Wicked, but not mean really.

Mobile phones are lovely, fun and lately necessary things.

For years I fought getting one. However, I have acclimated quite well to the nuisance.

In OZ. I paid a fee. I texted and rang to my merry delight. Texting more than ringing, b/c it was quick and somewhat removed and clever.

In TX. I pay a fee. And the service providers charge and roam and this bit and that bit and times and what not and so I pay more and I don't text at all because no one I know over here does. Slightly less fun.

So I have this new little flippy phone. They gave me the number when I signed up for the service. Actually, Arti - phone service guy, he let me pick which number I wanted out of a list of 30 which he read off to me from his little screen. Ok so maybe it was only a choice of 10, but it sounded like 30 when each number has 10 digits to it. All I could think is I want the one that'll be easy for the kids to remember. No one else remembers numbers anymore they just program them into their phones and direct dial. I am guilty of that one as well, although I retain some numbers in my head forever. Some are important to my heart and others like the number for Pizza Hut in Australia are just stuck there, when I am quite aged and my red hair has turned gray and fallen out I am pretty sure I'll still be able to sing 3892 1111 with the catchy little diddy.

I picked my number. It is easy to recall.

It is remarkabley close to a local taxi service number in the town in which I live now. This fact is now etched into my mind. Never do I get the call for a taxi ride in the afternoon. Or morning. Or evening even. Always the phone rings at a hideous hour, usually shortly after I have managed to fall asleep.

1 somethingish am. I let it ring out. They rang back twice. The third time I answered. Now I am not sure if it was the late hour, my irritability, or sense of humour that caused me to do it. He said they needed a ride, from Northgate. I agreed in my funky australian texan accent. "right-o, no problem." I asked had they had a lovely evening, enjoyed the game, had a fun night out on the town? Yada-yada. Told him I'd be right on that run.

I hung up and went straight on back to bed.

I am sure he'd be fine, I could hear the giggling in the background, at least he had company while he waited for his taxi.

Only slightly wicked.

blur

It started with trunk or treat and ended with the celebration dinner of an undefeated season 7 days later.

Trunk or Treat. A parking lot filled with cars all parked boot in. Their are games in to be played in the boot. Play the game, collect a lollie. Walk on with a smile. Also brought in for a special treat, an inflated wrestling ring with helmets and a bar with two overinflated marshmallow looking bobbies on the end. To boys of all ages this was the place you go with your mate to see if you can bash the crude out of him - in a friendly way. Not really, the testosterone got going and they just wap each other until they had fallen completely over four times, then they had to trade. All fun though, most hopped out of the ring smiling.

Monday - work, work and more work, then decorating for Halloween.

Tuesday - Halloween carnival for the littlest school, Montessouri is the way to learn. They had a half day of games, lollies, and running amuke in the school playground. I watched littlies hunt and paint mini pumpkins. I encouraged the paint smock. Spin it red haired mumma. "You'll get your pretty little fairy costume dirty" "You don't want orange paint on spideyman now do you?" yada yada yada. The end of the Halloween festival was a treat. Time to take down all the sticky spiderwebby polyester I'd strung between trees and doorways, find those pumpkins that were stuck just a little too deep, and gracefully try and organize the drippy painted pumpkins.

Wednesday - I am the mother of a 12 year old. It is not possible. But real. I am too thin and too young to have a kid this size. He got a football, the pigskin variety and music lots of music and a skateboard. I need to update the health insurance.

Thursday - Braces. She now looks like she's 12 and she is only 8. I am counting down until they come off. And they are not on my teeth. She does not complain, she is a trooper. Food is going to be interesting.

Friday - The Birthday dinner out. Mexican food. Friends who give the boy a jumper from Texas A&M Uni. He did not take it off for almost a week, and then only whent he temperature rose to 30 degrees Celcius. All the kids compliment how fun the friends are who went to dinner with us. In particular the bloke. I am estatic inside - they are healing and do not believe that all men are cult vermin - we will prevail, we are the best of both hemispheres, Texan and Australian.

Saturday - soccer, soccer, soccer. 4 wins. Everybody happy.

Sunday - Adult old people have a undefeated season. Calls for Margaritas and Mexican food and a photo. All fun except that last bit. I stopped many a man from scoring any goals. So fun, I love to watch their faces fall.

I think I might have a wee bit to go before I heal all the way.