DAY EIGHTEEN: Plans/dreams/goals you have

I have plenty of dreams more so than plans and goals I think. Here they are;

• Ensure my daughters live their lives to the fullest and help them achieve their dreams, plans and goals.
• Stay happily married to Tom forever.
• Go on a family holiday to Europe.
• Get a swimming pool.
• See as many live concerts as possible.
• Throw away all my medication and be free of Chronic Anxiety and Depression 
• Visit my dear friend Jimmy in Toronto Canada

There's a lot of things I'd like to achieve in my lifetime...these are just a few.

DAY SEVENTEEN: Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Well, this is an interesting question. I hope I come up with an interesting answer...right now I'm struggling to think!


After some thought I'd like to swap places with someone that sings. I've narrowed it right down to PINK! 


I've seen her in concert twice and was in awe. I'd like to sing like she does, do crazy acrobatic stuff in the air, have a hot body and a hot husband to boot.


I love the way PINK says what she thinks, she stands up for all that is good, she's kind and generous which are qualities I love. Yeah! I want people to stop and stare at me because I'm famous and the money would be a great bonus. 


So I'd like to be PINK just for one day - then I'll happily return to being little ol' me.

DAY SIXTEEN: Another picture of yourself

 Here is another picture of me.
This was taken on 5th September at The Belmont Hotel. We were celebrating Fathers Day  with the family and enjoying the music of Damien Cripps.

DAY FIFTEEN: Put you ipod on shuffle: The first 10 songs that play

Ipod is on shuffle and here are the first ten songs that play (No laughing please)

1. Fear of Flying - Dan Sultan
2. God's Top Ten - INXS
3. Faithfully - Glee Cast
4. Holy Grail - Mark Seymour
5. R.O.C.K. in the USA - John Mellencamp
6. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
7. Just What I needed - The Cars
8. I Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue
9. Marseilles - The Angels
10. Sanctuary - Delta Goodrem

DAY FOURTEEN: A picture of you and your family

I don't have a current photo of my family so please stand by!

DAY THIRTEEN: A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

It just so happens that someone is really getting on my nerves at the moment so here's my opportunity to say what I really want to!

Hi X,


I'm sure that you have no idea you've hurt me, nonetheless, you have.


I realise there's a lot going on in your life and that you're under a lot of stress but since when did I become your beck and call girl and since when did you think it okay to talk down to me and be so blunt and even rude when I am actually helping you.


I do things for you because I want to. I want to help ease some of that burden and stress. You don't look very nice in your grumpy pants.


So here's a suggestion. Be grateful that you have people around you that give a damn and if you don't show some respect you can do it all, do everything on your own or try and find another beck and call girl.


Cathx

DAY TWELVE: How you found out about blogging and why you have one

I found out about Blogging by reading a Blog! I thought it was a really great idea getting your thoughts or photos or anything interesting on to your own piece of the internet.
I've been trying unsuccessfully to Blog for a while now. I couldn't get it to look right or my writing sounded silly so when I heard about The 30 Day Challenge and confirmed that it did not in fact pertain to exercise I jumped on the band wagon.
I'm really enjoying this Blogging and will continue to Blog after the challenge is over. 

DAY ELEVEN: Another picture of me and my friends

Noo not this again!!!
UGH!!! I really will get back to it!

DAY TEN: Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

Okay, if you're reading this please cut me some slack. I love music, it's always been part of my life but I'm old so please don't laugh too much at my music choices. If you're really young and hip you might want to look away now!


Happy: When I'm happy I tend to lean toward Crowded House, Glee soundtracks (okay kill me now!)


Sad: This is easy. I put on my "For the Heart" disc of Ladies and Gentlemen The Very Best of George Michael. The CD always brings back memories of another place and time. I also play my old INXS Albums.


Bored: When I'm bored I'll usually put a music station on TV maybe Max or something on Foxtel so that means all kinds of everything.


Hyped: P!NK! Who doesn't love a bit of P!NK to rock your socks. I have CD's and DVD's so I have all bases covered there.


Mad: Something like Alice Cooper really, really loud.


Okay, if you haven't heard of any of this music, please feel free to contact me and I'll direct you to the appropriate place :)

DAY NINE: Something you’re proud of in the past few days

Hmmm... something I'm proud of in the past few days...I don't know if I'm actually proud of this but I feel good about it so I'll go with it!


Over the past few weeks a friend has been in hospital. It's not your usual in hospital scenario it's a kind of in hospital but allowed to walk around. Stop. Damn it he's been in the Psych ward at SCGH. He wont mind, a lot of you will know of whom I speak.


Anyway over the past few months we've become good friends and I've tried to help out when he'll let me, he's so stubborn, he drives me crazy. That's because I am equally as stubborn.


What I'm proud of is how much I've learned from this man, he's taught me so much and I've been able to overcome many fears by visiting him regularly and happily spending too much time chatting about all kinds of everything.


You see the thing is that this time three months ago I thought that I would be in a Psych ward, that I was good for nothing and I was pretty much a waste of space, my Depression was so severe. So I'm proud of him and I'm proud of me. Love to you my forever friend x

DAY EIGHT: Short term goals for this month and why?

UGH! I hate setting goals, I try my best so here are my short term goals;

• Keep myself mentally healthy! This is really an ongoing goal but I'm in a good place at the moment and I really want to stay here.
• Complete my School Reunion people finding mission for my School Reunion on 13th November.
• Keep the house neat and tidy. It's looking great at the moment, I just have to make it stay this way. it's so much easier than running around like a mad woman if we're having visitors.
• Get me friend out of hospital and settled in to his new home - this will bring me enormous joy!
• Help Damien get through the month and make his tour to the US happen and his new CD's be huge sellers and make life easier.
• Make sure my family are all looked after and are safe and sound and happy because I love them.

Wow! I set goals. I hope I can do it all.

DAY SEVEN: A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

The person that has had the biggest impact on my life is my Mum - Dora. This photo was taken in June at her 85th birthday party.
Mum together with my Daddy has been there for me through thick and thin, good and bad and managed to deal with my teenage "I know everything syndrome" much better than I would have.
I can tell Mum anything and everything. We argue sometimes but it's always over in a flash, I've turned in to my Mother how could we not argue?
Mum was the one that looked after me when I was sick, made every birthday and Christmas so special and she still does. When something goes wrong she's the first person I turn to because I know she'll understand.
As Mum gets older I love being able to return some of her love and care. We shop together every second Thursday, we go to the hairdresser together, we sit and read magazines and drink coffee together we really enjoy each others company.
Mum taught me about good manners, acceptance of all, to treat others as you wish to be treated. I like to think she's taught me well and that the things I teach my daughters are passed down from her.
I guess the greatest gift my Mum ever gave me was the gift of caring for my Daddy. Even when he was so ill she battled on and on keeping her promise to look after him at home. It was chance that stepped him and had him spend his last few weeks in hospital. The pain and heart ache etched on her face will never leave me. I love you Mum and wish I could have you forever, I'm so very blessed. x

DAY SIX: Favourite Superhero and why?

This one is easy for me, BATMAN is my favourite superhero!
If you take one letter out of my maiden name you get BATMAN so I spent 12 years of school with this nickname.
I used to love the old fun TV series and one of my favourite movie's is from the real BATMAN, The Dark Knight with Heath Ledger as The Joker "why so serious" being one of my all time favourite lines from a movie.

DAY FIVE: A picture of somewhere I've been to

I was lucky enough to go to London and Paris for a month in 2000. 
One of the high lights was definitely seeing the Eiffel Tower up close and personal.  I was shocked that it was brown and rusty looking but it was a really special day in Paris and a very special month.
An adventure I will always treasure.

DAY FOUR: A habit I wish I didn't have

I have lots of habits, good and bad, so this one took a lot of thought. The habit I wish I didn't have is the old starting things and never finishing them. I'm always full of bright ideas but seem to lose my way. It's really annoying. I do finish some things in case you're wondering!

DAY THREE: A picture of me and my friends

Okay! After a few days of looking at the horrible photo I've taken it down. I hope this isn't cheating but I hate having my photo taken and the photo only had a few of my friends in it. So, I'm going to name them, put them in categories and then in alphabetical order!


It's me again. this really is a work in progress - just not happy with this part of the Blog - I'm changing it again!!

DAY TWO: The meaning behind my Blog name

My Blog name is cathyzaikos. I chose this name for my Blog simply because it's my name. I like the way it looks when it's all in lower case and one word. That was boring!

DAY ONE: A recent picture of me and 15 interesting facts about myself

1.I'm the youngest of three children. I have a sister 16 years older and a brother 12 years older than me. I am the baby of the family and always will be. 


2. I have green eyes. They are my favourite feature, actually the only feature I am truly happy with.


3.I have the best Mum in the world. She is also my closest friend, the one person that truly understands me and my weird ways.


4.My Daddy, yes, Daddy, was my rock. He was truly amazing. A real gentleman, a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. In his late 70's he was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. He beat Bowel Cancer during this time but as strong as he was and as hard as he fought he couldn't conquer Parkinsons Disease. It was horrible to watch and be able to do very little. Finally he gave in and died in the early hours of Sunday 30th June 2008 at the age of 87. He had a good innings but I miss him so much.  


5.My real name is Cathy, not Catherine, Cathleen just plain Cathy. I loathe it so most people call me Cath.


6.I married Tom on 09/09/1990. The date was pure coincidence. We recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. He's a wonderful man. I'm very lucky.


7. We have two beautiful daughters. They were born in 1994 and 1996 which makes them teenagers. They give me strength!


8. I've only had one place of employment. I worked for a large Commonwealth Government Department for just over 11 years. One day I got sick, walked out the door and never went back!


9.That brings me to the fact that I left work due to illness. I had Chronic Anxiety Attacks which led to several months of Agoraphobia and of course then Severe Depression all of which I still suffer from today. If you need a friend just yell! I'm lucky that I lead a pretty normal life thanks to an amazing Doctor and some medication.


10.The first time I went to a pub was The Charles Hotel to see The Angels. I was 16. I didn't have one alcoholic drink. I loved the experience of live music and still do.


11.I'm a live concert addict. I have seen so many local and overseas bands/singers it's ridiculous and I have a whole stack of tickets for forthcoming concerts on my pin up board, it's almost embarrassing.


12.I like to think I can save the world. If there's something I can do to help someone I will do it. I have to learn that I can not save the world, I can however try my best.


13.I was born on the 20th September in Mount Lawley. I lived in Mount Lawley until I was married.


14.I'm still good friends with at least 5 people I went to Kindergarten, Primary School and High School with. This year is our 30th Anniversary of finishing Year 12. 


15.In 2000 I spent close to a month in London and Paris. It was a dream holiday. I am truly blessed.

The 30 Day Challenge

I’ve been trying to BLOG for ages but haven’t been very successful. So with some inspiration from some wonderful people I am going to complete The 30 Day Challenge.

What is The 30 Day Challenge?

Here’s how it works - post every day for 30 days :

day 1- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
day 2- The meaning behind your blog name
day 3- A picture of you and your friends
day 4- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
day 5- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
day 6- Favorite super hero and why
day 7- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
day 8- Short term goals for this month and why
day 9- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
day 10- Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
day 12- How you found out about blogging and why you have one
day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
day 14- A picture of you and your family
day 15- Put you ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play
day 16- Another picture of yourself
day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
day 19- Nicknames you have and why you have them
day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future
day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
day 23- Something you crave a lot
day 24- A letter to your parents
day 25- What I would find in your bag
day 26- What do you think about your friends
day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
day 28- A picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?
day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
day 30- Your favorite song