Are you feeling the pressure?

I often feel that I really am a terrible mother and I feel guilty about it but then I try to remind myself that my kids don't really know anything different so they surely can't realize that I'm a terrible mother.

We don't really have any real Christmas traditions. On Christmas eve we normally have our closest friends over for dinner. My friend Jess & Himself does the cooking since I'm usually still working on the 24th.

Because both our families live in either South Africa or Australia for the past 5 years we've been spending Christmas day with some friends. This year they are going to Ireland as my friend's mom is very sick which means that it'll be just the four of us as home. I can see a day spent in pjs watching movies and eating leftovers from our Christmas eve dinner party.

Not to mention:

I have still not taken any Christmas photo's of my kids. I've been meaning to but aah you know it's just never the right time. When I have a moment they are either 'too buys' or too dirty or still wearing their pj's.

I did take some photos of them on Saturday morning after they decided to make the most of the bit of snow that fell during the night but I haven't down-loaded them yet. This is a huge problems since I broke the laptop yesterday. Totally killed it! It's a miracle that I survived telling my dear husband what I did to his laptop.

I have not yet done any baking with the kids, no cookies, no cupcakes, nothing!

We have not been to 1 single Christmas market. To be fair Himself is totally opposed to the idea of going (he's been there before and he's not going back). It's crazy busy, finding parking is a nightmare and honestly who wants to go with 2 kids just to endure being showed and pushed around by a bunch of annoying rude people? I know it sounds as if I've lots my Christmas spirit, I haven't I just hate trying to push my way through hordes of people. It might have something to do with the fact that I'm on the short and no-one ever steps out of the way for me so I'm always side stepping people. But I'm rambling ....

Have not yet done any Christmas shopping. Nothing, not a single one thing. I'm sure my kids will find some gifts under the tree on Christmas morning but it's 99% sure that it will be Himself who'll have gone shopping. In my defence I work full time, he being his own boss and having no official office or working hours can go shopping at any time. He is also much better at shopping than what I am so it makes sense for him to do the shopping.   I'll do the wrapping, I love wrapping!

Our tree is looking pretty sad, thanks to the 3 monsters dogs who we share our house with or who share their house with us according to them. Very few Christmasy decorations have been put on display, once again thanks to the aforementioned dogs. They also seem to think that because we have a real tree in the house they can pee on it. I kid you not!

On the positive side, I've been making special hot chocolate for the kids..... they don't think it's special, they want it this way all the time.

I've been watching Christmas movies with them.... until they beg me to let them watch some normal tv.

We've been listening to Christmas music ... I have had to make a dear with them, for every Christmas carol I chose they could choose something they liked so we've been listening a to to Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus as well.

So before the weekend I plan on baking some biscuits with the kids & taking a Christmas picture of them even if only to make myself feel less guilty....

　

How about you? Do you feel you are living up to your own expectations? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Tell me the truth you bunch of Liars -

I was totally inspired by 'Tell me the truth you bunch of Liars' so here is my list of things I really am grateful for:

The fact that I don't have to dress up for work which means that pulling on a pair of jeans, a hoody & sneakers is all the thinking required from me about my outfit in the morning.

Having had the presents of mind to make sure the kids school uniform was put out the night before because there are few things as annoying as them not finding a sock or a shirt for school.

And while we are on the subject, school uniforms, it's wonderful not to have to argue with Cat about taking ages on deciding what to wear for school every day.

I also have to admit that I love the odd evenings when the kids are in bed and Himself is out which means that I get to lie in bed and watch what ever I want!

Being able to use the kids as an excuse for not going to a party or some kind of event. It's terrible and please tell me that I'm not the only one who has done this but man it's useful!

Getting snowed in. I love it cause it means no school, no work and just being totally lazy wearing pj's all day long and watching movies. Love it!

Having a husband & kids who are very happy to get take-away for dinner!

PSP & Nintendo for making long trips so easy. I know there are mom's out there who make up games and all kinds of special things for their kids to do. Great for you, you clearly are a far better mom than me!

Coffee, wine & cookies ... not at the same time but I don't think I could live without any of it!

So go ahead and admit what you are really grateful for and while you are at it check out Sassy-modern-mom's list.

Painful new look

Late yesterday afternoon I went from a 1 ½ years of looking like this:

Not my actual mouth but like this lady I had braces on my top teeth

　

To looking like this:



Yip, just like this lady I now also sport braces top and bottom



It's so not the kind of look you want acquire the day before your work Christmas dinner. But at least I'll still be able to drink.

On the bright side since none of my teeth are currently touching, meaning I can't chew anything, I might just lose some much needed weight this Christmas.

2 On Tuesday

Since today is Tuesday Wednesday I'm once again linking up with Andrea over on My Chihuahua bites for her weekly 2 On Tuesday.

This week she's asking us:

What is your favourite Christmas movie and which are your 2 favourite Christmas songs?

Without a doubt my all time favourite Christmas movie is:

I really really love this movie. I'll even admit to you that I cried during the opening  when Hugh Grant is saying:

'Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around.'

In general I would have to say that I find it hard not to love any Christmas movie.  I love the soppiness and the nostalgia and the focus on all things good.   I like the focus it puts on all things hopeful and happy.  

As for my favourite Christmas songs:  Ooh this is hard to choose.  

I'm going to have to say the first song that pops into my  head is 'Let it snow' and then who could ever resist 'Santa Baby?'

So why don't you join Andrea's link up party?

Saint Nicholas

Hellooooo - sorry for being away for so long, I've been sick and sleeping and nothing else.

Ok, that's not entirely true. I still got my kids up and to school everyday and we all still ate and some of the washing still got done but when not busy doing those non-negotiable  things I was sleeping.
 

So I know I've got some catching up to do.
 

Firstly, during this time Saint-Nicholas made his appearance in houses all over Belgium. In general I would say that St. Nicholas is more important in Belgian families than Santa.  

In our house we have both but of course the arrival of Santa is the big thing and he also brings our kids more gifts. is Before going to bed on the 5th of December kids will put out their shoes for the saint.  They might also add some carrots or sugar lumps for the saint's horse and something for the saint to drink. (Some people are known to leave a glass of wine for the saint, we just leave him a glass of milk).

 

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If they have been good they will get presents chocolate, and spiced cookies called speculoos marzipan and mandarins.  If they were bad the saint's helper Swarte Piet (the Flemish name) meaning 'Black Peter' or Père Fouettard as he is known in French will leave sticks or coal in their shoes.  Of course all kids are good.  

My work gives a huge Saint-Nicholas party for all the kids every year. So on Sunday 4 December I dragged myself out of bed & we made it to the party for about 2 hours so the kids could get their presents.

 

We have finally also put up our Christmas tree.  Of course I had more fun doing it than the kids who got bored ½ way but we were dancing around to Christmas music and drinking hot cocoa when it was all done.

 
So far the dogs have been reasonably well behaved. I think we've only lost about 3 decorations to them. However, last night one of them knocked the tree down and I was very sad to discover that that my Trump Towers decoration which a friend brought over from Chicago last year broke.

I'm dreaming of .....

Ugh I feel terrible! I have been fighting this cold for 2 weeks now trying my best to keep it at bay. I've been avoiding friends & even my mom who have all been sick !

Despite all of this I got sick. Not fun at all! It's Christmas time! I'm meant to be feeling happy and energetic and in the mood to get it all started. But no, I'm sitting at work feeling cr@p and blowing my Rudoph's nose every 5 min.

I have a stupid cough and I'm tired. I'm not sleeping well cause who can sleep well when they have a blocked nose? Not me, that's for sure.

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Anyway to try and cheer myself up I've compiled a fantasy wish list ...

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And to be able to fly all our friends & family over  so we can all spend Christmas together.

I'm hoping we win the Euro millions before December 24 then I might just get everything on my list!

How about you? What is on your fantasy list?

Happy Thanksgiving

Just in case you have the time between family & friends, good food & giving thanks to check my blog today I would just like to say:

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Yesterday Today & Tomorrow

Yesterday

I rushed out the door & discovered when I got to the train station that I had forgotten to change into work shoes --> FAIL

I also forgot to my glasses so I spent all day squinting at my computer screen --> FAIL

Taking casual office wear just a little bit too far ...

Today

I've spent all day publishing updated market information only to discover that I have some how lost everything i/o publishing it --> FAIL

I pretty much also feel like crying out of frustration!

Tomorrow

Who the hell knows what I'm going to screw up tomorrow

2 On Tuesday: Thankful for Blogging

Ok so I'm not American & we don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I think that Thanksgiving should be an international holiday. Too often we concentrate on all the things that we want and need & not nearly enough time on being grateful for what we have.

Right I'll get off my soap box now and link up with Andrea for 2 On Tuesday and tell you:

Why I am thankful for blogging?

　

1. I am thankful for the laughs that blogging has brought to my life. You know those funny moments you blog about or read about which while it was happening seemed so embarrassing and worthy of the earth opening up and swallowing you whole. Those blogs in retrospect make you laugh and remind you not to take yourself so seriously all the time.

2. Letting me know that I'm normal. I'm not the only women who is having a hard time doing it all. Other women also 'screw up' some times or have an untidy house of feel like they need a drink or two. No-one has the perfect home situation, not SAHM's or WAHM's or Working moms. We all just do the best we can.

So Thank you to all of you for all your Blogs I love reading them!

A taste of the good life

New Blog alert:

Melissa over on Completely Eclipsed put a notice on her blog the other day about a new blogger. I checked her out & she looks lovely. So go on and say hi to her and check out her blog Good in my Feet.

While you at it why don't you check out this cool web site called awesomommy.

Now if you have ever read my profile you'll have know that I fantasize about a life of leisure.

On Thursday I had not been feeling too great and since I knew that I had nothing super urgent to do at work on Friday I decided to stay at home and play hooky recover. It's not often that I get to spend time with my man, all by myself.

After taking the kids to school and sorting out the dogs I hoped back into bed snuggled up and we watched a movie, Warrior. (not really a girls movie but it had a good message & my man loved it).

Then Jay called to say that he was finished with work for the day and did Himself want to do something (Jay is a para-trooper and has really great work hours). Jay's wife who is one of my best friends was also home sick from work (she really has been sick all week). Within about 15 min it was decided that we should go out for lunch.

Let me tell you I would love to have long leisurely lunches every day!

We sat outside under the space heater with blankets over our legs. Just as a side note I think all restaurants should provide you with blankets. Kay & I had gotten there first since the boys had to go find parking. We had just gotten settled when this young waiter walks past us with a tray and 2 glasses of white wine. 'Two white wines' he asked, 'no but we'll have them' Then he asked us 'would you like some money?' Kay & I just looked at each other 'yes please' we replied still a little confused but if the boy was handing out money, who are we to stop him.

But no, we only got a menu each.

Money / Menu .... it's a French accent thing.

Lunch was de-vine!

If ever you find yourself in Waterloo, Belgium you should stop by and have lunch or dinner at Six Colonnes. It was our first time there but we will be going back there soon.

Just to give you an idea between us we had:

For Starters:

• Foie Gras with Brioché
• Cheese croquettes (sounds so much nicer in French: Les petits fondus au fromage)
• Fresh fish soup

and for the Main course:

• Sole with a butter glaze and mash potatoes (le Duo de solettes meunières, bintjes écrasées)
• Tomato and shrimp salad, served with french fries (did you know that french fries are not really french at all but actually Belgian?)
• Pheasant Vol au vent
• Sea food risotto

Nothing like a good glass or 2 3 of wine, and great friends, and my man to share a truly leisurely lunch with, especially when you know you could should be sitting in the office.

Himself had better start making some big bucks now cause I would like to do that again and often.

The rest of the weekend was rather quiet.

Cat was off at scout's camp and Himself was in Poland on business to launch Stack-Cup Poland.They both came home saying that they had a great time and didn't miss Tiger & I much.

Tiger & I went couch hunting, he picked a huge white leather couch. It would be good since our lounge is really dark and putting a dark couch in there would not be the best for making the room seem bigger or lighter but honestly I can't imagine how long that couch would stay nice. I'm leaning more towards maybe a butter coloured couch, but we'll have to wait & see. All I know is that we'll have to order one soon or our guest will have to sit on the floor come Christmas.

and the winner is.........

Apparently we've got a who's the better spouse competition running in our house. Yeah I was informed of it last night and told that I'm loosing the race spectacularly.

The reasons why I'm losing (according to Himself):

1. He's cooked dinner 2 nights in a row this week.

2. He's replaced the 'door' that was stopping the dogs from going upstairs and we now have a nice looking gate there.

3. He's bought me my own, electric sander, jig-saw and glue-gun.

Now I'm not sure but me thinks it doesn't quite work like that.

What do you think?

2-on Tuesday : Pet-peeves

I know it's Wednesday and I'm a day late, sorry! But when I saw the topic I just had to take part.

So for Andrea's  2-on Tuesday here are my pet-peeves:

Without even having to think about it I can tell you that my number 1 pet-peeve of all time is PEOPLE WHO LITTER!!!

Honestly it makes me totally irrationally angry!

How hard is it to keep a piece of paper or plastic or whatever it may be in your pocket or in your car until you can find a dustbin??

I'm getting annoyed just thinking about it!

I've managed to teach my kids to have the same pet-peeve. Every time they see someone litter they comment on how rude & disgusting it is.

Number 2 is harder to determine cause I have quite a few pet peeves (I might have quite a few but I'm pretty good at keeping my mouth shut). 

I would have to say it is inconsiderate people. Inconsideration can be expressed in so many way, not waiting for people to step of the train before pushing your way onto the the train, saying you'll do something and then don't. Making people go to a specific restaurant so they can accommodate your 'special' food whims and then on the day decide that you didn't feel like going after all.

Tuesday night dinner

I admire and yes, I'll admit envy women who manages to work full time and then have a healthy dinner on the table every night.

I know that it takes planning and organizing and self-discipline. (I seem to lack all of these when it comes to cooking dinner).

In our house dinner is very much a last minute event all depending on what time I or all of us got home. What can be found in the fridge and who will be having dinner. When it's just the kids & I have a hard time convincing myself to cook an entire meal.

Last night Himself & the kids were waiting for me at the train station. As usual I asked 'so what do you feel like doing for dinner tonight?'

I'll cook dinner he said and then mentioned that our friends Jay & Kay would we popping round for dinner.

Let me tell you he might not cook very often but when he does its good!

The menu:

Olives and fetta cheese

An assortment of cold cuts

Fresh warm bread

Starter:

Fresh carbonara made with handmade pasta

Salad

Main: Lamb chops, grilled potatos and a red oinion in red wine reduction on the side

Wine: a most lovely Raka Quinary 2006 from South Africa
Dessert: Fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream

Mmmh it was GOOD!

The most wonderful time of the year

There is only one Starbucks in Brussels and it's at the central station. There is one at the airport as well but that doesn't really count as being in Brussels.

Once in a while I'll get off the train at Central station and indulge my craving and then hop on a train to North station to go to work.

I did that this morning. Got myself a Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha (Grande). While listening to Christmas carols. Man it just put me in the mood for Christmas.



I still have to try the other 2 flavours



Then as usual on a Tuesday I met up with my mom for lunch only we didn't really feel like eating to we strolled in and out of a couple of stores in the 'mall' close to my office. I wasn't planning on getting anything but I just could not resist getting a couple of Christmas decorations like these:

Love these little laterns

Are they not just too cute?

Aah I'm so glad it's this time of the year!

It's true, I do!

In mourning

I should have expected it, when I was unable to load photo's last week. My laptop died. I can not explain to you how upset/frustrated I am by this but then I'm pretty sure you can imagine. Our desktop is dead & to get my hands on the other laptop in the house would mean I would have to steal away from Himself in the middle of the night. I don't know how long I'm going to last without it. This is why I'm in mourning.

I'm thinking of getting a Ipad, however I'm still a little unsure so if any of you have an opinion on it let me know.

Not quite what my laptop looks like, but it's just as dead so it might as well

On more general weekend news, Tiger lost his 1st tooth on Friday night. He just walked into the room & told his dad that he'd had enough and could he just pull it out. That was it. No fuss nothing.

Of course the tooth fairy made a visit. In fact, according to Tiger there were more than one fairy. He both heard & saw them. Now he's begging to be take to the shop so he can spend his money. He does not believe in saving (so he is his father child after all).

Busy week here at work but on the upside I just realized  that Friday is another public holiday so yeah to a 4 day working week!

Hope you have a good week!

Mid-term break

I'm so annoyed I wrote an entire post about our weekend and then when it came to down loading my photo's last night my memory card would not work !!

I had a couple of choice words to say (under my breath) to my camera

And without the photo's the post would just be too blah for words.

　

Soooooo what now I have to come up with a new post.

Our kids are on their mid-term break this week. Himself had a couple of things to do in town yesterday so he left the kids at home. Ok ok before you all reply and comment on how could we ever leave our kids home alone let me just say this:

We live on a 'farm'

We own 3 big boxers

Said dogs are scary if you don't know them or they don't know you.

There is no crime in our village

It was only for 3 hours & they have a phone to call us if anything happens

Right, so when he got home he found them working in the garden. Yip you read that right, my kids had decided on their own to rake up the leaves in the drive.

When Himself asked Cat what they were up to she said:

'Well you know dad, it's good to get dirty some times'

They have gone to Eftling today. Efteling is the Dutch take on Disney. It's great! The kids love going and we don't mind going either. It's better than Disney land Paris in our opinion because it's spread out more, the cues are shorter and Tiger can go on nearly all the rides.

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Because someone has to work I could not go with.

When putting the kids to bed last night Cat tells me that she thinks I should call my boss & tell him that I'm sick. Maybe say something like I'm vomiting.

Mmmh she was off school last Friday because she was sick & vomiting.... makes me wonder.

PS. My opinions about Disney Land Paris & Efteling are my own. I was not asked to promote and/or comment on either.

What's your number?

So I am special after all :)

I'm not talking about the new movie I'm talking about where you are in the world population ranking.

A friend sent me this link.... check it out it's totally cool and a bit scary at the same time.

My general life expectation has dramatically increased since moving to Belgium - Thank goodness for that

Here are my stats:

South Africa

Population: 50288512

Birth rate per hour: 123

Death rate per hour: 85

Immigration rate per hour: +16

Average yearly growth rate: +1.0%

Average life expectancy: 51.2 years

vs

Belgium

Population: 10731692

Birth rate per hour: 14

Death rate per hour: 12

Immigration rate per hour: +5

Average yearly growth rate: +0.6%

Average life expectancy: 79.8 years

So link back & tell me what your stats look like.

Do you still believe?

We are expecting a visit from the tooth fairy any day now. It'll will be Tiger's first tooth. (he's the only kid in his class who has not yet lost a tooth).

Needless to say he is super excited about the prospect cause he knows that he will be well rewarded.

When Cat starting losing her teeth it sometimes happened that she would lose 2 at the same time.

You will not believe this but the kids saw this as a money making opportunity.

I overheard them plotting to get a pair of pliers and pull out more teeth in order to get more money.

I would be willing to lose a thooth if he came to collect it .. just saying

I think Cat knows the truth behind the tooth fairy & Santa & Saint Nicolas (I'll tell you all about St. Nicolas in early December). But she still wants to believe.

She recently asked me if I still believed in Santa. My answer: Of course I do! Santa and all the others are real as long as you believe they are.

Tiger also explained to me that the tooth fairy is real but so is the tooth mouse. He told me that the tooth fairy brings the money in exchange for the tooth and then gives the tooth to the tooth mouse (this might be from a movie?).

Do you still have visits from the tooth fairy at your house?

22 Things I Have done:

Vinobaby's Voice decided that after making a list of all the things we haven't yet done we should maybe focus on what we've done ... we might surprise even ourselves.

Here's my list:

　

1. Sat on a motorbike while a herd of elephant crossed the road around me.

2. Gone zip-lining

3. 'Stage dived' off a bar counter

4. Hitch-hiked in South Africa and survived

5. Picked up hitch-hikers, gave them a place to sleep, in South Africa & survived

6. Had green hair

7. Had my appendix removed on April Fools day

8. Can & have milked cows by hand

9. Gone sandboarding in Namibia



This is a photo of my brother ... also taken in Namibia



10. Saw Halley's comet

11. Gone fire fighting on a game reserve

12. Can still fit into my primary school uniform

13. Have lived in 26 houses in 12 towns in 3 countries

14. Drank Absinthe -> NEVER doing that again

15. Drank a bottle of wine with a straw, by myself -> NEVER doing that again

16. Been asked if I was my (then 8 year old) daughter's big sister.

17. Watched Space Jam in German

I worked as an au-pair in Germany, this was the 1st movie I saw

18. Slept under a Boabab tree

This tree can be found close to where I grew-up .. I never slept under this one but under a similar one in Zimbabwe

19. Gone white water rafting

20. Climbed to the top of the Atomium (Before I ever lived in Belgium)

Built for the World Fair in 1958 in Brussels

21. Gone snorkelling with stingray's and sand sharks

22. Gone skinny dipping

Right, so why don't you link up and share your list with us, I for one is dying to know.

Underdressed for scouts!

I read Alyssa's post over at Near Normalcy Humiliation and volunteerism. Also Girl Scouts don't eat cookies. It ties right into my post today...

Well Cat recently joined a scouts troop. This is her first foray into the world of scouts. Needless to say I'm totally ignorant about what it all entails except for the fact that I've seen them around on Sunday's and she loves going. Her best friend invited her along which is how she found out about it.

Yesterday was the 'catch the parents up' day so we all had to turn up and find out about what the next year is going to entail.

Because I'm a good mom I turned up despite the fact that I knew that I was more than likely not not going to understand ½ of what was being said but hoping that I would be able to pick up enough and then make sure I get all their emails (Thanks to Google translate I'll be able to at least understand their emails).

What I didn't expect though were the other parents. Ok I know that Waterloo is a well-to-do area but still who on earth dresses up to go to a scout meeting on a Sunday afternoon? Here I was wearing my trusty jeans, sweater and Uggs. Nothing dirty but you know comfortable. The other mom's: designer outfits from top to bottom including the leather totes big enough to fit a small child into. And they brought their husbands... also dressed to the nines! Really!?

The other thing I noticed is that they are old! Not that I'm trying to offend anyone but if I had been wearing a scouts uniform I would have looked like one of the troop leaders. I think some of the parents their were as old as my parents! (there is a kid in Cat's class who's dad is the same age as my father-in-law). And just incase you were wondering, no I did not have cat when I was a teen.

The good thing was that I understood about 80% of what was being said and Cat's friends dad Laurence was kind enough to translate whatever I missed. I was so glad to see a friendly face!

Now I'll just have to remember to go shopping for a designer outfit before the next meeting ... and rob a bank to be able to afford it.

22 Things I have never done:

I saw this really cool list on Mommypants, who got it from Mama Kat's Writing Workshop & decided to make my own list.

I have never....

1. Sky dived ---> I must admit though that I would love to

2. Gotten a tattoo --> have been tempted but have never done it

3. Travelled to the east

4. Finished a knitting project (probably cause I can't knit)

5. Attended a football game (no football in South Africa or Belgium)

6. Won the lottery

7. Gotten lost in a forest

8. Eatin Alligator

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9. Gone deep sea diving

10. Attended a rock festival

11. Kissed an Eskimo

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12. Hot wired a car

13. Been on a cruise ship

14. Watched Gone with the wind

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15. Bought or sold anything on Ebay

16. Been snow boarding / skiing

17. Been in a YouTube video

18. Been to university

19. Met famous person

20. Seen the attraction of androgynous looking men

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21. Read Pride & Prejudice

22. Told a lie .... oops I guess I just did

What about you?