All posts tagged jules

Interviewing myself, who is apparently an Entrepeneur…

by admin on December 9, 2007 in Uncategorized with No comments

OK well, Shane put the challenge out there, so I decided to do it… only a week late… but who’s counting? I have been so busy with work lately that I literally have 400 unread RSS feeds, a mountain of social phone calls to return, and an eyestrain headache that the Ray Ban Bunnies would be proud of…

So anyway, whilst I wind down from working… its time for me to do what I promised and answer some questions…

—-

What’s your personal mission statement?

To live my life like this is “it”, and leave a legacy for my children that they are proud of. And to leave this earth just a little bit better for having been here. Anything else is a bonus.

What’s the biggest mess you’ve dealt with this year?

I am guessing that you *don’t* mean that nappy of Mr J’ that i had to clean up about 2 weeks ago when he had severe diahorrea? Apparently us business people aren’t supposed to talk about such unsavoury things – and that is why I am always crossing the line with people.

In all seriousness though, the biggest mess that I have had to clean up is from my own lack of confidence. And yes, occasionally my tendency to tell clients about my son’s diahorrea and bad cake disasters…

What current entrepreneurial efforts consume your time?

Right now, building my business to not just be a job, but to also be earning income when I am NOT pull all nighters is something I am working on. I am also working on some ideas for band sites, and a few other things that never get my attention because I am too busy.

I have found that I feel uncomfortable calling myself an entrepeneur, too, which is probably why I find it hard to talk about my “entrepeneurial” efforts…

Why do you do what you do? What inspires you? When do you get most excited?

Quite simply, I love just about every aspect of my job… except for that point in the project where its bugs and niggles, that PISSES ME OFF AND IS ANYONE A CSS GURU THAT CAN HELP ME OUT BECAUSE I AM TEARING MY HAIR OUT OY VEY…

What inspires me? Well… I am a big picture kind of girl, so I would have to say that for me, the inspiration comes from helping to empower people using technology. It sounds really trite, but I really do get a kick out of making things look cool, but in a meaningful way.

I spent a lot of years trying to find my place, and trying to maintain my sense of optimism about human nature (although that has been tested, and I have been known to cry from the disappointment of people’s selfishness sometimes!), so for me, in a small way, being part of this little information revolution that will one day be looked upon as a turning point for humanity… well… that is kinda inspiring, don’t you think?

Boxers or Briefs? or as Naomi says, Bikini or Thong, duh?!?

Briefs make for a much better client relationship… oh, wait, you mean the other kind of undies… do women wear boxers?

What do you do when you’re not [designing | programming | managing | writing | toiling for the wo/man]?

I think about designing, programming, managing, writing and thank fuck for every day that I am not working FOR THE MAN. Oh, and I try to spend time with my kids :)

What one thing made the biggest difference when getting started?

Perseverance, fo sho. I have now been doing this for almost 3 years. It has flown by…

What’s your exit strategy?

On a plane, to a place with no extradition treaty, with a suitcase full of old ladies’ life savings…

ok, not really…

What is the last thing that made you belly laugh?

I belly laugh at least once a day. I think it was Mr J’ impersonation of Charlie the Unicorn. It’s usually as a result of watching my kids.

Have you ever been in business before?

No… this was actually very scary for me. Lucky it crept up on me!

At what point do you consider yourself successful?

I already am. I have overcome tremendous obstacles already in the last 28 years, and the fact that I am even sitting here today, in my house, with my kids asleep… without any great worries (other than petty shit that gets us all from time to time) — I already am a success.

What was your first experience with a computer?

It involved rohypnol, a fishnet stockings and a mattress on the floor. It’s best I don’t talk about it. Let’s just that that Amstrad CPC 6128K will never be the same.

Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates in a jello wrestling match, where’s your money?

Probably in both of their pockets.

Where do you do your best thinking?

When I am swimming laps. Which I don’t do nearly as much as I should/want to!

What does your average daily work / life balance look like? How much time do you work, play and sleep?

Balance? hahahahahahahahha

Unless 3 hours of nose picking whilst I contemplate a design counts as play… well… yeah. I am answering this at 1am – does that answer your question?

If I could introduce you to anyone, who would it be?

Naomi. She’s a top top chick :)

What stops you from giving up when you are frustrated?

The fact that I could never, ever tolerate sitting in a cubicle again.

If Chuck Norris and Steven Hawking had a baby (hey it’s my damn interview), would you vote for her for president?

Well, given that Steven Hawking is from the UK, he would need to live in the US to have the baby, otherwise she wouldn’t satisfy the American birth requirement for US Presidential candidates. See, I know stuff about stuff and that. Girls and boys, that’s what a degree in Politics gets you.

Why do I now, suddenly have the mental image of Steven Hawking judo-kicking? Oh how my un-PC mind works.

And I don’t vote for the US President so it a moot point.

Happy Birthday Jules

by admin on November 20, 2007 in Motherhood Rules! with No comments

(aka How the Cheesecake Shop Saved the Day)

Well, aren’t I the worst mother on the planet this week, Jules? It is a whole 13 Days since your birthday and I haven’t gotten around to writing your birthday message until just now. Unfortunately it’s a scenario that is all too familiar with the second and subsequent children, where they get used to having to share everything, whether it be your toys, your parents’ attention, or your sister’s Cinderella toothbrush (what *is* your fascination with that thing anyway?), competing for laughs, attention and time seems to be something that is inbuilt.

Right now you are being forced to compete a bit with my crazy workload. It has been fantastic since your Dad starting working full time with me, because both of us are not only enjoying working together (yes, despite the odd tantrum and more than a few go-fuck-yourself-I never-want-to-see-you-again-and-why-oh-why-does-he-chew-so-loud along the way) but we also get to spend a whole lot more one-on-one time with you.

And it really does take the attention of 2 people with you these days, because given the smallest window of opportunity, you are either into things, or on top of things, or eating things. I never even really knew what a real toddler was like until you started being one, what with your sister being a completely calm, pretty and smart freak of nature and genetics, never did I have any need to childproof, or worry about anything. Not that you would know it now, of course, but back then, seriously dude, I promise, she was easygoing.

But it made me kinda complacent in many respects. So much so that it never even occurred to me that you could walk out the front door and up the road, when the door was left open (by someone whose identity has been protected….lets call her Mina B. No, wait, lets go with M. Brennan. heh.). Lucky that you didn’t make it past the driveway before that nice lady brought you back, eh?

It probably sounds like I am being blasé about the idea of my 2 year old son walking the streets — that isn’t the case at all and I had a panic attack when I contemplated all of those things that COULD HAVE HAPPENED to my boy. I don’t know whether I just have a massive brain tumour that blocks my capacity to anticipate danger (I used to walk to work at midnight in the city at 17, and I didn’t even think about it), or whether never having to worry about Mina has made me TOO relaxed in many respects, but I certainly am not much of a worrier. In fact, I often make fun of those mothers that hover over their kids as if, somehow, if they try hard enough, they can prevent everything.

That, coupled with the fact that I am just so busy, means that sometimes, I take you completely for granted, and forget the hard time we had keeping you in my belly. It seems like a lifetime ago, but also like yesterday — it is such a mind trip to see my little baby boy becoming a BIG boy, who runs and jumps and screams “niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiina. niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiina. niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiina.” at 6am, comes out of his room, jumps on my bed right next to me my head and goes “1, 2, 3… WAKE UP JULES!”. Yes, at times like that, I completely take you for granted, and cannot deny that when I am woken up at 6am, the temptation to run my car into a lake with both of you in the boot of my car grows. But I promise, that feeling of complete and utter frustration lasts for little more than half a second – till I open my eyes to see your beaming little face, looking at me like I am the only person on Earth that matters to you, and all of a sudden this feeling comes over me, like, wow, how do I get to hang out with the coolest little dude on the planet? Seriously.

You are a complete Wiggles nutter, and we bought you everything Wiggles related for your birthday. I swear, I don’t think I will ever see something so funny as your reaction to getting Wiggles related ANYTHING. Of course, your love of the Wiggles means that THE WIGGLES ARE ON DAY AND NIGHT AND THEY DRIVE ME FUCKING BONKERS. Please remind me to play the same songs over and over and over again on full volume when you are studying for your TEE… because that is my day.

But, its one of the funniest things ever to watch you singing along, dance in your unco-toddler way, wearing your Wiggles shirt that is grubby-but-you-insist-on-wearing-it-every-minute-of-every-day, and being – well – just – a delight.

It wouldn’t be a birthday post without me sharing my latest Cake disaster. I really do wonder if I will EVER learn that cake decoration is NOT LIKE GRAPHIC DESIGN, and that just because I can make an awesome cake illustration, it DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT I CAN DO IT WITH ICING.

In my deluded and arrogant state, I attempted to make you an elaborate race track car with licorice, smarties and a sponge cake. My grandma led me to believe that this was SIMPLE. EASY! Bullshit. Who knew that sponge cake, when filled with whipped cream, would collapse if you put stuff on it?

Seriously. Not even Rainbow sprinkles could save this one.

Sprinkle This!

It tasted good, but now noone can utter the phrase “arse cake” without me thinking of this monstrosity. Yes, that name came from your father.

So, first thing on the morning of the 7th, I was running about like a maniac trying to find a cake. I went to the Cheesecake Shop and asked the guy if I could buy one of those printed icing sheets and put it on a mudcake. He not only put the sheet on for me, but he decorated it with some skittles around the edges too. All hail the guy at The Cheesecake Shop in Morley, because for $30, he saved my life:

Yay

If only the surgeon who saved my life last year would’ve been so cheap…

Today you were genuinely sad to see Mina go to school. Normally you are dancing about, playing in your own little world, and merely tolerating your sister’s presence as the cost of being a Brennan… but just lately you have become really attached to her. So much so that, this morning, I had to explain to your endless “Nina? Gone? Nina? Gone?” that she had gone to school and would be back this afternoon.

That’s not to say that you don’t both fight like crazy, but it’s so great to see you and your sister bonding and acting like actual, real siblings. It won’t be long before you are tormenting her about boys, towering over her and fighting over who gets the phone, but I hope that, in the future, you will love and protect each other and look out for each other.

So, Happy Birthday, Jules, forgive me for the lateness – and – talk to you next year.

Bits and Pieces

by admin on October 8, 2007 in LOLs, Motherhood Rules! with No comments

I noticed that I haven’t posted in a while, so i thought I had better — anyone that has been blogging for any length of time, or anyone who runs a business would understand — often it’s hard to find time.

We had been talking about a pet for a while, and finally got one! We adopted a really handsome boy called Bobby from the Cat Haven. There are so many cats that need good homes, I think its the best way to a) give some money to an excellent cause and b) avoid kittens.

Bobby is 18 months old and had been beaten pretty badly by a dog. The people who found him spent a lot of money on getting him all fixed up, and I am grateful they did, because he really is a Brennan, that boy.

So yes, I had my very own lolcat. Meet Bobby:

lolbob.jpg

The kids love him, Jules runs around the house screaming “Bobby! CAT! Bobby! CAT!” whenever he sees him.

And speaking of the J Man, I filmed some video tonight during dinner of his enthusiasm for Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” — whenever I sing the song, he sings the “no no no” part, and I just had to share:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPrv3B7Duo&rel=1]

Other than that, not terribly much has been happening, except I am finding my feet in the business, learning to defend myself against people who don’t value my work or vision, and have loads of work to do, as always.

Oh, and its the middle of the school holidays, which makes me a little bit stabby.

That Tooth Fairy may glow, but boy is she dim.

by admin on February 22, 2007 in Motherhood Rules! with No comments

Mina lost her second tooth yesterday, and we prepared it excitedly for a visit from the tooth fairy. Well, guess who forgot to go exchange the tooth with some coin. Yes. Me. The Third Worst Mother on the Internet.

I woke up to hear Mina crying, saying “the tooth fairy didn’t come!!!”. Well, didn’t I feel like the world’s biggest arsehole. I needed some serious damage control to get out of this one.

A few weeks ago we swtiched Mina and Mr J’ rooms. We made the mistake of giving the baby the big room when the 5 year old needed more room, so we switched them around.

I didn’t miss a beat.

“Mina [I think for a few seconds], I think I know why the tooth fairy got confused.”

She looked at me with her big brown eyes, hoping that the excuse I can come up with is enough to mitigate her personal anguish at being jilted by the Tooth Fairy.

“Well, you know how you changed rooms?”

“Yeah”

“Well, what I think happened is that the Tooth Fairy DID come last night, but because you had changed rooms, she got lost!”

“Yeah! Mum, did you forget to email the Tooth Fairy and tell her that I moved rooms?”

“Oh Shit, yeah I did. Sorry! That silly Tooth Fairy is SO silly she went to the wrong room, saw Mr J and thought “he’s too young!” How silly is that?”

“She’s just silly and forgetful like you, Mum.”

And there you have it.

Crisis averted, and I also realise that Mina has realised how human her mother is. And I MUST remember to remind that tooth fairy via email tonight.

Cheek bordering on insight.

by admin on November 21, 2006 in Motherhood Rules! with No comments

Mr J has been crabby the last few days. He’s been extra clingy and crying and wanting to sleep a lot.

This morning was about the third day of this, and I was trying to get Mina ready for school but Mr J was being testy. I asked him what was wrong and mumbled to myself about not needing this shit today…

Mina, in her infinite wisdom and oh so matter of factly, says “well Mum, you should’ve thought about that before you made another baby”.

Its almost like she’d been storing that one for a year, waiting for the opportunity to throw it back in my face.

The worst part is, she’s right.

I blinked… and I missed it. Happy Birthday to my little man.

by admin on November 7, 2006 in Motherhood Rules! with No comments

Well, today is the 7th of November, Mr J and you know what that means. Well, no, actually, you really have no idea. It is now one whole year since my wonderful little man was born, and brought so much joy to our lives that I honestly cannot find the words to describe it.

I always wondered if it was possible to love another child equally to your first. When I heard people say “oh, you love them the same”, I wondered how that was possible. Much like, when I was pregnant with Mina, I wasn’t sure if I could love my own baby as much as I loved my niece! And of course, looking back on both of those things now makes me laugh, because you know what? It is possible to be absolutely one hundred percent in love with one child, and absolutely one hundred percent in love with another. But, like I have often over heard people saying, I actually don’t love you and Mina the same. I love Mina because of who she is, and I love you for the special little man you are becoming.

Right now, you are just about cruising on the furniture. I don’t think you are quite ready to walk yet, but hey, there’s no hurry! You also had a bunch of teeth all come in at once — one week there were no top teeth, the next week there were FOUR of them!

You are always asking for your Dad, and don’t yet refer to me as “Mum”. I know you love me anyway. You have learned how to wave hello and goodbye, and like all new tricks, you practice it over and over again. You drive me mental by turning my computer off when I am working. You have taught me to save things frequently.
You’re still bald, and its kind of funny because I look at some other 1 year olds and think to myself that you can’t possibly be as old as they are… you are still my little baby, with your not-yet-unblue eyes and your big bald head.

Let’s talk about that head. My word. I am sure you already know that this whole “boy” thing has been a pretty steep learning curve for me. I remember the days when I was vigilant and actually childproofed and that was with your sister. Mina never needed any childproofing because, quite simply, she never got into anything and never made trouble (hard to believe now!!). With your sister I was just so lucky because of her temperament and also because I had more time, I ended up being pretty relaxed.

Then you, my normal, curious boy of a baby suddenly got mobile. And you fell off things, fell on things, ate things, chewed things, spilled things, stabbed things, drank things. You went head first off a change table, head first off the couch. You bang that giant noggin of yours daily and come out unscathed. You’ve definitely got that Smith bogan head.

My GOD, boy, how on earth you have managed to survive with me as a parent, I have no idea! I feel like I am learning how to be an actual parent of a toddler this time around, and I even contemplated buying cupboard locks for the first time this week! But, you do it all in the name of learning and thats ok with me. Watching you explore, turn around and look at me with your twinkling, cheeky eyes just makes my day.

Its hard not to be reflective at your kids birthdays – and man, I have had a hell of a year. I spent the months between July and November worrying about whether you were going to be very premature because of preeclampsia. Somehow, I was the lucky one though and you managed to not only hold on, but on your birthday at exactly 37 weeks, you weighed in at a spectacular 3.195kg. Thats a great weight for an early baby that had the problems you did.

I remember the weekend before your birth like it was yesterday. On the Friday before, after months of constant monitoring, things started to escalate. I developed Bells Palsy on one side of my face (I forget which one) and hyperreflexia. My blood pressure also started to head up. I wasn’t admitted until the Friday evening, but because I was stable, I spent all weekend in hospital and tried to hold on till Monday. By Monday morning, my blood pressure was at 160/105 so it was very lucky they caught me.

I had the most wonderful c-section that was empowered and wonderful, despite some people thinking that it was a bad thing. The main thing that mattered to me at the time, and still does, that you are happy and healthy. And anyone who thinks that anything else is important can go fuck themselves.

I also spent a month away from you when I was in hospital. During that time you cut your first two teeth and developed a bond with your Dad that I am occasionally jealous of, I have to admit. But I know you love me, even if the first thing you ask for is “dada” and the last thing you say is “dada” — that’s so incredibly awesome but I do feel pangs of jealousy that you don’t say “Mum” yet.
Anyway, I just thought I would write this little post to mark your first year on this planet. You are growing into a wonderful, secure and hilarious little boy, and I loof forward to seeings what’s next. Hopefully its “Mum”!

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