Photoshopping spring

I liked them.

What was Ohio all about? The photo edition.

From Ohio Spring!

1. Family and Friends.

From Ohio Spring!

Kevin with his Aunt Sandra.

From Ohio Spring!

My mother and me... what is more wrinkled? me or my shirt?

From Ohio Spring!

My new camera has a very nice feature I forgot about. When you set the self timer, it takes three shots. This is shot #2.

2. Holidays. Saturday was Christmas. Sunday was Easter. And, Thursday was Income Tax Day!

From Ohio Spring!

If you look carefully, you can see some Easter elements on the mantel...

3. Gaming. The date for this trip was chosen to coincide with the 10 day gaming event, The Gathering of Friends. Thank you once again to Georgia and Steve for putting us up. We hope we can return the favor sometime soon.

From Ohio Spring!

4. Food. Even Kevin had compiled a list of what he wanted to eat while we were home. Here's a partial list:

From Ohio Spring!

You'll note I used the photoshopped version of the photograph trying to make this franchise look as appealing as possible to any Australian entrepreneurs that might be considering bringing a new fast food chain to Brisbane. Yes. Yes. Yes. Kevin and I will be there. Just don't add any stupid carrots!

From Ohio Spring!

I love grapefruit. I love Izze.

From Ohio Spring!

Vietnamese food! This year I only got to eat at Huong Vietnamese Restaurant - no time to go to the North Market. Anyway, this was new to us - without the required accent marks, it is Che 3 Mau- a dessert made with jello and 3 kinds of beans. The ice cubes are just a nuisance.

From Ohio Spring!

Seriously. Have you ever been more creeped out by a billboard? Breast milk satisfies??? Do they think that babies read? What is that coming from his mouth? Devil-possessed pea-soup-breast-milk? Don't anybody touch me for a while.

5. Spring! Although many would think me wishing an Ohio winter on everyone I love is cruel and unusual, it provides a person with a space from which to fully experience the magic and joy of spring! Ohio was having a very early spring and we spent the entire time without encountering snow or freezing rain. In fact, the leaves were unfurling on the trees. I think a slide show is in order!

Bagels, bagels, bagels

From Singles 2010

Sorry to interrupt this catch up on Ohio but real life intrudes. It is time to review the Australian bagel.

Thank you, John. You are always gracious about directing us to what we are missing. Unfortunately, in this situation we have different preferences in bagels. Kevin and I checked out the cafe you suggested on Saturday and ordered both a bagel sandwich and a half dozen nude bagels to take home. They were hot. That's the nicest thing I can say.

From Singles 2010

The bagels were more like very heavy buns (meaning sandwich buns). They lacked the elasticity, chewiness, and mouth appeal that I desire. The cinnamon raisin bagels only weakly tasted of cinnamon and lacked any full, juicy raisins.

Do not despair. It is not necessary to travel to the US. You can get a very good bagel in Christchurch.

From New Zealand

Three Men and A Boat by Jerome Jerome

Let your boat of life be light,
packed with only what you need--
a homely home and simple pleasures,
one or two friends, worth the name,
someone to love and someone to love you,
a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two,
enough to eat and enough to wear,
and a little more than enough to drink;
for thirst is a dangerous thing.

--Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat

This quote hung in our kitchen for many years while I was in junior high then high school. I'm not completely sure when my mother replaced it- though it hasn't been hanging above the bar, which sounds alcoholic, but it isn't, for many years. (Let's not talk about how many years it has been since I was in high school...)

I recently finished listening to the book. It was peppered with amusing bits but I think it is one of those of books better held in one hand and considered with intention rather than time-sharing with a commute. Without a doubt, however, I'm in love with Montmorency.

Ohio in April - Travels

From Ohio Spring!

I'm still struggling to catch up! Fortunately, at least for this blog, the two weeks I've been back in Brisbane have been work, work, work, work, work, work, work. And, a lot of work.

Kevin and I went for our annual Ohio spring-fest. I had thought it would hard for me to get time off again, but with the Easter holidays I only had to miss 3 work days. I figure anyone can do without me for three days. (Some people would even pay for that honor!)

So, we left on Wednesday arriving at the International Terminal (Thank you, Jane) about 2 hours before our flight (V-Australia). The line was long and very, very, very slow. I had a couple of phone calls I wanted to make so I ducked out of line.

But, I couldn't find a phone. I found a phone like structure, with a hand set and a number pad and a spot I could put money in...but it was really just some one's piggy bank. (Drop in 50c. Dial number. Phone rings or doesn't but eventually a message comes up saying the party is unavailable. And, the money is gone. Repeat. Repeat. No more change.)

When I came back the second time, I found that we had advanced really far and the American woman we'd been talking to in line behind us was gone. It seems after waiting about an hour in line she figured out this was not the Qantas line and left! As did the party in front of us!! We are learning it is important to read beyond "Los Angeles".

Eventually we got checked in and given special VIP get-through-screening-quick passes - since our flight was scheduled to depart in less than 30 minutes. I wish it sounded less lame, but I was so anxious about this flight that I wouldn't stop to use a toilet in the airport. Of course, we were not the last ones on the plane AND the plane did not take off on time. Still, we were eventually airborne sitting in the front row of a section and wondering where we could stash our magazines and headphones and blinders.

The flight was fine. As always, I selected a couple of not so great movies to watch. (Did I just say, "not so great"? No matter how much you loved "Napoleon Dynamite", do not, I repeat, do not think you need to see "Gentlemen Broncos".)

We had about a 5 hour layover in Los Angeles. This is always the hardest part of the trip - both ways. I'm tired and afraid if I fall asleep I'll miss my connection. Big thank you to Don for trekking out to LAX for a visit!

The flight to Cincinnati was packed. Kevin and I were not able to sit together which was fine since we both spent most of the flight sleeping. The only real point of interest was this odd little man with Jimmy Stewart's voice dressed in blue scrubs. Was he on his way to save a life? Did he have an extra kidney in his carry on bag?

New Zealand - February 26 and 27

From New Zealand

Really, its over.

On Friday morning we packed our suitcases and drove back to Picton to the Ferry. Amazing the difference in the landscape on this side of the island!

We had a little extra time before we needed to board the ferry - more time than we needed for a good bye lunch at Subway (have I shared with you my pleasure in finding that NZ did not put carrot hair on their sandwiches????). So, we wandered about the down town area - stopped at the library, a couple of little stores, and the local second hand shop. It was at the latter that I made this great discovery:

From New Zealand

I'm not positive, but I suspect this has something to do with the earth rotational pull that makes the water circle drains "backwards".

Once in Wellington we enjoyed sharing time with Anna and Andrew: playing games, eating great food, and visiting more highlights of the city.

From New Zealand

Kevin and I once again wish to thank Marvin and Terisha for their hospitality. We really enjoyed your company. Dinner and the waffles were fabulous. We thank Anna and Andrew for all they did for us - providing us with lodging in Wellington, gaming, advise (including Vic's Bakehouse), and the loan of their car. You were so generous. We had such a wonderful trip.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

New Zealand - February 25 - Kaikoura

From New Zealand

Christchurch seems like it might be a nice place. We wouldn't know. We had to be on the road by 7:30 AM so that we'd have time to find Vic's Bagels - reported to be the best bagels in NZ - American-like bagels* - AND get to Kaikoura in time for our seal swim.

From New Zealand

Done! and Done!

From New Zealand

The seal swim was much the same operation as the dolphin swim but with a couple of important exceptions:

#1 - We got flippers, hoods (important for keeping warmer!), and masks (with corrective lenses!! yay! yay! yay!)- so we could move, stay in the water longer and SEE.

#2 - Much less fancy boat - just a motor boat - and NO HOT CHOCOLATE. The downsize in boat meant there was no place to keep a camera dry. And, foolish, foolish, foolish me, I did not buy an underwater camera (disposable) from the seal swim stand.

#3 - There are a whole bunch MORE seals, they are MUCH MORE interested in people, and it is MUCH MORE fun.

The seal swim begins with a van ride out of town followed by a painful creep barefoot across sharp rocks to the shore. Then, a short buzz through very choppy water (this may vary) to a local "haul out" - an area where seals tired from the nights hunting haul themselves out of the water to rest. When they get bored or hot they jump back into the water and hang or explore or play. They're smart and curious and have very weird eyes - at least when viewed from underwater. The globes bulge out like little round goldfish bowls on their faces.

We'd swim out to where the seals were. Often they'd be resting by hanging upside down in the water with their back feet sticking out of the water. (That's how we'd find them.) Once we got close they'd sometimes swim over, peer into our masks, then in a flash of bubbles, twist, spin, and dive away. I think I may have mentioned this - it was great fun!

From New Zealand

We spent the entire day in Kaikoura- walking through town, driving up to the lookout to view the peninsula, going out to where another seal colony rested nearer to town, missing the opportunity to eat inexpensive seafood at a roadside stand, then watching two more episodes of "Criminal Minds". (I'm not sure why the only two nights we stayed in rooms with TVs it was "Criminal Mind" marathon night. Does this say something about us? or about NZ?)

*They were excellent bagels. If NZ can have "real" bagels, why not Australia???

April 18 - Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to my Grandfather, Walter Hunt. The slide show contains both photographs of him and of things I associate with him. The hand plough he used on his vegetable garden propped against the old apple tree. The stone porch he loved so much. The corn field across the road from their house - both in summer and fall. I loved spending time with him and my grandmother on their farm. I think of him every time I eat a cantaloupe, or see a red canna, or contemplate burning bag worms...

Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs by Linda Olsson

From Singles 2010

A beautifully written story where not much happens - certainly nothing unexpected. Other people would be critical of that, but I was carried away by the prose and the lilting accent of the reader. One of my favorite things was the lines of poetry that started each chapter. And, for that reason, I have requested a copy of the book in paper, so I can flip through just the poems. Here is an entire poem by a Swedish poet, Karin Boye. It is the source of the title of the book. (Oh, except in the US, where the title is, as you can tell, "Astrid and Veronika".)

My poor little child
Karin Boye

My poor child, so afraid of the dark,
who has met ghosts of another kind,
who always among those clad in white
glimpses those with evil faces,
now let me sing you gentle songs,
from fright they free, from force and cramp.
Of the evil they ask no repentance.
Of the good they ask not for battle.

See, you must know, that all that lives
is deep inside of equal kind.
Like trees and herbs it seeks to grow -
pulled forward by its inner laws.
And trees may fall and flowers wilt
and branches break, their power lost,
still the dream remains - awaits the call -
in every living drop of sap. (205)"

New Zealand - February 24 - In which we swim with dolphins!

From New Zealand

The morning began early with a peak around the grounds of the Asylum Backpackers. While it was fascinating to imagine the hospital and grounds fully populated with New Zealand's mentally ill - premedication, there were only the function buildings left standing - the offices, the bakery, the stable, the butcher. Except for the office which is what has been converted into a hostel, the other buildings are only used for storage. Largely this storage is junk - doors and chairs and boards...except somebody involved has a *thing* for antique cars. And, antique cars in mouldering buildings with only minimal slatted morning light filtering through wall cracks and grime coated windows, adds a great deal of ambiance. Particularly in combination with this old wheelchair.

From New Zealand

But, we couldn't linger long. We had a date in Akaroa with the world's smallest dolphins. Still, our drive was not without excitement - We almost killed a hawk which had caught a mouse by the side of the road. He barely reached enough elevation to carry it over our speedily oncoming car. AND, we crossed NZ's longest bridge!

From New Zealand

We took a detour to hike the Peel Forest's Big Tree Walk. The hike was short - maybe a kilometer, but the trees were very big. They were (are) totara trees. The largest was 8.4 metres circumference and over 1000 years old. Makes me look positively young!

From New Zealand

The highlight of the day had to be, however, swimming with Hector's dolphins in Akaroa! We found the peer and parking with only a few negative minutes to spare. I figure missing the majority of the information talk probably just put us on par with most of the other (non-English) speaking guests. First we were issued our wet suits. These were special not-for-sinking wet suits. Pretty amazing invention. Would have seriously shortened Jacques Cousteau's Undersea Voyages!

Then we boarded a little boat and under the pretty blue sky went out into the bay in search of dolphins. Once located we were thrown overboard and told to try to appear interesting so as to draw them in. I am seriously impaired when it comes to appearing interesting, even to my own species, and treading water (sort of, I was never going to sink) while squealing into my snorkel... I tired of it easily. At this point I don't really remember seeing a dolphin swim anywhere near (though it could have been affected by my not wearing my glasses), until being chilled, I climbed back onto the boat. Kevin persisted much longer and eventually our "crew in the water" consisted exclusively of older men.

Dolphin watching position is a lot like rounding the wagons in anticipation of an Indian attack but with fewer weapons.

From New Zealand

Practicing our sign communication. "Help. OK." (Note the life sized poster of the Hector's dolphin behind us.)

From New Zealand

Spotting a little blue penguin - our only penguin sighting in NZ.

From New Zealand

Hector's Dolphins! (click for video)

From New Zealand

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After the crew served hot chocolate while we cruised back to Akaroa. We changed and then declined the opportunity to buy the souvenir photos - though I was tempted - and drove on North to Christchurch.

From New Zealand

And, in Christchurch a miracle occurred. Kevin ate food that he almost gushed over! If you have never talked with Kevin about food you don't know that he has a very utilitarian view towards eating, "It fills my stomach", and while I've seen him overeat and have heard him express satisfaction about a meal, I don't think I've ever seen him enjoy a meal so much. So, Kevin and Ann both give FIVE STARS to The Bodhi Tree - a Burmese Restaurant and strongly recommend saving room for dessert: sorbet with chilies!

Tonight's hostel: Foley Towers. A nice enough place with all the expected references to Basil's establishment on the BBC.

From New Zealand

Lanarch Castle Gardens

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

New Zealand - February 23

From New Zealand

Tuesday.

Fortified by an excellent breakfast of waffles with Marvin and Terisha and a farm walk with Blaze and Marvin and half a dozen pigs, we embarked on our exploration of Dunedin and the nearby Otago Peninsula.

From New Zealand

- Baldwin Street - Our first stop was close by - the world's steepest street! I must admit it is easier to walk up the world's steepest street then it is to photograph a street and try to capture steepness. Maybe I should have used video with lots of puffing...

From New Zealand

- Railway Station - Why does any colorful depiction of a train, even in stained glass, resemble Thomas the Tank Engine?? (OK, no eyes. You're right.) The train station also had a modest art gallery and, of course, trains.

From New Zealand

- Otago Settlers Museum - Photos of settlers, multiple modes of conveyance (bikes, wagons, cars), and old theater lobby with toilets. Who couldn't have a good time?

- Chinese Garden - The location near a noisy highway does nothing to add to the peace. We were disappointed. Too much cement. Not enough green. If you need a Chinese Garden fix, go to Darling Harbour in Sydney.

From New Zealand

- Otago Peninsula -

From New Zealand

- Larnach Castle - I wasn't sure why Kevin was interested in the Castle. Big old house. It didn't seem like his style. But, we ended up spending a very long time there and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a great lunch which undoubtedly did a lot to establish a good mood in Ann. The garden was extensive and in bloom and most of this bloomage was from plants that would grow in Ohio. So, it felt a little like being at home - if I lived in a castle in Darke County. We hitched a ride along with a tour group who had a guide of the castle, so we got to hear the gossip about the family. A sad bunch. Wives dying right and left. Suicides. Loss of fortune. Spoiled children.

From New Zealand

I would say the castle was just a big old house (with a great view), except for the ladies boudoir. OMG!!!!! Again, a no photo locale, but there was NO WAY I was leaving without some record. The entire castle is very elegantly restored. The boudoir is designed to show off the third wife's (Connie's) wedding dress along with some other typical fancy pieces... but up in the corner is first wife, Eliza's ghost

From New Zealand

and the walls hang with 3D artwork of the dead wives. The photos aren't fabulous, I know. But, it was a challenge to snap them on the sly...and now, I must prepare to go to hell.

From New Zealand

(I'll make a slide show from the garden photos. Someday. Maybe.)

From New Zealand

- Royal Albatross Centre - It was getting to be late in the afternoon by the time we made it to the Royal Albatross Centre. Just like everyone said, we could see plenty of Albatross sailing in from sea from the parking lot. The thing about these birds is that they are BIG. Really BIG. But, that bigness is always pretty hypothetical. They look like sea gulls (to me) and a 9 foot wingspan is hard to appreciate when the bird is flying hundreds of yards away from you. They did have a plush toy baby albatross so we could feel how heavy they were. (Heavy, by the way.) I was very amused that babies weigh more than adults. That there comes a time when mom and dad put junior on a diet. That while they still bring dinner, they bring it not as often and they make the baby chase after them so as to run off some of the fat.

We had our first close up encounter with a seal on the drive back from the centre. He was sleeping on the beach. We stopped. He kept sleeping.

From New Zealand

We didn't get far on Tuesday. By the time we left the Otago Peninsula it was after 5 PM and we actually debated calling Marvin and Terisha to see if we could sleep over again. But, we figured they would have cleaned the sheets and they'd think they needed to feed us - so we pulled out our Lonely Planet guide, chose a little town up the coast, and set off to our new hostel- The Asylum, an old mental institution, in Moeraki. And, as an added bonus we'd eat at what was purported to be an excellent, not to be missed sea food restaurant in this same little town: Fleurs.

I can hear you Kiwi's laughing. You know this tale ends in tears. STARVING we arrive in Moeraki to see the Fleur's billboard at the turnoff. Closed. Tuesdays. Closed. Tuesdays.

Wait - they're still laughing.

For, the Asylum isn't in Moeraki. (You'd think the name, Seacliff Lunatic Asylum might have clued us in to the fact that this hostel is in Seacliff... but I just figured - seacliff - that's a location description.) Anyway, Seacliff is 20 km or so back toward Dunedin. Fortunately, we remembered a Fish 'n Chips shop in the last town. But, since we were *there* we made a detour to visit the Moeraki Boulders.

From New Zealand

Oh, and that Fish 'n Chips shop? We got there 10 min after they'd closed for the evening.

From New Zealand

New Zealand February 22 -

Sigh.

Kevin kept a list of what we did each day and the list for Sunday the 22 is so long. Nothing to do but start.

We had spent the night in Invercargill and so in the morning we did Invercargill stuff. We sought out E. Hays & Sons Hammer & Hardware store because, obviously, this is the "home" of Burt Munroe's motorcycle - The World's Fastest Indian. (We hadn't watched the movie prior to our trip, but we did after. And, since I'm writing this more than 6 weeks later, and who knows how far in the future it is when you are reading this, with time compression - they pretty much happened at the same time.) Interestingly, something about that motorcycle makes one's hands itch.

From New Zealand

We hoofed it through town then to see the Southland Museum & Art Gallery. This was on our radar because it houses tuataras- very, very, very old species of lizard. So old, they look artificial- almost cute and cuddly.

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We were really impressed by one sculpture exhibition by Nic Moon. She had taken a collection of skulls from introduced animal species (stoats, rabbits, foxes, cows, cats, dogs - the culprits who are decimating the native populations - interestingly it did not include the most important criminal - but it is probably much more difficult to get human skulls) dressed them in grass capes with artifical, add-on ears (there are no ear-flap bones, you know), then suspended them from the ceiling in a circle, facing inward, with creepy lighting. It was a "no photos" place - and I already "stole" one of the tuatara, so I won't go further. You can see another of her works here.

From New Zealand

The rest of the day was spent driving through the beautiful hills and along the coastline of the Catlins with a number of short stops along the way. The juxtaposition of the yellowed grasses with the muted blue sky was magic and I tried to bring that home.

- Waipapa Point Lighthouse

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- Slope Point (southernmost point of South Island)

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- Niagara Falls of New Zealand (Yes, you are seeing "it all".)

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- Cathedral Caves - getting more cloudy now! I did not succeed in getting a photograph where you can both see the cave and see Kevin - so you don't see either. This cave was on the coast and only accessible at low tide - which we were very fortunate to be right on time for!

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- Lost Gypsy Gallery (great!) This is a collection of found art sculptures created by . For free you can tour his train car and marvel at all the cool-o wind up pieces and light up pieces and moving pieces and...

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And, for a couple of bucks you can see his collection of larger pieces "out back". Without a doubt, our favorite was the crank Cthulhu in the hedge. Go! Go! Go! (NOTE- I cannot import the video so if you want to see you will need to click on the blue Cthulhu link, there, just behind you. It will take you to the video. I'll wait, if you want to do it now.)

From New Zealand

Our last stop was at Nugget Point. We hiked up the hill to the lighthouse then joined the folks peering over the fence and wayyyy down to the shore where dozens of fur seals were wrestling and chasing and napping. (Note to self: I really must get my film processed to see if my zoom lens succeeded in capturing anything interesting.)

From New Zealand

- We ended our evening in Dunedin where we had the pleasure of staying with Marvin and Terisha and Blaze. A fabulous dinner followed by Kevin clobbering us all at Carcassonne.

From New Zealand