Sleepless Nights

Author: Veronica

  • Obviously, I have kinky elves living in my house

    I appear to have lost my bra.

    Now, this is not a big deal, considering I slept in my own house, in my own bed and it’s not like I’m racing around the house trying to find where I kicked my jeans/bra/shirt/shoes. It’s also not like I’m in any huge rush to get properly dressed.

    It’s just that now, my bra is missing from where I left it last night.

    And somehow, I’ve gone from tens of pairs of cotton undies, to owning only three pairs of underwear that do not have lace. How does this happen? Do I have kinky elves, that instead of being helpful and cleaning my house, are merely stealing my undergarments? And why are they not stealing the good stuff, instead preferring my 10 packs of Big W knickers?

    I can’t help but think this is a little weird.

  • Sometimes, connections are spooky

    In March, 1991, when I was two years old, my father was in a near fatal motorcycle accident. By sheer luck, an expensive helmet, a guardian angel and some pretty amazing medical care, he survived with just scars to show for it.

    During his time in ICU, a drain was inserted in his side, just underneath his right armpit. Shortly afterwards, I developed a birth mark of an identical shape and size, in the identical position to Dad’s scars.

    We’ve used this mark to show people before, how we’re linked. Connection within family is strong and sometimes, it’s stronger than others. I also have Dad’s identical birth marks on my stomach – my brother has the mirror image marks, which are identical to our grandfather.

    When I was pregnant with Amy, every time I complained to my father about how sick I was, he was sick too. It was a rough pregnancy and I was glad to finally give birth and stop throwing up. I had joked during it that Dad had my morning sickness, but we didn’t think much of it.

    Pregnant with Isaac, two years later, Dad was sick again.

    I am now gestating what will hopefully be our third baby and yes, you guessed it, my father appears to be sick alongside me.

    I can’t say that I’m surprised, really.

    You can see the mark, just underneath my hand, holding my jumper up.

    Side note: I was going to crop out all of the bits that are less than flattering on this photo, but you know, I didn’t. I am six weeks pregnant now, after a miscarriage at six weeks and my uterus appears to be overachieving, size wise.

  • Why I’ve resolved to stop thinking so much

    It was 1.30am and I wasn’t sleeping. The heat in the house was stifling and opening the windows only helped a little.

    I got out of bed and stood, looking at the streetlight and the myriad moths battering themselves to death against it. Sometimes, the bats will hunt under the streetlight and I will stand, watching, entranced for long minutes.

    Last night there were no bats, but the breeze had cooled down and it was pleasant, standing there.

    I was busy contemplating everything; the growing blob inside me; plans for the morning; ways to make sure we didn’t run out of chocolate.

    Deep in thought I didn’t notice the cat, as she wrapped herself around my ankle and, suddenly, viciously bit me on the toe, kicking her back legs against me for better leverage.

    I can only say that thinking is dangerous and you should not do it.

    Especially near cats.

  • All she needs is a goat and a sense of humour

    I get a lot of really weird and crappy pitches to host guest posts on Sleepless Nights. Normally, I either send a polite email back, explaining why their post won’t fit, or I ignore them. Last night however, I couldn’t help myself and this exchange ensued, leaving me amused.

    Subject: Proposal for a guest post for your blog

    Hey,

    I am Kate and I work for Parentingclan.com I’m trying to grow it by reaching out to other bloggers. I’ve been reading your site somedaywewillsleep.com some time and I’m a big fan. I’m interested in writing a guest post for you — something you’ve never posted on — and I have some ideas that I think your readers would love:

    1.       Over parenting or Attached parenting: Which one would you choose?
    2.       Change your child from spoiled to disciplined
    3.       Make your toddler get down of your nerves

    I know you’re busy, so I can write everything up and send it to you in one document, which you can drop right into WordPress. I’ll handle all editing, bylines, etc (feel free to edit) so this is super-easy for you. Plus I can give you 2-3 articles per month if that’s okay with your end as well.

    All I want is li’l credit in terms of two do follow backlinks in author’s bio and no link would be embedded anywhere in the content.
    Let me know what you think of the same.

    Thanks,

    Re: Proposal for a guest post for your blog

    Hi Kate,

    How do you get toddlers to get down off your nerves? I have a lot of trouble with my toddler climbing my nerves and I’m not sure how safe a ladder they make.

    I’d also be interested in what you consider disciplined. I’m currently aiming to teach my children how to argue effectively, because I’m certain that a future in politics is the only possible choice for a female who insists that she is right all of the time and everyone else knows nothing.

    Cheers,
    Veronica

    Re:Re: Proposal for a guest post for your blog

    Hey Veronica,

    I don’t have a toddler of my own yet. But yes my cousin has 2 of them. So I get to learn a lot from her like the way she handles them.
    So if you want I can send you some of the tips in the form of an articlE.

    What say ???

    Re:Re:Re: Proposal for a guest post for your blog.

    Hi Kate,

    I’m not quite sure how you can write articles about toddlers if you don’t have any of your own. They’re an acquired taste, like oysters, or avocado. They smell worse though and have a tendency to leak bodily fluids everywhere.

    Maybe you could babysit and toilet train a small goat for a month and then write about that? It would give you a crash course in managing a toddler and child services wouldn’t mind I don’t think. I think my readers would be fascinated by your goat experience.

    Veronica

    —

    So far there is no word on the goat experiment. I can only assume that she loved my idea so much, she is out there right now looking for a goat to babysit, so that she can report back.

    {img source}

  • The state of my garden, and my headspace

    I don’t do resolutions and I find posts recapping the year terribly boring. If I like you, I’ve been reading your blog for the past year and know what you’ve been up to. You don’t have to tell me again.

    I’ve been a bit stuck as to what to post about, everyone is writing the same thing and really, Internet? Do I really need to hear about how you’re going to lose weight and exercise and eat right and bungee jump?

    How about you resolve to be happy instead. Surely happiness is easier to achieve than an arbitrary number on a scale that will jump up and down depending on what you ate for breakfast and how much you peed this morning.

    Here’s my idea:

    Do things that make you happy.

    Hang out with people that make you smile.

    Eat food you love.

    I think Shae said something very similar yesterday.

    ANYWAY.

    My garden is surviving, despite the weeds that are trying to take over. I’m calling it an experiment, while I work out what is more weed-like. Grass, or mint? So far, they’re neck and neck, but I have high hopes for the mint. I can tell you that feverfew is tougher than grass however. Also tougher than the jostaberries, chamomile, apple tree (three inches tall) and strawberries it is planted next to. Like I said, it’s an experiment.

    I wandered around this morning and took some photos. It’s sunny and warm and it made me want to get my camera out. Of course, the fact that the paddock is filled with bees and butterflies helped.

    The blackberries have exploded and I gingerly stood near them taking photos, very aware of the fact that I could step on a snake at any moment. While I’m sure snakebite would make for a terribly dramatic blog post, it’s not something I want to experience. I also did not get stung by bees, which was nice.

    And of course, there are weeds everywhere. But even weeds are pretty, sometimes.

    Last season, I planted wild strawberries from seed. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the plants are amazingly tough, they don’t produce runners, and the fruit is prolific and super sweet. I think I’m probably a convert and am planning on planting more, ASAP.

    The blackcurrant bush this year has almost doubled in size and for the first time, I picked enough fruit off it to make jam. Sure, it was only 3/4 of a small jar, but it is delicious.

    And my largest pumpkin vine is flowering. This year they’re in close to the house, and hopefully won’t be decimated by frost. I have no idea what type of pumpkin this is – I planted Sugar Pie and then a heirloom variety mix. They’re in a small bed, but I’m hoping I can drape them up over the fence to help with space constraints. Otherwise, we can add them to my experiment and work out which is tougher: pumpkins, grass, tomatoes, or peas.

    I’ll keep you posted.

    Happy New Year, Internet. Let’s hope 2012 is not all Apocalypse-y and stuff. That would be nice.