The Frog Prince

A Day At The Beach

2009-12-28T08:16:00.000+10:30

Haven't been to a beach in ages so that's what I'm doing today - Brighton Beach - it's a nice day for it.

Bits-n-Pieces

2009-12-26T08:22:00.004+10:30

Huntington's Disease - I love reading about advances in medical science that can possibly help people with debilitating disorders.
Gravity - do you think Newton would be impressed by what we've learned of it over the years?
Chimpanzees - using tools to manage their food.
Memories - scientists are uncovering the mechanisms that enable the brain to form memories.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T05:21:00.000+10:30

Wherever you may be in the world, and however you may celebrate it, have a happy and safe holiday season.

A Good News Story

2009-12-24T10:24:00.000+10:30

Woman abandoned as a child finds her rescuers - there's enough doom and gloom in the world so I found this story rather refreshing.

Back To The Grindstone

2009-12-21T17:45:00.000+10:30

Yep, it's back to work for me tomorrow and the next few days will be busy with my shifts and last-minute shopping to pick up things that I more than likely have forgotten (I've got everyone's presents though, so that's the main thing, I guess). I'm working a night shift on Christmas Eve, have (most of) Christmas Day off, going back to work for my second night shift later on Christmas Day. The company gave everyone a turkey and a smoked ham this year so I'm sure they won't go to waste.

As for my trip? I pick up the photos on Wednesday after work so I'll scan a few of them and put up a post then. Sis and I went to the beach where we grew up and spread half of Dad's ashes across the sand and water (being ex-Navy I'm sure he would have appreciated that) and the other half we placed in a little ceramic urn which we then placed next to Mum's headstone. Generally speaking, it was a great week with terrific weather and time to spend with Sis and my adorable niece, Ashleigh Rose. I even picked up a slight tan on my solar panel of a head, lol.

I'm Back And I'm Pooped

2009-12-20T18:12:00.000+10:30

Well, if I was any more relaxed/tired, I'd be comatose; it's been a great week and I'll put up a post (and some photos when I get them developed) about it all shortly - for now, I guess I'd better give an explanation of that drawing, eh?

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2009-12-19T05:56:00.000+10:30

Go On, Ask Me

2009-12-17T05:54:00.001+10:30

You know you want to.

Typing With Your Brain

2009-12-16T05:52:00.002+10:30

This development looks interesting.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

2009-12-15T05:43:00.000+10:30

I have always liked Patrick Stewart as an actor, particularly as the captain of the Starship Enterprise - on a personal level, my respect for him has gone up several notches after he spoke passionately (and not without some difficulty, due to his own personal experiences) about domestic violence.

Kudos to you, Patrick.

I'm Off!

2009-12-14T04:29:00.000+10:30

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Will see ya all and catch up on comments in about a week.

Sunday Sepia

2009-12-13T05:40:00.000+10:30

The Incident

2009-12-12T09:20:00.000+10:30

For about 12-18 months, my youngest son has been asserting his independence which, in itself, is not a bad thing; kids need to learn to make decisions (good and bad) at some point. I did warn him though that his assertion of said independence does not trump my (adult) authority in the home and that if he overstepped any boundaries, I would pull him up short for it; if there was going to be a conflict between his independence and my authority I explained that I would be available any time to discuss it but that ultimately, I get the final say.

So, he left school against my better wishes and I just thought, okay, I'll let him discover for himself what a bad decision that might turn out to be. Then he started drinking and smoking weed with his buddies, and again that was against my better wishes - I gave him one simple rule for this though - that he doesn't get into a car with anyone who's been drinking, nor does he come home wasted - I told him that if he goes at it too hard, he can stay at his mate's place because I have no wish to see him in that condition. He ignored that request (the one about coming home) on several occasions and I called him on it - he basically ignored me and kept doing it or told me that I was overreacting/trying to spoil his fun (sound familiar?) I warned him that he was treading on thin ice with this particular attitude and that I would not eternally or perpetually put up with his blatant disregard/disrespect towards me.

The last few times especially I had started to notice some pretty intense mood swings when he was called on it and that's when I suspected he may have been doing more than just alcohol and weed. The final straw was when he came home one night extremely wasted and in a particularly cocky/arrogant/aggressive mood (showing off in front of his girlfriend) and when he was pulled up for it, he lost the plot, really, really lost the plot - it ended up with him pulling a knife on his sister and threatening to harm several people and damage several items in the house.

I contacted Police and Family Services to get some advice and the following day I told him that he had to leave and that the Police would be present while he packed. I don't think he was expecting that. Maybe he thought I would just go on 'lecturing him' each time he did this - he thought wrong. I love my son but right now I don't like him very much, and I told him that. I've left the door open for him to come back if and when his behaviour changes and on the proviso that he will sign a contract with me regarding his efforts to respect other people in this house. It's been a week and I haven't heard from him so I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out. He'll probably go crazy for a while but I think he'll soon realise that if he tries this kind of BS on others, he'll find himself out in the cold quick smart.

Being a parent is hard work even when times are good and this is, without a doubt, one of the hardest decisions I've had to make as a parent - I only hope that one day he will come to understand that. I don't want or need an apology from him (which is not to say that I wouldn't accept one if it was given wholeheartedly and without reservation) and I don't need his forgiveness/absolution because he feels it was a harsh thing for me to do - what I do want from him is to step up to the plate and accept personal responsibility for his bad choices - it's all too easy to blame others for our bad choices which is one prevalent aspect of modern society that I don't like. My son has seen me own up to my own shortcomings/mistakes (leading by example, as they say) so I expect no less from him - time will tell I guess.

Checkup

2009-12-11T09:46:00.002+10:30

Just got back from my annual physical checkup; blood pressure is good, cholesterol and blood sugar both good, and 2 kilos lighter than my last visit - both arms will likely be a bit sore later though - swine flu shot in one arm and a tetanus/diptheria/whooping cough booster in the other. Whooping cough in particular is hitting many adults at the moment. Am going interstate on Monday to see my sister and will be gone for a week so I'll put up a brief post tomorrow on that family issue I've been having and I'll pre-schedule a couple of posts for while I'm away - might have a photo or three when I return.

:-)

Family Crisis

2009-12-07T11:43:00.000+10:30

Being a parent sometimes requires us to make tough decisions regarding our children, and after a consultation with Police and Family Services, I've just had to make one of those hard choices regarding my almost-eighteen-year old son.

I'm pretty bummed out right now - I'll be back when I can.

Jenga Towers

2009-12-07T05:31:00.007+10:30

I like this idea.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2009-12-05T05:18:00.001+10:30

Boy's Toys

2009-12-04T04:51:00.024+10:30

For many years I was a bike rider (does that make me a bikie or a biker, lol). In these first two photos are the first bike I ever rode which was a mate's 50CC scooter, back when we both about 14/15 years old (we would spend hours on the weekends jumping over mounds of dirt and riding through the mangroves on that thing) and the second is the first bike I ever owned (which was a Honda XL125)

The next two shots are of the 2nd bike that I ever owned (Honda XL350)and the last bike I ever rode some 20+ years ago(a Kawasaki GPZ1100). Why is it the last bike I ever rode? Because I had to lay it down on its side at 140km/h (about 85mph) when I came across a logging truck stretched across a causeway as I was traveling home to see my Mum one year; I had nowhere to go except under the rear trailer of the truck, out the other side, off the causeway and into the trees. Damage? One broken clutch lever, shitloads of gouges down one side of the bike and a ruined set of leathers - I still have the (now faint) scar along my spine where those leathers saved me.

Why am I telling you this? All will be revealed soon enough...

Paradoxical Undressing

2009-12-03T05:03:00.001+10:30

Ever heard that term before?

Anyone who has suffered even the mildest degree of hypothermia can sometimes exhibit varying, altered states of judgment, and a particularly strange behavior of hypothermia victims is an effect that's often referred to as paradoxical undressing.

As your body gets colder, it moves blood away from your outer extremities in order to protect vital organs; this is why your hands and feet usually often feel the cold first. This movement of blood allows the extremities of your body to try and insulate the rest of you since it is losing far less heat to the outside world.

This process requires a steady input of energy (usually glucose) from the body's stores; however, due to a lack of blood flow to specific muscles, they eventually tire and as these muscles run out of energy, they relax (fatigue) and open up. This 'opening up' of the blood vessels, moves warm blood to the extremities which now makes the victim feel warm and so, they start shedding their clothing. This movement of blood, along with the removal of warm clothing, causes their body temperature to fall even faster and so the cycle continues.

Most people think of warm/temperate climates when thinking of Australia but we do have several areas on the east coast where snow falls and can be a problem for folks. Not only that, we have vast areas of desert which, while warm to hot during the day can be extremely cold during the night - a trap for the unwary.

By all means, come visit us; just make sure to bring some warm clothes with you too.

Handwritten Stuff

2009-12-02T09:55:00.000+10:30

Getting something with actual handwriting on it in the mail - I can't remember the last time - how about you?

Fire Danger Season

2009-12-01T10:48:00.002+10:30

Yep, it's that time of the year again for us and I hope that a lot more people will pay attention to the dangers and prepare themselves accordingly - we're expecting a long, dry and hot summer this year. Fire danger ratings have been upgraded also.

Photos courtesy of the Country Fire Service image library.

A Thin Strip

2009-12-01T09:09:00.001+10:30

That's our atmosphere, a thin blue strip on a vast background of black - photo is courtesy of the crew of the International Space Station - pretty amazing shot.

Who's Your Daddy?

2009-11-30T10:01:00.000+10:30

I can't imagine what it would be like to find out that the child you thought was yours, isn't. I'm not even sure how I would react, to be honest. After reading this article, I just know that it's a tough minefield to negotiate for everyone involved.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2009-11-28T05:11:00.002+10:30

And Before The Day Slips Away

2009-11-27T10:25:00.002+10:30

Wishing all my American friends a very happy Thanksgiving Day.