June to December 2004
I have from the end of May 2004 to catch up on here...
lucky my memory isn't too good otherwise this could end up as a novel *S*
It's almost that already!!!!
The only reason I'm doing this at all is that I'm doing a Virus check
on my computer and it takes hours so I
thought I'd do this to fill in time.
Well... that is until you get to the November section *S*
Beginning June
Jason's return wasn't without mishap.
He has always travelled on a U.S. passport since his dad is American.
I warned him before he left that he should get a residents re-entry visa
before he left the country but it all happened so fast and last minute that
he said he didn't have time. So... of course, now that he has to come
home he can't get back into the country without one!
He had to go to Den Haag to apply for a temporary Australian Passport.
Last minute again of course. He had Marjan, a friend, I made through my Internet
group meet him in Den Haag to help him out. I'm so grateful to Marjan for being
there for him. She invited him to stay with her for a couple of days until it was
time for him to leave, but Chantal put a spoke in that plan!!
Anyway, came the day to leave and his problems started.
His passport was such a botched up job because it was done in a hurry
that immigration thought it was forged! Luckily he arrived at the airport
in Amsterdam hours before his flight was due to depart. It was finally
sorted out with the Australian Embassy and he was on his way. I forgot to
mention that his original flight plan would have had him arriving in
Kuala Lumpur about 3 hours after his connecting flight to Brisbane had left.
Fortunately I spotted the mistake and he was able to get on to the travel agency
to fix it but it meant an overnight stay in Brisbane, before getting his connecting
flight to Hervey Bay. No worries, we have a friend in Brisbane, Phil, who would meet
him at the airport in Brisbane and he could stay overnight with him.
Lord, where would we be without friends???
Well, he arrived in Brisbane.... late of course. He's also sent his clothes home
by mail and was carrying his computer and accessories as luggage.
This way he hoped his computer would arrive in one piece, not like on the
way to Holland when he had to replace so many damaged items. Naturally this
posed a problem for Australian Customs. They pulled him aside and asked if
he wanted to be searched in private or where they were. No way was he
going to let tham take him to a 'private room' so he told them they could
do all their searching where they were. They treated him like a criminal,
their body search was totally embarrassing. They took some of his CD's
(Program backups) away to see what was on them. Probably hoping for
something untoward that they could "get him' for but they were out of luck!!!
After around 2 hours of checking he was finally allowed to go... they too were
concerned about his passport and whether it was legitimate or not.
Jason was exhausted by the time he got through customs and Phil had been
waiting for hours for him. He was so tired he walked straight past Phil who
hadn't realised it was Jason. So, thinking Phil wasn't there Jason went
outside to have a smoke. He came back in to the airport to call me to check
on Phil when the two of them took one look at each other and said...
"Jason!!"... "Phil!!" LOL!!!
He finally arrived home the next morning... depressed :-(
One thing we did find out after all this schemozzle was that when Jared
returned from Holland in January I had spent hours on the phone organising
someone to meet him at Brisbane and get him to the domestic terminal for his
flight to Hervey Bay. I had been promised by QANTAS Customer Service that
a hostess would meet Jared, see him through Immigration and Customs and
transport him to the domestic terminal. WELL........ that ain't what happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO-ONE met Jared in Brisbane!! He got through Immigration and Customs
himself!! He spotted someone on one of those little golf carts driving around
the terminal and stopped him and asked him how to get to the terminal for his
Hervey Bay flight. The guy told him to hop on, got his luggage and drove him
across the tarmac to the Domestic Terminal with 15 minutes to spare for his
connecting flight. I was horrified and impressed at the same time. Horrified
that I'd been let down by QANTAS and they had let an 11 year old wander
around the International Terminal alone. Impressed that Jared had the initiative
to sort things out himself. I guess the 22 flights we had in the USA a couple of
years prior had actually helped. Amazing... I thought he wasn't paying attention
at the time.... I was so very wrong! He didn't bother to tell us at the time
because he didn't think it 'important' !! LOL!!
Well, Jason was home.... totally unimpressed with dial-up for his computer
after being spoiled with ADSL in Holland.
Needless to say ADSL was organised pretty quickly here LOL!!!
*************************
The only other thing I can remember about June was that Jared was
over at his mother's one day and as boys do... was having an arguement
with his brother. His mother took his brother's side and told Jared he
wasn't welcome there any more and not to ever come back! Can you believe
this bitch... that's the only word to describe a mother who bans her first
born son from her home!! As far as Jared's concerned it's no great loss.
As far as I'm concerned... he's better off without her and he
hasn't been near her since that day.
*************************
Some time in July I think, my mother won $14,000 in Lotto. I was so thrilled
for her!!! It was about time something nice happened for her. She can't resist
parting with some of it... though I begged her not to... Jared and Jason got
new EXPENSIVE mobile phones and I got my Mastercard paid off.
She still has bucketloads left *S*
*************************
August was an horrific month for hurricanes in Florida.
I was worried sick about friends living there and who I've known for over
30 years. I was also worried sick about friends from my Internet group
who live in that state. Four hurricanes one after the other.... no-one deserves that.
I dread to think what's going to happen here in Queensland from December
through March, our cyclone season.... because we usually mirror
the Florida weather patterns.
Wednesday 25th August
Latest on David Hicks, the Australian being held in Guantanamo Bay ...
his hearing will be held later today. If he is found not guilty there is still a chance
he won't be freed. According to Mr. Bush, ALL the detainees in Guantanamo Bay
are guilty!!!! Well... I'm sorry if I offend any G.W. fans but his attitude leaves a lot
to be desired!!!! What happened to "innocent until proven guilty"???
OR are these word not in G.W.'s vocabulary?!
Our wimpy Prime Minister is no better! He should have demanded that David Hicks
and the second Australian detainee, Mamdouh Habib be returned to Australia for trial.
The Australian Government has failed more than Hicks and Habib. It has failed the
principles which should distinguish Australia.
These detainees have been held, without access to lawyers of their choice or
their families, and reportedly in conditions of physical and psychological duress.
Why the 'secrecy' at the military commission??? Why are 4 out of the 5 military officers sitting
in judgement UNIDENTIFIED?? Unlike court martials, the commission's decisions
cannot be appealed to a civilian court. This prohibits review, for instance,
of whether evidence allegedly obtained by torture is admissible in court.
And even if Hicks is found innocent, he will not go free until a separate review
panel decides he no longer is an "enemy combatant". That might be
for the duration of an ill-defined war on terrorism. Is this JUSTICE????
I remember hearing early in G.W.'s reign as President , that while he was
Governor of Texas not one prisoner on 'death row' was ever given a pardon!
How many innocent people has he sent to their death? According to statistics,
now, with DNA testing, many prisoners had been falsely declared guilty....
how many 'innocents' died because G.W. refused an appeal??
I don't normally give my political opinion because I have many friends who follow
different political persuations than I and because we are supposedly in a
democratic society I respect their right to support whomever they wish. BUT in this
case I can't keep my mouth shut any longer. The world has become SICK!
Rules are being changed to suit situations.
Here in Australia paedophiles are protected by the Church!! People found guilty
of child abuse and worse yet... murder of innocent children are given a
'slap on the wrist' as punishment.
What happened to 'making the punishment fit the crime'??
What has happened to the world?
Why don't people care any more????
**********************
September,
Only interesting things that I can remember this month were Jason and Jared's birthdays.
We also had a week of peace when Jared went to school camp just before the term
holidays. This camp cost an extra $250 which I wasn't happy about. It was supposed
to be included in the fees which we pay at the beginning of the year.
After the camp Jared had 2 weeks off school (holidays) and spent most of the time
with his friends who came up for the holidays from Sydney. They live in the house
behind us so there was a lot of fence climbing for a couple of weeks.
Fortunately the weather was good.
***************************
October/November
I'm sickened by the state of the world. Sickened by the loss of lives unnecessarily,
especially the hostages taken by the terrorists. These poor souls who could do nothing
to change things in Iraq... working to help the Iraqis to rebuild their lives and what
thanks do they get.... beheading!!!
We had another general election and our pompous, puffed up excuse for a Prime Minister
was elected for his 4th term. Unfortunately our other choices were no better
so I guess the people thought "better the devil you know...."
What annoys me about our system of voting
is that if a party looks like it won't win it can pass on the votes they received to one of
the other parties. So.. I ask you... what is the point of voting????
At least our PM is happy that his 'good buddy' GW has been re-elected. I'll tell you...
I saw the movie "Fahrenheit 911" last month and it answered a lot of questions I had.
Like I've said before... we all have our political preferences and I don't look down
on those who disagree with me. But I'm so depressed with the mess the world is in,
I wonder if there is a future of peace and harmony to be had.
Every day gets more depressing. There's never any good news. At least with GW
getting back in it means he'll have to clean up his own mess in Iraq. How long ago
was it when he announced "The War Is Over!"?????????? I worry for my American
friends after hearing about the latest Bin Laden message. I worry that GW is putting
the lives of my friends in jeopardy.... and with our Prime Minister hanging on every
word from GW... how many of my countrymen are in jeopardy???? We've been lucky
so far... but how long will THAT last?
*****************************
I'm sickened with the deterioration of our education system here in Australia.
In some of our schools by the time the students reach 5th grade 1 in 12 can't read
or write!! Jared for instance was doing fine in Math before changing schools....
these past 2 years have been dismal ! His teacher is more interested in taking
time off to go to 'INDY" (car races) at the Gold Coast than teaching his 15 kids.
Yes.. he only has 15 kids in his class and still can't find time for one on
one teaching when necessary!!!
His daughter who is in pre school at the same school is allergic to peanuts...
SO... the entire school is forbidden to have any foodstuff containing any kind
of nuts. Even though Jared doesn't associate with the preschoolers he has to
forego the fibre content from nuts (which would aid his bowel problem) because
of one child. I wouldn't mind this if we got co-operation from
him in other areas in return.
We've been to the Baptist school to see about getting Jared enrolled for High School.
They have a different system. Each child works at their own pace and don't go ahead
until they fully understand what they are presently doing. Maybe this is what
Jared needs... I don't know any more....
They only have until 7th December and they're on 6-7 weeks holidays again!
It's scary how fast the years are passing by!
*****************************
As for me... I've been up and down healthwise. A couple of weeks ago
I thought I was going to die!!!
What I was having wasn't a heart attack but it may as well have been...
the pain was agonising and lasted almost 24 hours. I couldn't talk,
I couldn't eat, I couldn't swallow. I had pain in the shoulder
and neck. I haven't had another bout since and pray I don't. Some days
my feet cause me a great deal of pain. I feel like I'm standing on broken
ankles especially standing in one spot making dinner.
No-one cares here... they all have their own problems. I'm sick of the weight
I've put on because I can't be mobile for any length of time.
This was brought home by seeing a photo of myself recently taken by a member
of our group who came to visit. I was shocked. It was wonderful to have Sandy
and her family visit with us.... they came down from Gladstone in the hopes of seeing
whales. They left it a little too late in the season... will try again earlier next year.
However Jared got on great with their youngest son, Jason so... we've decided
to have Jason down for a week during the Christmas break. Their eldest son played
a composition he had created on the piano... it was so fantastic to hear the piano
being played so well. He's very talented!!!!
Jason has been working on creating a more professional site for my Artistry group
as well as his own site, repairing other peoples computers and writing scripts for
a group he belongs to. He's had his share of cluster headaches again but the look
like they've gone again for a while. Lord, I hope so.
Jared's been up to the hospital because of stomach pains caused by his bowel problem.
The doctor wanted to give him an enema but he wouldn't hear of it.... he brought
the enema home so Nanny could give it to him :-) Bless him!! This one worked
within 7 minutes!! Lord, we're a sorry lot!!!! :-)
My mother has been in a 'mood' these past couple of days. She can't seem to get past
the idea that I may be her 'child' BUT I'm NOT A CHILD any more. Therefore
I don't take kindly to ORDERS!
She never 'suggests' anything she always says I MUST do something or other.
Everything is either my responsibility or fault. Why am I totally responsible
for everything that happens or needs fixing????? I'm so sick of it....
nothing gets done unless I do it.
She keeps 'helping' Jared with his English homework... she looks up the meanings
of the words and puts them into sentences for him. I keep telling her to stop...
it's HIS homework... how is he ever going to learn anything if she does all
the work for him!!!!
What do I know!!!! She gets no thanks for it... so why she persists is beyond me!!!!
Of course I'm the worst person in the world for not doing his Math homework for him!
I sit with him if he has problems but I make him do the work himself.
Poor Jared, has been grounded for 6 weeks... it was 4 originally for giving 'lip' to my
mother BUT he decided to take his mini motor bike across the road and ride around
in the car parks with permission from the owners of the businesses. So he got a
further 2 weeks added on for being disobedient. At least he's spending time with
his dad.... follows him around like a bad smell! LOL!!! They're inseparable *S*
Talking about the mini bike... I just wrote a letter for Jason who was given a $375
fine for having the bike on one of our beaches. The signs in this particular area are
well away from the entrance to the beach and nowhere do they say anything about
being the possibility of receiving a financial penalty for the breach. It's a Council fine...
need I say more!! All he needed was a 'caution' and he would never have done it again.
Jason wasn't riding the bike yet the 'local dog catcher' fined HIM!!
Anyway we'll see if my plea for leniency works....
I wasn't smartmouthed in the letter...
just stated facts. I rang her last week and she was the one to suggest
we write to the Council. So... keep your fingers crossed. *S*.
************************
This past month I've been busy transferring pages to my new site.
Have finally transferred my Tubes site so if anyone is interested
in PSP TUBES,,, this is the link... hope you find something you like *S*
http://www.artistrypsp.com/jemimaoz/PSPTubesIndex2.htm
To those of you celebrating Thanksgiving this month, I hope you
have a wonderful time.
************************
DECEMBER 9TH
Another year almost gone.....
Jared finished school yesterday and is on holiday until the end of January. He's
supposed to start high school next year but I'm not even sure he'd cope with the
first year in high school! I'm furious with the results he ended up with this year and
furious with his teacher for not being more in control for the past 2 years. He only
had 16 kids in his class and still couldn't get Jared through!! Jared didn't fail BUT
his marks were pathetic and we know he is capable of better.
Jared wants to go to a public high school next year but I think he's going to be in for
a rude shock, Because of his results and his need for individual attention to bring
him up to scratch I hope Jason is going to decide to send him to the local
Christian Academy (Baptist) where he'll get the 'one on one' teaching. They have a
totally different method of teaching from any other school.
So I'm praying Jason makes the right decision today.
During the meeting we had today with Jared's teacher and Head Mistress, his
teacher offered as an excuse for the children being uncontrollable....
'their hormones were setting in'!
Have you ever heard such rubbish?????????
What the H*** have hormones got to do with talking in class and not paying
attention?
I told him that I know it might seem a long time to him.. but I remember my years
in High School with clarity and I DON'T EVER remember changing hormones
affecting our ability to 'pay attention' to the teacher!! 'Changing Hormones' were
never even discussed or thought about. We had respect for the teachers.... even
if we didn't like them!! We didn't dare carry on like the kids of today.
I also told him that excuse was a "CROCK" !!
************************
Now, about the letter I wrote to the Council about the $375 fine...
We received a letter from the Council around the end of November stating....
"As a result of this (my request to waive the infringement) I am pleased to inform
you that the Council's Compliance Review Panel members have considered
your request and have agreed to waive the fine.
The Penalty Infringement Notice has been withdrawn and the matter is finalised."
Yaaaaay!!!!! A win for us!!!!
I hate to brag.... but I do write a 'good' letter *S*
I wrote back on Jason's behalf and thanked them for their decision *S*
************************
Remember last month I got to meet one of the members of our Artistry group... Sandy
Her youngest son Jason arrives today to spend a week with Jared fishing, camping
and doing whatever boys do *S* They got on great together when they were here
in November. His name is Jason so.... we might have a little confusion over the next
week *S*
************************
Sorry for the bitching.... I've been totally fed up these past few days.
Last Sunday my mother mentioned my winter clothes in my wardrobe....
BIG MISTAKE!!!!
I started taking them out to see what I had in summer clothes that still fits.
My room ended up a total disaster area! Of course... my mother walked off after
the mess was created! I spent the next couple of days packing the winter stuff
in suitcases so they could be put in the garage .... once I can get past the door
(of the garage). That's another job I've been waiting for Jason to do for nearly 2
years!!! He made a mess of it... I can't move in it... all his stuff!! Jared has been in
and taken stuff out of boxes and just left it lie....
SO... I guess I'll just have to DEMAND that they BOTH get stuck into it.
************************
The whole world is depressing... wars, terrorists, famine, earthquakes, hurricanes,
tornados, political correctness, paedophelia, abductions of children, people taking
the lives of their children and then suiciding themselves, teenage suicides,
governments telling us that the unemployment is at it's lowest level in 20 years yet
there are still thousands upon thousands jobless, education systems that need a
complete overhaul, the list goes on......
I've yet to see a news broadcast that has anything positive included.
We've lost all freedom of speech. NOW we have to consider every word that we
say for fear that we might be 'politically incorrect' and offend someone. We could
get sued!
Discipline in school is non existant.... for fear the teacher may get sued!
It all comes down to the almighty dollar!!
What happened to 'loving thy neighbour'???
What happened to CHRISTMAS??????? Australia is a Christian country and we
celebrate Christmas... at least I thought we did! The mentality of some people
has me stumped. I keep hearing stories on the TV or radio where some places
here in the 'land of opportunity' are cutting down on Christmas decorations for fear
we might offend those who are not Christians!
One employee in one of our major department stores was told to remove "Jesus
in his crib' from his display. The store manager used every excuse in the book as
his reason for requesting this (when interviewed on the radio) EXCEPT THE TRUTH.
"Political correctness!!"
The Lord Mayor of Sydney decided that they would only have a paltry Christmas
tree displayed on the Town Hall this year instead of all the decorations they used to
display.... why?? "Political correctness!!"
Christmas carols are not sung in schools... why??? "Political correctness"!!
All I can say is SCROOGE is 'alive and well' and living in our COWARDLY
governmental leaders!!!!
This is OUR country.... we have customs and traditions which shouldn't be set aside
for fear they might offend someone. I might add that the Muslim, Jewish and other
non Christian groups have nothing to do with this. They are NOT asking US to change.
Our 'lily-livered' politicians are totally to blame!!! Bah! Humbug!!
************************
Lord... I am in a 'mood'... LOL!!!
OK... enough!!
To all of you, I wish you a joyous Christmas, a happy,safe and healthy
holiday season and all you hope for in the New Year.
Let's hope and pray that the world and it's governments come to their
senses in 2005. (Though this may be asking too much)
Let's hope and pray that maybe the young men and women serving in Iraq
and other places around the world will be home for Christmas 2005.
Let's pray for those who have lost those 'near and dear' to them this year.
Christmas will be tough for them.
Last but not least, pray for those around the world who are sick, starving
and homeless, who have nothing to celebrate.
I'll be back in 2005 and hopefully will have time to make this a monthly instead
of a 6 monthly effort.
Please click on the NEXT link for my Christmas Message *S*
XMAS 2005 (Yes.. the whole year was a loss)
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