Losing my Thumb

Blog everyday in May – Day 18: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.

The screaming was wild and piercing. There was blood everywhere.

As they were holding me down trying to reattach my thumb, I can still remember my Dad’s shirt, saturated with my blood – brown and white checks. To this day I have an aversion to brown shirts. Perhaps that is why?

This is the earliest memory I have. I was 4 years old.

We were in town. I was with my mom while my dad had gone to the hardware store. We were waiting to cross the street when I saw my dad on the other side.

I pulled my hand out of my mom’s hand and I ran across the street. A car knocked me over.

I went spinning around the wheel. I always dream about this part.

The driver was only going about 60km/hour when he hit me. Lucky for me. The damage was done to my right hand. My thumb had broken off and was attached only by a small piece of skin.

I can still remember the pain as the doctor was trying to flush out the dirt and pieces of the tar from the road.

The thumb was re-attached but developed gangrene. The doctors wanted to remove it. My parents refused.

My dad used to sell a range of cleaning products called Golden Products. They had a disinfectant called “Care” It was supposed to be diluted in water. My mom poured it indiluted into a spray bottle and started irrigating the infected thumb.

Apparently all sorts of disgusting stuff came out of my thumb, but it healed.

I still have pieces of the tar left, but my thumb is in full working order.

I learnt to do a lot of things with my left hand while my right hand was in a cast and I still use my left hand a lot. Maybe that is the reason that when I taught myself to play the guitar, I only discovered later on that I was playing with the wrong hand!?

Challenges Remaining:
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

Reflection of me

Blog everyday in May - Day 17: A favorite photo of yourself and why

I like this photo because it shows my true passion: Photography

I feel more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it

Challenges Remaining:

Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

Bend in the wind & survive the storm

Blog everyday in May - Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it

This is the challenge I have struggled the most with so far.

I can imagine that people out there have got some legitimate reasons to be extremely unhappy. (failing health, no job, going through a divorce, etc)

I am lucky my unhappiest "lot" is my job.

Working for a man you both respect and dislike at times causes huge emotional strain. Taking on too much is draining me and forcing me to abandon my social life in order to complete the work, thereby creating the expectation that more will get done.

With the economy being the way it is at present, I am not willing to work at a new company only to be let go a few months later (it's happened to people I know and I cannot take that risk)

I have job security. I know that my position is very secure. 

So for now, if I am not going to look for another job, how am I overcoming this unhappiness:

I am trying not to let his negativity affect me. I am limiting my overtime hours and making myself leave at a respectable hour. If the work is not done and I have tried my best, then there is clearly too much for me and it is time I put my foot down and not budge.

Challenges Remaining:

Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

Inspiring other bloggers

Doing the Blog everyday in May challenge has brought back my love of blogging. I was in a bit of a rut and after really busy days I couldn't be bothered to come up with an interesting story to tell.

Now that I have the topics, half the war is won!

I work with Missy Pie (I gave her that nickname very randomly and since then, it's stuck) and her and I have become really good friends, despite the almost 10 year age gap.

She doesn't like the colour pink (ironic), any of my music (wrong) and cannot understand why I like the younger men (crazy) but despite that, we have a lot of common interests (Series, sneaky-chocolate-cake, books, movies, cute actors like Alex Pettyfer & Matt Bomer, funny jokes and some silly blonde moments)
Missy Pie does the same type of design work I do; so we can feel each others' pain when we're told to "just quickly design something"

We've chatted about her starting her own blog for a while now and when the Blog everyday in May challenge came about - it was the perfect platform to launch her into the world of blogging.

Please show her some blogging love. Pop by and visit her blog as she joins us in the challenge.
Leave a comment and tell her that Princess sent you!

What the Blog - Missy Pie

A non-typical day in the life of....

Blog everyday in May - Day 15: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)

I started my day  intent on capturing photos of my ordinary day-to-day happenings.

Somehow the day was anything but a typical day! So here is my unusual day:

• Wake up and get love from kitty cat

•  Check Facebook and Twitter while sitting in traffic going nowhere

•  Before I know it, it's lunchtime - Nandos as a treat today because we have guests

•  Put final touches to a proposal that is worth millions

•  My Blood Type: Caffiene.
  Try to finish my umpteenth cup of coffee before it gets cold (I never managed to finish any cup)

•  Another spoil - CHOCOLATE cake. Caramel filling with perfectly balanced butter icing. I'm a red velvet kinda girl, but when chocolate cake is this good - it trumps all others!

• Receive a gift from guests - a keyring which is a dental implant. Cute. But strange.

•  18:30: Stuck at the office. Drink wine to make me forget the sorrows of feeling like a slave chained to my desk. Work is much more cheerful when you have wine in your tummy

• Watching them at the gate - the motor was broken

•  Our hero Neal saves the day night and cuts open the lock on the motor box with his angle grinder 

• Get home, blog some more and off to bed. Good night!

Challenges Remaining:
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

Happiness is....

Blog everyday in May - Day 14: Ten things that make you really happy

1. Hugs
2. Coffee
3. Bacon
4. A purring kitty on my lap
5. Listening/watching One Direction songs/videos
6. Going on holiday
7. Taking photographs
8. Laughing with my family & friends (these are in no particular order!)
9. My nephew
10. Being tickled (the gentle kind, not the "funny" kind)

Challenges Remaining:
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

The proof is in the Biebs

Blog everyday in May - Day 13: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

Dear Beliebers

I apologise for judging Justin Bieber without knowing much about him (except for his flippy hair and 10 year old pretty face)

I went to his concert, and he is a fantastic dancer, his drum solos were hugely impressive and I like his new hair.

His latest songs are pretty cool.

I promise to stop making fun of her him

And now I am up to date! 

Challenges Remaining:

Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

Of all the things I miss....

Blog everyday in May - Day 12: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life…)

... I miss my mind the most.

And....

My size 12 dress size.

Father Christmas / Easter Bunny / Tooth Mouse being real.

Challenges Remaining:
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

Don those sunglasses

Blog everyday in May - Day 11: Sell yourself in 10 words or less

A passionate friend who'll add sparkle to your life

Challenges Remaining:
Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life…)
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

Recall! Recall! Recall!

Blog everyday in May - Day 10: Most embarrassing moment (s)

Moment(s)?? 1 moment is enough!

Do you remember the days when the Nokia 3310 was the shizz? 

The technology wasn't as fast as it is now, so while a text message was sending, you still had time to "cancel" it.

How I wish for those days on occasion...

5 years ago I was a newbie at my job and my boss was even more intimidating than he is now.

He is (and always will be) a bully and picks on everybody. 

I couldn't do anything right, he just shouted at me all the time (even when we had him on audio, he denied he had said it)

It was the usual routine of getting picked on and I was getting pissed off. I sent my boyfriend a text saying something along the lines of: 

Well, I got shouted at again for doing everything wrong,

And I sent it to my boss!!
He called me immediately and said very calmly: You are not doing everything wrong and I did not shout at you.

Luckily I didn't say what I was actually thinking about him boss was out of the office. I turned bright red, listened quietly and said "ok."
We have never spoken of it again. 5 years later, I can still remember my mortification!

Challenges Remaining:
Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less
Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life…)
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. UseGrooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go


Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory