Discovery is Seeing What Everyone Else Has Seen

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking expensive cups were taken first, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress".

"The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive, and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup. But you consciously went for the best cups...and then you began eyeing each others cups".

"Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate. Your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy that which matters most".

Yesterday I packed my things (clothes, pc & desk) and moved in with Lee. Our little girl is positioning herself for her grand entrance - she's turning toward Lee's nether regions and I've decided that I want to be with Lee from the moment she goes into labour - which should be within a month. Only 5% of babies are born on their due date, the rest are born either two weeks before or after.

It really hit me last night, while sitting infront of my pc twiddling my thumbs, that I have actually moved out. I've spent nights at lee's place before, but this was different. I have never felt such a swell of raw emotion towards my family:
I missed my father's quiet disposition, My mother's scolding - she'll always be my mom and my brother's constant borrowing and whining. I really miss them.

On a lighter note, I received a note from the post office yesterday - well, Lee got it and brought it to me, asking, "do you know anyone named Dempsey?" and I realised I finally received Toga and Grey Eye's package . I haven't picked it up yet but will next week, so THANKS guys ! Lee keeps badgering me to go pick it up, and I'm getting sick of it!

So yes, I feel like a fish out of water, and at the same time I feel overwhelmingly free, let's see how this goes...

The baby shower was a resounding success wow, it was so hectic - let me recap:

Yesterday we picked Lee up from her place - she thought we were going to watch a movie, but smart as she is, she had her suspicions:D. When arriving at my place, Lee was flabbergasted at the huge amount of people that came to support us - a sea of ladies. Everyone hugged and loved Lee and rushed her off to a private room.

I don't know what the process is overseas, but in South Africa we have a tradition that the mom-to-be has to be totally humiliated at the baby shower! The ladies dressed Lee in a nappy, put a pair of bunny ears on her head, blind-folded her, went wild with red lipstick all over her body and finally stuck a pacifier in her mouth then led her outside to everyone else and played all sorts of games, IT WAS HILARIOUS! Lee had to guess (whilst blindfolded ofcourse) what gifts everyone bought and if she guessed incorrectly, had to dig smarties (a loved sweet in S.A) out of a big bowl of flour with her mouth - not a fun task I tell you but if she guessed correctly she could have some milk. All this while everyone gawked and laughed both with and at her, fun has become torturous!

My Gran (who's 75) thought the ladies were hurting Lee and screamed at them to let her go , my mom kept trying to help Lee and in the end was blindfolded herself and sat down RIGHT NEXT TO LEE! My mom and Lee had to then feed each other yoghurt, which wasn't very pretty as they kept chucking the gooey slime into each other's face and hair in the end, the finale was a walk down the street, while still blindfolded, in full baby garb, asking neighbours for formula (baby milk - i think) - which was the peak of the ego-destroying, tear-jerkingly-stomach-churning debacle - and I have the whole sordid affair on camera! All in all it was a great (and tiring) day.

Lee couldn't help but have a blank look on her face afterward, repeating, "I can't believe this, I can't believe this" She was a real sport. Oh! My mom (who had a bowl put under her dress to resemble a pregnancy)and Lee were forced to dance in the middle of the street , thinking back now, I can't believe we pulled it all off.

Seeing the constant smile on Lee's face made it all worthwhile, I am so grateful to my family for pulling out all the stops to make the day truly memorable. No matter who you are and what you think you can do, support from those close to you enriches your life tenfold. Love and love dearly.

Lee and I spent the month of February buying various items for Leah - a pricey chest of drawers, a cot, clothes, toiletries, etc, etc and etc:faint:.

All this left us utterly broke and without sufficient cash for a dinner for two at a fancy restaurant:down:. We instead went to Spur on Valentine's - Spur is a first tier South African restaurant that specializes in t-bone steaks and ribs:chef:. It was great stuffing ourselves and sitting back and letting it all settle:D.

Before then we just laid in bed and did NOTHING, lazing about and cuddling - my fave Valentines yet.

I was on my way home last night and had an epiphany: organise a baby shower for Lee! I spoke to my parents about using their place as a venue, which is fine, and made a few calls to the ladies in my family - cousins, aunts and so forth.

The decided date is 02 March 2008 (a Sunday) and things are coming along nicely. The ladies got all giddy:hat: and excited:wizard: when I asked if they'd like to come. I spoke to Lee's mom as well, and she will also be there:up:. I can't wait to see Lee's face when she gets to my place and finds everyone there for us and Leah. Me and Lee would have been without an umbrella against the harsh hailstorm of life had my family not stepped into the picture.


Lee feels our baby is more welcome in my family than hers, and I am grateful for my relatives for supporting Lee emotionally. She always wanted a baby shower and doubted she could have one because her family isn't exactly deliriously happy about Leah. Well screw her family, I'm organising one with mine:yes:! In times of need you discover who really cares about you, and it has been an awakening for me. My biggest challenge now is to keep the baby shower a secret from my better half until March, wish me luck!