This quote...

This quote comes up in my memories every year. I wish I could remember it better the other 364 days... 

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Recommended Read: What's an arts degree really worth?

For me, it's been incredibly valuable.

"Increasingly, the business world is realising that the skills of most value in the new economy will be those of critical and analytical thinking, communication and interpersonal skills – skills that humanities subjects deliver in spades."

https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/what-s-an-arts-degree-really-worth-200-000-just-for-starters-20181107-p50ej7.html

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Puppy News :(

We have regretfully decided to rehome our puppy. I spoke to the breeder and explained some of the problems and he said what I already knew - she has a very "poodle" personality, and she needs another puppy friend so she can have the constant attention she craves.

She is really happy when we're around, and completely miserable when we aren't - constant whining and even howling, and destruction just to get attention. I feel like we can't make her happy, and that makes me very stressed. Unfortunately we don't have room for a 2nd dog.

The breeder has offered to help us rehome her. Today Muffin & I visited a lady who contacted me via them - she is looking for a friend for her 3yo dog Jordy. Jordy & Muffin spent 2.5 hours together (I went to the shops for an hour and left her there), and had an absolute ball.

They don't have a very big backyard but she can be an inside dog in an older, very dog-friendly house and Jordy's mum is home all the time and doesn't care if she pees everywhere (she managed 2 on the carpet in 2.5hrs, doh). She didn't destroy anything because she was too busy playing. Jordy's mum is also mum to a lovely 24yo girl with a disability, who fell in love with Muffin on the spot. I suspect Jordy's mum is a far more patient mum than I'll ever be!

Now Muffin is back home from her visit, and miserable again. I promised my daughter I wouldn't do anything until she got back from camp, and I thought Jordy's mum should have time to think about it, even though she already said they'd love to have her, so I will call tomorrow. I know this will be the best thing for Muffin, but I've never given a dog away before so I'm suffering terrible guilt.

We've explained the situation to the kids and they're sad but they understand that we need to do what's right for Muffin. My husband​ keeps telling us, it's not like giving one of the kids away - dogs will form a new pack and be completely happy, and they don't spend their lives pining for their mother. Still feel shit though... :(

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Reflections

This morning I went to the funeral of my lovely neighbour Pat, who passed away last week at the age of 85. Her friend Merle spoke at the service, it was very moving. They met as "adolescents" - the term "teenager" didn't exist back then. They were friends for over 70 years!

Merle said she'd moved to the country for several years and "many letters were passed back and forth" until she moved back to Melbourne. It made me think about how we live today, with social media. I know I'm not very social in the real world, I struggle with small talk and gossip and drama and crowds, and it's often far more appealing to just stay home. In a way I try to make up for that by being social online, but it's not the same.

It made me wonder how many of the people I know now, on and offline, will know enough about me to be able to stand up and talk about me when I'm 85, the way Merle did today...

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Today is Daffodil Day..

Today is Daffodil Day. A day of reflection for me, remembering my Dad and Opa. You can help Cancer Council grow hope for a cancer-free future by donating online http://daffodilday.com.au/ or buying our wonderful merchandise being sold at sites across Australia.

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Study perspective

Got my marks back for last study period - turns out the difference between almost killing myself with stress and over-the-top-perfectionism, a'la previous subjects, and just doing what needs to be done without obsessing over it (TOO much), a'la this one, is 5-10 points, which includes approximately 3-5 hours less obsessing... err I mean STUDYING, per week. Have decided I'll happily live with a Credit as a fair trade for sanity and a more acceptable work/study/life balance :-)

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Free Range Kids

I've recommended this site before but it was a while ago. ♥ it! Today's article about letting 9 & 6yo kids ride their bikes alone is timely, as I've just recently started letting my 9 & 6yo walk home alone from school (together), and play in the park across the road without me sitting there freezing my butt off. Every time I have an attack of fear or guilt, I go and read something on this site and it makes me feel better, that I'm doing the right thing in giving them some freedom.

http://freerangekids.wordpress.com

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It's better to regret things you've done...

Source: flickr.com via Nicky on Pinterest

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Mothers Day Classic

Pls sponsor my BFF in the Mother's Day Classic raising funds for breast cancer research https://register.eventarc.com/sponsor/view/132119/francine-dawson

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There is a difference between giving up...

Source: images4.fanpop.com via Nicky on Pinterest

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I may not be there yet...

Source: thetinyhurdler.files.wordpress.com via Nicky on Pinterest

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