Fall in Brisbane's Roma Street Parklands

The poppies are just starting to bloom... with winter just around the corner. My mind begins it's meltdown. I must turn away from the calendar. June cannot be winter. And, how can Christmas be so far away?

An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England: A Novel

From Singles 2010

You never ask your son about how he feels about the suicide of his father's lover, just as you never ask your mother how she feels about killing your father, just as you never answer your mother when she asks whether she looks her age.

Happy Birthday to Me!

From June 2014

My New Career!

I've been doing this same shtick for over TEN years now and so it is TIME, past time, for finding a new path. And, on Saturday May 15, there was a great light shone down from heaven and we discovered, that is the we of Kevin and I rather than the royal "we", Roller Derby.

Roller Derby in Brisbane is held on a flat track in one of the ballrooms of the Convention Centre - and there is none of the elbow-in-the-face violence we were expecting, having first watched "Kansas City Bomber" -- you know, so we'd be ready.

This was the second match this year between the Love Rockettes (in pink) and the Diner Might Dolls (in yellow). The Dolls had won the first so we thought we support the "underdogs". That didn't help. It seems they had a serious problem keeping their jammer (she who jams and scores points) off the penalty bench. And, with a jammer on the bench, there is no opportunity to score.



Quick Roller Derby Rules - on the track at most are 5 members of each team: a Pivot who has the job of setting the pace at which the pack circles the track, 3 Blockers who both try to assist their jammer in navigating the pack and to block the opposing jammer from passing through the pack, and a Jammer (wearing a star on her helmet) who scores a point for each member of the opposing team she passes AFTER the first pass.

Brisbane in the Evening and a Failure of Art

From Singles 2010

I have been so slack in maintaining this journal and not because we've been doing nothing. Heck, if you count cleaning the air vent in the shower, 2 partial water changes in the aquarium AND buying a new heat lamp, I've been positively busy.

From Singles 2010

We're continuing to enjoy the GOMA's New Zealand Unnerved! exhibition - finding the films to be far more interesting than the non-movie art. This means that in the last month we've made 4 trips to the museum to watch feature films including "Black Sheep", zombie-like sheep attacking people - the ultimate fear of all Kiwis!, but NOT "Eagle versus Shark", which we'd seen before and would have definitely re-watched but we were called away by Tichu. Some of these have kept us in the city after dark, so we've been free to enjoy the city lights reflected on the Brisbane River.

From Singles 2010

We took in the new "Hats!" exhibition in the Brisbane Art Museum... but NOT the new exhibition by Ron Mueck - sculpture of the Giant Lady in Bed that we've loved so much.

From Singles 2010

This, by the way, is the failure of art. Our failure. Our unwillingness to stand in this line that doesn't end at the building but goes all the way to the BACK of the lobby and then makes a 180 degree turn and continues. And, that's just to buy the ticket!

I shall be expecting

you all to begin paying rent...

From Singles 2010

The numbers: 20, 27, 1

From Singles 2010

Number of questions correct out of 20 on the citizenship exam. (I've let Kevin know that at the citizenship oath ceremony they will, no doubt, want the 20s in the front row. Nineteens can stand behind. He reminds me I got to take the EASY test - the one WITHOUT all the sports related questions. Yeah. Sure.)

Score on the Autism Spectrum Instrument- out of 50, I believe. It's easy to score high if you have any social anxiety. I thought my inability to remember a phone number long enough to dial it would keep me on the more healthy end of the continuum. But, no.

Number of fish still alive on the 5th of May. One week after populating the tank.

The Death Dealer

From Singles 2010

You would think it would be the most natural thing in the world. There you go. You’re dead. Live with it.

These were the first lines of the book and the best. I don't like the structure of having two readers (audio book).

Still not dead

From Singles 2010

Though this orange fish is being sadly persecuted and has to hide to get any peace.

Just can't stop New Zealand

I had a few more thoughts about New Zealand. I figured I'd never get to them. Days go by...endlessly pulling you into the future...(Laurie Anderson). For example, I thought I'd surely have cool things to post from today's Big Sunday Excursion - Buddha's Birthday combined with a new exhibit at the GOMA: New Zealand Noir. But, no sooner had we entered the GOMA and looked upon the giant inflatable rabbit who looks like Thumper, but isn't, really Mr. Disney, then I discovered that my camera battery was dead. (The fish - alive. The battery - dead.) I had NOT listened to the little voice that suggested I bring along my spare battery. Sigh. And, if I have no photographs, I really have nothing much to say.

So, back to New Zealand. The real New Zealand. Time to reflect back on a few things I thought you'd really want to know.

THOUGHT NUMBER ONE: Signs. I never expected to find street signs that I'd never encountered before. Naive, I suppose.

Sign on highway. "Slumps". Obviously something to beware. A slump can get in the way of a really good time.

When something is important, New Zealand marks it with an exclamation point!! Danger! Flooding! or my favorite: Cow!

From New Zealand

The "road construction" sign give me pause. It most closely resembles a man digging a grave. (Not a very good example. I waited til the last minute to decide I needed to bring this home.)

From New Zealand

And, what is this? Kevin and I had only one thought. Breasts on the highway. We just aren't sure why.

From New Zealand

Other signs. The zoo in Wellington was full of these marvelous signs - full of drama and danger. Don't feed the animals or they'll get sick and die. And, they'd show you an animal sick and then DEAD. Or, "If you sit on the fence you WILL fall in." And, then you'll be stamped to death by the blood thirsty zebra!

From New Zealand

THOUGHT NUMBER TWO: Toilets.
From Queenstown.

From New Zealand

If you're going to NZ (or Australia, as I've learned from Mr. Google. Oh, wow!), it is important to find an EXCELOO. We found three - and there are likely more: Franz Josef, Invercargill, and Kaikoura. These are "Self Managing Toilet Modules". Its like walking into a tin (ok, stainless steel) can. Once inside the door automatically locks and the muzak plays. Flushing, paper dispensing, soap dispensing, rinsing is all automated. But, don't get too cozy. After 10 minutes you will be driven from the commode: sirens wail, lights flash and door flies open and, no doubt, the toilet cops appear.

From New Zealand

NUMBER THREE: Mail.

This is just a helpful hint. In New Zealand you have to match the stamp to the right mail box. There is at least one, and I think two, private mail carriers beyond the federal government. And, the NZPO is not willing to deliver postcards with the wrong kind of stamp. We were just lucky we stopped in the post office for something else or we would have chucked our stack of postcards in the wrong kind of box. (That is probably what happened to the card I sent you. Sorry.)

From New Zealand

FINALLY: Speaking New Zealand.

Kevin and I are not good with accents. We've been living in Australia for four years and NO ONE has EVER mistaken us for locals. Canadians, yes. And, we've NEVER lived there! But, we can speak a few words of Kiwi - and you can, too!

First: One adult female human = woman (woom-uhn)
Two or more adult female persons = woman (woom-uhn)

Can't hear the difference? That's right! Bingo! You're speaking Kiwi.

We learned that from Anna and Andrew before our trip. We were ready.

In Kaikoura we learned another word. We were watching a morning television program featuring a school where the kids had brought in their pets to share. One boy's dog (or cow or pig or sheep - I'm not really sure) was named BEER. And, they went further to clarify - that's BEER like the animal in the woods not the drink.

Tada! Like us, you're almost fluent!

Not Dead Yet

From Singles 2010

I got a surprise day off last week, Wednesday. And, so I thought I'd buy myself a gift for my birthday. My intention was to find a ready to assemble raised garden bed but I couldn't find anything like that at Bunnings. So, I did the next best thing.

I bought fish.

I've had the aquarium set up with water and plants and too many snails for more than a year now. There was a time when I was trying to get the water perfect - taking samples into the store. But I couldn't seem to move the pH. So, I quit.

Anyway, I decided I'd be heartless and behave as probably 90% of aquarium owners do and JUST BUY FISH. To hell with getting the water to be desirable. There'd be virtually no aquariums in private homes if it was absolutely required for a freshwater tank. (I know I'm sounding very fish unfriendly here. It happens at 49.)

I asked the young woman at the store about which fish I couldn't kill. She suggested Mollies or Platies. I guess that guppies and neons (fish I had been considering) are the canaries in the mines of freshwater tanks. If there's anything out of whack, they're dead.

Great.

I took home 3 mollies. I was told to keep my receipt. The store had a health guarantee of 10 days. Surely, I could keep a fish for 10 days, I thought and discarded the receipt.

The black molly sank to the bottom of the tank while the white (ish) and orange one toured the attractions.

By night the black molly was dead, dead, dead.

Great.

But, here it is Sunday. Each morning I turn on the light and feed the fish and think: go ahead, say it with me: NOT DEAD YET.

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)"