Friday 30 November 2007

By gum I think he's got it...

Every night this week has been good. The dog has been going to bed between 22:30 and 23:00, then not waking up until gone 06:00. Very very happy with that!
And, on three of those nights, he's been dry, so his bladder control is getting better. It seems silly worrying about the lack of sleep so much now - but this was what happened with Jake when he was a baby. During the time when he wasn't sleeping I felt like crap, but when he started going through the night I thought "What was the fuss about?"
The dog is also due for his first 'walkies' this weekend - he's had his jabs so now he can start going out, which means training him on the lead (which I know he's gonna hate!)

What else is happening in Molloy world? Not much - football Saturday with Jake, then he has a match on Sunday. I will be spending my normal Saturday afternoon sat in front of the TV watching City's score come in. I will also be drinking wine this weekend (I fancy a nice expensive bottle of red).

Soundtrack of the day "The Singles" by Inspiral Carpets.

Oh, and I should be receiving some more of my eBay stuff today - I've already received some golf gloves and a new golf cap, and Im waiting for balls, (of the golf kind!) a new winter hat and TWO golf bags. Yes two. See, I put a bid in on one I wanted, and then I saw a similar one for a buy now price, but slightly cheaper. Sod it, I thought, and bought it anyway hoping that someone would out bid me on the other one. And did they? no. turds.
So, I have two similar bags on the way to me. Luckily however, one of my friends is after a new bag and likes the look of the one I might be getting rid of, so he might buy it off me. If not, then back on eBay it goes!

Have a nice weekend people. Peace.

Tuesday 27 November 2007

Breakthrough...?

A very good night for the dog last night, but Im hesitant to put it down to progress. He had his last jabs at the vet yesterday and they may have contributed to making him more tired than usual.
Basically, he went to bed at about 22.30, while we were still up. We went to bed at about 23.15 and then we heard nothing all night! My body clock woke me up at about 5.05, expecting to hear him, but not a peep. I couldn't go back to sleep, so at 6.20 I went downstairs thinking "I hope he's ok" and there he was, awake at the kitchen door to greet me, right as rain, and without having been to the loo all night! If this is the start of things to come, then fantastic, but I'll reserve judgement until tomorrow.
And also a Happy Birthday to my son. He's 9 today. As you can imagine, he's unbelievably excited and looking forward to presents and visits from my parents tonight.
Have a good Tuesday everyone...

Monday 26 November 2007

Broken tooth

Just broke a bloody tooth. I don't have the best of teeth anyway (years of neglect and Dentist phobia) so they are basically rotting out of my head - but this one is really annoying, its broken and revealed the filling within so its really sharp and uncomfortable in my gob. ("So go get it sorted at the dentist" I hear you cry - there is NO chance of that happening).
A fairly ok weekend - the dog is getting better at nights. He's waking now between 4.45 and 5.30 AM needing the loo, and once I've let him out he's usually setting OK until gone 6.00 which is fine as I have to get up that time for work anyway. Hopefully, each day he gets older, he will get later and later. And, my body has adjusted now (like it did when Jake was a baby) so I dont feel as bad as I did the first few days.
Jake's team won 7 - 2, City won 2 - 1, so a good sporting weekend too.
This week, no plans really (well, apart from number one son's birthday tomorrow!) except playing football again on Thursday.
Soundtrack of the day: "Stadium Arcadium" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers (double album).

Saturday 24 November 2007

Official Congratulations

Prompted by the anonymous comment to my previous post, Im guessing now the news is official...
My best man and his partner are expecting a baby! Join me in wishing them very many congratulations.
I've known the news for some time, but I did not want to put it up on my blog until all the right people had been informed in person (for obvious reasons) and now I think all the people who should be told have been. It's due in Spring next year, and I know they are both going to make fantastic parents. I will also enjoy hearing all the grief about lack of sleep, nappies, feeding, and how everything else in life takes a back seat to this little bundle that for the first three months just seems to cry, laugh, burp, fart, pee, shit and vomit - sometimes all at the same time! See the exploding baby!
Anyway, on a serious note, I am very pleased for them both, and send them both my, and my family's, love. Peace.

Friday 23 November 2007

No post today

Too tired and nothing going on.

Have a nice weekend.

Wednesday 21 November 2007

35 little known facts

1. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

2. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

3. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

4. The average person’s left hand does 56% of the typing.

5. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

6. There are more chickens than people in the world.

7. Two-thirds of the world’s eggplant is grown in New Jersey.

8. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is “screeched.”

9. On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

10. All of the clocks in the movie “Pulp Fiction” are stuck on 4:20.

11. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

12. “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt”.

13. All 50 States are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.

14. Almonds are a member of the peach family.

15. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies’ room during a dance.

16. Maine is the only State whose name is just one syllable.

17. There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous”: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

18. The characters “Bert” and “Ernie” on Sesame Street were named after “Bert the cop” and “Ernie the taxi driver” in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

19. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

20. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

21. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

22. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.

23. Al Capone’s business card said he was a used furniture dealer.

24. Los Angeles’ full name is “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula.”

25. A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.

26. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

27. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

28. It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

29. The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world.

30. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

31. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

32. Mr. Rogers is an ordained minister.

33. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

34. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.

35. “Stewardesses” is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

Is it progress?

After a conversation with the breeder we got the dog from, we have a new tactic to try and get him settled at night. For the past couple of nights he's been waking at about 4.20 - 4.30 AM and not being able to settle. We were told that it might be because he needs the loo, even though there are papers down for him to go on. Now, I may have started to make a rod for my own back here, but when he starts getting aggitated at that time, Im going to be going downstairs to let him out. So far (last night, and the night before) its worked up to a point. I've let him out, he's gone to the toilet, and then he's come back in and settled straight away - but then he's waking up again about 5.15 - 5.30. The night before last, I let him out again, he actually did need to go so he did, then he settled back down til gone 6.00. Last night, tried the same (letting him out for a second time) but he didn't need to go, he was just f*cking about, which wound me up, which meant when he couldn't settle by about 5.40 I was up again and sitting with him in the lounge. *sigh*
I dont know if this tactic is going to work, but my thinking is as he gets older the times he wakes needing the loo will move from 4.30 to 5.30 to 6.30 - which is the time Im up normally for work anyway. Here's hoping.
Apart from that, not much going on really. I should be receiving a new golf bag today that I ordered, but I'm a bit skint at the moment, so I have a bad case of buyers remorse. Oh, and Im going to be selling my Nintendo Wii on eBay. They are really hard to get hold of at the moment, so they are going for good money and we dont really use ours, so I could use the cash.
Have a good Wednesday listeners.

Friday 16 November 2007

Sleep deprivation

I can see now why sleep deprivation is used as a torture. I mean, ok, its hardly torture levels Im at right now, but I am so tired, and everything else becomes harder when you're missing sleep.
Concentration levels at work drop, appetite goes, little things that weren't a bother before become a major hassle. I dont remember feeling this rough when Jake was a baby... but then I suppose I am 8 years older now, so my body can't handle it as well. My only crum of comfort is that each day that goes by brings us closer to the end, when the dog can sleep through the night with no problems.
No plans for this weekend really... football with Jake Saturday morning, then just trying to catch up on stuff round the house. Sunday Jake has a match, but I'll be staying in with the dog (he can't go out yet) so I wont be able to watch.
Soundtrack of the day: "Roots Rock Riot" by Skindred. Heavy rock / reggae mix.. very very good.
Finally, I've become re-hooked on eBay. A friend of mine has been getting some good, cheap golf gear, and he's convinced me there is some good stuff out there if I look hard enough. I just bought 24 'Pearl / Grade A' (which means they've probably only been hit once) Titleist NXT's for a tenner. Seeing as 24 of these brand new normally cost about £40 I've got a good deal.
Have a good weekend listeners, I'll try and post more over the weekend (if I can keep my eyes open enough!)

Tuesday 13 November 2007

Promised pictures of our new 'mutt'




Ain't he sweet? Now if only he'd sleep at nights...!

I need sleep...

OK, I know its only been three nights he's stayed with us, but good God Im knackered. The newest member of the Molloy clan just can't settle at night. Last night I had about 3 and a half hours unbroken sleep, but the rest was up and down about 3 or 4 times. I keep telling myself this wont go on forever, and he will calm down and get used to sleeping at night, but my body also keeps telling me its too old for this shit!
So far, he has been sleeping in a cage, similar to that which he slept in when he was with the breeder. But tonight we are going to try him out of his cage, with the run of the kitchen. That way, as his bladder control isn't brilliant at the moment, if he needs to go to the loo, he can just get up and pee on these special pads you can get for puppies, rather than pee in his bed - Im thinkin that may be part of the problem, he needs the loo so he cries, then can't hold it, then because his bed is damp he can't settle again. We'll see how that pans out tonight. (I've got visions just now of coming down to a wrecked and pee'd on kitchen tomorrow morning!)
I'll update tomorrow with how we go - and I know its a long shot, but if anyone out there has any tips on getting puppies settled in their new homes, please feel free to write in to the usual address!
Soundtrack of the day: "Grinderman" by Grinderman.

Monday 12 November 2007

Welcome to the family

We have a new member of the Molloy clan. A three month old whippet puppy called Shadow (named by our son). His pedigree name is Rising Shadow.
I will post a picture of him when I can get him to sit still long enough!
We collected him on Saturday afternoon, and my God a more lively bundle of energy you haven't seen! For those of you that dont know, having a puppy in the house is almost like having a baby. You need to worry about where he goes to toilet, when, what he can and can't play with, and getting him to sleep at night. Saturday night and last night has been a struggle. Saturday night I was the one who kept getting up to calm him down (22.45, 23.30, 00.15) and then every couple of hours you'd hear him crying and that would wake me up. So I had a grand total of about 3 hours sleep. Last night was slightly better... but I think part of it was I was so knackered that I slept through more of it - I only woke up three times to hear him whining.
So the next few days are gonna be tough, but I know once he's settled he'll be an excellent new member of our family. Emma will be working from home all week, and that's part of the reason we got him, for companionship for her while Im at work and Jake's at school. But I feel a bit bad for her today handling him on her own for the first time!
Anyway, that was the big news from the weekend... (Jake's team lost 2 - 0, poor lad, and City drew 0 - 0 away from home, a good result).
Have a good Monday all.

Thursday 8 November 2007

Crutches and teryaki sirloin

See, amazing powers of recovery. Im more or less walking normally now. I can still feel the pain when I move my foot in the wrong direction... and it still feels quite weak... but Im not hobbling around like an invalid anymore.
I know this is a bit sad, but I was really excited about my dinner last night. I tried something new. I bought myself a sirloin steak, and before cooking it, I marinated it in teryaki source for about four hours. Then, got the griddle nice and hot before cooking it for about 4 - 5 minutes each side (sizzle sizzle!). Then, let it stand for about 5 minutes before eating... My God. It was SO nice.
Perfectly cooked, with a nice pink colour right in the middle. And because of the marinade it had such a sweet taste. Highly recommend it!
Next I want to try something new with fish... scallops, or some nice meaty fillet like bass.
Slightly girlie confession, but I really enjoy cooking...the problem is, the current Mrs. Molloy is a vegetarian, and number one son won't really try anything too exotic, so anything unusual I cook will only really be for one. The other alternative is to host a dinner part for a couple of friends who aren't veggies, then I can really go to town. Maybe I'll plan something soon... I know one particular friend won't need a second invite... he likes his food, especially FREE food!
Ho hum... have a good Thursday listeners.
Soundtrack of the day: "Enema Of The State" by Blink-182 (my mp3 player is set to random today...)

Wednesday 7 November 2007

Spouting off on decisions

This is the post I started to write in the previous one...
So its halfway through the week and so far I've been up to hospital and Im walking on crutches... does anyone else ever think how their lives change due to one simple little event? I mean, if I hadn't kicked that football the way I did, so I had to chase that little boy to get it back, I wouldn't have run into that hole in the ground and turned my ankle over, which means it wouldn't have been weakened enough for me to turn it over again on the Sunday. I know, a lot of things in life are decided by seemingly meaningless decisions, but it makes you think, doesn't it? Well it does me. I wonder how my life would have been different? I mean, I would have come to work on Monday instead of going to hospital... I could have had a car accident. I could have saved someones life. Sometimes I think there's too much to think about, too much going on in the universe, and not enough time to think about it. You can see why people go away and become hermits, or go live on an island somewhere just to meditate and think about life.
Another example of this is when I have actually had a car accident. If I had left home even 30 seconds later, or earlier, I wouldn't have made that gap in the traffic, to get to that point in the queue, to hit that car. Which brings up the subject of premeditation and fate and all sorts... too much to go into in one post. Anyway, deep thought for the day. Have a good Wednesday people.

Amazing powers of recovery

I still need the crutches... (well... maybe not need... maybe they're like a comfort thing..) but my ankle is already feeling a lot better. Considering how swollen it was, and now painful it was, only two days ago Im amazed that I can more or less walk normally on it. This bodes well... there is no football for me this Thursday (we couldn't get a pitch) but hopefully next week I will be fit enough to play - which means I haven't missed any games due to the injury.
I remember this from the last time I had this injury - the first couple of days, swollen like a balloon and tender and sore etc. but then by the end of the week, walking normally just feeling the odd twinge when I move the ankle against the ligaments. Im sure most people would be like this, but I like to think my body has some sort of amazing power of recovery - I mean, its not good for anything else, so it must have some sort of secret talent!
I was going to go off on one about decisions, and how one little thing can change your life, but I've posted that in another post, because it really did go off no a tangent.
Anyway, soundtrack of the day: "In Rainbows" by Radiohead (the album they released on download, which you could choose how much to pay for).

Monday 5 November 2007

Back on crutches again

So, back from the hospital. Its not broken (thank God) but the ligaments are badly damaged and I'm gonna be hobbling around for a while. The nurse who first examined me wouldnt stop poking and proding my ankle... "I have to check where it hurts, to see if its the bone or the ligaments" she said, but Geez she really went to town on me. Then had an x-ray, and was told "no, its not broken, so get walking on it as soon as you can, get the exercises going" etc. basically stop bein such a girlie poof.
Thing is, EVERYTHING is a pain in the arse when you're hopping everywhere - from getting a drink - (try holding a glass of something and hopping... its not easy!) to goin to the loo (standing on one leg to shake the doo-wop-da-lilly is a fun game to play - as long as you dont mind your toilet being sprayed).
Anyway - write in with suggestions as to what a man with one working leg can do to stave off boredom...
Peace.
Update: Did you know, you can subscribe to this blog as an RSS feed? If you need a feed reader visit www.feedreader.com and download it. Its only a small app. Then, add a new feed, type in this blog address, and you'll be asked to choose either RSS or Atom feed. Choose RSS and job done!

Sunday 4 November 2007

Well dont I feel a pratt

I think I could have broken my ankle... well at the very least its a bad sprain and I've knackered the ligaments. Thing is, I did it in such a stupid way.
On Saturday, I was at training with Jake as usual. I kicked one of the balls and it went near one of the younger age groups that train at the same place, and he started running off with the ball. So I gave chase (you know, "come back here, Im gonna get ya!" I mean he was only about 6!) and as I was running across part of the park my left foot went down a little hole on the field and I went over on my ankle. Badly. I've done it before, and it started to swell, so the rest of the day I was limping around. Anyway, by this morning (Sunday) it had eased off quite a lot (but still a bit tender) so we went to watch Jake's match. The game kicked off, and after about two minutes the ball gets cleared off the pitch, in the air, toward me. So I jump up, controlled the ball in the air with my right foot, and landed on my left foot.... wallop. It turned over again, exactly the same way as Saturday. I was shouting and screaming like a stuck pig, rolling around on the floor. I was in agony. So now, Im lookin at my foot (which is up on the sofa) and its swelled to the size of a balloon. I was going to go to the hospital this afternoon but I will wait until tomorrow to see if the swelling goes down at all. I've had this sort of injury before, but I dont think its been this bad, hence the theory that it might be more than ligament damage. Anyway, suffice to say Im in a lot of pain at the moment, and anything I need to do I need to do hopping. Oh, but Jake's team won, (2 - 0) and Jake scored. Luckily I had a brief lucid period between pain attacks and saw his goal!

More updates tomorrow listeners.

Thursday 1 November 2007

Pinch, Punch, first of the month...

Does anyone do that any more? I did it to someone in Sainsburys this morning, and now Im writing this from my mobile while sitting in Uxbridge nick...
Im joking of course. Happy 1st of November. Its my best mate's partner's birthday today, so Happy Birthday Kerri.
We had one group of trick or treaters last night (just one! Now its up to me my family to eat all the rest of the sweets!) so at least the bag of sweeties I bought wasn't a complete waste.
City won (yay) a scrappy 1 - 0 win away from home, so they're through to the last 8 of the Carling Cup.
Im working on two projects at once at the moment, so work wise its been kinda cool.. I've been working solidly through each day, so before I know it, its lunchtime, and then a little bit later, time to go home, so the week's gone really quick. No plans for this weekend really, apart from football with Jake.
So thats about it for this update... Soundtrack of the day: "Ex:El" by 808 State