Great excitement this morning.
A hot air balloon landed on our property this morning. Shortly afterward, a cavalcade of cars arrived to collect the adventurers and paraphernalia.
They did not stay for coffee... reckon they've been shot at too many times.
Hmmmm.
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Whine, whine, whine.
My Mom has a Aanhanger. For those who don't know, an Aanhanger is an adult dependant who should know better than to take advantage. Aanhangers like to hook up with soft hearted folk who should know better than to get taken in.
Anyway, Mom pours Aanhanger a glass of good wine. Aanhanger complains that the wine is not fine and suggests Mom buy a cheaper sort in the future. Mom suggests Aanhanger buy his own wine in future.
Aanhanger did not like this at all but liked it even less when Mom removed the full glass and poured it down the drain.
Annhanger has not whined nor wined since.
Go Mom!
Anyway, Mom pours Aanhanger a glass of good wine. Aanhanger complains that the wine is not fine and suggests Mom buy a cheaper sort in the future. Mom suggests Aanhanger buy his own wine in future.
Aanhanger did not like this at all but liked it even less when Mom removed the full glass and poured it down the drain.
Annhanger has not whined nor wined since.
Go Mom!
Saturday, 08 September 2007
Oh what a tangled web we weave..
Half Pint returned home from school this weekend... with braided hair.
Now I'm not referring to a single plait or even two Pippy Langkous plaits. Nope. I'm talking braided as only our chocolate sisters can do it. Minuscule braids of a few strands tightly woven on the scalp. I should mention at this point that Half Pint is vanilla and has naturally wavy blond hair that usually reached midpoint down her back.
OMG it took ages to undo this. Half Pint hit notes most Sopranos don't reach.
I think rweq...
At this point (a week ago), an incident happened. Spilt Coffee 1, Keyboard 0.
Keybo@rd h@d to go to ICU. B@by @ h@s not recovered so USB keyboard has stepped in to assist.
Anyway, Braid Bunny turned into Frizzy Lizzy. Half a bottle of silicone spray later and her hair was back to normal.
Half Pint casually mentioned that "maybe she should cut her hair short". The deceitful, wicked, conniving parents jumped at this opportunity and booked an appointment before she changed her mind.
This week, Half Pint sports a lovely, really short, curly style... and not a braid in site.
Cost - R40 for cut and R30 for styling gel.
Savings - no clips, hairties, tantrums and my sanity.
Now I'm not referring to a single plait or even two Pippy Langkous plaits. Nope. I'm talking braided as only our chocolate sisters can do it. Minuscule braids of a few strands tightly woven on the scalp. I should mention at this point that Half Pint is vanilla and has naturally wavy blond hair that usually reached midpoint down her back.
OMG it took ages to undo this. Half Pint hit notes most Sopranos don't reach.
I think rweq...
At this point (a week ago), an incident happened. Spilt Coffee 1, Keyboard 0.
Keybo@rd h@d to go to ICU. B@by @ h@s not recovered so USB keyboard has stepped in to assist.
Anyway, Braid Bunny turned into Frizzy Lizzy. Half a bottle of silicone spray later and her hair was back to normal.
Half Pint casually mentioned that "maybe she should cut her hair short". The deceitful, wicked, conniving parents jumped at this opportunity and booked an appointment before she changed her mind.
This week, Half Pint sports a lovely, really short, curly style... and not a braid in site.
Cost - R40 for cut and R30 for styling gel.
Savings - no clips, hairties, tantrums and my sanity.
Wednesday, 05 September 2007
Euthanasia
Found this interesting article on News24 on Euthanasia, written by Isla Rechner.
I've taken liberties in copying some of the article.
The controversial topic of euthanasia has invoked strong feelings from approving and disapproving parties for years, even centuries. The question is that of its true justification or of its dismissals as an ethical practice.
Euthanasia comes from the Greek words eu and thatos, which roughly translate into English as "good death". It is the practice of ending the life of a terminally ill patient in a minimally painful way, as opposed to the incurable illness ending the patient's life in an agonising way.
There are three classifications of euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is withholding treatment from a patient knowing that it will most likely result in the death of the patient.
Non-aggressive euthanasia is performed by the removal of the patient's life support.
Aggressive euthanasia, by far the most controversial, is the purposive act of administering a lethal substance resulting in the forced death of a patient.
People have various reasons for approving of euthanasia. These include considering the quality of life of the patient and if it warrants continuation of living, as well as the free will of the patient on whether to decide to continue living in their condition, or to end their life on their terms.
The argument against euthanasia considers the factors that it is immoral and a form of suicide in most belief systems. It is also disputed that euthanasia can only be voluntary if the patient is mentally competent enough to make that decision.
This debate was highlighted by the case of Terry Schiavo of Florida, America. She was a relatively healthy woman before 1990, when she collapsed and suffered from cardiac and respiratory arrest. The lack of oxygen while she was being resuscitated lead her to being brain damaged and dependent on a feeding tube.
A complex issue
After years of attempted rehabilitation with no success, her husband decided that it would be in the best interest of his wife to remove her life support, a view vehemently opposed by her parents. The matter went to the courts, resulting in many years of petitions and appeals filed by the husband and the parents.
It was in these courts that it was realised that Terry Schiavo would not have wished to remain in her condition with no hope of recovery. On the 18th of March 2005, her feeding tube was removed. She died on the 31st of March 2005.
Euthanasia is a complex issue riddled with aspects specific to an individual's belief system and moral ethics. One needs to explore all avenues of this matter before casting judgement on it.
It should also be ensured that their wishes are heard and understood before they are not mentally competent enough to make the decision themselves. You never know if your life will be another person's decision.
This topic brought back painful memories for me. My late father had terminal cancer. He refused chemotherapy and invasive surgery. Chemo is painful and dibilitating. Same for surgery. He would get no benefit, only pain. He also signed a DNR (Do Not Resusitate). We watched him wither away physically for 8 long months. He was mentally alert all this time - even did the crossword puzzle on the day he died.
What pains me is that Dad begged to be euthanased. He was given morphine to dull the pain but not enough to end it. We contrived all sorts of schemes but I could not do it. Not because I didn't want to but because it is illegal. We were bound by the collective morality and laws of others. His dignity was hijacked. Would you want to wear a nappy and be force fed through a feeding tube?
Nothing was gained from his suffering.
I'd like to know what your opinion on this is.
I've taken liberties in copying some of the article.
The controversial topic of euthanasia has invoked strong feelings from approving and disapproving parties for years, even centuries. The question is that of its true justification or of its dismissals as an ethical practice.
Euthanasia comes from the Greek words eu and thatos, which roughly translate into English as "good death". It is the practice of ending the life of a terminally ill patient in a minimally painful way, as opposed to the incurable illness ending the patient's life in an agonising way.
There are three classifications of euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is withholding treatment from a patient knowing that it will most likely result in the death of the patient.
Non-aggressive euthanasia is performed by the removal of the patient's life support.
Aggressive euthanasia, by far the most controversial, is the purposive act of administering a lethal substance resulting in the forced death of a patient.
People have various reasons for approving of euthanasia. These include considering the quality of life of the patient and if it warrants continuation of living, as well as the free will of the patient on whether to decide to continue living in their condition, or to end their life on their terms.
The argument against euthanasia considers the factors that it is immoral and a form of suicide in most belief systems. It is also disputed that euthanasia can only be voluntary if the patient is mentally competent enough to make that decision.
This debate was highlighted by the case of Terry Schiavo of Florida, America. She was a relatively healthy woman before 1990, when she collapsed and suffered from cardiac and respiratory arrest. The lack of oxygen while she was being resuscitated lead her to being brain damaged and dependent on a feeding tube.
A complex issue
After years of attempted rehabilitation with no success, her husband decided that it would be in the best interest of his wife to remove her life support, a view vehemently opposed by her parents. The matter went to the courts, resulting in many years of petitions and appeals filed by the husband and the parents.
It was in these courts that it was realised that Terry Schiavo would not have wished to remain in her condition with no hope of recovery. On the 18th of March 2005, her feeding tube was removed. She died on the 31st of March 2005.
Euthanasia is a complex issue riddled with aspects specific to an individual's belief system and moral ethics. One needs to explore all avenues of this matter before casting judgement on it.
It should also be ensured that their wishes are heard and understood before they are not mentally competent enough to make the decision themselves. You never know if your life will be another person's decision.
This topic brought back painful memories for me. My late father had terminal cancer. He refused chemotherapy and invasive surgery. Chemo is painful and dibilitating. Same for surgery. He would get no benefit, only pain. He also signed a DNR (Do Not Resusitate). We watched him wither away physically for 8 long months. He was mentally alert all this time - even did the crossword puzzle on the day he died.
What pains me is that Dad begged to be euthanased. He was given morphine to dull the pain but not enough to end it. We contrived all sorts of schemes but I could not do it. Not because I didn't want to but because it is illegal. We were bound by the collective morality and laws of others. His dignity was hijacked. Would you want to wear a nappy and be force fed through a feeding tube?
Nothing was gained from his suffering.
I'd like to know what your opinion on this is.
Spring Bonfire
I love living in the country.
I love my neighbours.
I love Spring Bonfire.
One of the treats of not living in a townhouse complex or suburb you can only access through a boom gate, is that we actually, really, do speak with our neighbours. We don't just speak, we kuier lekker. We catch up on the skinner, discuss security, argue about sport and share food and jokes.
The kids, regardless of age, bolt into the trees and veld with torches and adventure in their hearts. Our local tree fella hauls in the dried wood collected over winter.
The blaze is ignited while the sun sets and out come the creative cooking skills. Pot bread. Stick bread. Sausages of all descriptions placed on a stick and held over the flames. Braai meat. Salads. Fruit. Nuts in skins. Marshmallows... lightly toasted and smothered with chocolate sauce.
As the stars shift overhead, the jackets come on and the younger, exhausted kids are put to bed on mattresses in the back of bakkies. The older kids gather and scare the hell out of each other with ghost stories. The adults' conversation slips to aliens, conspiracy theories, books and guns.
Eventually, we part company (with plenty hugs) and head for home and bed. Some of us only manage this at 5 in the morning (can't let a good sunrise get wasted).
Maplotters Rock!
BTW Maplotter neighbours refers to anyone who lives on a piece of land larger than a hectare within a 20km radius. Boere are the same but on a larger scale.
I love my neighbours.
I love Spring Bonfire.
One of the treats of not living in a townhouse complex or suburb you can only access through a boom gate, is that we actually, really, do speak with our neighbours. We don't just speak, we kuier lekker. We catch up on the skinner, discuss security, argue about sport and share food and jokes.
The kids, regardless of age, bolt into the trees and veld with torches and adventure in their hearts. Our local tree fella hauls in the dried wood collected over winter.
The blaze is ignited while the sun sets and out come the creative cooking skills. Pot bread. Stick bread. Sausages of all descriptions placed on a stick and held over the flames. Braai meat. Salads. Fruit. Nuts in skins. Marshmallows... lightly toasted and smothered with chocolate sauce.
As the stars shift overhead, the jackets come on and the younger, exhausted kids are put to bed on mattresses in the back of bakkies. The older kids gather and scare the hell out of each other with ghost stories. The adults' conversation slips to aliens, conspiracy theories, books and guns.
Eventually, we part company (with plenty hugs) and head for home and bed. Some of us only manage this at 5 in the morning (can't let a good sunrise get wasted).
Maplotters Rock!
BTW Maplotter neighbours refers to anyone who lives on a piece of land larger than a hectare within a 20km radius. Boere are the same but on a larger scale.
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