Monday, July 26, 2010

Hop on the Bus, Gus

It's Monday. Oubliette harmony has been restored as our wandering other half has returned from his epic Odyssey in the US.

We have a poem for the Poetry Bus. This weeks theme - as decided by La Niamh - is 'Confusion'. Quite frankly this left me with a multitude of options. A rich, rich seam in the Oubliesphere.

Just take yesterday for example.

We all trooped into town for a bit of brunch to celebrate himself coming home. We chose a lovely little pancake/crepe place on Dawson street for our eats. As Mr Oub was up ordering, a nice old man asked me if he could sit at our table. Part of my poor little brain whispered to me that this nice old man was in fact a world famous poet, but sadly, the dominant, confused part of my brain won out and I told him to take a hike.

When Mr Oub returned to the table he exclaimed 'Hey, did you see world famous poet Brenden Kennelly?'

Sigh.

Y'know, there had been enough room at the table. He could have sat down. I could have had a fascinating conversation with the man and learnt so much. Instead I sent him packing. He had to sit at a table outside. It was kinda cold in Dublin yesterday. Had I mentioned he was old. And a famous poet?



As I said, there are so many, many areas in my life that I could have looked to for inspiration for this weeks task.

This is what I came up with.



Cartographical Confusion

It's a complete cliche
but I can't find my way
when presented with a map.
I'm completely crap,
trapped in a car,
with it's folded layers upon my lap.
They may as well be scribbles,
those infernal inky dribbles
My ordinance arse!
My little lost elbow!
I just can't follow
we're not happy bedfellows
Just where in the hell is
feckin' Portobello?!
I'll take a wild guess
No, get me a GPS
then there's some hope
of me striving
arriving
at
the
correct,
designated,
confounded,
address.



.

Hop on the Bus, Gus

It's Monday. Oubliette harmony has been restored as our wandering other half has returned from his epic Odyssey in the US.

We have a poem for the Poetry Bus. This weeks theme - as decided by La Niamh - is 'Confusion'. Quite frankly this left me with a multitude of options. A rich, rich seam in the Oubliesphere.

Just take yesterday for example.

We all trooped into town for a bit of brunch to celebrate himself coming home. We chose a lovely little pancake/crepe place on Dawson street for our eats. As Mr Oub was up ordering, a nice old man asked me if he could sit at our table. Part of my poor little brain whispered to me that this nice old man was in fact a world famous poet, but sadly, the dominant, confused part of my brain won out and I told him to take a hike.

When Mr Oub returned to the table he exclaimed 'Hey, did you see world famous poet Brenden Kennelly?'

Sigh.

Y'know, there had been enough room at the table. He could have sat down. I could have had a fascinating conversation with the man and learnt so much. Instead I sent him packing. He had to sit at a table outside. It was kinda cold in Dublin yesterday. Had I mentioned he was old. And a famous poet?



As I said, there are so many, many areas in my life that I could have looked to for inspiration for this weeks task.

This is what I came up with.



Cartographical Confusion

It's a complete cliche
but I can't find my way
when presented with a map.
I'm completely crap,
trapped in a car,
with it's folded layers upon my lap.
They may as well be scribbles,
those infernal inky dribbles
My ordinance arse!
My little lost elbow!
I just can't follow
we're not happy bedfellows
Just where in the hell is
feckin' Portobello?!
I'll take a wild guess
No, get me a GPS
then there's some hope
of me striving
arriving
at
the
correct,
designated,
confounded,
address.



.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Poo Much Information

Mr Oub arrives home tomorrow morning. Plane lands at 8am. While he has only actually been away for 8 days - somehow it feels like an eternity. It's sorta like that Star Trek episode where Captain Picard was rendered unconscious by some odd space probe. After which we see him live a whole lifetime on a distant planet - and then he wakes up just 25 minutes later back on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. I feel like that. I'm just hoping I can wake up any minute now. And if Patrick Stewart happens to be there when I do, all the better.

It's been a tough week.

The kids went mental.

Toddler Oub was especially creative. In fact she really pulled out all the stops last night.

I heard a little voice calling me at around 9.30 last night. I went up to investigate.

Hands up who remembers the dirty protests in the Maze prison during the 1970's? Well, obviously Cbeebees has been putting on some gritty documentaries between Peppa Pig and Dora the Explorer as toddler Oub seemed shockingly well versed on the poo smeared across walls, floors and doors concept (as originated by those smelly IRA inmates...)

Sweet Baby Jesus in his heaven above, how can one child, so small, produce so much poo?? It was EVERYWHERE! If there ever was a time I wanted a space probe to descend and render me unconscious, last night was it.

I grabbed the boys, hot water, anti-bac spray, clothes pegs. We scrubbed poo off the walls. Off the carpet. Off the baby gate. And 45 minutes, and I am not kidding, 45 long, smelly, stinking, germ infested minutes later we finished. Well - we thought we'd finished decontaminating the area when, like Glenn Close leping from the bath, knife in hand, the door swung closed and there, we were confronted by even more poo art. There were tears.

I know, I know. TMI. But hey, it's meant to be healthy to talk when one is traumatised.

Anyway, I will wash, but never be clean again after that experience. I took a photo to guilt trip the hubby when he gets home, and eldest Oub child wrote a written account of events (to be saved until Toddler Oub brings her first boyfriend home.) 7 year old middle child took advantage of the situation to show off his superior vocabulary and declared the entire incident 'ludicrous'.

But, enough.


It's over now. We've Fabrezed everywhere and the windows are all open.


You just might not to visit my house for a few weeks.

Poo Much Information

Mr Oub arrives home tomorrow morning. Plane lands at 8am. While he has only actually been away for 8 days - somehow it feels like an eternity. It's sorta like that Star Trek episode where Captain Picard was rendered unconscious by some odd space probe. After which we see him live a whole lifetime on a distant planet - and then he wakes up just 25 minutes later back on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. I feel like that. I'm just hoping I can wake up any minute now. And if Patrick Stewart happens to be there when I do, all the better.

It's been a tough week.

The kids went mental.

Toddler Oub was especially creative. In fact she really pulled out all the stops last night.

I heard a little voice calling me at around 9.30 last night. I went up to investigate.

Hands up who remembers the dirty protests in the Maze prison during the 1970's? Well, obviously Cbeebees has been putting on some gritty documentaries between Peppa Pig and Dora the Explorer as toddler Oub seemed shockingly well versed on the poo smeared across walls, floors and doors concept (as originated by those smelly IRA inmates...)

Sweet Baby Jesus in his heaven above, how can one child, so small, produce so much poo?? It was EVERYWHERE! If there ever was a time I wanted a space probe to descend and render me unconscious, last night was it.

I grabbed the boys, hot water, anti-bac spray, clothes pegs. We scrubbed poo off the walls. Off the carpet. Off the baby gate. And 45 minutes, and I am not kidding, 45 long, smelly, stinking, germ infested minutes later we finished. Well - we thought we'd finished decontaminating the area when, like Glenn Close leping from the bath, knife in hand, the door swung closed and there, we were confronted by even more poo art. There were tears.

I know, I know. TMI. But hey, it's meant to be healthy to talk when one is traumatised.

Anyway, I will wash, but never be clean again after that experience. I took a photo to guilt trip the hubby when he gets home, and eldest Oub child wrote a written account of events (to be saved until Toddler Oub brings her first boyfriend home.) 7 year old middle child took advantage of the situation to show off his superior vocabulary and declared the entire incident 'ludicrous'.

But, enough.


It's over now. We've Fabrezed everywhere and the windows are all open.


You just might not to visit my house for a few weeks.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Loveless Funny Bus

Well, it's Monday and that means it Poetry Bus day. A highlight of my week :)

Mr Oub is off in the USA on business - poor him. meh. - and I've been left minding the animals my darling children. I will survive, but I imagine I will be a pale shadow of my former self by the time he returns.

Because of these tremendously trying circumstances, I wasn't sure I would have time to hop on the bus this week. But at the last moment the screaming hordes shut up for five minutes and I was able to convene an emergency meeting with the muse and produce a little offering.

It is Argent who is driving the bus again this week. The task was -

Excursion to the Comedy Store
Now we all know comedy is not easy to do, but I know from past experience that there are some seriously (sic!) funny people out there. Dust off your tickling sticks, put that water-squirting flower in your lapel, strap on your handshake buzzer and let's make with the funny!

Tunnel of (unrequited) Love
We had the slushy Valentine's stuff earlier this year, but it's not always easy to love and not be loved in return. What's it like when that certain special somebody doesn't even know you exist (it's called stalking - Ed). Are they with someone else? Are you jealous? Come and share the bittersweetness with your bus-travelling friends.



I am hoping that I have managed to go on both Poetry Bus journeys this week.



My Unrequited Lover

My love was unrequited.
You just didn't feel the same
But the kisses still got you excited
my conflicted former flame.

Loveless Funny Bus

Well, it's Monday and that means it Poetry Bus day. A highlight of my week :)

Mr Oub is off in the USA on business - poor him. meh. - and I've been left minding the animals my darling children. I will survive, but I imagine I will be a pale shadow of my former self by the time he returns.

Because of these tremendously trying circumstances, I wasn't sure I would have time to hop on the bus this week. But at the last moment the screaming hordes shut up for five minutes and I was able to convene an emergency meeting with the muse and produce a little offering.

It is Argent who is driving the bus again this week. The task was -

Excursion to the Comedy Store
Now we all know comedy is not easy to do, but I know from past experience that there are some seriously (sic!) funny people out there. Dust off your tickling sticks, put that water-squirting flower in your lapel, strap on your handshake buzzer and let's make with the funny!

Tunnel of (unrequited) Love
We had the slushy Valentine's stuff earlier this year, but it's not always easy to love and not be loved in return. What's it like when that certain special somebody doesn't even know you exist (it's called stalking - Ed). Are they with someone else? Are you jealous? Come and share the bittersweetness with your bus-travelling friends.



I am hoping that I have managed to go on both Poetry Bus journeys this week.



My Unrequited Lover

My love was unrequited.
You just didn't feel the same
But the kisses still got you excited
my conflicted former flame.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Lama Dilemma





So, I'm watching this documentary on BBC4 on Thursday night called 'The Unmistaken Child'.





Fascinating. It's filmed on the Tibetan - Nepalese border and follows the four year search of a monk called Tenzin Zopa as he trudges the highways and byways searching for the reincarnation of his master Geshe lama Konchog. He enters villages and enquires are to whether there are any young boys aged roughly 12 to 18 months living there. Then he hands out sweets and balloons to any passing child. Swop the red and yellow robes with a black suit and a dog collar and I'd have been getting quite uncomfortable at that stage... but no, this monk's devoted search for his former spiritual master was riveting in its quiet spirituality.






So, eventually, he comes across this mucky chubby little chap. The child takes a fancy to a string of beads that had belonged to the departed lama. This apparently is the first sign that monk Tenzin might have found his guy.




To cut a long story short, they put the toddler through various tests and with the Dalai Lamas blessing, pronounced him to officially be the reincarnation of Geshe lama Konchog. Then, they take him away from his mammy and his daddy and everyone and everywhere he knows. He cried. His mammy cried. This viewer very nearly did too.




The documentary ends at about that point, stressing the fact that he'd settled into the monastery really well and was a happy little chappie.




Feeling the need to learn a little more about all of this, I did a little googling. Which brought me to what I felt was the most interesting bit of all. The reincarnated child has the exact same birthday as my middle son. In fact he was born only 12 hours before him.



Impostor!







So, how come Tenzin Zopa never passed my door, dangling beads and looking meaningfully into my baby's eyes? How was he to know that his old master decided to come back only up the road in Tibet? How about bloody miles away in Holy Lucan, Co. Dublin? My boy would make a great lama! Shave his head, pop him in his robes, sure we'd have Richard Gere and (insert other famous Buddhists name here) round in a flash.




In fact, my child is quite the philosopher.



A deep thinker.


He has his own set of catchphrases (including the unforgettable 'I'm dead' and 'Wah' ) invaluable tools when your line of work causes you to deal with karma, reincarnation and all that other buddisty stuff...


The Real Deal




I think he'd look good with a shaved head.



Yellow is his colour (I'm sure the red would suit him fine too.)



So, Zopa, methinks you got it wrong. Send that impostor back to his village and his mammy before it's too late. I'll be waiting. And so will Lama Charlie.












Lama Dilemma



So, I'm watching this documentary on BBC4 on Thursday night called 'The Unmistaken Child'.


Fascinating. It's filmed on the Tibetan - Nepalese border and follows the four year search of a monk called Tenzin Zopa as he trudges the highways and byways searching for the reincarnation of his master Geshe lama Konchog. He enters villages and enquires are to whether there are any young boys aged roughly 12 to 18 months living there. Then he hands out sweets and balloons to any passing child. Swop the red and yellow robes with a black suit and a dog collar and I'd have been getting quite uncomfortable at that stage... but no, this monk's devoted search for his former spiritual master was riveting in its quiet spirituality.



So, eventually, he comes across this mucky chubby little chap. The child takes a fancy to a string of beads that had belonged to the departed lama. This apparently is the first sign that monk Tenzin might have found his guy.


To cut a long story short, they put the toddler through various tests and with the Dalai Lamas blessing, pronounced him to officially be the reincarnation of Geshe lama Konchog. Then, they take him away from his mammy and his daddy and everyone and everywhere he knows. He cried. His mammy cried. This viewer very nearly did too.


The documentary ends at about that point, stressing the fact that he'd settled into the monastery really well and was a happy little chappie.


Feeling the need to learn a little more about all of this, I did a little googling. Which brought me to what I felt was the most interesting bit of all. The reincarnated child has the exact same birthday as my middle son. In fact he was born only 12 hours before him.

Impostor!



So, how come Tenzin Zopa never passed my door, dangling beads and looking meaningfully into my baby's eyes? How was he to know that his old master decided to come back only up the road in Tibet? How about bloody miles away in Holy Lucan, Co. Dublin? My boy would make a great lama! Shave his head, pop him in his robes, sure we'd have Richard Gere and (insert other famous Buddhists name here) round in a flash.


In fact, my child is quite the philosopher.

A deep thinker.

He has his own set of catchphrases (including the unforgettable 'I'm dead' and 'Wah' ) invaluable tools when your line of work causes you to deal with karma, reincarnation and all that other buddisty stuff...

The Real Deal


I think he'd look good with a shaved head.

Yellow is his colour (I'm sure the red would suit him fine too.)

So, Zopa, methinks you got it wrong. Send that impostor back to his village and his mammy before it's too late. I'll be waiting. And so will Lama Charlie.






Monday, July 12, 2010

Bus!!!!

With my older children dispatched with undue haste to bother their grandparents in the past, sorry, the West, of Ireland, I am free to settle down to write my Poetry Bus effort. I missed last weeks challenge much to my annoyance, so this weeks is a combination. It is about a person, as prompted by Weaver last week, and transcribed upon an object as per Dominic this week - Well, I suspect the remaining child in my care would not appreciate being referred to as an object. And to be honest, when social services find out I've been writing poetry on my toddler, she may not be in my care for much longer...






The picture isn't great, so here is what it says....


Ruby

My pudgy angel,
My red rubric cherubic rhyme
Let the sun shine -
Compete with my love for you
It pales.

Bus!!!!

With my older children dispatched with undue haste to bother their grandparents in the past, sorry, the West, of Ireland, I am free to settle down to write my Poetry Bus effort. I missed last weeks challenge much to my annoyance, so this weeks is a combination. It is about a person, as prompted by Weaver last week, and transcribed upon an object as per Dominic this week - Well, I suspect the remaining child in my care would not appreciate being referred to as an object. And to be honest, when social services find out I've been writing poetry on my toddler, she may not be in my care for much longer...






The picture isn't great, so here is what it says....


Ruby

My pudgy angel,
My red rubric cherubic rhyme
Let the sun shine -
Compete with my love for you
It pales.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Weak

Busy week.

Kids finished school for the summer. Took them about two minutes to start fighting. Gah. When's September??

At least they had good school reports. In summary, apparently they are both very clever, but have trouble tolerating their mere mortal class mates. Oh well, so what - another pair of computer geeks with poor social skills join the heaving masses, will anyone notice? Doubt it.

Baby Oubliette - whom is going to have to be rechristened Toddler Oubliette real soon as the girl is very nearly three - has this week decided she is a Lion, (or Tiger, she hasn't specified.) It involves her crawling around, meowing, and just when you least expect it, she launches herself at you, as if you are a cowering ickle gazelle. Adding a slightly surreal touch she yells her name mid-pounce, rather than a more accurate roar.

Quite a normal family.

What else happened to us?

Hmmm. A bloke called to the door and offered us two years free tv if we let them dig up the garden. Considering the state of the garden, I wouldn't have cared if he wanted to do it for free... (apparently they're upgrading the network in our area..) It's quite nice to get something for free, this never happens to me.

It happens to Mr Oubliette all the time though. We're getting a free dinner in the new Wagamama's restaurant that is opening up near us soon. Hurrah! Mr Oub, the luckiest man alive wins every draw he ever enters, hence this latest win. I can't wait. The Oub family love Wagamama's. The kids are huge Asian food fans. Gyoza, sushi, edamami, they love the lot of it. Of course the free dinner is just for two, so we're going to have to lie to them. Oh well, no change there then.

Lastly on the exciting week that was with us, I was summoned to the garden, 10.30pm, think it was Thursday, to watch the International Space Station pass overhead. It was actually rather impressive to see it zoom by. And this is high praise from me. I am underwhelmed by space travel. While I understand peoples fascination with it, I can't help trotting out the 'can't we feed all the starving babies in the world first before we go to the moon.' This drives Mr Oub mad. He doesn't care about the starving babies - he's mean like that - he just wants to be an astronaut and bounce about the place up there. (He claims the science used in space stuff is helping man kind, but I dunno, can a starving baby eat a bit of satellite? I think not...)

But enough.

The rest of the week was kids fighting, allotment weeding, and melting in the heat.



This hasn't really been the most exciting post. But as I said a few posts ago, I am just going to write and if it's as dull as I suspect this post has been, then, so be it. Hopefully I will find the magic again. It is out there, I know it!

Anyway, I'm off to try and write a poem for the Poetry Bus tomorrow.

Weak

Busy week.

Kids finished school for the summer. Took them about two minutes to start fighting. Gah. When's September??

At least they had good school reports. In summary, apparently they are both very clever, but have trouble tolerating their mere mortal class mates. Oh well, so what - another pair of computer geeks with poor social skills join the heaving masses, will anyone notice? Doubt it.

Baby Oubliette - whom is going to have to be rechristened Toddler Oubliette real soon as the girl is very nearly three - has this week decided she is a Lion, (or Tiger, she hasn't specified.) It involves her crawling around, meowing, and just when you least expect it, she launches herself at you, as if you are a cowering ickle gazelle. Adding a slightly surreal touch she yells her name mid-pounce, rather than a more accurate roar.

Quite a normal family.

What else happened to us?

Hmmm. A bloke called to the door and offered us two years free tv if we let them dig up the garden. Considering the state of the garden, I wouldn't have cared if he wanted to do it for free... (apparently they're upgrading the network in our area..) It's quite nice to get something for free, this never happens to me.

It happens to Mr Oubliette all the time though. We're getting a free dinner in the new Wagamama's restaurant that is opening up near us soon. Hurrah! Mr Oub, the luckiest man alive wins every draw he ever enters, hence this latest win. I can't wait. The Oub family love Wagamama's. The kids are huge Asian food fans. Gyoza, sushi, edamami, they love the lot of it. Of course the free dinner is just for two, so we're going to have to lie to them. Oh well, no change there then.

Lastly on the exciting week that was with us, I was summoned to the garden, 10.30pm, think it was Thursday, to watch the International Space Station pass overhead. It was actually rather impressive to see it zoom by. And this is high praise from me. I am underwhelmed by space travel. While I understand peoples fascination with it, I can't help trotting out the 'can't we feed all the starving babies in the world first before we go to the moon.' This drives Mr Oub mad. He doesn't care about the starving babies - he's mean like that - he just wants to be an astronaut and bounce about the place up there. (He claims the science used in space stuff is helping man kind, but I dunno, can a starving baby eat a bit of satellite? I think not...)

But enough.

The rest of the week was kids fighting, allotment weeding, and melting in the heat.



This hasn't really been the most exciting post. But as I said a few posts ago, I am just going to write and if it's as dull as I suspect this post has been, then, so be it. Hopefully I will find the magic again. It is out there, I know it!

Anyway, I'm off to try and write a poem for the Poetry Bus tomorrow.