Welcome Baby!

Congratulations to Nikki, Mark and Jarell on the birth of Jeremy Paul. He was born Saturday 27th of February. He weighed 7lb. Nikki and Mark's first son Jarell's 1st birthday was 13 days ago.

WWE

We're going to the WWE Smackdown with ECW Road to Wrestlemania live event! Its on the 24th of February in Auckland. We've got pretty good tickets in B14. Its to the left of the entrance ramp. Its only the second time WWE have come to New Zealand, and the first time either of us have seen a live event. Looking forward to it!

PS2 Singstar

Is awesome. I totally recommend it! Great fun for anyone who doesn't mind making a twit of themselves.

Bloody Government Agencies!

In November last year I made a decision. I decided to go back to Polytechnic and get qualifications to be a Pharmacy Technician. I went for a interview and was offered a place on the course right there. Now usually they say 'we'll discuss your application and get back to you', so I must have impressed them!

My course is due to start on the 12th February. I'm entitled to a Training Incentive Allowance to help pay the $4500 course fee. And a Childcare Subsidy to help with the $100/week its going to cost me to put Nicole into before and after school care. To get both of these I need to fill out two forms and make an appointment with WINZ where they'll process them both.

I realized these were important. So I first rang WINZ before Christmas to make an appointment. They took my name and phone number and told me they'd ring me back. They didn't. I rang back the first week of January. There were NO appointments available with the woman I normally see. I got an appointment with someone else for today.

This morning at 8.25am my phone started ringing. It was the woman I normally see at WINZ. Apparently the person I had the appointment with today had a family emergency. Okay, I say... I need a new appointment before the 7th of February. She offered me an appointment in the middle of the day on the 8th February. Which is no good for me because I'll be at a study skills seminar all day that day. So then she offered me an appointment at the end of February. Thats no use, I need this to be sorted by the 7th. Thats the day Nicole starts the out of school care.

They claim they have NO appointments available with anyone before the end of February. I offered to go to one of the other offices, but no, I'm apparently not allowed to. I suggested checking though appointments and seeing if theres anyone with a non urgent need who can be bumped back. But apparently most appointments this time of the year are for the Training Incentive Allowances. WINZ is closed two days next week for 'staff training'. The woman I spoke to said this is the busiest time of the year for them. So sounds perfectly logical for them to close the office and take all the employees on a team building rope course or some bullshit rather than dealing with the excess of clients who need to see them.

I told the woman she needs to speak to her boss about this because its not acceptable. Shes now offered to come in at 8am Friday next week on one of the training days to see me. I really hope she can keep that commitment. Its really discouraging when you do all the right things and are really looking forward to something, and some dumb fuck government agency have the potential to fuck it all up and spoil everything. Because if I don't pay my fees by the 12th I can't start Polytechnic. And theres no way I can afford the $100/week out of school care.

Get your shit together WINZ!

Mens Rules. Obviously numbered by men too...

1. Men ARE not mind readers.
2. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
3. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
4. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
5. Crying is blackmail.
6. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
9. Yes and No are perfectly Acceptable answers to almost every question.
10 . Come to us with a problem only If you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
11 . A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem See a doctor.
12. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
13. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys. 14. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
15. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
16. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
17 . Whenever possible , Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
17 . Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
18 . ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not! A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
19. If it itches, it will Be scratched. We do that.
20 . If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothings wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
21 . If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear. 22 . When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear Is fine... Really.
23 . Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.
24 . You have enough clothes.
25 . You have too many shoes.
26 . I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
27 . Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Eragon

Last Tuesday we all went to the movies and watched Eragon. It was quite good, I wouldn't rave about it though. Nicole got quite scared at times and hid her face in my side a few times. No nightmares though.

Party time

We went to a party on Saturday. Funny thing was, an ex of mine was also there. It was weird and kind of uncomfortable. I avoided him as much as possible.

There were a couple of toddlers there, it was nice having a cuddle with them, but even nicer handing them back to their parents. I didn't have to stress about where a baby was, if it was crying, climbing stairs, playing in the toilet etc. Its so nice having a big kid. I could just sit back, socialize and enjoy the party. Do I REALLY wanna have another baby?

Werhoo!

Desperate Housewives Season 3 is out in the States!