Diversionary Tactic

Because life is so hectic right now this couldn't have been more timely. Thanks to Laura for the meme. Honestly, just getting out of the door in the morning these days is a military operation......and if I ever do get out of the door on time I shall call that military operation 'Shock and Awe'.


1. What are your current obsessions?
Money. The taste of it. The schmell of it. (Sorry, obscure Austin Powers reference).I am so ashamed to be admitting this, but I devote far too much of my day, and a fair chunk of my sleepless night obsessing about the bottom line. I am constantly re-working our family spreadsheet to find extra money. I have a budget spreadsheet - that pretty much says it all.

I had to laugh at the recent 'Real Simple' magazine article devoted to money saving ideas. Bring it on! I thought there may be useful ideas, and you know what? They had a page devoted to 'you may be overusing shampoo and toothpaste'. Thank God. Financial problems solved! I thought it was our negatively amortizing mortgage that was the root of our economic woes, but no, apparently I've just been using too much shampoo.

Instantly richer.

2. Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
Giant bras. When I stop nursing and these things deflate it's going to be one hell of a mess but I'll probably be about 10lbs lighter.

3. Last dream you had?
I'm honestly not sure I clock enough back to back hours these days to achieve REM sleep. I do daydream a lot, which could explain why I managed to reverse over a tricycle at Anna's preschool last week (no child attached - thank God).

4. Last thing you bought?
That would be a tricycle.

5. What are you listening to?
The slightest peep from my sleeping infant, which I will then attempt to ignore for as long as possible.

6. Embarrassed to admit?
I had a Dead Poets Society poster on my wall throughout college.

7. Favourite holiday spots?
Hawaii, preferably Maui or Kuaui. Every time I land at the airport I think, 'why don't we go here all the time, I need to just make it happen.' Having said that, let me take another look at that spreadsheet....

8. Reading right now?
Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. I bought it years ago at a John Singer Sargent exhibition in LA and it has been sitting accusingly on my shelf ever since. Now it's a case of 'I've started so I'll finish'. I can see the genius, it's just too ambitious for a sleep-deprived Mum who can only snatch 5 minutes of reading time at a go. I need to be reading a mentally un-threatening Jilly Cooper instead I think.

9. Four words to describe yourself.
Not good at this.

10. Guilty pleasure?
Hello magazine.

11. Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak?
Right now, 30 Rock.

12. Favourite spring thing to do?
Eat Cadbury's mini eggs and if I'm lucky go and visit the daffodils in England.

13. Planning to travel to next?
Boston, Maine, then on to the UK. Apologies to all who will join us and our two tiny children on those planes.....

14. Best thing you ate or drank lately?
Today's lunch: artichoke and sundried tomato stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. Actually, maybe I should change 'guilty pleasure' to drug company sponsored lunches. Your prescriptions cost a fortune for a reason. *burp*

15. When did you last get tipsy?
Although I'm not averse to the odd drink (a night...) while breastfeeding, being woken up at 2:30am, 4am and 6am with a hangover means I haven't dared get plastered in far too long.

Ok, honestly? A week ago. And the hangover was hell.

16. Favourite ever film?
Withnail and I. Definitely the most quotable film of all time, case in point; "We demand the finest wines known to humanity" or "there must and shall be aspirin" or "we're making time" or.....sorry.

17. Care to share some wisdom?
Always know where the candles are, otherwise your 3 year old will be forever quoting 'FUCK! The lights!".

18. Song you can't get out of your head?
I need a Raffi lobotomy.

19. Thing you are looking forward to?
Introducing Lulu to my family in July. Lucy sleeping through the night and LK and I finally sharing the same bed.

Rules of the meme. Respond and rework. Answer questions on your own blog. Replace one question. Add one question. Tag 8 people.

I'll get to the tagging part in a bit, just as soon as I rustle up 8 people I know.

That might take a while.