40 Days and 40 Nights

So, I decided I was going to give up Facebook for lent. My thinking is that it shouldn't be too hard, I mean I survived for about 17 years without Facebook so surely I can do 40 days? When I was pregnant with James I didn't use Facebook at all. In fact I didn't use it until after James was born, so I've done it fairly recently so my point still stands. 40 days without Facebook should be easy.
Should be. Undoubtedly will not be.
After less than an hour I was so bored that I decided it would be a good idea to rearrange my entire bedroom. Unfortunately for me I've never actually moved a double bed before, and my bed has two mattresses so my room ended up looking like, to quote a friend of mine "fortification for a zombie apocalypse".

I had my wardrobe barricading the window and one of my mattresses barricading the door, so I would definitely have been safe if an army of the undead had decided to attack my little corner of the world.

Luckily my bedroom is now back to looking like a bedroom, and I can actually get out again.

But I digress, my not using Facebook is actually starting to drive me a little mad. I've deleted the apps off both my phone and laptop to deter me from using it, but I still continuously pick up my phone, then knowing I'm only doing it to check Facebook I put it down again. I've done 3 or 4 times in the last 20 minutes. I'm beginning to think that I need a life.

This has, however, bought me to an entirely new realisation. How much we now rely on social media.
I really only use Facebook, and obviously Blogger. I have twitter account, but I very rarely use it, and I have an Instagram account, but that gets used even less because there is not yet an Instagram app for Windows Phone, or for Windows 8.1 on my laptop. So I don't really use as much social media as most people I know, but I know I use Facebook enough to make up for not using the others.
Mostly I use Facebook to keep in contact with people, sometimes it easier to sit at my laptop and type out a Facebook message than it is to try and type out a message on my phone. Especially if it's a long message, and I have a habit of sending a lot of those!
I use Facebook to share my photos of James, and photos of me, I do like to take the odd selfie! I use it to rant and rave and share song lyrics of whatever I'm listening to. Basically I use Facebook a lot.
But I guess I'm not the only one.
I mean really, how many of you could actually easily not use Facebook for a week? Or Twitter? Or Instagram? How many of us would actually cope well in a world without social media? Or internet at all for that matter?
We live in a world where most of the time we rely on the internet, whether it be for research, or interacting with each other, or even meeting new people. The internet is both our best friend and our worst enemy at the same time.
I remember when I was doing my GCSEs I didn't actually have a computer at home. All of my work was handwritten and my research came from actual text books, rather than the internet. When I started my A-levels I had a laptop, so my work was typed, but we didn't have wireless internet at home, so again my research was done using books, and maybe a little computer time while I was at school. Now I'd like to point out that this really wasn't all that long ago, maybe 5, 6 years ago. So I was actually a little bit strange among my peers. However, if I was to do this research now it would be solely done on the internet, because there is so much more information and it is much easier to access. Personally I would still prefer to do my research from books, but it is really impractical.
I also remember when I first started school, and I didn't have a mobile phone, or the internet, so if I wanted to make friends I actually had to talk to people. The closest thing we had to social media was passing notes in class. We actually went out on a Saturday and hung out, did things that children do. I didn't actually have a phone until I was about 14, so there was never any texting people or anything like that. I actually had to make conversation. I dislike people, therefore making conversation never really appealed to me, and neither did making friends, but I had a few, people that I actually liked and didn't mind hanging out with.
The first social media site I ever used was Myspace (does anyone else actually remember that?) and I started using it about a year after most of my friends, I was always a bit of a late starter! I remember rarely using it, in fact I think the only time I ever used it was when I was at school. I definitely didn't use it to the extent that my friends did. I actually can't remember all that much about using Myspace, so it obviously didn't make that much of an impact on me.
I started using Facebook about a year after my friends again, and at first I rarely used it. I actually don't remember when I transitioned into using Facebook all the time, but eventually I did. It was mostly only to talk to my friends, because I had this really bad habit of never having texts. (This was back in the day when everyone had pay as you go phones). Once I actually had a phone capable of using the internet, I found myself on Facebook a lot. Although I'd go through phases where I'd be checking it every five minutes for a couple of days and then I wouldn't check it for a week. Gradually the amount of time I spent not checking it got less and less until it was constantly open on my phone. Apparently Facebook is incredibly addictive. Although I had to stop using it before I realised this! In the last 3 or 4 years I've gone through short phases of not using it. The longest of these was the entire time of my pregnancy, but as soon as James was born I went straight onto Facebook to announce the happy news to everyone. And since then I just use it constantly. So now I'm determined to stop.
I've done alright so far, I have been very tempted to go onto Facebook, I've found myself picking up my phone and typing in the web address before remembering I'm supposed to be staying off it and closing the window before it loads.
I don't think I've ever been so determined to successfully give up something before, and I'm not really sure whether I'm trying to prove a point to myself or to someone else.
But seriously, try it out, see how long you can last without social media, would definitely make for a fun experiment and you might be surprised how much you get done without it!

Paradise Lost.. And Found, In The Pages Of A 200 Year Old Book.

Ok, there is nothing I love more than being curled up in bed with a good book. I've been reading from an early age as it is something that my parents encouraged, and something that I will encourage James to do.
One of my favourite pieces of literature in history is Milton's Paradise Lost. I studied it as part of my A-level English Literature and I fell in love with it. I'm a huge fan of gothic literature anyway but this book completely captured me. I love the whole story of the fall from Heaven, and the way Milton tells it.
I'd told my boss that I really wanted to own a first edition copy of the book, but they cost almost £1,000,000. So I was having a look through eBay and I found a copy from circa 1795, for £40 and I had to snap it up. It was the oldest one I'd found and probably the 10th one I'd put a bid on. I wasn't really holding out much hope for winning it, I hadn't won any others. Still, I sat in front of my laptop, with 1 minute to go, finger on the bid button waiting for the last second, and in the end I won. I can't even remember exactly how much I paid, I just know it was less than £4o.
When it came it was exactly what I expected. Beaten up, browning, the front and back covers weren't attached, and it smelt a little musty, but as far as I'm concerned it's perfect.

 

 

Chances are I will never actually read it, mostly because it's far too precious but partly because it's written in very old English, and I'd need to translate it in order to be able to read it. I will most likely just buy a newer edition for the purpose of reading. 

Rock and Roll Dreams.

So, I decided to purchase myself an acoustic guitar, which I fully intend on learning to play. When it arrives, that is.

I had to buy a 3/4 guitar because I'm a very little person (a mere 5") and I'm not really sure I could handle a full sized guitar.

I've wanted to learn to play for ages, but I've not really got round to buying a guitar and actually making the effort to learn. I just haven't had the motivation. Until I was listening to I See Fire by Ed Sheeran. I'm a little gutted I've only recently heard this song actually, because I love the Hobbit, I loved the book and I love both of the films (can't begin to explain how gutted I was to learn that the release date for part 3 was pushed back from July 18th to December 17th!). Now I managed to miss this song at the end of the Desolation of Smaug, purely because I was too busy sitting in the cinema shaking my head at the screen because I didn't want the film to be finished, and since then I've never really got round to listening to it. Then last week I was sitting at work, not really doing anything and decided to give it a shot, and then I had it on repeat for a couple of days. It almost sounds like a lullaby. So, I decided I was so desperate to be able to play that song that I would buy a guitar and learn it, and since then I've created a playlist of songs that I want to be able to play. The only problem is I'm worried I'm going to start learning, maybe make a serious effort for about a week and then get frustrated and give up. I'm determined to learn though, so I guess I need to learn quick. I'll be ok once I can actually play, it's just getting past the early stuff that's going to be hard work for me. But I shall keep you all posted once I've started learning. I might even make some YouTube videos when I can actually play full songs!

Tattoos: Socially Acceptable, or Taboo subject?

(I would like to start by stating that I am a huge fan of tattoos, and I do not wish to disregard anyone's opinion, be you supporters or haters of the art. Everyone has an opinion of tattoos, they always start discussions, and discussion is good.)

Generally, when people see my tattoos for the first time, I get asked one of three questions:
"Did they hurt?"
"Why did you get them?"
"I want a tattoo, but I don't know what I want, what do you think would look good on me?"

To be fair, the first two are good questions. Ok, maybe not quite the first one, I mean of course it hurts getting a needle poked into your skin about a kajillion times a second!
The second one is a good question, although generally it depends on how it's asked. Really there is a huge difference between "what inspired you to get that one?" and "why would you get that on your skin?". The second way of asking this question is almost always meant in a condescending manner.
I have 15 tattoos, each of them with it's own meaning, and reason behind it. I got them because they tell my story, everything you could possibly need to know about me is tattooed on my skin; my name, my son's name, date of birth and what he weighed when he was born (you'd be amazed how many people ask that question), my favourite football team (Leeds United, yes I know, but I'm proud of it), my favourite band (I have the Bon Jovi logo on my back and the word "Always" on my wrist"), my love of comic books (this is simply a started half sleeve, and at the minute it's the Superman logo, it ties in with my love of Bon Jovi too), and what is quite possibly my worst personality trait (I have the words "hopeless romantic" along the top of my ribs). I only have one tattoo that could be considered an impulse tattoo, even though I did spend a month planning it, and that is flash cherries with the words "lucky 13" between my ribs. I got this because it was my 13th tattoo, and 13 is my lucky number, and because I like flash art. So I guess it was mildly impulsive.
However, I have never, and would never, go into a tattoo studio and pick a design out of a book. This is a personal thing, and I don't think that it's a bad thing to do, I know a lot of people do it and for some people it works, but not for me. All of my tattoos have an individual meaning to me, they are images that I have either designed myself or had designed for me. With the exceptions of my Superman logo and the Bon Jovi logo. Even my Leeds United tattoo isn't the actual Leeds badge, it's a Yorkshire rose and football, with the letters LUFC around it.
This is because I believe that tattoos should be unique to you. I dislike the idea of knowing that someone else has exactly the same tattoo as me. But then I dislike seeing someone with the same hair colour as me, or the same outfit!
My advice to anyone who tells me they want a tattoo but don't know what they want is simple; every time you find an image that you think you want tattooed on you, print it off and put it somewhere you will see it every day, be it on the back of your door, or on your mirror, anywhere that it will be in your line of sight. If after a month you're sick of looking at it, then don't get it tattooed, because you'll have to live with it for the rest of your life.
I can honestly say I do not regret any one of my tattoos, because this is what I do, I make sure I can 100% look at an image before I consider putting it on my skin.

Most people look at me and tell me that I will struggle to find work because of my extensive tattooing, However, this is something that I feel is unfair, but I know from personal experience is a fact. I am very lucky in my job that tattoos are widely accepted. However, I have been to many interviews, and openly said "Do you have a policy against tattoos?" and been told yes on a regular basis. Now most of my tattoos are easily covered, since most of them are on my legs and stomach, but I like to be open about them, it avoids any shocks if I wear a dress!
Tattoos are very stigmatised, it seems that people still if you have tattoos you in some way a bad person, or irresponsible and untrustworthy. It more widely accepted for men to be extensively tattooed than it is for women. Though it is something that seems to split people down the middle, some people really dislike tattoos on females, some people find it really sexy. It's generally less divided when it comes to men, most tattooed men are sexy men.
One thing I don't understand is that people who don't have tattoos, and don't want any, always feel the need to pass judgement on those who do have tattoos. And this is where questions like "Why would you do that to yourself?" arise. I mean I don't go round saying to people without tattoos "why don't you have any tattoos?" It's your body do what you want, I couldn't care less if you've got tattoos or not, so don't care about mine! "If the body is a temple, why not decorate the walls?" I personally feel that I look a lot better with tattoos, I'm much more confident in my appearance with them, and I am less inclined to hide my body, and as far as I'm concerned, if I love my appearance then why does what any one else thinks actually matter?

Welcome to the Proverbial Batcave

So, hello there.

You will have to forgive the crazy title of this blog. Although I like to think it gives away two very important things about me; I am a mummy, and I love Batman.

Let's address the first of these facts to begin with.
I have a young son, at the time of writing this he is 19 months old. HIs name is James William Whelan. He was born on July 28th 2012, at 4:35am, weighing 6lbs3oz (just over 2kg). He is cheeky and charming, and is a complete flirt. Honestly, I am not joking. He had his first haircut a couple of weeks ago, and rather than being the complete fidgety nightmare that I had expected, he sat and turned on the charm with the hairdresser, giggling and smiling and babbling away. Eventually he had all the poor girls charmed, and all I was hearing was "How cute is he?" or "Awww he's adorable", one of the girls even offered to take him home with her. Unfortunately I knew she'd have bought him back to me within about 10 minutes.
He may seem cute on the surface but really he's a little menace. He's into everything and wants to get his hands on everything. He wants to play with every little doggy he encounters, he likes to chase pigeons, and he even seems to enjoy throwing the odd tantrum. Really it's all normal kid stuff, and to be honest, I have definitely encountered children a lot worse behaved, but obviously none of them have the ability to push my buttons quite as much as James does.  I know better than anyone else in the world that I wouldn't give James up for anything or anyone  but honestly, I am never having any more children! And I don't recommend it either!  People seem to think that when you become a parent you miraculously grow a new found patience that you never had before. Well I didn't and a lot of other mum's I've spoken to didn't either. You just learn how to deal with your lack of patience a lot better.  You learn that despite what all of these so called "professionals" say, all children are naughty, it is a phase they all go through, and no matter what you try, you can't avoid it. You just have to do your best to try and snap them out of it and deal with it the best you can. I'm finding with James at the minute that no matter what I do he will always choose to do the complete opposite of what I tell him, and I know that's a completely natural part  of growing up, hell I'm still guilty of doing it now, and I'm 22, but I still can't help but wonder what I'm doing wrong , even though I know deep down that really, he's just growing up and finding himself and discovering things that are entirely new to him, and I just have to let him get on with it, and make sure that he doesn't hurt himself or get into any real danger, and make sure that he knows when he's done wrong, and praise him when he has done something good. I know a lot of parents who are very quick to tell their children off for misbehaving, but not nearly as quick to praise them when they do something clever or do as their told, which I think is unfair. I  make an effort to always tell James he's a good or clever boy when he does something to merit praise.
For example, when he says a new word, I always tell him he's clever, or when he puts things in the bin or wash basket, I will always praise him, because he can never learn when he's doing something wrong, if I never tell him when he's doing something right.
I am insanely proud of my child, and he is everything to me. He's not been on this earth a large amount of time, but I can't remember what life was like before him, and I wouldn't change that for the world.

As previously mentioned, I am also a huge Batman fan, I like to read the comics, watch the movies, play the games, put Batman posters al over my walls, draw Batman characters, I even plan on getting a Batman tattoo (we'll get to my love of ink in a separate  post!). I own a few Batman dresses/skirts/tshirts, even a pair of Batman converse, oh and a bag. I have a copy of the first Batman comic to ever be released (Detective Comics #27, released May 1939, if you're interested). My favourite actor to have played Batman is Val Kilmer, I enjoyed Christian Bale, however a very important person in my life pointed out to me earlier this week that he was completely outdone by Liam Neeson (Ra's Al Ghul) in Batman Begins, Heath Ledger (The Joker) in The Dark Knight and Tom Hardy (Bane) in The Dark Knight Rises, so basically, Christian Bale completely underplayed Batman. As for Ben Affleck as Batman, well I don't have an opinion, I haven't seen the movie (obviously) and I shall reserve judgement until I have seen the movie. I like Ben Affleck as an actor, and even though he was awful in DareDevil, let's be honest, it was a generally terrible film.

In keeping with the whole comic book theme, I am generally a huge comic book fan. I enjoy reading comics from both the Marvel and DC universes, I even enjoy some Dark Horse comics, and some Vertigo comics. My favourite ever comic book character is Deadpool, I think he is amazing. The first comic I ever read with him in it (and I can't even remember which one it was now) began with him on a bus dreaming, and thinking the phrase "I will smite you". That was easily enough to earn him a little place in my heart. My favourite Deadpool arc is easily the "Dead" arc. Nothing funnier than an immortal guy trying to find a way to get himself killed! I'm currently working my way through Avengers: Age of Ultron, because I have a subscription to Marvel's Mightiest Heroes, and once a month they send me four hardback arcs,  it only costs me twenty quid a month, and it is worth every penny, so if you're a comic fan and like me don't have a comic book store anywhere near give the website a look: http://www.hachettepartworks.com/our-titles/mightiest-heroes/

On top of being a single mummy, I work full time as an IT apprentice at Peavey. Y'know the guys that make the guitars and amps and other cool stuff. Now the cool thing about this is I get staff discount, oh and Peavey do a range of Marvel guitars. You can imagine what this could be like for my bank balance. The problem is they also do a range of The Walking Dead guitars, and they're about to release a DC comics range and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles range, and I don't think I'd be able to choose one, so I would have to buy them all, and I just can't afford that. So I don't buy any. I have just purchased myself a shiny new blueburst acoustic guitar which I fully intend on learning to play (that's something else we'll come back to later).
Now, my apprenticeship is to be a hardware techie. I really enjoy building and unbuilding (definitely going to copyright that word) computers. I genuinely love it. Occasionally my job involves a little bit of coding, and I hate that. It gives me a headache and I don't have the patience for it. I have spent far too much time staring at code trying to work out the error, to then discover I've missed a semi-colon somewhere. I now refuse to get involved in coding.

And that is pretty much enough for a nice little introduction.
Welcome to my crazy life, it's full of some amazing people, some hilarious stories and some serious "what in Gods name was I thinking?" moments, but I would not change it for the world. And I shall end this post with my favourite Dr Seuss quote:
"We are all a little weird, life is a little weird, and when we find someone whose weird is compatible with ours, we team up, fall in mutual weirdness and call it love"
<3