn, not pressing for attention when some people were nervous of her and giving everyone her undivided attention for exactly the same time.
Why more dogs are not recruited into the Diplomatic Corps I'll never understand. But the funny thing was that the way she behaved was exactly as her late owner would have done....giving each and every one of the assembled company the impression that they were welcome and that their presence was valued every bit as much as everyone else but respecting anyone who prefered minimum fuss. All conducted with warmth but in the politest terms possible.
Unremarkable? Possibly, but I knew that dog before life displaced her and she was very demanding of attention and fuss to the point of stopping us working to throw balls for her etc.
Actually, the longer I think about this the spookier it gets;-)
xx

[runnerbean]

I have a new little grandson, Oliver, born this morning, 9lbs 2oz to my daughter. Both are doing well.

[MandyK]

I have a new little grandson, Oliver, born this morning, 9lbs 2oz to my daughter. Both are doing well.

YES! I love this! And I LOVE the name :)

[jodieaitken]

I have a new little grandson, Oliver, born this morning, 9lbs 2oz to my daughter. Both are doing well.

Congratulations! Oliver is a great name too! :D

[beth gaddis]

Wow, congrats!!

[robi]

I survived my car breaking down on the outside lane of a (very fast) duel carriageway on Friday night (one of the most scary experiences in my life). The reason being? I ran out of petrol (about 100 yards from the petrol station)!
I had no mobile with me, but a very kind young black man stopped to help, then went off to get some petrol for me. He then had to go down to the next roundabout in the wrong direction before returning to me, then filled my car up with petrol.
It's lovely to know there are still some really decent people in the world - but what a dork I am! (First time I've even ran out of petrol in almost 30 years of driving - hopefully the last!)

[runnerbean]

Thank you for your congratulations. Oliver will be a little playmate for the twins, Cathan and Darragh. :)

[Maggie]

Strange reason to be cheerful - I've been a major rugby fan since my Mum used to take me to games as a kid, and inparticular, a Massive Ulster fan.
This past few years a lot of people have slammed the Ulstermen and in fairness, we haven't played the best rugby.
BUT.... for the first time in 12 years WE HAVE QUALIFIED!!!! Quarter Finals of the Heiniken Cup here we come!
Stand Up for the Ulstermen! :D

[alice]

Great news RB - lovely to have three little cousins growing up together!

[MandyK]

'The King's Speech' was nominated for 12 Oscars, and 'The Social Network' only 8. This makes me happy for a myriad of reasons :)

[jodieaitken]

I have just had haggis, it's wednesday tomorrow and I'm watching 'Gary: Tank Commander' on telly. So much win.

[mediumal]

Did you miss an e off the end? Or possibly a d??

:D

[robi]

Reason to be cheerful?
:D The lovely kind people on this board - giving me tickets (they were unable to use), phoning me up to offer advice and support with regards to ICT.
How does Duke Special attract such a high calibre of fan?

[Rita]

Just booked some spa treatments on Wednesday at Champneys for my birthday and found out they had a special offer and they are all half price so could afford more than normal.

[GirlAnachronism]

Congratulations on your new grandson Runner!:)

My RTBC: Me and a friend, both of us being obsessed with the amazingly talented Cillian Murphy, just got tickets to go to a public interview he's going to be doing in Cork on May 19th.:D I can't wait to go, we're gonna make a trip of it- probably go down on the train and stay overnight. Should be a fun couple of days.

Also i spent some of my birthday money on a dress and a top today, they're both pretty different from my usual attire but i love them. I usually live in ripped jeans, converse, band tees and check shirts/cardigans. I decided it was time to branch out and get in touch with my more feminine side. And i plan on wearing the dress to my sister's hen night in Galway in April.

[MandyK]

Congratulations on your new grandson Runner!:)

My RTBC: Me and a friend, both of us being obsessed with the amazingly talented Cillian Murphy, just got tickets to go to a public interview he's going to be doing in Cork on May 19th.:D I can't wait to go, we're gonna make a trip of it- probably go down on the train and stay overnight. Should be a fun couple of days.

Oooo! But however will you handle all of the drooling? ;)

[GirlAnachronism]

^^Haha i know.:D It could be tricky....

[morwenna]

I saw the fabulous David Ford last night at the Thekla (should also be a RNTBC as he just wasn't on stage for long enough!). Saying that, I'd definitely got money's worth after the first song :) There were also a few people behind me who'd come to see Teddy Thompson and hadn't heard of David before - I think he may just have got himself a few more fans after this tour.

Second reason - I ran 16 miles today, further than I have ever run before, so I'm now feeling that my training plan is working well :)

[robi]

Well done, Morwenna. Keep up the good work.

:) I've had so much good news in the past couple of weeks:
1. (And most importantly), husband is not going to be made unemployed
2. I got a large tax rebate last week
3. I won a writing competition with prize money, and the article is going to be in the Telegraph tomorrow. The Telegraph have published it online:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-writing-competition/8332716/Just-back-into-the-Ngorongoro.html
4. I am a finalist in another writing competition (First, second or third), and have been invited to London for the award ceremony. There are also prizes for all three finalists.
I just can't believe all this good fortune. I'm beginning to become nervous/superstitious about it!

[jan]

I saw the fabulous David Ford last night at the Thekla (should also be a RNTBC as he just wasn't on stage for long enough!). Saying that, I'd definitely got money's worth after the first song :) There were also a few people behind me who'd come to see Teddy Thompson and hadn't heard of David before - I think he may just have got himself a few more fans after this tour.

Second reason - I ran 16 miles today, further than I have ever run before, so I'm now feeling that my training plan is working well :)

What an awful shame that you don't seem to have stayed for Teddy Thompson's set cos then you'd have found that nice Mr Ford was playing in Teddy's band for the entire second part of the gig......jumping from one instrument to another and looking so unbelievably cool he damn near upstaged Mr T at every turn:-) And he damn near ought to have a health warning for gorgeousness!!

My RTBC....being a non-smoker since the middle of November and no sign of a relapse.
Oddly enough, none of the awful side-effects imagined by smokers and used as excuses to continue smoking happened to me. I put on a few pounds but I'll shed them eventually. Not suffering from anything much. Just feeling more relaxed and de-stressed. Able to taste what I'm eating a bit better now too.
All credit to NHS specialist help but it was so very easy to stop after 40 years of 20-a-day. I guess I was just ready to do it. I feel so stupid now for being a smoker for so long.
xx

[morwenna]

What an awful shame that you don't seem to have stayed for Teddy Thompson's set cos then you'd have found that nice Mr Ford was playing in Teddy's band for the entire second part of the gig......jumping from one instrument to another and looking so unbelievably cool he damn near upstaged Mr T at every turn:-) And he damn near ought to have a health warning for gorgeousness!!

No, no, I did stay - I'm always open to hearing new music - embarrasingly it took me a while to realise David was in Teddy's band - the stage at the Thekla is quite small, and Teddy was blocking my view of him! I tried to position myself to see him better, he looked like he was really into it, and like he was having a great time. Teddy's set was ok, but didn't do a huge amount for me, I'd have much preferred the length of the sets to have been swapped round ;)

Well done on your smokefree months, that's great news, and great that you're now feeling more relaxed and de-stressed :)

Nice to hear all your good news Robi, good luck with the award ceremony.

[beth gaddis]

Way to go, Jan! I've been a non-smoker going on 5 years now, and while it was not at all easy it's well worth it. I hadn't even realized that a pack of cigarettes has nearly tripled in price since I quit - good motivation not to start back, I suppose!

[Adam_McReynolds]

I ran into Tim McGarry (Da from Give My Head Peace) in Botanic Avenue earlier. He seemed like a nice guy. I got him to sign the back of a page of Spanish notes. :)

[beth gaddis]

Today is profit sharing day at my company. If the company's prior year performance ends up high enough on a fairly complex matrix involving underwriting vs claims vs blah blah blah, we get a percentage of our annual salary as a bonus. None of us were expecting much, if anything given the really crappy economic climate and it's impact on just about everything, but the news was fantastic today! It's going to cover me and the Mr's NY trip entirely.

Woooo Freakin' Hooo!!!

[robi]

:) Brilliant news, Beth!

[jan]

A huge RTBC Beth if ever I heard one:-)
You are so right about the price of a pack of cigarettes. There's no way I'm going to relapse now.
xx

[GirlAnachronism]

Just secured tickets to the Ryan Adams gig in the Olympia! I'm so excited, it's not too long a wait either. :D

[rajkid]

Will be representing Team UK at this years World Championships in Bratislava =)

[MandyK]

Just found out that I will now be PAID and get health insurance for the volunteer work I've been doing from home for the NSA for the past year or so! Wahooooo, time to start making some tiny Duke fans! ;)

[beth gaddis]

Congrats rajkid and Mandy! Great news for both!

[runnerbean]

:)Must be excitement of going to see Duke in Cork but with 2 and a half hours until I get up and no sleep happening it will have to be a snoozy journey in the morning. Or else it's because I'm a year older! I believe less sleep is needed with age.

[beth gaddis]

Got invited to join a design team. Usually you have to apply, so to be invited is a big honor. It means they dig my stuff. And alot of the stuff I showed was layouts of Mrs. Finstad's wedding pics :)
Chuffed :)

[Steetsie]

Got invited to join a design team. Usually you have to apply, so to be invited is a big honor. It means they dig my stuff. And alot of the stuff I showed was layouts of Mrs. Finstad's wedding pics :)
Chuffed :)

Congratulations Beth!

[alice]

Well done Beth! My rtbc is having my daughter home from Edinburgh for a few weeks (Scottish terms are very strange). Lovely week on W coast and a few days in Edinburgh to pack up all her stuff. And we haven't started fighting (seriously) yet!

[beth gaddis]

Thanks! And enjoy your daughter time, Alice!

[runnerbean]

Tomorrow, my youngest daughter, Niamh heads to Spain to spend the Summer teaching Spanish children, English, at her cousin's school in Bilbao. She hopes to study the language at university. I will miss her a lot :(

I'm cheerful for her but sad for me!

She had a one-way ticket, hopefully she will come back!

[beth gaddis]

I'm sure she'll have a great time, and will be home soon!

[Niamhy1]

I am soooo excited - finishing work at 12 on Thursday so I can get ready to head to Electric Picnic on Friday - then hiring a boat on the Shannon next Tuesday to sail away from the madness of of it all yay! :D:D:D

[loopylolly]

I am soooo excited - finishing work at 12 on Thursday so I can get ready to head to Electric Picnic on Friday - then hiring a boat on the Shannon next Tuesday to sail away from the madness of of it all yay! :D:D:D

Roll on Electric Picnic :D:D:D

[Niamhy1]

Roll on is right - the only time of the year you can get away with cracking open a can of beer at 8 in the morning hee hee

[beth gaddis]

A while back I got invited to join a craft supply company's design team, and since then have been made the Social Media Coordinator (a fancy term for girl who's on Twitter and Facebook too much) as well as the coordinator of both the design team and the company's blog. And yesterday I got the invite to go along with the owner and a couple other designers to the giant craft association trade show in Los Angeles in January. I am in scrapbooking dork heaven :)

[sarahg]

That's fantastic news Beth, well done!

[rebelsoul]

my rtbc is I HAVE A BABY GIRL!!! born last thurs and since then its been a blur of nappies, bottles and silly dazed grins at mr rebelsoul!!

[beth gaddis]

Fantastic news! Congratulations!

[sarahg]

my rtbc is I HAVE A BABY GIRL!!! born last thurs and since then its been a blur of nappies, bottles and silly dazed grins at mr rebelsoul!!

Congratulations Rebelsoul! That's wonderful news :)

[Adam_McReynolds]

Brilliant.

[robi]

Hope you are getting used to motherhood, Rebelsoul! Congratulations.

My reason to be cheerful. Had a great holiday in the Basque country - now back. But the memories are still 'warm', and the moment that stands out for me is my (almost) 80 year old father-in-law and 15 year old in the back of the car, sharing earphones and singing their hearts out to Duke Special's John Lennon Love as we drove through the Pyrenean foothills. Priceless!:D

[beth gaddis]

It's been a long time since I've been on but finally have a minute to myself! I have a RTBC today, and it's that a lovely gal has the art journal/travel album I did about our NYC trip last year for the Met show up as a guest spot on her blog. *Happy!*

So a little pic of some of our fellow NYC trippers is 'guesting' there too :)
http://taylordconcepts.blogspot.com/2012/03/fearless-friends-in-art-guest-blogger_29.html

So, what's good with y'all?

[robi]

Stunning art work. Well done, Beth. :)

[beth gaddis]

Thanks :)
It may have to do with the fact that I had such a great time on that trip, but I do love that little album. It went off to a trade show and hasn't come home yet, but hopefully I'll get it back soon!

[sarahg]

Yes, well done Beth...I'm very impressed! xx

[beth gaddis]

Thanks :)