Thirty Voices

I’m thankful for my son, two and a half years old now, who lights up my life. I’m thankful that I can give him everything he needs and many things that he wants. I’m thankful that he’ll have opportunities, and that he has a family who loves him.

(By the way, this is his very first picture, taken just an hour or two after he was born.)

Helen, 34, Glenview, USA

Name THREE things that you absolutely want to do before you die. What has stopped you doing them so far? What will it take to accomplish them?  

Posting challenge idea from Amanda 

I picked this challenge (Posting Challenge #9) as my first challenge because I thought it would be easy. Now I know why it’s called a challenge. I love music, but I’ve never thought of my life as a collection of songs, and only 10 songs at that.

Here’s my mix:

1. Summer of 69, Bryan Adams – this is the year it all began, so I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song for a June baby.

2. Grease, Frankie Valli – I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen this movie, how many times I’ve quoted characters in everyday dialogue, or at how many sleepovers the Greased Lightning dance was reenacted

3. Shining Star, The Manhattans – Patrol Camp, 1979. Troy Pepper was the counselor and my first childhood crush.

4. Karma Chameleon, Culture Club – Summer, 1984 in South Hero, Vermont…boom box, Lake Champlain, synchronized swimming routine performed for family (doubles with my sister). Oh yeah!

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Hanging out with me for the day would inevitably be fairly cruisey (I’m indulging in the fantasy that I’ve got no kids to supervise for the day, humour me, please!). We’d start by spreading out a picnic blanket and taking an early morning breakfast down at the “little markets” in the shady council park right on the beach. You could choose something light and healthful, maybe green coconut milk and a bag of rambutans or a mango. Or the Churchies put on a great stall with cuppas and cake if you want. You can get Thai vegetarian spring rolls and great Greek storchie. If you’re anything like me you won’t have to choose we’ll just spent a leisurely couple of hours slowly eating our way through everything in sight. If you’re interested and a little bit arty I’d suggest we fund our alfresco fresh breakfast buffet by running a kiddies face painting stall. I reckon you might enjoy transforming all those cute upturned little freckled faces into glittery butterflies and masked crusaders. (more…)

I’m so glad you could visit. I have a lot planned for today and it’s just as well you came on a day when the sun is shining! Just kidding, the sun is always shining – this is Southern California after all. I like to start early so it’s good you came at 7am – best get some coffee in you quick!

We start with a light breakfast at Polly’s on the Pier – it has been there for 18 years including surviving a massive storm. The food here may not be garnished with sprigs of parsley but it certainly tastes all right – just good old diner food in an extraordinary location. The coffee, like the service is excellent, and the ocean views are abundant! I like to go here sometimes at the weekends because it rather feels like being on holiday despite living a 5 minute walk away.

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I feel that life presents so many challenges, so many hoops for us to jump through – and every time we make it through one then we have something to be thankful for.  Every night, I “count my blessings” – I list things that I am thankful for.  My children, my husband, my sister, nieces, nephew, grandmothers, parents, cat, friends, etc. I am also thankful for my creativity, my home, my internet access… and often i remind myself top be thankful for the hardships I have encountered in life, because I have gotten through them and come out a stronger, more capable person who can always look back and see that I can weather any storm that life throws my way, because I have gotten through all the rest.

Jenifer, 33, New York

When you come to visit it will be winter here, so make sure to pack a coat and some mittens.  Although I don’t have huge plans for our day out, indeed, we’ll be outside and doing a bit here and there in town.

In my humble opinion, all fantastic days start with a healthy dose of Bailey’s and coffee – or just coffee, we’ll see how we’re feeling.

There’s a nice park near our place so maybe we could walk for a bit, enjoy the winter briskness that is so very “Iowa.”  We could do a late lunch, because of course we’ve slept in a bit, at Nick’s for some outstanding seafood chowder.  This by the way is the exact location my brother and his wife had their first real date.

Then I thought we could drive around a bit in the Mini – maybe out to my husband’s parent’s farm, then in towards the city to see some of our downtown area, and when it’s dark we could see some of the holiday lights.

I was thinking we could do dinner with my dad at Limey’s over near his house.  It’s one of the best British pubs in the city.  Fish and chips?  Maybe cider?

A fantastic day in our area would end with a good sit down type conversation with friends, cause that’s just the Iowa way.  We’re big on family, work, friends, and fine times.  We’re down to earth and love to chat.

So look for me at the airport, I’m the one with the pink hair.

Sage, 31 in frozen Iowa.

You know you have a problem when you’re hanging out of your kitchen cupboard, teaspoon in one hand, jar of Nutella in the other, licking the silverware like it’s a lollypop dipped in chocolate. You don’t even have the decency to sit down to pretend you’re having a civilised snack! You’re just scooping. It’s a ritual. Like a gravedigger shovelling dirt you do it without thinking.
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Best days in are: every time I come home, plug in my iPod and crank on the tunes. It’s a good feeling. The music fills my flat with its beat. A hot shower after a long day out in the wet and cold is so comforting, washing away the dirt and grime. I hear the music as I wash, and softly look after my face, imitating the hands of my facialist. It’s the way she pats with the softest of hands. The music is on shuffle, and other times, a playlist. I have one that is entitled, “Go, Erica, Go!” Why the hell not have something that jazzes you up? Going about London to my own soundtrack is like watching my life in a music video. It’s awesome to travel that way.

But like I said, I’m home now. It’s comfortable, and neat. The radiators are on and the room’s getting warmed up. Now for a spot of tea. The electric kettle is my friend, and makes continuous litres of hot water. I am a fanatic for a good hot cup of English tea, and notice that I’m low on Tetley’s. A helping of sugar and milk, and I have love in a cup. (more…)

Technically I have already completed this challenge, but hells as an admin I figure if I can’t bend the rules for myself then what’s the point?! My first post on fame was intended to be tongue in cheek, but as someone who works in the fame game I have a little more to say on the subject. I would not like to be famous, but I feel that there are different levels of fame and some of them appeal more than others. Paris Hilton? No thanks. Albert Einstein? Yes please. JK Rowling? Absolutely! James Frey – not so much.

Oh but the freedom that that kind of pay packet would bring – you could travel the world, learn to sail, save rainforests, drop massive donations to animal/children charities, have a personal chef to whip you up tasty but healthy meals, buy only organic sweat-shop-free clothes and every wii game that took your fancy! Sorry I got distracted there! (more…)