Posts Tagged "introductions"
*insert funky intro music here*
Hello!!
Welcome to the new look Sleep is for the Weak – with it’s very own custom domain name!
I decided the whole ‘bloggymama’ url was getting too confusing, and after making a big decision about my future recently (which I’ll tell you all about soon), I decided a hosted website was definitely in order to give the whole venture a bit more of a professional feel and more flexibility. I signed up with Justhost.com and got a killer deal for a year’s hosting – a bit of treat to myself after the success of the blog these last few weeks.
Yes, I know. I said I wasn’t going to mess with the theme. But I couldn’t resist! See, turns out if you host your own wordpress blog you have almost unlimited choices for customisation – and for a perfectionist, obsessive tweaker like me that was an opportunity too good to let up. And, well, I get bored easily and when I loaded the old theme up it just looked a bit blah. As well as a new look we’ve got lots of fancy new icons, widgets and features which I hope will make the SIFTW experience that little bit more user-friendly.
So what do you think? Be honest! Knowing me I’ll probably change it all in a couple of weeks so feedback would be appreciated! If anything doesn’t work or is fiddly and annoying then please tell me so I can change it. Unlike with a wordpress.com blog you have to do pretty much everything yourself – something that dawned on with a growing sense of horror as I realised how much coding I was actually going to have to do.
I’ll be honest – it’s kind of consumed me the last few days. I’m not very good at ‘making do’ and until it was all perfect I just couldn’t let it rest. So lots of late nights and annoying my husband with endless “do you think this looks better, or THIS?”. Bless him – as usual he’s been more than patient (and as usual I ignored most of his advice – oops!)
I’m still not entirely sure I’m happy (not sure about the font now I’m typing! *edit* changed it!) and haven’t finished some of the pages but it will HAVE to do for now because I’m getting withdrawal symptoms from actually writing rather than fiddling with stupid details and getting a header-ache.
Don’t forget to re-subscribe to my feed via the handy (and beautiful) icons on the right and change the URL in your blogrolls etc. For those of you that don’t know, SIFTW has a facebook page too which you can also join on the right there, and if you’re into Technorati I’d love it if you could add me to your favourite blogs. You also have the option of re-tweeting a post via my handy new Twitter widget at the top of each entry and each new post will usually have a ‘Stumble It’ option too. So feel free to spread me around a bit – you’ll make my day.
I’ve got lots of news to share with you from the last few days so expect a blog update very soon featuring:
- life changing decisions
- being brave and laughing in the face of impending failure
- a new job (well, kinda)
and
- the true, secret nationality of Kai – he’s not English I’ll tell you that much.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the new site!
P.S. Special mention to my lovely friend @flimgeeks for helping me out when CSS coding was making the little vein on my head pulse alarmingly. If you’re into all things hip and happening in the world of tv and film (and pop culture in general) and are looking for more witty, intelligent, interesting people to follow on twitter, then he’s your man. Follow him. Now.
Supporting Cast
I think it’s about time I introduced you to a few of the other supporting cast members in this strange surreal stage-show that seems to be my life at the moment (I think I shall name it “Talking Bread People On Ice”). You’ve met me and you’ve met Kai, and you haven’t run away yet. Let’s see after this lot…
Introducing: my family. Who have all been given super-hero secret identities for the purpose of this narrative.
THE HUSBAND (a.k.a The World’s Most Patient Man)
Super Hero Powers: King of the random fact and endless movie trivia. Able to put up with wife’s irrational, slightly bi-polar behaviour and giant paddys without even a flicker of annoyance. To laugh and make-fun of aforementioned irrational, bi-polar behaviour thus defusing tense situations with ease (It is very hard to stay stroppy with someone calling you a “big head pixie wife” over and over again). In similar fashion has a unique ability to come up with new and interesting ways to make the Kai-ransaurus laugh – including such popular games as “Ninja Dad”, “Sock-Ear Dad” and singing and dancing to such self-penned classics as “Just A Little Nugget Of A Poo”.
Can magically produce cups of tea and treats at much needed moments. Champion Washer-Upper and ‘tidying’ in the form of putting things in giant neat piles.
Generally just a complete super-star. I’m still wondering quite what I did to deserve him and hoping very, very hard he doesn’t figure out his misfortune and do a runner anytime soon. I am currently having to share him with the love of his life his new HTC Hero phone but I think I’m safe as long as it doesn’t develop an app that cooks his tea.
Kryptonite Style Weaknesses: Colds, or illness of any sort. Anything breaking, especially something gadgety and electrical, is likely to bring on apocalyptic style melt-downs.
Super-Hero Accessories: Mobile Phone. Crisps.
Most Likely To Say: “Did I mention my phone can scan the night sky and tell you the constellation you’re looking at? No? Well it can” and “Do we have any snacks?”
THE MUM
Super Hero Powers: Green fingers able to grow vegetables of monumental size and deliciousness. Increasingly talented post-modern flower arranger. Spectacular ability to piss off the Christian Right at her local church with her ‘lifestyle’ choices, being both gay and a Christian and generally lovely and hard to dislike however much they try. I’m trying to encourage her to start a guerrilla flower arranging campaign and fill her church with phalic symbolism but she’s taking some persuading…
One of her greatest abilities is to have a busier social life then me and be out most of the time. Hence my longstanding and fulfilling relationship with ‘answering machine mom’ in her absence. Currently sailing the Med in an enormous boat, living it large, and being generally fabulous. The most empathic and caring woman I know. I love her and am so proud of her I could burst.
Kryptonite Style Weaknesses: Rampaging Badgers in her vegetable patch. Anything even vaguely sentimental or emotional likely to bring on fits of ‘leaking’ from the eye area.
Super-Hero Accessories: A pair of deadly, poison tipped secateurs. A rainbow fish window sticker.
Most Likely To Say: “I’m sorry I’m not here right now. Please leave your message after the tone”.
THE STEP-MUM
Super Hero Powers: My mother’s lovely wife. Ability to spot dust and dirt with radar-like precision and attack it in on sight – she would put the Stepford Wives to shame with her tireless enthusiasm for housework. Michelin-star standard cook (I’m thinking of moving back home just for the cooking). Enjoys arguing for fun and has an impressive ability of making out she knows a lot about something when she actually doesn’t. Vicious competitive streak – don’t expect her to bail you out of jail in Monopoly. Has a tendency to fall fast asleep mid conversation and then wake up and join back in when you’re least expecting it.
Also the most generous, thoughtful woman I have ever met.
Kryptonite Style Weaknesses: Time. Having absolutely no concept of it what so ever. Thinking that a spare ten minutes is ample time to clean an already clean bathroom, paint a shed and have a shower. Currently battling with her arch-nemesis the evil PHD monster that eats up all of her time and attention. Oh and fluffy socks that leave bits on the carpet.
Super-Hero Accessories: A hoover. A slightly evil cat.
Most Likely To Say: “I’m working from home today” and “Do you want a coaster for that?”
THE DAD
Super Hero Powers: Extraordinary ability to be loud and command everyone’s attention, making everyone like him in an instant (especially old ladies). Deserves special mention for being mostly responsible for my sense of humour (and thus this blog) having given me and my brother the very finest comedic education. Tireless campaigner for naughty children the world over – what this man doesn’t know about Governmental Children’s Legislation just isn’t worth knowing. Published author of several absolutely-not-boring-in-the-slightest but impressively influential textbooks.
Globe-trotter adventurer extraordinaire. Witty, brainy, unbelievably generous and warm hearted and deserving of several shiny certificates for bravery and coping skills. Has the ability to look EXACTLY like Captain Birdseye when he grows a beard. Has successfully fought off a mid-life crisis so far but I fear it is only a matter of time.
Open to offers (rich, successful, sane women only please – will be vetted by daughter).
Kryptonite Style Weaknesses: The recession and it’s spectacular timing, arriving as it did at a time when he is trying to sell two houses. Illness – which needs immediate treatment with sympathetic noises and a comic.
Super-Hero Accessories: A bum bag. A jaunty walking hat and shorts in all weathers.
Most Likey To Say:“Compare the Meerkat… dot com” and “It’s a Kai bear after all” (to the tune of “It’s a Small World”).
THE BROTHER
Super Hero Powers: World’s most devoted Uncle, ability to make Kai weak with excitement at merely the mention of his name. King of the argument, serial Devil’s advocate. Scarily clever and disciplined. World domination could quite easily be his if only he put his mind to it. Currently dabbling with being a young professional graduate after playing with being an unemployed bum for a while but not finding it to his liking. Does not yet own a Blackberry but, much like dad buying a sports car, I fear it is only a matter of time. DO NOT challenge him to an argument on any philosophical or religious topic. HE WILL WIN.
His hair should get a mention all of it’s own (probably counts as a side kick) given it’s amazing ability to resist all forms of grooming and being water repellent.
My partner in random humour. Still makes me laugh more than anyone else in the world. My best friend.
Kryptonite Style Weaknesses: Stupid ignorant people (same as me) who will never fail to bait him into an argument. A complete inability to concede a point or back down in a ‘discussion’. Taking his glasses off (no he’s not Superman – just can’t see a thing). An irrational fear of mime artists.
Super-Hero Accessories: A big cup of tea. A copy of Nietzsche “The Gay Science”.
Most Likely To Say:“Do you fancy a cuppa?”, “Did I ever tell you about the time I was relaxing in a Budapest Spa…” ”YOU’RE WRONG! REALITY IS ONLY A MATTER OF PERCEPTION!” and “Yeah? You fight like a cow!” (I could think of about a million more but won’t).
So there we go. My family ladies and gentleman. They assure me they are all delighted to meet you.
