Catching up in the USA

Writing today from Clintonville, Ohio. We have less than a week left in the US, but I feel we've squeezed most of a year into the past 19 days. Beautiful spring weather in Ohio- temperature in the mid 70s with daffodil, forsythia, blue skies and green, green grass. Watching the leaves unfurl and the blossoms changing from redbud to dogwood to wisteria while driving south to Georgia and (early) summer. Then, back to Ohio. Arriving at 11 pm; passing the bank clock where the temperature read almost 60 degrees. Waking up to 27 degrees. And, snow. We're approaching spring again. It is chilly and rainy. What a wonder is Ohio!



Meanwhile, Kevin's spent much of the time holed up in the basement of the Midwest Convention Center playing games: board games and card games, primarily, though we (I was there for 2 days) did have a few killer games of "Gnip Gnop" and "Rapid Fire". For the most part, Kevin practiced his ingenious Australian Expo strategy for tournament play whereby he deprived early opponents of advancing only to, ahem, not win future rounds. Through fierce determination, however, he won the "hidden contest", earned his sheriff badge, and took home a pair of pink fuzzy handcuffs. I didn't actually witness ANY of this competition, so I only have his word on the origen of the handcuffs. Additionally, I helped clinch the last place position in the duplicate Tichu competition for team Kevin. The winning team scored something like +2000 points, while we rocketed to.....-1440. Woohoo. It is all part of the grand design to steal the prize next time.

I always feel odd in Columbus. No matter how long it has been and how many OTHER things have happened in this city, I am flooded with images and feelings from my days at OSU (or, since this is still my Australian journal- "uni".) When I see the "towers" from 315 and pass under the green sign identifying the upcoming Lane Avenue exit, I'm 18 and in the back seat and moving into Taylor Tower. The Continent is indelibly marked with my first excursion there to see a movie. And, the sidewalks and paths are peppered with my roommates and friends. I'm left feeling wistful and full of longing. I am once again in love. I miss all of you.

Probably, I just need to eat breakfast.

I now turn on my

windshield wipers to signal a turn in two countries!

Movies, Violence, and Clean Socks

Writing this morning from Greg's home. Kevin is at Mike's playing a war game. Zelda is frolicking with her new friend(s) at the Pines. I am waiting around hoping to see our suitcases on the front porch. Could be any moment now. That's been the thought for the last 36 hours....

It has not been the boring experience one hopes for in a trans-continental flight. Our flight was modestly delayed in Brisbane as the crew tried to repair the "on-flight entertainment system". Kevin was pleased to wait for THAT to be fixed. This was going to be his first flight on Qantas with their new "videos-on-demand". The system was stocked with all the academy award nominees as well as several good older films he hasn't seen and Australian films. (I was particularly keen on him watching "Kenny" and "Last Train to Freo"- both of which were well considered- in fact, many, many Australians wax lyrically on the outrageous humo(u)r of Kenny. I watched both films on the plane when I went home for the holidays. I watched both films for about 25 minutes- then I just had to stop. Was the problem me? I wanted to Kevin to let me know. So, as we outlined our movie experience, our flight crew interrupted to let us know that some of the seats would NOT be having the entire catalog. Just a few. They were in contact with Sydney and were going to try something else to restore the system. Restore it, they did! Soon, we all had 3 channels and could watch endlessly "Open Season", "A Good Year", or "Little Miss Sunshine". I continue to enjoy "Little Miss Sunshine"- though I wasn't overwhelmed by it this time. The soundtrack is magical- at once whimsical and melancholic. "Amelie"- also affects me like this...though it is also a visual feast. What colour! So, we watched "LMS"- in full or part at least 3 times. Kevin tried the cartoon. I quit on the Russel Crowe film...also, beautiful, but really, really stupid and poorly acted. Thank god for Rick James.

The customs and immigration officer in LA asked us to step behind his desk and wait. We waited. Kevin often has problems in airports as there is SOME Kevin O'Brien who is on a "no fly" list in the US. We're getting (sort of) used to this. Finally an agent came by- "Do you know a S.H.? She has a filed a protection order against you." No. Never been to Racine. Living in Australia. No, never met the woman. No. When the agent finally dismissed us, I swear she said something to the original passport stamping man something about the wanted Kevin O'Brien being 5 foot 6 inches. Good thing she hadn't noticed the leg transplant!

We found a very helpful agent at United, and thereby made our flight to Chicago. Our final leg- to Columbus- was canceled, however. Kevin was able to get us onto a flight to Cleveland that was scheduled to depart within the hour. Not enough time to reroute our bags.

As of last night (Sunday), they were still in Columbus. "You want them in Cleveland?" I guess the paper we filed wasn't clear on that. This morning's call suggests that they were supposed to be on a flight to Cleveland at 6:10 AM... but now (11:20 AM) they don't know where they are. We leave Cleveland tomorrow. I sure hope we have them before we relocate to Columbus!

Updates

Big changes are afoot.

To begin with- I think I've found a job. As with any new job, I'm a little trepidatious, but hopeful. I think I'm going to learn a lot and grow as a doctor. Eegads. Building character. Never without angst. Need to work out the details, but would be starting in April. We'll get to that soon enough.

Secondly, I passed my practical test from the radiation health safety people. Yay! I took a bang-up nice looking radiograph of a disembodied human hand. Let me know if you need one done for you.




After the exam I walked into the city to meet Kevin for lunch. As I suggested earlier, I wanted to check out what was new in my graffiti alley. On the way, however, I found a new one. This one is most likely tied to the gallery it is next to: e'merj. I'd seen their logo spray painted on buildings before but didn't know it meant something. Anyway, this alley is COVERED. Not really sure that it is appropriate to call it graffiti- more like murals gone wild.

On the other hand, most of the images I posted from "my" alley are gone. They've gone through and over painted the walls with more red paint. I'm suspecting that art will crawl back into that space if we are very, very quiet. See, it is already creeping out the door...

Found a third spot near the Centrum Movie Theatre- but it was very busy with cars and people and I felt too self conscious to take photographs. I'll go back some weekend morning. Like a Sunday at 7 AM. I'll bet I have the place to myself.





Finally, Kevin and I are leaving on Saturday to spend a few weeks in the US. It will be a whirlwind tour encompassing Columbus (OH), Cleveland (OH), Rogersville (TN), Athens (GA), possibly Savannah (GA) and Charleston (SC), and finally Dallas, TX. Kevin is very excited to be going "home" to play games with our friends in Cleveland- and 10 days and nights! gaming in Columbus at the "Gathering of Friends". Meanwhile, I need to complete my continuing ed requirements- hence the trip to The University of Georgia. I imagine my chances of hanging with the B-52's is slim- not enough hair. Because my Internet contact will be limited to public libraries, I suspect that not much will be happening here. I'll still be thinking and writing stories in my head and taking lots of photos. You'll just have to tune in psychically for a while.

We're getting a new neighbor!

We've been watching the house being built next door for most of our time here in Aspley- and now I think I know what's going on. Yep. Zelda will be so pleased.

We've got an edge

Yep. with God. See, somehow we scored a whole class of first grade catechism to pray for us. This has resulted in 1 orange and black rosary (the colors of the Versailles tigers) and a blessed cross medallion. Not to mention the boatload of halo points we must have.

My dear childhood neighbor and friend, Dixie, decided that we would be the family that her Monday class would pray for. All year. Each week. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be. (I know because I went to class in December.) Not just Kevin and I. No. It is important to note that Zelda gets included in every offering.

I was touched. I was also amused. They send letters and ask questions about life in Australia. "How big are the snakes?" "Are koalas mean?" "What time do you eat dinner?" There is an obvious emphasis on spiders and snakes. I'm not sure if that reflects Dixie's worries, my anxieties, or just the kids liking creepy crawlers. I try to write regularly and send them pictures. I wonder what their parents think?

There's only one way to end this;

Amen

Is it because I grew up in Versailles?

Poultry and egg hub of the midwest. Home of the annual "Poultry Days" celebration- www.versaillespoultrydays.com - including Miss Chick and ultimate frisbee and a peck of shriners. Anyway, does anyone else really consider which egg to crack? Do you use the eggs from the left side to the right? or go for a more balanced approach so the box isn't lopsided and risk it tipping out of your hand when the top is closed and you're half asleep? Maybe I have too much time on my hands. Good thing the floors need washing today.

And now for something completely different

Seems I've been emphasizing the natural side of Australia- landscapes, wildlife, toilet ants... and haven't yet shared any of the art- at least not for a long time. I've been intending to collect a sample of the wonderful utility boxes that are painted by local artists in locally appropriate images. (You can see two - one from China town and one across from a big church/cathedral- I think- April 4, Signage). I could also explore the sculpture and architecture. But, today, it is graffiti.

Brisbane has MORE than its fair share of standard graffiti- you know the scrawled writing that you can't really make out and are pretty sure you aren't missing anything intereting. There's even some on our mailbox! The thing about this graffiti that amuses me to no end it that it is all created by folks who wear dorky uniforms to school. (But that- shcool uniforms- is a different blog ALL TOGETHER.) There is one alley in Fortitide Valley that I am particularly fond of. It is beside a travel agency, I believe. And, not sure what else. I'm certainly not aware of who is wielding the spray can or the glue bottle or even the silly string. There is more great street art in FV than just this particular alleyway; I'll include some of that later.

Photobucket will only let me put 10 images in a slide show.

I haven't been back to my alley this year yet. What new wonders have been added...? Maybe I can schedule a visit on Tuesday.

Marching to Victoria

OK. It was February; we took a plane. But, the title is catchy. Something to hum along to whilst pondering a way to fit whilst into a sentence and appear more Australian.

The last weekend of February Kevin and I flew down to the "Spa Capital of Australia" about an hour north of Melbourne. (Hint: If you want to speak Australian, you don't pronounce the "r" in Melbourne- MEL-BEN.) Kevin won the "Champion of Champions" competition at New Horizon's last year and his prize was this weekend away.

We left home about 5 AM to catch our flight South. Picked up a rental car (wow!) and drove out to Daylesford arriving early in the afternoon. We had only a couple of things we really wanted to accomplish on this trip- going to Hanging Rock, enjoying a spa bath, and touring the lavender farm. (OK. That was just me. Well, I guess the last 2 were just me. Kevin wasn't expecting much from this trip- but he really enjoys Hanging Rock.)





So, we started out with Hanging Rock. If the name sounds familiar but you just can't place it, think checkered table cloth, ants, missing school girls.... Early in the last century the novel, "Picnic at Hanging Rock", was written. It got a lot of buzz as people questioned whether it was a true story about how several school girls went missing on a St. Valentine's Day picnic in 1900- Boom. They were just gone. A few days later - wait- it was made into a movie directed by Peter Weir (who also directed "The Truman Show". This came up in last week's Big Quiz- the 40 question trivia quiz in every Sunday Mail. Kevin won that quiz. It was rather heavy in film questions and decidedly lacking in anatomy or disease.) OK. Here's a link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073540/ I won't tell you more of the story in case you want to see the show (or, god forbid, read the book). (We watched the film a few years ago. Actually, I quit on it. Kevin finished it and filled me in on the story and all the symbolism and nuance later. He found it more interesting to read about than to watch. But you- maybe you'll like it. Terry (who games and takes the quiz each Sunday) says we needed to see it when it came out. He thought (thinks?) it is quite spooky. I think wearing those long skirts and full sleeves in this heat is pretty spooky. But, I stray. We enjoyed climbing to the summit of hanging rock- which is a pile of rocks- big rocks- where we, of course, had a picnic.

On the way home from Hanging Rock we followed signs to one of the local mineral springs. (This is the claim to fame in the area. Lots of mineral springs. The spas are a product of the springs.) We filled our water bottle and took our booty back to the room...where our water became ever more cloudy and rusty looking. It took a certain courage to drink that water. We haven't died yet.




Otherwise, Saturday evening was filled with very slow service at a Chinese restaurant and my first opportunity to watch Australian TV. Wow. There's some bad stuff out there. I can't believe I tried to watch the show where Australian celebrities compete in training their dogs...

Sunday, we walked down to the Sunday Market (not the Tuesday market or the every-other-Saturday market) - a big flea market with plenty of fresh produce but no German games. Then, walked around town- past the convent that has been turned into an art gallery, restaurant and bar and through the botanical gardens. Here it was that I learned that regular qi gong practice does not prepare a person for climbing up and particularly down a narrow winding stairway. Ouch.
















The lavender farm was fun. I think I even saw Kevin smile. It was far too late in the season for much lavender to be in bloom- but there was a little. We wandered through gardens where I was reminded it was really fall- see pumpkin. We fed scones to the donkeys. We played boccie ball. (I lost.) Lunch was in Hepburn Spring at the Chowder Pot- a fun spot across the street from the general store. After, we made our way to Hepburn Spring where we'd already learned the public spa was closed for renovation- til sometime 2008. This was the end of my spa dream, by the way. The public spa costs $8. The next cheapest was $30.

Finally, we walked around the lake. Not a big lake but a pleasant enough walk and, I think, it must be THE PLACE for practicing "Downward facing Dog" (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491_1.cfm#). Evidence- see sign found along the path.


What else COULD it mean?

Hanging rock had been maybe a 45 min drive from Daylesford and much of the way was punctuated by signs suggesting a slower speed between dusk and dawn because of Wombats! Cool! Sunday evening we hustled out to the car and went cruising for wombat. We even turned down a dark road leading into a national park and crept along-Kevin saw something hop. Obviously not a wombat. I didn't even see that much. Very disappointing.

Monday we refilled our bottle from a cleaner looking spring and took off for Melbourne. We arrived in time for lunch. (The bottle filled more quickly than it sounds here...I've left off breakfast, bathing, and buying chocolates for Steve and, oh yeah, ME driving. Woohoo! Power steering!) We spent the afternoon in the Melbourne zoo. Zoo highlights: fabulous butterfly aviary and a pretty great bird one, too. Very, very cool decorations. That annoying pinging sound you hear everywhere is a bell bird. I think that's right. There were also 3 tiger cubs playing. It was a big zoo and we really didn't see it all before closing at 5 PM. From there we drove into town and strolled (hustled) through the botanic garden then drove back through town to the airport.

I had a great time. Kevin, less so. He found Saturday to be difficult because it was a bit chilly and he hadn't packed a jacket. He had laid his belt out with the clothes I was packing- which I thought was just him laying out his clothes- getting ready for the morning. But, I was SUPPOSED to think he wanted me to pack it. Anyway, he couldn't wear long pants, either. Good thing he likes me.

NOTE: The small photos are clickable, if you want to see a bigger image. The slide show... is problematic. HELP!! OMG it worked! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Every which way is Left

I've always had a somewhat tenuous relationship with the directions "left" and "right". And, that's funny since I remember being 7, 8 ,9 and figuring out in dance class that all I had to do was locate the HUMONGOUS small pox vaccine scar on my left arm to KNOW which direction was left. But, in real life, I just wear too many clothes. Still, you'd think after 45 years of living it would start to be second nature.

Two problems. First, I went to vet school. My left or the dog's left? Every xray involves pointing straight ahead with the right hand index finger and saying "you can see here on the left". It doesn't help that the owners have no real loyalty to left or right when describing a limp. I should be pleased that they usually have decided the problem is with the front or rear. Still, I was coping. I could still give and follow directions. (And, by now I'd figured out I write with my right hand and a little cursive air-doodle would quickly reset my compass.)

No more. Problem two. Driving in Australia. I was OK as a passenger, but now that I've graduated to REAL driver (beyond the hypermarket grocery run) I'm totally buggered. A turn that involves crossing oncoming traffic is (everyone, together) a LEFT TURN. I can (and have) raised my air-doodle pen in hand and asked myself "which way" and STILL I come up with "left". Not even a hint of disquiet there. A turn the other way or following the round-about clockwise is "to the LEFT". So, left is still left. Its just that now right is left, too.

I can't let it drop

Nothing really new about that, I guess.

But, this is a country in which at least three games are called "football". Maybe 4 - but none of those are American football which is "gridiron" or maybe that is "grid iron". Where does that come from...? Anyway, why isn't cricket a ballgame? There's a ball. It's a game. I can see how golf isn't a ballgame since it is not a team sport. And, tennis. But, cricket? Too much time in the sun, I'm thinking.

"Let me be the reason for lonely sleepless nights..."
listening to Joan Armatrading. You know, I saw her live. In Cleveland HEIGHTS. That's like, she was in my back yard! How did I end up here......

Ann

ANTS!

The thing I find MOST difficult about living in Australia (at least today- now that I've mastered driving on the left. My button, "I can drive to the mall by myself", is still on backorder, however.) is that I seem to have to share my home with creatures NOT of my choosing. Primarily, I live with spiders (which have never been my favorite), rats (I used to like rats and still do in cages), geckos (definately my favorite next to Zelda), and ants. Ants are just annoying. It doesn't seem to be like living in the US where they come in looking for food. Here, they just come in. We have three ant parades going regularly and they all feature different ants. There are the window ants. They swarm over the wall under the window in the stairway. Never has there been a morsel of food dropped there. They're just fodder for the spiders, but still they troop on and on and on and on. Then there are the GREAT BIG ants that travel up the corner of the bedroom. Huh? And, they do it at night. Thats just wrong. But by far the most annoying are the toilet ants. That bathroom is already a problem with the shower leaking into the game room. Still, it is spacious and it USED to be relatively private. No more. Aghhh. You can't see in the picture but there is a drain in the floor. It drains out onto the world. Currently, it has a tin of clams over it. No matter. They find their way in.

Cricket Revisited

That wasn't the final score.

And, you don't say "I really enjoyed going to the ball game." A ball game, I'm told, means (only) baseball.

I'm mortified. I thought I was fitting in. Get me another vegemite sandwich!

Ann

Cricket - England 240 New Zealand 225

I think that was the end score. I think I know something about the game, now.

Kevin and I went after work Tuesday to The Gabba to see our first cricket game. New Horizons had exchanged some training for 10 tickets to 2 events. Tickets in the Champions Room. Wow! Wow! if nothing more than for the spread! Good eats! and plenty of it. If only we were drinkers, we'd REALLY have been happy campers. The room is spacious with a large window overlooking the field at a really fine elevation. I wonder if the glass is "fixed" so to somewhat magnify the images on the other side. The players looked almost life sized! I didn't know the etiquette associated with such venues, so I didn't take any photos in the room. Damn. But, we spent a good part of the game enjoying the lovely evening outside watching from something approaching the nose bleed seats. Hence, today's photograph.

Anyway, cricket is an unusual game and makes me wonder whether baseball evolved from the game or if humans are just genetically moved to create games where balls get hit with sticks. It is almost enough to make me google the origin of baseball- or at least contact my friend Jeff Stahlman who I'm sure knows. In the shower I was pondering the question and trying to understand the motivation of Abner (Doubleday). Was he a frustrated cricketer? Did he long for his chance to bat?? Did he find spending hours/days even in the outfield running back and forth from one side to the other after each over to be tedious? Did he want to see more as he ran from base to base? Or, was he just looking for a reason to use the term "grand slam"?

I had a fine time and I might try to explain the game sometime- but not today. Count me in for any future excursions- I'm glad to go back ANYTIME to see the last 3 hours of a game!

A week of gaming in the mountains

The first Australian Gathering of Friends (name to change but no one is innocent) was held on the Euroka Horsefarm/Homestead/Ranch in the Blue Mountains of NSW. Five families. A total body count of 10 adults and 3 children and umpteen meeples. I was looking forward to a respite from the heat and I was well supplied with books, magazines, journals, music, sunscreen and my Italian parsley plant. Kevin brought the games.

Our 6 AM departure occured at 8, or maybe 9:30. A fine ride through the countryside of Australia- sun blazing, windows wide, and the sweet scent of burning oil! Our chariot! Our Steed! The dubiously accurate and maddeningly detailed "where is" map told us it was roughly 1000 km (935.95) to Sydney which they predict to take 10.22 hours. Early on it did not look good. Constuction ahead, we crawled but mostly stopped for 45 minutes.

Traveling South.

Lunch in Byron Bay by the water. Spied the Big Banana in Coff's Harbor- surprisingly it lies on its side above the shop underneath. Generously I spelled Kevin driving so he could rest. When my too warm body turned toward sleep and the car turned toward the rumble strip on the left shoulder, I pulled over at the next rest stop. Kevin rose and we watched older women in simiar flower print dresses descend from the above ground "outhouse". Ah, the glamour of traveling down under. Kevin, refreshed from his 15 min nap drove on.

Supper was quick at McDonalds. Rest stops to fill up on oil, petrol, and water (for us!) were not excessive- though some may have thought we overdid the pouring of oil onto the pavement at the BP a bit - yet it was close to midnight when we arrived at Pat and Fluers. Drive time >> 10.22 hours.

How does "where is" figure time??? No where in their data bases must the stop lights and 60 kpm speed limits be logged. There is probably no room- what with holding onto every detail of name change for each road and highway of Australia!

Our trip onto the mountains from Sydney took (1 hour 46 minutes), hmmm, 27 +/- hours. Can't fully blame "wi" for that, though. Had to work out a little problem with a broken pipe in the engine, also. Big thank you to Rob.




What to say about the Mountains. It was such a thrill to be ascending the cooler tree lined roads to our destination. The Homestead was located on a big horse farm. This fact made for an interesting tennis game, I'm sure. (Hmmm- that may not be clear to the reader. There was a NEW tennis court behind the Homestead house- but a lack of diligence in keeping gates closed had resulted in the court being peppered ("poopered?") by horses.)

I really enjoyed walking and even got Kevin to come out one evening. We walked through the field down to the "Six Foot Trail"- which is neither 6 feet in length or width. Perhaps in the fifth dimension? We walked through fields as dusk approached. Spying rabbits and being scrutinized by cattle. Walking forward to see what was over the next hill? When the answer was a sign advising us the trail continued for another 35 KM we turned around. Here is a photo, though. Walking back toward our "home" along the "Six Foot Trail".



Wildlife: We had one night time car trip on the first day (from the grocery in Black Heath) and, unfortunately, hit a wallaby. John and Bhuva had a much better wildlife adventure and stopped to watch a wombat progress across the road (sans tire (tyre) tracks.) Bhuva and I and Tara (6) spied a kangaroo hopping across the field on one of our morning walks. Our horse ride included viewing a kangaroo and half-grown joey bounding away from us. And, we probably saw at least 4 other kangaroos/wallabys in the ditch or crossing the road while traveling by car during daylight hours. The mountains were full of birds, as well. Especially raccous were the sulfer crested cockatoos- always traveling in groups and always screaching about something.

Games: were played. Kevin and John could tell you more. A loving wife might put a link to said husband's blog here. We'll see.

The long ride home: We made our first stop not far from Euroka at the Northern Extension of the Sydney Botanic Garden (or something like that)- Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens. Big place. Lots of plants. The Italian parsley LOVED it. OK. I'm lying. The parsley had to wait in the parking lot underneath the car. Kevin and I, however, did enjoy strolling through the grounds- which seemed to get bigger the longer we were there.

Our overnight destination- Port Macquarie. Found the hostel without incident and were astonished to find we'd be spending the night in a large, overheated closet. Oh, did I say large? We could open the suitcase most of the way. Our room was beside the phone. ("HELLO. WHAT'S HAPPENING? I'M..." Must have been one of those tin can phones with a fray on the string. Really needed to shout to be heard.) But, seriously, we were tired and some of us grumpy. The bed was firm enough AND there was topless sunbathing at the pool til 11PM.

The following day's excitement was to be swimming in the dolphin pool in Coff's Harbor. We saw billboards on the way down! Got there about 11. Only 2 hours to wait to see the show and maybe get a kiss from a seal!! The dolphin swim, $200, didn't happen for us. And, now I ask- why is it significantly less for a dolphin swim if you are a child???? I suspect they get just as much time IF NOT MORE with the dolphins as do adult swimmers. Hmmmmm. If it is just an issue of water displacement- you know, we're experiencing a record drought here in Australia and maybe there is a concern about replacing pool water that gets splashed out by the swimmers- then how about a price by weight? I'd get a preteen price then, for sure.

Otherwise- the trip was HOT and LONG and the price of the speeding ticket $231- which we assumed is priced to exceed $230- EXPENSIVE. Oh, that doesn't count the potential fine (all of these with double demerits- the bonus of traveling on a holiday weekend- in this case Australia Day- arrival of the first fleet.) we MAY have gotten in Sydney when we accidently found ourselves on the t-line. (That name may be wrong. It was a special road just for buses FILLED with camera and posted signs about big fines and bigger demerits. I think it was still under construction and not yet in use- so I'm hoping that they aren't policing it yet. Kevin just hopes they can read the expression of the drivers' faces- where his will surely read "Help! How do you get out of here!")

Did I say the drive was hot?

Oh, and my name for the group was chosen. So, from now on this annual gathering will be known as "On the Beach".

On the Beach with Nigel

It is good to be back home. After the car, even 90 degrees at home feels, well, not cool, but better. I think we are now both committed to air-conditioning in the next vehicle. Of course, this one is half ever-ready bunny and I think it may outlast me-at least here in Au.

The Blue Mountains were beautiful and beautifully cool! It rained all one day and I wore jeans! I even was OK in jeans on the day we went horseback riding. Yet, I’m NOT looking to relocate. The spiders in NSW made ours look positively puny! Egads! We had two in the house. The first Kevin saw in the bathroom and warned me about. (Woke me UP to warn me- bless him!) “You might want to shower in the other bath.” I made Kevin run shotgun for me on my trip down the hall to the toilet- past the big creepy that was now in the upper corner of the hallway. In the morning, we moved out of “The Homestead” – which was pretty old and decrepit and into the renovated home “The Cottage”. New paint. New fixtures. New furniture. I told Kevin it wasn’t the sort of place for spiders. The Homestead, yeah. They belonged there…but the next morning we had a big spider (though smaller than the prior one) lurking behind the toaster. Glad to be eating oats!

Kevin volunteered to trap and release it. He chased it up onto the ceiling so he’d have a flat surface, then threw himself with a box lid onto it. Well, onto one leg. The rest of the spider dropped.

GOD ALMIGHTY.

We ALL screamed and half of us jumped up onto furniture. I was so concerned we’d lost it. I’d rather KNOW where it was. As it turns out, Claire saw it skitter up under a chair. So, we took that chair outside. And left it.

Sisters

I received the following in an e-mail from my friend, Susette, who recently gave me the most astounding gift of driving to Versailles from NYC for one evening's visit(driving back the next day). Wow. I thought I'd post it here with photos of SOME of my sisters- in thanks.







A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters.

Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.
"Remember that ’Sisters’ means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too.”You'll need other women. Women always do." What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought.

Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned. Time passes, life happens, distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die, Colleagues forget favors,

Careers end BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.

A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I.

When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

Merrrryyy Christmas!

It has been a very topsy turvey mixed up year. I’m balanced now, at least, having lost AND gained 3 days. Did I miss anything: March 6, June 1, or Sept. 9?

I feel like I SHOULD be telling you about the exciting life I’m living downunder- but I can only tell you I generally feel unsettled. If it weren’t for recognizing some of my clothes, Kevin, and Zelda, I wouldn’t really be able to tell it was me who was living in Brisbane. I’ve got basically no books, no garden, no job, no furniture, and no friends. Let's not mention the spiders who share our home- or the rat! And yet, I feel compelled to respond with regularity, “I really like it here”. I don’t like it. I want to be home. Kevin’s happy. So, is Zelda- but she just doesn’t want to take any more airplane rides- and, she’s mourning the change of power in the US legislature. She did have a run in with a couple local toughs this week- a couple of big, bad cats- so maybe she would return. I’d probably have to fly her business class, however. So, I’m trying to fix my heart. Everything is fine. I have Kevin and Zelda. I have no unmet physical needs. I just need to work harder. On order- one attitude adjustment.

We did have some really good times last year. We finally took our honeymoon. We went to Hawaii. We enjoyed bicycling (downhill) on Maui, snorkeling with sea turtles, hiking, and watching the sun rise from above the clouds on Haleakula. Kevin was disappointed that there was no spewing lava to see at Volcano National Park- just a faint red glow in the distance and steam rising from the shore. His fantasy was to poke a stick into a river of lava. I’m guessing that one never gets fulfilled- or it never comes out like he imagines it will.

We went to the first Australian Games Expo in Albury, NSW. It was a brutal drive (we fought savagely to stay awake and road worthy past 8 PM) with brief moments of pleasure- Eating Australia’s best meat pies in Dubbo. Contemplating the meaning of the picture that accompanied NSW’s anti drunk-driving campaign (a fender? An eyeball flying through the air? A monster that “comes together” only with a minimum blood alcohol level?). Wondering how many speeding tickets we’d receive in the mail as we drove under yet another speed camera. (Queen’s Birthday Weekend- fines doubled!) It was a 2 day event. Kevin entered the national championships in both Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne. (I’m most likely the only one who thinks about dead flesh when that name comes up….) Anyway, he lost EVERY game of Settlers! And won EVERY game of Carcassonne to made it into Sunday’s semifinals. We were very amused to think of Kevin representing Australia in Essen Germany at the planetary championship- how we’d have to sneak out of the Expo while the natives stormed after us with pitchforks and lighted torches (This is a funnier thought in the US where a torch isn’t just a flashlight. Well, maybe not.) But, alas, it was not to be. He lost that semifinal game. Soundly.

Zelda spent a month by herself in Sydney. She requested a view of the opera house and harbor bridge- but her petition must have been mis-delivered as she was kept in a cold damp run overlooking a sea of similar runs. Visiting hours at the big house- Tues and Thurs between 1 and 3. I went one day about half-way through her quarantine. She was so excited she couldn’t nap. We sat huddled on her cot and sang every song we knew.

Finding a house to rent in Brisbane is an experience. There is a very helpful website- www.realestate.com.au. After that, the helpfulness runs thin. Most homes are shown as “open houses” for- and I am not exaggerating (here)- 15 minutes once a week! As you might imagine- it is not uncommon on a Saturday for the 2 houses you want to see to be shown simultaneously. Then, once you get there you have to weigh the pros (I’d be out of the elements) with the cons (the toilet is outside the back door, the windows are all frosted, there are no screens for the windows – no fans and no a/c, no fence, or the washing machine hookup in housed in a nest of SPIDERS.) At the very last moment we found 2 good houses and struggled to make the decision. At this very moment we are breathing the last of our 6 month lease. Regardless of the outcome of this issue, we’ll always have room for you. I’ll sleep next to the curb- excuse me, kerb.

Finally, saw whales. Awesome. (Though, the pelican made for a better photo.) Went to the Australian Zoo too late to meet Steve Irwin. Played games most every Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon. Won some games of Tichu. Baked a pumpkin pie from scratch! I can drive by myself just about anywhere and hardly ever close my eyes any more when entering a round-about.

Brisbane, despite having several good art theaters and a film festival, is not Cleveland. Our movie attendance is way down….but, of course, we still had favorites. (I’m saying we- but you know who’s writing this.) #1 without question: Little Miss Sunshine. I laughed till I cried. Big red, tear-streaked face crying. Junebug. (Yes, it was on last year’s list, but it just arrived in Australia!), An inconvenient Truth, TransAmerica (I think I needed something light after Brokeback Mountain and Munich, which while both were fine are not part of this list), 10 Canoes, Thank You for Smoking. And, because it was among the last things I saw- (FLY QANTAS- WAY better movie selection) About a Boy.

We maintained our American TV identity thanks to the internet watching the “usual”- The Sopranos, The Office, The Shield, Arrested Development (RIP), The Wire, Nip/Tuck, 24 (two seasons!), Bill Maher, and adding- Dexter (we liked Dexter and pretty much hated the rest of the cast- but the idea is cool- serial killer/forensic officer), Big Love, and watched the entire catalog of the original British Office. We’ve also been watching Heroes- but I’m not sure we really are comfortable admitting it. If it was 1977, we’d be so onto Jack in January when he (and Hero’s) return. No question. It’s the Jack Bauer Power Hour any day. (I’m going on about this because Heroes will be scheduled opposite 24- and the writer/director/spokesperson somebody thinks they’ll do OK. Get a story!)

Finally, I can walk to the library- if I leave early enough before it gets too brutally hot- like before 8 AM- so .. I need to thank Tim for recommending David Mitchell. I really enjoyed “Cloud Atlas”. I finally read “The Secret Life of Bees” Sue Monk Kidd- that was probably my favorite read. Also, I really enjoyed “The Fourth Hand” by John Irving, “How to be Good” by Nick Hornsby, “The Songcatcher” by Sharyn McCrumb, and if only for the title “Nostradamous Ate my Hamster” by Robert Rankin.

Rumors circulate about an influx of descendents of Walter and Veronica Hunt flocking to Australia in August 2007. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. You might want to hold tightly onto something in case this creates some sort of aberrant tilt to the earth’s axis and a subsequent loss of gravity. Ya’ll might fall south. I hope they come. I hope YOU come. I hope I see you soon! If you have the opportunity, please sent us a note and/or a couple of photos! You can still reach me at: a_dapore@hotmail.com or via my mom in Versailles (57 Harrison St. 45380). If you are interested, you are still welcome to share our Brizzie life at http://nnv-a-blog-downunder.blogspot.com/. (Oh, wait! You're here!)

Wishing you every joy in the new year!