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au revoir!

Well guys, it's been fun here at spilling the beans, but it's time to say goodbye.

Goodbye to the freebie host and subdomain.

Goodbye to the fantastic blogging software that has done nothing wrong by me.

Goodbye to the hours spent uploading every single post when I change themes!

Goodbye to having to play by other peoples rules.

Goodbye to the memories that resurface each time I open this site as my life sits here before me on the screen....

With the goodbyes, comes some hellos.

Hello to the new domain - that is 100% mine.

Hello to wordpress which whilst a little confusing, is already proving to be a great piece of software.

Hello to a new hosting service which has been a breeze to sign up with and use.

Hello to a new kind of blog. More content, less frills. I've done the pretty flashing things in the sidebar, the numerous stats counters that all tell me something different, the many and varied things I've tried, tweaked, kept or taken away. Lets face it, there have been so many I've forgotten more of them than I remember :)

Hello to more of me again...the one that used to write on a daily basis about anything and everything

No overhaul would be complete without a new title and look. So when I say, 'say goodbye to spilling the beans', I mean that literally. It is without any further ado that I introduce you to my brand new blog:

NO REGRETS

Thanks for the memories :)

p.s For those of you signed up via the feedburner rss feed, you don't need to change anything, I'll be doing that later on tomorrow/today depending on when you read this. If necessary please alter your bookmarks and/or change your blogrolls. I really do promise this one is here for a very long time :) I'm done with all the changes. It's time to sit back and enjoy my life :)

warning - may contain explicit lyrics and adult themes

Well not this post, but the newest blog to hit the blogosphere. Premiering her brand new space on the net after blogging vicariously through the comments of others for some time now, is none other than ANONYMUM - aka mum, smummy and assorted other titles which I will not disclose here because I value my health. Go take a peek at Nanny's Nook, and welcome her to cyberspace!

I remember JOHN GIORDANO

John Giordano

Firefighter John J. Giordano was part of Haz Mat Company 1, designated as New York City’s sole dedicated hazardous materials unit. It was quite an honor for an exceptional man. Little did he know that when he headed to work on September 11, 2001 that he would give his life doing what he did best. Helping others. The squad rushed to the aid of those in the WTC towers and suffered heavy losses. Lt Philip McArdle said that those lost, John among them, would be 'impossible to replace.' He was right, in more ways than one.

For his wife Roxann, and his three children -Jonathon, Jordan and Jessica, life must have been terribly difficult for the first few hours, days, weeks after the attacks. Their beloved father and husband was missing. It was not until October 22, 2001 that his body was recovered. The not knowing must have been terrible and I can only imagine the anguish they felt.

There is an amazing article about John and his all too short 47 year life that can be found on this page here. The title is "A strong presence in his community." What an understatement! Please take a moment to read it through. I dare you to NOT be inspired by his passion for everything he did. I have no idea where he found the hours in the day, nor the energy to do the many things he did. He must have been one of the happiest men alive. Doing all those things that he loved doing. What's that saying? Do something you'll love and you'll never work a day in your life. I'm hoping that is just how John saw it. I get the feeling it would have been.

Reading through it myself, two things stood out more than anything. He loved life. And he loved his family. He wanted to share with them in a very real way the things that were important to him. And he did just that. He passed on his love of music to his children. He was a classically trained guitarist who taught the local children from the neighborhood. He loved Bob Dylan. He also loved the environment, with the Hudson River being the topic of his thesis. He planned on becoming a teacher once he finished his Masters Degree and retired from firefighting. I mourn for the generation that will not have this man's influence in their life. I think he would have had a lot to teach today's youth about LIFE.

I'm so proud to learn about, and remember John today. He was such a compassionate, inspirational, and quite simply amazing man who left this world far too soon leaving behind a legacy that i'm sure will live on forever. To John's family, I offer my deepest sympathies and two simple words.

I remember.

I wish I had the words to do John's life justice, but it would take a lifetime to do that. He lived life to the fullest.

Click here for a full list of the tributes that are part of the 2996 project.

I remember Jose Manuel Contreras Fernandez

Little is known about Jose except that he was from El Aguacate, Jalisco Mexico and he worked as a janitor in the World Trade Center where he was tragically lost alongside those that he worked for.

We can only guess at the life led by Jose. Was he working in the land of the free to support a family back home in Mexico? Or were they with him perhaps? How many passed him each day as he went about his daily duties never knowing his story? Perhaps he shared silent and polite nods in the hallways as he did a most important job. Maybe he even wondered about the people he passed as they most likely wondered about him.

I wonder what his dreams were. An education for his children? Or maybe something simpler. Food on their table, or even a house to call home. Or was he younger, and wanting to make his way in life before starting a family? At the very least it is almost certain that Jose was chasing those dreams. How many of us have the courage to do that? Want something, and then go after it. Jose, for that I admire you. How brave you must have been to leave your home town and try to make a better life for yourself.

Jose, I remember you and I only wish that I could have learned more about you and your life. I can't help but think how sad it is that 5 years on, those that loved you will still miss you yet the world doesn't know what must have been your interesting story.

Click here for a full list of tributes as part of the 2996 project.

I remember MARISA DI NARDO SCHORPP

Please scroll down for newer posts. I'm leaving this one at the top for a few days..

As I sat and watched the events of 911 unfold, I held my not quite 12 month old Zoe's hand and cried for the world that I had bought her into. I wept for the innocence destroyed. I was devastated for humanity as a whole. But until I started on the road to writing this tribute, it wasn't a personal experience. Perhaps that was why I signed up. To make it personal. Because to the loved ones of all 2996 victims, it can be nothing but can it?

Marisa Di Nardo Schorpp

31 Dec 1962 - 11 Sep 2001

Dear Marisa,

I have the extreme honor of remembering you this September 11, 2006, 5 years after you were so tragically torn from this world along with so many other innocent victims. But you were much more than just a victim weren't you? Nobody who died in that horrible moment in time, was just a victim.

Throughout my searching, trying to find out about you and your life, I've learned many things. I've learned you had worked as a trader for Cantor Fitzgerald for around a year as one of only a few women who had to fight harder and be better, in what was traditionally a man's world. I learned that you were successful, determined, aggressive and passionate about your work. Even though you had been celebrating your mother's birthday till the wee hours of the morning the night before, you still went to work because you had a meeting, and had to be there. I learned that you were born on New Year's Eve, 1962, and were taken from us too early from the 105th floor of Tower 1 at the World Trade Center. Your birthday was the day after my daughters. You grew up in West Harrison, NY and attended Harrison High School.

These fragments of information are just part of who you were, and can be found on any of half a dozen websites through a simple web search. There were a few comments, and interesting facts that hit home to me as I tried to give you the tribute you deserve. They also raised more questions than answers as I endeavored to find out more than just statistics. You donated to charities, specifically those that helped poor children and abandoned animals. Did you know some friends of yours set up a children's charity in your name? I wish I could have found out more about them, I would love to donate. You had two cats, Gizmo, and Misha Why did you choose these names? Was their any special significance? THESE are the things I tried in vain to find out about you Marisa! What was on your desk at work? Was it a photo of your husband, Jeff? Perhaps some photos of your family. Marisa you so clearly loved both of your parents, Ester and Pio. Your younger brother Harley was obviously very proud of his big sister as evidenced by his many quotes in various news articles. Nella Baresse, who knew you since you were 8, said you were devoutly religious and your faith was strong. Perhaps there was a favorite verse or picture on a wall where you could see it throughout the day. Perhaps there were a few of the angels that I heard you collected. I hope these things were close by as you spoke to your loving husband to let him know your were ok and were leaving the building. It was the last anyone heard from you Marisa.

I never knew, you Marisa, nor was I likely to. But I think that even though we were from two different worlds, having a coffee with your would have been an interesting experience. I think you would have been an inspiration. I'm so sorry that we will never have that chance. I'm sorry for the memories that you and your loved ones will not be able to create. I'm sorry for their loss. I'm sorry for the good that you will not be able to do in this world. I think your heart was pure and strong and the world is a lesser place now that your not here.

You were so many things to so many people Marisa.

A daughter.

A wife.

A sister.

A friend.

An esteemed colleague.

So much to so many people, and there aren't the words to convey what you must have meant to them all or the loss they feel.

I wish that I could do you, and your life, more justice in this, my tribute to you. For now, all I can do is remember, and hope that others do to. I'm going to leave the final words of this to your mother. She spoke of you at a memorial service and can be seen in this video. It bought tears to my eyes.

I remember you, Marisa.

Yours Sincerely,

Kelly.

Technorati tags: Marisa DiNardo Schorpp WTC 911 2996 Project

zazzle!

Starmama is naughty. She recently did a post on a site called zazzle. Being the good reader that I am, I took a peek on her recommendation. Bad move. I spent a bit of time last week checking it all out. I've spent a bit of time today setting up shop. You can now purchase your very own debambam designed mugs and assorted t-shirts and apparel. So far I've only got 4 designs up, with Zoe and myself working on some more at the moment....it's so much fun!!! Anyway, take a peek here, and down the bottom of the sidebar there is now a panel showcasing 3 products which I'm assuming will update as I add more. Biggest problem with it is, it's US based which means anything that I might like to buy - either my own or someone else's -would cost a fortune between postage and the exchange rate!!! But feel free to add to the debambam holiday fund by making your purchases...yes there is commission involved! Otherwise no-one would bother right? Or if your feeling generous, you could buy something and send it to me :) JK, I can actually get stuff personalised here if I want...

Of course you don't have to buy just my products, but should you wish to make ANY purchases from other contributors, please click here, or go via the link in the sidebar (in the about me section) This will also help my holiday fund :)

Oh man, this is like begging or something. I feel so dirty......oh well, better be off to have more fun coming up with crap to put on mugs and t-shirts no-one wants to pay money for! Have a good one y'all.

***UPDATE***

Now if i've figured this place out correctly, if you click the pic below, it SHOULD take you to a page at zazzle that will insert this pic into a template of a mug i've just done up. One side of the cup should have this pic, and the other side the quote "if this mug is empty i will not be held responsible for my actions" The plan is to link appropriate pics in future posts to do the same thing, this one is just a test run...

pimp-a-thon

You may, or may not have, noticed a few changes over in the sidebar there. You may, or may not have, noticed that I also get bored very easily and tend to do that on the odd occasion!! Anyway, in the absence of anything witty and interesting to say, heres a bit of info about the latest additions:

• Coming up soon on this Blog.
  This new subheading under "my blog" contains a little button that links to a site called blogday.org Go check it out. Here's what they have to say -
  "In one long moment In August 31st, bloggers from all over the world will post a recommendation of 5 new Blogs, Preferably, Blogs different from their own culture, point of view and attitude. On this day, blog surfers will find themselves leaping and discovering new, unknown Blogs, celebrating the discovery of new people and new bloggers." So keep an eye out for that on the 31st August.
  
  The other button takes you to a fantastic site called 2996, a tribute to the 9/11 victims. I mentioned this in a previous post. On September 11, watch out for my tribute to Marisa DiNardo Schorpp. I signed up here to be a part of this, if you haven't already, you should too. If you don't have a blog, but would like to do a tribute, let me know and I'll sign up for another person and I'll post your tribute here. It's been hard finding information about Marisa, but I'm getting there, I've even sent an email to the place she worked. Fingers crossed that I get a reply. I don't want the tribute to be just her name and where she was when tragedy struck. On the OFF chance that someone who knew her is reading this, I'm begging you, send me an email with some info! If anyone who lives in the states can give me some hints on how to go about finding out anything, get in touch with family members etc etc, it would be greatly appreciated. Remember, I'm in Aussie land so making phone calls isn't really an option. But I just don't know where to start.
  

• New Stats Trackers.
  Hit counters are great, some are pretty, some aren't, some are brilliant, some aren't. I've just changed which ones I am using. I was actually looking for something that would track links clicked and came across two fantastic services. The first is w3counter.com and their free version is nothing short of AWESOME. Go see if you don't believe me! It seems to be fairly new as far as trackers go, and from the little I've seen so far, I'm impressed. The other one is sitemeter.com and again, the freebie version is great. Most of you will be using this, or seen it on other sites. Well worth a look. The third one isn't really a hit counter so much as a link tracker. Mybloglog.com offers a service that tracks the most popular links clicked on your site. It seems to be only links that take you offsite, but having only signed up this morning, I'm not sure! Considering the majority of links on my site open in new windows, it will be interesting to see if those are tracked. I've not done that with all the links in this post though...a bit of a comparison test if you will. So do me a favor and click a few links both in this post, and in others! The free version is vastly different to the paid version, but thats cool...you get what you pay for right? They have recently begun a community type thing too which looks interesting so I've signed up for that and I guess I will soon see how it all works.

• This week's houseguest.
  Dawn is with us for a week, which started around 2 hours ago. Go and say hi. She just found out she is pregnant. There is nothing more infectious than the enthusiasm of the newly impregnated women! At the very least, take a look at the great blog design. I'm loving the bubbles...may just pinch that idea myself I think. Please be sure to visit her, take a look through the archives and tell her I sent ya!!

• Tagcloud
  Zoomclouds.com is a place to get one of those tagclouds that you've probably seen on various blogs. It's extremely customisable and I could - if I wanted to - even add the css id's into my css files for each theme so that it fit in with the color schemes on each one. I think I'll wait a bit to see whether or not I'm going to keep it before I go to all that trouble. So far it hasn't updated, but apparently that will happen once the cloud has been viewed a few times. Interesting to see that at this point I've written more about 'ants' and 'breastfeeding' than 'bloke.' I really should go in change the filters....The Zoom group also have a community based site that offers blogs, photo albums, trading post, contacts blah blah. I haven't had a look round yet, but it appears to be fairly new and at times a little confusing as it seems to default back to "my" sites when I'm trying to search.

• Search this blog
  I was originally using the technorati search, but I like the one from blogbar.org cos it's prettier :) You get a choice of pics, not a huge one, but most people should find one they like. Like most of them, you can search only this blog, or the web.

There you go peoples, some things for you to look at, read about, add to your blog or just laugh about.

Till next time....

chocolate chip cookies....

...are on the agenda today. It all started with a coconut slice recipe I got from one of the volunteers at the brekky club. She bought some of it in and it was so yummy I has to ask for it! Anyway at the top is a recipe for chocolate biscuits that uses real chocolate and condensed milk amongst other things. I got the condensed milk, and choc chips, then realised I needed just chocolate, not the chipped kind. Brain is fuzzy i'm sure of it. So I went hunting for a similiar recipe that needs the chipped kind. It's just too hard. There are so many to choose from! If you have a favorite one, let me know.

I didn't do a feel good friday post yesterday. As i'm sure you've gathered by now. The reason was the only time I felt good all day was when I crawled into bed 10 mins after Zoe did at 8.40pm. So I was feeling good then, but wasn't in a position to do a post. If i'd been up and able to do a post, I wouldn't have been in bed and therefore not feeling good.

I'll post a pic of whatever cookies I end up making later on in the day. In the meantime, please go and check out Michael's (from over at Smoke and Mirrors) webring here. Its for the loved ones of those who suffer from Alzheimers disease. As the carer/loved one of an illness myself, I can vouch for the enormous benefit that is derived from sharing experiences and information with others in the same situation as yours. So if you, or someone you know would be interested, I urge you to go and sign up. There will also be a permanent link to it in my sidebar over there.

Have fun and wish me luck choosing one of the millions of bloody recipes out there!

****UPDATE**** I tried one recipe, and it totally sucked, way too dry - I ended up adding extra butter that i'd melted but the cooking time is way off too I think. So i'm gonna try the recipe that WC put in the comments for me. Let you know how I go!

I remember

A while ago I came across this website and I just HAD to sign up for it.

If you have a blog, I urge you to do so too. This is one way in which I can be a part of a tribute to the victims. Those tragic events may have occurred on United States soil, but it sent shockwaves around the world. I sat watching the events unfold with tears streaming down my face while I held Zoe's 9month old hand. I remember thinking as I looked at her "what kind of world have I bought you into?" I often wonder if it would have impacted on me as much if I hadn't been a mother.....

So please, I urge you, go on and sign up. EVERY victim needs a voice, let them use yours.

can't be bothered giving this post a title..

..so I won't!

I've been busy. As you've probably gathered from the lack of posting. My mother called me to see if I was alive to day because I hadn't posted for two days...

Have lots to share, including a rant, a rave and some of my invaluable wisdom, but that can wait for another day. Right now I'm doing a cheaters post and sending you off to some other sites cos quite frankly, I can't bothered, just like the title says! Oh and just for fun, why don't you all just discuss the following hypothetical in the comments amongst yourselves..

If you had the chance to find out what the 'meaning of life' was, BUT you could never record, write, discuss, allude to or even hint about it with anyone else, would you? A simple yes or no answer will not suffice here...I wanna know WHY you choose yes or no.

Ok, here are some links -in no particular order - for you to go see:

• This weeks renter - Clusterfook. She's rude, she's crude but my god she's funny! Not for kiddies this one, but well worth a look for us wannabe grownups..
• Brainteasers - Kind of says it all doesn't it? Go flex those brain muscles..
• Big things - Us Aussies pride ourselves on our BIG things, obviously a bloke thing happening here, I mean 'big is better' is NOT always the case - and I'm talking about CHOCOLATE cakes here before you accuse me of being a naughty girl. I mean think about it, if you had a chocolate cake the size of your lounge room wouldn't it be torture to see it sitting there and NOT being able to fit just one more crumb in after you've gorged yourself stupid? I think at the moment we are really quite envious of our Yankee counterparts though. It's a close contest but I do believe you guys have the bigger idiot running the country..

Have fun, try not to kill each other in the comments hey? I don't like cleaning up....