Ohio Log- The Gathering of Friends or We Do Not Totally Suck at Tichu

My mother traded me off on Wed morning in Urbana. We had to get there early because Kevin and I had our big Tichu tournament at 1 PM. (Readers are advised to see last year's entry to appreciate the momentous occasion that Tichu would be for us.) We had a new plan for this year. One we'd already trialed at "The Gathering of Friendless" a couple of weeks earlier. Let the other team get WAY AHEAD- like 600 points- then score repeated Tichu- One-Two's and wrest victory from the other stunned team.

It was a good plan- but we just couldn't make it work. We kept getting points. Our first game we had outrageously good cards. We scored Tichu's, One-Two's. We threw bombs. In the final hand we needed less than 20 points to win. Kevin somehow refrained from calling Tichu despite having 2 bombs. In the end the result was lop sided (1035 to 160). We bore no resemblance to the team who wowed last year's Contract Tichu Tournament with a position that was so far behind as to be mind-boggling.

We advanced.

Wow.

We still could not enact our plan. We managed to get behind. We just never manged to catch up- let alone pass the leaders. We lost: 605- 1095.

Over the rest of that day and the next I don't think I ever came close to winning anything. I DID get to eat at Chipotle's. And, the local Vietnamese restaurant. And, see Gail and Ken and Ken and Peter and Steve and Georgia and Renee and Sam (but sadly not Barb or Sharon or Erin).

Ohio Log- Day Tuesday

Tuesday my mom and I drove most of the way to Cincinnati to the new IKEA store. She had never been to one. I'm an old pro at buying Billy bookcases on two continents. We did IKEA our way with two stops at the cafeteria and one at the snack bar. Oh, and soup and pie on the way home.

When it was all said and done, my mother came home with a new table for Big Bird's cage to rest upon and a new bedspread. I managed to remember that I still needed to travel intercontinentally- so only bought 2 packages of cards.

A big hug for Auntie as we returned through Dayton.

Ohio Log- Day 2

Really, it is STILL day 2. I just took a nap and Kevin drove to Columbus.

Part 2 of Day 2.

Two! Two! Two! One! Two! Two! Two!

I imagine that cheating at Pit is common. It couldn't be JUST our family. Though, honestly, there is very little of mismatched trading going on. (Todd swears he was just passing on what was passed to him.) There is, however, a goodly amount of pre-bell trading. All silent. All above the table. And, no one has ever cornered the market before the dealer rings the bell.

I really enjoyed our Pit and Pizza Party. I wish Kevin could have stayed. Maybe he could have lost more horribly than I did.

Doubtful.

I love my family- but they often seem to have technical problems with my camera. Kevin has a camera shake issue. I don't think he recognizes how AWFULLY slowly my camera works. Sure- you've finished pushing the button- but the camera hasn't begun to open/close the shutter. My mother. She has a problem with cutting off heads. I'll post the entire complement of photographs. She started with only losing Todd- but then when he scrunched down to be with his vertically challenged cousins, we ALL lost our heads!

Ohio Log- Day 1.

Well, it is actually day 2. But, if you arrive about 8 PM following a 26 hour trip and then drive 2 hours where you eat vegetable soup, pumpkin pie, and hug your mom- that doesn’t seem to count. Hmmmm. I guess it does count. What could be better in a day than homemade soup, pumpkin pie, and a hug?

So.

Ohio Log – Day2.

Kevin had picked me up from the airport and driven me home to Versailles. This is now Saturday and we have an important engagement with Cynthia at H & R Block. We need to give her something like $300 to tell the US government that if they want any of our money they need to hit up the big boys in Australia. Here’s their number.

Our appointment is for 10 AM – which is, interestingly enough, the EXACT SAME TIME that auditions begin for “Deal or No Deal” at the Piqua Mall. H & R Block is in the little strip mall just off the parking lot for the Mall. We are met by police directing an unending stream of vehicles turning into the mall drive. Thanks to Kevin’s super mutant powers, however, we immediately find something like the last parking place in the lot associated with the strip mall. Yay.

Our appointment was fine. Easy. Sign the papers that had already been completed and then the credit card invoice. Kevin was eager to return to Columbus where he’s gaming for the next 10 days at the “Gathering of Friends”- but he’s willing to go with me into the mall to see the throngs who are there for the big audition.

Why was I surprised that many appear unwashed and skeevy? I guess I thought if you wanted to get chosen you’d dress up and look like TV-fodder. Silly me. So. Lots of people- many of whom were practicing screaming and clapping.

We picked up an application form. The questions were interesting- and I’d quote them all if I hadn’t given the form to my neighbor, Dixie of the pie crust and catechism fame. She has ALWAYS wanted to be on TV. So, I’ll struggle a bit here and maybe Kevin will help me later.

Your most embarrassing moment.

This is a bit of a challenge- I’m good at embarrassing myself.

When I was in the fourth grade, it was a big thing to pass “cooties”. These are like nerdy germs, I guess. I think you had to be there. Anyway, in the lunch line from the front of the line came a big run of K****’s cooties. I turned around and pass them. To C. K****, herself. Arghhhh.

When I was in the sixth grade I was wearing this one piece, red, white, and blue, zippered all the way down the front koolot outfit. I was at my locker and thinking I was taking off my jacket I unzipped my clothes all the way from top to bottom.

Then there was the time I lost my half slip while walking across the parking lot on my way to work at Kohl’s Department store.

Or, the time I called the crematorium instead of the blood lab for Zelda.

Or, the incident with all the blood. I can't even go there!

Your most unusual job.

Definitely, collecting radioactive horse piss. It wasn’t that we needed the urine- we just didn’t want to contaminate the environment of our scintigraphy unit. Somebody had to do it- and I was willing to work for minimum wage. (I was told I was a very good radiology technician’s assistant. My internal response- I should THINK so. I have a PhD.) The worst day of work was when I got covered in said urine and the scrub goddesses at the laundry at the vet school REFUSED to give me clean scrubs to change into. Well, initially. I wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. I was “hot”!

Though, I’ve also been a sexual surrogate for doves, detassled corn (but who hasn’t? At least if you grew up when I did in Versailles), and collected data on dragonfly behavior in the field.

See, I’m pretty good. I think I could have made it on paper. I just don’t have the effusive and excitable nature they’d want to see on TV.

Dixie does.

And, I’d never seen the show before. I’d heard a description of it- but I couldn’t believe that anyone would want to watch such a nothing concept.

Once again, I am so wrong.

We're baaaackkk

Just got up from a powerful nap. Our trip back to Australia was 27.5 hrs from door to door. While I was very sorry to have our whirlwind tour of friends and family end, I was also relieved to have my life sssllloooowwww down. Finally, I can limit my guilt to only being too far away from home instead of being in the US with only a few short hours to spend with any one person... and, really, no hours with other equally important people. And, I can get back to a regular schedule with 8 hours of sleep in my own bed and maybe even some exercise each morning.

Before I get any further, it is important that I announce publicly what a pleasure it was flying United out of JFK! I was totally shocked. We were met at the door by United's version of the Walmart greeter- who found an attendant to help us at the self check kiosk. (Not that we had lost so many brain cells we can't do self check-in anymore- it was just that we had bought our tickets separately and needed to work things out so we could sit together on the flight.) Attendant One took over and type, type, type we had 2 boarding passes and then Attendant Two checked out our passports and tagged our bags and suggested we cross the hall to the Qantas desk to get our seat assignment for the LA leg NOW! JFK was bright and clean. The security screening went quickly with hardly a line and no pat-downs or body cavity searches. Wow. Thumbs up to Wolfgang Puck's four cheese pizza.

Our flight was as easy as any with only one difficulty. Kevin's earphone jack didn't work on the NY to LA flight. Fortunately, I had decided to re-read "Slaughterhouse Five" so he just plugged into my arm. VwaaLaa. I didn't mind missing the movie. I had drama in real life happening in the seats in front of us. Three total strangers (Bono age 40, Our Lady age 39, and Mr Heartbreak age 24)animatedly exchanging life stories and sorting out opinions on love, sex, dating, marriage, eating meat, exercise and masturbation. They were so fascinating they pulled in the young man who was seated in the row ahead of them, too. Eventually I finished reading Vonnegut and the movie ended and Kevin let me have the head phones back. I watched an episode of House- which isn't something I've watched more than once or twice before. I had to laugh- the plane started it's descent and cut off the entertainment service JUST AS House was announcing the solution to his patient's condition. I might have figured it out from the conversation he was having with his boss (I assume) just before he ordered whatever that necessary test was if the pilot wasn't announcing our impending arrival and the necessity to turn off all electrical devices including the video - which was still playing soundlessly. Arghhh.

LAX is always dismal. But that was only a small dip in the pleasure meter. I did have an empty seat beside me to sprawl if not lie into. Kevin was able to watch four COMPLETE films (Help!, The Savages, Cassandra's Dream, and The Man from Snowy River.) The meals were fine and I slept for several hours- just not contiguously.

I only watched 2 complete films- The Savages and Cassandra's Dream- both were OK, but only just. I also caught up on my prior in flight early terminations and watched the ends of both Sleuth and 10 Things I Hate About You. Yay.

Then, happy ending- we landed safely, flew through customs where, despite listing food on both of our landing tickets and telling 3 custom officials we were carrying Reese Peanut Butter Cups, we were chastised to declare our food next time. WE DID this time!!!!!!!!, and picked up Ms. Z. She obviously had had a good time- looking now like a very fluffy tootsie roll. We brought home her kong, her bed, her bag of food- but not her waist. Still, I'm so proud every time I see her in a run with another dog who is not missing body parts. Good girl, Zelda. Good girl.

Groceries, unpacking, laundry, napping. Tomorrow we are both back to work. I hope in the next days to update the blog with a sketch of our travels in America. Now, I should start supper so we can get back to sleep.

Back in the USA

I made the return trip in 28 hours- door to door. I took the time while waiting through my delay in Chicago (just an hour- lucky me!) to jot down my next blog entry. Of course, I did not bring these insights with me to the library. Next time. And, they will be typed in here- most likely.

Meanwhile, I've been having a great time. Finishing up our taxes. Figuring out how to get an absentee ballot for Nov. Re-instating my disability insurance through AFLAC. Not auditioning for "Deal or No Deal". Losing Pit. Eating pumpkin pie.

Today, I hope to do what every good Versailles girl wants most- get out of town. We want to COME BACK- but once we're here a few days it is time to hit the road. I've got my new Discover card activated and shined up and I'm ready to pass some plastic.

So, right now I'm in a bit of a rush. Just poking my head in to say "Hi".

TV

Since Kevin has been gone, I've been watching TV. I kind of gave up on movies after my binge when I was sick. I was disheartened to find that I hadn't enjoyed any of those movies tremendously, and I attributed it in part to missing Kevin. (You know that, already.) So, TV.

Zelda insists on couch time. I only do it for the dog.

And, being the good partner that I am, I've tried to watch TV that Kevin wouldn't be too interested in. That's how I've watched all the new episodes of "Dirt". I can't believe I did that. It isn't any better this year. I'm also caught up with this season of "Scrubs". More forgettable TV. Then, silly me. I stumbled on "Oz".

I forgot that Kevin hadn't seen the first season (though he's watched some of the later seasons.) I think I should be forgiven. Plus, I was moved to watch it given my own experience behind bars. (I have the distinct pleasure of ALWAYS being able to say about any current job: "It beats prison".)

Not that I was a prisoner. Remember, I had to pull out moldy parking tickets to get enough deviant-cred to apply for permanent residency in Australia. I taught undergraduate psychology courses in both the Ohio Reformatory for Women and London (Ohio) Correctional Facility. Yes....including "Theories of Personal Development and Adult Growth". The men at London were particularly intrigued. That was back in my cow-t-shirt and black-mini-skirt-flat-top-hair day. They asked "Are all women like you now?".

Yes.

Anyway, watching "Oz" I've been considering what group I'd gravitate towards. Not the skinheads. Probably not the Italians. The Muslims? Don't think that would work. Being really crazy seems like an OK option- until - wait- I better not go on with that thought. I'd never feel good about a riot.

I'm thinking I'd better try to not become a resident.

Sunday blues

Just feeling a bit down today. And yesterday. I think it comes from being sick for a week- combined with hurting my back Wednesday and pretty much losing touch with my true love. I have plenty to do- but I can't get enthused about it. Sundays are always hard. For my first 18 years I spent nearly every Sunday with my grandparents and assorted aunts, uncles, and cousins having dinner on the farm. Being alone, let alone eating alone, feels particularly lonely on a Sunday.

I think this is compounded by what I must assume is the closing of "The Emperor's Court" aka "OUR" Chinese Restaurant. (They haven't been open at anytime during the last week! Tell me it is just a holiday!) Where am I going to find another place where the mongolian beef is different everytime? Let alone within walking distance. I haven't told Kevin. He's been having enough challening news.

Pumpkin Pie: the first attempt

I pulled out Dixie's recipe on Monday and made a recipe of two crusts.

Here it is:

1 cup Crisco
1/4 cup butter

3 cup flour

1 T vinegar
1 t salt
5 T water
1 egg

As far as I can tell, we don't have Crisco in Australia. I did find a vegetable shortening in the dairy department. It had some fluffy name- like "Crispo"- and a recipe for making the Down Under version of Rice Crispy Treats. I should have read the signs. They were ALL over.

1. The only recipe for this stuff involved melting it on the stove.
2. The alternative uses for the produce involved wall building.
3. I could barely break it up to work it into the flour after it had set out on the counter (bench) overnight.

This morning I pulled the dough out of the frig to roll it into a crust. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. There will be no rolling. This is a dangerous, very hard, throwing object...and not a Frisbee. Thunk.

I suppose I might have let it sit out overnight to warm back up and then MAYBE it would roll....but do I really want to be eating a fat that is THIS hard? I think it must be some sort of "supertrans fat".

So, I poured my pumpkin batter into the pie pan without a crust. We'll see. I told the clinic I'd bring pie in. I'm not sure that I'll take this, however.

Movies, movies, movies

Kevin left yesterday for the US. That makes me, I guess, bachelorette number 2. He slyly left me here with not only Zelda but this cold virus. We're too busy partying at home with the Kleenex to get into any real trouble...despite Zelda's persistent efforts.

So, Kevin, while on an international flight, and I, while not doing the major house scrub I had envisioned, are knocking back movies. He called upon arrival with his update: "As It Is In Heaven", "I'm Not There", and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"...the latter he hadn't finished. And, for me: "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", "American Gangster", and "Into the Wild".

I think we each missed seeing the film with the other. All these movies we probably would have liked better if we'd seen them scrunched together on the love seat with Zelda in between us. It isn't just the love seat or just Zelda. I had both of those. I missed Kevin.

The films I saw were fine movies that I had been wanting to see. Interestingly, they were all based on true stories. Hmmmm. I felt disappointed that I did not make an emotional connection with "The Diving Bell...". He was certainly a remarkable man with much more internal strength than I think I would possess. I think I should have felt more. Kevin suggested that it might be hard to elicit much emotion when your acting is localized to eye blinks (and rolls and a few tears). I think it didn't help me that I didn't really like the man I met in the flashbacks. "American Gangster"- I told Kevin I really prefer a film where we are either focused on the story of the cop or the story of the gangster. Mixed loyalties. Though, Frank Lucas was a very, very bad character- he did possess some charm. And, Richie Roberts was a honest cop but a fatally flawed human being. It was Tony Soprano vs Vic Mackey. As Kevin and I discussed, Vic will always win. He's smart and focused like a bulldog. Tony - I say he survives because he is lucky. (Of course, Vic would NOT have turned in the $1,000,000 he found in the back of a car.) Finally, "Into the Wild"- I don't know. Too nice a kid? Or, just because it goes out with a whimper rather than a bang? Anyway, it paled in comparison with "Grizzly Man".

Lest you think I have nothing earth shattering to recommend- I'll step back and plug 2 movies. They're listed over there on the right. I just didn't actually tell you how cool they were.

"Eastern Promises". Now, HERE'S a gangster story. The Russian mob in London. Drugs, sex, violence and all churned around in about 90 min. That, for me, really lifts a movie. Make it fit into 90 min and keep me on the edge of my seat. Don't let me think, I'll pause this now so I can find some more tissues to blow my nose. Keep me transfixed and dripping.

And, vying for film of the year with "As it is in Heaven"- "Lars and the Real Girl". I think you need to be told the premise. Emotionally challenged young man orders life sized sex doll and introduces her as his girl friend. From there, you'll form all sorts of crazy, kinky ideas. They will almost all be wrong- but that will actually delight you. It isn't rolling-on-the-floor funny. It is sweet. The best of all possible worlds must be a real girl in heaven.

Our first Australian wedding

Kevin and I attended our first "real" Australian wedding last night. Yep. Terry and Sheree- of the new dress for Terry and Sheree's wedding fame. Like the best of weddings, theirs was unique and personal. It didn't really occur to us that a wedding at the Pine River Golf Course would be ON the golf course- just behind the tee for the 7th hole. The men waited by the red putting carpet (I think I'm making that up, by the way) while the bridal party arrived by golf cart. We were only disappointed by two things: the lack of any promised fist fights (though we did leave about 9:30 PM) and winding up the wedding ceremony with "The Wedding March" rather than "Gonna Fly Now: The Theme from Rocky".



And, we did our part to make the evening memorable. Dancing our hearts out to "Love Shack"...but not Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Abba, The BeeGees.... Oh, and my shoes didn't fall off.

Ancient Chinese Secrets

When Pepsi started marketing its products in China,the English slogan "Pepsi brings you back to life" was translated quite literally, "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave."

I learned this first from Laurie Anderson. Kevin suggested it might not be true (!) so this evening I googled it. The following is from the "Snopes" Urban Legends website.

Status: Undetermined.

That was helpful.

Tonight, however, I'm more interested in the miraculous ability that the owner of our local Chinese restaurant proposes for Coke. She told Kevin that as soon as you feel any cold or flu symptom, you should heat up a can of Coke. Boil it with lemon and ginger.

I'm no Coke fan and it doesn't taste better hot with lemon and ginger. It is very sweet but, also, rather soothing on a sore throat. I've had it twice over 2 days. I'm not instantly well. Maybe tomorrow.

Maybe I need Pepsi.

The inevitable

Recently, Kevin and I had THE TALK- the one that accompanies any long, long, long term relationship. I initiated it.

No, not the Zombie apocalypse talk. We've got that sorted- though I'm still hesitant about letting Zelda fend for herself. She's doomed.

Rather, it was the "do you know any identifying features? that would ensure you could identify my body?" You know. In case the ultimate end ISN'T Zombie mediated.

He's got a birthmark and a scar on his big toe. He knows I've got an incision scar on my back.

Hope it isn't too badly burned.

They could always try to put an earring in both my ears and fail on the left. Or, look for the scratch scars from "Bob the cat" on the inside of my right forearm.

I'm leaving this record here for him. He may need it.

Oh, and the music has nothing to do with this post. Kevin thought I should tell you.

Lost Friends- also Sex and Violence

Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution. - Deepak Chopra

This morning I'm thinking of my friend Renee. (Not my sister Renee.) I haven't seen or heard from her for years - since she moved from Cleveland to retire in Florida. I've written a few times. She hasn't responded. On occasion I hear from her partner in a mass mailing saying they are doing "X".

This morning Renee is on my mind for two reasons. Last night I dreamed of her. I didn't actually get to talk with her. I spoke with Jeannie. She said that Renee hadn't been doing well. Today, I also received a silly photo of a Peep Peep-show. (Note, it would have been labeled "super cool" if I had been the one to make the photograph.) Renee is a big peep fan. She eats them. Weird.

Anyway, I'm hoping she is fine and happy and eating lots of peeps for Easter. I hope her black kitties and her dog Oreo are healthy and keeping well away from the gators. I know she has lots of new friends who will all love her. She won't be needing me- but I am and will be missing her.

PS. The best peep factoid I know (well have heard)- you can create peep sword fights (live action!) by sticking a toothpick (the epees!) into two peeps (I think stale ones work best) and then put them facing off together in the microwave. Add heat. We are a violent, weird people!

It will be one of those rambling catch-up posts. You are warned.

Sometimes it feels like not much is happening- but then time passes and I realize that bit by bit a mountain of small stuff has collected. Most of it is on my desk. What follows almost invariably is I look forward to putting my ideas to (sort-of) paper and then something crappy or stressful or just tiring comes up. So it is tonight. I have the time. Kevin is busy gaming. It is only 7:30. But, I've got to make my 4th trip this Sunday into the clinic to care for two cats who are going downhill. Ugh. My heart is heavy and I can't find those great thoughts I thought yesterday- well Thursday. I need to try to learn to dissociate my ego from the outcomes of my patients. Ugh.

Here goes.

First: what has happened to all the spiders? Somehow, within the last few weeks they (the really, really big ones who had our backyard "wrapped up") have disappeared. There are remnants of big-ass spider webs- but they are looking tattered. Ah, the season is changing.

Second: Got to wear my new, it-fits! dress on Thursday evening. Remembering with oh-so-much pleasure the phrase the clerk had used as she folded this dress into the Macy's shopping bag- "you can throw this in your suitcase and it will come out looking great"- I threw that dress in my big red bag and took it with me on my day of errands only to whip it out and on in the women's room of the Lyric Theatre! Yes, Thursday was the night for "Phantom of the Opera". I was to meet the rest of the clinic in the bar of the theatre at 6:45. So, I crawled across downtown at 5 PM, parked in the museum lot, and found a very tasty dinner of sauteed vegetables with chickpeas and feta cheese. Then, I rushed to the ladies.

Really, it was more like 6:50. Scooting along in my new, over sized-but aren't they always? shoes I scanned the bar. Back and forth. Back and forth. I stopped people and asked them if there might be a second bar somewhere. I looked there. I panicked and went to the ticket booth to see if my ticket had been left for me there. No. And, at least initially, no record of Rob buying tickets for that night...til they found they were purchased through another vendor. That guy also didn't know anything. I looked outside. It was after 7! I was going to miss the show!

Although they left the clinic at 5, they didn't get home and then to the theatre until about 7:15. And, the show didn't begin until 7:30.

Still, we missed the beginning. We were actually in the wrong bar and so we missed the "Audience Call" light flicker. We were too busy chatting and drinking champagne. Or tea- depends on who you're talking about. So, we stood watching the big screen until the point where they'd allow the tardy to enter the theater. My thoughts. "My feet! How long will I have to stand?" and "What are they SAYING?"

The Phantom- once seated and enough vocal volume provided- was great fun! The costumes- particularly during the masquerade- were fabulous! The music was great! I was so rooting for the phantom to get the girl- but, as you probably guessed, once again, he did not. Kevin points out that he was a psychopathic killer- but still...even though his mask made him look a little like Batman's "The Joker", he got my sympathy. What does this say about my taste in men...? Choose the guy with the best song.

Third- The process of application for permanent residency chugs ever onward. Last week I had my physical exam. I fretted in the waiting room about whether I had fully completed the paperwork and whether an error on my part would result in being banished at the most inopportune moment- like when I was on the table getting scrubbed for open-heart surgery. I took my seat in front of the doctor and blurted out "I have a heart murmur. I didn't know where to list that". He told me that was his job.

I know you want to know. I passed my x-ray. I guess that must have been an end-on vessel in the radiologists opinion.

I didn't, however, pass my physical. Yes, I could stand with my eyes closed. I had no problem touching my toes. No inappropriate abdominal masses. No hernia. Adequate reflexes.

But, I had a murmur.

All my life.

Now, they need an echocardiogram.

Kevin says not to worry. He has an alternate plan.

He'll "dump my sorry ass".

Something like that.

There's more- but I've got a cat to feed. And, so, I leave you with this video.



comment- not by me- but it is almost funnier than Will Ferrell.
I hate it! It completely mocks Michael Crawford and All others who could sing the song, Music of The Night. Also, the Phantom's real name is Erik.

Knowing you're in the right place

Sometimes things happen and you know you are in the place you are supposed to be. That's the way it was when Kevin and I got back together. We kept encountering messages from the universe affirming that we belonged together. Now. (Well, then.) The radio played songs of renewed love. The theater showed movies of time travel.

Today was similar...but a bit more subtle. Today as I drove from the city home I heard "Drop the Pilot". Never have I heard Joan Armatrading on the radio. Wow! And, then, while I was walking about Chermside shopping centre (and not doing half the things on my list because I had come only half prepared) I heard "Anchored Down in Anchorage". Ditto my previous comment for Michelle Shocked- but maybe times 10.

I can't figure out how anything I was doing was so special- but maybe it is like the Bradbury tale (Sound of Thunder) where the dinosaur hunting time traveler steps on a butterfly and changes "history"- (Hitler wins WWII.) Maybe I'll never know how what I was doing today was shaping my future...but it must surely have been monumental.

Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution. - Deepak Chopra

Filling in Forms

Kevin is in a major push to complete our applications for permanent residency. (We've got a deadline. Kevin's Australian "use by" date comes up on July 16 of this year. I'm WAYYYY past good. Those Aussies- they love young white immigrants.) So, we have fun evenings of form filling. The medical one is a challenge. You need to list every hospital stay, every surgery, every disease, sickness or condition requiring medication. With dates. The police form asks repeatedly if you've been, you know, bad. And, when. This also includes traffic offences. Great. Like I can recall the date when I fell into the speed trap in Laura. I know I was in grad school and home for the summer. That narrows it down to two years.... or six months. Kevin didn't feel like I needed to list my two parking tickets (Cleveland Heights and Chapel Hill)- but I figure Australia WANTS people with some criminal color about them. This WAS a penal colony. I'm just trying to help out.

We also had to be finger printed. That was fun. It is a bit of a mental twist to extend your finger while at the same time keeping it loose and controllable by the stamper. The best part was reading the instructions posted on the wall. #2 Inspect the hands for deformities including amputations.

Today, then, I was late to two immigration appointments. That would be 100%. Fortunately, this did not prevent me from either having my blood drawn or my chest x-rayed. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about the small radio-opaque spot in my caudal left lung field. (The radiographer showed it to me and asked it is was an end on vessel or a granuloma. Damn. I forgot what I put there.) I'm afraid I may never know what the radiologist thinks since we'll get the report sealed and we are instructed to not open it. Wonder if I could get a copy of the report for myself... I wonder what the ethics of the situation are.

We've still got God's ear and his crayons

This photo dispays this year's catechism class. The one that is praying for Kevin and I and Zelda. They are very careful to never forget Zelda.

I got to visit them when I was home. That's why they're all waving small koalas and looking buzzed on Australian chocolates. It was a riot. First came the questions. They virtually all began "Have you ever treated a _____" and ended with me saying "No". No- not a tiger, not an alligator, not a koala, and only a cow when I was a student. They were MOST impressed to learn that we have a gecko that lives in our bedroom. We reviewed who the Queen was (Elizabeth- who's the queen of Australia and of England) and what color Zelda is (she's black). I had brought home a half dozen Australian candy bars and we sliced each into 8 pieces and had a taste test. It was pretty much unanimous- Boost is the favorite.

Today we recieved a package of letters from the kids and photos they'd drawn. Lots of koalas. Lots of Queen Elizabeth. Lots of Australian flags. And, lots of pictures of their personal houses.

As it is in Heaven

As time passes by it becomes more and more difficult to sit myself down at my computer and take stock of the last 3 weeks and my trip to the US. On occasion I feel compelled. Those are the occasions when I'm not at home. On other occasions I feel overwhelmed. On this occasion, however, I feel lost. So, I'm thinking it is time to make a brief effort and then put it all behind me and be open to living now. Here.



My flight to the US was absolutely perfect. I had three seats to myself which had I been able to sleep would have been great for sort-of-stretching out. I find it near impossible to sleep when I board a flight at noon- even knowing that at my destination folks are settling into prime time and starting to doze off during commercials. Qantas was offering several great films to select between- but I kept remembering that "Kevin and I were going to watch that together one day"- and so I watched two low ranked films. Yes, two films I would never have jumped at the opportunity to see and one absolutely fabulous- best ever- weeping tears of joy and beauty film. That would be, "As It Is In Heaven". I got home and sent my sister right out to Blockbuster to find it so I could share it during our "Christmas" weekend with my family- but it was/is not available. It hasn't been released on DVD in the US yet. "As It Is In Heaven". Keep repeating that. You don't want to forget.



"Christmas" was fun- December isn't required for that. Roast beef. Family. Music. Presents. My mother had purchased a new Christmas tree from the dollar store. $1.00 tree at 90% off. We put it over our presents.



I made an afternoon trek down to Fairfield Commons Mall and, get this, bought a dress that fits. I'm now officially ready for both "Phantom of the Opera" (March 13) and "The Wedding of Terry and Sheree" (March 22). It is very cool...and completely thanks to my dear mother who not only chauffeured me around but helped me to pick out these togs.

She also drove me to Columbus for the Midwest Veterinary Convention, to Piqua to H&R Block, to the airport...

The convention: it was absolutely wonderful to see my old boss. Otherwise, I felt vaguely unsatisfied. Maybe it was the jet lag. Maybe I was expecting too much. Maybe I should have known that "Extractions made Simple" would be predicated on having fancy dental equipment that we lack. I did buy the clinic some new adjustable muzzles and Zelda a couple of new toys. (Zelda is having fun- but I'm still waiting for my first, uhm, irritable dog...or cat.)



Somehow, I feel like I managed to cram a real winter into my dozen days in Ohio. Warm days. Frigid days. Snow days. Ice days. Even a warm and snowy day- where I could and did take a long walk through Versailles. But the best was always having clear roads when I absolutely needed to be somewhere. Thank you. It was just what I wanted. (And, here I must stop to thank Ella for the warm, warm, warm coat that I'm still wearing. I must admit that I'm not made for a white or even an off white coat- but it isn't too disreputable and it is very, very warm. I think I said that.)

The flight back to Australia was as negative as the flight home had been positive. Instead of 3 seats to myself, I had one seat crammed in with two young Australian men. Instead of a magical, transformative movie experience, I watched three films that I seemed physically incapable of remembering the titles to. Instead of a great dinner and breakfast, I had the worst fish I've ever encountered followed by brick of eggs for "breakie". And, then they lost my luggage.

It never left LA.

I've never officially recorded my poor track record with "wheeled suitcases". I've had three. On my first one a wheel went flat. Yes. I had solid plastic wheels on this suitcase- just like you do. An edge of one wheel sheered off. Flat. Flat wheels don't roll. On my second suitcase one of the prop-up legs was knocked sideways. So, instead of pointing down to the ground where it might help the damn thing stand up, it points west. This means, if you stop wheeling the case, and walk away from it- it falls over. So, when I went home this trip my mom gave me her "wheeled suitcase"- the one she bought for last year's trip to Australia. I can forgive it getting lost. But, I'm having trouble accepting the fact that it "came home" minus one wheel and the corresponding leg. Ughhhh. If I thought that spending more for a suitcase would REALLY make it last more than 3 or 4 or 6 intercontinental flights, I'd make the investment. I'm just not convinced. But wheels. They are SUCH a great invention.

Fall

March 1st. The first day of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The days feel decidedly cooler. And, especially at night, there is a seriously cool breeze. The spiders in the back yard have fattened up to the point of bursting.

And, yet, it will never feel like autumn should. There's no World Series. There's no Halloween. There's no first day of school. And, a bright blue sky is nothing extraordinary. But, mostly, there's no riot of color.

And, so I'm borrowing a leaf. From Cleveland.