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It’s been said that you don’t know someone, or know their life, until you walk a mile in their shoes. And until we do that, we really have no idea what goes on in another person’s life, every day. Sure, for those of us who blog, Twitter and have Facebook accounts, we do reveal parts of our lives. But only part, not the whole. To judge someone from what we know of them from their blog, their tweets and what they put on Facebook is misguided at best and at worst, potentially very hurtful for the person concerned.

What if we decide to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes? What if the day we decide to do that isn’t a day that they have to contend with cleaning fecal murals off walls, meltdown week before an IVIG infusion, visiting a dear friend every day to support them in their health battle, bendy wrists and other joints which make everything difficult, coping with grief that leaves them speechless, coping with the challenges that single parenting brings and many other challenges that each of us face each and every day – the big things, things that can make us stop in our tracks, draw breath and wonder how we will cope for even another 5 minutes, let alone another day, week, month or year. If none of those big things happen while we walk in someone else’s shoes, do we really know them? I don’t think so.

We are all individuals and we all have had different lives and experiences that make us who we are. For many of us, previous circumstances shape how we respond in certain situations. For me, if either of my kids have problems at school I may seem quick to jump in but only because I know that sitting back and waiting as I have done before only makes situations worse. You may judge me on how quickly I act, but you don’t know the heartache I have watched my kids endure because I waited. Similarly, we don’t know what shapes others and their lives so none of us should judge. Sadly though, some do and when those thoughts are voiced it can have a huge impact on the person that they are aimed at.

Each of us is entitled to our opinions and to make decisions which affect our lives and our families the way we want. Others may not agree with those decisions or opinions, but that doesn’t mean that what we do is “wrong”. To judge others without really knowing and understanding them is wrong.

Next time you sit in judgement of someone, remember they did not appoint you as their jury. Unless they have asked for your opinion, then please keep it to yourself. Chances are, even when you are asked for your opinion, you don’t have all the facts, you aren’t that person and you weren’t living their life so your opinion will most probably be biased based on your experience.

Maybe I’m a dreamer, but wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to worry so much about what people think of us and whether they will voice those opinions or not, especially the negative ones. It seems that generally we are all much quicker to voice the negatives rather than the positives. Instead of kicking someone when they’re down, try and offer them a hand to pull them up. It might just make their day.

I have one exam on Tuesday and two on Wednesday (exam timetable from hell!!!) I know there are lots of you waiting to see photos from our trip, I promise I will post them as soon as I can after the exam on Wednesday. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Edit – A few of you have asked if this post is in response to a comment or something that I have received – it isn’t. It is in response to many comments I have read on other blogs that are very judgmental and also posts by other bloggers about comments and emails that they have received. Thank you for your concern for me though

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Finally it seems everything (well, almost everything) is back up and running here the way that it should be.

I have had a few problems after changing my hosting – note to self – when changing hosts and doing a backup of your blog and necessary files, don’t leave them on the desktop of your computer and make sure that the backups etc have worked before you pull the pin on the old one. Bloody blondes, can’t be trusted.

After many hours days weeks of anguish and stress, it seems I have finally got it all to work. No mean feat let me tell you. A few times I thought that I had it right but then it all went pear shaped. I needed to slow down and go through the processes very methodically so that nothing got missed.

With several tabs open (about 15!!!!) in Firefox and at least one Filezilla window open, along with emails etc, I was chopping and changing between cpanel and FTP, as well as retrieving emailed files. It was scary for a while but I made it. And I have learnt so much, even in the last couple of days. I almost think that it was worth doing for what I have learnt, let alone the satisfaction of knowing that it all finally worked.

The only thing that I am not sure about is my feeds. So if you have come here via one of the feed readers, please let me know in the comments. I don’t know if its something that will fix itself in time (hopefully not too long) or if there is a major error somewhere that I need to fix.

Oh and because I wasn’t breathing whilst being so stressed about breaking my  blog, I completely missed my blogging anniversary – it was February 10.  12 months – where has that gone????

Its been a great year and I have really enjoyed blogging and getting to know so many other wonderful people. Here’s to another year or more of blogging and getting to know more bloggers and read their blogs.

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I’m not sure to be honest, it was probably the pain making me crazy. Or at least turning molehills into mountains. How could giving up blogging be a good thing??? Ummm, it wouldn’t be, for lots of reasons. But my reasoning was a little distorted, to say the least.

Early in November I was in a little bit of pain from an abscessed tooth. But there was a problem – my Uni exams were about a week later and I couldn’t miss them, right???? So, I did what any needle-phobic student with exams looming would do, went into denial and just took painkillers. I thought it was a great idea, just keep popping Nurofen Plus (ibuprofen and codeine in one marvellous tablet) and everything will be OK. I got the first exam done and then the next day (Friday) I admitted defeat and went to the Dentist. She gave me a script for antibiotics and an appointment was made for the Monday (straight after my second exam) to have the tooth out.

Remember that bit about me being needle-phobic??? That means for me to go to the Dentist and have a needle I have to have someone with me to calm my nerves a bit and squeeze the life out of their hand while the needle goes in. Right, Hubby lined up to take some time off work and come with me. We waited almost an hour in the waiting room and still no sign that I would be seeing the Dentist any time soon. By this time I was a sobbing mess at the anticipation of having to have a needle. I was close to being physically sick so we walked out. After talking to the Dentist about my needle phobia, another appointment was made for the Wednesday night and I was going to have to go by myself *gulp*.

After an hour and a half in the chair, I left with one tooth less than I walked in with, a stitch in my mouth where the tooth was and a script for some super pain killers. Oh, and a tendency to dribble after having a local anaesthetic . So the plan was now that the tooth was gone and the antibiotics finished all would improve. WRONG!!!!!!! It got worse……. I had Dry Socket (that link is to Wikipedia and gives an easy to understand explanation if you have never heard of it). The pain was worse than the abscess had been. I struggled to get through every day for another week and a half. I was so miserable because I wasn’t expecting to get worse, I was in pain and I couldn’t eat anything that required chewing at all. I guess the upside is I did lose a bit of weight.

This was about the time that I posted that I wasn’t going to blog anymore. I really wasn’t keeping my head above water and I was getting behind at work and at home. I really felt at the time that the best option was to remove any online distractions, including my blog. The other online things are gone, except for Aussie Bloggers Forum and I have decided to keep my blog going, for a few reasons.

Early this year I decided that this was going to be a year for me to do things just for me and the two big things are Uni and blogging. To give up now with the blogging would mean giving up something that I love doing. Not just the blogging, but the friendships formed through blogging and the people that I have met, both online and in real life. That means too much to me to give it up.

So, if anyone still has me in the readers, or their blogroll, then I am officially back

Things are looking up a lot – I have had 3 or 4 days with no painkillers and my Uni results are in and even with the tooth dramas I still managed to pass both units. So now I have time with family and friends over Christmas and two weeks off work for relaxing to look forward to. Bring it on.

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I gotta go. No more blogging for me.

Thanks for everything to all of you, if you’re still reading. I’m not planning on being back, my domain name is up for renewal fairly soon so I won’t be renewing it.

We all have mountains to climb, mine at the moment needs my undivided attention. I wish all of you luck with your own mountains and look after yourselves.

There are many that I wouldn’t have got to know without blogging so I will be eternally grateful for that. Some of you have touched my life in ways I can’t begin to describe. Thanks for all the support, fun, laughter and friendship.

I might see you somewhere around the Blogosphere.

Take care

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Back in January, not long after I joined the Aussie Bloggers Forum, Anonymum and I started talking via messages at the Forum and emails. From the start, we just clicked and got on really well. We have since got to know each other quite well and we talk a lot. And I mean A LOT. Usually we talk via text message these days as well as messages on the Forum and email.

It seems that we have a lot in common, not least of all the same warped and weird sense of humour. Which makes us both laugh and I’m sure, leaves others in our wake shaking their heads trying to work us out. And if anyone has heard or seen her refer to me as “Blondie”, thats because of my blondeness – I am blonde and I am a blonde sometimes – a source of great amusement

When Anonymum found out that DH and I were going to be in Cairns and Port Douglas, she suggested that it was the perfect opportunity for her and Mark to have a weekend away and for us to meet face to face. So dates and accomodation were organised and a couple of possible restaurants for dinner. And like the couple of kids that we are, we started counting the sleeps until that Saturday. There were many posts in the Shout Box at the Forum, text messages and emails counting the sleeps.

Finally the day arrives for us to meet and my phone beeped at 6am with a text message – “Guess what, no more sleeps”. LOL, lucky I was awake.

DH and I spent the morning in the main town of Port Douglas strolling around the shops. I think that he knew he needed to keep me busy so that the nerves and excitement didn’t get the better of me. We went back to the hotel and sat by the pool and I counted the hours and minutes till they arrived. Finally Anonymum and Mark arrived at the hotel we were staying at and as we approached the car park to meet them there, this voice screams from one end to the other “Yo, Blondie!!!!”

The four of us spent the afternoon talking and drinking and talking and laughing. And both husbands just kept shaking their heads at us. I think that they are both relieved to know that they aren’t the only one with a crazy wife. We then went our separate ways to meet up later for dinner. We then ate, talked, laughed, drank, ate, laughed and talked some more. Sunday morning we met up at the Markets in Port Douglas, had a wander around, had some lunch and then it was time for Anonymum and Mark to leave.

The weekend went way too fast and we all had a great time. I didn’t really feel that I was meeting her for the first time though, I guess because we have got to know each other so well over the last few months. Honestly, it felt more like a catch up after not seeing each other for a while.

To a wonderful friend, it was so great to meet you face to face, and thank you for the effort of driving 4 and a half hours each way. And thank you to Mark as well. I know you said that its not a long way to drive but I want you to know that we both appreciate it. Here’s to lots more friendship, fun and laughter. Hopefully in person again and sooner rather than later.

Oh, and its just over 100 sleeps till my birthday…………..

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Peter Pan! I just figured out I have not updated this since they invented sliced bread… You would not believe how insane my life has become. I hope you still love me!.

I am absolutely consumed with sleeping my way to the top, driving from one end of the city to the other, just generally being a nuisance to society in general, my day often feels wasted from 4am to 11pm at which point I fall asleep on the couch. I am so exhausted but who cares.

I swear on the bones of my ancestors if one more person emails me to ask why I haven’t posted today I will start posting pictures of toe fungus, or fecal murals. You wanna test me? Assuming I don’t get distracted by counting my chest hairs..

I know, it says I wrote it, but I didn’t. Honest. Its from The Lazy Bloggers Post Generator, launched today over at Aussie Bloggers. The possibilities are amazing so go and have a play and see what you come up with.

Its been just over six months since the Forum was launched and the Blog was launched 3 weeks later.Its a great place to meet people who are willing to share a wealth of information about blogging. THere are also lots of other discussions going on about a huge range of subjects from “What’s for Dinner” to Dexter which has just started on free-to-air TV over here. Finally, I can read the Dexter thread

So if you’re an Aussie, a blogger or just want to meet a great bunch of people and learn more about blogging then wander over to the Forum and say “Hi”.

Happy Birthday Aussie Bloggers !!!! Here’s to many more months of success and fun.

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